Where is Sylvanas’ story headed in WoW? YouTuber Bellular presents an exciting theory: She won’t die, but she will soon leave the Horde.
Patch 8.2 Azshara’s Rise is currently on the test server of World of Warcraft and has now entered the “fine-tuning” phase. Although in Patch 8.2, the Warchief of the Horde, Sylvanas Windrunner, is not the focus of the narrative, there are some clues about where her journey will lead. Sylvanas herself mentions that her “endgame” will start soon, meaning the implementation of her grand plan. But what is it, exactly?
YouTuber Bellular has analyzed and summarized the events of Patch 8.2 Azshara’s Rise and the previous actions of the Banshee Queen in a detailed YouTube video. He presents an interesting hypothesis regarding Sylvanas’ future.
Bellular’s assumption: Sylvanas will leave the Horde and become a true “Mistress of Death.” She will essentially create an independent faction (not a “new faction” for players) and act detached from both the Horde and the Alliance.
This would provide two advantages for the narrative:
- The Horde can become “moderate” again and, under a new leader, no longer pursue such a radical warpath.
- Sylvanas could continue to exist. She is a figurehead of World of Warcraft and a fan favorite. She is responsible for dramatic, shocking moments (such as the burning of Teldrassil) and thus is a character that evokes emotions in players.
That Sylvanas is a cool and forward-thinking strategist is something few players will doubt. This is also reflected in Patch 8.2 Azshara’s Rise. Here, Sylvanas sends her servant Nathanos along with the player out to sea. They are to follow the dagger Xal’atath.
The interesting thing about this is that Sylvanas already knows that something will happen at sea that will require many sacrifices. She makes it clear to the player that the losses on both sides (Horde and Alliance) will be massive. One should take this opportunity to eliminate the disloyal followers of the Horde.
The ambush by Azshara, in which the sea opens up and the remaining fleet of the Horde and Alliance is pulled down, is not a real ambush for Sylvanas. She knows this and accepts that it will happen, but does not keep it a real secret. She says to the player:
“The next phase of our campaign is at hand. Sail out with the remnants of our fleet. The blade will lead you to the meeting point. There will be great losses on both sides. Consider this an opportunity to weed out the disloyal.”
What does Sylvanas actually want?
We have already discussed that the exact goal of Sylvanas is unclear in this article. The main clues and resulting speculations come from the book “Before the Storm” and the previous expansion “Legion”.
Sylvanas makes deals in Legion: In the Legion expansion, Sylvanas receives a lamp from Helya, with which she intends to enslave Eyir to create more Val’kyr. As we know, this was prevented by Genn Greymane, who smashed the lamp. However, it is still unknown what exact deal Sylvanas made with Helya.
It is also interesting that Helya, although defeated in Legion, did not die. A quest from the Island Expeditions clearly states that the Kvaldir have built a large fleet and that Helya is once again active in Helheim. She lives. And whatever pact she made with Sylvanas seems to still be in effect.
The end of player decisions: Currently, players can choose in certain quests whom to remain loyal to. They can either join Saurfang and his small rebellion or work as an agent for Sylvanas and inform her about all activities within the rebellion.
Blizzard has already revealed that both decision options will ultimately lead to the same outcome. After all, they want a logical game world that is nearly the same for all players.
Bellular’s theory fits perfectly here, because if Sylvanas renounces the Horde and cuts all ties, she could eliminate both types of players. The traitors she would leave behind anyway, and her loyal agents as well – because she would have no more use for them.
How would it continue in the Horde?
What about the Forsaken? Bellular does not speculate on the future of the Forsaken, which is why we will suggest one ourselves. It is quite possible that the Forsaken who are not part of Sylvanas’ plan will receive a new leader. Nathanos seems to be out, as he is fiercely loyal to Sylvanas and will likely fight by the side of the Banshee Queen.
However, there is still one “undead person” who could take the role of ruler: Calia Menethil. She is the sister of Arthas and was killed in the book “Before the Storm.” In the last pages of the story, however, she was turned into an undead, radiating light energy through a strange ritual involving a naaru, Anduin, and a Forsaken.
A new form of undead has been created. As the last existing Menethil, she would be the rightful heir to the throne of Lordaeron and thus by birthright, the “Queen of the Forsaken” – a concern that also troubles Sylvanas in the book, which is why she kills Calia in the first place.
Calia could ensure that the remaining Forsaken (like the player characters) are led on a “friendlier” path and better fit into the Horde. Something similar happened with the Blood Elves in “The Burning Crusade,” who initially used fel magic and killed naaru, but later found their way back to the light and the Sunwell.
The long plan: The destruction of Stormwind
But what does Sylvanas actually want? What is the “endgame” she speaks of, the one she is working towards and wants to achieve? For this, Bellular refers again to the book “Before the Storm.” There, Sylvanas touches Azerite for the first time and has the following thought, akin to a vision:
She was no longer the Dark Lady or a queen. She was a goddess of destruction and creation. She was dizzy from the realization that she had never understood how deeply connected these two were.
Armies, cities, whole cultures – she could create them. Or bring them down. Stormwind would be among the first and would sacrifice its inhabitants to enlarge their own forces. She could spread death on a scale that –
Even the Azerite gives her the vision that she could destroy Stormwind and turn the inhabitants into her servants.
That Sylvanas is sticking to this plan is also evident in another instance, even before she touches the Azerite. Here it is stated in a conversation with her subordinate Nathanos:
‘Soon I will call upon the brave warriors of the Horde for another battle. One that you and I have long desired.’
Nathanos was silent. She did not interpret this as rejection or disapproval. He was often silent. That he did not ask her for more details meant that he understood what she wanted.
Stormwind.
It is therefore to be assumed that Sylvanas is still committed to her plan to overthrow Stormwind and turn the humans into undead servants that she then needs for her “grand plan.”
Whether her plan will succeed remains to be seen. After all, it is also possible that her plans have changed in the meantime.
Hopefully, Blizzard will give us more clues soon so we know where Sylvanas’ journey is headed.
What do you think is Sylvanas’ future fate? Will she remain the leader of the Forsaken? Or will she belong to a completely new grouping in the next expansion?
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