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Story of Shadows Rising, the Shadowlands Prequel Novel, with Nobbel87

posted 2020/07/19 at 5:01 PM by perculia

WarcraftShadows RisingaudiobookAs this article discusses the plot of Shadows Rising, there are major spoilers.The Characters of Shadows RisingShadows RisingAlliance

Anduin Wrynn, High King of the Alliance, leads the Alliance mission to track down Sylvanas. Throughout the novel, Anduin struggles with the best way to meet his goal, torn between Jaina's compassionate approach and Turalyon and Alleria's questionable use of Light and Void. Parallels are drawn between Anduin and Talanji dealing with the challenges of being young and oprhaned rulers, as well as Anduin and young Arthas hungry for vengeance.

Jaina Proudmoore serves as an adviser to Anduin, cautioning him about taking harsh measures, as she would have once done in the past, to learn more about Sylvanas' whereabouts. While her brother is not present in the novel, off with Calia Menethil in the Undercity, we do see Jaina reunite with her mom, including a hilariously-awkward dinner scene with Katherine, Jaina, Alleria, and Turalyon.

Alleria Windrunner, together with Turalyon, interrogates civilians for any sign of Sylvanas' allies. While her relationship with Turalyon looked doomed after the comic "Three Sisters" as the voices kept urging her to kill him, they now seem to be on better terms, working together to use the powers of Light and Void in questionable ways to draw out information.

High Exarch Turalyon has been named High Commander of the Alliance forces by Anduin, who passed over Genn Greymane. This decision may lead to future Alliance rifts, especially if the datamined Shaw dialogue is true, after Anduin is imprisoned in the Maw and Turalyon essentially sits on the throne.

Mathias Shaw is the spymaster leader of SI:7. An enigmatic secondary character throughout much of Warcraft's story, Shaw finally gets some character growth as we learn more about his family's past and his personality outside of SI:7. Captured by the Zandalari when investigating the suspicious activity, Shaw comes to terms with his feelings for Flynn Fairwind during his imprisonment--Flynn meanwhile has braved the magical storms surrounding Zandalar to alert the Alliance, who in turn shares their intel with the Horde, leading to both factions working together to thwart Nathanos.

Tyrande Whisperwind has been removed from the in-game story for a few patches, following her transformation into the Night Warrior. Here, she continues to be frustrated by the injustices suffered by her people, and wants more than simple apologies from old friends like Thrall. While it's clear the magic of the Night Warrior has given her a hunger for vengeance, her frustration is understandable and for the first time, we see some Horde characters express regret for their complicity in Teldrassil.

Horde

Queen Talanji, the ruler of Zandalar, is distrustful of the Horde following the death of her father in the Battle for Dazar'alor. She also has her hands full with Zandalari unrest and rebellions against Bwonsamdi, which Nathanos takes full advantage of. Over the course of the novel, she grows as a ruler, learning how to compromise and accept aid from allies. There's a touching moment towards the end of the novel, when Bwonsamdi allows the spirit of Rastakhan a few words with his daughter, in which he inspires her to be a leader of action instead of paralyzed by perfection. There's also some interesting parallels between Talanji, feeling wronged by the Horde, and Tyrande, frustrated with the lack of Alliance help at Teldrassil, representing the extreme ends of their factions that want justice for the atrocities they endured.

Zekhan is sent to Zandalar to help rebuild diplomatic relations between the Horde and Queen Talanji, following an assassination attempt. Zekhan is earnest and heroic, even being called "Zappy Boy" by Bwonsamdi, and his heroic sacrifice towards the end of the novel, when he temporarily dies and experiences the Maw, reveals how dark Sylvanas' plan truly is.

Thrall struggles with his new role as a member of the Horde Council, learning how to compromise and unite instead of calling all the shots as Warchief. He has a notable scene with Tyrande where he comes to her with apologies for Teldrassil, and misjudges how inappropriate and hollow his words sounded.

Bwonsamdi is hunted by Nathanos throughout the novel and towards the end, the motivations are clear: Bwonsamdi has been saving Troll souls, preventing them from going into the Maw. Bwonsamdi ultimately appears as a sympathetic character, aiding Talanji, saving Zekhan, and revealing his noble plan to save Trolls--but because he relies on manipulation and trickery, we're never 100% sure of his plans.

Sylvanas' Allies

Nathanos Blightcaller continues to be completely devoted to Sylvanas--loyalty is his one defining personality trait. As he organizes a plan to defeat Bwonsamdi, loyalty to Sylvanas is the driving force behind all of his questionable actions. Even if he's not particularly likable in the novel, Nathanos rejected by Sylvanas in the epilogue is still a poignant moment, as we've spent so much time following his elaborate plans to please her.

Sylvanas Windrunner, no longer the Warchief, remains enigmatic throughout the novel, only showing up in the epilogue. We see her frustrated with Nathanos' failure, but also mostly unfeeling, as she has her eyes set on her future in the Shadowlands and has no need for past attachments.

Apari is an original character introduced in the novel, a childhood friend of Talanji. As a daughter of Yazma, Apari could have easily joined the rebellion against Rastakhan and Talanji, but did not. However, Apari went down a path of vengeance after Talanji, seeing her seriously injured during Dazar'alor, ignored her friend in favor of finding her dying father. In the novel, Apari serves as the leader of the Zandalari rebels working together with Nathanos to unseat Bwonsamdi.

Sira Moonwarden, turned to Undead during the Battle for Darkshore, assists Nathanos during his plans. At the end of the novel, she is captured and brought before Tyrande, where she shockingly reveals that she did not choose to be undead, it was forced upon her--and now she feels nothing but vengeance. It is uncertain whether she will rejoin Night Elf society, and if similar raised elves like Delaryn were also brought back without consent.

The Plot of Shadows RisingShadows RisingThe Alliance and HordeBattle for AzerothWhile the Alliance and Horde may seem fractured in the novel, things have actually mended since the events of Battle for Azeroth. If you took a break during the expansion, you can catch up on the tragic events of the Fourth War with these highlights:

Sylvanas and the Plot to Defeat BwonsamdiZandalar in ChaosBattle for AzerothIf you're interested in learning about the backstory between Rastakhan, Talanji, and Bwonsamdi, check out the following:

Bwonsamdi and Zekhaninterview with Madeleine RouxLearn more about Zekhan and Saurfang in Battle for Azeroth:

Thwarting NathanosShadows RisingSira MoonwardenAnduin made a soft sound of disgust and stood, hovering over her, considering her for a long and tense spell. A wisp of purple energy traveled down his arm, gathering in his palm. It happened in a blink, coming and going, but Sira noticed and laughed till she was hoarse.

Tell me, she mocked in a singsong voice. How does it feel to know you have lost? For time will prove it so. Ah well, take heart, Falling Lion, you will serve well. You will serve well. Elune abandoned me. You abandoned me. My sister-warriors, and you did nothing to save me. I did not choose to return. I would never choose to return. Everything inside me is ugliness and rage, and the only thing that quiets the scream is death. For what was done to me, I will see a hundredfold done upon this cursed realm!

You can relive the fall and resurrection of Sira Moonwarden in the Battle for Darkshore playthrough, which also unlocks the Night Warrior appearance for Night Elves.
Tyrande's story continues in Ardenweald, where she'll try to free the Night Elves from the Maw and learn about the unstable power from past Night Warriors.
You can only experience this new questline with Tyrande if you join the Night Fae covenant. Learn more about this covenant, including armor, soulbinds, and cosmetic rewards, in our Night Fae Guide.
Based on the achievement criteria for Night Fae Campaign, it looks like the Ardenweald story will also feature Bwonsamdi, which sets up nice parallels between Tyrande trying to protect the Night Elf souls and Bwonsamdi saving the Troll souls.

Sylvanas EpilogueAnd so it did. And so she continued, for power sought power, and she would have more of it, not for its own sake, but to wield it. The unjust ladder of their lives must be dismantled, not rung by rung, but all at once. All of it. She had been the plaything of a self-righteous cosmos long enough. The jailer, too, understood what must be done. She did not know if or when Nathanos left, it mattered not – she had merged entirely with the shadows there already, part of the darkness at last.

In the Nobbel interview with Madeleine Roux, we learned more about the dynamic between Sylvanas and Nathanos she was trying to convey.
We analyzed the Shadowlands cinematic and the build-up in great detail in Sylvanas in Shadowlands - Edge of Night, Jailer of the Damned
If you want to see what happens next in Icecrown, check out the Shadowlands Intro Questline, which takes us into the Maw from Icecrown.

Further Story Threads for Future ExpansionsNobbel's interview with Madeleine RouxShadows Rising

Anduin, our boy king is struggling. The desperation of bringing Sylvanas to justice reminds me a lot of the desperation another blond light wielder felt when he tried to bring Mal’ganis to justice. Will he too ignore all council and walk his own path or allow others to help him carry the weight of the crown? How do his actions relate to the Whispers of Il'gynoth?

Turalyon and Alleria show a much darker side amongst the Alliance. Will she be able to keep the void under control or will the hunt for her sister tear her apart?

Same question for Tyrande, will she ever be able to find balm for the pain inflicted, is there anything that can be done that would make Teldrassil right or will the Night Warrior tear her apart?

Will Talanji hold on to the lessons learned in this story or let her thirst for vengeance cloud her judgement? Is Bwonsamdi an ally to us, or is he using us for a greater purpose?

Our boy Nathanos got sent to the dog house for failing Sylvanas, how will that play out? Is he going to remain at her side or are these the first signs of cracks in their relationship. He once said that he wouldn’t mind spending all eternity in damnation if it was with his beloved. Could he change his mind about her plans with the Jailer?

How will Shaw and Flynn's relationship develop? They'll be used as a framing story in the upcoming art/lore compendium World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms.

So far on the Shadowlands beta, we don't have answers to any of these questions but we do have hints how they will continue:

Anduin is imprisoned in the Maw and while we rescue Baine, Thrall, and Jaina--it's too dangerous to rescue him.
Turalyon sits on the throne which creates tension in datamined dialogue if he or Greymane is more worthy of the throne.
Tyrande's story will continue in Ardenweald and we've datamined some story hints. It looks like Tyrande will try to free the Night Elves from Teldrassil trapped in the Maw, and we'll meet past Night Warriors from other realms, who may have some insights into this unstable power.
Nathanos is an outdoor boss on the beta, and his encounter ends with a mysterious cinematic.
Blizzard hasn't been the greatest at diversity and representation in the past, but they seem committed to doing a better job in Shadowlands, through actions like changing your gender at the barbershop, adding diverse character customization options, and updating guards and city NPCs. This past week alone Blizzard included a thoughtful dialogue on identity from the trans character Pelagos and we also learned that the Flynn / Shaw relationship was a mandated plot point by the company. It's a good step for LGBT+ representation to see Flynn and Shaw end up in a happy relationship, instead of feeding into the Bury Your Gays trope, but more casual representation is needed across Azeroth.

Comments

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Comment by BwonsamdiTheDeadA a Bwonsamdi fan, I absolutely love how he was portayed in the book!Comment by slemaireGood summary, well detailed.

Wish I had waited for this over actually reading the book.

I found it to hold few interesting new info point for the transition from BFA to shadowlands, while the writing was not that strong (it seems extremely long winded to justify the price tag, pages upon pages of weak prose) and otherwise does not add a lot of new stuff that we did not know / guess. Sure we get some flushed out character development and get to spend time with other characters that are not necessarily at the forefront, so I guess that was cool.

However, the whole book could have been trimmed by 70% and still had the same info / impact.Comment by RasaricRemovedComment by RothwcAnyone else feel that some of this plot could've been a questline for an 8.3.5 patch for alliance and horde (sort of like the two sides of the war achievement for the 8.1 war campaign) so that a wider audience could've experienced this rather than just those who are fans of the books?Comment by MakolaniIm happy that Talanji is finally met her dad's spirit. This scene was needed from beginning as Katherine and Jaina's reunion. Also I'm good with Bwonsamdi's not-i-m-a-clown appearance. In game he was enrage me.Comment by vindurzaHeh I'm quite amused by the Shaw and Flynn reveal they make a nice duoComment by kaleestrazalol imagine thinking "genocide is bad" is bias. It's time to accept that your faction did ------- disgusting things and stop expecting everyone to just cover it up and pretend it was fine.

You abandoned me. My sister-warriors, and you did nothing to save me.Comment by kaleestrazaGood summary, well detailed.

Wish I had waited for this over actually reading the book.

I found it to hold few interesting new info point for the transition from BFA to shadowlands, while the writing was not that strong (it seems extremely long winded to justify the price tag, pages upon pages of weak prose) and otherwise does not add a lot of new stuff that we did not know / guess. Sure we get some flushed out character development and get to spend time with other characters that are not necessarily at the forefront, so I guess that was cool.

However, the whole book could have been trimmed by 70% and still had the same info / impact.Comment by th3scourgePlease no more Princess Wakanda. She is such a terrible characterComment by alosiboyPlease no more Princess Wakanda. She is such a terrible characterComment by ArchieAngelShaw comes to terms with his feelings for Flynn Fairwind during his imprisonment

Well that came out of... nowhere. Remember the time they interacted? Pretty much once in the entire expansion?
Removed partiallyComment by bassfuRemovedComment by BwonsamdiTheDeadPlease no more Princess Wakanda. She is such a terrible characterComment by TheLustful"It's so sad how Nathanos is rejected."
IsItThoughThor.jpg

I wanna see Nathanos die broken, despairing, and alone. He can join Sylvanas as a prisoner in the Maw.Comment by squilliamIf I want to hear about the lore from a totally alliance biased perspective I'll be sure to listen to it!Shaw comes to terms with his feelings for Flynn Fairwind during his imprisonment

Well that came out of... nowhere. Remember the time they interacted? Pretty much once in the entire expansion?
Comment by MightyMoonWormShaw comes to terms with his feelings for Flynn Fairwind during his imprisonment

Well that came out of... nowhere. Remember the time they interacted? Pretty much once in the entire expansion?
This certainly doesn't feel contrived in order to pander to certain people.Comment by th3scourgeRemovedComment by ChunkyCoffeelol imagine thinking "genocide is bad" is bias. It's time to accept that your faction did ------- disgusting things and stop expecting everyone to just cover it up and pretend it was fine.

You abandoned me. My sister-warriors, and you did nothing to save me.Comment by ChunkyCoffeeShaw comes to terms with his feelings for Flynn Fairwind during his imprisonment

Well that came out of... nowhere. Remember the time they interacted? Pretty much once in the entire expansion?
This certainly doesn't feel contrived in order to pander to certain people.Comment by WillowwhispI loved the book! I found the action sequences a bit long, although well-written. But the characterization was brilliant.
Thanks for the great summary.

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