Sign inSilithus
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Silithus is a desert in the far southwest of Kalimdor, overrun by the insect-like silithid and shadowed by the ancient city of Ahn'Qiraj. It is a level 55 to 60 zone, and in Classic it changed more than almost any other: a nearly empty wasteland at launch, it became the center of the game's largest world event when patch 1.9 opened the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj, and patch 1.12 added an open-world PvP objective.
Geography
Silithus is a bowl of yellow sand and dark rock south of Feralas and west of Un'Goro Crater. The silithid live in three great hives: Hive'Ashi in the north, Hive'Zora in the west, and Hive'Regal in the south. The ruins of Southwind Village stand in the east, the Valor's Rest graveyard sits in the northeast corner, and the Crystal Vale lies in the northwest.
Cenarion Hold, the druids' fortress, sits in the middle of the zone. The Twilight's Hammer cult has scattered camps across the desert, including Twilight's Run and several outposts on the hills, and the dwarves of the Explorers' League have set up Bronzebeard's Encampment south of the Hold. The far south is closed off by the Scarab Wall, behind which stand the Ruins and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj.
History
A thousand years ago the night elves fought the War of the Shifting Sands against the Qiraji, insect servants of the Old Gods who ruled from Ahn'Qiraj. Unable to win, the night elves and the dragonflights sealed the Qiraji behind the Scarab Wall with a magical barrier. Fandral Staghelm, who lost his son Valstann in the war, shattered the Scepter of the Shifting Sands in grief, and the pieces were given to the dragonflights to keep.
By the time of World of Warcraft, the silithid were spreading again, as quests in Feralas and Tanaris report, and the Cenarion Circle had sent druids to watch them. The Twilight's Hammer, a cult that also serves the Old Gods, gathered in Silithus as well.
Quests and notable NPCs
Before patch 1.9
At launch, Silithus had few quests. Rabine Saturna in Moonglade sent players to the desert with Wasteland, where Layo Starstrike at Valor's Rest asked them to free the spirits of Southwind and climb the tower in Hive in the Tower.
Cenarion Hold
Patch 1.9 built Cenarion Hold and filled the zone with quests. Commander Mar'alith leads the Hold and starts a personal chain with Dearest Natalia, the search for his lost love that leads into Into The Maw of Madness and a confrontation in Hive'Regal. Geologist Larksbane studies the cult's tablets in The Twilight Mystery, and Vish Kozus posts Wanted - Deathclasp, Terror of the Sands. Others include Windcaller Proudhorn's Securing the Supply Lines and Noggle Ficklespragg's satchel quests. A large set of repeatable "Target" and "Field Duty" quests lets players grind reputation with the Cenarion Circle.
The Abyssal Council
The Twilight's Hammer is trying to summon the elemental lords of the Abyssal Council. Players who wear the full set of Twilight cultist gear can use the cult's small wind stones to summon Templars, then use Abyssal crests and signets to call Dukes and Lords. Aurel Goldleaf and Bor Wildmane start these chains with quests such as Dukes of the Council and Lords of the Council. The council's four high lords, such as Prince Skaldrenox and High Marshal Whirlaxis, are summoned at the large wind stones by a group.
The Crystal Vale is also where Prince Thunderaan is summoned as part of the quest for Thunderfury.
The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj
Patch 1.9 (January 2006) introduced the Ahn'Qiraj War Effort. Each realm had to collect huge amounts of supplies for the Alliance and Horde camps, while a long chain led by Baristolth of the Shifting Sands and the bronze dragon Anachronos in Tanaris rebuilt [[forever:item:21175]]. When both were done, one player rang the Scarab Gong in [[forever:quest:8743]], which started a ten-hour war in which the Qiraji poured out across Silithus. Players who had finished the Scepter chain and rang the gong during the opening earned the title Scarab Lord and the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount, [[forever:item:21176]].
Behind the wall lie two raids: Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj for 20 players and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj for 40, where C'Thun waits.
Silithyst and world PvP
Patch 1.12 added a world PvP objective. Silithyst, a mineral, appears in small geysers around the zone and in the hives. A player who picks it up carries the [[forever:spell:29519]] effect and must bring it to their faction's camp without being killed. [[forever:npc:17080]] runs the Alliance camp and [[forever:npc:17079]] the Horde camp, and they give [[forever:quest:9419]]. When one side turns in enough Silithyst, every member of that faction in the zone gains a damage bonus.
Getting there
On foot, Silithus can only be reached from the northwestern corner of Un'Goro Crater, where a path climbs out of the crater and into the desert. At launch the flight masters stood at Valor's Rest; patch 1.9 moved them to Cenarion Hold, which serves both factions.
Sources
Categories: Zones