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What does this information mean?
Notes[]
- The former access quest for this instance, The Gates of Cauldron Hollow, is no longer required.
- An old key, a random drop in Nektulos Forest, offers the quest The Witch's Key and grants access to a special one-time instance of Cauldron Hollow called Cauldron Hollow: The Witches' Cove.
- The heritage quest Restoring Ghoulbane is updated by killing the final boss, Descendant of the Torig.
- Cauldron Hollow was revamped with LU45. It is now a heroic zone requiring a single group of players 30-36. There are 3 sub-bosses to be defeated, Bumwuk the Opressor, Haunted Nightmare, and The Troll Plunderer. The final boss, Descendant of the Torig, is an 35^^^ heroic with two no-arrow adds. He hits extremely hard so make sure your healer realizes this before going in.
Background[]
“ | For nearly two ages the name Cauldron Hollow has filled the minds of Norrathians with mystery. Cauldron Hollow as once a dark elf depot for resources ferried in from Lake Neriuss. This depot was nestled into the seaside cliffs of Nektulos Forest. Its location was ideal for defense; should a great invasion conquer the territory a small force would be able to hold up inside and await reinforcements from Neriak. This was soon to be tested.
In the latter days of The Age of Turmoil the Teir'Dal empire's command of Nektulos Forest was challenged. A massive force of the then current regime, the Thex Empire, was sent far across the Ocean of Tears to launch a titanic invasion against the elven lands within Greater Faydark. Hundreds of war galleys and troop barges departed the lands controlled by the Thex Empire in hopes of conquering the lands of the light-elves. This left much of their empire poorly defended. A perfect window of opportunity for the forces of light. With the surface provinces of the Thex Empire undermanned, the empires of man and their allies invaded the Teir'Dal province of Nektulos Forest. The word was given to have the Knights of the Beacon to light the Torches of Forewarning. These tall pillars rest all along the Thex Highway in Nektulos. Once lit, they signaled the three [dark elven] lords [of the region] to advance and hold three key positions in Nektulos. So the lords and their garrisons marched to their objectives and would [drive] away the rangers knowing that reinforcements would soon arrive from Neriak. Lord J'Narus would march to Cauldron Hollow. There he ordered the gates of the depot locked and positioned himself in the Citadel of Gul'thex to protect the main pass leading towards Cauldron Hollow. Lord T'Velk would hold the north bridge with a small force of dragoons. N'Mar's Ascent would be the position of Lord U'Kaltax. So there the three lords and their forces would await the Kithicor Rangers and hold long enough for reinforcements from below. This would not be. The elite Kithicor Rangers stormed into the woods cutting a swathe through the vanguard phalanx of dragoons. A great BOOM! shook the ground! The floor of the entire forest began to temble. It was unknown to the Dragoons of Gul'Thex, but the passage to Neriak just collapsed. There would be no reinforcements. The dragoons were fated to die this day in bloody battle. Much dark elf blood was spilt that day. They were outnumbered and without cavalry support. Innoruuk was proud of their valiant stand, but it was in vain. Little did they know that as they lay dying on the field of battle that their homeland below had just been sealed from the surface. The Age of Cataclysms arrived and with it came great destruction the likes of which has never been seen. Great cities toppled, millions of souls were sent to the Gray Fields to away eternity. The great cataclysms ripped the continent of Antonica into many pieces. The destruction would last at a century. When the world calmed, Cauldron Hollow [had] survived, but would [later] vanish. [Every] merchant mariner knew of Cauldron Hollow, but after the Age of Cataclysms [word spread that] it ceased to exist while existing at the same time. All records of the location of this vale were lost. Those who once knew the name Cauldron Hollow knew it no longer. It became a mystery to the few who heard its name in The Age of Destiny. What manner of arcane powers veils this place from the world? It is there. I have seen it. |
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