"The Machine of Death" and what event(s) likely broke it [SPECULATION]

[RedFenix]

Watching Blizzcon 2019 John Hight & Johnny Cash interview, they mentioned at 6:55 that the "Machine of Death" broke sometime around the Legion time-frame:



The official notes do fall in line with this statement:

The Broken Machine
"The machine of death is broken, and players entering the Shadowlands will find the realm of the dead in disarray. In the natural order of things, souls are sorted and sent on to an afterlife realm appropriate to the lives they lived, but now, but over the past few years, all souls who have perished—including the innocents slain at Teldrassil—are being funneled directly into the Maw. The Shadowlands are starving for anima even as the Maw continues to grow from the glut of fresh souls.

Sylvanas has been seemingly perpetrating acts to bring about great amounts of death and destruction. In partnership with the Jailer, they have been working toward a common end for some time."

Anyways, we can surmise that Azeroth is VERY important on a cosmic scale, not only because of it's world-soul being the most powerful, but because of a couple other factors I'll explain (the Maw and the Rift of Aln). If the Maw's cosmic location is in close proximity to Azeroth (more specifically mirrored from Northrend), it's safe to say that Azeroth's close link to the central hub of the universal afterlife realm of the Great Dark Beyond has made our world the nexus of the universal cycle. If a force wants to unravel all of reality (such as the Burning Legion), the place to go do it is OUR neck of the woods. Following this line of reasoning, I have come up with a few major events that could have done this act.

What broke the Machine of Death?

• 1) Connecting the Alternate Timeline to the Prime Timeline with the Dark Portal and Vision of Time. - While this is ~technically~ before Legion, this event directly led to the events of Legion and keeps within the timeline of a "few years" that they mentioned. Any Azerothian souls that died during the events of WoD might have screwed up the cosmic "sorting" of souls. Would they go to the Arbiter of the Prime Timeline or the Alternate Timeline? This seems like the least likely of the crop, but it was worth mentioning.
  
  
• 2) The Felstorm at the Broken Shore being powered and maintained by the rift of magical power beneath the Tomb of Sargeras. - This "rift" is likely the same anomaly as the Rift of Aln, which connects to both the Twisting Nether AND the Great Dark Beyond (includes the physical plane, Emerald Dream, and the Shadowlands). Gul'dan was using the rift in the physical realm while Xavius was using it in the Emerald Dream. The rift being used in tandem might have strained the fabric of reality and broke the Machine of Death. This rift predated the arrival of the titans to Azeroth, as evidenced by Xal'atath mentioning at the Broken Shore that it was always a place of power that attracted many groups, including her own brethren before trolls settled in that area. She also mentions that the Battle FOR K'tanth that happened there between N'Zoth and Y'Shaarj. It's clear that they were fighting over this location for a reason.
  
  

  Xal'atath whispers: This was always a place of power. Aegwynn was drawn here, and before her, the elves, and before them, the trolls. And before them...
  Xal'atath whispers: I don't believe these lands have seen such carnage since the Battle for K'tanth. Such a long time ago...

  
  
  
• 3) The power of Death siphoned from Argus, the Unmaker (the Death Titan) and inflicted into the world-soul of Azeroth by Sargeras' sword Gorribal (which is still currently in Silithus). - To me, this seems like the MOST likely scenario, especially taking into account: Argus' abilities/internal "death titan" title from datamining, Blizzard's reluctance to answer questions about him at Blizzcon, and his Mythic red color-scheme (which is canon due to the in-game cinematic of Sargeras turning Argus' soul into an avatar like the other member of the Pantheon and his colors being red at first before transistioning to pale blue, both of which are known "death" colors). Gorribal radiated red energy before we neutralized it with our artifacts. Since Azeroth seems to be in close proximity to the Maw, the huge influx of Death energy might have affected the Rift of Aln connected to Azeroth's world-soul that subsequently connects all realms of existence, including the Shadowlands.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 4) A combination of two or all three of these events ...might have compounded each other to cause the eventual breaking of the Machine of Death.
  
  
• 5) Other (tell me your reasoning in the comments below)

Tell me what you think!

[Raetary]

The jailer did Jailer things and fucked everything up by himself or through whatever followers/minions he has.

[Darknessvamp]

Sylvanas did it. At least that's what they seemed to suggest that her "pact" with the Jailer resulted in since WotLK. Of course it would be far more interesting if the combination of Demons soul powered magic and machines, a Titan cleaving planets on a mass scale, the Old Gods, the undead Scourge being introduced into the natural order, godlike/creator entities creating their own "pocket death realms" in WoW's universe such as the Halls of Valor, Thros and the Emerald Dream and finally the mess of having two realities connected at once (e.g. WoD) all contributed and would be a nice touch on everything has had a part in it being screwed rather than one screechy elf. Basically the natural order gets screwed with because of all these things interrupting the natural progression of death and the souls journey allowed the Jailer to exploit the division of souls in the Shadowlands somehow. Or it could just turn out the Arbiter did it.

As for the Maw being above Northrend, I think it's because Sylvanas opened the portal specifically to go there/whatever magic ties the helm to the Shadowlands is connected to the Maw and Torghast where it was forged (apparently) and not because Azeroth literally mirrors the Maw in it's own plane of existence.

[Velerios]

Maybe the use of the Pillars of Creation in the Tomb of Sargeras. We still don't know the full might of the Pillars of Creation; We know just one of the Powers of the Pillars of Creation: the Tidestone. But we still don't know the powers of the other ones exactly; especially the Tear of Elune.

This and maybe even the Death of Ysera and the intervention of Elune could have broken death.

[Life-Binder]

the stab most likely

[Velerios]

the stab most likely

No, death broke before. Don't forget that Vol'jin only made Sylvanas the Warchief because of the Interference of the Jailer.

[Sneaksies]

Watching Blizzcon, they mentioned that the "Machine of Death" broke sometime around the Legion time-frame. And yes, you will have to watch the event because MMO-Champion didn't include this detail in their recap notes. However, the official notes do fall in line with the Legion timeframe:



Anyways, we can surmise that Azeroth is VERY important on a cosmic scale, not only because of it's world-soul being the most powerful, but because of a couple other factors I'll explain (the Maw and the Rift of Aln). If the Maw's cosmic location is in close proximity to Azeroth (more specifically mirrored from Northrend), it's safe to say that Azeroth's close link to the central hub of the universal afterlife realm of the Great Dark Beyond has made our world the nexus of the universal cycle. If a force wants to unravel all of reality (such as the Burning Legion), the place to go do it is OUR neck of the woods. Following this line of reasoning, I have come up with a few major events that could have done this act.

What broke the Machine of Death?

• 1) Connecting the Alternate Timeline to the Prime Timeline with the Dark Portal and Vision of Time. - While this is ~technically~ before Legion, this event directly led to the events of Legion and keeps within the timeline of a "few years" that they mentioned. Any Azerothian souls that died during the events of WoD might have screwed up the cosmic "sorting" of souls. Would they go to the Arbiter of the Prime Timeline or the Alternate Timeline? This seems like the least likely of the crop, but it was worth mentioning.
  
  
• 2) The Felstorm at the Broken Shore being powered and maintained by the rift of magical power beneath the Tomb of Sargeras. - This "rift" is likely the same anomaly as the Rift of Aln, which connects to both the Twisting Nether AND the Great Dark Beyond (includes the physical plane, Emerald Dream, and the Shadowlands). Gul'dan was using the rift in the physical realm while Xavius was using it in the Emerald Dream. The rift being used in tandem might have strained the fabric of reality and broke the Machine of Death. This rift predated the arrival of the titans to Azeroth, as evidenced by Xal'atath mentioning at the Broken Shore that it was always a place of power that attracted many groups, including her own brethren before trolls settled in that area. She also mentions that the Battle of K'tanth that happened there between N'Zoth and Y'Shaarj. It's clear that they were fighting over this location for a reason.
  
  
• 3) The power of Death siphoned from Argus, the Unmaker (the Death Titan) and inflicted into the world-soul of Azeroth by Sargeras' sword Gorribal (which is still currently in Silithus). - To me, this seems like the MOST likely scenario, especially taking into account: Argus' abilities/internal "death titan" title from datamining, Blizzard's reluctance to answer questions about him at Blizzcon, and his Mythic red color-scheme (which is canon due to the in-game cinematic of Sargeras turning Argus' soul into an avatar like the other member of the Pantheon and his colors being red at first before transistioning to pale blue, both of which are known "death" colors). Gorribal radiated red energy before we neutralized it with our artifacts. Since Azeroth seems to be in close proximity to the Maw, the huge influx of Death energy might have affected the Rift of Aln connected to Azeroth's world-soul that subsequently connects all realms of existence, including the Shadowlands.
  
  
• 4) A combination of two or all three of these events ...might have compounded each other to cause the eventual breaking of the Machine of Death.
  
  
• 5) Other (tell me your reasoning in the comments below)

Tell me what you think!

argus /10char

[Life-Binder]

No, death broke before. Don't forget that Vol'jin only made Sylvanas the Warchief because of the Interference of the Jailer.

Sylvanas knew Jailer since end of ICC, their mutual plans all this time dont necessarily have to relate to the death balance being broken

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

I'm going with Blame Argus because it's the only one that makes sense right now.

[ro9ue]

If all souls funneled to the maw because "death broke" and that's what Sylvanas saw when she died, apparently this happened way back during Wrath.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

If all souls funneled to the maw because "death broke" and that's what Sylvanas saw when she died, apparently this happened way back during Wrath.

I mean would it surprise anyone if she was doomed to the Maw as soon as Wrath Gate happened?

[huth]

If all souls funneled to the maw because "death broke" and that's what Sylvanas saw when she died, apparently this happened way back during Wrath.

But it doesn't say anywhere that this is what she saw. She saw the Maw itself from the PoV of a soul, which could just as well mean she got herself judged irredeemable.

It can't have happened during Wrath. The souls from Frostmourne still went to their proper destinations. The earliest it could have happened is immediately after Wrath, though there is no indication that's the case. Given that Sylvanas has made no effort to get lots of people killed until fairly recently, i'd guess it happened much later, probably during or after Legion. I'm thinking the lantern and Helya are somehow involved.

[zlygork]

If all souls funneled to the maw because "death broke" and that's what Sylvanas saw when she died, apparently this happened way back during Wrath.

This is what I am leaning towards as well.
Perhaps "death broke" when Arthas died, similarly to how the forsaken were able to break free at the moment that the frozen throne was damaged by Illidan.

[Dracullus]

It may be even a thing since Wrath. So far last person confirmed to die normal way was Kael'Thas. Also Varimathras knew something about it and he likely was imprisoned right after his failure in Undercity.

I think both Wrathgate events and creation of Lich King will be further explained during Shadowlands.

[Doffen]

Of these three, I would go with number three. The sword really needs something big imo, yes, I know, being the reason for BfA with Azeroth dying is big, but as an ending. So while in Shadowlands we'll find out that the sword broke it all, in an end patch we remove it, put band aid on it and voila, Azeroth is "truly saved."

While we do that, N'Zoth has turned the world into The Black Empire because Visions of N'Zoth is just that, visions. Another threat to the world we have to deal with! I mean, no way that Blizzard will not use The Black Empire as a title for WoW, it's just too good.

[huth]

It may be even a thing since Wrath. So far last person confirmed to die normal way was Kael'Thas. Also Varimathras knew something about it and he likely was imprisoned right after his failure in Undercity.

I think both Wrathgate events and creation of Lich King will be further explained during Shadowlands.

Last confirmed soul to make it there is Uther, which was prevented from leaving until Frostmourne was shattered.

Sylvanas didn't get into contact with the Jailer until after Wrath, either.



I'm not sure where the third option even came from - Argus powers are blue-whitish. Red is Sargeras power. Besides, nobody was around to siphon power off of Argus when he died, and Sargeras didn't stab Azeroth until after that happened.

[Nosgoth]

I don't think that any "event" broke it. I think the "event" is simply the jailer deciding to hijack the souls and take them all in because he has become greedy.

[micwini]

Genn breaking that fucking lamp in Legion.

[huth]

I don't think that any "event" broke it. I think the "event" is simply the jailer deciding to hijack the souls and take them all in because he has become greedy.

That would still constitute an event, though.

Besides, that would leave the question of how he did that.

[Nosgoth]

argus /10char

They said that it has been broken for the last several years and Argus is maybe a year ago, even in Azeroth time. It would have been too recent.

- - - Updated - - -

That would still constitute an event, though.

Besides, that would leave the question of how he did that.

I wouldn't call it an event, not in the same way that Sargeras penetrating Azeroth with his sword is.

Honestly if it was any one event, I'd bet on something Sylvanas did that we didn't know about.

- - - Updated - - -

Genn breaking that fucking lamp in Legion.

I noticed recently that the lamp that we get in Helheim in order to escape was said to guide the souls to the afterlife or something. So I guess in that way, it would make sense. But then why didn't Sylvanas break it herself? It was clearly not what she wanted.