Analyzing the Legion Epilogue Cinematics

Posted 2018/01/18 at 1:40 PM by perculia

Legion Epilogue CinematicsBefore the Storm7.3.5 Survival GuideSpoilers in the post.CinematicsAlliance vs Horde SettingBefore the Storm

They emerged, ready to begin the march. Sylvanas had taken care that no one referred to it as a "parade", lest they start having expectations of the one Garrosh had advocated. Varok Saurfang await her in the main area of the hold. With him stood an honor guard of veterans. Sylvanas would make a circuit through the city astride on of her bony skeletal horses, gathering different races and their leaders as she went. She was not fond of any of them, but Varok Saurfang was the one she gave grudging respect. He was intelligent, strong, fierce ... and, like Baine, loyal. But there was something in the orc's eyes that always put her on alert when she gazed into them. The knowledge that if she misstepped too badly he might well challenge her, perhaps even oppose her.

Faction Leader DialogueSylvanas as a LeaderBefore the Stormgiven to BlizzCon attendees

Sylvanas Windrunner, former ranger-general of Silvermoon, the Dark Lady of the Forsaken and present warchief of the mighty Horde, had resented being told to come to Orgrimmar, like a dog that needed to perform all its tricks. She had wanted to return to the Undercity. She missed its shadows, its dampness, its restful quietude. Rest in peace, she thought grimly, and had to smother a smile. It faded almost at once as she continued pacing impatiently in the small chamber behind the warchief's throne in Grommash Hold.

Before the Storm

Varok Saurfang, the leader of the orcs, and Baine Bloodhoof, chieftain of the tauren, had borne no love for Garrosh either. But they had pushed Sylvanas to make an appearance and at least some kind of gesture to mark the end of this war. Brave members of this Horde you lead fought and died to make sure the Legion did not destroy this world, as it had so many others, the young bull had intoned. He had been but one step away from openly rebuking her.

Sylvanas recalled Saurfang's thinly-veiled... warning? Threat? You are the leader of all the Horde-orcs, tauren, trolls, blood elves, goblins-as well as the Forsaken. You must never forget that, or else they might.

What I will not forget, orc, she thought, ire rising in her anew, are those words.

Before the Storm

She laughed, sharply and without humor. "Baine and Saurfang and the others say I have not been giving them enough attention. My people say I have been giving them too much. Whatever I do, someone objects. How can anyone rule like this?" She shook her pale head. "A curse upon Vol'jin and his loa. I should have stayed in the shadows, where I could be effective without being interrogated."

Where I could do as I truly wished.

She'd never wanted this. Not really. as she had told the troll Vol'jin before, during the trial of the late and greatly unlamented Garrosh Hellscream, she liked her power, her control, on the subtle side. But with quite literally his dying breath, Vol'jin, the Horde's leader, had commanded that she do the opposite. He had been granted a vision by the loa he honored.

Battle for AzerothBefore the StormAnduin as a LeaderBefore the Stormquestline and cinematicBattered Trinket

Velen: Anduin refuses to eat or sleep. He ignores every plea to return to the palace. Nothing I say seems to offer comfort.

Genn: I understand the need to mourn, but the king's place is on his throne. The Broken Shore must be our focus. Convince Anduin to end his vigil!

A Kingdom's Heart

I have not returned to Lion's Rest since my father's memorial was moved here from the keep.
The war has consumed all of my energy and attention. I have not had a moment to grieve.
Since you brought my father's compass back to me, I've prayed to the Light for guidance, and to know his spirit is at rest. The Light doesn't answer.
My people like me, respect me...but they don't believe in me. Not like they believed in him.
I've heard the voices of the people, but how do my father's advisors feel? I fear they do not trust me as they did my father.

AzeriteHeart of AzerothThe Speaker's PerspectiveThe Blood of Azeroth

It appears that the scars between the Alliance and Horde have yet to heal as well. Too many lives have already been lost fighting to save Azeroth from destruction. I will not stay and watch this world lose more. I have a request for you before I go.

Do the leaders of the Alliance and Horde even know what they're fightin' over? This substance that is risin' up from the wound is the lifeblood of Azeroth! We need ta heal the wound, not exploit it fer power! Azeroth is the only home we've got. We cannot allow her ta die! I trust ye, <name>, and I know that yer voice carries great weight among the Horde. Ye must reason with 'em ta stop this madness! 'Tis the only hope our world has...

The Scout at the EndBurning of Teldrassil

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Comment by Camio3495Speculation ahead:

Sylvanas was appointed Warchief by Vol'jin and the Loas because the undead are more resilient to the whispers of the Old Gods.
Either that, or to make sure she doesn't leave the Horde and become another Lich King figure.Comment by Beatrixacs300I love how Khadgar actually steps in to the role of The Guardian in the way Medivh wanted him to. Medivh managed to force Horde and Alliance to work together in Warcraft III, Khadgar was one of the 'glues' during Legion. It makes sense for him to be tired of this ^&*! and seek another path. Let's see where the fate brings for Khadgar in this new expansion. I hope we'll see him soon.

Also, I hope that if the Windrunner sisters meeting really happens, it will be in a form of a cinematic and not in the book.Comment by 1636494Speculation ahead:

Sylvanas was appointed Warchief by Vol'jin and the Loas because the undead are more resilient to the whispers of the Old Gods.
Either that, or to make sure she doesn't leave the Horde and become another Lich King figure.Comment by 1768173things i noticed in the horde version:
Gallywix is visibly impatient while Baine is speaking. he is tapping his fingers and looking at Sylvanas.
Baine and Sylvanas are directly "at odds" here - opposite ends of the table.
to Baine's left are Saurfang, Eitrigg, Liadrin, and Lor'themar.
to Sylvanas' left are Blightcaller, random female troll, Hamuul Runetotem oddly enough, and Gallywix.
Saurfang's voice is different. can't tell if Shearman is performing it differently or if there was some digital modification, but he does not sound alright. as has been pointed out, he is keeping a close watch on Sylvanas, and likely is mostly fed up with both her aloofness as well as the goblins'...well, really anything the Bilgewater goblins do.
Baine...something about the way Baine is amused at the thought of the "rats get(ting) eaten" is a hint. not sure if it's meant to refer to individuals or what.
i did notice the "whisper" effect when Anduin touched the azerite, but i haven't seen anyone else mention the sound that plays when Sylvanas touches it - it's very similar to the sound most Light-based spells make. perhaps an inversion for the two? Sylvanas goes holy deadness and Anduin goes shadow?

also noticed Sylvanas' spotty hiss/lisp showing back up. opinions withheld.Comment by fathom81Is the female troll whoever stayed in voljins place? Darkspear need a racial leader.

Edit: its BwembaComment by RSkindredI really don't like her as warchief. The tauren and orc members sitting at the table were cheering and celebrating. Her and Nathanos just sat there.
I'm sure that it's been said a million times, but after seeing that cinematic, she just irks tf outta me.Comment by XyzjinThe female Troll is Bwemba, stated by Terran Gregory on Twitter, unclear what is her role.Comment by XyzjinThe first of the lies has been offered.Comment by argentlupusI was wondering who that was among the Horde Leaders. Thank you. Also it seems Varok despises Gallywix.Comment by ZulGazargMy theory

The Old Gods are taking over the NE tree, so it is burned down. I think the person with a hawk at the end of the cinematic is a double agent playing both sides. I think that Azerite will become crystal (no pun intended) meth causing irrational behaviors in people. I think Azeroth is not what we think she is. I also do not trust the Light nor the Titans. I think Sageras meant to strike Un'Goro crater, and he missed. I also think that Khadgar is ignorant in thinking that Argus' defeat will mean the Legion can no longer reincarnate, because they were doing that beforehand, which is why Sageras originally had to imprison them. I also think Sargeras is an anti-hero, and we will change our minds about him eventually. I'll post more if I think about it more in depth, but those are the first places my mind goes with all that has happened.Comment by EonarionFirst of all; notice how Anduin is the only one touching the stone barehanded....all the others have gloves :3

Another thing, the elven scout....if it was truly spying on the goblin operations, you really think it would not COVER its head, including ears, as to not get seen? I thought the entire point of a scout/spy was to not get seen/recognised by your opponent...Comment by dumencI was wondering who that was among the Horde Leaders. Thank you. Also it seems Varok despises Gallywix.Comment by 1819889As a main Horde player, I'm not happy with the new leadership and structure of the faction. They are separated, they don't trust each other and everyone is acting for their own personal gain. Seems that the honor and strength foundation of the faction is going to the sewers more with each expansion.

Not sure what is Blizzard trying to do with Sylvanas and the undead. I used to like Sylvanas a lot but here we see her along fat ass Gallywix and emo Blightcaller playing overwhelmingly distant and in secrecy from the other leaders, with Sylvanas having her obsessive idea of finding something to "save" the undead. Nothing to compare with Thrall and Vol'jin.

Lor'themar is being treated like if he doesn't exist while Lady Liadrin is meh, the trolls don't have a proper leader that can even be slightly compared to Vol'jin and the tauren have Baine, who looks way better and more mature in this expansion but feel he was pushed back too much and left behind when he could have made a difference in earlier expansions. Saurfang is ok. We definitely could use better undead and goblin leaders imo or at least have Sylvanas go thru some kind of transformation, one that finally allows us to have elves/human undead models or something similar to the San'layn.Comment by dumencMy theory

The Old Gods are taking over the NE tree, so it is burned down. I think the person with a hawk at the end of the cinematic is a double agent playing both sides. I think that Azerite will become crystal (no pun intended) meth causing irrational behaviors in people. I think Azeroth is not what we think she is. I also do not trust the Light nor the Titans. I think Sageras meant to strike Un'Goro crater, and he missed. I also think that Khadgar is ignorant in thinking that Argus' defeat will mean the Legion can no longer reincarnate, because they were doing that beforehand, which is why Sageras originally had to imprison them. I also think Sargeras is an anti-hero, and we will change our minds about him eventually. I'll post more if I think about it more in depth, but those are the first places my mind goes with all that has happened.Comment by XyzjinAnother thing, the elven scout....if it was truly spying on the goblin operations, you really think it would not COVER its head, including ears, as to not get seen? I thought the entire point of a scout/spy was to not get seen/recognised by your opponent...Comment by Darksora110My theory

The Old Gods are taking over the NE tree, so it is burned down. I think the person with a hawk at the end of the cinematic is a double agent playing both sides. I think that Azerite will become crystal (no pun intended) meth causing irrational behaviors in people. I think Azeroth is not what we think she is. I also do not trust the Light nor the Titans. I think Sageras meant to strike Un'Goro crater, and he missed. I also think that Khadgar is ignorant in thinking that Argus' defeat will mean the Legion can no longer reincarnate, because they were doing that beforehand, which is why Sageras originally had to imprison them. I also think Sargeras is an anti-hero, and we will change our minds about him eventually. I'll post more if I think about it more in depth, but those are the first places my mind goes with all that has happened.Comment by KeydiamOh, please ANYTHING BUT another corruption-story. How can anybody be excited about this prospect? It's boring, it's dull, and it serves absolutely no purpose as there is NO character progression at all. "Oh yeah the characters acted like this because CORRUPTION!...also we needed them to act this way, so we can push the story into this direction without bothering about the characters."

My theory
I also think Sargeras is an anti-hero, and we will change our minds about him eventually. Comment by ArrayaThe hooded female in both cinematics is an SI:7 scout, they wear those uniforms. Just look at Shaw.

I noticed the whispers and their reactions; but I don't think it's corrupted or otherwise old-god influenced. You have to remember this is the lifeblood of a TITAN, their reactions are expected as the power radiating from it is immense (Maybe not with that little chunk, but its still the blood of a titan so some of its power will obviously be felt. As for the whispers.. who knows if its Azeroth's voice herself)Comment by TehLucarioThe first of the lies has been offered.Comment by TehLucarioMy theory

The Old Gods are taking over the NE tree, so it is burned down. I think the person with a hawk at the end of the cinematic is a double agent playing both sides. I think that Azerite will become crystal (no pun intended) meth causing irrational behaviors in people. I think Azeroth is not what we think she is. I also do not trust the Light nor the Titans. I think Sageras meant to strike Un'Goro crater, and he missed. I also think that Khadgar is ignorant in thinking that Argus' defeat will mean the Legion can no longer reincarnate, because they were doing that beforehand, which is why Sageras originally had to imprison them. I also think Sargeras is an anti-hero, and we will change our minds about him eventually. I'll post more if I think about it more in depth, but those are the first places my mind goes with all that has happened.

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