The Prophecy of Pride - Origins of the Sha

[Disenchantment]

Ten thousand years ago, when the continents of Azeroth were still one, the last of the Pandaren Emperors followed the tradition of his predecessors – he spoke with the Waterspeak of the Jinyu, hoping for good news. What he heard was a tragedy: the world would soon be engulfed in fire and brimstone as summoned demons rampaged and the land broke apart into many pieces. In desperation, Emperor Shaohao climbed to the peak of the mighty Mount Neverest to meditate and seek the council of the August Celestials, ancient spirits that helped protect and guide the mortal beings of Azeroth., namely his own people.

The Jade Serpent met him at the summit to advise him to shed his burdens, to become one with the land. Confused by the spirit of wisdom's words, he consulted his companion the Monkey King and meditated for three days and nights. Neither ruler could make clear the Serpent's words. Bored, the Monkey King carved a mask from bamboo nearby to pass the time while the Pandaren reflected on the cryptic advice. When Shaohao finally rose, the Monkey King urged him to place the strange mask upon his face, and through it the Emperor's doubt manifested itself as a physical being that could be slain. After a difficult and long battle, the Sha of Doubt was finally buried in the north and the path of the Emperor become clear.

Shaohao and the Monkey King traveled to each of the temples of the August Celestials, creating new masks and imprisoning five more Sha deep below the surface: Despair, Anger, Fear, Hatred, and Violence. Forever changed into a creature of purity and goodness, he began the final part of his journey. Supposedly the trees in the vale he entered blossomed (and still do to this day) as the rest of the world began to split apart, the region becoming a sacred place for the Pandaren. Here he told his people to live each day to the fullest, to be at peace and not to carry the burdens of a troubled mind. With that, he withdrew to attempt to separate Pandaria from the rest of the world, to protect it from the doom raining down. Somehow he succeeded, for the continent slowly drifted away from the others as thick mists began to form around the new land to hide it away.

But what caused the concealing mists, and why? And how did the mysterious masks force negative emotions into something that could be seen and destroyed?

Long before the first mortal races walked the surface of the world, the plane of Azeroth was in a state of constant chaos, driven by ancient beings known only as the Old Gods. When the Titans arrived, they instantly marked the Old Gods as evil and waged war with them to decide the fate of the realm. Only one Old God was slain, Y'Shaarj, the powerful heart of the creature locked in a vault deep underground and guarded by the Watcher Norushen. But Y'Shaarj would not be defeated so easily. With its dying breath, the powerful being cursed the land where the last of its essence would rest.

The curse lay dormant for generations, seeping slowly into the denizens of the region and breeding hatred, violence, despair, doubt, anger, and fear. Eventually, the Last Pandaren Emperor would cause the hex to flourish with his actions, creating the prime Sha and their lesser counterparts when the mortals would let their negative emotions fester. Though it was believe he defeated them, Shaohao kept a dark secret – there was one Sha he could not overcome. He believed his people could solve their own problems, that they needed no help from the other races, and that made them superior. His pride manifested not in the monstrous form of the others, but as the mists that would cut Pandaria off from the rest of the world for thousands of years. This was Y'Shaarj's greatest curse and victory – this Sha that 'is good until it is bad.'

Now, though the Emperor had taught his people how to defend themselves against the Sha, the mists have parted and the rest of the world finds themselves having to face their own emotions. And the Warchief of the Horde is no exception. His own pride drove him to try to claim the 'new' land and its resources for himself and his bid for power, his ultimate goal of bringing about the “True Horde.” Arrogance drove him to destroy Theramore, to nearly kill Vol'jin, and to desecrate the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Perhaps these acts were caused by Y'Shaarj itself, calling to Hellscream and beckoning him to restore the Old God to power, using the crazed Orc as a vessel to channel its dark energies. Speculation aside, it is the Heart of Y'Shaarj that Garrosh has found and plans on using to support his war efforts and strengthen the Kor'kron.

As old enemies begin to gather in a unified assault against the threat of not only a power-hungry Warchief set on warfare, but the potential awakening of an ancient evil, we as players prepare for a fight perhaps unlike any other. It will challenge us in many ways, be it organization and cooperation, inner-reflection and self-speculation, or simply racing against time to defeat our opponents before they overwhelm us. As we rally together, let us remember this: “All that stands in our way … is pride.”

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Sources and related articles:

http://www.wowpedia.org/Emperor_Shaohao

http://www.wowpedia.org/Quest:Path_of_the_Last_Emperor

http://www.wowpedia.org/Y%27Shaarj

http://www.wowpedia.org/Siege_of_Orgrimmar

[Disenchantment]

nice work yet again!

[Hughescloud]

Garrosh is a bitch,Also Pride is a terrible name for a boss,Also Nice one krysta!

[CarNage64]

very nice krysta <3