The Darkmoon Faire in World of Warcraft is eerie. Meanwhile, it has some hints of connections to the Old Gods…
The Darkmoon Faire in World of Warcraft is a source of numerous rumors and theories from time to time. After all, the origins and details of the fair are shrouded in mystery, and there are many hints that the Darkmoon Faire is not as friendly as it appears on the surface.
Now that the story surrounding the Old God N’zoth is slowly gaining momentum, it’s time to take another look at the fair. A new theory has been discussed repeatedly in recent days: Is the Darkmoon Faire allied with N’Zoth?
Parallels in Color and Shape
With Patch 8.1.5, players get their first look at N’Zoth, as he awakens during a questline. We stare into one of his reddish eyes, which were also seen in the cinematic “Warbringer: Azshara.” The parallels to the logo of the Darkmoon Faire are evident at first glance. The eye, which also hovers prominently over the entrance of the fair, is almost identical to N’Zoth’s eyes. For many players, it is too similar to be just a coincidence.
Eyes with a very similar appearance (in the colors purple, yellow, and orange) were also found on many weapon models that were corrupted by Old Gods, such as those found in the Siege of Orgrimmar.
This fits perfectly with the “buff” players can receive in Patch 8.1.5. Here, N’Zoth gifts the player and allows them to see other players who also carry the gift. This gift is represented as a large eye on the forehead – identical to that of N’Zoth and the fair.
The Location of the Island
Just the location of the Darkmoon Faire’s island is a source of many speculations. When one is on the island, they can open the map, but do not receive “overarching” maps. Thus, one does not know on which level the island is located. Since it is only accessible through special portals, it is quite possible that the island no longer lies on Azeroth, but rather is part of a small pocket dimension.
A look at the blog post written at the time of the island’s release provides a few more interesting clues. It states:
“We now have an island all to ourselves, and what an island it is. The mist-shrouded Darkmoon Island is a riddle wrapped in a mystery. It is a place full of secrets and sights, and you wouldn’t believe the deals we made to get it… or who we made them with.”
In the English original, a part of the text reads “you wouldn’t believe the deals we made to get it” – and exactly one creature repeatedly speaks of “deals,” the Old God N’Zoth. He expressed this in the “Warbringer: Azshara” video, where he emphasized: “Deals… I like deals.”
On the coast of the island are several sunken ships of the Horde and Alliance, which at least suggests that the island still has a clear connection to Azeroth. But who could better control a part of the sea than an Old God in the depths of the ocean.
The Dark Figures of the Fair
A little treacherous are also some NPCs of the fair. Chief among them is the man Professor Thaddeus Paleo. You must hand over many of the Darkmoon card sets to him, which grant strong trinkets throughout the game.
When you talk to him, he says:
“Oh, and if you happen to manage to complete a set of the lesser Darkmoon cards, then the Master… I mean, I would be very interested in that.”
Which Master Thaddeus is referring to is not clear and leaves much room for speculation. However, “Master” is a much-used term for the Old Gods from their servants. For example, Cho’gall or the Shadowhammer cultists always referred to the Old Gods as “Master.”
But aside from Master Thaddeus, there are many strange figures, such as the numerous ghosts on the island that can only be seen when one is dead. The souls of the deceased seem endlessly bound to the fair or perhaps died because they wanted to betray Silas. The motto seems to be “Once Faire, always Faire” – like something one promises to do for all time.
Additionally, the trees on the island are very dark, thorny, and extremely intertwined. Many resemble tentacles much more than real trees, which would also explain a connection to the Old Gods.
Silas’ New Secrets in Patch 8.1.5
Silas Darkmoon is the leader of the fair and a shady figure. He always appears friendly and welcoming, but he seems to be involved in some dark dealings. For example, it is known from the Warcraft comics that Silas is not above murder if someone threatens the fair.
In Patch 8.1.5, there is a new questline for alchemists that is also related to Silas Darkmoon. Players try to find a particularly powerful recipe and discover that it originates from Silas Darkmoon. At the end of the questline, the player can create “Silas’ Sphere of Transmutation,” which can then transform into different items.
- Silas’ Stone of Transportation – Summons the all-seeing eye, which teleports the player immediately to a safe location upon use.
- Silas’ Decanter of Disguise – Transforms the user into one of the countless creatures of Azeroth.
It is rather surprising that Blizzard chose to use Silas’ name for these items. It certainly shows that good old Silas also likes to do something beyond the fair and enjoys slipping into one disguise or another – just as a cult leader would do.
In conclusion, nothing can be proven from this yet. But at least the clues are increasing, and perhaps we will find out what Silas is truly up to before this expansion ends, and whether he and his entire fair are not just a very clever cult of N’Zoth.
What do you think of the Darkmoon Faire? Could there be a connection to N’Zoth? Or is all of this just a stretch?
