The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Ersula]

Nah, the in-game book is pretty clear they are distant in appearance from Dwarves. I'd also be surprised if they still look like Earthen, to be honest. The subtext to their mood swing is (at least based on what we know about dwarves to date) the curse of flesh. Possible the mental and physical changes have different triggers, though.

Yes but that is from Tyr's logs, and Tyr died shortly after the Curse of Flesh was even discovered. And that was a long long time ago. They could have easily been affected by the Curse by now.

This feels like a writing goof to me.

Stormrider has been used to refer to Falstad from Hots. They're proposing that term refers to established mounted flying Dwarven combat.

If a planestrider can carry a tauren on his back, a gryphon can carry a earthen.

An Earthen would weigh like 25 Tauren. My estimation of Earthen at 4000 pounds is pretty liberal. A person made of Marble would be about 6000 pounds.

[Villager720]

Storm riders still sound so wildhammer. And so alliance? How did will the horde join in with us on this?

See my previous post last page (below) : the evidence points to stormriders being not exclusively this new breed of dwarves - but instead points specifically to both wildhammer and bronzebeard:

Just want to note that the flavor text for the Arsenal: Stormrider's Stormhammers reads as follows:
"The weapons of a Stormrider are renowned across Azeroth with many mastering the power of the storm itself."
They teach the appearances for a "Thundering Stormhammer" and a "Regal Stormhammer".

To me this implies stormriders aren't exclusive to Khaz Algar (how could they be renowned if we'd never seen them before??) and are instead referencing the famous gryphon riders of the Wildhammers. Which would feel very "old school vanilla" if that's the case.
I dunno, to me, something about this just doesn't fee indicative of a "whole new continent". I'm wondering if we just happen to find these new dwarves under a revamped Kalimdor/EK or something because "Azeroth is healing" or Tyr takes us to them.
Why introduce new dwarves on a new landmass that are similar to iconic vanilla dwarf gryphon riders and then make that the selling point?
And hell, they recently showcased that they've got the tech to layer a new underground zone beneath the old world now.

Lastly, alongside the datamining that uncovered this arsenal, they also found two new dwarven themed cosmetic helms called : "Wildhammer Scout's Headgear" and "Regal Gryphon Rider's Headgear”.

[ArthasFanboy]

I'd prefer Khaz Algar to be one zone, and have this new earthen-dwarf play a role like the Highmountain Tauren did in Legion (or like Nightborne if Blizzard can get it right).



Also: Plus, we've never seen these guys in-game. This could be a good time to do it:
https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Skardyn

[Teriz]

Does not say former anywhere. It describes them as one group of Earthen variant, and the Khaz Algar ones as another.

It literally says it right here;

A contingent of earthen was sent by the titan keepers to investigate a geological anomaly in a fissure detected on Sector AR-938. In time, these earthen begun to display behaviors similar to those who had fallen under the influence of the flesh, despite being separated by a great distance and sharing no cultural ties whatsoever. To the keepers, the similarities were uncanny. Although both groups remained physiologically distinct, the earthen had started to refer to Sector AR-938 as Khaz Algar, and their behaviors, language, and demeanor showed many similarities to other former earthen groups.[1]

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

Not groups, group. They are all Earthen to the keepers, just variants.

It even very explicitly points out a second time that "dwarf" is just what those Earthen variants call themselves.

That's great, but the Keepers didn't call the Earthen who occupied Khaz Algar "Dwarves" self-styled or otherwise. In fact, they state plainly that the only thing that changed was their behaviors.

- - - Updated - - -

I agree with that sentiment, I was questioning your assertion that Khaz'algar was titanic in nature.

I would just consider it titanic in nature because it's full of titan constructs seemingly reprogrammed by some entity. I think it's going to be an interesting place to explore and experience during the expansion.

[Cheezits]

I'd prefer Khaz Algar to be one zone, and have this new earthen-dwarf play a role like the Highmountain Tauren did in Legion (or like Nightborne if Blizzard can get it right).

Also we never see this guys in-game. This could be a good time to do it:
https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Skardyn

Wait, they are straight up connected to Xal'atath. The Harbinger. So the Skardyn is EXACTLY what they are.

So we're getting a kingdom of evil looking Void Dwarves that Xal is bossing around.

[Hitei]

It literally says it right here;

Yes. In the wowpedia article written by some random person on the internet.

There is no "former" in the actual report.

That's great, but the Keepers didn't call the Earthen who occupied Khaz Algar "Dwarves" self-styled or otherwise. In fact, they state plainly that the only thing that changed was their behaviors.

Behaviors like adopting the Dwarven naming conventions.

[Teriz]

Holy shit.... Guys.

10th exp, 20th anni for WoW, 30th anni for warcraft.

Thrall, the face of wow in key art.

Super secret dwarf continent or city.

It's not an elemental exp or LvV...

It's an Azeroth exp, as in we'll be meeting the word soul!

The void will probably finally try to corrupt Azeroth as they originally planned.

I got bad news for you, it's still likely an elemental expansion. A couple of those promotions were decidedly elemental in nature, and I believe we're still heading underground.

[Cheezits]

If they tied Xal to the Skardyn in her original expansion (Legion) then I think they will use them as an influence for the Algarian dwarves.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20100901113548

They may end up being her "thrall race" like the Naga were to N'zoth.

[Teriz]

Yes. In the wowpedia article written by some random person on the internet.

There is no "former" in the actual report.

Does that make the statement any less correct? Dwarves are former Earthen, and the report literally states that the Earthen in Khaz Algar didn't turn physically into "self styled Dwarves".

Behaviors like adopting the Dwarven naming conventions.

Does it matter? The point is that the Earthen of Khaz Algar started acting like Dwarves but didn't physically transform into Dwarves. If we had Elves acting like trolls, would they be Elves or Trolls? My guess would be that they would be Elves. What say you?

If they tied Xal to the Skardyn in her original expansion (Legion) then I think they will use them as an influence for the Algarian dwarves.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20100901113548

They may end up being her "thrall race" like the Naga were to N'zoth.

Algarians are Earthen, not Dwarves.

[Ersula]

Wait, they are straight up connected to Xal'atath. The Harbinger. So the Skardyn is EXACTLY what they are.

So we're getting a kingdom of evil looking Void Dwarves that Xal is bossing around.

That would be cool. Although they establish The Algarians are completely segregated from the other Dwarves. Apparently hidden away the same way the Dragon Isles are. The datamined Gryphon mount does look cursed af tho.

[Myrrh]

Wait, they are straight up connected to Xal'atath. The Harbinger. So the Skardyn is EXACTLY what they are.

So we're getting a kingdom of evil looking Void Dwarves that Xal is bossing around.

I'd forgotten all about these, huh! Never realised they didn't make it into the game. Keep in mind the Skardyn would be much more recent based on being post-Modgud, so I can't see them being the Algarians - I'd definitely be down for them to be featured, though. They may simply recycle the idea since they never made it to live.

[Cheezits]

Yeah lorewise it wouldn't work, but I think the idea of "Xalatath controlling Dwarves" will be reused as well as the overall idea of a Void-corrupted dwarf (so scales and stuff).

[Kyojuro]

Just pointing out:
Mop -Imperial Quilen , was a Mogu expansion?
WoD - Dread Raven , was a Arakkoa expansion?
Legion-Reins of the Illidari Felstalker - was a Illidan expasion?
SL-Ensorcelled Everwyrm - was a Sperm Expansion?
DF-Tangled Dreamweaver - was a Emerald Dream expansion?

[Teriz]

Just pointing out:
Mop -Imperial Quilen , was a Mogu expansion?
WoD - Dread Raven , was a Arakkoa expansion?
Legion-Reins of the Illidari Felstalker - was a Illidan expasion?
SL-Ensorcelled Everwyrm - was a Sperm Expansion?
DF-Tangled Dreamweaver - was a Emerald Dream expansion?

Exactly. This clearly needs to be pointed out to some people.

[Myrrh]

Just pointing out:
Mop -Imperial Quilen , was a Mogu expansion?
WoD - Dread Raven , was a Arakkoa expansion?
Legion-Reins of the Illidari Felstalker - was a Illidan expasion?
SL-Ensorcelled Everwyrm - was a Sperm Expansion?
DF-Tangled Dreamweaver - was a Emerald Dream expansion?

Look, depending on you you ask...

But yes, important to remember that the collectors ed mounts are links to the expansion, while not a guarantee of the expansion's focus. All we know is thar be dorfs.

[Ersula]

Just pointing out:
Mop -Imperial Quilen , was a Mogu expansion?
WoD - Dread Raven , was a Arakkoa expansion?
Legion-Reins of the Illidari Felstalker - was a Illidan expasion?
SL-Ensorcelled Everwyrm - was a Sperm Expansion?
DF-Tangled Dreamweaver - was a Emerald Dream expansion?

These things were still tied to the overall vibe of the expansion. We knew before it was revealed Pandaria was Oriental place, and a Quilen is pretty Oriental. Arakkoa pointed correctly to Draenor. Felstalker pointed correctly to the Legion. The Everwyrm description references Anima, which was a big part of Shadowlands & first appeared as a term in 8.3. We literally got an Emerald Dream raid tier & the Dreamweave is a gd dragon.

We're only focusing on the Dwarf lore because that's all we have to go on right now. We all know it's going to have other things. This isn't the gotcha you think it is.

Algarians are Earthen, not Dwarves.

Only as of 100,000 years ago. You touch the wrong goop & you'll be flesh by Tuesday.

[Houle]

Holy shit.... Guys.

10th exp, 20th anni for WoW, 30th anni for warcraft.

Thrall, the face of wow in key art.

Super secret dwarf continent or city.

It's not an elemental exp or LvV...

It's an Azeroth exp, as in we'll be meeting the word soul!

The void will probably finally try to corrupt Azeroth as they originally planned.

You are the one whos literally been spouting how you "always knew" that its "definitely" going to be a Light vs Void xpac with Yrel like every second comment for weeks now dude. Funny how fast you are backtracking on that now.

[Teriz]

These things were still tied to the overall vibe of the expansion. We knew before it was revealed Pandaria was Oriental place, and a Quilen is pretty Oriental. Arakkoa pointed correctly to Draenor. Felstalker pointed correctly to the Legion. The Everwyrm description references Anima, which was a big part of Shadowlands & first appeared as a term in 8.3. We literally got an Emerald Dream raid tier & the Dreamweave is a gd dragon.

This is the general theme of Khaz Algar



Underground/Elemental/Titan IMO.

[Kyojuro]

it can be a world revamp and we discover an dwarven zone maybe underground or even in avaloren called Khaz'Algar.

[Dragon ANX]

Image of the Frontier Inn with doodads, modelviewer link without doodads.

Cool!
Thank you!