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Revision as of 16:46, 3 December 2008
- This article is about lore appearances and history of Dalaran. For the area in the Alterac Mountains, see Dalaran Crater.
 Dalaran | |
|---|---|
 The reconstructed Dalaran | |
| Capital(s) | Dalaran |
| Population | Unknown; (approximately 3,000) |
| Races |
Template:Human Race |
| Government | Magocracy |
| Ruler(s) | Archmage Rhonin |
| Affiliation | Independent, favors Alliance |
| Location | Crystalsong Forest, formerly Alterac Mountains |
Dalaran was a magocratic city-state which existed within the Alterac Mountains (formerly Alterac) in the Eastern Kingdoms. Its leaders ruled the single city.Template:Cite Recently, the city, including the Violet Citadel, has somehow been moved and is floating somewhere above the icy continent of Northrend. Ruled by the Kirin Tor, Dalaran is one of the original seven kingdoms originating from the days of the Nation of Arathor. From the time of its foundation until the time of Arthas' siege against the city and subsequent destruction, the Violet Citadel had served as the focal point for magi and the study of the arcane throughout human history. The kingdom's national color is violet and its flag is a yellow, possibly golden, eye set against a light purple background.
History
Dalaran during the Third War.
Dalaran was one of the original city-states founded during the Arathorian empire. Since its inception, the city has served as a hub of magical knowledge and experimentation in Lordaeron and the world. A multi-racial wizards’ council called the Kirin Tor ruled the city for centuries, overseeing Dalaran from the Violet Citadel — a great, slender spire in the city’s heart that housed the most extensive libraries and greatest laboratories in the world. The traitor Prince Arthas laid siege to Dalaran in the Third War. He murdered its citizens, including the great archmage Antonidas, and broke into the city’s heart. His ally, the lich Kel’Thuzad, then summoned Archimonde, the Burning Legion’s leader. Archimonde wielded foul magic to topple the city’s towers and sunder its walls. Shortly after Dalaran’s fall, the undead abandoned the city to the wind and mist. Months later, a resistance force led by the surviving Dalaran wizards arrived and laid claim to the ruins. Pooling their magical power, the wizards covered Dalaran in an opaque magical sphere. It is unknown what occurs beneath the dome and the wizards warn others not to get too close.Template:Cite
Founding and early history
The flag of Dalaran.
The second city of the Nation of Arathor, Dalaran was founded in the lands northwest of Strom. Many fledgling wizards and magi who left the restraining confines of Strom behind traveled to Dalaran, where they hoped to use their new powers with greater freedom. These new settlers used their knowledge to form the enchanted spires of the Violet Citadel on Cross Island just ouside the city of Dalaran,Template:Cite and reveled in the pursuit of their studies. The citizens of Dalaran built up a bustling economy under the protection of their magic-using defenders.
Yet, as their numbers and influence grew, more and more magi practiced their arts, the fabric of reality around Dalaran began to weaken and tear, allowing demons of the Burning Legion into the world. These invaders caused havoc in the streets and countryside of Dalaran, despite the efforts of the Magocrats, the ruling archmagi, to deal with the problem. Fearing revolt and military action from Strom, the rulers of Dalaran turned to the high elves. The elves were able to determine that the daemons which had been summoned could be dealt with, but a more permanent solution was needed. The Magocrats entered into a deal with the Convocation of Silvermoon, and the Order of Tirisfal was founded.
Under the vigilant watch of the Order, Dalaran became the chief center of learning for magicians throughout the land. The Magocrats founded the Kirin Tor, a specialized sect and ruling council that was charged with cataloging and researching every spell, artifact, and magic item known at the time.
Dalaran during the wars
The Dalaran tabard.
Dalaran as seen in Warcraft III.
During the Second War, Dalaran pledged to support the Alliance of Lordaeron and gave large amounts of aid, mages, and sorcerers to the war effort. It was home to the four towers, sanctum to the lands' greatest sorcerers. The city was ravaged by the Horde, but was able to be rebuilt to its former glory. It was later attacked again for the Eye of Dalaran.
Prior to the Third War, the Violet Citadel was within the city. Dalaran was the home of an incredibly large library of books and tomes, in addition to many of the greatest sorcerers of the day including Archmage Antonidas, Khadgar, Jaina Proudmoore, Arugal and Kel'Thuzad. It was also the site of the vault where the staff of Medivh, Atiesh, was kept after the master mage's death. However after the Scourge was unleashed upon the land, one of their primary targets was Dalaran. The city was defended by Dalaran Guard Towers and archmagi, but was ultimately destroyed following the summoning of Archimonde to Azeroth. The great demon single-handedly laid waste to the city by creating a magical effigy out of the dust, which he then crushed; the mighty towers of Dalaran fell simultaneously. Soon after the defeat of the Burning Legion, however, Alliance forces under the command of Grand Marshal Garithos regained the ruins of the city; some refugees from Lordaeron eventually made their way there as well.
The surviving magi of the Kirin Tor later returned with the intent of rebuilding, and erected a large, magical time-and-space distortion field around the city to ward off a new attack while they slowly regained their strength. The shield is opaque and completely impenetrable by any known means. Now the lands around the ruins of Dalaran are the site of a guerrilla war between the Alliance and the Forsaken.
Modern Dalaran
The reconstruction of Dalaran in World of Warcraft.
- Main article: Dalaran Crater
- See also: Dalaran NPCs
Dalaran was one of the original human cities in the Arathorian Empire. Long the center of magical learning, a conclave of mages called the Kirin Tor oversaw its mystic happenings from the Violet Citadel. Undead forces overran the city in the Third War; and Archimonde, then the Burning Legion’s commander, destroyed the city with his foul magic. The Scourge abandoned the ruins, but a group of mages reclaimed it months later. Now, an opaque violet dome of magical energy covers and protects Dalaran. No means, either magic or mundane, can determine the goings-on inside the dome. Archmages patrol its perimeter, but the dome is powerful enough to destroy creatures that venture too close. The mages are certainly working on something — but none can discover what it is.Template:Cite
Today, the Magocracy of Dalaran continues to rule its nation, the city. Despite the destruction of its capital, Dalaran has remained an important member of the Alliance. Dalaran currently has about 3000 citizens,Template:Cite only 120 of them are members of the Kirin Tor.Template:Cite The Kirin Tor continues to rule over the remains of their city, which is being rebuilt. They also have forces stationed in Ambermill, Nethergarde Keep, the Lordamere Internment Camp, and parts of Silverpine Forest. Dalaran also has a strong presence in Outland. Dalaran's army is largely responsible for the survival of Alliance power in Silverpine; without the aid of the mages, the town of Pyrewood Village would have fallen to the Scourge long ago. All travelers in southern Silverpine will note the massive presence of Dalaran's troops. The city is the northern-most state with a sizeable force after the invasion of the Scourge.
The fortified outpost, Nethergarde Keep and the surrounding area in the Blasted Lands is also under control of Stormwind and Dalaran.Template:Cite
People and Culture
The exact number of people living within Dalaran’s protective dome is unknown, but believed to be around 3,000 or so. Mostly wizards and their conjured or created guardians inhabit Dalaran, and the city possesses few real citizens. A couple hundred troops probably dwell within and can be mustered when the call to arms is sounded. Wizards are often seen outside the dome. In particular, Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver constantly moves about the dome’s periphery. The archmage seems to be in charge of Dalaran and leads a conclave of fellow wizards in their vigil of the dome. The mages hold no love for the Scourge. They would see it destroyed.Template:Cite
Relations with other kingdoms
Dalaran has been an independent nation since some point after the Third War. Dalaran considers all Alliance nations to be their allies. They are officially at war with the Scourge, although they have driven the Scourge far enough away from their borders for this to not be a real war any longer. Dalaran is also opposed to the Syndicate. They openly support war with the Qiraji of Silithus.
The Violet Citadel does not support the Scarlet Crusade openly, but accept their movements and operations as long as they continue to cause disorder among the undead. Until recently, they were in open war with the Forsaken and did not have dealings with the Horde, having been invaded during the Second War by them. Also, now it would seem that Dalaran's situation with the blue dragonflight has deteriorated into a war between the two factions.
Geography
The original location of Dalaran is, as of Patch 3.0.2, a crater on the southern shores of Lordamere Lake, north of the Hillsbrad Foothills. The city itself currently hovers over Crystalsong Forest in Northrend.
Pre-patch 3.0.2, Dalaran was a ruined city. A magical dome surrounded the ruins, long the headquarters of magical study in the world of Azeroth. The dome was impenetrable, blue and opaque — nothing could be seen beyond it. Located on Lordamere Lake’s southern shore, the original location is a low-pressure region. The environment creates mists and clouds. The air is cool and damp. A rise to the city’s east marks where the demon lord Archimonde used his magic to shatter the city's spires. There were a few wrecked houses, with empty streets. Not much there.Template:Cite
It is suspected that the reason why Dalaran was not a fully functional Alliance city was due to the fact that it was far too close to the Undercity and thus would have tilted the balance of power far in favor of the Alliance in the Lordaeron region.
Regarding the Burning Legion
Contrary to popular belief, the Burning Legion as a whole was not attracted to Azeroth through Dalaran's use of arcane magic. The Second Invasion was sparked by a carefully-executed plan hatched by Kil'jaeden out of Archimonde's lust for revenge on the planet. The Highborne use of magic ten thousand years ago was markedly different from that of the Kirin Tor; Azshara and her servants attracted the Legion through use of insanely powerful magic fueled by the Well of Eternity; the Eye of Dalaran is not known to be capable of such power.
Dalaran was the location of Archimonde's emergence partly because the veil between worlds was slightly weaker in the region (which was a result of the Kirin Tor's magics), but mostly because Kel'Thuzad and Arthas were there to obtain Medivh's spellbook; had they acquired the spellbook from Stormwind or Ironforge then one of those cities would have been the location in which Archimonde was summoned.
Wrath of the Lich King
Dalaran as seen from the Dragonblight.
- Main article: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Since Dalaran has been neutral since Lands of Conflict, Dalaran has been announced as the neutral city for the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, as Shattrath City was introduced as the neutral city for the Burning Crusade expansion.
One thing to take into consideration is that three of Dalaran's best wizards (Khadgar, Jaina, and Rhonin) have had dealings with the Horde in the past, and Antonidas studied the effects of the orcs' lethargy extensively enough to know that they could be reasonable in the absence of their demonic bloodlust.[citation needed] This could possibly explain why Dalaran could have dealings with the Horde, especially against a common enemy. Another factor to consider is that many Forsaken and blood elves were formerly citizens and even rulers of Dalaran.
The city contains areas that are faction-specific in the same manner as Shattrath is divided amongst the Aldor and the Scryers. Certain parts of the city can only be reached by Alliance players (Silver Enclave) while others are strictly for Horde use (Sunreaver's Sanctuary). The majority of the city remains neutral.
Evidently the blue dragonflight, led by Malygos, has declared war on all mortal magic-users.[1] In response to this crisis, the city has been moved (likely with the bulk of the Kirin Tor and most available resources) to levitate high in the skies above Northrend. Dalaran today floats majestically above the Crystalsong Forest in defiance to the blue dragonflight as well as the forces of the Lich King in Ice Crown, just to the north of its location.
Dalaran can be accessed via the teleport crystal in Violet Stand, Crystalsong Forest, north of the Dragonblight. A council of leaders — consisting of Archmage Modera, Vereesa Windrunner, and Archmage Aethas Sunreaver with Rhonin at its head — leads the new Dalaran in its war effort in Northrend.[citation needed]
It will act as the neutral sanctuary city for the continent, similar to Shattrath City in Outland, and can be accessed by teleportation or flying mount. An instance or even two instances will exist in Dalaran,[citation needed] like in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Like Shattrath, there are no class trainers (but for Mage ones) nor an auction house. Grand Master trainers for each profession will be available in the city. Portals will be located in the Alliance and Horde districts of the city, connecting to the faction capital cities and Shattrath. Portal trainers will also be located in both districts, and there will be battlemasters and an arena master in the Underbelly sewer system.
- Dar4.jpg
A full view of Dalaran from the air in Icecrown.
A tunnel opening underneath to the Underbelly, in case you didn't think it's floating.
- WorldMap-Dalaran2 .jpg
Dalaran Map in the Beta.
Anotated map by Kaydeethree showing the locations of portals, banks, and trainers.
- WorldMap-Dalaran1 .jpg
The Underbelly of Dalaran.
Old location
A large, gaping crater has replaced the old location of Dalran, with a weakened shield in place of the opaque dome, though there is some purplish smoke around the site — possibly residue from magic dome or the city's (literally) earth-shaking exit.
Getting to Dalaran
Several ways exist to get to Dalaran:
Dalaran specific methods:
- Mages can talk to NPCs in Dragonblight and learn to teleport to Dalaran after completing [73] Attunement to Dalaran available at level 71.
- Mages can learn a portal to Dalaran at 74 from the portal trainer. This allows anyone to get to Dalaran.
- Anyone who is at least level 74 can complete [74] The Magical Kingdom of Dalaran from any of several members of the Kirin Tor, which will portal them to Dalaran once.
- A set of crystals, (Teleport to Violet Stand Crystal and Teleport to Dalaran Crystal), can be used. The Teleport to Violet Stand Crystal must be used first, meaning that you must have arrived in Dalaran previously (via the quest at 74 or via a Mage portal or a Warlock summon). The quest [74] Learning to Leave and Return: the Magical Way provides XP and monetary reward for using both crystals (but requires level 70).
- 2 rings are available at 80, ( [Band of the Kirin Tor] and [Signet of the Kirin Tor]), which teleports the player to Dalaran.
- Learn [Cold Weather Flying] and fly there with a flying mount.
[73] 
Non-Dalaran specific methods:
- Once in Dalaran, players can set a Dalaran inn as their home, which enables them to teleport there with their [Hearthstone].
- A Warlock in Dalaran can summon players to Dalaran, with 2 others in Dalaran in the same group.
- Dalaran has a summoning stone available for players who are eligible to enter the dungeons there.[citation needed]
- Someone already in Dalaran can group-invite you for PvP at the city's Battlemasters. However, the inviting player has to be of the same level range for the specific battleground pool as you, or you won't get to join the battleground. Eye of the Storm works well for this.
- After meeting the Dalaran Flight master (in Krasus' Landing), players can pay to fly there from nearby flight masters via a Flight Path.
References
External links
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