Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Cheezits]

I wonder if Blizzard is going to touch on the story of the Void creature that was supposedly beneath Undermine;

https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Rakalaz

Reading this, it's very likely, similar to the old god creature under Zul Aman. They are using deep cuts of old lore as much as they can now and it's probably the only thing linking Undermine to the actual plot of TWW.

[milkmustache]

That's what Professor Snape, uh, I mean Xal'atath, is after! That's what the awakening is all about.

Maybe this is a major whoosh for me, but are you implying that Knaifu could be maybe more aligned with us than thought?

Reading this, it's very likely, similar to the old god creature under Zul Aman. They are using deep cuts of old lore as much as they can now and it's probably the only thing linking Undermine to the actual plot of TWW.

I prefer this over hat pulls on other content. Kaja'mite may have something to do with it too, as previously speculated here.

[Teriz]

Reading this, it's very likely, similar to the old god creature under Zul Aman. They are using deep cuts of old lore as much as they can now and it's probably the only thing linking Undermine to the actual plot of TWW.

Well don't forget, Undermine and Kezan supposedly have huge amounts of Azerite (some of the highest in the world), so that will likely connect Undermine to the overall plot as well.

[Santandame]

I think we're very unlikely to get that with a guy who is known primarily for his "visions" and "prophecies" and for being a devotee of the Light.

I'd love to see more villains like you say in WoW, because WoW's entire history has "X was corrupted by Y magic" as the dominant motivation for villains (indeed, it's almost all the major ones), but I don't think it's at all likely that the Emperor will be like that. Prophets are rarely "cool" either (unless somewhat unwilling), and where they're charismatic, it tends to be in a cult leader or megachurch way, not like, Hans Gruber sort of way.

There are plenty of charismatic prophetic characters throughout fantasy who aren’t cult leaders or heads of a church.

[Santandame]

Haha, nah. Just making fun of myself for coming across as Hermione after an intense study session at the library.

I think Xal'atath is in the business of resurrection.

Prime candidates:

- C'thun
- Herself
- Void Lord
- Voidy Worldsoul
- The Ancient One
- Some guy called Jeff

Hasn’t it been made pretty apparent that she’s just trying to usher in Dimensius?

I appreciate your thought process and passion, but you are massively overestimating the story.

[Jastall]

In this case, just a meaningless buzzword equating to "I don't like it".

In actual usage, there was a late 2000s early 2010s aesthetic look frequently employed by amateur artists on tumblr, the biggest identifying feature of which was large very bright red noses, and later with other deliberately traditionally unattractive features, like overly heavy freckles, vitiligo, arm/leg hair, characters being overweight, etc. This picture has absolutely nothing tumblr about it, nor any of the hallmarks of the aforementioned style, but its one of those terms that's become bastardized and just thrown about.

The problems this picture does have, or really, Alleria has, is just an odd choice to (I asusme) push the elf character more distinctly elven and less pointy-eared human. You see this sometimes in other RPGs. Elder SCrolls and Divinity: Original Sin both weirdly alien-ify their elves to push them towards being a more distinctly not human race. Pathfinder's first edition also sort of did this, though 2E walked it back to them pretty much just being human.

Yeah, I figured it was that kind of incel-adjacent buzzword.

Personally I do think Thrall looks pretty goofy in terms of proportions. I know Orcs are and should be buff but he looks wider than he is tall. Faerin also looks a lot more disfigured than her in-game model, which I don't mind as it gives her some visual flair but still.

As for elves looking more alien, I'm honestly all for it. Pretty humans with pointy ears is just about the most boring visual archetype in fantasy as far as I'm concerned. But I know it's never going to translate in-game, where even the undead elves are meant to come across as ravishing bombshells.

[milkmustache]

Hasn’t it been made pretty apparent that she’s just trying to usher in Dimensius?

I'd be happy if this is her purpose and she sticks to it. Sometimes second fiddle villains add so much to the main villains.

Gul'dan, Archimonde, Kil'jaeden, all serving Sargaeras but they each hold so much weight for the general purpose of the Legion.

Xal'atath could be the same for the void.

[Santandame]

Yeah, I figured it was that kind of incel-adjacent buzzword.

Personally I do think Thrall looks pretty goofy in terms of proportions. I know Orcs are and should be buff but he looks wider than he is tall. Faerin also looks a lot more disfigured than her in-game model, which I don't mind as it gives her some visual flair but still.

As for elves looking more alien, I'm honestly all for it. Pretty humans with pointy ears is just about the most boring visual archetype in fantasy as far as I'm concerned. But I know it's never going to translate in-game, where even the undead elves are meant to come across as ravishing bombshells.

I’d not be against Elves in Warcraft being similar to the Githyanki from Baldur’s Gate 3 in terms of features and proportions. Just a little less lizard like.

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I'd be happy if this is her purpose and she sticks to it. Sometimes second fiddle villains add so much to the main villains.

Gul'dan, Archimonde, Kil'jaeden, all serving Sargaeras but they each hold so much weight for the general purpose of the Legion.

Xal'atath could be the same for the void.

I agree. Underlings can be just as interesting, if not moreso than who they serve.

My personal hope though is that Locus Walker is an avatar or fragment of Dimensius.

[ImTheMizAwesome]

I wonder if on gamescom blizzard will show second TWW CGI cinematic or one of the "warbringers" or "bastion" like series video showcasing one of the characters.

[Murlocos]

I've always liked the interpretation of Warcraft elves being cat-like with their freakishly long and sensitive ears and eyebrows. It helps make them recognizable against other fantasy elves more than you'd think. Trolls are another great example of really coming onto their own appearance-wise.

[Santandame]

I think that's a red herring. Deathwing was also called a Harbinger. I don't think that means that much. It's just the current most suited person on Azeroth in charge of trying to bring on the Void endgame, traditionally known as the Hour of Twilight when the world is nommed up by Void Lords.

I think she's in league with Queen Azshara, and what they'll attempt to do is kill whoever is above Azshara in rank, within the Void. So if that means supercharging herself or some other entity on Azeroth, only to lure in Dimensius and gobble him up, then so be it.

Once that's done, Queen Azshara will reign supreme. That's their goal.

But why would she want to help Azshara?

I do agree though that Azshara has plans to supersede whoever or whatever the void hierarchy is; and I think she should succeed.

As we step into the next era of Warcraft after TWSS, I do think Azshara should be the top dog villain for that era, much like Sargeras was for the majority of WoW’s lifespan.

[Jastall]

I’d not be against Elves in Warcraft being similar to the Githyanki from Baldur’s Gate 3 in terms of features and proportions. Just a little less lizard like.

Yeah, something like that. As stated Divinity elves are also very tall, weirdly proportioned cannibals so that already gives them vastly more characters than elves with longer ears than is usual. If I were to write/draw elves they'd be akin to fey from Celtic folklore, bizarre creatures with strange powers, barely human appearances that can be weirdly attractive, and their own distinct morality.

But people like elves, a lot, so no shade on Blizzard for giving them what they want.

[Eurhetemec]

There are plenty of charismatic prophetic characters throughout fantasy who aren’t cult leaders or heads of a church.

None of whom who are also "fanatics" and not "owned" by they're fanatic for, though.

This isn't a two-part question. This is a four-part one.

To meet what he laid out, you need to be

Cool
Charismatic
Prophet
Fanatic-but-not-corrupted-by-thing-they-are-fanatic-about

There are pretty much no fantasy characters which are all of the above. If you disagree, please name them - you'll find I have a very broad knowledge of fantasy so can probably comment on them.

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I agree. Underlings can be just as interesting, if not moreso than who they serve.

This is very true, with Far Cry 3 providing perhaps the best example.

[Ersula]

If the crystal in Hallowfall really is a Naaru ship they're going to have to explain how the Arathi knew to name it Beledar in accordance with Draenei ship nomenclature.

[Enrif]

If the crystal in Hallowfall really is a Naaru ship they're going to have to explain how the Arathi knew to name it Beledar in accordance with Draenei ship nomenclature.

I would assume they got visions from the naaru (like in the origin story for the light faith for humans) and Beledar was just a name that was given from the naaru.

[Ersula]

I would assume they got visions from the naaru (like in the origin story for the light faith for humans) and Beledar was just a name that was given from the naaru.

That would be an explanation. Blizzard should take note. So much of the wow wordbuilding is just vibes.

[milkmustache]

I would assume they got visions from the naaru (like in the origin story for the light faith for humans) and Beledar was just a name that was given from the naaru.

That would be an explanation. Blizzard should take note. So much of the wow wordbuilding is just vibes.

And to add in, the name of the human who was first granted visions of the light is "Mereldar". Definitely some longterm relation with the Naaru here.

[Santandame]

None of whom who are also "fanatics" and not "owned" by they're fanatic for, though.

This isn't a two-part question. This is a four-part one.

To meet what he laid out, you need to be

Cool
Charismatic
Prophet
Fanatic-but-not-corrupted-by-thing-they-are-fanatic-about

There are pretty much no fantasy characters which are all of the above. If you disagree, please name them - you'll find I have a very broad knowledge of fantasy so can probably comment on them.

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This is very true, with Far Cry 3 providing perhaps the best example.

If we’re defining a prophet as someone who speaks for or with power of a deity or by divine inspiration, not just having visions which is more along the lines of a seer.

Paul Atreides (Dune)
Dalinar Kholin (Stormlight Archive)
The Fool (Realm of the Elderlings)
Bayaz (First Law)
Mia Corvere (Nevernight)
Fang Runin (The Poppy War) (though you could argue she becomes corrupted)
The Lord Protector (Mistborn Era 1)
Rand Al’thor (Wheel of Time)

Just off the top of my head.

[Houle]

But why would she want to help Azshara?

I do agree though that Azshara has plans to supersede whoever or whatever the void hierarchy is; and I think she should succeed.

As we step into the next era of Warcraft after TWSS, I do think Azshara should be the top dog villain for that era, much like Sargeras was for the majority of WoW’s lifespan.

The overhype of Azsharah from some is always interesting to me. Shes done pretty much nothing in the lore to warrant being the top dog villain for the entire next "phase" of the franchise. I feel like people still overhype her bc of a 10+ year old Knaak book. But every time she actually appeared in the game, she talked big talk, got soundly beaten and then ran off.

[Santandame]

The overhype of Azsharah from some is always interesting to me. Shes done pretty much nothing in the lore to warrant being the top dog villain for the entire next "phase" of the franchise. I feel like people still overhype her bc of a 10+ year old Knaak book. But every time she actually appeared in the game, she talked big talk, got soundly beaten and then ran off.

I can’t speak for the Knaak book as I’ve never read it. I can only speak for what I know, which is I find her incredibly interesting as far as Warcraft characters goes, she’s extremely charismatic, she feels like a more personal villain, and there’s layers to her character.

She’s infinitely more appealing as the primary antagonist as opposed to the god like entities such as Sargeras, Zovaal, the Void Lords etc. if that’s the kind of villain you’re into, then more power to you but it’s not what I’m after.