There are still a few weeks or even months to go before the release of WoW: Shadowlands. However, this is no reason to hang our heads. After all, there are news to sweeten the waiting time until the launch of the next expansion for World of Warcraft. In addition to the soundtrack, Blizzard is releasing an exciting artbook with the Collector's Edition, as we all know. In this richly illustrated book, we not only find great pictures and concept art, but also a lot of information about the background story of Shadowlands.
A few days ago, the Wowhead team published the first photos showing the pages of the artbook. These are chapters of the book that contain particularly important story puzzle pieces. The artbook is divided into several passages that the developers dedicate to each area of Shadowlands.
Caution! Spoilers follow! WoW: Exciting info from the Shadowlands Collector's Edition artbook [Spoilers!] (14) Source: buffed WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (1) Source: wowhead
The Lady of Oribos
Let's start with Oribos. On the double page we get to see the judge. In the picture we see the mystical ruler of the capital of the Shadowlands in the best of health (in the game she is in a kind of trance). In this chapter the author explains how important the Judge is for peace and order in the afterlife. She decides on the further fate of the deceased, because without her guidance the souls in the Shadowlands wander senselessly or even get lost forever.
WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (2)
Source: wowhead
The splendor of the bastion
The origins of the Val'kyr and their duties as friends and guardians of Oribos are the focus of the Bastion article. However, the fluffy owls steal the show from the Val'kyr in the Shadowlands artbook! Blizzard shows us the many faces of the feathered protectors of the Bastion and explains what tasks the owl warriors perform in the Shadowlands. WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (9) Source: wowhead
Maldraxxus, the last bulwark of the Shadowlands
WoW fans suspect that the blacksmith chained in the Thorgast is actually the lost Primus of Maldraxxus. Source: wowhead While we find little new information about the story of Shadowlands in the chapter about the Bastion, we learn more news about the background story of Maldraxxus on the following pages. The realm of the Necrolords plays a special role in Shadowlands. The First Ones created Maldraxxus to protect the afterlife from invaders. We already know that the Necrolords were attacked by countless enemies such as the Light, the Void, and the Burning Legion from the beta of WoW Shadowlands as well as from the short film Afterlife: Maldraxxus. Incidentally, in this passage of text, the mysterious First Ones are mentioned for the first time as the true creators of the universe and cosmic order. The First Ones have equipped Maldraxxus with all sorts of powerful weapons and the knowledge to enable the Necrolords to repel any invaders that threaten the cosmic balance.
The whole thing is all the more exciting when you consider that the intrigues of the Dungeon Master in recent years have triggered a bloody war in Maldraxxus, which has weakened the Necrolords to the point where they can no longer stand up to any enemy at the time of our arrival. WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (8) Source: wowhead
The Mysteries of the Forest of Arden
Those who are convinced that Ardenwald is one of the cheesy and rather boring areas of Shadowlands will think differently after reading this chapter. In this part of the artbook, we learn that the realm of the Winter Queen is connected to the Emerald Dream by the gigantic magical tree that can be seen from everywhere. Both realms are like two branches belonging to the same trunk. Thus, the boundaries between the cosmic domains are not impassable, but permeable. Apparently, there are more realms in the afterlife that are connected to different worlds, timelines and realities. However, Blizzard does not go into more detail about this in the book.
The decadence of Revendreth
WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (7) Source: wowhead WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (10) Source: wowhead Instead of a story told from a neutral perspective, we are served a tale on the following pages that has it all. In this part of the book, a courtier portrays Count Denathrius as a benevolent ruler who protects his subjects and is even not afraid to make great sacrifices for his people and the Shadowlands. In the short film Afterlife: Revendreth , however, we see that the law and order in the Venthyr Empire is just a facade that gradually starts to crumble.
In reality, the Revendreth Empire has long been eaten away by arbitrariness, a hunger for power, and the corruption of the nobility. Denathrius, acting like an absolutist ruler, abuses the souls entrusted to him by the magistrate. He also secretly diverts anima energy for the Kekermeister.
In the artbook we learn that once upon a time the Light attacked Denathrius 'Lab. The reason for this attack remains a mystery for now. However, we are certain that Denathrius' shady dealings were behind the attack.
The Venthyr, who plays the role of the author in this chapter, speaks of Denathrius sacrificing himself for his people and incurring the wrath of the Light. The subjects are therefore forbidden to speak about this incident or even to make fun of it.
Bolvar Fordragon and the Flames of the Lifebinder
WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (4) Source: wowhead WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (6) Source: wowhead WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (5) Source: wowhead The story of the Lich King is a common thread throughout the book. There are many quotes from the game and from the WoW novels that show Bolvar's view of the Lich King's fate and true role in Shadowlands' history. These excerpts are especially important; after all, Bolvar's words have made little sense without context in recent years. On one page, the Lich King himself has his say:
Death was not the end I believed it to be. No rest or joyous reunions in the Light awaited me. What I witnessed challenged all I knew. With my final breath, I saw impossible places - worlds within worlds brimming with beings that defied description. It wasn't until the Helm of Domination was placed upon my head that I understood the truth I had seen: Death is not an end, but a beginning.
For our heroes, Bolvar also has a message:
Now you have seen as I have, sights never meant for living eyes. But this knowledge will not save you. Nothing can stop what Sylvanas set into motion. Rending the veil was just the beginning. Beyond the ruined sky awaits an evil older than reality itself.
The Jailer has been amassing power within his Maw, and soon his patience shall be rewarded. Everything we sacrificed to save Azeroth will have been in vain. The only key to saving our world lies within the realm of Death.
Suffer well.
Bolvar Fordragon
WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (3) Source: wowhead Sylvanas only appears briefly in the artbook. Blizzard shows her in her new armor, which resembles the regalia of the dungeon master. Source: wowhead Note that there are very real differences between the Lich King ego and Bolvar's true person. The flames of the Lifebinder, which burned Bolvar at the Gate of Wrath, put a stop to the dungeon master. For the crown of dominance should have made its wearer a slave of the dungeon master sooner or later. The creation of the Lich King and the Scourge were thus only the first step in Zovaal's plan to unleash the power of death upon Azeroth. This plan only worked to a certain extent, however, because Alexstrasza's flames protected Bolvar from the corrupting influence of the Dungeon Master.
The whole thing was the reason why Zovaal had to resort to Sylvanas as Plan B. After her suicide, the Dungeon Master granted the Banshee Queen a second chance and sent her back to Azeroth with the Val'kyr. All the wars she started between WotLK and the end of BfA only served to increase her power. By the end of Battle for Azeroth, Sylvanas was finally powerful enough to challenge Bolvar and destroy the Crown of Dominance.
So it was never the plan for the Lich King to rule over Azeroth. He was merely another pawn in the dungeon master's great game. Without Alexstrasza's intervention, Zovaal certainly could have freed himself much sooner.
The invisible guests
WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (11) Source: wowhead WoW: Exciting info from the Collector's Edition artbook of Shadowlands [Spoiler!] (12) Source: wowhead In the Shadowlands beta, we had already discovered evidence that the Nathrezim (aka Dread Lords) were allied with Count Denathrius and the Dungeon Master. This alliance also explains how the Burning Legion was able to enter the Shadowlands and steal the secret knowledge of the Primus of Maldraxxus. The Nathrezim sold Kil'jaeden on the idea of the Lich King, knowing that sooner or later he would betray the Legion. The book says that the Crown of Dominance was used by the jailer to keep track of the Lich King and influence him. The Burning Legion was just a means to an end to gain a foothold in Azeroth. Interesting side note: The Dungeon Master considers the creation of the Lich King a huge mistake, as both Ner'zhul and Arthas opposed it. Neither, however, could have fended off Zovaal for as long as Bolvar did.
Story with open end
In keeping with this convoluted story, Blizzard's writing team concludes the artbook with the sketch showing the mysterious tower in Revendreth. The tower is named "Invisible Guest", the name that the Nathrezim use for themselves.
What is the meaning of this abrupt end and the illustration of the tower? Will we learn more about the numerous connections of the Dread Lords to the Dungeon Master in the course of WoW: Shadowlands? Were the Nathrezim even his creation? Or was Zovaal one of them? The visual similarities between the Dungeon Master and the Dread Lords are striking!
What do you think? Will the Dread Lords soon return to the big stage of World of Warcraft (buy now 14,99 € )? Or are they playing a game of their own? After all, they had allied themselves not only with the demons, but also with the Light and the Void. Above all, the idea that the Nathrezim make better schemers in WoW than the Void Lords doesn't seem very credible, at least for now.
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