Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Telogrus]

Ah but you forget, Zovaal isn't True Death™, he is merely a cog in the machine that is the Shadowlands. Elune spoke directly with his hitherto unknown manager.

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True, most of the quotes have found pretty good matches over the years.

But, I'd argue, there's a case to be made that many - if not all - have multiple meanings and are applicable to different people and events.

For example Oggmot's note about a dark lady wrapped in black swirlies, leading people like sheep to their own doom. Fits both Sylvanas and Xal'atath pretty well.

The one about the arrow finally hitting its mark, causing the last fetter to fall away, fits Sylvanas attacking Zovaal and Alleria damaging the Dark Heart.

The Lord of Ravens being Medivh letting in the Legion, Khadgar shutting them out, Odyn perhaps doing something soon, etc.

I think the theme of cycles, rings coming to a close, possibilities opening up, etc., which is prevalent in "Old God Speech", is pretty interesting. It almost seems to suggest that they are telling multiple stories and prophecies at once.

Things that will come to pass in some way(s), in some places, perhaps on multiple occasions. With an ultimate, final layer that speaks more directly of the end of the world, through Midnight and the dark looming threat from below the earth.

That said, my OP was obviously just me spitballing for funsies.

I wonder when we’ll finally find out what were the 5 keys/torches/lanterns/whatever.

[Joshuaj]

I wonder when we’ll finally find out what were the 5 keys/torches/lanterns/whatever.

Ong, it could've either meant the sigils from SL, the Pillars of Creation from Legion, or the Oathstones from DF. None of these things actually aided the Void in any way shape or form, unless you want to argue the sigils from SL gave the Void an easy idea as to how they could swiftly claim the cosmos, but that wouldn't work unless they had someone spy on the people within Zereth Mortis this entire time (which, funny enough, is possible due to Irik-Tu's odd nature in Eternity's End).

[Ersula]

I wonder when we’ll finally find out what were the 5 keys/torches/lanterns/whatever.

The 5 lanterns were Zovaal's 5 generals. Sylvanas, Kel'thuzad. Meuhzala. Denathrius & Helya. It was prophesizing the shattering of the veil & the breaking of death. Honestly this current storyline did not exist when those whispers were written. It's more than likely that any other unresolved references were cut content due to covid.

[Enrif]

I just got reminded that Naxxramas still is floating in Northrend.

There was some talks about potential players hubs or class order halls for TLT. Naxxramas could fit either. It would be interesting to have it as a new order hall for death knights.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

I just got reminded that Naxxramas still is floating in Northrend.

There was some talks about potential players hubs or class order halls for TLT. Naxxramas could fit either. It would be interesting to have it as a new order hall for death knights.

It’s not just Naxx it’s all the floating necropolis in Nothrend, they all mysteriously emptied out and are waiting for something according to exploring nothrend.

[Enrif]

It’s not just Naxx it’s all the floating necropolis in Nothrend, they all mysteriously emptied out and are waiting for something according to exploring nothrend.

Ominous. How many were there still floating? 4? Naxxramas, Naxxanar, Zeramas and Voltarus? With Malykriss being unfinished and two or three more that are destroyed.

Naxxramas is the biggest and could work as a player hub. The other three? two of them in Zuldrak one in the Borean Tundra. Could be used for Order Halls of Warlocks and Demon Hunters, and Death Knights if they don't use Acherus again.

Or they will be used by story quests. Remnants of the Scourge, Nerubians, Titans. Many possibilities.

[Raetary]

Speaking of Scourge things.

Lets not forget that ICC contains machinery that directly taps into the World Soul, and we have absolutely no information on it whatsoever.
Depending on where the story goes, controlling the Forge of Souls could be pretty vital.

[Nymrohd]

Any hope PTR comes this week?

[milkmustache]

Speaking of Scourge things.

Lets not forget that ICC contains machinery that directly taps into the World Souls, and we have absolutely no information on it whatsoever.
Depending on where the story goes, controlling the Forge of Souls could be pretty vital.

Oh. Wow. Completely forgot that one. Are we going to have another fight for Icecrown? I expect a lot of revisions or attention come to that, because I can't imagine in their current plans that something could have been constructed to access the worldsoul so easily without the Titans stopping it.

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Any hope PTR comes this week?

This week meaning the coming week? I think so. I'd almost expect it.

[Enrif]

Oh. Wow. Completely forgot that one. Are we going to have another fight for Icecrown? I expect a lot of revisions or attention come to that, because I can't imagine in their current plans that something could have been constructed to access the worldsoul so easily without the Titans stopping it.

Well, the scourge under stewardship of the nathrezim build the citadel and the machinery. So they had years or time to get down. Add into that, that the scourge also had access to the nerubians underground systems, the scourge might have had an extensive way down to the core, or at least close enough to turn the forge of souls into a machine that is able to extract the energy.

Makes one really think what blizz will do with the TLT story. Icecrown just seems soo important after SL.

[Nymrohd]

This week meaning the coming week? I think so. I'd almost expect it.

This week meaning until the end of today. I fully assume we will have PTR next week, probably earlier than the usual Thursday/Friday.

[Ersula]

It’s not just Naxx it’s all the floating necropolis in Nothrend, they all mysteriously emptied out and are waiting for something according to exploring nothrend.

That sounds ominous but I would take that to assume much of Kel'thuzad's associates were called back to his service during the Jailer's gambit. After all, we find out Necropoli are designed for trans-dimensional travel. Hell, who needs spaceships. Lets explore the universe in Naxxramas.

[milkmustache]

Well, the scourge under stewardship of the nathrezim build the citadel and the machinery. So they had years or time to get down. Add into that, that the scourge also had access to the nerubians underground systems, the scourge might have had an extensive way down to the core, or at least close enough to turn the forge of souls into a machine that is able to extract the energy.

Makes one really think what blizz will do with the TLT story. Icecrown just seems soo important after SL.

Which makes me feel like a retcon or reexplaination of sorts is bound to happen...

The approach to the World Soul is a lot different in this Saga than it was in Legion > Shadowlands, and even Dragonflight a bit.

Although, if we look at the pacing as beings of all the powers making their gambit for the worldsoul in different manners, the Forge of Souls could very well have just been Death's approach to it, as Elun'ahir was Life's, Xal'atah is Void's, Sargeras was Disorder's, etc., ultimately making Icecrown almost an inevitable target for the Titans as soon as they return.

[Cheezits]

I totally forgot about the Necropoli hints in EN. I think with the Kel'thuzad tease in TWW and the general setting of both Midnight and TLT there will be a scourge story for sure, but whether or not this means playable Necromancers and/or Kel and Darkhan coming back are up in the air.

Besides Kel and Darkhan I don't know who could serve as the face of a Scourge 2.0 unless it's something crazy like Magatha.

Also, I can see the Worldcore stuff being a red herring in TWW and we actually go to it during TLT through the hole Zovaal made under Icecrown.

[Raetary]

Oh. Wow. Completely forgot that one. Are we going to have another fight for Icecrown? I expect a lot of revisions or attention come to that, because I can't imagine in their current plans that something could have been constructed to access the worldsoul so easily without the Titans stopping it.

Well, it was only ever relevant for 5 seconds in that pre-encounter Jailer cinematic.
So who knows if Blizzard even remembers it.

I really hope they do though, it opens up some interesting narrative possibilities.

[milkmustache]

I totally forgot about the Necropoli hints in EN. I think with the Kel'thuzad tease in TWW and the general setting of both Midnight and TLT there will be a scourge story for sure, but whether or not this means playable Necromancers and/or Kel and Darkhan coming back are up in the air.

Besides Kel and Darkhan I don't know who could serve as the face of a Scourge 2.0 unless it's something crazy like Magatha.

I wonder what the approach to the Scourge would be in context of Shadowlands. Among the common dislike for Shadowlands' story, it seemed a big complaint was the minimizing of Arthas' influence on the Scourge, and even then Sargeras'. Do the Scourge become a lesser entity that is often utilized by greater powers to set the stage for invasions; this meaning, will Darkhan and Kelthuzad become the faces of the Scourge in 12.0 as a ploy by the Void to thin out our resources in the war, just as they were for the Burning Legion?

This also brings up a minor point that I think may be a huge part of my dislike of the cosmology in the game at the moment; entities having names like the Scourge, the Burning Legion, etc., feels a lot better than just referring to it as Death, Disorder, Void, etc. I understand that these factions are but facets of a larger influence, but their names being so... plain, is really a bummer.

[Cheezits]

This also brings up a minor point that I think may be a huge part of my dislike of the cosmology in the game at the moment; entities having names like the Scourge, the Burning Legion, etc., feels a lot better than just referring to it as Death, Disorder, Void, etc. I understand that these factions are but facets of a larger influence, but their names being so... plain, is really a bummer.

Well, it's on Blizzard to introduce more cosmic enemy factions like the Void Lords. It was pretty lame that Zovaal's forces didn't really have a name (Mawsworn is closest but still not that cool) and he often just used Death with the big D. The Cult of the Damned and Black Empire are Azeroth exclusive things despite their masters originating from outer planes.

I would love if we got more Demon factions, for example. Or ANYTHING from the Light that isn't a Naaru.

[Enrif]

Which makes me feel like a retcon or reexplaination of sorts is bound to happen...

The approach to the World Soul is a lot different in this Saga than it was in Legion > Shadowlands, and even Dragonflight a bit.

Although, if we look at the pacing as beings of all the powers making their gambit for the worldsoul in different manners, the Forge of Souls could very well have just been Death's approach to it, as Elun'ahir was Life's, Xal'atah is Void's, Sargeras was Disorder's, etc., ultimately making Icecrown almost an inevitable target for the Titans as soon as they return.

What connects all of those, is the sheer size of them. Icecrown Citadel, Sargeras Sword, Elun'ahir (probably), Old Gods, The titan installations, are all massive. Except for the light, depending on if we count Beledar and the other shards as light or azeroth, or both.

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I totally forgot about the Necropoli hints in EN. I think with the Kel'thuzad tease in TWW and the general setting of both Midnight and TLT there will be a scourge story for sure, but whether or not this means playable Necromancers and/or Kel and Darkhan coming back are up in the air.

Besides Kel and Darkhan I don't know who could serve as the face of a Scourge 2.0 unless it's something crazy like Magatha.

Also, I can see the Worldcore stuff being a red herring in TWW and we actually go to it during TLT through the hole Zovaal made under Icecrown.

I think Denathrius might be a contender. Not per-se for the scourge, but an ongoing threat of undead/death affiliated forces. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nathrezim control the scourge. They did so in the past too.

[Avikur]

This week meaning until the end of today. I fully assume we will have PTR next week, probably earlier than the usual Thursday/Friday.

Yeah it's unlikely to be today, I think most people are still on their Christmas break, next week is far more likely

[Joshuaj]

Which makes me feel like a retcon or reexplaination of sorts is bound to happen...

The approach to the World Soul is a lot different in this Saga than it was in Legion > Shadowlands, and even Dragonflight a bit.

Although, if we look at the pacing as beings of all the powers making their gambit for the worldsoul in different manners, the Forge of Souls could very well have just been Death's approach to it, as Elun'ahir was Life's, Xal'atah is Void's, Sargeras was Disorder's, etc., ultimately making Icecrown almost an inevitable target for the Titans as soon as they return.

How exactly is it different?