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

[Eldryth]

So having Xal have a big standoff with Lor'themar that we know will end with some crazy void storm, a flood of voidlings, and likely the partial destruction of one of the most carefully designed and iconic sets of WoW...AND ALSO fitting in Turalyon and Azshara, the latter of whom has to be clearly established as reintroduced, is a tall order.

Assuming this is real (I'm not convinced either way, but it does seem more plausible than most "leaks" at least)...

I'd guess that it'd mostly about Turalyon and Lor'themar fighting the Void and losing to Xal'atath, with Azshara's arrival as the big twist. Assuming she is on our side for Midnight like I'm hoping, I can see her saving the other two (after the teaser image where it seemed like Lor'themar is about to die), making it clear that we only have a chance because of this alliance with another monster.

The thing is I could totally see them making an elf "visage" form for Azshara for reasons relating to her just being easier to market as a major character in an elf-heavy expansion, but also how and why is she not a naga? If this is fake, why did the faker make this decision? If it's not fake, how will this be explained in the cinematic?

There's no way there would be time to explain that during the cinematic. Maybe if it's just a Visage, they can show her shapeshifting, but otherwise I think we'll have to see the site or the panels for answers (again, if it's even real). Or it could be left as a mystery for a while.

I maintain why she's randomly in this cinematic after a long absence is another story entirely and is the most suspicious. You can argue, "oh, Turalyon can show up and save Lor'themar" or something, but Azshara being reintroduced randomly would overshadow everything else built up to now.

It's not exactly random, she was teased to return around now back during Dragonflight. Her Naga had a manifesto perfectly outlining Dragonflight and TWW, after which she's supposed to "return to reign over sea and sky and earth."

Incidentally, I was thinking about what "sea and sky and earth" could actually mean. Obviously sea would be her Naga, and earth could potentially be the lands of Quel'thalas. But sky seemed random... until I realized that Nordrassil means "Crown of the Heavens". So maybe she'll end up ruling over all the Elven lands once again (or at least trying to)?

[bomberman]

"It's not real"
"It's a conspiracy"
"It's all in your imagination"
"B-ban him!"

I presented you an article, I brought up a die hard feminist which Blizzard hired to write for WoW (not the only one, by the way), which has an NPC in the game that they have yet to remove despite her public displays of misandry (they were very quick to remove any references to men they thought to be "controversial" or "problematic", but left this one out)
Then, if it's a conspiracy, I presented you with a challenge
If you're not a disingenuous person, go back and analyze every story or cinematic from BfA to now, where there is a man going against woman
And find an instance where the man wins, or the man is proven correct over the woman
If it's a conspiracy, prove it wrong. I can quickly present you 20 examples where the opposite is happening

[Melorandor]

I really hope they go big after TWW. Only getting rock dwarves was a pretty big let down.

Yeah, I hate to say it, but if there is no new playable race(s) or new class, and its only housing, I will be disappointed.

- - - Updated - - -

They said previously it wouldn't be included for some bizarre dying on that hill reason. I don't think they've walked it back.

That really sucks. Like, I am not even asking for the original rewards back(Would be cool), I rather see them include the Mage Tower with some new rewards to get.

[JDBlou]

Or you could just ignore the ban evading troll.

I know, I know. Best to ignore
But sometimes you have to cauterise before it festers.

And to my "friend" out there, the burden of proof lies with the accuser so get on it. Citations, the whole nine yards please. Chop chop.

[Vakir]

Assuming this is real (I'm not convinced either way, but it does seem more plausible than most "leaks" at least)...

I'd guess that it'd mostly about Turalyon and Lor'themar fighting the Void and losing to Xal'atath, with Azshara's arrival as the big twist. Assuming she is on our side for Midnight like I'm hoping, I can see her saving the other two (after the teaser image where it seemed like Lor'themar is about to die), making it clear that we only have a chance because of this alliance with another monster.

Possibly. But the Xal and Lor'themar setup we do see doesn't look kinetic enough to be coming off a fight or so. It looks like a typical, ponderous monologuing. Like I said before, maybe Turalyon jumps the hell in and saves the day - odd to not be Alleria but I'd be very happy with the change up - but then all the key art stuff happens AND Azshara shows up? Sounds like tonal dissonance on paper.

That being said, I'm still sus about Xal's render absence. It feels like ommitting something because it's too easy to debunk.

Option B is a huge swerve that I don't believe but is something just thrown out there: we get another Legion situation. A separate CGI teaser and then an opening cinematic, this time both at the same event, two different character pairs.

Like I said, not something I really think.

[Wyrt]

We did get two cinematics for TWW, but the press materials all just used stuff from the Anduin/Thrall one, nothing from the earthen/Faerin/troll elf one.

[bomberman]

Just admit that you have nothing to counter the points being made instead of being a clown

As recent as TWW:

War Within main protagonist is a woman
Main antagonist is a woman
Main supporting ally from the new faction (Arathi) is a woman. With a design that looks like it went through 3 HR departments and 5 committees
Leader of the Nerubians is a woman
Leader of Harranir? A woman
Leader of the Machine Speakers? A woman

Male goblin leader? Gross and evil, had to die
Cool male wizard supporting character? Forced into a pink floating wheelchair
Thrall and Anduin? Feelings or completely MIA

You have nothing, that's why you choose to cower away

[Joszef Kiprich]

I know, I know. Best to ignore
But sometimes you have to cauterise before it festers.

And to my "friend" out there, the burden of proof lies with the accuser so get on it. Citations, the whole nine yards please. Chop chop.

Funny thing is that article, which by the way is 7 years old, contradicts his statements.

[Villager720]

"It's not real"
"It's a conspiracy"
"It's all in your imagination"
"B-ban him!"

I presented you an article, I brought up a die hard feminist which Blizzard hired to write for WoW (not the only one, by the way), which has an NPC in the game that they have yet to remove despite her public displays of misandry (they were very quick to remove any references to men they thought to be "controversial" or "problematic", but left this one out)
Then, if it's a conspiracy, I presented you with a challenge
If you're not a disingenuous person, go back and analyze every story or cinematic from BfA to now, where there is a man going against woman
And find an instance where the man wins, or the man is proven correct over the woman
If it's a conspiracy, prove it wrong. I can quickly present you 20 examples where the opposite is happening

3 off the top of my head:

Saurfang successfully proving Sylvanas is using the Horde and thus breaking her hold on the faction and averting mass casualties (which is what she was hoping for).

Anduin telling Sylvanas she’s wrong about who’s she’s supporting in Shadowlands and that she’s deluding herself. (He was proven 100% right) - early Shadowlands

Uther convincing Sylvanas she’s a fuck up, needs to own her actions and face the consequences toward the end of Shadowlands.

[Wyrt]

The fuck are you talking about? We never met the leader of the Haranir. Anduin and Faerin had the same amount of content in Hallowfel. The earthen are lead by Merrix, a male.

You nut jobs also bitched and moaned for fucking years that every expansion antagonist has been a male and now you bitch and moan that the antagonist is female.

You just sound like you're mad women exist.

[Vakir]

We did get two cinematics for TWW, but the press materials all just used stuff from the Anduin/Thrall one, nothing from the earthen/Faerin/troll elf one.

Those were separated by a fair amount of time. It was more akin to the DF launch trailer. The TWW one after the intro is...generous to be considered on the same level. At best. Feels more like a slightly extended sizzle ad.

[Aceveda]

Just admit that you have nothing to counter the points being made instead of being a clown

As recent as TWW:

War Within main protagonist is a woman
Main antagonist is a woman
Main supporting ally from the new faction (Arathi) is a woman. With a design that looks like it went through 3 HR departments and 5 committees
Leader of the Nerubians is a woman
Leader of Harranir? A woman
Leader of the Machine Speakers? A woman

Male goblin leader? Gross and evil, had to die
Cool male wizard supporting character? Forced into a pink floating wheelchair
Thrall and Anduin? Feelings or completely MIA

You have nothing, that's why you choose to cower away

ok cobrastriker, time to get you to bed

[Scyth]

The fuck are you talking about? We never met the leader of the Haranir. Anduin and Faerin had the same amount of content in Hallowfel. The earthen are lead by Merrix, a male.

You nut jobs also bitched and moaned for fucking years that every expansion antagonist has been a male and now you bitch and moan that the antagonist is female.

You just sound like you're mad women exist.

Not worth your time engaging with trolls like that. Just report them and move on.
Being ignored makes them so much more angrier than when you give them what they want.


Anyway only a few more days until Midnight reveal!!!

[DiscipleofCazicThule]

I'm calling it now. Xal is raining down void destruction all over Silvermoon. We pan to a duel between Loth and Xal. Loth is holding, but he's no match for a beefed of Xal. She has him on the ropes and about to land down the killing blow. We see a flash behind her, the Light has arrived with Turalyon and Alleria popping out, followed by Alliance troops. Xal is infuriated and storms away, the damage is done and she's got what she wanted, a nice Soulwell panini perhaps. As Turalyon is helping up Loth, we get a scene of the three of them happy to have a moment's respite. Their faces are over shadowed and the camera turns to see what they're looking at: Azshara attacking when Silvermoon is at its weakest.

[Wyrt]

Why would Azshara attack Silvermoon?

[Hitei]

The fuck are you talking about? We never met the leader of the Haranir. Anduin and Faerin had the same amount of content in Hallowfel. The earthen are lead by Merrix, a male.

You nut jobs also bitched and moaned for fucking years that every expansion antagonist has been a male and now you bitch and moan that the antagonist is female.

You just sound like you're mad women exist.

Not to mention that the male goblin leader was replaced by three long-standing male goblin characters and one minor woman, the female nerubian leader was replaced by a woman and man co-leading in interrim, and "the Arathi" are a minor expedition from an empire led by a prophetic king.

[Romanz]

Why would Azshara attack Silvermoon?

last we saw Azshara she provided Wrathion with the empty blade of the black empire and then left "to claim the true throne of power" what could this throne be? who knows, but it could be the Sunwell, she considers herself to be the queen of all elves, would be odd for her to not show up, especially when you consider the fact Xal'atath never works alone, always getting a proxy to fight with/for her. The Naga in Siren Isle claim Azshara is waiting beyond "The Umbral Veil"

[DiscipleofCazicThule]

Honestly, I have no idea. That part I'm most unsure of, but if going on the assumption the press items are real, there should be a reason she's shown. The rest of it feels right.

[Hitei]

Why would Azshara attack Silvermoon?

To ensure that Xal'atath manages "the awakening", after which the Naga plan to take the world.

[Villager720]

last we saw Azshara she provided Wrathion with the empty blade of the black empire and then left "to claim the true throne of power" what could this throne be? who knows, but it could be the Sunwell, she considers herself to be the queen of all elves, would be odd for her to not show up, especially when you consider the fact Xal'atath never works alone, always getting a proxy to fight with/for her. The Naga in Siren Isle claim Azshara is waiting beyond "The Umbral Veil"

I think Azshara will show up in Midnight, but if we’re to have learned any lessons about the Void in TWW, it’s that the followers are constantly trying to consume or exploit one another. “Only the strongest survive.”

If Xal is going after the Sunwell and Azeroth, Azshara, true to form for both herself and her cosmic alignment, would much more likely undermine said efforts if it put her on top. Which is all to say, I doubt Azshara will be aiding Xal in any capacity when she arrives.