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

[Marlamin]

looks like no 11.1.5 ptr today. next week then

Still waaaay too early to call.

[Cheezits]

The patch story ends next tuesday, a record speedrun, so I don't see PTR till next week.

[Monkal]

What new pandas are we talking about?

[Sondrelk]

What new pandas are we talking about?

Probably the ones added to the shop. 5 variants of the same type of panda that you could get as a pet in the Trading Post this month.

[Nymrohd]

Something I noticed a lot in Undermine. So many doors. Which is great for housing. WoW almost never had doors in places that absolutely should have had doors.

[JDBlou]

So I'm a bit late on this. But my current theory is:

One of the arathi books about the cosmology explains that each of the cosmic forces by themselves are too unstable. Pure void, pure light etc. And that something like the sacred flame, a combination of light and arcane (and fire?), is inherently more stable.

From the book:
"Singular energy types are unstable according to Ogdaen's law, and thus they bind to one or more secondary elements. The Firelands contains as much magma as it does flame, and why the holy radiance of the Sacred Flame acts as an eternal beacon."

Kajamite, like beledar/radiant remnants, or even azerite, are crystals capable of empowering/inspiring individuals. My take is that, in the same sense that beledar and the radiant remnants are holy/light chunks of the worldsoul, Kajamite is the same, but for fel/disorder. Afterall, we know kajamite made goblins what they are today, exceedingly intelligent, creative and chaotic. For me, that's one positive aspect of "disorder", while order can be stifling (i.e: earthen, edicts, etc), disorder is a force of creativity. Plus, it's green, goblins are green, we know orcs became green from being exposed to fell, it'd fit.

So, the black blood, a subtance of the void, would find more stability by binding to a different energy type, like kajamite/fel.

An interesting line of thought, what two "forces" power gave rise to the blue-gold Azerite we saw in BfA? Order magic obviously given the titan machinery we were working with, but what was the other aspect I wonder.

I do like the idea of Goblins essentially being fel, chaotic beings stabilised by Kaja'mite and Mimiron's experimentations, does that make them a byproduct of disorder tempered by some order?

[Monkal]

An interesting line of thought, what two "forces" power gave rise to the blue-gold Azerite we saw in BfA? Order magic obviously given the titan machinery we were working with, but what was the other aspect I wonder.

I do like the idea of Goblins essentially being fel, chaotic beings stabilised by Kaja'mite and Mimiron's experimentations, does that make them a byproduct of disorder tempered by some order?

I would LOVE for them to be Fel beings but I imagine it'd cause a shitstorm in the fandom.

[Joshuaj]

Order Vs Disorder Saga Agenda expands...

[Viridiel]

Kaja'mite is found near islands that are closer to the maelstrom (Kezan, Zandalar). Perhaps the whole Elun'ahir is Y'shaarj thing has some merit? Or rather, what if Elun'ahir was planted in the hole left by Y'shaarjs removal? Since i don't think we have any indication that Elun'ahir was planeted at/near Khaz'algar, do we?

I think that's my preferred way to make sense of things. There's definitely some sort of conspiracy regarding the imprisoning of the Old Gods in the first place since we've demonstrated that it's clearly possible to kill them without destroying the planet, and we even did so using a tool of the titans in one case. I reckon it went something like this:

• Aman'thul tears Y'shaarj out of the middle of Kalimdor
• Eonar plants Elun'ahir in the wound left behind to cleanse the corruption left and heal the wound
• Elun'ahir's roots spread and make contact with the world soul, creating Kaja'mite where the roots cleanse the corruption in Y'shaarj's blood
• Aman'thul discovers the tree and removes it in a rage, mortally wounding the planet due to the roots' penetration
• Eonar cries for Elun'ahir, filling the crater with her tears and creating the Well of Eternity, hiding the roots from sight
• Norgannon (most likely, but perhaps another) convinces the other titans to imprison the Old Gods for experimentation instead of killing them

The secret to cleansing the Black Blood is to imbue the roots of Elun'ahir with Beledar's energy. The Rootlands are one of several clusters of roots located around Azeroth, maybe with one located nearby each Elemental Lord's former seat of power for some reason (Khaz Algar (Al'akir), Teldrassil (Neptulon), Shaladrassil (Therazane), and Swamp of Sorrows (Ragnaros) -- interestingly all locations later corrupted by the Nightmare).

[Enrif]

I think that's my preferred way to make sense of things. There's definitely some sort of conspiracy regarding the imprisoning of the Old Gods in the first place since we've demonstrated that it's clearly possible to kill them without destroying the planet, and we even did so using a tool of the titans in one case. I reckon it went something like this:

• Aman'thul tears Y'shaarj out of the middle of Kalimdor
• Eonar plants Elun'ahir in the wound left behind to cleanse the corruption left and heal the wound
• Elun'ahir's roots spread and make contact with the world soul, creating Kaja'mite where the roots cleanse the corruption in Y'shaarj's blood
• Aman'thul discovers the tree and removes it in a rage, mortally wounding the planet due to the roots' penetration
• Eonar cries for Elun'ahir, filling the crater with her tears and creating the Well of Eternity, hiding the roots from sight
• Norgannon (most likely, but perhaps another) convinces the other titans to imprison the Old Gods for experimentation instead of killing them

The secret to cleansing the Black Blood is to imbue the roots of Elun'ahir with Beledar's energy. The Rootlands are one of several clusters of roots located around Azeroth, maybe with one located nearby each Elemental Lord's former seat of power for some reason (Khaz Algar (Al'akir), Teldrassil (Neptulon), Shaladrassil (Therazane), and Swamp of Sorrows (Ragnaros) -- interestingly all locations later corrupted by the Nightmare).

Let's continue this a bit. Amirdrassil is a Tree that is also infused with the energies of death. Perhaps there is something with world trees that are stabilizing other energies? Perhaps Life is the only cosmic force that can work with all other forces. I mean, there is a the saying "life finds a way".

[Lahis]

I thought Homecoming was refering to Goblins taking their home back from Gallywix tbh but it could be about Orweyna and her going back home.

How do they tie the Rootlands with an Ethereal raid though I have no idea lol

Does it need to be Ethereal raid? Even if it was planned for TWW, it could have been transferred to Midnight now that they changed their production for a whole trilogy instead of one off unrelated expansions.

[Nymrohd]

Visually the ethereals have far more to give than Xal'atath. Keeping them around as the villain is just a better idea. Rootlands already have enough themes to go around without the ethereal theme. Keep that for Midnight patch content imo.

[Hitei]

Perhaps Life is the only cosmic force that can work with all other forces. I mean, there is a the saying "life finds a way".

I think we already have sufficient evidence to show this isn't the case. Or rather, yes, Life can do that, but so can everyone else.

Order has demonstrated (despite Aman'thul not liking the other forces) the capability to work with them. Argus made use of death magic, Eonar uses life magic, Sargeras became the supposed leader of Disorder. We've seen their secondary forces able to take on both light and void aspects as well. Death had the Night Fae making liberal use of Life magic and the Kyrians are overflowing with Light users. We know that the Nethrezim were all over the place, infused with Light, actively using Void, one of the biggest groups using fel.

I think it is less that there's anything stopping any of the forces from making use of each other, and more that several of them are purists or believe in their own inherent supremacy.

[Limayria]

Order Vs Disorder Saga Agenda expands...

Id really like to see a friendly disorder group inspired by Ursula la guinn writing or other left-anarchist sci fi writers for a take on the "disorder" theme that's more than just "rahrah I'm a demon and I don't work with no one"

Especially if you combine that with the common thematic pairing of "order = stagnation, disorder = progress" which would make since considering they're already equating order with servitude (based alert)

Also how disorder is linked to the concept of change, and how improvement is change even when not every change is improvement

You could even take it deeper with having the players delving deeper into the history/society of an antagonist disorder faction and seeing how they exalt values like selfishness and personal gain above all contrasting with the allied disorder faction having the health of the society as a whole as an exalted value, this could even lead to the entire story line for the major character or characters form this hypothetical faction, a kind of reversal of our usual "find enemy faction, make alliance with rebels inside said faction; eventually overthrow the leaders and install friendly ones" having us met somewhat antagonistic "rebels" inside this other wise friendly faction who feel stifled by their cultures valuation of public good over personal wants and giving them a chance to see more of the universe/disorder realms/whatever and eventually having some kind of resolution of helping provide a space for people like them in their society by offering some kind of meaningful aid at a critical moment proving that even desires born of selfish intention can aid the public good etc

[Enrif]

okay, back on the Kaja'mite talk, there is a quest that sends you back out to the Kaja'coast that leads you to Jazz Mokkitz. He tells us that Kaja'mite is actually yellow? And he states that Kaja'mite can stabilize instable energies.

That he refers to kaja'mite as yellow, instead of green, is interesting and puts it closer to azerite/radiant remnants/world soul essence.

There are also Kaja'mite elementals. And if we think back, back in BfA there were also Azerite Elementals.

And this is kind of interesting if we think back, that Azerite/Kaja'mite may be world soul essence that can give rise to elementals. Which in turn confirms the shards of light origin myth, in which:

The cataclysmic birth of the cosmos also flung shards of Light throughout reality. These shards suffused the matter of myriad worlds with the spark of life, giving rise to creatures of wondrous and terrible diversity. The most common forms of life to appear were the elemental spirits—primordial beings of fire, water, earth, and air. These creatures were native to nearly every physical world. Many of them reveled in the turmoil that held sway over the early ages of creation. Occasionally, clouds of fractured Light gathered and gave shape to beings of far greater power, of far greater potential. Among these were the naaru, benevolent creatures composed of scintillating holy energies. When they gazed out across the immeasurable universe, they saw a realm of limitless possibilities. The naaru vowed to use their mastery over holy magic to spread hope and nurture life wherever they could find it. Even more extraordinary than the naaru were the colossal titans. Their spirits—known as world-souls—formed deep within the fiery core of a small number of worlds. For ages, these nascent titans slumbered, their energies suffusing the celestial bodies they inhabited.

It kind of connects everything back to the shards of light. Azerite/Kaja'mite elementals, Naaru, World Souls, they are all connected.

- - - Updated - - -

Even the Quest item states how the Kaja'mite is a kind of fluorescent yellow

[Nightshade711]

Does it need to be Ethereal raid? Even if it was planned for TWW, it could have been transferred to Midnight now that they changed their production for a whole trilogy instead of one off unrelated expansions.

Datamining the PTR found the PvP rewards for Season 3 - the tabard & cape look fairly Ethereal themed.
And so far this patch the PvP rewards matched the theme of the raid.

[milkmustache]

Holly indirectly confirmed it'll be Legion for Remix (or whatever spin on it they do) this year.

[elderu]

11.2 - Showdown in the "Rootlands," involving Xal'atath, Ethereals, Haranir.

Draenei starting zone showed us full well what terrible effects are brought on by a compromised Interdimensional Crystal Ship to local Flora & Fauna

Seen so many say 'idk how haranir and ethereals could work', but it just takes admitting what Beledar likely is to see the picture potentially forming

[milkmustache]

Draenei starting zone showed us full well what terrible effects are brought on by a compromised Interdimensional Crystal Ship to local Flora & Fauna

Seen so many say 'idk how haranir and ethereals could work', but it just takes admitting what Beledar likely is to see the picture potentially forming

Never even considered this. Rootlands as a zone where multiple major powers have intense effects could be super cool.

[Dracullus]

I wonder if they'll go all in and straight up bring back artifact trees for Remix. Probably yes, Legion remix would be weird without artifacts or with greyed out versions.