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

[Joshuaj]

This, from what I got from the raid the Heart of Eternity isn't in the Sepulcher per se but it's what connects all the Zereths - we only used the Sepulcher to access it (and the Jailer left Anduin there to guard the portal).

Ehhh, not quite? The heart of the sepulcher, which is where the Heart of Eternity is located, is basically at the very core of the Universes ether (You can see the cosmic influences in their most basic state from there VIA the skybox). However, based off the implications of the lore, there are seemingly other cosmic hearts akin to the Heart of Eternity, which serve as core engines within their respective cosmic inner sanctum (and are likely located elsewhere within the universal ether core).

Zereth Mortis, and other cosmic Zereths aren't really located in the cosmic domains themselves. They have their own specific location that starts off as "being linked to the domain itself" (Which is why Zovaal was able to claim a piece of it during patch 9.1), and as you go further in there, the realm gets further separated from the domain, all the way until you reach the core of the universal ether, where the cosmic engines are completely separated from the domains.

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Can not wait for more Shadowlands lore speculation /s

Unless it gets retconned, SL lore will most likely extend itself into the Worldsoul Saga.

[Ersula]

Unless it gets retconned, SL lore will most likely extend itself into the Worldsoul Saga.

I don't think it'll be retconned, but Shadowlands was conspicuously completely omitted from the "Story so far" cinematic. Seems pretty irrelevant.

[Joshuaj]

I don't think it'll be retconned, but Shadowlands was conspicuously completely omitted from the "Story so far" cinematic. Seems pretty irrelevant.

For The War Within, it makes sense that it wouldn't be touched on much, as Anduin is the big focus there.

[Raetary]

I think that might be Yogg Saron -creating- the Nerubians. Using the crystal to affect their evolution. And I still think that crystal in the mural -is- Xalatath in an earlier form...

If it were Yogg, it would look like Yogg.
The mural is a detailed depiction, not some abstract piece of art.

and the Nerubians, again, are descendent from the Aqir.
Evolved past BE days.
Yogg and co. were sitting in their titan prison puddles while the Nerubians, Mantid and Qiraji started popping up.

As for the crystal being Xal, or a vessel for Xal, i dunno.
I think its more likely she is the depicted Old God and the crystal is another weapon/tool sent by Dimensius.

[Steampunkette]

If it were Yogg, it would look like Yogg.
The mural is a detailed depiction, not some abstract piece of art.

and the Nerubians, again, are descendent from the Aqir.
Evolved past BE days.
Yogg and co. were sitting in their titan prison puddles while the Nerubians, Mantid and Qiraji started popping up.

As for the crystal being Xal, or a vessel for Xal, i dunno.
I think its more likely she is the depicted Old God and the crystal is another weapon/tool sent by Dimensius.

I thought the Aqir who served him turned Nerubian by his influence?

That said, if it is the new Old God... is he Eating the Aqir or Creating them?

[Shadowferal]

Can not wait for more Shadowlands lore speculation /s

It's a smell that lingers, like a "silent but deadly..." in an elevator.

[Joshuaj]

It's a smell that lingers, like a "silent but deadly..." in an elevator.

The only SL related topic being discussed here is regarding the First Ones...

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I thought the Aqir who served him turned Nerubian by his influence?

That said, if it is the new Old God... is he Eating the Aqir or Creating them?

Wouldn't it make sense if this was Xal's OG form?

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Could be a dumb thought on my end.

[Dracullus]

Unless it gets retconned, SL lore will most likely extend itself into the Worldsoul Saga.

They are giving it silent treatment just like WoD. This thread would be clean of SL stuff too, you and people responding to you are only ones covering fascinating topic of Zereth Mortis speculations.

[Cheezits]

I think Xal isn't the fifth Old God. However she is very tied to roots like the mystery OG was in Chronicles and we don't have a name or hint towards the fifth besides possibly the Ancient One from Hearthstone.

Per Blizz not being subtle, she is probably the fifth OG, but I would rather her just be a very skilled and powerful agent of the Void Lords who got stuffed into the dagger by the OGs so that she couldn't report back to the Lords about the Black Empire.

Maybe because Azeroth inspires freedom, the Black Empire became a rebel kingdom that was going against the wishes of the Void Lords? This could set up a potential N'zoth (remnant) vs Xal story in Midnight.

[Foolicious]

I thought the Aqir who served him turned Nerubian by his influence?

That said, if it is the new Old God... is he Eating the Aqir or Creating them?

Theres solid theories for both. But hard to tell what is going on exactly. I personally think it looks more like its some sort of ritualistic sacrifice, but thats just me.
The key to understanding whats going on is that crystal, but we have no clues what it could be other than the beledar. And this honestly doesn't help us speculate much.

Wouldn't it make sense if this was Xal's OG form?

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Could be a dumb thought on my end.

I think thats the most prominent theory right now. Alleria mentions that xal isn't an old god (stupid to imply she knows what she is, but chooses not to tell us btw). So most likely its either the fifth old god or her.

[Cheezits]

By the way, maybe we will be getting an AR for each cosmic force?

Order- Earthen
Life- Harronir

Then there are others around that fit the pattern:

Light- Arathi
Void- Ascended Nerubians
Death- Kobyss (necromancy powers)

Fel is the one that's a bit of a tossup, but thought it was interesting there is a race that slots into each category.

[Joshuaj]

They are giving it silent treatment just like WoD. This thread would be clean of SL stuff too, you and people responding to you are only ones covering fascinating topic of Zereth Mortis speculations.

Except the Shadowlands have been talked about multiple times over in the latest recap videos.

[Raetary]

I think Xal isn't the fifth Old God. However she is very tied to roots like the mystery OG was in Chronicles and we don't have a name or hint towards the fifth besides possibly the Ancient One from Hearthstone.

Per Blizz not being subtle, she is probably the fifth OG, but I would rather her just be a very skilled and powerful agent of the Void Lords who got stuffed into the dagger by the OGs so that she couldn't report back to the Lords about the Black Empire.

Maybe because Azeroth inspires freedom, the Black Empire became a rebel kingdom that was going against the wishes of the Void Lords? This could set up a potential N'zoth (remnant) vs Xal story in Midnight.

That could work too.

Her ability to control the Old God blood might even have been the reason.
Maybe she puppetered the depicted Old God, and the other 4 rebelled, got rid of OG puppet and sealed her in the blade before she could get to them and call Dimensius.

[Joshuaj]

Theres solid theories for both. But hard to tell what is going on exactly. I personally think it looks more like its some sort of ritualistic sacrifice, but thats just me.
The key to understanding whats going on is that crystal, but we have no clues what it could be other than the beledar. And this honestly doesn't help us speculate much.


I think thats the most prominent theory right now. Alleria mentions that xal isn't an old god (stupid to imply she knows what she is, but chooses not to tell us btw). So most likely its either the fifth old god or her.

I don't think there are 5 Old Gods, however I do believe Chronicle may have pinned Xal as one of them for the sake of simplicity + the fact that mortals can't distinguish shit for nothin!

[Makabreska]

Except the Shadowlands have been talked about multiple times over in the latest recap videos.

Hard not to talk about it in a RECAP video, considering it was a previous expansion.

But don't expect SL lore to get any focus in the upcoming years, considering "stellar" reception this expansion received.

[Cheezits]

Hard not to talk about it in a RECAP video, considering it was a previous expansion.

But don't expect SL lore to get any focus in the upcoming years, considering "stellar" reception this expansion received.

Blizz isn't ignoring SL like fans wanted, but the Titan Conspiracy plotline will probably "retcon" or "fix" (I have a feeling some of the ideas were planned, ie Eternal Ones being fake/scam) some things about SL people didn't like.

Eternal Ones will be tied to the Titans in some way. Nathrezim will be distanced from Zovaal. The "7th force" will probably be walked back on.

[Joshuaj]

Hard not to talk about it in a RECAP video, considering it was a previous expansion.

But don't expect SL lore to get any focus in the upcoming years, considering "stellar" reception this expansion received.

Dragonflight didn't stray from mentioning the Shadowlands. Why would the Worldsoul Saga be any different?

Also, I think an Automa Spider was datamined during TWW beta?

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Blizz isn't ignoring SL like fans wanted, but the Titan Conspiracy plotline will probably "retcon" or "fix" (I have a feeling some of the ideas were planned, ie Eternal Ones being fake/scam) some things about SL people didn't like.

Eternal Ones will be tied to the Titans in some way. Nathrezim will be distanced from Zovaal. The "7th force" will probably be walked back on.

What makes you think that?

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"The Eternal Ones are a fake/scam"

Why do you think this?

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That's silly

[Explicit Teemo Nudes]

If that is the 5th old god I'm gonna be so disappointed because it looks so much like N'Zoth(with some "artistic freedom" of course). All the other old gods have looked very different from each other. For now I'm just gonna tell myself it's a very powerful minion of N'Zoth and not an old god.

[Raetary]

If that is the 5th old god I'm gonna be so disappointed because it looks so much like N'Zoth(with some "artistic freedom" of course).

It really, really does not.

N'zoth has a giant, bulbous, half-formed looking maw as a head, with 3 eyes below it and a somewhat slender transition between it and the tentacles.

The mural thing is a giant smooth ball, with 9 prominent eyes over it and an insectoid looking mouth below it, and its tentacle body extending from its sides.

The only design element they have in common is that both have a prominent, slitted middle eye.

[Makorus]

Just stop with the Old Gods.

Move on from them. Have Xal be something a bit more interesting than ANOTHER Old God.