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Obtaining the Drakefire Amulet to Enter Onyxia's Lair (Horde)

Warlord's Command (5 man LBRS)

This is where it all begins. The lowest level you can probably find a group for this is 58. You talk to Warlord Goretooth at the top of the tower in Kargath in Badlands, except you need to actually *talk* to him - he's got a conversation line (which is only available if you are level 55 or higher) you can follow through (around 6 pages or so) before he'll give you Inv letter 17 [Warlord Goretooth's Command], which starts the quest Warlord's Command. The quest requires that you run a 5-man Lower Blackrock Spire, and kill all the leaders (Highlord Omokk, War Master Voone, and Overlord Wyrmthalak). NOTE: You also need to pick up [Important Blackrock Documents] that spawn near a random leader in LBRS. This is by far the hardest part of the Onyxia key questline.

As many of you have doubtlessly noticed, it is possible to bypass the ogres and the trolls and go straight to the orc/dragonkin area, and that there is a hole near Wyrmthalak that you can jump through to reach the ogres.

When you enter the BRS instance, walk up the ramp, kill the orcs sitting on either side and then the patrol. Walk up the ramp again and make a right out the doorway. Kill a second patrol and you're set for the fun part. Last time I did this you could MIND SOOTHE the two mobs closest to the doorway on the left here and just hug the wall to skip fighting. Once out of the S-shaped hallway, you find yourself on a big platform with some orcs. Instead of fighting them, just hug the wall to your right and jump off the edge. You'll see two ledges sticking out of the wall further down, so make sure you aim for these. When you're all the way at the bottom here you'll be almost at the spiders. Careful pulling ahead is the key and make sure you avoid runners. After the spiders, make sure you look for the documents by the pile of skulls on the Ogre platform.

Once Wyrmthalak is dead, check for documents and head back to the previous room that was full of orcs. Jump down the first crack and presto, Omokk is only one pull away! Check for docs again! Fight your way out of Omokk's area, across the bridge and jump down the first crack you get to (where Bijou is hiding). Fight your way down to the main floor of the troll area and make sure you take a right at the bottom fork of the ramp down there. Hugging the wall should get you to Voone in a total of 6-7 pulls from Bijou.

This way should save you a lot of time since you skip a LOT of killing this way.

Important Blackrock Documents

The [Important Blackrock Documents] look like papers on the ground and are spawned near a random boss (usually within about 10 feet of where they stand). On mouse-over they are called "Inconspicuous Documents." Once you find them, everyone on the quest can loot them (as of 1.7) - the documents do not despawn.

Completing the Quest

Once you've finished up in Blackrock Spire, return to The Badlands and talk to Warlord Goretooth to complete the quest. He gives you the quest Eitrigg's Wisdom.

Eitrigg's Wisdom (Orgrimmar)

Warlord Goretooth gives you this quest when you complete the quest Warlord's Command. He tells you to go speak to Eitrigg and then see Thrall. Eitrigg is in Thrall's throne room in Orgrimmar. The tricky part is that Eitrigg doesn't have a ? or ! over his head - you just have to walk up and talk to him and click through the conversation. Once you've completed the conversation, Thrall's question mark will light up and you can complete the quest.

For the Horde! (UBRS)

Thrall is shocked to learn that Rend Blackhand claims to be the true warchief and sends you off to kill him. Not only is this quest a step in the Onyxia key line, but it also offers [Blackhand's Breadth], the [Mark of Tyranny], and the [Eye of the Beast] as rewards.

What the Wind Carries (Orgrimmar)

Listen to Thrall to get the next quest.

The Champion of the Horde - Seek out Rokaro (Shadowprey Village in Desolace)

So now that you have Warchief's blessing that you provided for yourself, you get to waste most of it while you fly to Shadowprey Village in Desolace. You will find Rokaro at the top of the hill, from the docks.

Mistress of Deception - Go Talk to Myranda the Hag (Western Plaguelands)

Another easy part that sends you across the world. Go to Sorrow Hill in Western Plaguelands (slightly northeast of Chillwind Point, the Alliance equivalent of the Bulwark) and deliver a letter from Rokaro to Myranda the Hag (a Gnome). She'll send you to obtain 20 [Black Dragonspawn Eye]s to disguise youself as a member of the Black Dragonflight.

Oculus Illusions - Black Dragon Eyeballs (UBRS)

Another simple section that takes a group and some time. Go run Upper Blackrock Spire. You'll notice that all the black dragon enemies (other then the generated spawns in the Rookery) drop two eyeballs each. Because the drop rate is 100% for a pair of eyeballs this is reasonable to do with several people needing the quest. When I ran it I was the only one in my group that needed them, and I was done before we even got to the rookery, which isn't that far in. Return the eyes to Myranda.

Visiting Emberstrife (Dustwallow Marsh)

Myranda the Hag will make you the [Amulet of Draconic Subversion] and send you off to Dustwallow Marsh to talk to Emberstrife. Get to Emberstife's cave on the southern wall of Dustwallow. Once you're in the cave equip and use the necklace to transform you to look like a dragonspawn from UBRS (fun!). Go talk to Emberstrife like this, and he won't attack you. Pick up the three quests from him about killing important dragons from the other dragonflight.

Killing three Elite Dragons (Tanaris, Winterspring, Swamp of Sorrows)

There is an elite named dragon in Tanaris (outside the Caverns of Time), Winterspring (in the back of a cave filled with elite dragonspawn), and Swamp of Sorrows (wanders around the lake that the Sunken Temple has sunken into). The quests are raid quests. You can have as many as your raid will allow. Previous releases only allowed 5-man, although these dragons are easy enough to do in a sub-5-man group.

Killing Chronalis The Test of Skulls, Chronalis (Tanaris)

Chronalis hangs out outside the Caverns of Time, southeast from Gadgetzan.

Killing Scryer The Test of Skulls, Scryer (Winterspring)

Scryer is in the back of a cave filled with blue dragonkin in Mazthoril, south-southwest of Everlook. There is a rune on the ground that will teleport you to the top of the mountain, so take care not to wander on to it during the fight.

Killing Somnus The Test of Skulls, Somnus (Swamp of Sorrows)

Somnus wanders around the lake in eastern Swamp of Sorrows (the same lake that the Sunken Temple has sunken into). Somnus is easily the hardest of the three dragons as he hits hard and has the ability to sleep people (if this happens to your only healer then it's bad news).

Visiting Emberstrife Again (Dustwallow Marsh)

Visit Emberstrife once again. Turn in the three skulls and get the next quest, The Test of Skulls, Axtroz.

The Test of Skulls, Axtroz - Yet Another Elite Dragon (Wetlands)

Go to Grim Batol in eastern Wetlands and kill Axtroz. This is also a raid quest.

Visiting Emberstrife Again...receive the quest Ascension... (Dustwallow Marsh)

This all seems so familiar. Go and turn in the skull to Emberstrife and then it's off to Rexxar ... again.

  • Since the Dark Portal has been opened, Rexxar went in Outland so instead you have to talk to Rokaro, he's in Shadowprey Village (Desolace)

Finding Rokaro Again (Desolace)

Rokaro will give you the quest Blood of the Black Dragon Champion to travel to Blackrock Spire and slay General Drakkisath.

Blood of the Black Dragon Champion - Drak's Blood (UBRS)

Pretty straightforward. Do a full UBRS run (make sure to get the BWL Attunement quest before you go in!). When you kill Drakkisath (last UBRS boss) he'll drop [Blood of the Black Dragon Champion] for the quest. As of patch 1.11, Drakkisath will drop blood for everyone running the quest (previously he would drop only two to four blood).

Finding Rokaro Once Again. (Desolace)

Now that you've spent all this time on the quest line, you have to go through the joys of finding Rokaro again. Turn in the blood, get your [Drakefire Amulet], rejoice. This part alone is worth 10,900 experience points, so if you were able to do this before reaching 60 you should be most of the way there by now.

Questline Summary

Obtaining the Drakefire Amulet to Enter Onyxia's Lair (Alliance)

 

shortcut iconSee also: The Great Masquerade

Template:Spoiler Dragonkin Menace in the Burning Steppes

True Masters chain in Lakeshire and Stormwind

The search for Marshal Windsor in Blackrock Depths

Jailbreak from Blackrock Depths

  • Escorting Windsor first involves him getting some gear. This is best to do with a group and to have cleared the mobs outside ahead of time as Windsor can easily pull more than a group can handle. Once you sucessfully escort him out of Blackrock Depths, you will meet up with him in Stormwind at the front gates with the quest Stormwind Rendezvous.

The Revelation in Stormwind Keep

  • Head to the Stormwind gates and talk to Squire Rowe. He will get Marshal Windsor. Talk to him to start The Great Masquerade. There is a lot of story which you should just watch - don't try to help.

Haleh directs you to Upper Blackrock Spire

Quest Line

AllianceThe Great Masquerade
Level range 54-60
Zones Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire
Stormwind City, Burning Steppes

The Great Masquerade was the alliance quest chain that leads to obtaining the Inv jewelry talisman 11 [Drakefire Amulet], the key to Onyxia's Lair. This was one of the most arduous quest chains in the game, involving multiple trips into Blackrock Depths, a major event in Stormwind City, and a raid in Upper Blackrock Spire. It could require Lower Blackrock Spire runs as well, to acquire the key to the raid area.

The Great Masquerade

Monumental events, from such simple beginnings...

Prelude: The Dragonkin Menace

Morgan's Vigil struggles to survive against the pressure of the Black Flight. Helendis Riverhorn asks you for help pushing back their forces.

Showing sympathy for the people of Morgan's Vigil, you combat the Black Flight's forces, slaying a great many of them, including a fearsome Black Drake.

As have other people elsewhere on Azeroth, Helendis has other problems, and used this task to see if you would be up to challenges greater yet...

Act 1: The True Masters

Helendis tells you of the outpost's findings: that they believe the Blackrock orcs are under the control of the black dragonflight. Helendis has decided to "kick the issue upstairs", and wants you to take a letter to Magistrate Solomon, in Lakeshire, in the Redridge Mountains.

Solomon opens the letter, and decides that Stormwind must respond, or all is lost. He directs you to Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, in Stormwind Keep.

Bolvar, though, is reluctant to send troops without having undisputable proof. (You may have learned earlier, that it's hard all over, troops are spread thin, and nobody is getting enough military aid... See the Defense of Lakeshire quest chain.)

Bolvar asks you to speak to Lady Prestor, who downplays the situation.

Politician that he is, Bolvar determines to make you an acting deputy of Stormwind, and sends you back to Magistrate Solomon.

Understandably, Solomon is not overjoyed to find that instead of an army, he only gets you...

As deputy of Stormwind, Solomon says, you are required to report to Marshal Maxwell, back at Morgan's Vigil.

When you get there, Maxwell just laughs.

It seems you aren't the first to be so deputized. Brave men and true have been lost in this fight.

The former commander, Marshal Windsor, had gathered a great amount of information before being ambushed and taken by the orcs. The only person to win free of the fight was Ragged John, who has retreated to a cave to the north.

You travel north to Flame Crest, and locate Ragged John, and tease the story out of him. It seems that the orcs failed their assault, and instead the Dark Iron dwarves captured Marshal Windsor alive!

Act 2: The Search for Marshal Windsor

Marshal Maxwell directs you personally to go into the Blackrock Depths and find Windsor.

You gather a small group of adventurers, and venture into the depths. You manage to defeat a number of the Anvilrage guards, including an interrogator who has the key to Windsor's prison cell.

Marshal Windsor is furious with Bolvar. (Join the club, mate. They've got truncheons and inscribed breastplates...) But without his notes, and without Spell frost frostbrand [Ironfoe] (his mace), Windsor is despondent. The situation appears hopeless.

You return to Maxwell, who believes that Windsor has simply gone around the bend. Still, he rewards you for your dangerous work.

Unwilling to completely abandon Marshal Winsor to his fate, you travel back to the depths, and go ... investigating.

On one of the bodies, you discover [a crumpled up note.] The note mentions a couple of high ranking dwarves among the Anvilrage - General Angerforge, and Golem Lord Argelmach.

You take the note to Marshal Windsor, who believes that between them, these two Dark Iron dwarven leaders hold the most of his notes. If you retrieve them, it will be enough to force the issue in Stormwind...

You and your friends venture into the dark places of Blackrock Depths and overcome both the general and the golem lord, retrieving Windsor's plans.

Marshal Windsor seems completely re-energized by the return of the tablets. He insists on leaving the dungeon immediately, and asks your aid in escaping.

First, however, there's some unfinished business that he has to attend to, other members of the patrol he was with, fellow prisoners.

You escort him to a supply closet, where he rearms himself. He may not have Spell frost frostbrand [Ironfoe] with him, but at least he's got good solid steel between him and the world. He leads you across the prison compound to the other cells, where certain people he sets free, and others - treacherous ones - he dispatches rough justice upon.

Eventually, though, you manage your way back out of the depths. Once in the clear, though, even you can't keep up with him. You make your way back to Morgan's Vigil, and talk with Marshal Maxwell. By the time you get there, Windsor has been there and gone again, off to Stormwind.

Act 3: Revelation at Stormwind Keep

Maxwell tells you that Windsor's instructions are for you to meet him at the gates of Stormwind, with as many people as you can gather. (You do recall that Windsor was the post's commander, right? Maxwell was merely standing in for him in absence of direction from the Keep...)

You gather such a force as you are able, and head to Stormwind.

You meet up with Windsor at the gates of Stormwind, resplendent in polished armor, white charger and all. The guard at the gate challenges him, and Lady Prestor calls for his head.

Bolvar countermands her, though, commanding that none of the guards are to touch him.

You escort Windsor through the city to the keep, where he presents his information to the highlord. The highlord is stirred to action, yes, but it is too late for Reginald Windsor - Lady Prestor reveals her true identity as the broodmother Onyxia, slaying the hero and summoning a good portion of the black dragonflight to wreak havoc.

Windsor's act of defiance has broken Onyxia's hold on Bolvar, though, and he makes up for lost time, slaying many of the black dragonflight (with your aid), and forcing Onyxia to retreat.

Act 4: The Drakefire Amulet

Breaking Bolvar's Medallion freed him from Onyxia's control. The amulet also gave him some access to Onyxia's mind, though. With the amulet, you could penetrate the defenses around Onyxia's Lair, and perhaps put an end to her.

But the medallion is shattered, and must be mended if that is to be attempted. While he can't direct you to anyone specific, he can tell you that another of dragonkind might be able to help you rekindle its powers.

You search the world, and after much travail, find yourself in Winterspring, in the presence of the Matron Protectorate of the blue dragonflight, Haleh.

Haleh tells you that the amulet is one of Onyxia's scales, enchanted and transformed. Useless now, she says, but repairable. To repair it, you have to get the blood of a black dragon champion. Haleh directs you to one - General Drakkisath, ruler of the dragonspawn army of Nefarian.

You gather an army, and assault Blackrock Spire, beating back the best the black dragonflight can throw at you. You defeat Rend Blackhand and his mount Gyth, and the chromatic dragonflight that Gyth is part of. And finally, you face and slay the black dragonflight's general himself.

You return to Haleh with a vial of his blood, and watch while she repairs the amulet, restoring its enchantment and effectiveness against Onyxia's wards.

As you leave with the amulet, she wishes you good luck on behalf of the blue dragonflight.

Rewards

Primarily, you get
Inv jewelry talisman 11 [Drakefire Amulet]

This permits entry into Onyxia's Lair. Don't lose it!

Reputation awards from this chain:

One of these from completing A [54D] Abandoned Hope
Inv helmet 01 [Conservator Helm] Inv boots plate 01 [Shieldplate Sabatons]
Inv pants 13 [Windshear Leggings]
One of these from completing A [58D] Jail Break!
Inv sword 26 [Blade of Reckoning] Inv sword 21 [Skilled Fighting Blade]
Inv jewelry talisman 02 [Ward of the Elements]

Notes

Typically this chain requires several trips into dungeons, and at least one raid...

  1. BRD - to complete A [54D] Marshal Windsor.
  2. BRD - to acquire the crumpled note. With luck, combine this run with A [58D] Jail Break!. Otherwise, a third BRD run
  3. UBRS - presuming someone has access to a key to UBRS, a raid to get the blood.

Summary

  1. A [54] Dragonkin Menace
  2. A [54] The True Masters
  3. A [54] The True Masters
  4. A [54] The True Masters
  5. A [54] The True Masters
  6. A [54] The True Masters
  7. A [54] The True Masters
  8. A [54D] Marshal Windsor
  9. A [54D] Abandoned Hope
  10. A [58D] A Crumpled Up Note
  11. A [58D] A Shred of Hope
  12. A [58D] Jail Break!
  13. A [60R] Stormwind Rendezvous
  14. A [60R] The Great Masquerade
  15. A [60R] The Dragon's Eye
  16. A [60R] Drakefire Amulet

Patches and hotfixes

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