WOW Zone:Dire Maul  

From Blizzard's Official World Dungeons site:

Built twelve thousand years ago by a covert sect of night elf sorcerers, the ancient city of Eldre'Thalas was used to protect Queen Azshara's most prized arcane secrets. Though it was ravaged by the Great Sundering of the world, much of the wondrous city still stands as the imposing Dire Maul. The ruins' three distinct districts have been overrun by all manner of creatures — especially the spectral Highborne, foul satyr and brutish ogres. Only the most daring party of adventurers can enter this broken city and face the ancient evils locked within its ancient vaults.

Built long ago by a covert sect of Queen Azshara's followers, this ancient city was used by these arcanists to process the Queen's most important demands in secret. Thousands of years have passed since the destruction of the Well, and Dire Maul's three wings have been overrun by ghostly Highborn, demons, and ogres. Only the most daring party of adventurers can enter this dungeon and face the ancient evils within.

Dire Maul is a three-wing instance found in Feralas. Once a proud Highborne city, it now lies in ruins, overrun by ogres and various forms of undead. While the original populace has long since been exterminated, a small remnant, called the Shen'dralar remains, murderous and evil to any outsiders. Compared to many Northrend areas, the level range is easier than the expansions but pre-TBC, this is still one of the highest-level instances for 60 and under players. The instance wings are designed for parties of five and all players have to be at least level 45 to enter any of the three wings.

Geography

Dire Maul contains three wings in two separate instances. These wings are known as Dire Maul East, Dire Maul West and Dire Maul North. The West and North wings are contained in a single instance but connected via The Athenaeum. At the center of Dire Maul, connecting the three wings, is an open plaza populated by ogres and containing a PvP arena. This arena, consisting of a rectangular pit with entrances and exits on the east and west sides, is similar to the Gurubashi Arena in Stranglethorn Vale. This arena allows for "free for all" PvP combat within its confines and every six hours, a rare mob will spawn. These mobs are either Skarr the Unbreakable, The Razza or Mushgog.

The entrances to Dire Maul West and North are locked and may only be opened with the following methods:

• The Crescent Key
• An Elemental Seaforium Charge
• A Powerful Seaforium Charge
• A rogue with Lockpicking of 300 or higher
• A Blacksmith who has either a Arcanite Skeleton Key, a Cobalt Skeleton Key or a Titanium Skeleton Key.

The Crescent Key can be obtained by killing the imp Pusillin in Dire Maul East. In addition to permitting access to the other wings of the instance, the Crescent Key allows characters to enter Dire Maul East via a short-cut at the Lariss Pavillion, located immediately north of Camp Mojache.

Dire Maul East

The Eastern Wing has been taken over by Alzzin the Wildshaper, a satyr who has corrupted the Fruit of Fertility tree so that it produces vile Felvine Shards. Alzzin has attracted all manner of corrupted plant life, satyrs, mages and demons to his cause. The entire district is overgrown with crazed plant life. Dire Maul East is considered the easiest of the three wings and requires no key to enter.

Dire Maul North

This wing is considered the hardest wing of the area and is occupied by the Gordok Ogre tribe. Dire Maul is unique in that parties adventuring here have a choice. Players can kill the various bosses in the instance for some guaranteed rare drops or they can use crafting, questing and sneaking tasks to perform whats called "a tribute run."

In this tribute run, players only kill King Gordok while keeping the other bosses alive. As a reward for sparing the lives of the other instance bosses, players receive fewer but better quality rare drops from a tribute chest.

Dire Maul West

This wing is currently haunted by the ghosts and skeletons of deceased Highborne. The most notable resident of this zone is Immol'thar. Tendris Warpwood, a corrupted Ancient of War, also resides here. In addition, Tendris Warpwood also guards the door leading from Dire Maul West into Immol'thar's prison, where players can also access The Athenaeum.

Notes