The WoW cinematic “Kingsgram” has answered many questions, but was also filled with many details. We dare to take a close analysis of all scenes.
For players of World of Warcraft, the highlight of BlizzConline was likely the video “Kingsgram”. It shows how Anduin reaches his new form and at the same time has some interesting parallels to the past of the Warcraft franchise. Filled with many little allusions and interesting details, it is worth watching the video multiple times.
For that reason, we took the time to write a small analysis to break down the details that may have gone unnoticed.
But first, watch the entire cinematic again:
So far, nothing has been achieved
The video begins, after a brief overview, with a war council of the Kyrians. Kyrestia the Firstborn, also known as Archon, speaks with her followers about the fate of the Shadowlands. Although the heroes have already dealt with some of the most pressing issues during the Covenant campaign, nothing has yet been done to stop the Jailer.
According to the Kyrians, “the Maw is still growing.” Of course, this is also obvious. Denathrius had fulfilled his purpose and directed Anima into the Maw, while all souls from all mortal realms are still being hurled into the Maw, increasing the power of the Jailer.
Even if it feels from a gameplay perspective that much has already been achieved in the Shadowlands – from a story perspective, this is not the case. Essentially, nothing has been done to effectively weaken the Jailer, and with every passing second, his power continues to grow.
The Kyrians are considering asking the Night Fae – led by the Winter Queen – for help. However, we do not learn what exactly the Winter Queen can do for the Kyrians, as Kleia interrupts the war council and arrives flying.
Kleia should be known to most players. She starts as an aspirant, and you accompany her until her ascension. For a Kyrian, she is comparatively unusual, as she is lively and cheerful, often showing emotions – in stark contrast to many “older” Kyrians, who carry out their duties very neutrally and almost emotionlessly.
Uther senses the grief power in Anduin
Kleia is now speaking as we see the king – Anduin Wrynn, apparently escaped from the Maw. He walks calmly down the Himmelfeste and crosses paths with Uther. Even though Uther does not recognize Anduin, as they barely knew each other in life and Anduin was still a small child back then, Uther senses something. The expression on Uther’s face shows surprise and even joy, while the background music momentarily features almost angelic chants, as if Uther recognizes the light within Anduin.
In stark contrast to this, however, is Uther’s gesture. He grabs his chest wound inflicted by Frostmourne with his right hand. Apparently, his wound pains him, which is already the first dark sign that these dark powers are apparently very close – and thus present in Anduin.
But before Uther can even fully understand what he is feeling – and possibly warn – he is pulled out of this thought and pushed along by the Kyrians. Uther is, after all, one of the Forsaken, and even though he has switched sides, he is still viewed warily and with suspicion by most Kyrians.
An introduction like Wrath of the Lich King
However, just as important as what is shown are Kleia’s words, accompanying Anduin’s journey. Kleia announces that a living soul requests an audience and explains upon further inquiry that it is a king.
She says:
A king. One who has strived for justice all his life. Who would sacrifice everything to serve his people. Whose heart is truly pure.
Kleia’s words are likely to evoke some flashbacks in many a Warcraft fan. For such a description of a king, penned by another person, WoW players remember from the intro cinematic of Wrath of the Lich King. Back then, it was a letter from King Terenas addressed to his son Arthas. The letter was read while Arthas was shown, ruling as king over the undead in Icecrown, resurrecting frost wyrms and essentially becoming a dark perversion of what his father once wished for him. For the record, here is the old WotLK cinematic:
That Anduin has become something similarly dark as Arthas is demonstrated in the next scene. Normally, Anduin’s features are friendly, deliberative, and compassionate – in tune with the virtues of light. Here, however, he appears calculating, focused, and cold.
The next seconds make it clear that it is not Anduin standing before the Archon, but an avatar of the Jailer. Anduin demands a “key,” which immediately causes the Archon to fall into caution.
For whatever the “key” is, only someone who has known the Archon for ages can know that – in this case, Zovaal, the Jailer.
Kyrestia raises her spear and demands that the soul of this mortal be released. Anduin’s voice transforms, replaced by that of the Jailer, who proclaims: “This soul is bound to me, just as you once sought to bind your own brother.”
Anduin – more powerful than a Firstborn
The scene clearly demonstrates how powerful Anduin – and thus the Jailer – has become. The Kyrians are already ready for battle. They have drawn their weapons and are alarmed when Anduin summons the blade of grief and drives it into the ground. Another parallel to Arthas, who did exactly that when he summoned the frost wyrm Sindragosa from the ice.
The explosion of grief energy is so strong that all high-ranking Kyrians – the strongest the Covenant has to offer – are immediately overwhelmed by it and shackled. Only Kyrestia is not immediately overwhelmed but retreats and shields her face.
However, one must credit Kyrestia that she was recently heavily wounded. The fight against Devos and the Forsaken did not leave her unscathed and might have caused her to still be weakened.
Moreover, the element of surprise is on Anduin’s side, as the explosion of Maw energy causes Kyrestia to drop her spear to protect herself with her hands. Exactly this becomes her downfall in the next moment when Anduin leaps at her and drives the blade of grief into her body – she could only defend herself with her hands, which was virtually useless.
The power granted to Anduin by the blade of grief and armor, and that used by the Jailer, is apparently strong enough to swiftly eliminate a Firstborn even in the midst of her strongest servants. This only hints at how strong the Jailer must be if he were to come out of the Maw.
Anduin’s spirit is still alive
While the blade of grief is embedded in Kyrestia and gradually extracting the essence of the Kyrians and thus the aforementioned key, Anduin seems to regain some clarity. The blue of his eyes fades, his facial features soften. Doubt, fear, and reluctance are clearly readable from his expression.
Apparently, the Jailer also notices that Anduin is resisting his control. The runes of domination on Anduin’s armor glow, causing Anduin’s eyes to glow stronger again and the cool, calculating presence of the Jailer to return.
Thus, it is clear. Anduin’s spirit still exists. He has not changed but has simply been suppressed and pushed aside.
Sylvanas’ doubts and the other keys
The scene ends and Anduin returns to the Maw. The Jailer proclaims that “the vessel has performed its task flawlessly,” which further emphasizes that Anduin’s body is nothing more than a tool. Resigned, Anduin presents the rune blade to the Jailer and hands him “the key,” the symbol of the Kyrians.
Here we also see Sylvanas Windrunner again, initially only in the background. However, interesting observations can be made here. She briefly looks at the blade of grief and the rune Anduin brings, but almost immediately her gaze shifts to Anduin’s face. She examines his empty, soulless, and willing expression.
As the Jailer speaks, the camera zooms in on Sylvanas, focusing her facial features. The Banshee Queen does not speak, and once again, doubts can be detected in her expression as she looks at the man she has turned into a willing weapon.
What Sylvanas thinks here is not made explicit, but much can be interpreted. After all, Sylvanas herself was once a mindless object of the Scourge. After she freed herself from that control, she tried her entire unlife to maintain and uphold free will.
Sylvanas’ gaze drifts for a moment into the distance and then to the ground – yet another sign of remorse. However, this expression lasts only for a few moments, as her gaze solidifies again when she turns to the Jailer.
Interesting are also the words of the Jailer. He says that three keys remain. At first glance, this seems logical, as the key from Bastion is missing the key from Ardenweald, Maldraxxus, and Revendreth.
At least, if that is truly the origin of the keys, the purpose of which we do not yet know. We also do not know how many keys exist and whether the Jailer does not already possess several. After all, the Jailer could easily have obtained the key from Revendreth. After all, Denathrius was a traitor and worked with the Jailer. If he really is one of the key holders, it seems unlikely that Zovaal has not claimed it earlier.
However, it could also be that the key from Revendreth is locked away with Denathrius in Remornia, thus – for the time being – out of the Jailer’s reach.
What the keys are about, we will surely learn in the course of Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination.
The video ends with a small camera movement. The Jailer has sent out his chains into the Maw, thus transporting a piece of land into the Maw. This is Korthia, the city of secrets, where a large part of Patch 9.1 will take place.
Parallels to Arthas further expanded
That Anduin resembles Arthas in his new form is no coincidence and has been repeatedly emphasized by the developers for years. Even when Anduin captured the throne room in “Battle for Azeroth,” the camera was focused exactly on him, much like many years before on Arthas in a very similar scene. This is something that has been referenced in later cinematics multiple times.
However, there are significant differences between Anduin and Arthas. Arthas actively sought the power of the blade of grief – and also reached for this power after Muradin warned him that the blade was cursed.
Anduin, on the other hand, has remained strong until the end and has not let himself be lured by either Sylvanas or the Jailer. He made it very clear in the end that he would not waver, and if one wanted to turn him into a weapon, they would have to force him – exactly what has been done.
This makes Anduin, from the perspective of a light-favored character, a stronger personality than Arthas. For even now, Anduin continues to fight against the control of the Jailer and is forced back under control by the relics of domination (armor and sword) when he resists.
This makes it clear that Anduin still exists with his original personality and that we may be able to save him. Perhaps Sylvanas even plays a role in that, should she find her conscience again.
How did you find the cinematic and the many little allusions and details? Cool and exciting development of the story or just “reheated repetition without ideas”?
If you’re interested in the story of WoW, you might also be interested in our large summary of WoW lore.
