From:worldofwarcraft.com

We recently released an exclusive preview in which the World of Warcraft design team discusses the overall philosophy behind five-person dungeon design in Wrath of the Lich King. In doing so, the designers provide a behind-the-scenes look at Utgarde Keep, one of the first dungeons players will experience in Northrend, as an example of their ideas in action. Check out Anatomy of a Dungeon: Utgarde Keep now to find out how dungeon design is being taken to a new level of immersion in Wrath of the Lich King.

This feature originally appeared in the Blizzard Insider. This regular newsletter of all things Blizzard is full of previews, interviews, special features, and other exclusive content. Each issue is delivered to your email address before the content appears elsewhere.

Utgarde Keep

Among the cliffs of the Daggercap Bay in the Howling Fjord stands Utgarde Keep, an impervious fortress occupied by the savage and enigmatic vrykul. The ancient stronghold stretches deep into the earth, but thus far no scout from the Alliance or Horde has survived long enough to explore its depths. Long thought to be abandoned, Utgarde has only recently returned to occupation after millennia of disuse. Now the half-giant vrykul pour endlessly from within the keep's battle-scarred walls to assault the nearby settlements.

Fanatically loyal to the still-slumbering King Ymiron, the vrykul seem to live for the thrill of battle. Inside Utgarde, the vicious Dragonflayer clan builds massive weapons of war in ever-burning forges. All of Ingvar's raiders possess tremendous strength and stamina, and a few have also learned to master the arcane arts. Most vrykul magic seems to draw from mysterious runes that even the most experienced magi find unfamiliar. These rune-casters are among the deadliest of all the vrykul, possessing the power to freeze their foes in solid ice and shatter them into a thousand jagged shards.

Although rumors persist that the followers of Ymiron may have allied with the Scourge, the denizens of the Howling Fjord have all seen the Dragonflayers' most common allies: proto-dragons. These bestial creatures seem to have little in common with their better-known brethren in the five dragonflights. Nevertheless, the vrykul have trained the fearsome proto-dragons to serve as mounts. Under the command of Ingvar the Plunderer, the dragon riders revel in slaughtering their enemies from above without warning.

Even as the brutal vrykul strive to conquer the surface of Northrend, they have begun expanding beneath the Howling Fjord as well. Because the servants of Ymiron consider manual labor to be a lowly endeavor, the brave adventurers of the fjord speculate that the vrykul must be tapping some outside source to carry out the work....

With mysterious, foul magic and proto-dragons at their command, the vrykul of Utgarde Keep pose an imminent threat to both the Alliance and the Horde. Only the bravest would dare to strike against Ymiron's faithful and delve into the heart of the vrykul's primeval home.

We hope you enjoyed this preview of Utgarde Keep and dungeon design in Wrath of the Lich King and look forward to seeing you in Northrend.