Around Azeroth: What I did on my winter vacation

"As a Stormwind Guard, I don't have a whole lot of vacation time available," writes submitter Brotherjon of Clan Wilkes on Garona (US-A). "So when an opportunity came to go see the new world, I took advantage. You would think that the Alliance could afford at least an indoor hotel, but I got put up in a crazy outdoor place with these bug people that I couldn't understand. One did give me a ride, though ... and I got to ride a scorpion! Later, I visited with Lorewalker Cho and rode his dragon, too. They also gave me a farm, but I realized growing things is a lot of work. Hope you like my photos. Tell everyone I will be back to guarding the castle and giving directions very soon!"

Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm. Tags: around azeroth, around-azeroth, AroundAzeroth, featured, screen-shots, screenshots, world-of-warcraft-pictures, world-of-warcraft-screenshots, wow-screen-shots, wow-screenshot, wow-screenshots, wow-ss

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Around Azeroth: A hazy sha of Winter Veil

THE SHA DECREE THAT THIS HOLIDAY CELEBRATION HAS ENDED. RETURN TO YOUR DOMICILES AND AWAIT DESTRUCTION. "We often think of the Klaxxi as a group of cold, intelligent, all-business-all-the-time-type (and often dangerous) creatures," writes submitter Sarabande of Elements on Aggramar (US-A). "Everyone seems to revile the Sha -- the biggest fun-suckers at the party. A nice pair of Scrooge and Grinch, they would seem. What we didn't know is that sometimes, they just like to sit near a warm fire and enjoy the holidays, just like everyone else. Perhaps the residents of Pandaria are more complex than we thought."
Want to see your own screenshot here? Send it to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com. We strongly prefer full-sized pictures with no UI or names showing. Include "Azeroth" in the subject line to ensure your submission dodges email spam filters; if you'd like to be credited, also include your name, guild and realm. Tags: around azeroth, around-azeroth, AroundAzeroth, featured, screen-shots, screenshots, world-of-warcraft-pictures, world-of-warcraft-screenshots, wow-screen-shots, wow-screenshot, wow-screenshots, wow-ss

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: Corrupted Hippogryph

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.
Just as Winter Veil began, so shall it end. Our first giveaway of this season was a Blazing Hippogryph. To close out the season, now you have a chance to win its counterpart, the Corrupted Hippogryph, also courtesy of WootLoots.com. Again valued at around $150 by collectors, this is a mount you don't want to miss.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, January 7, 2013. You can only enter once. We will choose one winner at random and contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Because this is a purely digital item, readers of all regions may enter for a chance to win. Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil, contest, corrupted-hippogryph, giveaway, wootloots

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred paperback

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.

Cycle of Hatred, written by Keith R.A. DeCandido, is one of the earliest World of Warcraft novels dating back to January 2006. While somewhat dated in a post-Cataclysm world, the story told within Cycle of Hatred acts as a basis for the repeatedly renewed feud between the Horde and the Alliance in the World of Warcraft. Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment, we're giving away nine copies of Cycle of Hatred in paperback.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 5, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You can only enter once. Nine winners will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Official rules here. Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil-2012, cycle-of-hatread, keith-ra-decandido

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Reminder: It came from the Blog's Winter Veil

Ho ho ho! It came from the Blog's Winter Veil 2012 event is tomorrow and all are welcome!
When: Tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 29 at Noon EST (9 a.m. PST, 10 a.m. server)Where: Meet under the Winter Veil Tree in Orgrimmar on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H)Who: Any Horde character level 10 or aboveHow: Ask Tizzi or any It came from the Blog member for an invite, if you are not already part of our family of guildsWe will be traveling around via mage portal, which is why you must be level 10 or above to join us -- as you can't join raids at lower levels. You'll also need a Gaudy Winter Veil Sweater and some Snowballs. Both can be purchased from the Smokywood Pastures vendors for mere coppers, but if you are lacking the cash, we'll hook you up. The only other preparations you need to make are to carry your sense of humor and banish your fear of death.

So join us tomorrow for holiday festivities guaranteed to jingle your bells!
Please join us on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H) in It came from the Blog. All guild ranks can invite, so /whisper Tizzi or any online member. You are all welcome as long as you play by our simple rules -- basically, don't be a funsucker! Visit the guild FAQ for more details. Tags: caroling, feast-of-winter-veil, featured, guild-event, guild-events, mortal-danger, tizzi, virtual-booze, wow-com-guild, wow-dot-com-guild, wow-event, wow-events, wow-insider, wow-insider-guild, wow-insider-guild-event, wowinsider

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: Mini Tyrael statuette

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.

Reaching deep into WoW Insider's swag vault, we came across something we've had squirreled away since BlizzCon 2011: a BlizzCon exclusive Mini Tyrael statuette. How he managed to avoid being snatched up for so long, we'll never know.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, January 4, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You can only enter once. One winner will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Official rules here. Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil-2012, blizzcon, blizzcon-11, mini-tyrael, tyrael

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It came from the Blog: Join us for Winter Veil 2012

This Saturday, join It came from the Blog for some Winter Veil fun. I've planned some non-traditional holiday activities which are guaranteed to include the following: achievements, mortal danger, virtual beer drinking, travel. I'm hoping to avoid nudity this time around, but no promises. Here are the particulars: When: Saturday, Dec. 29 at Noon EST (9 a.m. PST, 10 a.m. server)Where: Meet under the Winter Veil Tree in Orgrimmar on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H)Who: Any Horde character level 10 or aboveHow: Ask Tizzi or any It came from the Blog member for an invite, if you are not already part of our family of guildsIf you have snowballs and a Gaudy Winter Veil Sweater, you'll want to bring those. Otherwise, they are available for just a few copper from the Smokywood Pastures vendors. Money will be provided if you don't have enough coins in your pockets.

So join us for our last event of the year. We hope to see you there!
Please join us on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H) in <It came from the Blog>. Guild ranks of Blog Lurker or above can invite, so /whisper Robiness or any online member. You are all welcome as long as you play by our simple rules -- basically, don't be a funsucker! Visit the guild FAQ for more details. Tags: feast-of-winter-veil, featured, guild-event, guild-events, icftb, tizzi, wow-com-guild, wow-dot-com-guild, wow-event, wow-events, wow-insider, wow-insider-guild, wow-insider-guild-event, wowinsider

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: World of Warcraft Monopoly

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.

If you missed the massive sale on World of Warcraft Monopoly just before Winter Veil, you're in luck: we didn't, and now you get a chance to win one of three, free of charge! World of Warcraft Monopoly allows you to purchase Azerothian real estate with currency themed after your favorite faction leaders, using game pieces chosen by the community.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Thursday, January 3, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You can only enter once. Three winners will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Official rules here.

Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil-2012, world-of-warcraft-monopoly, wow-monopoly

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: Plush Gryphon and Plush Windrider

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.For the launch of Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard was kind enough to give us some loot to pass out at our midnight release meet-and-greets. Unfortunately, one of our locations canceled their midnight release event at the last moment, leaving us with a bit of excess loot. Today, all of you get a shot at that loot -- we're giving away a plush gryphon and a plush windrider.

Today's entry is a little different than what we've done so far: you need to choose which of the two pets you want, declaring your allegiance with a "For the Horde!" for a shot at the windrider or "For the Alliance!" for a shot at the gryphon. You may only enter once, so choose carefully.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment (following the instructions above) on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, January 2, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You may only enter once. One winner will be chosen at random for each item and we will contact you via whichever method you've used to comment. Official rules here. Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil-2012, gryphon, plush-gryphon, plush-windrider, windrider

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Reminder: Don't forget your in-game Winter Veil gifts

No matter how busy you may be over the holidays, try to find a few minutes to log in and collect your Feast of Winter Veil gifts in Orgrimmar or Ironforge. As you probably know, the Feast of Winter Veil brings us a new gift each year which can be quite difficult to obtain once the holiday is over.

This year players will actually receive two items in their 2012 Feast of Winter Veil gift, Foot Ball and The Pigskin. So, basically we got a soccer ball and an American foot ball ... Meaning our WoW characters will continue to get more exercise than most of us. (Even if you only raid two nights a week for four hours, you'd have to work out more than an hour every day of the week to keep up with your night elf.) Players will also earn the achievement They're Both Footballs? when opening their present.

In years past, exclusive gifts included the Clockwork Rocket Bot, Crashin' Thrashin' Racer Controller, Red Rider Air Rifle, MiniZep Controller, and the Gaudy Winter Veil Sweater. All those items are still obtainable, though most of them have only a small chance to drop when opening Stolen Present, the quest reward from You're a Mean One... (a daily quest which can only be completed during the Feast of Winter Veil).

Players typically have until the end of the Feast of Winter Veil to collect their gifts, so grab them before Jan. 2, 2013.
Tags: winter-veil, winter-veil-2012, winter-veil-achievements

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12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: 60-day prepaid game cards

12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season.

Today, we're keeping it simple. If you're here, we're going to assume you like World of Warcraft. We're also going to assume you'd like to continue playing World of Warcraft. Therefore, we're giving you a chance to win one of two 60-day prepaid game cards valid on North American realms.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, December 31, 2012. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You may only enter once. Two winners will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whichever method you've used to comment. Official rules here. Tags: 12-days-of-winter-veil-2012, contest, game-card, giveaway, prepaid-game-card, wow-game-time

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