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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsCataclysm Spoiler: Sylvanas' plans no one saw coming
by Mathew McCurley 
Jun 30th 2010 at 10:30PM
Want to know what the Forsaken Queen is up to in Cataclysm, and why this expansion is going to rock the Horde and the Alliance even moreso?
Again, we are warning you: there are spoilers here that are quite huge in the world of lore. The big part of the spoiler is in red. After the break.The quest begins in Brill early on in the leveling experience of a new forsaken. Eventually, your travels lead you to Silverpine Forest, and the quest "Warchief's Command: Silverpine Forest," where Garrosh and friends arrive to meet with Sylvanas and her new allies in the fight against and invasion of Gilneas. Below is a transcription of the events that take place.
Warchief's Command: Silverpine Forest!
Objective: Report to Grand Executor Mortuus at Forsaken High Command in Silverpine Forest
All able bodied members of the Horde are hereby ordered to report to Grand Executor Mortuus at Forsaken High Command in Silverpine Forest. Now, more than ever, your help is needed in routing the enemy infestation of the region and conquering the port of Gilneas!
To reach Forsaken High Command you must travel south through Tirisfal Glades and enter Silverpine Forest. From there, follow the road south until you reach Forsaken High Command.
Onward, sister! Destiny calls!
Upon Completion: Most excellent! A new recruit has arrived. There is much to do... much to do I say.
The Warchief Cometh
You're just in time, *******. It is ******, right?
<Grand Executor Mortuus looks at a sheet of paper.>
Yes, that's what the paperwork says: "*****"
<Grand Executor Mortuus points to your name on the sheet of paper.>
Where was I? Oh yes, you're just in time! The Warchief should be arriving at any moment to meet our leader and savior, the Dark Lady herself. Just stand by and be at your best behavior. I expect that when this demonstration is over we will all receive commendations!
Quest Objectives: Stand by for Warchief Garrosh Hellscream's arrival.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Where is that Orge headed buffoon?
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner Ah, speak of the devil ...
*Portals from Ogrimmar arrive with Hellscream, Hellscream's elite, and High Warlord Cromush*
*Hellscream jumps from the portal down to Sylvanas*
Garrosh Hellscream: This better be important, Sylvanas. You know how I detest this place and its foul stench. Why have you called for me?
Garrosh Hellscream: And more importantly, what are those Scourge fiends doing here?
*Garrosh makes a gesture at the Val'kyr*
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Warchief, so glad you could make it.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: With the death of the Lich King, many of the more intelligent Scourge became...unemployed. Those 'friends,' as you so delicately put it, are called val'kyr. They are under my command now...
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: ...and they are part of the reason that I asked to see you.
Garrosh Hellscream: Get on with it Sylvanas.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Very well, Warchief. I have solved the plight of the Forsaken!
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: As a race, we Forsaken are unable to procreate.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Warchief, without these new Forsaken my people would die out ... Our hold upon Gilneas and northern Lordaeron would crumble.
Garrosh Hellscream: Have you given any thought to what this means, Sylvanas.
Garrosh Hellscream: What difference is there between you and the Lich King now?
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Isn't it obvious, Warchief? I serve the Horde. (She does the Female Blood Elf emote /salute, which is downright hysterical because it's such a condescending salute to begin with.)
Garrosh Hellscream: Watch your clever mouth, *@*!*. (Yes he really called her a *@*!*)
Garrosh Hellscream: Cromush, you stay behind and make sure the Banshee Queen is well "guarded." I will be expecting a full report when next we meet.
High Warlord Cromush: As you command, Warchief!
Garrosh Hellscream: Remember, Sylvanas, eventually we all have to stand before our maker and face judgment. Your day may come sooner than others...
The Warchief Cometh: Well that was unexpected. I am not one to doubt our Warchief, but...
Nevermind! We have work to do. I'm sure the Dark Lady and the Warchief will get this all worked out.
Objective: Report to Grand Executor Mortuus at Forsaken High Command in Silverpine Forest
All able bodied members of the Horde are hereby ordered to report to Grand Executor Mortuus at Forsaken High Command in Silverpine Forest. Now, more than ever, your help is needed in routing the enemy infestation of the region and conquering the port of Gilneas!
To reach Forsaken High Command you must travel south through Tirisfal Glades and enter Silverpine Forest. From there, follow the road south until you reach Forsaken High Command.
Onward, sister! Destiny calls!
Upon Completion: Most excellent! A new recruit has arrived. There is much to do... much to do I say.
The Warchief Cometh
You're just in time, *******. It is ******, right?
<Grand Executor Mortuus looks at a sheet of paper.>
Yes, that's what the paperwork says: "*****"
<Grand Executor Mortuus points to your name on the sheet of paper.>
Where was I? Oh yes, you're just in time! The Warchief should be arriving at any moment to meet our leader and savior, the Dark Lady herself. Just stand by and be at your best behavior. I expect that when this demonstration is over we will all receive commendations!
Quest Objectives: Stand by for Warchief Garrosh Hellscream's arrival.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Where is that Orge headed buffoon?
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner Ah, speak of the devil ...
*Portals from Ogrimmar arrive with Hellscream, Hellscream's elite, and High Warlord Cromush*
*Hellscream jumps from the portal down to Sylvanas*
Garrosh Hellscream: This better be important, Sylvanas. You know how I detest this place and its foul stench. Why have you called for me?
Garrosh Hellscream: And more importantly, what are those Scourge fiends doing here?
*Garrosh makes a gesture at the Val'kyr*
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Warchief, so glad you could make it.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: With the death of the Lich King, many of the more intelligent Scourge became...unemployed. Those 'friends,' as you so delicately put it, are called val'kyr. They are under my command now...
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: ...and they are part of the reason that I asked to see you.
Garrosh Hellscream: Get on with it Sylvanas.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Very well, Warchief. I have solved the plight of the Forsaken!
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: As a race, we Forsaken are unable to procreate.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: With the aid of the val'kyr, we are now able to take the corpses of the fallen and create new Forsaken.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Agatha, show the Warchief!
*The Val'kyr Agatha proceeds to resurrect fallen corpses as Undead*
High Warlord Cromush: ABERRATION!
Garrosh Hellscream: What you have done here, Sylvanas... it goes against the laws of nature. Disgusting is the only word I have to describe it.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Agatha, show the Warchief!
*The Val'kyr Agatha proceeds to resurrect fallen corpses as Undead*
High Warlord Cromush: ABERRATION!
Garrosh Hellscream: What you have done here, Sylvanas... it goes against the laws of nature. Disgusting is the only word I have to describe it.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Warchief, without these new Forsaken my people would die out ... Our hold upon Gilneas and northern Lordaeron would crumble.
Garrosh Hellscream: Have you given any thought to what this means, Sylvanas.
Garrosh Hellscream: What difference is there between you and the Lich King now?
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Isn't it obvious, Warchief? I serve the Horde. (She does the Female Blood Elf emote /salute, which is downright hysterical because it's such a condescending salute to begin with.)
Garrosh Hellscream: Watch your clever mouth, *@*!*. (Yes he really called her a *@*!*)
Garrosh Hellscream: Cromush, you stay behind and make sure the Banshee Queen is well "guarded." I will be expecting a full report when next we meet.
High Warlord Cromush: As you command, Warchief!
Garrosh Hellscream: Remember, Sylvanas, eventually we all have to stand before our maker and face judgment. Your day may come sooner than others...
The Warchief Cometh: Well that was unexpected. I am not one to doubt our Warchief, but...
Nevermind! We have work to do. I'm sure the Dark Lady and the Warchief will get this all worked out.
So what have we learned? Sylvanas, seizing another opportunity to bolster her ranks by taking command of some of the Lich King's most powerful allies, much like she originally did when she was released from his influence, has solved the plight of the Forsaken. By bringing people back from the dead.
Things just got very, very interesting for the Horde, for the undead and for the future of this alliance.
Thanks to Emeraude on the Cataclysm closed-beta forums for this excellent, awesome, awe-inspiriting lore moment.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 13)
Cure4Living Jul 1st 2010 8:35AM
@Eisengel
Well Sylvanas also got a ear full of the whole "there must always be a Lich King" prophesy from Uther in HOR so presumable she has to know that A there is a new LK or B a very nice comfy throne ready for her taking.
And since she is including Scourge into the Forsaken ranks it isn't that odd to expect at least some of them to have realized that someone else if wearing hat of domination and tell her.
Kevin Jun 30th 2010 10:39PM
Is there any way for me, as a Horde, to kill Garrosh myself before he kills a few more Horde faction leaders that betray him?
fearthefireblade Jun 30th 2010 10:45PM
Well, you could faction change and go to Warsong Hold. But you prolly won't get very far, considering Garrosh is standing right next to Saurfang. Soooooo.... not yet.
Xaklo Jun 30th 2010 10:51PM
Inorite??? I'm so tired of Garrosh's short temper. It's been really old for a while now in Wrath, and I'm really gonna hate him in his bigger role in Cata >:[
Itanius Jun 30th 2010 10:40PM
I guess maybe I don't understand the Forsaken as well as I thought I did, but why would this be so unexpected?
Henry Jun 30th 2010 10:40PM
Looks like Blizzard finally realized they needed to have some explanation why after 5 years the Forsaken has continued to grow...
Revanel Jul 1st 2010 12:28AM
"Those 'friends,' as you so delicately put it, "
haha! funny typo. :)
Radioted Jun 30th 2010 10:42PM
Sylvanas just shot past Varian in the "faction leader most likely to end up a raid boss" pool.
Swapp Jun 30th 2010 11:58PM
Varian is an awesome leader, shut up. read human politics by anne stickney
Radioted Jul 1st 2010 12:28AM
1) Rude much?
2) I've read those articles, and while Anne makes a number of good points, that still doesn't mean Varian is necessarily "stable."
3) At the top of the list? Garrosh. So... yeah.
Dyaan Jul 1st 2010 5:53AM
hey... have you guys ever stopped to think that they might be setting up for Warcraft 4 with this change in attitude in recent faction leaders?
im not being like "omg i've thought this all along how could you not realize it" its just a thought that just popped into my head
so far now... not many people trust/like sylvannas, garrosh, or varian. and... they are the head honchos of their respective races. And it seems kinda like they are breaking off from each other. varian is racist, so is garrosh, and sylvannas is all for just the undead. so... if they break off, we have
Humans/Dwarves/Gnomes
Undead
Orcs/Tauren/Trolls (since garrosh likes them)
and elves, worgen, and goblins, since i dunno where they fit in. both sets of elves are very iffy. though how badass would it be if they joined forces? never ever going to happen, but that is the only way i envision elves ever being truly badass, with blood elves with their magic and paladins, and night elves with sentinels and druids. yeahhh.
ok, sorry this is probably just wild brainstorming going on, never going to happen, carry on!
Chris Jul 1st 2010 6:09PM
@dyaan
They certainly need to do something to create new lore for the eventual WoW 2. Until recently, it was all monsters vs human(oid)s, so maybe they will break into something different like you suggested.
Or, perhaps, they are setting up an excuse for different undead models (undead gnome!).
Lokanaya Jun 30th 2010 10:42PM
...You'd think that Garrosh, of all people, wouldn't have any moral issues with stuff that would help the Horde...
Strange...
Cyanea Jun 30th 2010 10:44PM
Yeah, but to him Horde = Orcs and maybe Taurens. Nobody else. Look at how he treated all the other races in Org.
Murdertime Jun 30th 2010 11:04PM
When you think about it, there's probably no one short of Tiriron Fordring who'd have more issues with creating new Undead through necromancy.
He's an untainted orc who's been raised entirely within the original orcish shamanistic culture, complete with ancestor worship and venerating the spirits of the elements. To the point where part of the original reason the Orcs got so riled at the Draenei was because they thought they were poking the ancestors.
Then he went and commanded a major war against the scourge.
So this is pretty much something that goes against Garrosh's more positive Orcish qualites.
Illûvatar Jun 30th 2010 11:14PM
@ Cyeana
... Your kidding right?
Lets look at Stormwind... OH DUCKING WHAT? one single drinie... and shes an outcast... no shit...
Garrosh havent actually kicked the forsakes, / blood elfs out of the city... they were barely there!
And Im most certain that alot, if not all gnomes would leave Ironforgde now that they got thire own city
Oh for not to say... Why would the 3 blood elfs that stood in Orgrimmar even be there anymore? eh? They got a lot more things to worry about in Silvermoon now that the city will be given back the Sunwell. (spoiled)
And also its likely that the only drinie will leave stormwind now that there are Dwarfs to give shaman training in the city... And for forsakens... heck they are laying a sige to a huge human naition... why would they be in orgrimmar? and there are hardly any... All I can think of is an ambassador who is VERY unlikely to leave....
So stop the bullhorseing about Garrosh litterly "Kicking" out the blood elves and Forsakes from Orgrimmar... becrouse they have no reason to stay in Orgrimmar... Do you see Orcs In Thunderbluff? No? Do you see trolls in Undercity? hell no... so what is up with this bs?
Claire Jun 30th 2010 11:38PM
Remember his background. He may be a bloodthirsty idiot, but he's also from the deeply shamanic people of Nagrand. Undead are an abomination against nature and the elements -- I'm not surprised he's drawing the line against creating more of them.
Bedvyr Jul 1st 2010 3:01AM
@Illuvatar
It's funny that you don't realize that the people who would be truly insulted by any barring from Orgrimmar are the noble Darkspear trolls. They've lived more or less like orcs for years now and all the sudden Garrosh wants to throw them out? Disgraceful.
cielago Jul 1st 2010 3:19AM
at murder, by that logic no one would opose more to demonic practices than tyrande and velen, tyrande because of 2 rounds of demonic wars where the moon well and and the world tree were destroyed, and velen for the corroption it caused his people when a great number of them turned into the eredar in the burning legion, but also it was demons that lead the orcs in the asault that almost wiped them out, and yet both of them asosiate with races who openly and and some times recklessly use demonic arts as seen with a certain fizzlebank.
also it is unclear if the orcs used necromancy already before the legion arrived on outland or if the legion taught it to them along with the craft if the warlocks, although it is not seen in the magh'ar cities that doesnt mean it's not practiced by them or if they asociated it with the legion and stopped practicing it (there are fell orcs that raise skelletons although nothing with the skill of the val'kirs).
either way the horde and the alliance for that matter have practicioners of demon magic and undead who use necromancy (unholy DK's and demo and destro locks I'm looking at you)
oneraindrop Jul 1st 2010 3:32AM
@Illuvatar: What in god's name is a drinie?