World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade takes up where World of Warcraft left off, with the races of the Horde and the Alliance continuing to rebuild their lives among the shattered lands of Azeroth. Amid the fragile peace that exists between the factions come rumors that the Burning Legion’s age-old war against Azeroth – the so-called Burning Crusade – has been rekindled and threatens to consume the world in another firestorm of war and strife. Old allegiances fall and new ones rise as both the Horde and Alliance look to new friends in this time of need.

Several years have passed since the Burning Legion's defeat at Mount Hyjal and the races of Azeroth have continued to rebuild their once shattered lives. With renewed strength, the heroes of the Horde and Alliance have begun to explore new lands and broken through the Dark Portal to investigate the realms beyond the known world. Will these heroes find friends or foes? What dangers and rewards lie in wait beyond the Dark Portal? And what will they do when they discover that the demons they thought vanquished have returned to renew their terrible Burning Crusade?

On the blasted world of Outland, within the heart of Hellfire Peninsula stands Hellfire Citadel, a nearly impenetrable bastion that served as the Horde's base of operations throughout the First and Second Wars. For years this gargantuan fortress was thought to be abandoned...

Until recently.

Though much of Draenor was shattered by the reckless Ner'zhul, the Hellfire Citadel remains intact— inhabited now by marauding bands of red, furious fel orcs. Though the presence of this new, savage breed presents something of a mystery, what's far more disconcerting is that the numbers of these fel orcs seem to be growing.

Despite Thrall and Grom Hellscream's successful bid to end the Horde's corruption by slaying Mannoroth, reports indicate that the barbaric orcs of Hellfire Citadel have somehow managed to find a new source of corruption to fuel their primitive bloodlust.

Whatever authority these orcs answer to is unknown, although it is a strongly held belief that they are not working for the Burning Legion.

Perhaps the most unsettling news to come from Outland are the accounts of thunderous, savage cries issuing from somewhere deep beneath the citadel. Many have begun to wonder if these unearthly outbursts are somehow connected to the corrupted fel orcs and their growing numbers. Unfortunately those questions will have to remain unanswered.

At least for now.

Here is just a partial list of what you can expect from the World of Warcraft expansion:

• An increase in the level cap to 70
• Two new playable races, including the magical Blood Elves
• New starting zones in Quel'Thalas and beyond
• The entire new continent of Outland, reachable through the
• Dark Portal
• Many new high-level dungeons to explore in Azeroth,
• Outland, and elsewhere
• New flying mounts in Outland
• Many new and dangerous monsters, including epic world
• bosses
• Hundreds of new quests
• Hundreds of new items
• A new profession: Jewelcrafting
• Socketed items
• And much, much more...

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