Hearthstone's Whispers of the Old Gods Expansion in BFA (Speculation)

RPT Publié 10/02/2019 à 23:54 par perculia

Whispers of the Old GodsWoW Lore In HearthstoneWhispers of the Old GodsChroniclereturn of Prince Liam in The WitchwoodWhispers of the Old GodsBen Brode on Twitterpushing itWhispers of the Old GodsotherWhispers of the Old GodsN'Zoth Introduced in HearthstoneN'Zoth's introductionWhispers of the Old Gods

Very little is certain about N’Zoth—most beings on Azeroth don’t even know its name, much less what it looks like. Scraps of obscure lore claim that the Old God has been imprisoned beneath the darkest depths of the ocean for millennia beyond counting. There are also whispers that N’Zoth desires nothing more than to twist what was once noble and pure to its own inscrutable ends. Ultimately, most of what is “known” about this most insidious of beings is mere speculation.

Still, looking at the evidence, it seems like N’Zoth feels a compulsive need to redecorate, and has the aesthetic sensibilities of someone that’s super into skulls, black leather, and knee-high platform boots. Emerald Dream? How about Emerald Nightmare. Neltharion the Earth-Warder? Nah, let’s go with DEATHWING THE DESTROYER! Prissy Night Elf nobility throwing a hissy fit? BAM! You get a snake body and actual hissing! Yes, it’s rumored that N’Zoth is responsible for twisting the Emerald Dream, corrupting one of Azeroth’s most powerful dragons, and mutating the Highborne into the despicable Naga . . . but it’s just getting started.

N'Zoth was involved in corrupting the Emerald Dream, which turned out to be the first raid in Legion. Xal'atath whispers the following things in the raid:

Xal'atath whispers: It appears the prison of N’zoth is not as strong as it once was. What you see is a tiny growth of the behemoth that may yet consume your world.
Xal'atath whispers: A great dragon, bent to the will of Xavius, who serves the God of the Deep. Instead of breathing life, she consumes all around her.
Xal'atath whispers: Another seed of corruption planted in death. An unquiet spirit will wander in anger and grow in pain. Easy prey for the God of the Deep.
Xal'atath whispers: Xavius, running from one master to the next, scrambling for power, yet defeated again and again. The God of the Deep picks a poor champion? Or, is there something else at play?
Xal'atath whispers: Almost completely gone, as if it never existed. But the rift is deep and vast, and somewhere down there it stirs. Something has changed, the last prison weakens. We must prepare

N'Zoth corrupted Deathwing leading up to Cataclysm, as part of the plan to usher in the Hour of Twilight. We learned about the exact involvement in Chronicle Volume 3:

Shrouded in an ocean of fevered dreams, among the bones of nameless horrors, N'Zoth remained untouched by the blade of mortals. The Old God was certain that Azeroth's champions would eventually seek it out and try to overwhelm it as they had done to C'Thun and Yogg-Saron. N'Zoth was not afraid, but it did sense that a window of opportunity was fast closing.

N'Zoth fed its own dark energy into Deathwing's heart, infusing the black Dragon Aspect with a power unlike any that he had ever known. This influx of strength made his form more unstable, and the magma that flowed through his veins threatened to erupt from his body and consume his entirely.

N'Zoth was directly responsible for mutating Azshara and her Highborne into the Naga. We learned about this event a bit in the Sharas'dal Artifact Book Text, but only learned how the deal went down between Azshara and N'Zoth in Warbringers: Azshara. This cinematic also revealed that N'Zoth was imprisoned in the ocean, and in Patch 8.1.5, we fight in the Crucible of Storms raid, which exposes a piece of N'Zoth.

N'Zoth also wants to "twist what is noble and pure," which fits into the general speculation that the faction conflict is orchestrated by the Old Gods, designed to weaken and twist us so we are easy prey.

Whispers of the Old Godsworked with the WoW teamintended to be canonical for WoWCircle of Stars - Return of the Old GodsWhispers of the Old Gods

C'Thun's cultists are working to free him from prison, where the Old God has stayed alert and active:

Some people just want to watch the world burn . . . or at least watch it get horribly corrupted by ancient entities from beyond time. There’s a phrase for people like that: “Pssst. Hey, Evil, come’ere for a sec.” The Beckoner of Evil is a cultist who just can’t wait to break C’Thun out of prison, and she’s doing her part to bring that day ever nearer.

N'Zoth has the ability to raise dead Deathrattle minions. N'Zoth is also very ambitious, but also works magic through unassuming inhabitants on Azeroth.

N’Zoth probably has more ambition in its littlest tentacle than most beings have in their entire bodies.

Evil is evil, sure, but N’Zoth is a very busy otherworldly horror, so sometimes it’s nice to have someone around to take care of the mundane, everyday wickedness.

In this version, the adventurers don't intervene in Ulduar, and Yogg breaks free:

Anyway, finding eternal imprisonment beneath the continent of Northrend to be a bitter pill to swallow, Yogg-Saron used nothing more than its insidious whispers to corrupt its own jailers. It succeeded in turning them against each other before taking control of them, and the prison complex itself.

Y’Shaarj proves adept at convincing beings to fight for the Old Gods:

Y’Shaarj has a way of clutching hearts and changing minds; even the most willful of beings cannot resist following it onto the battlefield.

N'Zoth, the as-of-yet unseen Old God, is clearly orchestrating something in the shadows, especially after Xal'atath brings the player, the Bringer of Truth, Opener, and Torch That Lights the Way, to N'Zoth in Patch 8.1.5, earning her freedom as a result. N'Zoth proclaims "All that were sleeping... shall be awakened" and "That which was sunken shall rise," paving the way for the other Old Gods.

The Mantid worship Y'Shaarj, and they've been unusually active and buzzing in Pierre sonique, hinting at the Old God's return.

The Twilight Hammer continues to have an active presence in Silithus, notably Ogmot le Dément who sees visions of the circle of stars nearing completion in Journal des rêves d’Ogmot. This could lead to renewed worship and strengthening of C'thun.

Yogg-Saron is known as the God of Death in WoW, and Hope's End in Hearthstone. In the Hearthstone blog, it's noted that the God of Death is Yogg's favorite name. Previously in Chronicle, Cho'gall pushed the Alliance and Horde to fight each other in Wrath, hoping they'd be too weakened to stand up to Yogg. Now in Battle for Azeroth, we are fighting each other again with grievous losses on both sides. Battle for Azeroth also brings back Vol'jin, sorting out the mystery of who convinced him to appoint Sylvanas Warchief and brought him back. We visit Bwonsamdi and the Lich King, but they both express no great love for Sylvanas and both mysteries remain unsolved. In an earlier part of the Vol'jin questline, The Fallen Chieftain, Bwosamdi realizes he has lost Vol'jin's soul and exclaims "No! No! Impossible. Da boss ain't gonna like dis. Ol' Bwonsamdi not been losin' a spirit in... oh, dis be bad."Who is Bwonsamdi's boss? The God of Death, Yogg-Saron?

isWarbringers: Azsharainterview with Russian fansite xDlate and Alex Afrasiabi

Third Chronicles have information about Old Gods. Every Old God, except N'Zoth, have been beaten, but not "killed". It is true? Are Old Gods like C'Thun or Yogg-Saron still alive?

AA: I would say we should consider them dead. However as with all things in World of Warcraft and the Warcraft's universe dead isn't always dead. If there was a coming of forth of the Old Gods or herald of the Old Gods come down from the great dark-- I can see that easily happening. Not saying that happening, I'm just saying death isn't the end of the line in World of Warcraft, and it really never has been. I think that's kind of been from your character to the world around you. There is a cycle.

Boîte à secret de Yogg-Saron

There is no sharp distinction between the real and the unreal.
Even death may die.

Wrathgate commentWhispers of the Old GodsGrumpy Old Y’ShaarjWhispers of the Old GodsseenReturn of Y'ShaarjWhispers of the Old Godscard art's release in 2016Boîte à secret de Yogg-SaronBaa'lAmas frétillant

<The tendril writhes and pulsates in your hand as your mind is assailed by all manner of vicious thoughts. One vision in particular surfaces in your mind again and again. In your mind's eye, you picture a many-eyed goat laying in a pool of black water. As you approach, its eyes burst open, and in an instant you find yourself looking upward at the goat from deep within the puddle. As you sink into the icy darkness, everything goes black. You pocket the mass and shake the thoughts from your head.

Please, lower your weapon, I mean you no harm. The whispers ceased speaking to me on the day that the wound opened.
I wish to spend my days atoning for what I have done in my life, perhaps I can help you.
You... I can see it in your eyes, you have seen the vision.
The goat, the pool, drowning in the icy blackness, does this sound familiar?
I can tell you its meaning. It means we are fast closing in on the end of this world, friend.

Warbringers: Azshara

N'Zoth: That which was sunken shall rise.
N'Zoth: All that were sleeping... shall be awakened.

Boîte à secret de Yogg-Saron

In the land of Ny'alotha there is only sleep.
In the sleeping city of Ny'alotha walk only mad things.
Ny'alotha is a city of old, terrible, unnumbered crimes.
In the sunken city, he lays dreaming.

Garrosh was an AmateurBlizzCon 2018 Q&A

These are my favorite kind of questions--that I can't answer. Well, the story is not done. And there's much left to discover, to explore. I will say this...If I were Sylvanas and looking at what Garrosh had wrought across the world, I'd probably think "Garrosh was an amateur."

Xal'atoh, reflet profané de HurlesangLa lame fugueuse

Though the consciousness that resided within the dagger is gone, the place it once occupied still resonates with power. You sense the weapon now speaks another voice. Another purpose....

Hearthstone blog

But even with such great power—not to mention a swanky temple city—Y’Shaarj still had some anger issues. Who wouldn’t be miffed after having pieces of yourself strewn about everywhere, while scruffy little mortals panda-handled your heart? These truly heart-wrenching events in Y’Shaarj’s past are why the moody Old God tends to be the death of the party. Its (last) terrible breath* doesn’t just clear rooms—it clears whole continents! Despite appalling personal hygiene, Y’Shaarj has a way of clutching hearts and changing minds; even the most willful of beings cannot resist following it onto the battlefield.

Chronicle Volume 1Klaxxi

Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: Before your history began, our empire was vast. We shared this world with our sister kingdoms, Ahn'Qiraj and Azjol-Nerub.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: Our Gods were many, and powerful. We mantid worshipped the seven heads of Y'Shaarj.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: Great was the Old One, and terrible was His wrath. He consumed hope and begat despair; He inhaled courage and breathed fear.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: When the usurpers came - the ones you call "Titans" - Y'Shaarj was destroyed.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: His last terrible breath has haunted this land ever since, but the shadows he left behind are mere whispers of his former glory.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: I tell you now, because you have earned this warning.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: Your gods are not our gods, outsider.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: If the Old Ones ever return, we mantid will once again stand by their side.
Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver says: The wisest among you will do the same.

Pierre sonique

<The stone vibrates to your touch. The frequency resonates throughout your body, and you feel refreshed. The mantid likely used these stones to allow them to fly great distances across the sea. To see them on the island was strange, the mantid took a heavy blow when Shek'zeer was destroyed, they should not be swarming now. The denizens of Pandaria may have more information.>

Ah, I see you have also encountered the mantid swarm.
Our fears are realized, the new empress has hatched. Princess Zara, no, now Grand Empress Shek'zara, is here.
She is as hotheaded and impulsive as mantid queens usually are, and has mobilized most of her forces to search for Azerite.

certainlydefinitelyValidated DoomsayersWhispers of the Old GodsWhispers of the Old GodsValidated DoomsayerAuspice funeste confirméFascicule en lambeaux

Perhaps we could stand a chance against the Legion if King Varian Wrynn and Warchief Vol'jin were still alive.

But now? Look at who leads us. A timid child with no inkling of how to run a kingdom, and a scheming undead tyrant who cares only for herself.

Fascicule chiffonnéFascicule prophétique

Ours is a world embraced by evil. The soul of Azeroth has been under siege since before life began here! If evil wins, our entire existence will be spun into a realm of horrors the likes of which we cannot imagine. And despite the efforts of our greatest heroes, the darkness has not yet been completely eradicated.

Fascicule taché

The Titans have failed. The Light has failed. Nature, order, and the elements have spent their power and been defeated.

Make no mistake: there is no force on Azeroth that can save you. The Burning Legion hurtles ever toward its victory. Therefore, you must look for salvation beyond this flimsy, fleeting illusion of a world.

Seek out the whispers from beyond, as so many of your compatriots already have. Listen to their wisdom, embrace the surety of their purpose, and let go of the lies of what you call "sanity."

Fascicule tachéFascicule humide

THE END OF ALL THINGS

The crooked serpent with no eyes is watching from the endless sky.

Forked tongues flicker through the black pits in dead stars.

The veil between dream and dreamer slides away like skin from bone.

And even the darkness howls for the light it once despised.

<The rest of the note is illegible, covered in strange glyphs and scribbles.>

AN EMERALD DAWN

An emerald sun dawns in the vault of the heavens, but it casts no shadow.

The world lifts her voice in terror, but only one can hear her cries.

From the space that is everywhere and nowhere, the crooked serpent feasts on stars.

It has no eyes to see, but it dreams of infinite endings and beginnings.

<Strange glyphs and writing in an unknown language cover the rest of the scroll.

Additional Lore ForeshadowingWhispers of the Old GodsWarcraft

Soggoth the Slitherer - We've known about the importance of Soggoth for a long time in Warcraft. However, aside from a failed Twilight Hammer attempt to resurrect Soggoth in Cataclysm, he's not been present--which makes it an odd choice to make him a legendary in Hearthstone. However, now in Patch 8.1, the Twilight Hammer has finally successfully resurrected Soggoth--he's a bit weakened, but fully resurrected.

Wisps of the Old Gods - Battle for Azeroth saw the destruction of Teldrassil, and in the quest Rafle de forestiers-sombres, we resurrect wisps to serve Sylvanas' twisted purpose. Previously, players didn't think she was able to resurrect Night Elves.

Cabalist's Tome - This off-hand book resembles the design and color scheme of the off-hand for Xal'atath's Embrace of the Old Gods tint. In the Xal'atath artifact book, we learn that she wrote down her teachings on shadow magic, which the Kirin Tor tried unsuccessfully to confiscate.

Undercity Huckster - This card is not remarkable at first, but as it was included in the Hearthstone blog introducing N'Zoth, it shows how N'Zoth effectively works, corrupting ordinary people who then pay it forward through sowing chaos. In Battle for Azeroth, we are weakening ourselves through the faction conflict, making things easier for N'Zoth's master plan. The choice of the Huckster being from Undercity specifically is interesting as well, as we know that Sylvanas will get ahold of Xal'atath in a future patch, which leads to rumors that N'Zoth is trying to work through her.

Ragnaros, Lightlord - Ragnaros as an lightforged elemental fighting alongside Paladins is quite the twist. While most characters in Whispers of the Old Gods end up corrupted, Ragnaros instead wants to help us, as formerly he was enslaved by the Old Gods. Now in Battle for Azeroth, the elemental plane is once again in tumult, with the lesser elementals trying to overthrow the greater lords in Noyau élémentaire. Here's what Duke Hydraxis, our friend from Molten Core, has to say:

Oh, you have questions about the elemental planes? They are in quite a state at the moment. Though the elements are always tumultuous, things have gotten quite out of hand.
The presence of this Azerite has ignited the lesser lords, and each seeks to overthrow the current lords and take the plane for themselves.
They see this new element as a sign of elemental rebirth.
I do not see this. Here, I do not want even the gems I have, take them.