Azeroth’s fate in Legion is dark. But we are already looking to the future, as the game provides early hints about how the next addon of World of Warcraft will unfold.
From the game files of patch 7.2, many hints about the future of World of Warcraft can be drawn. Last night, I gathered all the clues I know and thought about what could happen in WoW when the Legion comes to an end.
The path seems relatively clear: N’Zoth or the old gods corrupt Azeroth while we are distracted on Argus. But let me elaborate on that a bit…
Malfurion’s Concern in the Emerald Nightmare
I have noticed that I – for some reason – hear significantly more dialogues and announcements from NPCs when I am in LFR of a dungeon. Certain lines from Malfurion I have never heard in normal or heroic Emerald Nightmare, but in LFR I have. Especially important is a sentence from Malfurion that is spoken after defeating Il’gynoth. He says:
“I hope we can defeat the Legion before the black army rises from the depths.”
This reveals an incredible amount. Malfurion is not worried about the Emerald Dream – we are cleansing it at this moment. The Legion also seems to be secondary to him, almost like a distraction. What truly concerns him is the “black army from the depths”.
In the Warcraft universe, I only know of one army that fits this description: the Black Empire. The forces of the old gods.
Astromancer Etraeus has already seen the Corruption of Azeroth
An important point is also the boss Astromancer Etraeus from the Nighthold. This boss clearly shows where the story of our world is heading. During the fight, the backdrop of the observatory changes multiple times. Two backgrounds are particularly crucial. In the 3rd phase of the fight, we see a felgreen planet that has completely succumbed to the demons – presumably Argus.
Even more exciting is the 4th phase. There we see a world overgrown with purple mists and tentacles – typical of the old gods.
Now one must only ask: What does an Astromancer do? They search the stars for answers about the future and want to predict it.
When one also considers that the Nightborne are masters of time manipulation, it is easy to see that Etraeus shows us our future – first the fight on Argus in patch 7.3 and then the return to Azeroth, corrupted by N’zoth.
The New Sayings of Xal’atath
Throughout patch 7.2, players can upgrade their artifact weapons – including shadow priests. Their blade Xal’atath is particularly intertwined with the old gods, as it is a piece of them. Xal’atath becomes notably more aggressive in the upcoming update, her whispers more demanding.
“This land has experienced so much turmoil. The shattering, the cataclysm, the scouring… you have no idea.”
It is (as far as I know) the first time that we hear about the scouring as a process that has massively altered the land. Was Azeroth more or less hollowed out and filled with the energy of the old gods? That would fit, as Il’gynoth already revealed to us: “Your heart is a crater and we filled it.”
“You were a good choice. No other bearer has slaughtered across a continent like you have. I admire your… perseverance.”
What perseverance do you admire, Xal’atath? My perseverance to fulfill your desires? Or my perseverance to resist your whispers? Whose enemies are we actually defeating the whole time – those of Azeroth or those of the Old Gods? After all, the demons are actually the opponents of the Old Gods. The enemy of my enemy is my friend – until I can overcome this “friend”.
“This small fight is nothing more than a distraction. The real fight is approaching, for soon the cycle will be complete.”
This “cycle” has been mentioned several times before. What exactly is meant by that remains to be seen. It could refer to the fight against the Legion, but the “death of the planet” would also be a possibility. For Xal’atath continues:
“I can feel your world’s pulse quickening. Soon, everything will be soaked in its blood.”
I even go so far as to assert that it is likely that the “story shadow priest” bears a significant share of the blame for Azeroth falling to the old gods. But Xal’atath also has a perfect excuse to deflect blame:
“Your allies see me as a bad influence. But all I ever did was to help you progress along the path you have chosen.”
Of course, Xal’atath. Of course.
Magni – The Servant of the Old Gods?
Patch 7.2 brings some new dialogues for Magni Bronzebeard. We remember: the good dwarf was transformed into diamond, woke up at some point, and since then considers himself the “Speaker of Azeroth” – because the planet lady speaks to him (Of course she does, right?).
Back then, we had the theory that it is not Azeroth that speaks to him – but N’Zoth or the other Old Gods that have corrupted Azeroth. This is supported by the words of Il’gynoth, who says in his sentences:
“The King of Diamonds has been made into a servant.”
“From the earth he draws his power. Our earth. Our power.”
“The surface shines bright and masks the shadows that lie beneath.”
Whoever listens to the voice lines of Magni in patch 7.2 cannot help but find the dwarf a little fanatical. He sounds a bit too motivated about being the speaker of “Azeroth” – doesn’t he? Listen closely at minute 1:44. Sure, that could just be a typically over-motivated dwarf – or the ramblings of a madman.
“You are contending with the voice of the planet. THE PLANET!”
The End of the Legion – the Era of the Void
Honestly, by the end of this text, I feel like a chemtrail conspiracy theorist looking for breadcrumbs to somehow validate my own story – yet I’m relatively satisfied with the result. Xal’atath will likely be proven right…
I am also quite sure that patch 7.3 will be the last “big” patch of Legion. Everything afterwards will have the Legion as a lesser concern and will focus more on what has become of Azeroth in the meantime.
What might such a “new addon” look like? No idea. I somehow doubt that Blizzard will make a “second Cataclysm” and overhaul the entire old world. Though it could be possible that certain areas simply receive a new, changed “phase”. Perhaps it also goes down to the Black City of Ny’alotha, the Empire of the Old Gods.
By the way, Azshara would also fit wonderfully into this construct, as she serves the old gods – as one always sees creatures of the Void at the sides of the Naga. One can be curious.
