#Nar'jira

[fromtheempress]

Fish Fridays Feature: Nar'jira and the Naz'jar Battlemaiden Questline

Nar'jira, the Naz'jar battlemaiden. (Source: Wowpedia)

In the quest achievement "Visions of Vashj'ir Past", players complete a series of quests in which a Naz'jar battlemaiden, Nar'jira, fights the invading Kvaldir to free the underwater city of Vashj'ir from their grasp. The player picks up what turns out to be a broken prong from a naga trident, and using it as a focus, is able to see into the past where the Naz'jar battlemaiden's questline takes place.

In the "Reoccupation" quest we are introduced to this battlemaiden, in a conversation: Fathom-Stalker Azjentus says: I could hear the sound of your trident breaking from the gardens! The skulls of these Kvaldir are as hard as rock.

Naz'jar Battlemaiden says: A single prong. Hardly enough to stop me from slaughtering hundreds more.

Fathom-Stalker Azjentus says: Indeed. I doubt much would.

In time, the battlemaiden is introduced to Lady Naz'jar, (later a boss in the "Throne of the Tides" dungeon). It appears that Lady Naz'jar is spearheading the assault to regain control of Vashj'ir and kill the Kvaldir. In Naz'jars' words, "The echoes of this defeat must ring in their minds so that they will not dare return to threaten our purpose here." What that purpose is becomes clear in the quest "Stolen Property", in which the battlemaiden must retrieve a stolen object called "The Crucible of Nazsharin". Lady Sira'kess, a prominent naga priestess, plans to use the Crucible to summon the aid of the Old Gods in the fight against the Kvaldir.

The Crucible of Nazsharin. Source: Wowwiki.

Upon success, the Kvaldir are pushed back and their leader is slain by the battlemaiden, who is then crowned Champion of Azshara for her efforts. The questline offers some insight not only into castes in naga society (Lady Naz'jar mentions the warrior caste whispering of the battlemaiden's prowess), but also a deeper look into how naga fight (the battlemaiden has several spells at her disposal, wields a trident with extreme efficiency, and is able to push herself to tremendous bursts of speed when heading for the site of battle). One is left with the impression that at least some of the naga are truly a force to be reckoned with. Once the Naz'jar battlemaidens questline ends, however, she is not seen anywhere again, either in Throne of the Tides or in any subsequent expansions.

Fun Facts and Speculation:

A little insight is offered into the personality of Lady Vashj herself when Lady Naz'jar says "Lady Vashj is nothing like her mother. It is little wonder she left this city so long ago". Given that the only surviving portrait of Lady Vashj's mother Lestharia is a statue which reads that she was a kind and benevolent ruler, one wonders what sort of person her daughter truly was. Regardless, both women seem to be remarkable characters with their own stories to tell.

Nar'jira, the Naz'jar battlemaiden, is speculated to have been slated to appear in a scrapped instance, the Abyssal Maw. It was meant to be a five man instance, and was to take place in a corrupted shell known as Nespirah. but the storyline and setting was "not convincing and fitting" to the developers (Wowwiki).

It is interesting to note that the Crucible of Nazsharin was said to have been a part of Vashj'ir for a long time, but it is unlikely to have been there before the Sundering, due to the Kaldorei not knowing of the Elder Gods in anything but stories. This is, of course, unless the Vashj family or Vashj'ir itself had pre-sundering connections to the Old Gods, as Vashj's medallion when she tries to kill Tyrande Whisperwind seems to vaguely suggest.

“Fish Fridays” is a look into the various Naga personalities that populate the waters of  Azeroth and Draenor,to give our worthy readers a greater sense of the Naga world and the creatures Vashj often interacts with.

Lore sources and links are all from Wowwiki and Wowpedia.

[dandelionofthanatos]

Brontide - Narjira

She cursed the moment she ever heard of the Crucible; the moment she’d laid a hand upon it, any peace she once knew vanished, morning mist in the cold wind.

Nar’jira knew her actions at this moment would be considered those of a traitor…to commune with the dead was forbidden…but what of the betrayal of the one who called herself the Benefactor, the Origin? What of the forbidden things the Flower of Ten Thousand Tides held at her beck and call?

Nar’jira closed her eyes, rested her four palms and her forehead against the still shell of L’Ghorek. There was a stirring in the water, a heaviness in the air that bore down upon the surface of the sea; there was no such stirring within the silent form of the Ancient. The slow currents brought the tang of distant lightning to Nar’jira’s lips, even as the water around L’Ghorek tasted only of broken stone. It did not stir. He did not stir.

Ancient and Knowing, I was once said to be born under your stars, within your tides. They told me I was blessed by you. Now they say you abandoned us, and have wrung the life from you in revenge. I thought my hand in your death was righteous, that you were the one who had betrayed me..but all I was ever told has been a lie upon a lie upon a lie.

Her hands clenched into fists; her talons cut into her palms.

Again, the taste of the lightning came to her; now after, there came the infrasound pulse of its strike. The storm was drawing nearer, now. As in the Abyss, so in the world above. Unrest and chaos everywhere, ever deepening.

Nar’jira closed her eyes, bitter tears vanishing into the salt sea.

Again, there spoke the thunder, almost like L’Ghorek’s voice. Was it the storm or the Ancient?

L’Ghorek, you have no reason to love me, but I beg of you to guide me.

The taste of lightning-struck water was stronger now; dimly, Nar’jira could see the flickering above. 

Years ago, the Lady Amaltheia Vashj was called away by one who spoke through the thunder.

Perhaps...perhaps...

Lightning struck directly above, sending shimmering tingles through Nar’jira’s awareness. The pulse of the thunder shook her to the core, and a voice came to her through the thunder. From beyond, from beneath, from the soul of the Abyss, L’Ghorek’s immortal will spoke like thunder.

Go. She waits.

She waits for you.

So bidden, Nar’jira left her shattered life behind, to be reborn in the service of Lady Amaltheia...the first of them who left to follow the voice of the thunder.

[fromtheempress]

Fish Fridays feature: The lost Irontide and the Naga of Cataclysm: The Azsh'ir

The Irontide naga, one of whom was the Irontide Engineer, were to be part of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, but were removed from the game after beta.

Speculation: Given the name Irontide, and the fact that one of the Irontide was an engineer, one would assume that this faction of naga would have been mechanically inclined, and able to perform feats of engineering. If that were the case the naga would have likely gained a greater foothold on the surface lands of Azeroth; one can only imagine the destruction that would follow were the naga inclined to create mechanical weapons and other items or buildings.

While it is true that the naga were overseeing operations involving complex mechanics in Outland, (for example Coilfang Reservoir), the plans for them were conceived by gnomes and built by slave labor (the Broken Draenei). It might be argued, however, that the naga were perfectly well able to build mechanics but were likely for the most part uninterested in using anything other than magic and brute force to accomplish their aims.

Vashj'ir. Image source: author's screenshot.

In the deeps surrounding the sunken city of Vashj'ir, the Azsh'ir stand guard in the Shimmering Expanse and the forests of Kelp'thar.

The Azsh'ir stationed in Vashj'ir comprise a large force; some, however, are not from the present, but from a vision of the past that the player experiences in the Shimmering Expanse. All the Az'shir naga are listed here:

Azsh'ir Abductor

 Azsh'ir Archaean

 Azsh'ir Abyss Priestess

Azsh'ir Assailant

Azsh'ir Depthseeker

Azsh'ir Infantry

Azsh'ir Manhunter

Azsh'ir Monitor

Azsh'ir Patroller

Azsh'ir Raider

Azsh'ir Scout

Azsh'ir Sentry

Azsh'ir Soldier

Azsh'ir Warrior

Azsh'ir Wave Screamer

Azsh'ir Wavebreaker

The Azsh'ir naga appear in the Cataclysm expansion, in the Shimmering Expanse of Vashj'ir and in the Abyssal depths, many in the role of abductors and assailants of both the Alliance and Horde. They have seized hold of the ruins of Vash'ir, appearing in the Quel'Dormir gardens, the Nar'shola terrace, and the Biel'Aran Ridge,all of which form a large part of the once-great city ruled by Lestharia Vashj.

Azsh'ir Infantry. (Source: Wowpedia)

Some of the Azsh'ir naga are simple warriors and patrollers, creatures to be slain in quests such as The Looming Threat, and Caught off Guard.

Some of the other naga, however, such as the Raiders, appear in an entertaining quest called "Visions of Vashj'ir Past" in which the player assumes the role of a Naz'jar Battlemaiden in past battles (more on that in another Fish Fridays post). Fun Facts and Speculation:

Some of the Azsh'ir idols of Queen Azshara, ( "Azsh'ir Idols"), are worshipped by the Bloodwash Naga (in a quest in the Blasted Lands, a murloc spirit gives you the task of destroying their idols, stating that "Neptulon is still their god" and not Azshara). This quest offers an insight into the chaotic relationship between Azsharas' forces and the Tide Lord Neptulon.

The Azsh'ir Wave Screamers use an ability called "Hymn of Lady Sira'kess". Lady Sira'kess, a key figure in the Naz'jar battlemaidens' visions, was once thought to be Lady Sira'len, a night elf priestess who was close to Lestharia Vashj, transformed into a Naga. There appears to be no lore supporting this theory now, however. Lady Sira'kess also appears as a card in the Hearthstone Card Game.

Lady Sira'kess, an image used for the Hearthstone game. Image Source: Wowpedia

“Fish Fridays” is a look into the various Naga personalities that populate the waters of  Azeroth and Draenor,to give our worthy readers a greater sense of the Naga world and the creatures Vashj often interacts with.

Lore sources and links are all from Wowwiki and Wowpedia.

[fromtheempress]

Fish Fridays feature: Naga of Cataclysm: Lady Naz'jar and the Naz'jar tribe

Art of Lady Naz'jar from the Warcraft TCG. source: Wowpedia.

From the ancient underwater ruins of the Shimmering Expanse to the depths of the Abyssal Maw, Lady Naz'jar and her Naz'jar naga are key to re-capturing the strategic city of Vashj'ir in the name of their queen, Azshara, and also play an important role in the plot to capture an Elemental Lord of the deeps.

In times past, the Naz'jar found themselves fighting the Kvaldir warriors in the contested zone of ancient Vashj'ir, the ruins of a once great Kaldorei city within the Shimmering Expanse. This is explored during the questline of Nar'jira, the Naz'jar Battlemaiden (who was covered in my last fish fridays post).

In times present, however, it is the Azsh'ir naga tribe who now hold Vashj'ir in the name of Azshara in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Lady Naz'jar, who in the past helped re-capture Vashj'ir during a memory of the Naz'jar battlemaiden, is now a boss in the "Throne of the Tides" dungeon; she is part of the plot to capture the Elemental Lord known as Neptulon the Tidehunter.

The struggle between Neptulon the Tidehunter, once a servant to the ancient evil of the Old Gods, and Azshara's naga, who are in thrall to the Old Gods, is hinted at in the quest False Idols, in which a murloc spirit tells the player that the Bloodwash naga tribe is worshipping idols of Queen Azshara, and not Neptulon. According to the murloc spirit, "Neptulon is still their God" and not Azshara. The fight between the Tidehunter and the naga plays out in the Throne of the Tides dungeon, where the Lady Naz'jar has captured Neptulon, and the players must free him. Ultimately, Lady Naz'jar is killed, leading the Kraken Lord Ozumat, a servant of the Old Gods, to steal Neptulon away. It is now known that Neptulon breaks free of Ozumats' grasp, however, and returns to the Abyssal Maw. Neptulon has turned against the Old Gods he used to serve; he still retains the title and power of an Elemental Lord.

Tidehunter Neptulon, captured by the Naga, from the WoW TCG. source: Wowpedia

The ranks of Naga among the Naz'jar include:

 Naz'jar Battlemaiden (Naz'jar battlemaiden questline)

 Naz'jar Honor Guard (Throne of the Tides, Shimmering Expanse and Abyssal Depths)

 Naz'jar Invader (Throne of the Tides)

 Naz'jar Sentinel (Throne of the Tides)

Naz'jar Serpent Guard (Naz'jar battlemaiden questline)

Naz'jar Soldier (Throne of the Tides)

Naz'jar Sorceress (Naz'jar battlemaiden questline)

Naz'jar Spitfire (Naz'jar battlemaiden questline)

 Naz'jar Spiritmender (Throne of the Tides)

 Naz'jar Tempest Witch (Throne of the Tides)

Naz'jar Harpooner (TCG)

Naz'jar Myrmidon (TCG)

Fun Facts and Speculation:

In the graphic novel "Pearl of Pandaria", which is set during the Mists of Pandaria expansion, a naga sea witch who appears very similar to Lady Naz'jar asks the naga Zahara Darksquall to find the continent of Pandaria, for it holds the "future of Azeroth" (wowpedia).

Zahara, in turn, seeks an item called the "Pearl of Pandaria", believing it is important in her quest to find Pandaria itself. She loses track of the pearl, however; it ends up in the hands of a Pandaren fisherman named Wanyo who disappears afterwards. The pearl itself seems to have the ability of a seeing-stone, showing the user images relevant to their present and future. This is illustrated when Wanyo is swallowed by the turtle "Shen Shin Zu", where the pearl not only shows him the best fishing spots inside the great beast but also shows him sailing out of the turtle eventually, predicting his future. Eventually the stone is taken from Wanyo by the pandaren elders of the Wandering Isle and stored in the Wanderering Isles' Library.

Given Lady Naz'jar's personal comment to Nar'jira in the "By Her Lady's Word" quest: " Lady Vashj is nothing like her mother. It is little wonder she left this city so long ago", one wonders if Naz'jar had a special relationship with the Vashj family.

Lady Naz'jar also turns up as the boss of the "Ruined City wing", in the Hearthstone card game expansion called "League of Explorers".

Executioner Verathress executing a Kvaldir. source: Wowpedia

Executioner Verathress, who appears in the Naz'jar battlemaiden questline as executing a Kvaldir High Shaman, is likely a Naz'jar Naga as well.

“Fish Fridays” is a look into the various Naga personalities that populate the waters of  Azeroth and Draenor,to give our worthy readers a greater sense of the Naga world and the creatures Vashj often interacts with.

Lore sources, photos and links are all from Wowwiki, Wowpedia, and Wikipedia.