Fire Beneath Blackrock

Two centuries after Thaurissan's mistake, his descendants still rule beneath Blackrock Mountain. Emperor Dagran Thaurissan holds court in the Dark Iron city of Shadowforge, deep in Blackrock Depths, while Ragnaros burns in the Molten Core below and the dwarves toil for him. Princess Moira Bronzebeard, daughter of King Magni, came to the mountain as a captive and stayed as the emperor's wife, to her father's fury.

The upper halls belong to the black dragonflight. Nefarian, Deathwing's son, rules Blackwing Lair in the guise of Lord Victor Nefarius and commands the Blackrock orcs who never joined Thrall, led by Warchief Rend Blackhand in Blackrock Spire. Fire and shadow wage a cold war inside the same mountain, and the Burning Steppes and the Searing Gorge suffer for it.

Nefarian's sister Onyxia, the false Lady Prestor, keeps her lair in Dustwallow Marsh, where she guards her brood. Reaching her takes the Drakefire Amulet, earned through a long questline for each faction that leads through Blackrock Spire. In Forever, Onyxia's Lair is one of three raids that open on December 9, beside two new raids on Mount Hyjal.