The fourth expansion for World of Warcraft, titled Mists of Pandaria, transports players to a serene and enchanting land sharing the same name. Beneath its peaceful facade, however, lies a disturbing truth that both the Alliance and Horde will quickly uncover upon arrival. To fathom why this darkness dwells within Pandaria, we must delve deep into Azeroth’s ancient history.
In ancient times, the Old Deities governed Azeroth. Four powerful entities of malice and decay burrowed deep into the world, spreading their noxious horrors across vast distances. Eventually, the Titans from World of Warcraft discovered what had befallen Azeroth, a precious planet that harbored an infant Titan within. They arrived to aid her, only to find the abominable creatures that had taken root on her lands.
World of Warcraft’s Sha Are Remnants of an Old God
Among the four ancient deities ruling over Azeroth, Y’Shaarj was the most powerful and terrifying, earning a reputation as the Beast With Seven Heads that instilled fear in all living beings. The Titan Aman’thul recognized the threat posed by this Old God and decided to confront it personally. He reached out and pulled the dreadful Old God off of Azeroth, eventually managing to kill Y’Shaarj. However, this victory came at a great cost, as the aftermath of this event brought about catastrophic consequences.
The Death of a God Has Consequences
The evil entity Y’shaarj had driven its tentacles so deeply into the planet that tearing them free created a massive, gaping chasm, through which surged raw arcane energy – the vital essence of Azeroth. This grievous wound came to be known as the Well of Eternity and would significantly influence the world’s destiny. Although Azeroth’s World Soul endured, the aftermath for Pandaria was much more devastating.
As its last, fierce life force expired, Y’Shaarj’s energy dispersed across the land, casting one final curse. Over time, humans who would eventually inhabit Pandaria discovered that their dark emotions attracted eerie resonances of void energy, providing a foothold for disorder. These entities came to be known as the Sha and, despite their ability to change shapes, they remain an ominous trace of Y’Shaarj’s enduring power.
Mists of Pandaria Showcases Seven Primary Sha
Seven strong forms of the Sha exist, each connected to one of the seven ancient deities they originate from. These include Fear, Doubt, Despair, Anger, Hatred, Pride, and Violence. These malevolent forces lurk within Pandaria, biding their time as they seek to possess mortals. Once granted entry, they have the potential to suffocate life and pollute minds with their destructive emotions. It was Emperor Shaohao, with the aid of powerful celestial beings, who established the pandaren practice of shielding oneself from the influence of the Sha.
Races such as the Mantid continue to venerate Y’Shaarj and respect the Sha. They are an intelligent race of warrior insectoids, similar in origin to World of Warcraft’s nerubians and qiraji. The Mantid consistently pose a significant danger to the pandaren, and although they initially allied with Azeroth’s heroes to aid them in overthrowing their queen, they made it clear that their ultimate loyalty lies with Y’Shaarj and his malicious intentions.
WoW’s Pandaren Train Themselves to Resist the Sha
Following the teachings of genuine Taoism in their daily lives, pandaren cultivated virtues such as optimism, resilience, knowledge, and courage to ward off the Sha from appearing among them. However, Pandaria’s peaceful existence was disrupted when both the Horde and Alliance stumbled upon its hidden coastline, leading to another outbreak of Sha. Some, like Garrosh Hellscream, succumbed to this corruption, exploiting it as a lethal tool at the expense of numerous lives. Eventually, Azeroth’s champions succeeded in eradicating the remaining fragments of Y’Shaarj, vanquishing all seven original Sha entities.
Ignoring the strength and impact of the Sha has led great empires to crumble, making those who nurture certain feelings especially susceptible. Mists of Pandaria not only helps fictional characters resist becoming their darkest selves, but it can also impart these lessons upon players. Those who internalize the teachings of Pandaria are immune to fear when confronting the Sha, and can confidently challenge these malevolent entities that endanger all of Azeroth and its inhabitants.
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2025-02-21 21:34