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

[Worldshaper]

Azshara isn't an elf anymore. She's a naga with huge white tentacles sticking out from her head. Are you assuming she has gained some sort of Visage form, or why is she even a candidate for being the silhouette inside the portal? :-)

[Nymrohd]

Azshara isn't an elf anymore. She's a naga with huge white tentacles sticking out from her head. Are you assuming she has gained some sort of Visage form, or why is she even a candidate for being the silhouette inside the portal? :-)

Because she has chosen to appear in a high elf form.

[Hitei]

Azshara isn't an elf anymore. She's a naga with huge white tentacles sticking out from her head. Are you assuming she has gained some sort of Visage form, or why is she even a candidate for being the silhouette inside the portal? :-)

She's had both forms from the start. She shows up in Legion in regular humanoid form.

[Darkarath]

I did too but it's not close enough. Though it seems I've got the angle wrong for both as the space between the torso and her left arm is different than the one on the pictures I used. I've tried doing a better match but couldn't, maybe someone else could do a better job than I did ^^

I would say that is Xal'athat, as it is what makes most sense. I completely dismiss Azshara as a possibility. It is certainly possible that she is able to adopt different forms but I highly doubt that she is the one in the cinematic. Finally, while improbable, I would not discard Alleria. She is the one that seems more alike to that elven figure IMO, and she might be completely nuts by now.

[Worldshaper]

Because she has chosen to appear in a high elf form.

She was never High Elf though?

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She's had both forms from the start. She shows up in Legion in regular humanoid form.

Do you have a screenshot somewhere so we can compare and see the context as well?

[Hitei]

Do you have a screenshot somewhere so we can compare and see the context as well?

It's the same model as above, they didn't update it between Cata and Legion.

[Lady Atia]

As someone that dislikes cosmic planes exploration (not forces), I think they could work if they were presented by playable races' perspectives and inner conflicts; let me explain:

In WC3 we learned about the Burning Legion and Scourge through Humans/Orcs/Elves' eyes, not through Demons/Undeads; the plague and the legion invasion started in their homeland, and the turmoil created the reason to push forward at the same time that iconic characters from the playable factions were being developed to take a role from the enemies perspective, such as Illidan (Night Elf) and Arthas (Human), that's why WC3 is so iconic.

That's what I think WoW is missing recently, build-up. The only story that I liked in Dragonflight is the Black Dragonflight resolution because it's the only story that's following a great arc that started back in Vanilla and gave more context to characters such as Sabelian introduced in Burning Crusade, Wrathion introduced in Cataclysm, Ebyssian in Legion, and ofc Deathwing (Neltharion), but other than that, the Incarnates/Primalist plot feels weak as most of SL was... I think if Blizzard had used Twilight's Hammer instead of this new faction to give more context to these Incarnates, the story would improve a lot.

Shadowlands announcement, for instance, I think would've been a lot more exciting if in BFA we had learned more about Zovaal and the Maw after 8.2, and instead of fighting N'zoth and the Black Empire in 8.3, we could have fought a reformed Scourge with forces mostly from Shadowlands led by Sylvanas and Nathanos, and an empowered version of Nathanos could've been the last boss, after defeating him we would learn through the cinematic that Sylvanas went to Icecrown to open the rift.

For Shadowlands expansion itself, I think the covenants and its zones felt too out of place with so few Azerothian characters, so instead of having only a very few characters as we saw in most zones and covenants, I think the perfect scenario would be having many more Azerothian characters, but as ghosts to keep their aesthetic and resemblance, such as Kael'thas/Garrosh alongside most of their followers in Revendreth, Gronmash/Vashj/Kel'thuzad alongside most of their followers in Maldraxxus, Ysera/Caerne and most Night Elves, Tauren, and Trolls that died before BFA in Ardenweald, Uther/Tyrion/Rakeesh(Velen's Son)/Anasterian Sunstrider/Lirath Windrunner and many others that had tragic death before BFA in Bastion, and in the Maw, we would have, just for nostalgic sake, some Arthas/Lich King followers.

But sadly we only got a few known faces here and there and a ton of stories about characters nobody gives a s**t about.

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I'm 99% sure 11.0 isn't a World Revamp at this point, so my last hope is that 11.0 focuses on the playable race's lore and how they're going to handle the new threat, instead of helping foreigns and seeing all the plot from their perspective, as we got in Shadowlands and Dragonflight.

The problem with a scourge-centered last patch of BfA is that people already complained about Orc and Legion fatigue when they did the same with MoP>WoD and WoD>Legion. That said, I think they could have achieved foreshadowing without having a full patch themed after the Jailer. Just sprinkle a few little bits in there during Legion and BfA - f.e. mentioning Ardenweald during Val'Sharah or having Maldraxxi forces appear on Argus in some side quest.

[Nymrohd]

I do hope Xal and Azshara's elf form get a decent update and that we might get some proper slutty gowns in this game. I need a black gown that hits the floor with long flared sleeves and a low cut neckline for my Mistress of the Dark mog and it would look great for Xal too.

[Xilurm]

Azshara isn't Void aligned or "humanity" aligned. She's Queen Azshara aligned. Always has been.

She managed to stay perfectly sane while being closer to an Old God than Neltharion was, so the point she was completely changed physically by them. If they change that now and make her "corrupted villain #45" that would be very lame.

[Darkarath]

Looking at these two pictures, the elven portal figure seems to have the same hood and the same shoulder armor as Alleria. She even might be holding a bow or some weapon. Probably still Xal'athat, but worth taking into consideration.

https://imgur.io/t/world_of_warcraft_legion/693Ig

[Skildar]

I would be very surprised if that turns out to be alleria as there has been no element building up to her taking such a role contrary to both Azshara and Xal'atath

[Nymrohd]

Looking at these two pictures, the elven portal figure seems to have the same hood and the same shoulder armor as Alleria. She even might be holding a bow or some weapon. Probably still Xal'athat, but worth taking into consideration.

I mean it could be anyone. Could be Sylvanas. Could be Tyrande's evil twin. Could be AU genderswapped Illidan.

Here is the thing, it seems weird for me for Iridikron to be talking about the Harbinger to the heroes while being right next to said Harbinger. Realistically the Harbinger IS Xal'atath (it could be Alleria but I'd expect that if it was, she would do it unwittingly). It is not Azshara because otherwise the notes from the Reach don't make sense. So I assume whoever is next to Iridikron is NOT the Harbinger. So two scenarios
a) Xal is the Harbinger and the person next to Iridikron is Azshara
b) Alleria is the Harbinger and the person next to Iridikron is either Xal or Azshara and they mean to manipulate Alleria somehow.

[RahEndymion]

Looking at these two pictures, the elven portal figure seems to have the same hood and the same shoulder armor as Alleria. She even might be holding a bow or some weapon. Probably still Xal'athat, but worth taking into consideration.
]

Now this would be genuinely interesting though I'd be careful referencing a void elf by name. It tends to attract unsavory characters.

[Worldshaper]

Micro-Prediction

Based on the flavour of the day, here's a new little prediction for 11.0.

• Queen Azshara has tapped into the raw power of the Void. She's building an Empire for herself in the Twisting Nether, encompassing multiple worlds infested by the Void. Ruling from a throne on the remnants of K'aresh, she still has enemies that oppose her. So she's not contempt. She wants to claim Azeroth for her own, and make it the prime world of her domain. Her crown jewel. The obsolete Old Gods, in her view, have an outdated approach. While they slowly infest worlds over many aeons, ultimately seeking to turn world-souls into terrible manifestations of the Void, Queen Azhara wants to rule. She wants to be adored and worshiped. But if everyone is dead, there'd be no one left to worship her. Azeroth will awaken. But Azeroth will serve her. Azeroth will survive, but her children will be part of Azshara's Empire.
• Once the Harbinger Xal'atath has used Iridikron to empower the Shadow Soul, Queen Azhara will return from beyond the Umbral Veil to rule. The world-soul awakens, but is immediately struck by Azshara's spell. From the Maelstrom, she's channelling a spell using the Shadow Soul artifact, which will begin to enslave the world-soul. Incapacitating it with the powers of the now dead Old Gods. Making it subservient to the one true Queen. The sky darkens. The Void Storm covers a massive region of the world, spreading fear and panic. Influencing the minds of nearby creatures. Manifestations of Yogg-Saron, Y'Shaarj, and the other Old Gods appear in places.
• As a result, other forces on Azeroth are also in turmoil. The elements wreak havoc. The Elemental Lords struggle to maintain control.
• Thrall returns. The Earthen Ring and other major Azerothian organisations, now strengthened by a score of new recruits from the player base (new race/class combinations), fight back. The first task is to calm the elements and gain the Elemental Lords as our allies.
• Players have gained new abilities from Azeroth's awakening. A power system lets us unlock new abilities overtime, based on Azeroth herself.
• We travel to the eye of the Void Storm, primarily the region west of the Maelstrom. This is a tropical area, full of islands. Here, we seek to build up a resistance and to begin to contain the spell, and ultimately stop Azshara. Across our journey, we encounter pirates and naga, fish and mer-folk, and ancient secrets that will benefit our cause.
• Toward the end of the expansion, Azshara's spell is stopped, we've chased her into the Twisting Nether to end her rule, and Azeroth is saved. The world-soul remains awake, although a bit shaken. Druids, Shaman, and all of Azeroth's guardians tend to it. But as a result, Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms are revamped. From now on, Azeroth is a beautiful and living world, unique in the cosmos for having a world-soul which neither cosmic force has been able to use for its own benefit. The Titans haven't turned her into a Titan. The Void haven't turned her into a Void Lord or Dark Titan. The Burning Legion haven't been able to destroy her. The Jailer couldn't use her to reshape reality. Life and Light haven't been able to conquer her or take over completely. She's a free and pristine world-soul.

[Civciv]

Yes, the final ones.

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He said "The next expansion isn't going to be teased in the in-game cutscene for patch content" and I showed him it is possible for them to tease next expansion in a cutscene. Doesn't matter if it's final or not.

[Woggmer]

Dragon Isles was added on the other side of the world, over near EK. No reason for Kalimdor to have moved, especially given Kalimdor was moved closer to the Maelstrom, not closer to the map border

We know one other thing about Tel'abim, and that's that a certain Nightsquall pirate who's found Something out west has also apparently burried so much treasure there that the island is higher than it used to be

I'm looking at the world maps. Not just the current one in DF, but like EVERY world map.

Kalimdor has been close to the Maelstrom in previous expansions... EXCEPT IN BFA... in the original BFA Alpha, they had it in the same spot, but when they were updating all the old maps, they put Kalimdor further away from the Maelstrom, by DF they fixed this issue.

So I don't think there's anything coming that's gonna sprout near Kalimdor as this was a mistake on whoever designed the maps.

Let me show you what I mean.
Here's the world map for Legion: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20180413203728

Here's the world map for BFA's Alpha: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20180609000227

Here's the map in BFA (Live): https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20220908202822

and here's the world map in DF: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wo...20221227135450

[huth]

I did too but it's not close enough. Though it seems I've got the angle wrong for both as the space between the torso and her left arm is different than the one on the pictures I used. I've tried doing a better match but couldn't, maybe someone else could do a better job than I did ^^

[IMG]

Those ears are very clearly Night Elven, not any High Elf derivative. They point back, not up. I would say that neither Azshara nor Xal'atath quite fit.
It also looks like the figure is wearing a hood.

[Nymrohd]

Those ears are very clearly Night Elven, not any High Elf derivative. They point back, not up. I would say that neither Azshara nor Xal'atath quite fit.
It also looks like the figure is wearing a hood.

Would be interesting if it turns out to be someone unexpected. E.g. imagine if Leyara somehow survived.

[Fiercelord]

Those ears are very clearly Night Elven, not any High Elf derivative. They point back, not up. I would say that neither Azshara nor Xal'atath quite fit.
It also looks like the figure is wearing a hood.

Actually the High Elf figure is looking up at Iridikron as he's taller. It's Xal'atath and I wonder why some people still deny it xd. That's why the ears are not pointing up. Also, it's not a hood. It's the same hairstyle Xal'atath had. But this is also probably a placeholder model (from the past) as she's 100% getting an unique model.

[Hitei]

Actually the High Elf figure is looking up at Iridikron as he's taller. It's Xal'atath and I wonder why some people still deny it xd. That's why the ears are not pointing up. Also, it's not a hood. It's the same hairstyle Xal'atath had. But this is also probably a placeholder model (from the past) as she's 100% getting an unique model.

Lmao, she'd have to be looking straight upwards to angle them back like that. You can see Iridikron is directly in front of her, not above her.