Why Sylvanas Windrunner is the leader of the Horde in WoW: Battle for Azeroth is still not entirely clear. Patch 8.1 at least provides initial answers and new riddles.
When Vol’jin died at the start of World of Warcraft: Legion, he appointed the Banshee Queen Sylvanas Windrunner as his successor. The reason for this was that the “spirits had granted him clarity”.
However, with Sylvanas’ warlike nature, doubts about this statement are increasing. Which spirits have granted Vol’jin “clarity”? This is exactly the subject of a questline in Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance.
Spoiler alert: If you do not want to learn about the further course of the story surrounding Vol’jin’s spirit, you should not continue. You have been warned.
The story of Vol’jin continues: With Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance, the story of Vol’jin’s spirit is continued. Horde players already had the opportunity to acquire his urn and collect his spirit. However, this questline ended abruptly.
With the next patch, it will continue and address some important questions.
All information on Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance can be found in this article.
The visit to Bwonsamdi
The biggest question is why Vol’jin chose Sylvanas as the new Warchief. Vol’jin himself has no memory of who granted him this vision. It has long been speculated that his vision of clarity could have come from Bwonsamdi, the Loa of Death. After all, Sylvanas brings many dead with her war, which should please the Loa of Death.
In a conversation with Vol’jin’s spirit, players learn that Vol’jin has long been calling on the Loa and receiving no answer. His connection to the Loa has been severed and since he became a spirit, none of the Loa have answered him.
However, it was not Bwonsamdi. In a conversation between Talanji and Bwonsamdi, the Loa of Death reveals:
“What? No no no, you are mistaken, Talanji.”
Moreover, we learn that Bwonsamdi certainly did not want Sylvanas to become the Warchief of the Horde. After all, he wants the souls of the dead for himself. However, Sylvanas often resurrects the dead.
“Why would I want the Banshee Queen to lead? No no no. Sure, I like war and death, but this Sylvanas… she disrupts the balance too much.
The balance is important! Besides, she has the nasty trait of keeping what she kills. No, your Warchief is no friend of the old Bwonsamdi.”
Journey to the Lich King
Subsequently, players try to find out whether it was the Lich King who advised Vol’jin to choose Sylvanas. They travel to Icecrown and seek out Bolvar Fordragon. But he too has only negative and dismissive words for them:
“The plans of the Banshee Queen threaten the balance. I have nothing to do with this.”
Vol’jin then asks the Lich King whether it is his work that Vol’jin’s spirit is now trapped in the spirit world. Again, the Lich King responds:
“Vol’jin… your soul wandered on the other side and has returned. You have been changed… stronger than you think.
You are neither undead nor damned. You do not belong here. Leave this place at once.”
Visit to the Val’kyr
After the visit to the Lich King bore no success, they go to Eyir. Eyir is the leader of the Val’kyr, who bring worthy champions to Odyn in the Halls of Valor.
Eyir is quite upset that a priestess of Bwonsamdi is brought along (presumably Talanji, who is bound to Bwonsamdi through her father’s pact). Nevertheless, she speaks to Vol’jin and the “Champion” – meaning the player.
Eyir: “Shadowhunter, you are no longer an ordinary spirit. You have become something that is beyond my power to create.”
Vol’jin: “Who has such power? Could it be the same one who led me to make Sylvanas the Warchief?”
Eyir: “You have been touched by the Hand of Valor. Such noble power has no interest in the thrones of mortals.”
Vol’jin: “So whoever whispered to me is not the same one who sent me back?”
However, Vol’jin does not receive an answer to this. Further information remains denied to him and the players.
Are there two puppeteers guiding Vol’jin?
Overall, the questline seems to provide no answer as to who brought Vol’jin back from the spirit world and whispered to him that Sylvanas must be the Warchief. However, the clues suggest that they may be two different beings.
Players speculate that the Old Gods are involved, presumably N’Zoth. After all, he would surely love for the two factions to clash at sea – right above his seat of power.
Who exactly brought Vol’jin’s spirit back from the realm of the dead remains unanswered. So it remains exciting.
The questline seems to start after the Siege of Zuldazar, the new raid of Patch 8.1. Players will have to wait a while longer for this.
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What do you think of Vol’jin’s story and his development? Are you already curious how the story will conclude? Or is it all getting too crazy for you?
The patch also advances Tyrande’s story. Tyrande will become a Night Warrior in a ritual.
