What the motivation behind the actions of Xal’atath in World of Warcraft is, has been a mystery until now. Now we finally know.
Xal’atath is the main antagonist of the World Souls saga, but she was already introduced with the expansion “Legion” ten years ago in World of Warcraft. Back then, she was “only” a legendary dagger that came into the possession of the priest character; today, she is one of the greatest cosmic threats. But what does Xal’atath actually want? What is her drive? Until now, we could only speculate about that. But in the latest cinematic, she has made that very clear.
Xal’atath only wants one thing: to survive
What do we learn about Xal’atath’s motivation? In a conversation with the Nexus king Salhadaar, we gain insight into Xal’atath’s past. She belonged to a dying people on a foreign world a long time ago – she was presumably even the last survivor of her people, wandering through the desert of her world before she too was swallowed by the Void. Back then, she was allegedly “consumed by hatred and revenge”.
In the further course of the video, she explains that she has learned one single thing for eternity: “Only survival matters.”
That is probably the motivation behind Xal’atath’s endeavors: survival.
This is the simple but effective motivation behind her actions, but it immediately raises new questions: Why does the Void – for Xal’atath is currently probably its most powerful creature – have to fight for survival? Is the survival of the Void threatened by another cosmic power (such as the Light)?
At least we can already sense in Midnight that the Light also has some rather “dark” plans that are slowly being put into action. The balance between the cosmic powers could slowly be shifting out of balance.
To what extent Xal’atath needs the Sunwell and its corruption – and ultimately the World Soul of Azeroth – remains to be seen.
Does Xal’atath speak the truth in the video? The question of the veracity of Xal’atath’s past and her motivation is, of course, crucial. However, it would be curious if Blizzard releases a video that addresses exactly this issue, only to then say “That was all a lie”; that seems unlikely.
At the same time, it must be noted that Xal’atath is an extremely manipulative character who, however, has never outright lied. Therefore, it is to be assumed that Xal’atath has also spoken the truth in this video and is indeed looking for a way to ensure the survival of the Void.
If you are interested in the story of World of Warcraft but cannot find a good starting point, we have something for you: The entire story of World of Warcraft summarized.
