Disclaimer: this is an IDEA, not a theory or how I think it will actually happen. It is not a fleshed out idea for the expansion, due to obvious question marks (where do we level?), it's just a storyline I came up with that I like better than a possible full out time travel expansion.
So. I'm not liking what we heard so far. However, it got me thinking.
Despite everyone jumping on "Draenor" in the title, and thinking we're going back in time or visiting different parts of Outland, maybe you're all on the wrong track?
Here's what the supposed leak entailed:
- involves Grom as an antagonist
- heavy use of time travel
Here's what we heard last Blizzcon:
"Turalyon and Alleria are out there, and we'll need their help for what's to come"
5.4 patch then saw Garrosh being imprisoned and in visions, we see Anduin talking to Garrosh before finally witnessing the death of Soridormi, Nozdormu's mate, in the Caverns of Time, seemingly killed by the traitor in the Bronze Dragonflight.
I've been trying to think of a way this might all fit together without completely f-ing over the established lore, and here's what I propose atm:
Turalyon and Alleria are the actual "warlords of Draenor". Technically, they are warlords in the meaning of the word, military leaders, that invaded Draenor to stop the Horde, back in Warcraft 2: Beyond the Dark Portal. While one could argue that the term would certainly fit Orcish and Draenei chieftains of old Draenor better, it's technically correct.
So in this case, maybe we never even set a single foot on old Draenor, or any part of Outland. Maybe the protagonists are the "warlords", coming to warn us of X, and probably leading us to place y to fight or prepare, and whatnot.
But what of Grom being an antagonist? And the visions?
edit:
Alright, i'm gonna flesh this idea out a bit more.
Pre expansion:
Garrosh breaks out of his prison, aided by Wrathion disguised as Anduin. He guides him to the Caverns of Time, where Soridormi and Kayroz attempt to stop him. He kills Soridormi, Kayroz is powerless to stop Garrosh from stealing the Vision of Time FROM him, which we helped grow in power.
Garrosh jumps back in time and all hell breaks loose as the expansion hits.
Expansion:
Chaos everywhere, temporal fluxes twisting and warping areas of Azeroth, and amid all the chaos Velen and Anduin gather a band of heroes to try and talk to a distraught and nearly catatonic Nozdormu. After much prodding he reveals where Garrosh went, and we travel through the Caverns of Time to prevent Garrosh from accomplishing his goal: saving his father Grom from dying in his battle against Mannoroth and forming the True Horde with him during the days of the Reign of Chaos.
Multi-instance tier, with raids and 5 mans exploring the new timelines blown open and repairing the damage done to them. The main raid leads to the climactic battle between Thrall / Grom and Mannoroth, where we stop and finally kill the arriving Garrosh from saving his father, and either kill or watch Grom dying to reset the timeline.
Other instances might include an alternate Stratholme, and the Caverns of Time themself, that see the Bronze Dragonflight finally turn into the Infinite Dragonflight. Wrathion escapes the Horde and the Alliance's scrutiny, but continues to secretly enlist the help of us, the players.
After the dust has barely settled, Turalyon and Alleria arrive via the Dark Portal. They have been travelling and hopping along the Legion's path of destruction, gathering intelligence and trying to find their way back home. They arrive back on Azeroth in the nick of time, warning us of the impending assault by the Legion forces amassing on Argus. They rally what is left of the forces of Azeroth and sally forth through the Twisting Nether to take the fight to the Legion. As this rag-tag army leaves for near certain doom, Wrathion is seething - another one of his plots to protect his beloved Azeroth was foiled. So he looks for NEW allies to protect his world against the Legion. What better allies than those that wish to preserve and rule it themselves? As long as the planet is preserved, Wrathion may be fine with it - "there are limits to survival we are prepared to accept". (The Architect, The Matrix Reloaded) And so while we are busy on Argus or elsewhere, fighting the overwhelming forces of the Legion (and losing), Wrathion travels deep under the ocean waves, to seek those that would pay any price, and sacrifice anything, in order to defend their world, much like him. And Wrathion finds himself - a queen.
Panicked over our side losing the battle on foreign worlds, and filled with visions of a burning Azeroth, Wrathion in his desperation turns to the last remaining power he can find on Azeroth that he deems strong enough to hold off the fire, and so aids Azshara and her Naga (and by extension, N'zoth) in leading an assault on the surface world.
Meanwhile on Argus, we fight a nearly hopeless battle and several semi-important characters die off, Varian falls and Anduin takes up the crown. Against all hope, and with daring tactics we manage to hold back the Legion and drive them back to their strongholds, securing the portals that lead to our home.
Our band of heroes, having defeated all odds once more and kept the Legion forces at bay outside of Azeroth, return to a home in chaos with the former Highborne wreaking havoc on the land-dwellers. While guarding and watching the Legion forces while being helpless to prevent them from gathering anew, we must drive back the Naga and face Azshara along with a guilty and torn Wrathion. N'zoth is revealed to empower Azshara and influence Wrathion, and we must defeat the final "surviving" Old God once and for all.
Wrathion, realizing his error and that N'zoth would cause more harm than good to his beloved Azeroth, sacrifices himself to defeat the Old God, banishing his avatar along with the other 4. With his last words, he remembers the full vision Lei Shen's heart granted him - the Final, the last surviving Titan. and the key to defeating the Legion once and for all, rests within the core of Azeroth herself, waiting to be awakened.
So:
Time travel, but not based on it
Grom as antagonist, but not the "prime evil"
Legion, but no Draenor or Outland
Still fits most of the hints we got so far.
*leans back and drinks his own little mug of Kool-Aid*