by JR Cook - 9 years ago     show comments

Exploring Draenor delves into the hidden places of the world that will one day become Outland. From the volcanic landscape of Frostfire to the gloomy dells of Shadowmoon, these articles are your guide to events that are off the beaten path.

Location: Frostfire Ridge, south-east of Wor’gol

Rewards: Garrison Resources

We take a break from the wilds of Tanaan this week to bring you another reference to the works of JRR Tolkein. We’ve seen Shelob, as well as the ogres that capture Bilbo and the dwarves. Now it’s time to say hello to a fan-favourite: Gollum.

Gollum was an early hobbit, much like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, in the distant past of Middle Earth. Originally known as Sméagol, he was transformed into a sickly, pale creature that shunned the light, due to his obsession with the One Ring.

Appearances by Gollum have always been greeted with enthusiasm by fans of Tolkein’s works, and Blizzard’s developers are no exception: they actually included two tributes to the creature in Draenor. We have already covered one, in the very first column: Gorum, a pale orc in Bloodthorn Cave. Gorum drops a ring (Precious Bloodthorn Loop) that can make the wearer invisible at the cost of health.

The Horde needed their own version, of course, so Blizzard included the Pale Fishmonger in a cave on the coast of Frostfire Ridge. While not as obvious a reference as Gorum, the Fishmonger has his similarities. As well as looking like Sméagol, he is also fishing – this is how Gollum’s relative, Déagol, originally found the One Ring – and is hidden in a cave beneath an orc settlement. Gollum lived in the caverns beneath a goblin tribe, in the Misty Mountains.

It quickly becomes obvious that the Fishmonger is not the original occupant of the cave. Passing by a dead tree with a sign (“Gone Fishin'”), you will notice blood spatters across the camp. As well as a bush, the blood trail leads past a campfire and into the cave. Here you will find the pale orc, hunched over another blood spatter and…eating. Best not to look too closely at what the creature is stuffing into his maw, although one of his attacks – Spew Entrails – should give you a clue.

The Fishmonger is an agile orc. He will leap onto any attacking player and gnaw at them using Face Bite, dealing damage over time. As well as his aforementioned AoE attack, the NPC will also teleport to a random location and spawn a copy of himself with Illusory Shift. The images summoned die quickly, but will spam Illusory Bolt while active.