Pandaria

Summary

Hidden by mists for over ten thousand years, Pandaria is a continent of balance, beauty, and ancient power. Once thought lost to time, its rediscovery following the Cataclysm unveiled a land rich in culture and natural wonder—yet scarred by conflict and internal strife. Home to the enigmatic pandaren, powerful mogu relics, and the Sha born of emotion, Pandaria is a land where serenity and chaos live side by side.

Notable Regions:

• The Jade Forest – A lush, bamboo-filled zone home to the Temple of the Jade Serpent, pandaren villages, and Alliance/Horde landing sites. The first glimpse most outsiders had of Pandaria.
• Valley of the Four Winds – A tranquil farmland region, vital to pandaren agriculture. Known for its rolling fields, ale breweries, and family traditions.
• Krasarang Wilds – A dense jungle coastline bordering the Valley. Later fortified and militarized during the faction war. It contains ancient ruins and coastal pandaren settlements.
• Kun-Lai Summit – A vast mountain range home to the Shado-Pan Monastery, yaungol tribes, and the peak of Mount Neverest. High altitudes and harsh climates test all who enter.
• Townlong Steppes – A rugged frontier patrolled by the Shado-Pan, bordering the mantid-controlled Dread Wastes. Once a buffer between the Empire of Pandaria and the threats of the west.
• Dread Wastes – A corrupted zone dominated by the mantid and the influence of the Old God Y’Shaarj’s lingering essence. Home to the Klaxxi and their dark bargains.
• Vale of Eternal Blossoms – Once a sacred and pristine heart of Pandaria, desecrated during the Siege of Orgrimmar and later restored. Home to the August Celestials and powerful titan-forged secrets.

Major Cities:

• Shrine of Seven Stars / Shrine of Two Moons – Twin hubs in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms serving as Alliance and Horde sanctuaries respectively during the campaign.
• Dawn’s Blossom – A vibrant village in the Jade Forest, often the first pandaren settlement encountered by outsiders.
• Shado-Pan Garrison – A fortified location in Townlong Steppes, center of operations against the mantid.
• Binan Village – A snowy mountain town in Kun-Lai Summit, notable for its local markets and training grounds.

Factions:

• The Pandaren – Indigenous, spiritually attuned people dedicated to balance, family, and honor. Divided into multiple clans and villages, many remain neutral in outside conflicts.
• The Shado-Pan – Elite protectors trained to contain the darkness of the Sha and guard Pandaria from internal threats. Stoic, disciplined, and powerful.
• The Golden Lotus – Guardians of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and stewards of its sacred places. They suffered heavily during the Vale's desecration.
• The Klaxxi – An ancient sect of mantid preservers, who aid the player in fighting their corrupted empress, only to reveal deeper loyalty to Y’Shaarj.
• The August Celestials – Four powerful spirit guardians representing major virtues: Yu’lon (wisdom), Xuen (strength), Niuzao (fortitude), and Chi-Ji (hope).
• The Mogu – Ancient, tyrannical race of flesh-shaping warlords once ruling Pandaria. Their ruins and resurrected armies remain a threat.
• Horde & Alliance Forces – Their arrival shattered Pandaria’s seclusion, igniting conflicts and influencing the fate of the land during the Siege of Orgrimmar.