How will the Stormrage novel tie into Cataclysm?
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 30th 2009 at 8:00PM
So the convention is over, Blizzard has shown all (or at least most -- there are still secrets, we're sure) of their cards, and the next expansion will involve the return of Deathwing and a completely remade Azeroth. Goblins will be in there as the Horde race, but as for the original speculation of the Maelstrom and the Emerald Dream, well... It remains to be seen exactly how those will tie in to what we heard about at BlizzCon.The biggest hint I saw at the Emerald Dream in the last year was the fact that Blizzard is going to release a "Stormrage" novel -- that would hint that good old Malfurion Stormrage and his kin would be spotlighted in the near future. Richard Knaak says the novel is set in the present, so something is going on for sure. Even though Deathwing is going to be the big bad this time around, something's still cooking with Stormrage.
Which actually makes sense. If we're going to get looks at Deepholm (the elemental plane of Earth, where Deathwing has been lying dormant recently) and The Firelands, as well as Skywall and the Abyssal Maw (the Fire, Air, and Water planes, respectively), that could mean they're going to open up Azeroth's other planes as well, with the Emerald Dream among them. The return of Deathwing would undoubtedly bring the other Aspects to bear, and Ysera would definitely be among those. In the opening ceremony last weekend, Metzen dismissed the Emerald Dream as "rumors and speculation," but the upcoming Stormrage novel still hints we still might see the Emerald Dream sometime soon.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, BlizzCon, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mynarc Aug 30th 2009 8:03PM
I heard some where that some of the druids woke up and were now defending mount hyjal from deathwings forces it could be a tie in about that
crewq Aug 30th 2009 8:18PM
we already seen the emerald dream in the game, when we had to pick up emerald acorns, from a chain quest from northrend
Awesomesauce13 Aug 30th 2009 8:16PM
Well its probably what was speculated before Cataclysm announcement, Malfurion comes back in a fit of rage and makes thrall the new Guardian (lore nerds done kill me if i butchered that...) so he can fix the mess Deathwing made. it all seems to fit very snuggly with the rest of the hinted lore with thrall in the next expansion.
Lannden Aug 30th 2009 8:35PM
Yeah Malfurion has nothing to do with guardians whats so ever its more of a Kirin Tor thing.
Thyrial Aug 31st 2009 12:27AM
The new Council of Tirisfal has NOTHING to do with the Kirin Tor actually >.> It was started by Jaina, Aegwynn and Med'an (as well as a few others) and they are looking for powerful magic users to be a part of it so whoever they choose as guardian will not be weakened if something happens to a particular kind of magic. (For those that don't know, Arcane magic was weakened while Maly was causing his problems which is what made them decide they also want users of Druidic magic, holy magic and so on instead of just arcane like the original council) As such wouldn't the most powerful druid ever be a perfect choice as a member =P Try to at least keep up on the lore if you're going to tell people they are wrong.
Lannden Aug 31st 2009 2:45AM
Excuse me where did you get this info from i havent heard of any of it from wow or any of the books last thing i know the Council of Tirisfal disbanded before even wc 1. On top of that i doubt Malfurion would be the one picking the next guardian, but the whole new council taking a vote or something like that..
Tohraxegrim Aug 31st 2009 6:10AM
Actually Thyrial is correct. You need to keep up on active lore. They said they were forming a new council of Tirisfal in the latest of the WoW comics. And as was mentioned they wanted users of Druidic and Holy magic as well to prevent the same issues as happened before. Again... check your lore before you start correcting others please.
Charlie Aug 30th 2009 8:30PM
Malfurion will be at Mount Hyjal, fighting Ragnaros. Rag is trying to burn the new World Tree, or something.
Azeroth pre-sundering and pre-cataclysm looks much different, as it is the world without the mortal races (and all that has happened to it because of them). So I could definatley see it. It's something they've been meaning to do since inception, so we will see.
Jaena Vashj Aug 30th 2009 8:51PM
The world tree at Mount Hyjal was blessed by Ysera, Alexstrasza and Nozdormu. Ysera used the world tree to link the night elf race (or druids) to the emerald dream. I know that the tree is still healing atm but perhaps with its utter destruction the druids will be cut off from the dream and Ysera will be without the help of mortal races in her fight against the nightmare.
So i can see how Malfurion will awaken, but I still reckon Ysera will still remain asleep, because I think she is personally in a bit of trouble.
And perhaps Ragnaros has an agenda behind his attack on the world tree, perhaps with its destruction he will be aiding his Old god masters in taking over the emerald dream since it is believed that they are behind the nightmare.
I could go on for hours with this :P
Lemons Aug 30th 2009 9:37PM
"but as for the original speculation of the Maelstrom and the Emerald Dream, well... It remains to be seen exactly how those will tie in to what we heard about at BlizzCon."
The Maelstorm IS in this expansion. Where do you think the sunken city of Vashj'ir is located? Heck, Queen Azshara is even on the main Cataclysm website under the "faces of cataclysm" section. So...that's how it "ties in"...it's in there.
Unmei Aug 30th 2009 10:13PM
Except your kinda wrong on that. Nazjatar is the name of the Naga captial city. Azshara is just sending her minions to Vashj'ir for a reason. If you noticed that Vashj'ir is located more south of the actual Maelstrom. :P We've only just scratched the surface of the water when it comes to the Former highborne Queen and her mutated people
drakolord Aug 30th 2009 10:47PM
Vashj'ir is south of the Maelstrom, and Tom Chilton confirmed that we won't be fighting Azshara in Cataclysm
kabshiel Aug 30th 2009 10:43PM
They said at Blizzcon that while we'll be introduced to Azshara in this expansion, she's not going to make an actual appearance in person.
loreaddict Aug 30th 2009 9:59PM
It's simple, Malfurion will awaken from the Nightmare, but he'll be corrupted. As the expansion goes on, Malfurion will slip further and further into madness. And at the end, he'll snap, vowing destruction on all life in Azeroth in the name of the Nightmare, giving us the next main boss of the next expansion, and thus, keeping Blizzard's tradition of major lore figures going bat-s*#t and deciding to take over the world.
Leviathon Aug 30th 2009 10:44PM
Yea...no. He awakens from the Emerald Dream to defend Hyjal and that's all.
Shugo Aug 30th 2009 10:09PM
When does this novel come out? I still don't know.
ElrithCC Aug 30th 2009 10:28PM
Perhaps the Emerald Dream will serve as a model to heal or "reboot" Azeroth after the Cataclysm.
tyler Aug 31st 2009 9:57AM
awesome idea. i was thinking something similar, but you expressed it much better
Blackone Aug 30th 2009 11:58PM
I think it will tell the story of whats going on in the Emerald dream and it will end with Malfurion finding out that Mount Hyjal is under attack in which he'll awake from the dream and and defend Hyjal from Ragnaros and his force of fire elementals.
drakolord Aug 30th 2009 11:46PM
I have an aching feeling Illidan will feature in this. Perhaps his spirit found its way to the Emerald Nightmare just as Cenarius' spirit found its way into the Emerald Dream