1. #21921
    Herald of the Titans Worldshaper's Avatar
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    Here's my most recent take on 'A Song of the Depths', with the last few pages in mind. Good catch, Nightshade711!

    Text in red are my annotations.

    Rise, rise! Our Queen (Azshara) calls to us from beyond the Umbral Veil. She has transcended the Circle of Stars and basks in her eternal grandeur! (She's in space. Just say space.)

    The time we have long awaited is nigh.

    Even now, the Harbinger (Xal'atath) gathers the children of the first flesh (the Skardyn of Khaz Algar) to reclaim what was lost (the body of the 5th Old God, Xal'atath). They must remember their vows and serve those to whom they owe fealty (the vows are to Xal'atath).

    While they toil in the deep places (below Khaz Algar), we will journey to the shores of dragon lands, to the blessed isle where the Worldbreaker (Deathwing) first embraced the whispers.

    As one storm recedes (the old Harbinger, Deathwing--OR Razegeth), another rises (the new Harbinger, Xal'atath--OR Azshara's literal void storm). The torches have been lit (Oathstones or something, who cares at this point). The secrets he buried (Shadowflame etc) will strike as a dagger (allegory to Black Blade of the Empire literally stabbing things) into the hearts of his kin (the Black flight and the Dracthyr)!

    The Harbinger speaks of a primal power that seeks the end of Order (Iridikron and the Primal Incarnates seeking to topple the Titans). Such rage can be bent to serve our ends.

    A hunger lost to the ages will be reclaimed (the essence of Galakrond will be infused into the Void artifact).

    A dark heart left broken awaits the taking (probably the dead 5th Old God, but could also be figurative and refer to some event, such as a betrayal).

    When these things come to pass, the Harbinger will fulfill the final prophecy and complete the awakening (awaken the 5th Old God, which again is probably Xal'atath/the Harbinger herself... but it could also refer to Azeroth's world-soul of course).

    Only then shall our Queen return to reign over sea and sky and earth (Azshara returning to rule her new Black Empire). We must make ready.

    Rise, rise! Soon all that was hidden will be revealed (all the Old God infestation below ground will become apparent, and of course the identity of the Harbinger, and Khaz Algar).

  2. #21922
    The Undying Teriz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NikolaiShade View Post
    I think I'm just the odd one out but honestly the setting of an expansion has always been less important then the gameplay for me
    A few people are just huffing and puffing because we’re not going to shadow world to punch void lords in the face.

  3. #21923
    Quote Originally Posted by NikolaiShade View Post
    I think I'm just the odd one out but honestly the setting of an expansion has always been less important then the gameplay for me
    For me setting means a whole lot. Gameplay is important of course, but if I don't enjoy the setting all that much I won't be able to enjoy the gameplay.

    Prime example. BfA vs SL. I enjoyed the setting of BfA so much that I looked past far more flaws than I should have. Whereas I disliked the setting of SL enough that I could only barely managed to enjoy the significantly better gameplay.
    The world revamp dream will never die!

  4. #21924
    The Lightbringer Nightshade711's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Le Conceptuel View Post
    I don't think that's sensible. The skardyn exist and have existed in the lore for some time. They were in the novels. They have no connection to any unknown titan facilities and are instead corrupted Dark Iron dwarves from the time of Modgud.
    To be fair, Khaz Algar/the rift itself doesn’t seem to be a Titan facility. I perceived it as just a sector of the planet.
    Quote Originally Posted by Teriz View Post
    Chen isn't a Monk
    Quote Originally Posted by Teriz View Post
    Uh Demon Hunters literally had an ability called Spellbreaker.

  5. #21925
    Quote Originally Posted by ImTheMizAwesome View Post
    I didn't really touch 10.2 on ptr, waiting for release - does it have some new interesting gameplay stuff/features or it's mostly similar to what we already have?
    So far it seems to just be more of the same, except in the Emerald Dream, which I imagine is the defining factor in dictating your enjoyment of the patch.

    I like the theme and cosmetics, so I will likely enjoy it more than I did 10.1. Whereas someone who doesn't enjoy the theme will possibly be put off if they expected something more.
    The world revamp dream will never die!

  6. #21926
    Herald of the Titans Worldshaper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Le Conceptuel View Post
    The usurpers seem to be the titans. I think the Klaxxi also call them that.



    I don't think that's sensible. The skardyn exist and have existed in the lore for some time. They were in the novels. They have no connection to any unknown titan facilities and are instead corrupted Dark Iron dwarves from the time of Modgud.
    They were literally created by a curse left behind by Xal'atath, after she had abandoned the Dark Iron and thus causing them to lose a battle against the Wildhammer at Grim Batol.

    So they are, by definition, her creation.

    Now, it's true they probably aren't the same as the Earthen at Khaz Algar, because those Earthen went straight from Earthen into whatever form they took on next. The Skardyn, meanwhile, were proper Dark Iron dwarves that got transformed into Skardyn.

    That said, it leaves something to be said about Xal'atath and her powers. The Earthen at Khaz Algar probably got affected by her essence thousands of years ago, deep below the earth, as they investigated the fissure. Then later she died and ended up preserved within the dagger. In her "dagger-form", she was able to exert the same type of corrupting influence as she had previously, turning creatures with Earthen "DNA" into something different.

  7. #21927
    The Insane Raetary's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ImTheMizAwesome View Post
    I didn't really touch 10.2 on ptr, waiting for release - does it have some new interesting gameplay stuff/features or it's mostly similar to what we already have?
    It's just a regular DF patch.
    Campaign, side quests, world quests and the dream equivalent to the research camp event.


    Formerly known as Arafal

  8. #21928
    The Lightbringer Valysar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arafal View Post
    It's just a regular DF patch.
    Campaign, side quests, world quests and the dream equivalent to the research camp event.
    With a lot, A LOT, of mounts/pets/xmogs farming (way more than 10.1)

  9. #21929
    Quote Originally Posted by Sondrelk View Post
    For me setting means a whole lot. Gameplay is important of course, but if I don't enjoy the setting all that much I won't be able to enjoy the gameplay.

    Prime example. BfA vs SL. I enjoyed the setting of BfA so much that I looked past far more flaws than I should have. Whereas I disliked the setting of SL enough that I could only barely managed to enjoy the significantly better gameplay.
    Lol I was going to make the same example, only for me is reversed, I liked SL more than BfA. Not taking the story into account of course

  10. #21930
    Quote Originally Posted by Worldshaper View Post
    They were literally created by a curse left behind by Xal'atath, after she had abandoned the Dark Iron and thus causing them to lose a battle against the Wildhammer at Grim Batol.

    So they are, by definition, her creation.
    Yes, but I don't care whether they're a product of Xal'atath. I was just saying they can't be the Khaz Algar earthern because their history is entirely different.

    Quote Originally Posted by Nightshade711 View Post
    To be fair, Khaz Algar/the rift itself doesn’t seem to be a Titan facility. I perceived it as just a sector of the planet.
    Even then, they can't realistically be the Khaz Algar earthern because their history is entirely different and they came about long after Tyr died.
    "We will soon be in a world in which a man may be howled down for saying that two and two make four."
    — G.K. Chesterton, 1926
    The frozen Mind cracks between the mineral staves which close upon it. The fault lies with your mouldy systems, your logic of 2 + 2 = 4.
    — Antonin Artaud, 1956

  11. #21931
    Quote Originally Posted by Le Conceptuel View Post
    Yes, but I don't care whether they're a product of Xal'atath. I was just saying they can't be the Khaz Algar earthern because their history is entirely different.
    Maybe both groups are present and we are going to face a civil d-war-f...


    Edit: serious question, if I understand the story correctly there has been a "geological anomaly" in sector Ar-938, the keepers sent the earthen and then those same earthne became heretics, acting like dwarves but physically still earthen. It would be interesting to know what kind of anomaly was there. Maybe a "not-so-evil" old god or some void-related knowledge that made those earthen see the titans in a new light?
    Last edited by NikolaiShade; 2023-09-30 at 12:53 PM.

  12. #21932
    Quote Originally Posted by Worldshaper View Post
    That said, it leaves something to be said about Xal'atath and her powers. The Earthen at Khaz Algar probably got affected by her essence thousands of years ago, deep below the earth, as they investigated the fissure. Then later she died and ended up preserved within the dagger. In her "dagger-form", she was able to exert the same type of corrupting influence as she had previously, turning creatures with Earthen "DNA" into something different.
    Way to many assumptions. Starting with that anomaly even having anything to do with Xal'atath. You're getting lost in your headcanon.

  13. #21933
    this baby will take us to avaloren


  14. #21934
    Herald of the Titans Worldshaper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Le Conceptuel View Post
    Yes, but I don't care whether they're a product of Xal'atath. I was just saying they can't be the Khaz Algar earthern because their history is entirely different.
    Yeah, that's true.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by huth View Post
    Way to many assumptions. Starting with that anomaly even having anything to do with Xal'atath. You're getting lost in your headcanon.
    I mean, they're pretty reasonable assumptions.

    Secret power to create life, similar to the Curse of Flesh? Okay, must have something in common with Yogg-Saron.

    Harbinger took the essence from one of Yogg-Saron's creations, and is about to carry out an awakening?

    Xal'atath rumoured to be an Old God that was killed in ages past?

    I might be wrong, but my logic is sound.

  15. #21935
    Quote Originally Posted by ImTheMizAwesome View Post
    this baby will take us to avaloren

    Maybe 11.0 will actually give us a Dwarf child model. Wouldn't that be something?
    The world revamp dream will never die!

  16. #21936
    Quote Originally Posted by Sondrelk View Post
    Maybe 11.0 will actually give us a Dwarf child model. Wouldn't that be something?
    That's why the dwarves irradiated gnomer in classic. They wanted kids running around

  17. #21937
    Quote Originally Posted by Terremer View Post
    it would be nice to have child/teen/adult models for each race in the game
    Only if they finally let us kill kids. I mean seriously, what is it with protecting children in games???
    /s?

  18. #21938
    I mean we also have datamined updated Ironforge Guard armor, weapons and tabards

    Something with a Dwarven vibes might be coming, and I am over the moon if it turns out to be so

  19. #21939
    Quote Originally Posted by Terremer View Post
    we kill baby dragons anyway!
    Sometimes we even kill them while they are still eggs

  20. #21940
    Quote Originally Posted by Worldshaper View Post
    I mean, they're pretty reasonable assumptions.
    Each by themself? Maybe. Together? Far to much uncertainty.

    We also don't know what exactly the anomaly actually did to the Earthen. Their behaviour is similar to Dwarfes. Not their nature. It could just be something affecting their minds. They were already "alive" in a way before that.

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