Actually, it is just a harmless micro-holiday in World of Warcraft. But behind the “Great Style Check” are the machinations of a sinister character.
Micro-holidays in World of Warcraft are actually of little significance. They are small gimmicks that often last only one day and highlight small aspects of the game world. However, “The Great Style Check,” where characters must show off their best transmogs, has a dark secret. The Astral “Shadreen” appears in other places in the game.
Shadreen, the Sinister Astral
Shadreen, an Astral touched by the Void, appears in several places in the game. So far, she has been mentioned in three different locations or can even be encountered.
Shadreen at the Great Style Check: At the end of a style check, after the winners have been announced, Shadreen appears in rare cases. She is an Astral, like one encountered on Argus (similar to the Spacefarer).
She approaches the organizers of the style check and engages in a brief dialogue:
Shadreen: “Have you gathered the information that I need?”
Nastasia Schönschau: “Yes, here are the results.”
Shadreen: “… you did well. My master will be pleased with this.”
This dialogue may seem insignificant, but it raises the question of what kind of “master” Shadreen could serve. Most Astrals do not have a master, but at most, princes. However, creatures that are associated with the Void often speak of “masters” – frequently ancient gods or other entities of the Void.
Shadreen in the Telogrus Rift: Those playing on the Alliance side may have already found Shadreen elsewhere. She can be found in the area “Telogrus Rift,” the starting area of the Void Elves. The rift is a remnant of an ancient planet that was destroyed by the Void.
But here, Shadreen is not just standing among the NPCs – she appears on an island that can only be reached with a Goblin Glider and is actually not accessible. Even more interesting: She only appears every ten minutes for a few seconds.
Shadreen is also located outside the “safe” area of the Telogrus Rift. Other NPCs warn against crossing these boundaries because “whoever crosses this boundary will be swallowed by the shadows.”
This raises the question of whether Shadreen was swallowed by the shadow or is part of the aforementioned shadow. After all, Shadreen also carries the title <The Assessor>. But what does she assess and for which master?
Shadreen in Patch 8.1.5: In the upcoming Update 8.1.5, Shadreen is involved in a longer quest line. For the Brawler’s Guild, you need to solve a murder case and find out at the very end that Shadreen is behind the murders. She has made another Astral, Xan-Sallish with the title <Blade of the Assessor> capture Bizmo and impersonate him (the operator of the Brawler’s Guild).
When players kill Xan-Sallish, they receive a mysterious letter written by Shadreen, which translates to the following:
You are my eyes when my eyes are elsewhere. See everything. Remember, hold tight, report. How they move, how they fight, their choice of armor, their weapon preferences. Do not miss any detail.
Pay special attention to the heroes, the champions, those who shape destiny. Observe from afar. If you are close, intervene if you deem it necessary.
Do not disappoint me, Xan-Sallish. Know that I have my eyes on you as well.
Shadreen
In the same quest line, we also learn that an invisible creature within the Brawler’s Guild is devouring the souls of the fallen fighters. This creature named Zkohl’krothaa has the model of Yogg-Saron and is clearly an entity of the Void.
Theories about Shadreen – A Deceiver Among the Mortal Races
What exactly all these incidents with Shadreen mean is material for much speculation. The most common theory is that Shadreen is trying to infiltrate the mortal races of Azeroth for her master. This is why she is interested in the Great Style Check and receives a lot of information about how the various races of Azeroth dress to look appealing.
That she has already begun to “exchange” individual individuals for Astrals is shown in the quest line surrounding Bizmo and the Brawler’s Guild in Patch 8.1.5.
That the Blood Elves willingly provide her with all information during the Great Style Check suggests that Nastasia Schönschau may also be an Astral in disguise and has been deployed by Shadreen.
Other theories suggest that Shadreen mainly wants to weaken the Alliance from within. This is why she observes how the Void Elves are integrated into the Alliance and how the Void finds a place in the otherwise light-oriented community. After all, the Void Elves are still considered a danger and, possibly with the help of powerful Void forces, could pose a significant problem within the Alliance.
One thing is clear: Blizzard has more in store with Shadreen and the Astrals. Whether we will see this during the course of Battle for Azeroth or will have to wait for material for a later expansion remains to be seen.
What do you think of Shadreen and her machinations? Are they all just insignificant coincidences? Or is there a great plan of the Astrals and the forces of the Void behind it?
Another intriguing theory we had a few days ago, which goes in a similarly dark direction:
