Tanaris
 Tanaris | |
|---|---|
| Level 45-50 | |
 | |
| Races |   Goblin
 Sea giant |
| Rulers | Marin Noggenfogger, Baron of Gadgetzan Andre Firebeard, leader of the Southsea Pirates |
| Major settlements | Gadgetzan Lost Rigger Cove |
| Minor settlements | Dunemaul Compound Zul'Farrak |
| Languages | Common, Gnome, Goblin, Low Common, Zandali |
| Faiths | Shamanism |
| Resources | Artifacts, technology, water |
| Affiliation | Neutral |
| Location | South of Thousand Needles |
Tanaris (aka The Tanaris Desert)[1] is a desert located in Southern Kalimdor, east of Un'Goro Crater and south of Thousand Needles. It is an arid land, covered in sand dunes and frequently exposed to dangerous sandstorms. The Steamwheedle Cartel goblins have established Steamwheedle Port and Gadgetzan as their main centers of operation. The dock in Steamwheedle Port was presumably used for transport to the outer islands of the Undermine, the goblin capital, but it was destroyed in the cataclysm, which also brought the ocean to Gadgetzan, where the goblins built a new dock for their shipping needs.
Contents |
History
Tanaris has been an endless sea of sand for aeons. Nozdormu, the great dragon of time, was said to make this land his home since time immemorial, thriving in the solitude of oppressive heat and miles of sand.[2]
Tanaris is the ancestral home of the bronze dragonflight based out of the Caverns of Time. The titans also have a holding here in the form of an entrance to the ancient land of Uldum, found in the southern parts of the desert. It was here that Anachronos first discovered the full threat of the silithid, who had been making hives in the remote regions of Tanaris. The War of the Shifting Sands was consequently unleashed upon the western land of Silithus.
Getting there
While questing through Thousand Needles players will be sent from the Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge south through the Shimmering Deep and through the mountain pass to the south. Gadgetzan will be soon after entering.
There are also portals in Dalaran (The Violet Citadel) and Shattrath (World's End Tavern, by talking to Zephyr - requires Revered with Keepers of Time) which take you to the entry of the Caverns of Time.
Geography
Tanaris covers a vast expanse of Southern Kalimdor, just south of Thousand Needles. It is a blazing hot expanse of rolling sand dunes under a cloudless sky. The southern region is more mountainous, with large cavern networks, with some extending deep beneath the surface. A vast realm, Tanaris holds many secrets. The land is mostly desert, and below ground are gigantic tunnel networks. They remain largely unexplored, for few have the fortitude to venture into such a harsh landscape. Still, rumors tell of all manner of creatures that hide within the tunnels and slaughter trespassers without hesitation. Although the sea of dunes does not look as if it would support a variety of wildlife, humans, Sandfury trolls, hyenas, scorpids, basilisks, and silithid bugs are quite common. Occasionally, drakes are also seen soaring on the thermals that swirl over the great desert.[2]
Tanaris contains quite a few instances, including all the Caverns of Time instances, as well as Zul'Farrak.
Maps and subregions
Dungeons
| Dungeon Name | Level Range | Group Size | Approximate Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Zul'Farrak |
46-49 | 5-man | 2–3 hours |
  Caverns of Time: Escape from Durnholde Keep |
66-68 | 5-man | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Caverns of Time: Opening the Dark Portal |
70 | 5-man | 45 minutes |
 Caverns of Time: Battle for Mount Hyjal |
70 | 25-man | Unknown |
 Caverns of Time: Culling of Stratholme |
80 | 5-man | Unknown |
 Caverns of Time: Endtime |
85 | 5-man | Unknown |
| Caverns of Time: Well of Eternity |
85 | 5-man | Unknown |
| Caverns of Time: Hour of Twilight |
85 | 5-man | Unknown |
| Caverns of Time: Dragon Soul |
85 | 10/25-man | Unknown |
Travel hubs
Regions adjacent to Tanaris
| Zone Name | Faction | Level Range | Direction | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Needles |  
|
40-45 | North | By foot or by flying |
| Un'Goro Crater |
|
50-55 | West | By foot or by flying |
| Uldum
|
|
83-84 | Southwest | By foot or by flying |
Notable characters
- Main article: Tanaris NPCs
Tanaris is home to several characters of note such as Narain Soothfancy and Marin Noggenfogger.
Quests
- Main article: Tanaris quests
Resources
- Herbs
- Leather
-
[Heavy Leather]
-
[Thick Leather]
-
[Rugged Leather]
-
[Turtle Scale] (Skinning level 38-53 turtles)
-
[Scorpid Scale] (Skinning level 40-50 scorpids)
-
- Ore
Wild creatures
- Air elementals
- Basilisks
- Bronze dragons
- Bursters
- Crabs
- Earth elementals
- Hyenas
- Lashers
- Serpents
- Scorpids
- Silithid
- Skeletal wind serpents
- Snakes
- Stone golems
- Turtles
- Rocs
Gallery
Gadgetzan as seen in Cataclysm
Gadgetzan docks
New shipyard
The surrounding devastation - roaming sea giants
The surrounding devastation - pirate ships in the distance
Steamwheedle Port in Cataclysm (from the official site)
Uldum 'dungeon' gate
Uldum 'dungeon'
Uldum 'dungeon'
Uldum zone entrance
New plant flora. Beware!
Zul'Farrak from the air
Notes
- Before patch 4.0.1, Alliance players didn't have any travel hubs in Thousand Needles, so Gadgetzan made a great alternative to get to Shimmering Flats since it was just a short run over the hill to get there. Even Horde players could benefit from this shortcut as it was even faster than running from Freewind Post.
- There is an alternative route to get to Tanaris that is much quicker for players in Dustwallow Marsh. By traveling to the Theramore Docks, on the eastern coast of Dustwallow, and swimming south around the mountains that surround the Shimmering Flats, you can easily get to Steamweedle Port, so long as you hug the shoreline; failure to do so will result in death by fatigue. This is made much easier using a Swim Speed Potion, a druid's Aquatic Form, a shaman's Water Walking or a similar ability.
References
- ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 210-211, 230
- ^ a b Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 210
External links
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