[Cataclysm Alpha] (Gilneas, Westfall) Story (UPDATE: Hyjal, Darkshore Screens inside)

[Dies Irae]

Since the Alpha-Servers are currently down, here is the first batch of Stonetalon Mountains Screens. More to come, as soon as the servers are back online & I'm awake again.















Remember that it's just a small part of Stonetalon Mountains as I just started questing there.
Some word on the screens. There are some Elite-Mobs having a flamethrower, they carry a gas-tank on their back which is attackable. By killing it, it explodes and kills the mob.
I got to ride a Zeppelin, with a huge bomb hanging from it, more details on that as soon as I start talkin' bout the storylines. Killing some flying mobs with the cannons was fun as well, the first time they fall from their flying mount a glide down with a parachute, so you'll need to shoot them again, that's when they fall apart into piles of meat :]
In the Windshear Crag Horde and Alliance are fighting all the time. On one of those screens you see Gnomes & Gnomish Pummelbots fighting against Goblins & Goblin Shredders.
Concluding, I may say that I have high hopes concerning this zone.

This is also edited into my blogpost.

[kashay]

Hey I was wondering, Blizzard said questing was going to be a straight line in cataclysm not like On live servers where you have to go everywhere in search of quests -Does this make a huge difference in leveling speed and is it more fun?

[Dies Irae]

Well, I need to say that questing got more streamlined, as you often get quests which lead you to the next questhub. And I made the experience, that those quests are often accompanied by a free ride which is offered by the questgiver. So after finishing one questhub you get much faster to the next. Up until now I had very much fun while leveling, although I'm that kind of person, that hates leveling. And I got the feeling that it is going much faster, but as I take many screenshots & write alot on the topic, I can't 100% validate that it goes much faster.

[mbaletic]

Very good pics, keep doing it... May I ask, how did you get in Alpha?

[Fojar38]

Regarding the Westfall storyline, I don't suppose you have more information on Varian's standing and what he's been doing? The Defias accusation sound VERY out of character for him, and although that's most likely propaganda, I'm curious about the homeless people; are they homeless from Deathwing's attack on Stormwind?

[Vutenheim]

Because a new build is out, is there any thing on the Alpha forums about the finished Gilneas ending?

[DarkReborn]

I'm curious about the homeless people; are they homeless from Deathwing's attack on Stormwind?

Yes, they are supposed to be, as a part of Stormwind has been destroyed.

As for Varian, it could be half-propaganda, half-truth. I mean, wars cost money, resources and lives. The population doesn't like prolonged wars. Angry population + war haste= mass revolt/rebel groups gain power (which is what the Defias seem to be).

Alternatively, it could be all a clever plan by Deathwing and his silbings. Remember, it was Katrana Prestor -Onixya- who led to the creation of the Defias Brotherhood, it would be a clever strategy for Deathwing to deliberately destroy a part of Stormwind to make this happen.

[Takis_GR]

is that jaina next to wrynn?

[Ikatsu]

Are you going to finish the Ashenvale preview?

[Moaradin]

Westfall

Jaina in stormwind? Isn't she supposed to be in Theramore? Has she become queen considering Tiffin Wrynn died at the stormwind riot and Varian has been without a wife for a long time?

[Dies Irae]

is that jaina next to wrynn?

Yes it is.

As for the Ashenvale preview: I don't know yet, as the questlines seemed kinda... boring :/ The whole Dartol's Rod Questline as almost similar to the Vanilla-version, there are just few additions...

DarkReborn?

What do you mean by Onyxia/Katrana Prestor was involved in the founding of the Defias Brotherhood? She wasn't... :X

[ultrasaw]

So have you managed to get a feel on Varian's status in the Alliance? Likes? Disliked? And what's Jaina's purpose of being in Stormwind?

Any news on stromgarde?

Are you annoyed at all the questions yet?

:P

[Gray2010]

I can't remember much about the lore on Stormwind, i think it was on the Wiki about it. But the reason Onyxia was part of the Defias storyline was because she had sway/mindcontrolled the Noblemen, which in the end caused the rioting within the streets of Stormwind.

And about Jaina - Theramore has been completely flooded out due to the Cataclysm, so its likely that she is in Stormwind until it dries up a bit.

[ultrasaw]

Are you sure about that? Last I heard Theramore was fine, and it had a new bridge + tons of alliance sieges going into the barrens. I also heard that that's where Anduin was at looking over the Alliance's best interest in Kalimdor. But i'm not sure how true that last part is.

[Moaradin]

Ah. I thought now that Arthas is officially dead, she would become queen of stormwind or something. Jaina is always good to keep around near Varian cause he does get angry a lot of times, but usually gets over it. Was kinda hoping Calia menethil would become the queen, strengthening the bond between stormwind humans and old Lordaeron humans... But she is nowhere to be found and we don't even know if shes alive or not. She should be the same age as Varian too, I think.