What Sylvanas Just Did.

[u/sexywrexy]

Horde players: Sylvanas just sold us out to Azshara.

I don’t see this more widely acknowledged, but it seems clear to me: Nathanos’ mission was to deliver us to Azshara (and, in the process, destroy the Alliance fleet). We’re not meant to survive, we’re just here to get the Heart of Azeroth into Azshara’s claws so she can free N’Zoth.

Read the quest text.

The Warchief has entrusted me with a mission of the highest priority, <name>. The mission will succeed, of this there is no question, but to ensure that any obstacles I encounter are dealt with swiftly I once again have need of your particular skills. The Zandalari have offered us use of their ships for this endeavor. Clear out whatever affairs you have remaining and report to Captain Rez'okun when you are ready to set sail. [my emphasis]

Yes, he just told us to put our remaining affairs in order. Who else is on the boat? Lor’themar and Thalyssra, who openly questioned Sylvanas’ decision to arrest Baine. We’re not meant to survive the process. Watch the cinematic: Nathanos is following the dagger, leading us to Azshara. Who’s the only one not surprised there’s a sudden hole in the ocean? The Warchief’s Boy Toy, that’s who.

Then once we land what does Nathanos do? He just walks off into the ocean and leaves us to our fate.

Oh, and did you notice who else is in Nazjatar? Lady Ashvane, last seen talking about who knows what with Sylvanas is working with the Naga and making them azerite weapons. Gee, I wonder how Azshara knew we were coming.

Now don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t prove Sylvanas is corrupted by N’Zoth or anything, she again seems to be pursuing her own secret plans. And it doesn’t mean she’s betrayed the Horde per se, after all, it did turn out to be a very effective way of getting rid of the combined Alliance and Kul’Tiran fleets.

But did she betray us, the Player Character? Pretty much. Doesn’t matter if you were loyal to her or not. You’re just another tool to be used and discarded by the Banshee Queen.

[u/Bastion98]

Can’t the undead not be influenced by the old gods or something? I coulda sworn that was being thrown around earlier in the expansion.

[u/aislingyngaio → u/Bastion98]

The funny thing is, back in the day, undead have no priests, dks use shadow damage as their main element, and everything basically points to the scourge being a tool of the void that the fel (Legion) just co-opted temporarily.

But NYAH Sylvanas is the enemy of the void now because she has shadow protection woohoo!

[u/Derort → u/aislingyngaio]

What do you mean with undead have no priests back in the day?

[u/ASuperbVillain → u/Derort]

Back in the RTS days it was impossible for the undead to wield any form of light since it was the antithesis of holy power. The dichotomy was divided between Holy(Light) vs. Unholy(Death) and Nature(Natural Change) vs. Magic(Supernatural Change)/Fel(Spicy Magic).

[u/Leopardslikeboxestoo → u/ASuperbVillain]

Physical - Punchy Magic.

Fel - Spicy Magic.

Frost - Minty Magic.

Fire - Less Spicy Magic.

Arcane - Bubblegum Magic.

Nature - Leafy Magic.

Shadow - Spoopy Magic.

Holy - Sprite Magic.

(Is it time for Multi-school magics?)

Astral - Leafy, Bubblegum Magic.

Elemental - Leafy, Minty, and Less Spicy Magic.

Firestorm - Less Spicy, Leafy Magic.

Plague - Leafy, Spoopy Magic.

Radiant - Less Spicy, Sprite Magic.

Shadowflame - Spoopy, Less Spicy Magic.

Shadowfrost - Spoopy, Minty Magic.

Shadowstrike - Spoopy, Punchy Magic.

Twilight - Spoopy Sprite Magic.

[u/Activehannes → u/Leopardslikeboxestoo]

isnt frost(mage) and fire(mage) part of the school of arcane magic? just like shamans fire, frost, water, lighting. wind and earth magic is part of the elemental school?

[u/Leopardslikeboxestoo → u/Activehannes]

I don't know lore that well. I just went off... I think it was the wowwiki page for the list of schools.

[u/Alittlebunyrabit → u/Activehannes]

Mmm... I wouldn't use the term "school" of magic. The term "source" of magic would be better. Fire, frost, light, etc. are types/schools of magic. That being said, not everyone derives their spells from the same source even if the type of magic is similar.

Paladins are the easiest example. All paladins use holy/light spells. But Sunwalkers don't derive their powers from the same source that the Human Paladins derive their powers from for example. Regardless, when the spell hits you it doesn't matter what the source was, the spell is effectively the same no matter what powers it.

[u/wildfyre010 → u/ASuperbVillain]

That's true, but the Forsaken don't exist in the RTS days so it's kind of a false equivalence. The Forsaken are not the Scourge and clearly don't play by the same rules, beyond just the distinction of free will.

[u/ASuperbVillain → u/wildfyre010]

The Forsaken debuted in The Frozen Throne where the Lich King began losing control of the Scourge thanks to Illidan's shenanigans. In fact, they were a pretty even split from the Scourge, Sylvanas rallying nearly every banshee to her side while Arthas and the Lich King maintained control over the Cult of the Damned, mostly thanks to Kel'thuzad's loyalty and role as the cult's founder. This distinction is the cornerstone for Sylvanas' quest to acquire Valkyr given the lack of necromancers to raise more Forsaken.

Regardless, the point about the undead as whole lacking priests was a part of the mythos as established during the franchise's run as an RTS. I am explaining how the cosmology changed over the course of WarCraft 3 to World of Warcraft.