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N'Zoth, the Waking Nightmare

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The fish know all the secrets. They know the cold. They know the dark.
The stars sweep chill currents that make men shiver in the dark...
Do you dream while you sleep or is it an escape from the horrors of reality?

-Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron

You will rest in Ny'Alotha.
-Heart of Y'shaarj

Far beneath the waves, in the heart of Ny'Alotha, the great N'Zoth plots and schemes. For millenia he has plotted, since the early days of Azeroth, in which he whispered madness into the mind of Neltharion the Earthwarder, corrupting him into Deathwing the Destroyer. In these ancient times, he poured his malign power into the Emerald Dream, a plane of tranquility in nature, creating the Emerald Nightmare, a realm of darkness and horror. When the Well of Eternity shattered and split the continents apart, it was N'Zoth who preserved the life of Queen Azshara and her loyal highborne, transforming them into the serpentine water-breathing naga.
Even now his schemes and machinations are coming to fruition with the Cataclysm, the re-emergence of Deathwing from the depths of the plane of earth Deepholm, which shattered the world and caused widespread chaos and destruction in preparation for the Hour of Twilight, the final victory of the Old Gods. Though the Hour of Twilight was averted and Deathwing obliterated, N'Zoth remains hidden beneath the waves, forever plotting, forever patient. And the time has come for him to rise once more....

I liked my previous N'Zoth pic, but over time I felt it wasn't really "Old God" enough. So I designed this monstrous 'true form' of N'Zoth, one he'd use when he needs to fight personally at full strength. His other form would be used for less serious tasks, such as appearing before his high-ranking minions and destroying weaker foes. I added the humanoid figures for scale, most of them being around 6 feet tall compared to N'Zoths gargantuan size. This form is only seen in the deepest reaches of Ny'Alotha, in the sealed 'Sanctum of N'Zoth', a dark chamber where the border between Azeroth and Arkh'Rulyeh (the realm of the Old Gods) is weakest, and the best place to force a tear between dimensions to connect the two worlds.

I wanted to include some details I overlooked with my previous picture such as; more aberrant body features like the strange webbed eyes on his tentacle arms ending with extra mouths, the two-mouthed head to give him a bizarre alien visage, retaining the mouth on the chest with some alterations, even a tentacle coming out of the back of his head as a small nod to depictions of Nyarlathotep from H.P. Lovecrafts works, and of course his heart of black ice, pouring vile mist from within his giant stomach maw.

Partially inspired by Nyarlathotep and Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft and my previous N'Zoth pic. Very slightly inspired by Ursula from The Little Mermaid and Tentalus from Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

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Artandcreation4you's avatar
"So much death here, so much power. Is this not the site of what you mortals consider your greatest humiliation? I hope you fare better this time. 

I don't believe these lands have seen such carnage since the Battle for K'tanth. Such a long time ago... This land has seen so much upheaval. The Cataclysm, the Sundering, the Scouring. You really have no idea. 

This was always a place of power. Aegwynn was drawn here, and before her, the elves, and before them, the trolls. *Chuckles* And before them... That Fel edifice, towering over this land, pales in comparison to the grandeur of what stood here long ago.

It was here in ages past that the God of the Deep lost a great battle to the God of Seven Heads. But as was so often the case, even defeat ultimately worked in N'zoth's favor.

This conflict is but a shadow of an ancient war that pre-dated the meddling of the titans. Infinite armies clashed in ceaseless battle. But I'm sure your little war is impressive, in its own way. This trifling skirmish is little more than a distraction. The true battle draws neigh as the circle nears completion. 

I can feel the pulse of your world quickening. Soon, all will be drenched in its life blood."

- Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire, on the Broken Shore