WoW: Shadowlands is still withholding some answers from its players. We will show which questions Blizzard definitely still needs to answer.
The starting content of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands has largely been completed. Even the more casual players should have wrapped up all quests and mastered the raid Castle Nathria by now. However, despite a lot of story being handled in the Shadowlands, many questions remain unanswered. In many places, Shadowlands has even raised more questions than it has answered. We will look at the 5 questions that Shadowlands definitely still needs to clarify.
1. What happened to Tyrande Whisperwind?
While most covenants had a relatively focused story that concentrated on a single issue, the Night Fae campaign was an outlier. Here, the focus continually shifted between three problems:
- The Drust as a threat to Ardenweald
- Bwonsamdi and the souls of the Loa
- Tyrande Whisperwind and her issues with the powers of the Night Warrior
While the Drust are defeated and the Loa saved, the resolution of the last point fizzles out completely. The fate of Tyrande Whisperwind remains uncertain. Night elf players had hoped for more here.
So far, all we know is that the powers of the Night Warrior are slowly but surely consuming Tyrande and will kill her if no intervention occurs. Additionally, it is clear that she is currently in the Maw and in Torghast, searching for Sylvanas Windrunner.
It is conceivable that Tyrande will appear in the battle against Sylvanas in Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination. Hopefully, there will be more information here and a reasonable, provisional conclusion to her journey as the Night Warrior.
2. Which soul did the Jailer use?
During the Torghast questline, players were treated to several cinematics that revealed numerous details regarding the story of Anduin, Sylvanas, and the Jailer. Not only were important characters like Jaina, Baine, and Thrall rescued, but insights into the Jailer’s actions were also provided.
Especially interesting was the forging of the Rune Blade. Anduin’s sword was reforged to become a runeblade similar to Frostmourne. In the corresponding cinematic, there is a brief scene that clearly focuses on the Jailer and his actions. He reaches into a rift and pulls out a blue crystal, presumably a soul.
There is much speculation about whether this was just meant to look nice or if it has a deeper significance regarding which soul was used.
The most common theory is that it is the soul of Arthas or Ner’zhul, both of whom were the respective Lich Kings before. After all, we know that Arthas’ soul was thrown into the Maw by Uther. Whether it will be used by the Jailer for his purposes is still unclear.
3. Who is the sister of the Winter Queen?
The main story of Ardenweald was quite gripping and was well received by many players. Especially the finale with the rescue of Ysera was rewarded with a really nice cinematic. However, a small sentence from the Winter Queen raised players’ eyebrows.
In an attempt to save the wildseed of Ysera, the Fae come to the Night Queen and plead with her to provide the wildseed with Anima. However, the Winter Queen does not seem particularly thrilled about it and states:
- “That comes from my sister.”
- “Why should I save her pet?”
Although she ultimately agrees after some persuasion and helps Ysera to be reborn in Ardenweald, one question remains unanswered:
Who in the Nether is the sister of the Night Queen?
Essentially, there are only two candidates that really could be considered.
The obvious answer would be Elune. After all, it was the Moon Goddess herself who lifted Ysera’s soul to the stars at her death in Val’Sharah and then sent her to Ardenweald. If Elune were the sister of the Night Queen, it would mean that Elune also watches over a realm of the Shadowlands and is herself also part of the “Pantheon of Death.” There are indeed many more realms in the Shadowlands than just the four we visit.
This is also supported by the music played in the cinematic. The night elf music plays, and at precisely the moment where a female voice sings “Elune Adore”.
A second possibility could be Eonar. After all, it was the Titan Eonar who blessed Ysera (and Alexstrasza) long ago and gave her the power over the Emerald Dream. Since the Emerald Dream is a kind of counterpart (Ardenweald represents autumn, while the Dream represents spring), it is possible that Eonar is seen as a kind of “sister” of the Night Queen.
It is to be hoped that Blizzard does not keep the fans in the dark for too long. Because the interplay between the souls, Elune, Eonar, and the Night Queen could become quite interesting.
4. Where is the Primus?
Another unsolved mystery of Shadowlands is the whereabouts of the Primus. He is actually the head of Maldraxxus, but has been absent for quite some time. There are several theories about what happened to the Primus, but no final statements yet.
While many players suspect that the Runecarver might be the Primus, who was captured early on by the Jailer, there are still some doubts about it.
For example, the appearance of the Primus in his representation in Maldraxxus does not match that of the Runecarver. The number of fingers, for instance, differs. However, this could also be a mistake or a deliberate alteration to prevent the Runecarver’s identity from being immediately revealed.
Blizzard still needs to provide an explanation or at least reveal where the Primus has gone. Only then can all Maldraxxus followers sleep peacefully again with their monstrosity cuddled up.
5. Who disabled the Arbiter?
Lastly, the biggest question of Shadowlands remains unanswered: the origin of the entire expansion.
After all, the Anima drought in the Shadowlands occurred because the Arbiter was attacked and disabled in Oribos. Where she usually partitions souls into different realms, now all souls are directed straight into the Maw.
But where did this attack on the Arbiter come from? Clearly from a world of mortals, as the “red shard” shot out from the heavens along with the flow of all souls.
This must have happened during the times of WoW: Legion because we know that Ysera was one of the last souls to transition into the Shadowlands before the system collapsed.
The collapse of the machinery of death must have occurred sometime during the course of the storyline of Legion. But which soul could have been the trigger? Was it even a soul from Azeroth?
Do you have any other questions that Blizzard definitely needs to answer? Which story’s outcome are you waiting for the most?
