Beyond the crusade, part 1 - The Great Sea

The Burning Crusades' release is emanate, soon adventures will take their first steps into the Outlands and conquer the dark new world, collect rare and priceless artifacts and dominate the battle field in the new PvP system. But on the horizon is the release of yet another expansion!

According to blizzard this won't be the last expansion for the game. Actually they have boldly stated that there will be an expansion every year from now until the World of Warcraft story line plays out in 2009. Best part is that the Warcraft story line is so deep that the possibilities for expansions are almost unlimited.

So what is going to be in the next expansion? No one knows for sure, not even the developers at blizzard. I remember reading the forums that in an during a pod cast interview some Blizzard bigwigs released some information on a proposed expansion, The Great Sea. This expansion would take place mostly underwater and supposedly have Naga and another unknown race as playable characters. It would revolve around Queen Azshara and her mighty kingdom and the Kul Tiras Islands.

This is where some lore and imagination come into play.

Ten thousand years before the orcs and humans clashed in their First War, the world of Azeroth cradled only one massive continent, surrounded by the sea. That landmass, known as Kalimdor, was home to a number of disparate races and creatures, all vying for survival amongst the savage elements of the waking world. At the dark continent's center was a mysterious lake of incandescent energies. The lake, which would later be called the Well of Eternity, was the true heart of the world's magic and natural power. Drawing its energies from the infinite Great Dark beyond the world, the Well acted as a mystical fount, sending its potent energies out across the world to nourish life in all its wondrous forms.

Later, Sargeras convinced Queen Azshara and the Highborne to create a portal in the well and leading to the first invasion of the Burning Legion.

Following the War of the Ancients, the Well of Eternity was destroyed, and most of Kalimdor with it, leaving only the Maelstrom. However, Illidan had filled several magical vials with water from the Well of Eternity, and he poured some of the magical water into the lake at the top of Mount Hyjal, creating a new Well. For this insane act, his brother Malfurion and the demigod Cenarius imprisoned him deep beneath Mount Hyjal.

The new Well was completely absorbed by the growth of Nordrassil, its malevolent magics lost with the enchantments of the Aspects.

However, Illidan had not emptied all of his vials in creating the second Well of Eternity (which is why the Aspects were able to enchant the World Tree with no interference). Somehow, the Highborne under the leadership of Dath'Remar had acquired one of the remaining vials and, after founding their new homeland of Quel'Thalas, used it to create the Sunwell.

Well of Eternity - WoWWiki

When the Well of Eternity imploded more then 80% of the land mass went with it. As the ocean swallowed the land many of the privative settlements and towns sunk to the cold dark depths. This gives the developers a lot to play with, and seeing how it is a HUGE part of the story I'm definite that they will. Only time will tell when and if they make The Great Sea expansion. The answer to this could be known as early as the middle of next year.