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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsHow 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 2 of 2)
Samantha Smith Aug 31st 2009 12:02AM
They announced at blizzcon that Malfurion would be waking from the emerald dream. And I wanna say he said it in a very big hint hint sort of way. I would assume entering the emerald dream may be somewhere in the future patches or unannounced yet content in cataclsym. I think were all going to get so much awesome lore shoved down our throats were gonna choke on it.
Griezz Aug 31st 2009 12:48AM
I wonder if events in this novel will be the explanation for why Broll Bearmantle was recalled to Teldrassil over in the WoW comic book, leaving Valeera Sanguinar back at Theramore Isle.
Rokisha Aug 31st 2009 9:34PM
Why aren't there more hoard side books... *sigh*
Nathanyel Aug 31st 2009 5:28AM
The Dream was always considered to be not enough substance for its own expansion, and usually bundled with a Maelstrom/South Seas one, but if they want to continue the '5 level per expansion' theme... Would also fit better, story-wise, the (non-druid) players would only be allowed to enter to fight the Nightmare and its creators for the duration of the timespan the expansion takes place in - kinda like the Caverns of Time were supposed to be, but failed to emphasize. The players are but foreign workers to the Bronze/Green dragons :P
You enter only once (after a questline to prove yourself worthy?), do your job, and then are expelled again.
Gameplay-wise though, it would just be another world like Outland, with certain portals to switch between Dream and Azeroth.
This theme would've felt weird with a parallel setting in the same expansion, where the players would switch the "worlds" at will and whenever they wanted, making the Dream and the process of entering it too insignificant.
Tridus Aug 31st 2009 5:56AM
If it's anything like Night of the Dragon, it'll tie in very badly.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Aug 31st 2009 9:34AM
Please don't tell me Knack is writing this novel. That's some sick joke right?
Dreadskull Aug 31st 2009 9:44AM
Chances are (or at least I'm hoping) that it'll explain what Malfurion's been doing in the Emerald Dream/"Nightmare" and whatnot, and then how he manages to get out of there since... if I remember correctly he was supposedly trapped in the Dream or something /shrug.
And of course I'm hoping it'll explain why/how he was able to move over to Hyjal to fight back Ragnaros from destroying the World Tree.
perderedeus Aug 31st 2009 9:45AM
I may be alone in this, but I am a bit disappointed in how they are handling Malfurion's return. Ragnaros is back? And he's... going to burn down the World Tree. This really smacks of re-using content, both Rags as an enemy and the whole Threat to the World Tree scenario.
Aerdoan Aug 31st 2009 10:41AM
With Knaack writing this I expect we'll see some no-name moron (Rhonin) come into incredible power and prestige, save Malfurion from: a) himself, b) a Nightmare "Boss", c) Ysera, and basically muck up characters that otherwise should be able to handle themselves in a fight to save the world on their own.
Awesomesauce13 Aug 31st 2009 11:24AM
Hmm, has anyone ever thought that maybe Azeroth wont be able to handle the Cataclysm? what if by the end of it Azeroth is no longer habitable for mortal races, and that DeathWing's plan succeeds to a certain extent. What if we were forced to move someplace else? With outland pretty much destroyed already too, the Emerald Dream is the only place left... Possibly a plea from the Dragon Queen would be able to convince Ysera to allow it? hello new expansion after cataclysm.
And i thought Sargeras or Kil'jaedon (honestly dont remember which) is hiding in the Dream causing the Nightmare.
Viator Aug 31st 2009 11:24AM
Malfurion does seem a little evil-looking on the cover, so maybe he does get a nightmarish taint over himself (his brotherly "hatred" for Illidan can make him sway a little towards the dark side according to Yoda's teachings) but with the help of his friends hes pulled from the dark side and rescues his father Cenarius who is by then called darth Cenarius and....maybe too much star wars related, Knaak wouldnt do that :P