Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Kiivar86]

Hm, that's the first we've heard of such a curse happening, right? At that time, anyway. Curious.

[Cheezits]

Hm, that's the first we've heard of such a curse happening, right? At that time, anyway. Curious.

A transforming curse in the ancient EK, a temple of light and fire, and the Scion are all new I believe.

The Scion sounds like the complete opposite of Xal'atath which is interesting.

[milkmustache]

A transforming curse in the ancient EK, a temple of light and fire, and the Scion are all new I believe.

The Scion sounds like the complete opposite of Xal'atath which is interesting.

The temple of Light and Fire I took as a pre-modern Elf Sunwell. The Scion shifting between elf/human/troll likely reflects the inhabitants of that land.

Not sure what to make of the Scion otherwise. Wonder if we'll ever see further into it. Feels similar to what a depiction of Elune would be, so it could be a parallel to Elune but for the Sun? Who knows. Maybe a Light being higher than a Naaru? Or a Naaru's visage? We know that Blizzard loves giving other beings humanoid forms.

[Darkarath]

Read the new short story.

Nothing groundbreaking. Some new Arathi lore. But one thing is certain from the short story, Khaz Algar is secured. Black Blood doesn't seem to be taken as a threat. And there is this continuous mention of going back to the "old world" again and again.

Makes one dream about a full EK revamp in Midnight. Could 11.2 be the start of that revamp? Could it happen in the Eastern Kingdoms? That would certainly be unexpected.

Isle of Quel'danas as 11.2? We lose and Midnight happens? Just saying

[genegerbread]

Read the new short story.

Nothing groundbreaking. Some new Arathi lore. But one thing is certain from the short story, Khaz Algar is secured. Black Blood doesn't seem to be taken as a threat. And there is this continuous mention of going back to the "old world" again and again.

Makes one dream about a full EK revamp in Midnight. Could 11.2 be the start of that revamp? Could it happen in the Eastern Kingdoms? That would certainly be unexpected

This could actually make sense, especially since we're returning to Arathi Highlands in 11.1.7. Releasing this short story today could be the precursor to announcing an EPL/WPL revamp in 11.2.

Still largely convinced we're going to K'aresh or Rootlands, but this would be a nice surprise!

[Cheezits]

Nothing groundbreaking. Some new Arathi lore. But one thing is certain from the short story, Khaz Algar is secured. Black Blood doesn't seem to be taken as a threat. And there is this continuous mention of going back to the "old world" again and again.

You weren't kidding. Six times, even.

Would be an interesting twist if 11.2 is revamped old zones and that is why the "new zone" thing was iffy on the roadmap. Maybe the Red Dawn is the next patch in Lordaeron?

[Kiivar86]

A transforming curse in the ancient EK, a temple of light and fire, and the Scion are all new I believe.

The Scion sounds like the complete opposite of Xal'atath which is interesting.

I thought so, I couldn't find anything in a quick search.

The Scion thing kinda makes me think of the Shardholder/vessels in Brandon Sanderson's work (basically Gods of a sort, each holding an aspect of the original god), in part with the whole pool thing. But the usage of the word "Scion" is interesting too, that's usually used for like a descendant or heir, though a part of me is amused that when I searched for it, I got the initial description of "a young shoot or twig of a bplant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting." Heh. Unrelated to that though, I'm sure, but the debate over maybe the Rootlands or K'aresh made me laugh with that.

The temple of Light and Fire I took as a pre-modern Elf Sunwell. The Scion shifting between elf/human/troll likely reflects the inhabitants of that land.

Eh the Sunwell was Arcane-based at that time though, and also the story mentions Quel'thalas so that's a known location, and that the temple she finds is hidden.

Further, it is described as where the heart of the world meets the eye of the heavens, and that doesn't really seem like the Sunwell to me.

[Cheezits]

I think this description is extra peculiar: "A temple where the heart of the world and the eye of the heavens met". So... the power of the worldsoul combined with... the sun? Elune? What?

And in the Eastern Kingdoms of all things. I have no idea where this would be besides mmmmmaybe Blackrock Mountain? Alterac? Something that extends both into the ground and up to the sky.

[Cheezits]

I'll be honest, if 11.2 is Lordaeron it would be a genius way to "clean up" the area around Quel'thalas prior to an expansion there.

[Makorus]

Having 11.2 set in the old world would legit be worst case scenario lmao.

Can't wait for the first expansion with no real ending or any patch be relevant to the base expansion. Would legit be a bigger blunder than WoD.

[Cheezits]

Having 11.2 set in the old world would legit be worst case scenario lmao.

Can't wait for the first expansion with no real ending or any patch be relevant to the base expansion. Would legit be a bigger blunder than WoD.

Already happened with 8.3. Also, arguably WoD didn't have an ending. They've already teed up that the story structure is "different" through the Saga, and everything points to the black blood story being (momentarily?) abandoned in some way, so it's already the blunder you fear.

[Makorus]

Already happened with 8.3. Also, arguably WoD didn't have an ending. They've already teed up that the story structure is "different" through the Saga, and everything points to the black blood story being (momentarily?) abandoned in some way.

8.3 being set in the old world was a disgrace as well though.

And yeah, WoD definitely had an ending, it just didn't really have much of a middle, plus, 8.2 actually had to do with the base expansion.

They've already teed up that the story structure is "different"

Different in that there is no structure?

[Joshuaj]

I'll be honest, if 11.2 is Lordaeron it would be a genius way to "clean up" the area around Quel'thalas prior to an expansion there.

That would kinda ruin the point of "the War Within" tho, no?

[Cheezits]

That would kinda ruin the point of "the War Within" tho, no?

Orweyna got Poochie'd and sent to offscreen jail, so it's looking like whatever the last patch is isn't Underground.

On top of that, it seems like most of the main cast is leaving Khaz Algar in 11.1.7 and on, per this short story and the upcoming novel. I think Dagran is the only one staying behind?

[Bwgmon]

- Kel'thuzad spotted and likely new developments to WPL and EPL coming up soon before we go to Northrend in TLT.

Isn't he like, super-turbo-perma dead after having his phylactery and Shadowlands-dead self killed? The thing in the TWW questline was a mirror image left behind on a necklace that is now completely inert.

Unless we're supposed to believe "a drained mirror image of a guy conjured before the part where he actually became super powerful" is somehow going to be a major threat, I think Kel'thuzad is pretty donezo.

[Cheezits]

Unless we're supposed to believe "a drained mirror image of a guy conjured before the part where he actually became super powerful" is somehow going to be a major threat, I think Kel'thuzad is pretty donezo.

Let me tell you about Gul'dan 2.0...

Shadowlands Kel being widely panned + this development makes it very likely the copy will be used in some kind of way to "redo" Kel'thuzad, especially as it seems to be a pre-Jailer Kel. Otherwise, why put him in a Kirin Tor story over ANYONE else?

[milkmustache]

I'll be honest, if 11.2 is Lordaeron it would be a genius way to "clean up" the area around Quel'thalas prior to an expansion there.

What could the raid be though? If this were to hypothetically happen, I'd have to assume they'd include Beledar in this, which could possibly be the ending raid.

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I think the point would be the fact that they included him at all in TWW. Kel'thuzad didn't have to be there, yet they decided to include him. Wasn't there even a little pocket dimension of his invention? What's to say they don't just decide that he's able to return now, because reasons.

Agreed here. Kel'thuzad's inclusion was an extremely deliberate choice. He'll be involved in the Scourge storylines in Midnight and TLT for sure.

[Cheezits]

What could the raid be though? If this were to hypothetically happen, I'd have to assume they'd include Beledar in this, which could possibly be the ending raid.

If it's Lordaeron then the raid definitely is something disconnected and instanced, be it where the wormhole is or in the Dark Heart itself, somewhere where it makes sense to beat up Xal.

I think K'aresh is still more likely as we seem to be moving away from Khaz Algar and its theming. Everyone's leaving, the Coreway takes years to repair and Orweyna dipped without inviting anyone else to follow her.

[milkmustache]

If it's Lordaeron then the raid definitely is something disconnected and instanced, be it where the wormhole is or in the Dark Heart itself, somewhere where it makes sense to beat up Xal.

I think K'aresh is still more likely as we seem to be moving away from Khaz Algar and its theming. Everyone's leaving, the Coreway takes years to repair and Orweyna dipped without inviting anyone else to follow her.

I didn't notice how many times she mentioned the term "old world" in this story. Considering the 11.1.7 questline, what a fucking turn that would be to have Arathi Highlands or EK host the final patch. I think it's far more unlikely than Rootlands, but what a fun consideration. I think it's slightly too disconnected, unless it's a full Arathi patch that includes Beledar.

Or a surprise landing by the army of the Arathi Empire in EK?

[Cheezits]

I didn't notice how many times she mentioned the term "old world" in this story. Considering the 11.1.7 questline, what a fucking turn that would be to have Arathi Highlands or EK host the final patch. I think it's far more unlikely than Rootlands, but what a fun consideration. I think it's slightly too disconnected, unless it's a full Arathi patch that includes Beledar.

Honestly I think it may be as simple as "they don't think this theme can sustain a full expansion", as not even Undermine is really part of Khaz Algar and its story (though it is tied in fairly well). I can see them giving up on the initial concept where all three patches were underground.

Xal seems to be the thread between the patches, no more no less.