Feeling at home with the rats

Finally I gave in and moved my hearthstone to Dalaran, which doesn’t make sense since I’m a mage and can teleport there anytime I feel like it anyway. It would be more natural to put my stone either in Wyrmrest Temple or Wintergarde Keep, for quick and easy access to the raid instances, or possibly in one of the far away corners of the world where I go to make dailies, such as Howling Fjord, Borean Tundra or Sholazar Basin.

But I followed my heart and put it where I currently feel most at home in the game, which is in Underbelly, the underground city in the sewers of Dalaran.

Cooking quests

When I first visited the place I mostly saw it as a spot where you could pick mushrooms for one of the daily cooking quests. Then I found out that this also was a good spot for another of the dailies, where you’re supposed to collect a piece of cheese and six glasses of wine. This quest is very annoying if you try to complete it on the surface, since there are way more players doing the quest than there are glasses around. But if you go to the inn of Underbelly you’ll get your glasses in no time at all. And there's even a third cooking quest which is supposed to be delivered to the inn keeper in the sewer.

It turned out that I had a reason to visit the sewers more or less every day for the cooking stuff, and little by little I got to know the place better. From being confused and pretty annoyed since I found it hard to orient myself, I started to change. I found myself looking forward to those visits – I was even falling in love with the place.

Those are the things which appeal to me in Underbelly:

• The lack of lag. Dalaran on the surface will mostly show itself in 10-15 fps to me, which isn’t exactly enjoyable. Down in the sewer it’s more like a normal questing area.
• All services in one spot. Well there isn’t any AH, but on the other hand there isn’t anyone in the regular Dalaran either. I suspect Blizzard will never ever make another one, since they need to give us a reason to go back to the old world. Or maybe they will, it certainly would brighten up the rather empty and dead Shattrath. But Dalaran won’t get one for sure. But if you count out AH you'll find more facilities in the sewers than you may think of when you first see it. There’s a bank right next to the inn. You may repair and buy any reagent you need, even vials. You may even cook for free by the stove in the nice little bedroom.
• The atmosphere. In spite of the darkness, the stench and the sewer rats running around, I find the sewers very cosy. There are just enough other players to keep you from feeling alone, but not more than that you can relax and enjoy the tranquillity when you’re in mood for that.

Fishing achievement
So what can you actually do in Underbelly, except for cooking quests, repairing and sorting out your bank? Well, one great thing you can do is fishing. If you’re waiting for a Wintergrasp battle to start, or looking for a PUG, you could as well fish in the sewer on your own as standing in the crowd by the fountain on the surface. The catches aren’t amazing, but at least you can level your fishing, and if you’re addicted to achievements you can try to catch a Giant Sewer Rat.

And one you’re done and want to get out and get some fresh air and sunlight, you don’t have to make your way through Dalaran to the flight point to be able to mount. No, Underbelly has a sweet take off ramp of its own, if you prefer your own mount to the public transportation systems. Just follow one of the pipes downwards, watching your step so you don’t go too far and fall (if you’re a mage you could put on slow fall, just as a precaution). When you reach the end, mount up and enjoy.

The only complaint I have about Underbelly is that it seems as though the Postman is afraid to wet his feet and refuses to go down there to deliver the mail. At least I haven’t been able to find any mail box yet – you have to get to the entrance to find one. But even if it’s a bit annoying, it doesn’t take away the grandness of Underbelly – the hidden jewel of Dalaran where I’ve found my home among sewer rats and shady dealers.