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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe return of Varian Wrynn
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 11th 2007 at 11:45AM
Is that him in the WoW comic book, or is he going to be in Northrend?The answer, according to Stormgaard of Se7en Samurai, may be 'both'. And to be honest, I agree with him. Not because of the strength of his evidence, good as it is, but because his argument makes sense. One of the things we've seen with World of Warcraft tie-in media like the manga series and novels is that they all flow back into the MMO, help develop and direct the lore forward. As much as players like to chant 'lorelol' it is clearly important to the folks at Blizzard, and Stormgaard's argument that the comics and movie may well be setting up a new age of hostility between the horde and the alliance centered around a new lore figure who is connected to, if not the 'star' of the Missing Diplomat quest makes a lot of sense to me.
Plus, having the comic star a human who washed up without his memory on the coasts of Durotar... well, if you look at the map you'll see why that could well lead to the exact scenario Stormgaard posits. It makes sense to me. What do you guys think?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Lore, Comics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hooper Oct 11th 2007 12:33PM
From what I read about the comic, I was led to believe that the Human was, although first a prisoner - became, part of the Horde. Adapted the lifestyle and was friends with them. Did I read something wrong here? And if he is Anti-Thrall then he is Anti-the good Horde, but the only Horde that would hold him prisoner would be the old horde (i.e. secret members of the Burning Blade clan et. al.)
I'm confused.
Bart Oct 11th 2007 12:52PM
lorelol
Amagoi Oct 11th 2007 12:58PM
The comic to me personally sounds like shit. I can understand Thrall being enslaved by a power-hungry military figure during/after the Second War, but in the current Horde a human being enslaved.. by an Orc SHAMAN? Wtf? That in itself makes no sense.
Despite my doubts about the comics, I also believe the character in it is the lost king of Stormwind. They hinted at it in the Comicon interview.
Matthew Rossi Oct 11th 2007 1:01PM
I don't understand why it doesn't make sense: personally, based on the behavior of the average horde *player* then any human who gets into their clutches would be lucky to end up enslaved. Furthermore, even during the Rexxar campaign in WCIII there were orcs who hated all humans and wanted to punish them for the internment camps. Why couldn't a shaman feel that way? Nothing about being a shaman interferes with hating other people: Ner'zhul was a shaman, after all.
liberalsareimbeciles Oct 11th 2007 1:12PM
Id like to see him being held captive by evil pirates in the south seas.
twh Oct 11th 2007 1:32PM
Personally, it's not the orcs a human slave should be worried about: It's the Blood Elves and Forsaken that would do inhuman experiments on them, because it's just something they do so well.
Hooper Oct 11th 2007 1:41PM
@4
Something, lets say something my ESP is picking up....tells me your main is an Ally and you don't read the novel or other lore sources.....
Matthew Rossi Oct 11th 2007 1:50PM
Your ESP is broken. I have two level 70 horde, a warrior and a shaman, and I co-write the Know Your Lore column here. My ESP thinks you're biased.
Angelus Oct 11th 2007 2:08PM
IMO, I hope he comes back. He has a bitter hatred of the Horde.
The Alliance needs a fierce leader, a hell-bent Horde hating leader. A person who can rally the Alliance into being a blood thirsty enemy to the Horde. Bring on the hate.
But I wont find validation of a story thru literature until its implemented into the game.
Baluki Oct 11th 2007 2:05PM
The idea of an "evil shaman" isn't necessarily incorrect or impossible. Nothing about shamanism specifically says that only the true of heart can call on the elements.
The dark shamans don't think they're doing evil. They believe they're helping their clans, and that is why the spirits heed their call.
We also don't know why this shaman would enslave a human, or what degree of enslavement it is. He may have laid claim to the human to protect him, or to learn from him.
Also, looking at that cover, it looks like the human may have even learned some shamanistic traits. Paint that guy green, and you'd think he WAS a shaman. And really, is that beyond the realm of possibility? Sure, humans in WoW can't be shamans, but that's a gameplay mechanic, not a defined part of the lore. Races like humans, dwarves, and gnomes can't be shamans because they typically work to SHAPE nature to their will, not work WITH it. If a human has forgotten his past, I don't think it's impossible that he could learn at least SOME shamanism, especially under the tutelage of another shaman.
This is all speculation of course.
Hooper Oct 11th 2007 2:33PM
@8
I know you co-wrote it, it was a joke. I pay attention while i post here on my working hours. Your ESP is really damn good too!
To be honest though I'd rather see a re-shifting of the alliances. It won't happen in-game because its just too much work to be done, but I'd say atleast in the novels that its possible that the races shift and break off into different alliances in the near future.
I'm especially excited about seeing the possibility of two human races against each other. The anti-horde stormwinders and the pro-horce Proudmore followers.
Just a thought though.
Medros Oct 11th 2007 2:54PM
He looks pretty kick @$$ for a king.
Anteia Oct 11th 2007 3:01PM
Of course... what's not mentioned is this from http://www.wowwiki.com/Varian_Wrynn:
It is stated in the novel Tides of Darkness that, during his stay in Lordaeron, he met the younger Arthas Menethil.
Which makes Varian in Northrend a figure who actually knew our little lich king, making him that more pivotal if he's in that area.
Amagoi Oct 11th 2007 3:08PM
@4 Horde players and the Horde itself in lore are two entirely different things, as I'm sure you knew based on the way you stated that. Yes there are plenty of Horde who would love to see the Alliance fall, and vice-versa. Hatred from the First and Second War and the interment camps can stay awhile. But my point is Shamans are the spiritual backbone of the Horde. This would be like an member of the Order of the Silver Hand enslaving an Orc.
Nothing could keep a shaman from feeling that way, but they are trained in such a way that they are to have respect for all living things - humans included. As for Ner'zhul, I don't recall him having a natural hatred for the Draenei or any other race. He was manipulated by Kil'jaeden into thinking they were a threat to his own race, and was too weak to stop it later. Afterwards he was a shaman in name only, the Lich King is an entirely different entity also.
Back to my point, from what I've seen of Shamanism in the books and in-game, it's very out of character for a Shaman to take anyone enslaved. As for protection, it said in the preview the Orc enslaves the human and forces him into gladiatorial combat.
Caribbean Oct 11th 2007 3:30PM
Who is this guy anyways? Forgive my WoW ignorance.
SilencedParrot Oct 11th 2007 3:55PM
*cough* What about the Paladins in Durnholde?
Jared Oct 12th 2007 11:19AM
You guys are wrong in presuming the benevolence of Shamans, or comparing them to Paladins. Nothing about a Shaman dictates good or evil intentions towards people, merealy a respect for the elemental balance.
Point and case, Troll Witch Doctors would be considered Shamans. I recall the quest in Stonetalon where you help that Shaman use mature magic to poison Night Elves, laughing all the while and having a great time.
Now granted, respecting said balance might incline one towards kindness, it hardly encorces that inclination, or requires it.
twh Oct 11th 2007 6:31PM
10, Angelus; if he has a reason to hate the Horde, let's hope it has a good reason and not something that just screams cliche. nothing stinks more than having to fight for a petty tyrant.
Though, I can think of plenty of reasons to hate the Horde. The two most being the Blood Elves and the Forsaken.
Paul Oct 11th 2007 7:21PM
@1
Anti-Thrall in terms of Thrall's backstory.
---
That said, I don't miss the War. In fact, I wish my troll could learn to speak the Alliance languages.
Aerei Oct 13th 2007 4:09PM
Dear everyone, roll a new orc or troll and go beat some peons in the Valley of Trials.
Now, what was that about slavery again?