WoW Season of Discovery: Karazhan Catacombs Quest Guide

The long-mysterious Karazhan Catacombs, a dungeon shrouded in whispers since 2004, has finally been revealed in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery P7. This new dungeon builds on classic lore while introducing new mechanics and storylines. Let's delve into its secrets.  

The journey begins at the Chapel of Light's Hope in the Eastern Plaguelands, where an anonymous flyer recruits adventurers to explore the catacombs. Players familiar with Zul'Farrak's Hundred Troll Slaughters event will recognise a revived storyline here: the rogue Raven, a former ally turned traitor, appears as a ghostly figure in Deadwind Pass. Interacting with him triggers a chain of revelations involving his ill-fated expedition team, including the dwarf priest Multhar, the orc warlock Oro Bloodeye, and the human warrior Sergeant Bly, who has been turned into a cryptic horror.  

A pivotal moment occurs when players encounter a caged survivor in an ogre camp. This wounded adventurer reveals himself to be none other than Harrison Jones, the legendary relic hunter. His tale of betrayal by his own crew - hired in Tanaris - unfolds as he recounts their doomed quest to reassemble Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardia.  

Harrison's story explains the curse of the catacombs: greed triggers a malevolent darkness that devours those who enter. To survive, players must work with agents of the Violet Eye to create a Floating Firebrand, a magical torch that pierces the darkness. Three rare components are required:  

1. Ember of the Lifeflame: Dropped by elite draconic enemies in Grim Batol.  

2. Ancient Ironwood Branch: Looted from ancient treants in Demonfall Canyon.  

3. Fervent Wisp: Found in Winterspring's Darkwhisper Gorge.  

The quest line is subtly linked to the lore of The Burning Crusade. It is strongly implied that the author of the anonymous flyer is Archmage Tarsis Kir-Moldir, a character from vanilla WoW's Naxxramas who was obsessed with finding fragments of Atiesh. This links the catacombs to the history of the legendary staff, and suggests that Tarsis' ambitions go beyond mere treasure hunting.  

The Ebon Darkness mechanic forces players to stay within the firebrand's light or face swift destruction. In addition, the dungeon drops powerful weapons that rival Ashbringer in damage, making it a must-run for progression-oriented players.  

Blizzard has also addressed lingering bugs, including fixes to T0.5 questlines and adjustments to respawn timers for rescue NPCs.  

While the Karazhan Catacombs questline doesn't advance the overarching Season of Discovery storyline, it does add to the game's lore through callbacks to beloved characters like Harrison Jones and Sergeant Bly. The Floating Firebrand mechanic adds an exciting survival element that rewards teamwork and situational awareness.  

Looking ahead, rumours of a Phase 8 Scarlet Monastery raid (Tyr's Han) hint at more nostalgic revamps. For now, the Catacombs offer a perfect blend of challenge and storytelling.