#Nya'lotha

[jerek]

Half-answer to a QOTD bot question, posted here to conserve space in the relevant discord

(cw: I don't even know where to start. I'm explaining what's going on between Midha and Wrathion. Remember what Dave Kosak said about black dragons.)

Currently, Midha's found family includes Zafirria and Wrathion. Once, it included Anduin and Wrathion. For the purposes of this post, I'll be excluding Zafirria and regarding Anduin as a supporting character.

At the start, when it was only Midha and Wrathion, Midha was a maladjusted preteen girl. Not understanding what she was doing, she (and in some part Wrathion) created a sort of double-sided parental affection:

Midha as the 'mother' to Wrathion because of her age, her willingness to listen, and her ability to carry out his plans.

Wrathion as the 'father' to Midha because of his emotional sway, his seeming authority in Ravenholdt, and his ability to provide gold and shelter.

This morphed in Pandaria to something more like a brother/sister relationship.

Here, Midha adapted more to Wrathion's perception of her as the 'little sister.' If she had any questions about his plans, she asked them privately. She tagged along, part of a package deal with the Black Prince, and she was debatably kept closer emotionally than his guards were physically. By this point, someone like Kairoz could start to spot what developed in Cataclysm: Wrathion was using Midha as a comfort object.

Then Wrathion disappeared, and Midha vanished in his absence. This might have been a warning sign for future developments, if anyone else were privy to their dynamic. Not even Anduin was aware: he might have thought of Midha as Wrathion's favorite champion, but probably not his first.

Moving on to BfA. Crucially, BfA Midha doesn't meet Wrathion any earlier than the player would. In fact, she meets him later.

In MoP, the invitation to meet that Wrathion sends Midha is different, and other 'cutscenes' are added onto her legendary questline.

In Cataclysm, Wrathion knows her by her presence beside his eggshell in the Vermillion Redoubt.

By contrast, Wrathion and Midha's dynamic in BfA is comparatively restrained:

Wrathion finds Midha having joined a raid into Nya'lotha, and having struck the final blow against his false copy. By this point, the Sha (possibly from exposure to Sha-touched items?) has taken over her. This is the first point at which Wrathion calls her family: speaking to her as he would "any sister in the grip of the black flight's madness."

Midha's restraint shows in not trying to contact Wrathion earlier. She even consults Yu'lon, asking what it is about her that makes her feel as though she'll ruin him by her presence: to which Yu'lon confronts her inner 'monster,' her loneliness, and eventually reassures: "There is no monster here. Only your heart."

Wrathion's restraint shows when, despite his doubt in himself, he allows her to leave after killing N'zoth. In fact, he brings her to Stormwind Keep, and takes quiet relief in Anduin inviting her to stay while he finds a way to cleanse her of the Sha for good. (This ends up not working.)

Before we move on to Dragonflight, let's also mention some other people in Midha's life. Chronologically speaking, Midha's romantic interests are as follows:

Shannox: Midha had a stint in Hyjal during Cataclysm. She started first 'noticing boys' around this time-- or, as the case may be, noticing men. We see here the exclusivity of Midha's love: Midha responds to her strange new feelings by systematically poisoning the all-male flamewakers which make up the rest of the hierarchy, trying to force Shannox to the top by default (in much the same way as she went after the remaining black dragons.)

Her kill count was over two dozen. Shannox was intrigued, but nevertheless did not take kindly when he finally met her.

This was the nail in the coffin for Midha prematurely neglecting her innocence and abandoning her role as 'child.'

Anduin: They were acquaintances in Pandaria who rarely spoke more than two sentences to each other. Midha held a passing fascination with him, as any common girl might with the crown prince of Stormwind. There was a rumor that his inner Light caused plants to bloom where he remained for long enough, like a red dragon.

Vyneia: Even Wrathion knew about Vyneia, though he didn't notice any romantic chemistry until they'd already split. They were fellow champions of his, thick as thieves. Vyneia had an advantage over Wrathion in being a girl Midha's own age, even if, being that Vyneia was a blood elf, they were on opposite sides of the faction war.

Eventually, something happened between them. Only the two of them know exactly what it was, but afterward, Vyneia was presumed deceased-- until she resurfaced as a void elf, having joined the Alliance.

Kairoz: Anduin was the only one who knew. He envied her for it. He saw Kairoz dab at her scrapes after a bout against a Celestial, reverse wounds, and speak to her like a peer. Like a woman to his man. He saw him teach her to dance. Nobody ever treated Anduin like that.

But that, too, would pass.

Anduin:

Deep down, Anduin had always viewed himself as the moral object: perpetually acted upon, unable to meaningfully impact the world on his own. He had a feeling about Midha, falling in with rogues, no fixed home beyond Wrathion's side.

That feeling utterly failed to stop him. And Midha liked to come to his room when she couldn't sleep: she must have known he couldn't either.

He had one week of stolen touch, stolen dreams, a future he was sure he'd wrest out of Wrathion's hands. Anduin was older, after all, and Wrathion really had no idea what he was getting into.

In any case, she was Anduin's champion now. Maybe Wrathion would come back for her wedding. Maybe Wrathion would envy Midha like he did. Maybe Wrathion would settle down, too.

A week later, when his trajectory faltered and his heart had finally started to slow down, he went out to Lion's Rest.

He asked his father for guidance, and heard the wingbeats of the Mawsworn.

...Now we arrive at Dragonflight.

There are two factors which shift the dynamic in Dragonflight: first of all, Wrathion has a family. The days of being asked whether Midha's a black dragon too are largely over: the other black dragons are right there at the Citadel.

Second of all, Anduin is gone. Wrathion's lost the devil he knows, and replaced him with a dozen devils he doesn't.

In Dragonflight, the relationship between Wrathion and Midha can best be described as overt.

Baskilian pulls Midha aside to warn her about Wrathion, and Wrathion responds by inviting her out on a canoe trip. He asks about Anduin, and when Midha explains in the politest, vaguest terms possible, he breaks aloud: "What he's done to you, he's done to me."

"I could still look through your eyes if I wished to, champion."

"All the care you should have for yourself is mine."

"Our two comprise the only one on Azeroth."

"If it must be someone, then let it be you!"

It's only one night. He holds Midha for so long she nods off against his chest. In the morning, they've washed ashore near the Ruby Life Pools.

Of course, he isn't the only black dragon anymore. And even if he were, his isn't the only flight. And even if it were... there's still Stormwind.

After another long excursion, Midha returns to the Citadel and apologizes. "There's the Mother Oathstone, and Stormwind, too."

He's not sure if what he does next is premeditated.

In what Wrathion calls a 'fit of the dual soul,' he breaks into an outraged laugh-- and then grabs Midha and forcibly kisses her.

"Tell them. Tell whoever would do the same to you: that I've fully lost my mind. That I've laid claim to you, and I will not allow so much as a word to spread against it.

Some will be revolted, yes! But they will revile me, and count you as a casualty."

When he comes to, he goes to bathe in lava.

He does it again, of course. Midha doesn't know how to stop him, or if she even should. There are broodmothers smaller than Wrathion: drakes are always enlisted where dragons are scarce. And she suspects it's nothing but jealousy: pure, white-knuckled loneliness, and maybe it's the fault of the knuckle-white Sha that seems to ruin everything she doesn't leave behind.

He kisses her so often that Sabellian catches him, and scolds him: "You flout nature like a hand-reared pigeon after its master."

And Wrathion responds: "She is my sister, Sabellian."

"How fortunate," Wrathion says, "that you may never understand. To be a son of one's daughter. A creation of one's creation."

Wrathion's prayer: It will have to be someone. Let it be her.

Midha's prayers have stopped.

Of course, there will always be more to complicate the dynamic. But that's for when I talk about Zafirria and Anduin.

[thesketchykids]

Temporal Echoes: Time Rift Event on Augmentation Evoker Brings Nostalgic Nya'lotha Memories

[aurora-313]

Oh I shall rant about this, don't you worry.

But it's not even academia that's the main problem (even if Dalaran's destruction is Warcraft's burning of the Library of Alexandria).

One of my core problems is Dalaran contains so much magical miscellanea, including at least ONE Pillar of Creation, the spellbook of Medivh and the mana bomb that destroyed Theramore, that the surface of Khaz'Algar should've been reduced to arcane-mutated baby of Netherstorm and Azuna.

I'd even wager that as far as the Ringing Deeps and the entrance to Hallowfall should be the magical equivalent to Chernobyl. Which enough there that the first patch should've been the physical clean-up alone.

One of my other problems: The lack of gravity.

Look at the loss of other faction capitals by comparison:

Teldrassil: My main's beloved home.

The War of Thorns to capture and later burn the world tree served as inciting incident of the Fourth War. Its a wound that still hasn't healed, despite Amirdrassil's offers of solace. The Night Elves almost left the Alliance over it, and Gilneas with their debt of gratitude wasn't far behind. An entire sub-campaign of BFA was dedicated to dealing with the liberation of Darkshore and Ashenvale, which the Night Elves did practically solo - they were that enraged. And Shadowlands dealt with the consequences of the Night Warrior's ritual, dealt with purifying Tyrande from the power's lethal grasp, with the doubt instilled in Elune (who allowed the burning to happen for nebulous reasons), later obtaining justice through Sylvanas' trial and the seed of Amirdrassil.

Lordaeron:

Oh, how infamously storied Lordaeron's fall is. The destruction of Lordaeron by Arthas Menethil led to:

The dissolution of the Silver Hand.

The birth of the Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn

The Scourging of the Elves

The creation of the Forsaken

The Wall of Gilnaes

The destruction of Nordrassil and the Night Elves' immorality

The defection of the Blood Elves

Formation of Orgrimmar

Indirect abdication of Kul Tirus and the practical dissolution of the Alliance.

Later, in the Fourth War, Sylvanas' blighting of the city was so severe, the Forsaken had to venture to the Shadowlands and consult what is effectively a Cultist of Nurgle to remove it.

And that's without getting into the blighting of Gilneas, the formation and destruction of Theramore, the seige of Orgrimmar. Etc etc.

Those are events I remember off the top of my head.

Then there's politics:

Politically speaking, the Kirin Tor and the Council of Six were equivalent to monarchs, and advised other monarchs. They personally tutored the princes and princesses of the kingdoms they advised (Jaina, Arthas, Kael'Thas). Dalaran were the Sorcerer's Lodge as a Kingdom, they were the Maesters, the Witchers, the tutors, magical researchers, scryers and politicians all in one. The Kirin Tor and Dalaran were the ones who discovered the plague of undeath in the first place, and pressed every human Kingdom they could to take it seriously.

Every single person with a single functioning braincell should be losing their minds. In both factions, especially recently where the Kirin Tor have expanded to include non-humans and non-elves as of Legion.

At minimum every mage on Azeroth should be collectively shitting themselves and hunting down Xal'atath because she did something not even the Burning Legion could do for long: irreparably destroy Dalaran.

The biggest crime is this:

Dalaran's destruction isn't a bad move - unfortunately, like Nazjatar and Nya'lotha before it, its a wasted move. Worst still, it requires requires people to be braindead to pull off.

Discounting the political landscape of Azeroth for a moment; one simple change would've fixed Dalaran's destruction as a plot point.

Rather than a conscious choice to teleport to Khaz'Algar on Magni's vague prophesies, they're summoned to Khaz'Algar through a void portal and ambushed. Orchestrated by Xal'atath as a demonstration of both how powerful she's become and how many moves ahead of the Council she is.

Picture this:

The Council of Six are in chambers. Magni is describing his vision. Moira, Dagran, Alleria, Jaina, Thrall and Anduin are observing as honoured guests. Implication being they'll be permitted to speak on matters when appropriate subject rises.

Midway through recommendations of which factions to contact, which allies can be rallied, weighing the pros and cons.

ZIP-YOINK!

Dalaran is dragged through a void portal, summoned to the shores of Khaz'Algar. The council hears screaming almost immediately and rushes to adds the citizens of Dalaran... except they're abducted through Nerubian void portals themselves, save Khadgar and Jaina (for plot reasons).

Meaning Dalaran is literally and figuratively caught with their pants down.

They're scrambling to martial their defenders, scrambling to save our civilians because the City is basically overrun almost instantly and its easier to cut losses, regroup and liberate the city another day. In a lull in the fighting, Alleria spots Drenden, relieved he escaped the Nerubians' grasp.

Cue this scene:

Where's Khadgar in all this, you ask? Well, he's rushing between the Council room and the vaults, teleporting the most dangerous/powerful artifacts (particularly the Eye of Aman'Thul) he can to somewhere safe - possibly/probably Kharazhan.

When he's done all he can, Khadgar teleports the adventurer to Khaz'Algar and goes to confront Xal'atath. Even though he's exhausted himself with portal spells of all shapes and sizes, he has a job to do.

Everything follows as per canon, except we have more reactions to the destruction of Dalaran. An explosion that's about 50 times worse than the game. There's no music. Just stunned silence from every named character in that cutscene. No one can move a muscle until arcane-infused debris showers down over the continent like metorites. At which point, they remember "Oh right, Nerubians." and are thrown into the vicious fight for their lives on the Tranquil Shores.

Now - does that not sound like a much cooler intro scenario? One that respects the intelligence of every character involved and the gravitas of the situation?

Because after writing that out, now I wanna play it.

...

I promised you I'd rant, didn't I? lol

TLDR: Should've been as bad as the Burning of Teldrassil and Blighting of Lordaeron combined and a whole patch should've been dedicated to it.

Dalaran's farewell quest chain disappoints me massively.

"Oh we need to do better." -- No, Kirin Tor. You don't. Consistently through out the story - from the sacking of Stormwind in the first war until now, you were the only descendant kingdom of the Arathorian empire who did your fucking job! The only reason your capital city was destroyed in a way that made no sense, and made the mages of Azeroth look like freaking idiots, was terrible writing and it didn't have to be that way.

Bigger rant to come later.

[salt-water-siren]

WHAT’S IN A NAME

She comes to it with a trade, descends to the deepest parts of the ocean and welcomes the pressure on her skin.  She hopes this interaction will wash away the taste of ash in her mouth, but it won’t.  The veil has torn and the endgame has begun.

In the beginning, there is nothing in the darkness but she, comforted only by the soft din of her own luminescence.  But, this will not last.  It knew she was coming, it knows that she is here now.

“…Liiiittle..giiiiiiiiiiirl…” it greets, “..Sssssstubborn and sssssssslippery liiiiiitle…giiiiirl…”

She does not reply.  She never replies, you cannot reason with a devil.

“….I knoooow why yooooooou are…heeeeeeeere…” it pauses and she can feel the caress of its presence— tender like the apology of an abusive lover, “…I will giiiive it to..yooooouuu…For a price.”

She knows this.  Freedom is not free.

“Tell me.”

“..Annnddd thennnnnn…what?” it mocks and beings to laugh.  But it isn’t a laugh at all, it’s terror and it burns the ears— it’s plucked harp strings and drowning sailors and screaming cats.  It’s the tension of a thousand reaching arms clutching at your heart, “…All…will be weeeeeell?”

“Tell me,” she says again, but this time it is a demand.  Suddenly and all at once, this attitude finds her all but engulfed by the threatening tether of constricting touch.

“INSOLENT!” It thunders and opens a thousand eyes, “INSOLENT!  INSOLENT!  INSOLENT!  Ohhhh…how I will tellllll…yooooou…and ooooh, little giiiirl, how you will wiiiiiiiish yoooou neverrr…asked…”  

[katieskarlette]

8.3 raid testing continues, and it now appears that the first boss fight in Nya’lotha is not versus the real Wrathion, but an illusion conjured by N’zoth!

Wowhead has some new (spoilery!) text, including:

Magni: Yer back! What happened?

Wrathion: I learned that it doesn't take much for my friends to believe I betrayed them. Doubt me if you must, but know that I will not rest until his smoldering corpse lies at my feet. Champions, that vision was as much for me as it was for you. N'Zoth wants us to believe that my corruption is inevitable.

Aww, he’s so hurt and offended because we assumed he was actually corrupted!  How adorable is that? 

I’m sorry, my dear son, we shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.  Forgive us.

(But he calls us his “friends,” which gives me warm fuzzies.  Or warm lava.  Either way.)

I can’t wait to hear sound files! 

[azerothianphotos]

“ Gul'kafh an'qov N'Zoth “

Uldum, The Vir’naal Dam 

[swiftlywiththefoxes]

this is a World of Warcraft post

anyway I'm raid leading for mythic nya'lotha tomorrow and I'm nervous. I'm 4/12 on my own, and I've downed the bosses we're going for several times just...last time I was raid lead was in WoD and I had people drop group because I was a girl. Which is stupid, I know, especially since we cleared farther under me than expected, but much like pretty much any human being I don't like being talked down to, over, or belittled for something I can't change (like my gender) when I'm better than the person bitching.

[crypticzzz]

What to do Before Shadowlands - Ahead of the Curve, Uncorrupted Voidwing

Today we are highlighting another topic from our What to do Before Shadowlands guide: obtaining Ahead of the Curve: N'Zoth the Corruptor and the Uncorrupted Voidwing mount.

Both achievement and mount are rewards for defeating N'zoth in the Heroic Nya'lotha during Battle for Azeroth. You can obtain Ahead of the Curve: N'Zoth the Corruptor only before patch 9.0, while Uncorrupted Voidwing can be obtained all the way until Shadowlands launch. Continue reading » source https://www.wowhead.com/news=316723/what-to-do-before-shadowlands-ahead-of-the-curve-uncorrupted-voidwing

[worgen-rogue]

so im gonna try to make a backstory for my shadow priest, orias; he comes from a rich family in gilneas who sided with greymane during the civil war. he didnt participate in the war, seeing himself above such "petty squabbles" (hes kind of an ass). he became a priest after some pushing from his family (mainly to get them off his back). shortly afterwards, the cataclysm took place and he became a worgen. he embraced it, loving the newfound strength it gave him. he ultimately refused the help of the night elves, instead making his own way out of gilneas without having the beast inside him calmed by the night elf's ritual. he spent the next years before legion travelling the eastern kingdoms, staying to himself and avoiding big cities. he was prone to bouts of anger, which turned him into a flurry of teeth and claws due to his curse, so he decided to stray away from the public to avoid trouble. he eventually discovered shadow magic after some time in duskwood. he began to use it as a conduit for his rage, a way to calm the beast inside him. when the time to fight on the broken shore came, orias wasnt necessarily planning on going to sign up. but he began to hear whispers, little encouragements to go out and defend this land. he ultimately succumbed to the whispers, deciding that maybe his shadowy powers could be of use. he arrived at the shore on an airship, but shortly before it reached land, it was taken down by felbats. he and the other soldiers ran to the emergency parachutes, but he was pushed out of the way by a fellow soldier. his anger overtook him, and he lunged at the man, causing both of them to fall off the side of the ship. orias landed hard into the water, and his body was paralyzed by the pain and cold. he began to lose consciousness, and just before he blacked out, he felt something from the deep grab hold of him. he blacked out, and proceeded to have a vision of what he learned to be nya'lotha. he saw endless monstrosities around him, but he did not feel scared. his vision took him to a giant temple, where he saw himself standing in front of it, commanding an army of faceless ones. he then heard a voice say, "this is your destiny...now is not your time. do my bidding. you will become more powerful than you could ever dream. you will command armies that dwarf any seen on your world. nothing will stand in your way. let me in, or you will DIE." with that last word, orias woke up on the broken shore, sputtering and soaked. as he stood, he noticed a small coin in his hand. looking at it, it was a small bronze coin with the design of what looked like a kraken with strange writing underneath. he didnt understand what it was, but he could feel the power coming from it. he kept it on him, deciding to do the bidding of the power that saved him. and thats where he is now, following the whispers of n'zoth across the broken isles. he eventually obtains xul'atath, after being led to the it by n'zoth's whispers. with n'zoth's advice (and influence on the other priests), orias becomes high priest after impressing the others with his control over the void, despite arguments from strict followers of the light. but they all agree that this power is needed to defeat the legion. little do they know the reason behind orias's want to destroy the legion...to bring back his old god master. and thats all i got! i literally just thought this all out as i wrote this post so its probably shit, but oh well. i love the old gods, so ive always wanted to make a character that has to do with them!

[katieskarlette]

NEW DRAGON FIGHT! - 8.3 New Raid - Wrathion and Maut

An early look at the first two bosses of Nya’lotha from the 8.3 test realm.  Wrathion’s fight has lots of fire and lava, plus stealthed Blacktalon assassins who stun players.

[katieskarlette]

It looks like the final N’Zoth fight in Nya’lotha will include flashbacks similar to the Yogg-Saron fight in Ulduar.  One reveals the pact between Azshara and Sylvanas, and the other features Deathwing!

It sounds like we’ll get to witness him shattering the World Pillar in Deepholm.  How cool is that?

[katieskarlette]

Above:  Two of Wrathion’s boss abilities in the Nya’lotha raid.

Cataclysm?  A Deathwing icon?

WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS OKAY?!

*takes a deep breath and reminds herself that he’s going to get better and help on the second-to-last boss in the same raid*

[swiftlywiththefoxes]

anyway feel free to skip this happy post if you don't care abt gaming I won't be offended

we finally got the AOTC achievement for finishing Nya'lotha and I'm so happy because it's the third expansion I've gotten ahead of the curve in but the first that I'm actually friends with most of my raiding party. It helps I'm "the girl" and have proven to be kickass on my own, it's truthfully one of my favorite things in gaming, getting merit by my work and achievements and forcing people not to tokenize me based on gender expectations.

anyway!!! it was very satisfying as a group...and we're all nerds so we took a group photo. honestly...gaming has kept me sane through all this and I'm so glad we've been continuing to challenge ourselves. We start mythic difficulty on Monday!

[crypticzzz]

April 22nd Hotfixes - Heart of Darkness Azerite Trait in PvP

April 22nd Hotfixes include a fix for Heart of Darkness not being reduced by 50% when engaged in enemy player combat. While minor, this change is coming after two sets of much more comprehensive set of hotfixes targeting Xanesh, Shad'har, and Hivemind as well as Drest'agath, Il'gynoth, Ra-Den, and N'Zoth inside Nya'lotha, smoothing out the raid's difficulty curve now that Hall of Fame has closed for both factions. Continue reading » source https://www.wowhead.com/news=312256/april-22nd-hotfixes-heart-of-darkness-azerite-trait-in-pvp

[crypticzzz]

The New Il'gynoth Whispers in Visions of N'Zoth (Analysis/Speculation)

Il'gynoth, returning as a boss in the Nya'lotha raid, has several new whispers for us to puzzle over. With Il'gynoth raid testing earlier today, as well as speculation surrounding 8.3 datamining, broadcast text, and Death Knight swords leading up to BlizzCon, now seemed to be a good time to analyze the whispers! Story Spoilers.

Whispers of Il'gynoth

Father of Sleep

Before the last shadow falls, the Father of Sleep shall savor his feast. Continue reading » source https://www.wowhead.com/news=295827/the-new-ilgynoth-whispers-in-visions-of-nzoth-analysis-speculation

[crypticzzz]

Encounter Journal for Nya'lotha Raid and Grand Empress Shek'zara World Boss for 8.3

With the 8.3 PTR live, we have datamined the encounter journal entries for both the new raid in Visions of N'Zoth, Nya'lotha, and the new World Boss, Grand Empress Shek'zara, Below we have entries for both boss abilities and placeholder loot.

New Raid: Nya'lotha

The new raid coming in Patch 8.3 is Nya'lotha, the sleeping city that works as the major base of operations for the Black Empire. Continue reading » source https://www.wowhead.com/news=295504/encounter-journal-for-nyalotha-raid-and-grand-empress-shekzara-world-boss-for-8-