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Queen Azshara in Legion and Battle for Azeroth: What We Know
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24/08/2018 alle 10:18
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Warbringers Azshara will be revealed on August 24th at gamescom, a highly-anticipated cinematic that provides our first real look at one of Azeroth's enduring villains.
While we've never directly faced Azshara, her impact can be felt in major WoW narratives. In this article, we'll highlight stories related to Azshara, and perhaps even N'Zoth, in Legion and Battle for Azeroth.
Azshara's early history is the stuff of legends--a beloved queen that dazzled everyone through magic, whose charm belied her true nature, leading to Sargeras, War of the Ancients, and the Sundering. This article focuses on her stories in recent expansions, but if you want a recap of the early parts of her story, check out Nobbel's video:
Warbringer: Azshara Teaser
Since writing this article, Warbringers Azhsara has been released!
Azshara originally partnered with Sargeras for immense power, thinking together they would rule Azeroth and purge the planet of inferior races. Sargeras' plan instead was to destroy Azeroth--which is where Warbringers opens. Azshara realizes she is abandoned by Sargeras and is not strong enough to protect all the Highborne, and the waves come crashing over her people.
As she sinks to the bottom of the sea, we get our first glimpse of N'Zoth! He wants to strike a deal with her, but she refuses his initial offerings. She is a Queen and must be treated accordingly. She will not simply help him retake his empire, but serve as Queen. She would rather die than serve another--alive without the adoration of her people would be meaningless.
As an interesting detail--
Magdalena
has pointed out how “Arise, Azshara! Arise, my Queen!” is a tribute to “Arise, my daughter! Arise, Kerrigan!" in StarCraft 1. The Overmind is a gigantic eyeball, and N'Zoth is depicted as one as well.
All three cinematics are united by a strong sense of protection for their empire, and regret they were unable to save their subjects--Jaina for Kul Tiras, Sylvanas with Quel'Thalas, and Azshara with the Highborne. Right or wrong, they sacrificed everything for their chosen people. In Azshara's case, this sacrifice is made especially interesting by how it serves as a function of her vanity, not necessarily a sense of goodness, and part of her earlier deal with Sargeras was to obliterate other races.
Azshara and N'Zoth
When
Chronicle Volume 3
released during Legion, readers received confirmation that Azshara was in league with N'Zoth. Previously, we'd only received hints they were related via a Hearthstone blog during Whispers of the Old Gods.
Beneath the waves, another servant of N'Zoth stirred. She was called Queen Azshara, and she had ruled the ancient night elf empire before falling under the will of the Old Gods. She sent her loyal naga to an underwater region known as Vashj'ir, where there was a rift to the elemental realm of Neptulon the Tidehunter. The water elementals had defied N'Zoth's command, and for that, they would suffer. Yet Azshara and her naga sought more than just to destroy Neptulon. The elemental lord held the power to control the world's seas, and it was this that N'Zoth demanded.
There are also several Legion hints pointing to an N'Zoth appearance. Several Il'gynoth whispers relate to him:
Il'gynoth whispers: N'zoth... I journey... to Ny'alotha...
Il'gynoth whispers: To find him, drown yourself in the circle of stars.
Xal'atath also has numerous whispers about the God of the Deep, such as:
Xal'atath whispers: The God of the Deep writhes in his prison, breaking free ever so slowly. You should hurry and defeat the fallen titan... there are greater battles yet to fight.
Other N'Zoth and Azshara hints include
Visione del passato di Vashj'ir
, likely the location for N'Zoth's prison in Vashj'ir,
Scollegare L'ghorek
which references an immense ominous creature draining energy, and
Scatola Rompicapo di Yogg-Saron
which has the quotes:
At the bottom of the ocean even light must die
The drowned god's heart is black ice.
In the sunken city, he lays dreaming.
The fish know all the secrets. They know the cold. They know the dark.
In the land of Ny'alotha there is only sleep.
In the sleeping city of Ny'alotha walk only mad things.
Ny'alotha is a city of old, terrible, unnumbered crimes.
Azshara in Legion
Before examining Azshara's presence in Battle for Azeroth, we should back up to Legion. Azshara was not a major character in this expansion, but many narrative threads in Legion were related to her past actions. With how the story of Legion turned out, she's probably unhappy with most things our characters did--but happy about imprisoning Sargeras.
Azsuna
First, we have the questing experience in
Azsuna
. Here we assist the cursed Prince Farondis, damned for defying Azshara. During the War of the Ancients, he wanted to destroy the Well of Eternity using the
Pietra delle Maree di Golganneth
. When Azshara learned of his plan, she covered the entire land in arcane energy and cursed his people, forcing them to wander indefinitely as spirits. Near the end of the zone, we see him stand up to a vision of Azshara (
La testa del serpente
), refusing to serve her even though she'd lift the curse--an action that finally earns him the respect of his ghostly court.
The story continues in
Eye of Azshara
, a Legion dungeon. This zone is filled with her minions, with the final boss
Ira di Azshara
. In Battle for Azeroth, we see the Pride of Azshara in Stormsong Valley, so maybe the remaining seven deadly sins will later make an appearance. Players can also access an uninstanced version of the Eye of Azshara, home of the World Quest to kill
Kosumoth il Famelico
, a protector of the Old Gods who rewards
Abitante delle Profondità
or
Tentacolo Famelico
.
Suramar
Next, there's
Suramar
, the city of the Nightborne. This was an important location during the War of the Ancients, and much of it was lost in the Sundering. However, a small part of the city survived due to a protective shield placed around it by the Highborne--and this is the area players quest through in Legion. AU Guldan confronted Elisande, and she was pressured into accepting a deal with the demons to ensure the survival of her people--in her visions, it was the only path to survival. We won't recap the entire story as we've done so many times in Legion, but we're ultimately victorious in freeing Suramar from Elisande and the Legion. You can read more about this in our
Comprehensive Suramar Guide
.
Azshara reveled in destroying elven cities during the War of the Ancients, so she must be irked to realize this city, formerly made up of loyal Highborne, rebelled against her, survived, and now holds her in disregard. While she magically charmed most of her subjects to like her, she only truly liked the elite magical Highborne--so losing the support of Suramar is something that would vex her.
Emerald Nightmare
Emerald Nightmare
, the first raid of Legion, was created when Fandral Staghelm accidentally planted World Trees that grew too deep and awakened Yogg Saron. We learn in
Chronicle Volume 3
that N'Zoth hastened the corruption of this zone. Xavius, once a trusted adviser to Queen Azshara that opened the way for Sargeras, was turned into a satyr by Sargeras before being defeated and imprisoned by Malfurion. Similar to Azshara, Xavius impossibly survived the Sundering, switching allegiances to the Old Gods somewhere along the way.
In Legion, Xavius' thirst for corruption and revenge on Malfurion drives the Val'sharah storyline forward, culminating in the Emerald Nightmare raid. This raid also features the ominous whispers of
Il'gynoth
, which have
fueled plot speculation
throughout all of Legion. With the events of the Emerald Nightmare, Azshara has lost one of her trusted old allies, one who was also tricked by Sargeras and saved by N'Zoth.
Our favorite weapon Xal'atath also has some interesting whispers in the raid:
For Il'gynoth: It appears the prison of N’zoth is not as strong as it once was. What you see is a tiny growth of the behemoth that may yet consume your world.
For Elerethe: Another seed of corruption planted in death. An unquiet spirit will wander in anger and grow in pain. Easy prey for the God of the Deep.
For Nythendra: A great dragon, bent to the will of Xavius, who serves the God of the Deep. Instead of breathing life, she consumes all around her.
For Xavius: Xavius, running from one master to the next, scrambling for power, yet defeated again and again. The God of the Deep picks a poor champion? Or, is there something else at play?
Sargeras' Imprisonment
We're also curious to see what Azshara thinks of Sargeras' imprisonment. She originally let the Burning Legion through the portals and allied herself with Sargeras, believing he would cleanse the lesser races of Azeroth and grant her immense power. However, Sargeras' plan all along was to destroy Azeroth, preventing it from falling into corruption by the Old Gods. As we learned from
Chronicle Volume 1:
Sargeras expressed his growing fear that existence itself was already flawed--an idea that he had come to terms with following his encounter with the Old Gods. Only by burning away all of creation could the titans stand a chance of thwarting the void lord's ultimate goal. In Sargeras's mind, even a lifeless universe was better than one dominated by the Void.
When Azshara realized Sargeras would not save her in the Sundering and she and her followers start to drown, she quickly forms a deal with N'Zoth to serve him--even though Old Gods are the enemy of Sargeras. Now with Sargeras locked away after his defeat on Argus, we wonder if Azshara views this positively--a major threat and source of betrayal to her is removed. She wants to take over Azeroth, while he wants to destroy it. As she's incredibly proud and confident, knowing she was tricked by Sargeras must sting.
Sharas'dal, Scettro delle Maree
Her powerful weapon
Sharas'dal, Scettro delle Maree
is now a Restoration Shaman Artifact weapon. Through reading the Artifact Book in the class hall, we learn how Azshara controlled the sea with this weapon and used it to enhance her power. With the events of the Legion epilogue, Sharasdal has lost its power--we're curious what Azshara thinks of that. We stole her weapon and now we trashed it.
In the class book, we also learn that she is hungry for revenge, looking to seize any opportunity to take over Azeroth again.
We've pasted the entire book text below under the toggle, but have highlighted some notable parts first:
On Azshara realizing that Sargeras’ promises of unfathomable power were a lie:
Azshara watched these events unfold from her broken palace. She refused to believe that her dreams of paradise were dead, that the world she had once cradled in her palms was coming apart beneath her feet. Many of the Highborne were just as delusional as the queen, and they remained at her side.
As the ocean roared in to fill the void left by the destroyed Well of Eternity, Azshara raised Sharas'dal high. She wove a magical shield around herself and the Highborne, saving them from being crushed by the colossal waves.
But it was only a momentary reprieve. The howling ocean soon swallowed the queen, Sharas'dal, and her followers.
Then it sucked them down and down into darkness.
On her transformation into Naga:
They drifted into the abyss, but Azshara and her Highborne remained unbroken.
The darkness around them was absolute, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to bring them light. It did.
Azshara's and the Highborne's blood ran cold, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to warm them. It did.
Their lungs burned for air, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to let them breathe the water... but it did not. The scepter could not save them. Oblivion spread its arms and beckoned the desperate Highborne.
As the ocean crushed the life from their bodies, ancient creatures stirred in the darkness. Their whispers flowed through the currents. Their powers wrapped tight around the queen and her servants.
The Highborne became something new. Something more.
A fleece of scales shimmered over their skin. Tails thrashed against the currents. The unknown entities made the queen and her followers one with the sea... they made them into the naga.
The quotes in the Puzzle Box also reference dying light, cold, and drowning:
At the bottom of the ocean even light must die
The drowned god's heart is black ice.
In the sunken city, he lays dreaming.
The fish know all the secrets. They know the cold. They know the dark.
On her thirst for power and control of Azeroth:
When the sea witches were not wielding Sharas'dal, Azshara would often carry it at her side and reminisce about times long past. She still remembered Lord Xavius's promise: so long as she kept the scepter close, it would bring her prosperity and great power.
The queen had lost much, but she was not dead. Far from it. In her heart, she knew that one day her empire under the sea would eclipse even that of the ancient night elves. One day, the world would be hers again, and she would not let it slip through her fingers a second time
Probably isn’t a good thing that we stole her scepter and sucked the power out of it since it’s tied to her prosperity?
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides
By merely touching Sharas'dal, one can feel the weight of the world's oceans at their fingertips. This extraordinary scepter can command the rivers and the seas, and even manipulate life itself.
Just like the tides, Sharas'dal's power can ebb and flow between acts of good and evil. Some have used the scepter to destroy, but its true potential lies in its ability to serve as a fount of healing and hope.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part One
The ancient night elf empire was one of the greatest mortal civilizations that ever spanned the lands of Azeroth. At its apex, one figure held sway over it all. Her name was Azshara. She was a leader of leaders, a queen of queens. Her power was absolute, and her thirst for knowledge and glory was unquenchable.
Of the records that speak of Azshara, nearly all mention her bejeweled scepter called Sharas'dal. The legends claim it granted the queen command over the world's seas, among other miraculous feats. So cherished was this scepter that Azshara rarely let it out of her sight.
It was with her when she raised the night elf empire to new heights. And it was with her when she later brought the civilization crashing down in blood and fire.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Two
An excerpt from The Coronation of Queen Azshara:
""For days the coronation ceremony went on. Each night, the Highborne nobility lavished precious gifts on Azshara to curry her favor, but there was one she cherished more than all the others. A night elf named Lord Xavius presented the queen with a jeweled scepter, etched with delicate magical sigils. He promised Azshara that so long as she kept it close, it would bring her prosperity and great power.
""Azshara held the scepter aloft, and the jewels shimmered in the light of the moons like brilliant stars. The sight of the queen and her gift was so beautiful that it brought many of the attendant Highborne to tears.""
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Three
At the heart of ancient Azeroth sat a massive lake of scintillating energy called the Well of Eternity. For decades, the night elves studied this fount of arcane magic, and they became learned sorcerers. Queen Azshara carried on this tradition, as did her loyal Highborne servitors. They devoted themselves to plumbing the Well of Eternity's depths in search of knowledge and power.
Perhaps no one was more suited to this task than Azshara. She was one of the greatest magic users who had ever lived. As she honed her command over the lake's energies, she infused a drop of its living waters into her bejeweled scepter.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Four
Queen Azshara's enchanted scepter afforded her great power. Imbued with the Well of Eternity's potent waters, it held sway over the rivers and the seas, aquatic creatures of all kinds, and the life energies that stirred within Azshara herself. She granted it a new name, one befitting its remarkable properties: Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides.
One of the first things Azshara did with Sharas'dal was use its power to enhance her legendary beauty. As the years wore on, the queen seemed to grow younger and more mesmerizing. A brilliant aura enveloped Azshara, enthralling those who looked upon her. The Highborne marveled at this strange phenomenon. A few even took it as a sign of divinity.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Five
An excerpt from Glory to the Queen Born of Stars:
""Of the wonders our queen brought to this world, perhaps none was so great as Lathar'Lazal. As masons constructed the temple, Azshara shaped the waters around it with the Scepter of Tides. She spoke the names of the rivers and the seas, and they moved at her command. Salt water from the roaring ocean and fresh water from the mountain streams trickled to Azshara's side. With the flick of her wrist, the queen partitioned them into great lakes that hugged Lathar'Lazal's sturdy foundation.
""Creatures of all kinds populated these waters, and they were at Azshara's beck and call. Whenever she walked the bridges of Lathar'Lazal, nearby schools of exotic fish would array themselves in colorful patterns. She even kept a colossal sea giant bound to one of the lakes. She used her scepter to make him perform tricks and feats of strength, much to the delight of the watching Highborne. Curious night elves from the far corners of the empire journeyed to Lathar'Lazal to study the mythical creature and his habits.""
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Six
As the night elf empire stretched across the world, Azshara spent more and more time in her palace at the Well of Eternity's shores. She obsessed over the lake and used Sharas'dal to manipulate its mysterious energies. Azshara dreamed of making the world into a paradise--her paradise. But it would only be possible if she and her Highborne servitors could harness the Well of Eternity's true potential.
Their reckless experiments eventually sent arcane magic crashing through the Twisting Nether, the realm of demons. In time, the Burning Legion learned of the Well of Eternity and the world of Azeroth.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Seven
An excerpt from The War of the Ancients, by the historian Llore:
Azshara's obsession with remaking the world led her straight into the clutches of the Legion's ruler, Sargeras. The queen forged a pact with him for unfathomable power. All that Sargeras asked in return was for Azshara and her Highborne to summon his minions into Azeroth.
It was a difficult request, even for such gifted sorcerers. Azshara and the Highborne approached the challenge with great fervor. Legends say the queen helped her servants open a gateway for the Legion's agents. She used Sharas'dal to gather the Well of Eternity's energies and fuel the Highborne's spellwork.
Through this portal, the first armor-clad demons spilled into Azeroth. Many more would follow. The Legion would march across the land, spreading fire and death, bringing war and cataclysm.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Eight
The War of the Ancients ended in catastrophe. Azshara's hubris and abuse of power would lead to the destruction of the Well of Eternity. The enormous lake buckled in upon itself, eventually igniting a monstrous explosion that shattered the world's surface.
Azshara watched these events unfold from her broken palace. She refused to believe that her dreams of paradise were dead, that the world she had once cradled in her palms was coming apart beneath her feet. Many of the Highborne were just as delusional as the queen, and they remained at her side.
As the ocean roared in to fill the void left by the destroyed Well of Eternity, Azshara raised Sharas'dal high. She wove a magical shield around herself and the Highborne, saving them from being crushed by the colossal waves.
But it was only a momentary reprieve. The howling ocean soon swallowed the queen, Sharas'dal, and her followers.
Then it sucked them down and down into darkness.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Nine
From a fragmented text called The Song of Scales, author unknown:
They drifted into the abyss, but Azshara and her Highborne remained unbroken.
The darkness around them was absolute, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to bring them light. It did.
Azshara's and the Highborne's blood ran cold, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to warm them. It did.
Their lungs burned for air, and so the queen willed Sharas'dal to let them breathe the water... but it did not. The scepter could not save them. Oblivion spread its arms and beckoned the desperate Highborne.
As the ocean crushed the life from their bodies, ancient creatures stirred in the darkness. Their whispers flowed through the currents. Their powers wrapped tight around the queen and her servants.
The Highborne became something new. Something more.
A fleece of scales shimmered over their skin. Tails thrashed against the currents. The unknown entities made the queen and her followers one with the sea... they made them into the naga.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Ten
Though Azshara's old empire was in ruins, she crafted a new one far from the light of the sun. The queen and her naga servants created a capital, Nazjatar, at the bottom of the sea. With patience and cunning, they expanded their dominion over the oceans. It is even said that Azshara nurtured an alliance with the mysterious and powerful entities who had transformed them into Naga.
As the years wore on, Azshara relied on Sharas'dal less and less. She still treasured the scepter, but she found it was more useful in the hands of her fearsome sea witches. These loyal servants wielded Sharas'dal as a weapon to spread the naga's domain and crush all who opposed them.
Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, Part Eleven
It was not long before the naga sea witches learned to harness Sharas'dal as Azshara had. With a swipe of the scepter, they drove thousands of aquatic predators into a frenzy and unleashed them against troublesome sea giants. With a whispered incantation, they boiled Kvaldir raiders from the inside out and scattered their remains to the currents.
When the sea witches were not wielding Sharas'dal, Azshara would often carry it at her side and reminisce about times long past. She still remembered Lord Xavius's promise: so long as she kept the scepter close, it would bring her prosperity and great power.
The queen had lost much, but she was not dead. Far from it. In her heart, she knew that one day her empire under the sea would eclipse even that of the ancient night elves. One day, the world would be hers again, and she would not let it slip through her fingers a second time.
Azshara, Stormsong, and Alliance Questing
The nation of Kul Tiras has suffered a major setback with the loss of their fleet, blessed by the Tidesages.
Stormsong Valley
In Stormsong Valley questing, we learn that Azshara has corrupted Lord Stormsong who now serves her will. As we discover the source of the corruption, we travel around the zone, observing suspicious tentacles everywhere and cries to serve the 'true queen.' Instead of the tidesages being blessed by a benevolent mother, as of late they're receiving angry whispers from a different source--Azshara.
There is a bridge nearby that has clear sight of the Shrine of the Storm. The omen comes from there.
Long has my order listened to the sea to guide our ships and our people. Gentle whispers, imperceptible to most.
Over time the whispers..changed. At times they were demanding, even violent.
We attempted to guard ourselves against them, to resist them, but I fear we may have failed.
In
Sotto il velo
we learn the tidesages are sacrificing the souls inside the Shrine using forbidden magic. We fight back at Tidecross, an area infested with shadow magic, tentacles, and Tidesages uttering lines like "I drink in the infinite void" and "My soul for the ancient one." As we complete quests here, we can pick up ominous-sounding buffs like
Sussurro dalle Profondità
. We end up halting the rituals and destroying the cursed ship, the Abyssal Melody, in
La vendetta della tempesta
.
Samuel Williams, the ship-builder we rescued, is captured by the Tidesages and used for one of their dark rituals. We must rescue him in the ominously-named quest
Dalle Fauci della Follia
. As we rush into the ship to save him, we can hear the Abyssal Corruptors murmuring incantations in the Shath'Yar, the language of the Old Gods. We do save Samuel but he's still greatly weakened and susceptible to the whispers, muttering phrases like "Beneath the tides...waiting...calling" and "Four eyes..the end..she rises!"
As we rally the citizens of Sagehold, we also defeat the shadowy figures which have taken over the city. This area is also home to many books named after the Old Gods, which provide buffs when clicked on -
Trattato sull'Intreccio di Cestini Sott'acqua
,
Leggende della Marea Proibita
,
Il Dio Antico e il Mare
. We also meet Tideguard Victoria, a wounded soldier who wants to help us reach Shrine of the Storms in
Giuramenti
. Victoria escorts us to the Shrine of the Storm, sacrificing herself so we can escape to the water bridge in
L'occhio della tempesta
.
Taelia: Was Lord Stormsong always this cruel?
Tideguard Victoria: Not at all. He was so kind before the whispers took him.
Tideguard Victoria: It was his father who guided us to this valley, many years ago.
Lord Stormsong: And it is I who will deliver us to our glorious future beneath the tides.
Lord Stormsong: You think you stand in my way, but Kul Tiras' fate was sealed long ago.
Lord Stormsong has closed all routes to the Shrine of the Storms, but we can reopen the Path of Storms using the Rod of Tides in
Un ponte troppo lontano
. Once we can cross the bridge, we must collect the spirits of the depraved cultists in
Morti e dimenticati
and use their power to open the final door to the Shrine. We must also disable the Tidemother's Wrath and Pride in
Un destino inevitabile
--these are two wards gifted from the sea which Lord Stormsong turned against us.
When we reach the top of Tempest's Edge, we blast the doors open in
L'ascesa finale
, and not a minute too late, as Samuel has begun shouting in Shath'Yar - "TIDES OF BLOOD! RISE! RISE!" We confront Lord Stormsong in
La fine di Sacraonda
but things go horribly wrong. After a hidden cutscene, we return to find Samuel transformed into the elite Faceless One
Azshj'thul l'Annegato
.
Azshj'thul the Drowned: The sunken realm welcomes your yawning souls.
No light. No escape. The forgotten king returns.
My fall is but a beat in the heart of the infinite abyss.
We reach Fort Daelin and help the citizens fight back against the spellcasting naga. All seems to be going well until
Dagli abisssi
--where we face off against the
Orgoglio di Azshara
. Both the Tidemother and Azshara appear to have both Wrath and Pride manifestations. Are they one and the same, or polar opposites?
The story then concludes in the dungeon Shrine of the Storm. Before we fight Lord Stormsong, we see him reporting on his success to Azshara:
The Kul Tiran fleet is nearly yours, my queen.
It would seem you have guests, Lord Stormsong.
The final boss has some interesting lines themed after N'Zoth, referencing drowning, darkness, and the sea:
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: Beneath the tides, your truth awaits.
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: Blood pours forth in the depths.
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: Darkness roots. Pestilence spreads. The doorway is open.
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: I reside within your lungs!
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: I will await you... in the dark...
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: Listen to the music of the drowned.
Vol'zith the Whisperer whispers: The crawling ones have awakened!
Brother Pike then tries to find the fleet--he's unsuccessful but he loosens Azshara's grasp. This allows Jaina, after the Siege of Boralus, to bring the ships home.
My magic is strongest here. If there is any hope the fleet can yet be found, now is the time to try.
Yes...I can sense the ships...the dark mist surrounding them is dissipating!
Though I cannot call our mariners home, at least we know those ships are out there... somewhere. The fate of our fleet lies with the Proudmoores now.
Tiragarde Sound
It also strongly implied that Lady Ashvane, as part of her political coup in Boralus, also works with Azshara and Lord Stormsong.
In Tiragarde Sound, she uses the destructive properties of Azerite to blow up Daelin's Gate, frames Katherine as incompetent, and is poised to take over as the Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras until Taelia arrests her in
Prove inconfutabili
. She manages to escape the city by diving into the sea, an action that puzzles Katherine and Taelia in
La grande fuga
. Ashvane then comes back with a vengeance, attacking Boralus directly.
The plot lines converge when Lady Ashvane strikes the city, bragging that without the fleet, they are vulnerable. She then summons a kraken to destroy the remaining ships in the harbor.
Earlier datamined dialogue made the connection between Ashvane and Azshara clearer. In an earlier version of the dungeon journal, Lady Ashvane controlled a kraken as the final boss, with the ability:
Upon reaching 10% health, Lady Ashvane becomes empowered with dark energy and heals herself to full.
She also likely had the following dialogue:
Queen Azshara, I implore you. Grant me the power to bring Boralus to its knees!
With Lady Ashvane's fate unknown--she surrenders, but is not killed at the end of Siege of Boralus--it will be interesting to see if her story continues leading up to the Azshara raid. One suspicious detail is her gigantic necklace, likely made of Azerite. It's a sinister version of our own Heart of Azeroth and should make us, as players hungry for Artifact Power, pause for a moment to reflect on the damaging properties of Azerite.
Azshara and Jaina Parallels
So far in early Battle for Azeroth, the stories of Azshara and Jaina are intertwined with the fate of the Kul Tiras fleet. Here are some interesting parallels between the two characters:
Both have strong ties to the ocean--Jaina is referred to as the "Daughter of the Sea" by Kul Tiras, and Azshara is the Queen of the Naga.
Both are extremely powerful mages, with a bent towards subduing the sea. In early Battle for Azeroth alone, Jaina is able to fly a ghost ship, summon arcane cannons, teleport faction leaders to safety, and mass-teleport the entire Kul Tiran fleet. Azshara used her magic to augment her power and charisma, wielding Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides and infusing it with a drop of the Well of Eternity.
Both characters were initially beloved by their people, later reviled for a betrayal. Azshara and Jaina have very different motivations and personalities, but it's just interesting to note similar fallouts.
In the Kul Tiras storyline, Azshara wants to control the legendary Kul Tiran fleet, corrupting Lord Stormsong to achieve her goals. Jaina, once rescued from Thros, the Blighted Lands, uses the power of her father's amulet and innate magic to locate the Kul Tiran fleet and mass-teleport them back to Boralus, defeating Lady Ashvane in the nick of time.
We're sure Azshara isn't too pleased with Jaina suddenly retrieving the Kul Tiran fleet and there will be more repercussions in future Battle for Azeroth patches. If you'd like to learn more about Jaina, we analyzed the
Thros, the Blighted Lands cinematic
with many WC3 throwbacks.
Azshara, Zul, and Horde Questing
The main plot of Zuldazar covers the complete dismantling of King Rastakhan's prosperous rule over Zandalar. Zul enacts a successful coup, grievously wounding Rastakhan and dismantling the council. While the Zanadalari mount a valiant counter-attack, Zul is ultimately successful at defeating Rezan, the Loa of Kings, which permanently cripples the Zandalari. He's ultimately defeated by Rastakhan, but not before breaking the final seal to Uldir, ushering in new horrors. If you want to learn more or play through the storyline, check out our
Zandalar per sempre!
comments.
Zul has always been a shady character in Warcraft--he's the reason the Zandalari went from friendly with players to enemies in Cataclysm, orchestrating the
Zandalari attacks in Mists of Pandaria
. As we quest through Zuldazar, we learn that the plot to resurrect
Lei Shen
was part of a grander scheme to take over Zandalar.
Followers, hear me.
When I journeyed to Pandaria, we attempted an ancient and forbidden ritual.
We awakened Lei-shen, the Thunder King of the mogu, who had been dead for many ages of this world.
In doing so, I learned the ancient ways to return an ancient king to life, and learned how to control them.
In the main Zuldazar story, we just follow the plot of political intrigue, but if players head to the eastern Zuldazar shore, some naga drop interesting letters.
Signora delle Maree Nazesh
, the objective of
Una roccia speciale
, drops the
Rapporto da Zuldazar
for
:
This letter is between Azshara and someone either in, or in immediate contact with, the Zanchuli Council. Someone needs to dig into what this means for the Zandalari and the Horde. Nathanos will know what to do here.
Most exalted, Queen Azshara. We have infiltrated the Zanchuli council. It was far easier than either of us suspected. Half of the council has sworn to our cause. The other half will stand, or fall when the time comes. The path of resistance will soon be clear.
Rastakhan assumed the Zanchuli Council wanted to be in service of the people. The people don’t deserve service! They are selfish, foolish, hopeless, but I digress. I will bring the Zandalari back to greatness...whatever form that may take.
Your kingdom will rise. We will both rule, as we were meant to do. None will be left to oppose us.
A new world order lies ahead!
Several quests later, you loot the reply from Queen Azshara,
Preoccupazione Regale
:
Queen Azshara is plotting with someone on the Zanchuli Council. Her nefarious naga are not randomly attacking the coast, they are being directed. Nathanos should know about this.
Your work within the Council is laudable. We do look forward to thanking you in person.
It seems there were few relics to be found where you suggested. We have sent a new force, under his guidance to find what the others missed.
He is certain, there is power to be found there.
I am concerned that shattering the temple was not enough. The ocean is Gral’s temple. However, with his followers lost, it is but a matter of time.
There are plodding Tortollans everywhere these days. Fortunately, their wits are as quick as their feet, they suspect nothing of what we do.
A new world order, indeed.
–Signed Azshara
With these notes, it is clear that Azshara was part of Zul's plot to overthrow the Zandalari, turn members of the Zanchuli council against Rastakhan, and recruit powerful allies like the Mogu.
It's also interesting to note that Zul's prominence in Warcraft rose during Cataclysm, the expansion orchestrated by N'Zoth. The tablet
Mokkan del Profeta Oscuro Zul
on the Isle of Thunder describes Zul's horrifying prophecies and how all of them have come true:
Among the Zanchuli Council are many priests and mages of incredible power and forbidden knowledge. One of the most respected of these is Zul. Even as a child his dark and terrible visions had come true down to the last horrifying detail. He commanded fear and respect as one of the dark prophets: seers capable of witnessing great tragedies before they came to pass.
In the months before the Cataclysm, Zul's nightmares were haunted by terrible visions of a world torn asunder. He consulted all the signs and was convinced that the Zandalari homeland would be destroyed in the coming apocalypse. He advised the council and the king to unite with the other troll tribes and to abandon their doomed homeland.
Despite Zul's infamy, the council refused to believe in the scope of the disaster to come. Many felt that Zul was grandstanding to increase his own status and power. They scoffed as he and his followers began assembling a war fleet and reaching out to the lesser troll races.
But Zul's visions were visions of the truth. Deathwing's Cataclysm rocked Zandalar to its foundations. Even now the mighty and enigmatic troll empire slides inexorably into the sea, and Zandalari peasants and warriors alike flock to Zul for guidance on what to do next.
And here are some details from
Chronicle Volume 3
confirming N'Zoth's involvement in Cataclysm:
IShrouded in an ocean of fevered dreams, among the bones of nameless horrors, N'Zoth remained untouched by the blade of mortals. The Old God was certain that Azeroth's champions would eventually seek it out and try to overwhelm it as they had done to C'Thun and Yogg-Saron.
N'Zoth was not afraid, but it did sense that a window of opportunity was fast closing.
N'Zoth fed its own dark energy into Deathwing's heart, infusing the black Dragon Aspect with a power unlike any that he had ever known. This influx of strength made his form more unstable, and the magma that flowed through his veins threatened to erupt from his body and consume his entirely.
By unleashing Deathwing from Deepholm, he would tear a rift between the Elemental Plane and Azeroth, which would then allow the Elemental Lords access to Azeroth. Deathwing would also serve as a conduit for N'Zoth, coordinating attacks with the elementals and Twilight Hammer.
Deathwing's motivation was to scour the world of the other Dragonflights and control Azeroth as his own, but secretly N'Zoth planned to dispose of Deathwing once the Black Empire was restored.
Where Could the Story Go?
We'll know more about Azshara soon, but for now, it seems clear that she's hungry for power, and actively trying to sway different mortal leaders to unknowingly aid her goals. With how much she enjoys creating discord, she must love the faction conflict--or perhaps even be encouraging it. She wants to seize control of Azeroth, and what better way than to weaken the Alliance and Horde first? By stealing the Kul Tiran fleet, she weakened Boralus, leaving the city open to attack. By encouraging Zul to overthrow King Rastakhan, she destabilized Zandalar, leaving King Rastakhan without the powerful loa of kings.
All the blinking eyes in the Azshara teaser hint that we'll see N'Zoth in a larger role. We know she is the mid-point boss in the expansion, similar to Guldan in Legion, so it makes sense that N'Zoth could show up later in the expansion, once she's defeated.
As for the Azshara encounter, as we've seen the Wrath and Pride of Azshara so far in Warcraft, perhaps the other five sins will make an appearance. The Night Elf story ended a bit abruptly after the pre-patch, which seemed puzzling as the burning of Teldrassil was such a shocking impactful event. However, seeing the Night Elves play a prominent role in handling their former leader would be a way to pick up and continue their story development.
Since the Old Gods are enemies of Lich King, Azshara could also view Sylvanas and her plans related to Death (still sinister, just different plans) as a threat to the motives of the Old Gods. While Sylvanas never comes out and states her ultimate plan, at various points in
A Good War
she hints that her real goal is one beyond just the Alliance and Horde, that larger forces would fear. We've previously
written extensively
about the parallels between Sylvanas and Arthas.
As to where the Azshara raid could be? Ny'alotha seems to be an obvious place, as all the whispers point towards it. However, with Azshara itching to take over more of Azeroth, it would be fascinating if part of the raid took place on Azeroth. C'Thun and Yogg-Saron were confined to their underground lairs, but we'd really get a sense of danger if we were fighting Azshara everywhere and she wasn't contained to her usual area.
What do you think is in store for Azshara? Let us know in the comments!
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