Crystalsong Forest

Crystalsong Forest, also known as Crystal Song WoodsReally Big Worm and originally called Moonsong,World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 95 is a landlocked region in the middle of Northrend.
==History==
Originally known as Moonsong Forest, the outpost of Shandaral was established here during the height of the Kaldorei Empire, around 10,000 BDP, in the northern reaches of Ancient Kalimdor. It was to be a repository of arcane relics and artifacts that the Highborne collected. When the continent was shattered by the Great Sundering, the elves living there were isolated from the rest of the world. With no source of power to sustain them, they were left vulnerable to disease and other ailments. For centuries, the Shandaral Highborne scoured the forests of Moonsong for a means to sustain themselves.
Around 6,000 BDP, after witnessing blue dragons crystallize living things and draw power from them, the elves tried to interact with the dragons, who responded with either ignorance or open hostility. Out of desperation, a group of Highborne sorcerers infiltrated the Nexus and learned the dragons' techniques, but greed pushed them to pilfer some of the powerful relics stored in the blue flight's lair. This triggered magical wards which sent the blues into a frenzy. Though the elves managed to escape with their lives, they knew that the dragons would retaliate.
Dozens of blue dragons indeed came down upon Shandaral. The elven sorcerers, desperate to save themselves, gathered on a cliff overlooking Moonsong, and agreed to use techniques they had acquired from the Nexus. They focused their power, hoping to crystallize a small portion of the forest and use its energies as a weapon to destroy the dragons. Their attempt failed horribly, as their reckless casting set off an enormous explosion, releasing a torrent of energy that crystallized the entire forest.
The physical form of most every living creature in the region, except for the blue dragons who had sensed the impending spellwork and left, was instantly shattered, while their spirits were warped by the spell and cursed to mindlessly wander the haunted land which would become known as Crystalsong Forest. Those that survived were twisted into maddened half-crystal creatures that attacked anyone they saw, such as the crystal satyrs and crystal dryads.
Their last living remnants appear to be the Unbound, who still wander the ruins of their ancient home.
Approximately 1,500 years later, in 4,500 BDP, Fandral Staghelm planted branches of Nordrassil across Northrend to stop the spread of saronite. One of these branches was placed within Crystalsong, and would eventually become a Great Tree in Crystalsong.World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 124
===War against the Lich King===
By the time of the war against the Lich King, the magical city of Dalaran was lifted and moved over Crystalsong Forest, not far from Icecrown. The Violet Stand was created as a land-outpost beneath Dalaran and was protected by a magical barrier to keep it safe from outside threats. The Silver Covenant and Sunreavers also moved into the region, claiming the areas of Windrunner's Overlook and Sunreaver's Command; two ruined Highborne towers. The blue dragonflight, in pursuit of the Kirin Tor as part of the Nexus War, had set up the Azure Front as well as several Surge needles.
===Recent times===
Several years following the fall of the Lich King, the Bronzebeard brothers returned to Northrend and cataloged their adventures. They made note that the Violet Stand no longer existed, though many other outposts still remained.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 62 The Azure Front remained active as an outpost, with the surge needles having been disabled; though the area still patrolled by dragonkin.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 66 The Sunreavers and Silver Covenant also remained active in the area in their respective outposts; despite neither outpost serving much of any purpose during the original wars.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 68
==Geography==
Crystalsong Forest is a barren place, though possessed of a sort of haunting loveliness in its strangeness.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 60
===Map and subregions===
*The Azure Front
*Dalaran
*The Decrepit Flow
*Forlorn Woods
*The Great Tree
*The Mirror of Twilight
*The Twilight Rivulet
*The Unbound Thicket
**Ruins of Shandaral
**Sunreaver's Command
**Windrunner's Overlook
*Violet Stand
----
;Undisplayed locations
*Path of the Titans
----
; Warcraft RPG
*The Chamber
===Travel hubs===
; Flight paths from Windrunner's Overlook
*Fordragon Hold, Dragonblight
*Frosthold, Storm Peaks
*Wintergarde Keep, Dragonblight
*Dalaran, Crystalsong Forest
*Ebon Watch, Zul'Drak
*K3, Storm Peaks
; Flight paths from Sunreaver's Command
*Grom'arsh Crash-Site, Storm Peaks
*Kor'kron Vanguard, Dragonblight
*Dalaran, Crystalsong Forest
*Ebon Watch, Zul'Drak
*K3, Storm Peaks
; Flight paths from Dalaran
*Fordragon Hold, Dragonblight
*Frosthold, Storm Peaks
*Windrunner's Overlook, Crystalsong Forest
*Grom'arsh Crash-Site, Storm Peaks
*Kor'kron Vanguard, Dragonblight
*Sunreaver's Command, Crystalsong Forest
*Ebon Watch, Zul'Drak
*Wyrmrest Temple, Dragonblight
;Other transportation
*Teleport to Dalaran Crystal (requires having used Teleport to Violet Stand Crystal)
===Adjacent regions===
Zone Name 	Faction	Level Range	Direction	Access
Dragonblight 	 	61 - 80 	South 	By foot or flight path
Zul'Drak 	 	64 - 80 	East 	By foot or flight path
The Storm Peaks	 	67 - 80 	North 	By foot or flight path
Icecrown 	 	67 - 80 	Northwest	By foot or flight path
==Notable characters==
Crystalsong Forest is home to a group of high elves from the Silver Covenant, and an opposing group of blood elves from the Sunreavers. They are led by Scout Captain Daelin and Scout Captain Elsia, respectively. At the Violet Stand, a group of Kirin Tor mages led by Gatekeeper Melindra stand guard against the encroaching blue dragonflight, and above, the great enchanted city of Dalaran hovers in place, with a large populace of its own.
==Resources==
*Mining
**Cobalt Ore
**Saronite Ore
**Titanium Ore
*Skinning
**Borean Leather
**Arctic Fur
*Fishing
**Bonescale Snapper
**Borean Man O' War
**Darkwater Clam
**Glassfin Minnow
**Imperial Manta Ray
**Pygmy Suckerfish
**Rockfin Grouper
**Reinforced Crate
**Sea Turtle (mount)
==Dig sites==
Crystalsong Forest has two dig sites:
#Violet Stand; contains Night Elf Archaeology Fragments.
#Ruins of Shandaral; contains Night Elf Archaeology Fragments.
==Wild creatures==
* Darkhounds
* ghosts
* Stags
* Saber Worgs
==In the RPG==
Crystalsong Forest is a very unique place located in Northrend. Picture a forest crafted from crystal, but it would not be accurate since these are not trees. Imagine a place where crystals are as tall as trees sprout from the ground, though the ground itself is crystal as well. Better think of a winter scene, snow and ice blanketing the ground, rocks and trees. Then change that snow and ice to crystal that glows from within. That is as close as someone can describe this forest and it does not begin to explain the beauty and peace that fills it. The crystals make noise — they sing. Ancient magic is at work here.Lands of Mystery, pg. 97
Crystalsong has few residents, though they defend the forest effectively. Its crystals contain mysterious and impressive magic, enough to tempt any arcanist or tinker. For those allowed entry, the forest also provides an easy way to reach the Storm Peaks, Zul'Drak, Icecrown Glacier or the Dragonblight.Lands of Mystery, pg. 98
In Kaskala some tuskarr can tell you some rumors about Crystalsong Forest's history although several of these rumors conflict, and who knows if they have any truth to them. One thing is sure though, the Scourge cannot pass through this forest.Lands of Mystery, pg. 99
===History===
Crystalsong Forest was not always as it is now. Once, it resembled a normal landscape. Then, black and blue dragons fought a great battle here where lots of them died. Their magic released into the air and settled as glittering light on the ground, rocks and trees. Finally, an elder blue dragon, beset by many blacks, unleashed a powerful spell to strip the life from his attackers and turn them to stone. The loose magic altered and amplified the spell, spreading it across the entire region and changing soil, stone, wood and flesh into living crystal. Only the Great Tree was spared, protected by its green dragon guardians. After the battle ended, the storm giants investigated this strange new place discovering in the process that the crystals contained strong magic of their own, and began mining the forest for their own purposes. They created crystalline golems to handle the actual work, and left these creatures to defend the forest and carry crystals back to Ulduar.
When the Dark One arrived in Northrend, he immediately sensed the power of the forest. He dispatched several of his mightiest servants to secure the region for his use. The golems destroyed them, and the green dragons eliminated the servants who approached the Great Tree. The Dark One tried again, this time sending a small army into Crystalsong, and this time the forest itself took steps. As the monstrosities approached, the forest's song grew louder, shaking every spire, and the creatures burst like shattered glass. The Dark One never made a third attempt, perhaps accepting that some force protected the forest and would not let him pass.
===People and culture===
Only two races live within Crystalsong Forest: crystalline golems and green dragons. Neither are particularly friendly or have any real home or culture.
The crystalline golems are constructs created by the storm giants up in Ulduar who use crystal from this forest in their experiments and items, and send the golems to fetch it. The golems also protect this place from travelers who might despoil it or settle here and destroy the region's magic. But if you are peaceful, you may pass trough the forest freely.
Green dragons live only around the Great Tree. They don't care about anyone that is crossing the forest unless they approach the Great Tree, in which case they will be warned and destroyed if do not turn back.
===Geography===
thumb|Map of Crystalsong Forest in Lands of Mystery.
The ground here rolls slightly, not enough to produce real hills or valleys but enough to keep it from being utterly flat. The crystals vary in size, from a few feet to hundreds of feet high, and from a small tree to a large house in width. Small streams flow here and there, probably where snowmelt has worn channels in the crystal. When those streams reach the edge of one level and fall to the next they turn into waterfalls. It is breathtaking watching that water cascade down, lit from behind by the crystals' light.
It is unknown who dubbed this place a forest, though. Some people would have found more fitting naming it as Crystalsong Canyon, or Valley or Landscape. Many of the crystals do rise like trees, tall and straight, but others are wide and flat or slightly curved or tilted at some strange angle. It really is an entire land of crystal, as if something took an ordinary region and transformed everything within it.
The only other creatures here are birds. They perch everywhere, flitting from crystal to crystal and singing as they go. The sound echoes, and the crystals resonate to it, amplifying notes and creating new melodies from several sources. The forest itself seems to be playing music, and you can feel it through your feet and up through your bones. It is lovely and in most places so soft you strain to hear it, but it never completely fades. It is important to note, though, that even if there were no birds here, the crystals would still sing. This is old magic and has nothing to do with wildlife.
The Great Tree is the only settlement of any sort in the forest, although there is a mysterious chamber near its center. The golems are not technically alive and are always busy here, so they have no camp anywhere. Travelers who are allowed entrance set up camp anywhere the ground is level enough and open enough, but they never stay long. Only the dragons remain.
==Notes and trivia==
*In The Art of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the summary for Crystalsong Forest indicates that the Sunreavers and Silver Covenant are fighting for control of the Highborne ruins in the zone, though this plotline is never touched on in the game.
*Crystalsong Forest is notoriously empty in comparison to other Northrend zones, and scarce on quests except those from the Argent Tournament. This is because the Argent Tournament was originally supposed to reside here, but these plans were changed because it would be too close to Dalaran, which ended up being a greater resource hog than Blizzard anticipated.
==Gallery==
Crystalsong Forest Art.jpg|Concept art of Crystalsong Forest, resembling more the forest's original description in the RPG.
Crystalsong Forest from Crystal Vice.jpg|The pass from Crystal Vice in Dragonblight.
Crystal Song Forest.jpg|Crystal trees.
==Patch changes==
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==References==
==External links==
*Official Northrend Atlas
 
Category:Northrend
Category:Forests
Category:Valleys
Category:Lands of Mystery
fr:La forêt du chant de cristallin.