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

[milkmustache]

11.1 is great, however everything after has pointed towards Midnight-esque stuff (finale cinematic) or Midnight's housing. Nothing in 11.1.7 builds to a future TWW patch- it may as well be the finale of the expansion.

If it's K'aresh then you could argue the Ve'nari quest is a prologue, but that is optional and many players will miss it.

Even the Arator book SEEMINGLY skips to the end of TWW, unless it's a massive red herring. So what, is the expansion over?

I keep saying that Blizzard has an opportunity to deliver a massive 11.2 as an effective beginning to Midnight and reap a full 6-8 months of endless marketing for Midnight. This radio silence and mystery about 11.2 could be a big part of that.

If 11.2 hits the ground running with K'aresh and eventually unfolds into this scramble to prevent whatever begins Midnight, which we will of course fail, then from either August or even next week's announcement there will be an endless runway of pre-Midnight build up.

11.2 announcement, release, story, raid conclusion, Midnight announcement trailer and features, 11.2.5, 11.2.7, Legion Remix, Housing, Pre-Patch, and Midnight release all effectively spread out over the next few months is a pretty massive run of excitement leading up to an expansion that is not only a return to what some believe is the player favorite zone, but also our first look at a revamped Azeroth and the biggest expansion since Legion.

[Catastrophy349]

HUGE! https://youtu.be/nJtigy8U-_8

[Cheezits]

HUGE! https://youtu.be/nJtigy8U-_8

Nope, just more 11.1.7 marketing. I thought for sure we'd get the Locus Walker story but I guess no K'aresh for another week.

Maybe they just want this to be FNAF week, in which case, I get it.

Edit: Oh, there's some interesting Arathi lore in this at least.

“Craishae was the oldest of her father’s children, born to a noblewoman from
Quel’Thalas. She adored nature and spent much of her time coming to know the forests
and rivers that marked the land, making friends with creatures and all manner of folk.
Despite her station, Craishae cherished her time among the people. She was afforded
much respect but spurned any and all special treatment. She had a knack for fighting,
and wielding the arcane was among her natural talents.

“As Craishae came of age, a terrible curse struck the land, tainting anything and
anyone it touched, mutating them into vicious beasts. People turned on their loved ones,
ripping their homes and villages apart. The kingdom was besieged both from without
and within.

“At the height of the conflict, an army of contorted creatures breached
Thoradin’s wall, which had stood a stalwart sentinel over the land for generations.
Witnessing the devastation firsthand, Craishae pledged her skills and power to the
protection of her kingdom. She would hunt down and eradicate the source of this
magical malediction.

“In the following months she fought battle after battle, winning great victories and
helping others survive grave losses. It was during one such encounter—as monsters closed
in around the princess and her wounded allies—that she unleashed a torrent of flame and
Light the likes of which had never been seen. The smoke and dust cleared, revealing the
princess now wielded her fire as a sword and shield. With her gleaming armor and blazing
weapons, it was as if Craishae commanded the power of the sun itself.”

“Though the princess emerged triumphant, time remained against her. The curse
spread, and the war took a terrible turn. Some unseen force strengthened the dreadful
enchantment, hastening its spread. Defenses began to crumble. All hope seemed lost

But one night, while asleep in her tent near the front, Princess Craishae was
visited by an entity of light. It gave her a vision, spoke of a place hidden deep in the
wilds. A temple where the heart of the world and the eye of the heavens met. But only
she was strong enough to find it, possessing a soul true enough to wield its power.

“So Craishae set off on her own and combed the continent, facing foe and fiend
alike, all the while praying her people would survive another day. When she eventually
found the hidden temple, she climbed the stairs while battered and exhausted, prepared
to fight whatever guardian stood in her way. Instead, in the central chamber, she
discovered the being of light from her dream, whom she could now see was a woman
dressed in stardust robes, standing vigil over a pool of swirling light and fire. The woman
looked up, and her face changed. From elf to human to troll and back again, every time
she moved her appearance shifted.

“The woman called herself the Scion and explained that she had sensed something
in Craishae. Something willing to fight in defense of others. The world would need such
strength in the coming age, just as Craishae’s kingdom depended on it now. ‘It is why
I summoned you to this sacred place,’ the Scion declared. ‘To offer you the means to
defeat this nightmare.’

“Relief nearly overcame the princess. She confessed that she had journeyed far to
find the power to save her people, and at last her quest was at an end.

“Upon hearing these words, however, the Scion appeared disappointed. If
power was truly all Craishae sought, then she and her people would be lost to the evil
overtaking the world.

“Yet the princess corrected the woman. ‘I did not come here for power,’ Princess
Craishae declared. ‘But for purpose. Help me deliver my kingdom from this malevolence,
and I will live in defense of all lands.’

“Pleased with this answer, the woman bid Craishae to bathe in the fiery waters
of the temple. When she did, her old life and essence were burned away and made new.
With eyes blazing and hair of flame, the princess emerged wielding an ember that could
never go out: the First Flame.

“For you see, there were no paladins then,” Sygfraed explained. “There were
many mages, yes, but when Craishae returned with the ember, she wielded both the
Light and fire to drive back the evil that had tried to take the land. The queen even
cleansed those who’d fallen to the curse, returning them to their previous form."

[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.

- - - Updated - - -

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.