Anzu and the Apexis

What we now know as the Apexis was the peak of Arakkoa civilization and in fact, that’s what the name means – “the peak“. The Arakkoa race flourished and spread across Draenor, forging an empire the likes of which our world hasn’t seen again until the rise of the Orcish Horde. But sadly, as the Apexis were to learn, when you’re at the peak there’s only one way to go – and that way is down.

What the Apexis called themselves is lost to time, as they have never believed there isn’t a better future waiting for them. When they stolen the Titan technology and re-purposed the crystals that powered their constructs for their own need, they found a source of unimaginable power. With that power, they enslaved the remaining crystalline constructs, forevermore known as the “Apexis Guardians” and the fleshy Ogres as well, chaining the Gronn deep within the complexes lost in the Blade’s Edge Mountains. As the rule of the Talon Kings have spread beyond Nagrand and Terokkar, the Arakkoa people lived in peace and prosperity.

But most civilizations at their peak have one thing in common: hubris. The Arakkoa race grew proud and soon the Talon Kings decided they didn’t need Rukhmar anymore. The temples of Rukhmar were abandoned and taken apart, and his existence termed a “lie of old”, worshiping only one “god” – reason. They were wrong however, as our Whispering Lord still lied beneath his tower, if unable to act due to his imprisonment. Finally, he gathered his word and made it flesh into a harbinger of his revenge – Anzu, the Raven God.

Anzu, the Vengeance of Rukhmar was let out from the Reverse Tower of Rukhmar and rose upon the sky, blotting out the sun. He brought prophecies of Arakkoa’s fall if they fail to listen to Rukhmar’s holy word, but the proud and aloof Apexis refused to listen, claiming this omen to be merely a distraction to be defeated. The Apexis gathered and constructed Goliathon, the Apexis Scarecrow and launched him against Vengeance of Rukhmar. Anzu, however, cried out and with this single screech, broken every system in Goliathon’s body. As the fools ran away, Anzu brought the Scarecrow back and turned him against his makers. Soon, more Apexis Guardians joined Goliathon and our race has surpassed its peak.

With the crystalline constructs running rampant and destroying the civilization of the Apexis, our people have scattered, trying to find shelter from the slaughter. Great Veils fell, Titan vaults were plundered and Vengeance of Rukhmar was met. As the unfaithful were punished or converted, Anzu lied to sleep and joined the Emerald Dream, the last blueprint of Titans’ work on Draenor. Once there, his dreaming soul has met the influence of Rukhmar‘s brother N’Zoth and joined its efforts to sow the nightmares among the unworthy.

Our people have fallen and have never rose to the same greatness, even though we did try to claim our god-given place on Draenor again. The new Veils were founded as the remains of Apexis were scattered, destroyed or run over by Ogres who failed to see the importance of relics they now possessed. Thus, the new era began on Draenor – Ogranosh, the Age of the Ogre.