New hints of Old Gods in Vashj'ir
by Michael Gray 
Dec 9th 2010 at 6:00PM
The Old Gods are legendary parts of WoW. You've got C'Thun hanging out in southern Azeroth, whose unblinking eye stares balefully across the world. Those of us who were part of the Northrend expedition certainly encountered Yogg-Saron. Heck, many of us got so familiar with Yogg-Saron that we made armor out of his blood and danced around Icecrown Citadel in our favorite made-from-death-god prom outfits.
The Old Gods are a defining part of the World of Warcraft experience. They are unmistakeably influenced by the Lovecraft mythos, wherein ancient gods from the stars balefully disregard the lives of humans. (Remind you of a certain heavenly-bodied heroic boss fight?) An equally important part of the mythos, however, is the unknowable, abyssal fathoms of the ocean's deeps. This is a world where humans can not tread, where light does not shine, and where we can not know what exists.
That makes the sprawling underwater realm of Vashj'ir perfect for extending the story of the Old Gods. It is deep beneath the surface of an unexplored ocean. Only the magic of the Earthen Ring allows you to exist and explore this area where naga and unknowable things lurk.One of the most clear hints to the Old Gods come when you're inhabiting a naga battlemaiden's body in your Visions of the Past: Rise from the Deep. Just when it seems that the vrykul may defeat the naga forces, something horrible appears from the bottomless ocean. These Cthulu-esque monstrosities come to your aid, responding to some distant summoning ritual. The quest text isn't thorough in explaining the source of these Deep Fiends at the time you first perform it, but you can't miss the fact that they look just like the Festering Prince. There is more about the Deep Fiends to be discovered.
Of course, the bigger news for Lovecraft fans might be the appearance of the demigods Nespirah and L'ghorek. These beings are so huge that hundreds of people can gallivant inside them. The story hook is that the naga are harvesting pearls from these monstrosities with the eventual plan of harnessing their immense power for war against Neptulon. When you free Nespirah from her naga captors, you are warned to flee as quickly as you can; something horrible is about to be unleashed. While it's more likely that Nespirah and L'ghorek are members of Team Neptulon than any Azerothian Old God, their design is a definite nod to Lovecraft's cosmic mythos.The lore of Vashj'ir is exciting and interesting. These first hints of old gods make the future very exciting, with even further opportunity to explore the conflict between the old gods and the Titans.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jaydvd Dec 9th 2010 6:10PM
Ok, just so we're clear, they weren't "Hinting" at an old god, they straight up showed his tentacles burrowing through the sea floor and controlling lgorek, his servants were there to assist the naga, no doubt all of this was his plan, including the naga trying to destroy neptulon in the first place, theyre all-corrupting like that lol.
Eli Dec 10th 2010 12:44AM
When I first saw those tentacles I must admit my mind went immediately to inappropriate concepts and I literally screamed out in disgust :(
Cure4Living Dec 10th 2010 9:28AM
Yes and the naga literally saying something to the effect of: "the support from the Old God has arrived", wasn't clear enough either :P
gandar54 Dec 9th 2010 6:13PM
The whole Old God versus Titan plot line is easily one of my favorite stories in Warcraft lore. Whenever my LFD groups skip the Brann Bronzebeard speech in HoS I am saddened :(
Revynn Dec 9th 2010 7:02PM
/agreed.
The whole speech gets a little old after your 1526486151th time through HOS, but even on someone's first time its "ZOMG Y IZNT THS OERV YET!!!"
So many cool encounters and so much cool story that people are too impatient to tolerate. /sigh . . . .
Jack Dec 9th 2010 7:15PM
Most people this days even in the new randoms do not take the time to enjoy the story and what make this game so great they just all rushing to 85 to be a elite dude that does not know any background story. And talk about like raid bosses like they are just there to get gear from they do not care why he/she is there no more,... :(
Pyromelter Dec 9th 2010 8:02PM
I like the old god stories, in their own vacuum.
HOWEVER, I find a serious problem with them in the World of Warcraft. I feel like they just don't fit in with the overall story of the game world. Azeroth is a fantasy world where orcs and humans battle, there are demons and undead and dragons. Then all of the sudden, there are these old gods that are just there, and just evil. Without any purpose or backstory... they are just evil, and they make people on azeroth do evil things.
Personally, I'd like to see my villains be evil without some kind of unexplained god manipulating them into becoming evil. The stories of Gul'dan, Nerzhul, Illidan, Kael'thas Grom Hellscream, and Arthas come to mind. While most of these guys were influenced or manipulated, you knew the characters that were steering them down their dark paths. Old Gods that are unexplicably evil without any rhyme or reason, doesn't make sense, doesn't give a sense of connection to the story. Give me at least something to connect with. I don't think Deathwing needed an Old God to become evil, and a different path to the darkness would have made for a better story.
I think an entirely new game or series based on old god-type beings would make much more sense. Hell, maybe even have a faction where you are on the side of the old gods; while some might say the Horde is evil v. Alliance is good, there is debate. Maybe have a game where there is no debate. You are an evil faceless one/cultist/tentacle being/ogre/undead, or you are a do-gooding human, dwarf, elf, cat-person. That would make a lot more sense than ramming the square peg of Old Gods into the round hole of Azeroth.
I've had a lot of people disagree, so I understand, I just feel like Old Gods don't fit with the style of game that WOW is, and while I like the stories and ideas, I kind of wish the developers/storytellers had gone a different direction.
furrama Dec 9th 2010 8:57PM
@ Pyro
One shouldn't think of the Old Gods as people, or being evil for evil's sake. They're more like animals- giant malevolent animals that are just doing what they do, pulling the wings off of dragons just because they can. Anything that stops them is something that should just... go away. Preferably in the most violent manipulative way possible, just for giggles.
Scratch that, they aren't like animals. They're like toddlers. Only less sticky. Maybe.
gandar54 Dec 9th 2010 10:37PM
@Promoter
If that's how you feel about Old Gods, then Blizzard has done a great job at emulating Lovecraftian horror. I do understand where you are coming from though. I too would like some background to my villains, that is why I loved Arthas so much. I feel that we'll get a resolution or at least more of an explanation to the Old Gods soon enough.
gandar54 Dec 9th 2010 11:03PM
WTB android spell check that doesn't spell check.
Broken-toes Dec 9th 2010 11:25PM
I think the reasoning behind the manipulation is to give a reason for evil. It doesn't really make too much sense for one guy to think to himself "oh I'm going to dominate the world with a horde of undead". There's a need for an outside influence (and in that case an extravagant one).
I know thats rather simplistic, but giving the old god the influence they do is a easy way to explain motive without the complication of going in depth. I mean not many folk are going to read the explanation in quest text. (especially atm when you have some opportunistic gnome trying to gank you when you hand in, then you try and fight back and that NE druid that you thought was afk springs to life... then your dead!
If your going to explain Deathwing's motives with out an old god, it makes no sense "I don't like what the titans told me to do - RAWWWR".
The alliance vs horde thing fair enough it seems cut and dry with a good and bad side, but part of the reason I like Warcraft so much is that it blurs the boundaries so much, if you play horde you think alliance are evil, and like wise if you play alliance. (especially now).
In all honesty I wonder how they can keep the horde v alliance going, its starting to stretch believability that we're still fighting what with all the argent dawns, cenarion circles, etc kicking about.
I hope we do though, I really hate gnomes!
Rude Hero Dec 10th 2010 2:09AM
I have to agree with Pyro. For once, I'd like my villains to be villainous instead of mind-controlled or corrupted or what have you.
I'm fine with the old gods and the burning legion. They're fun. What I'm not fine with is every single bad guy's motivation being "old gods/demon blood made me do it."
Draknareth Dec 10th 2010 6:29AM
I have to agree, I would prefer a villain to be evil just because they are evil. Ya know...... they just love being naughty, it would kinda make me respect the BIG BAD a bit more if they were evil just cos they want to be.
Firestyle Dec 10th 2010 10:14AM
I do appreciate the lore, but there is too much to be lost by falling behind the leveling curve now. I'll love to come back and do these quests on my alts. Perhaps then I'll read the text.
Matt Dec 10th 2010 4:02PM
@Broken-toes:
Just look at our own world today. There are a myriad of peace organizations and groups, yet the world keeps on fighting over both silly and important issues. I'm not terribly surprised that a world with more room for racism than our own (I mean, for Zul'jin's sake, at least we're all humans) is still fighting. I mean, heck, there's even fighting going on within a given faction - just look at the mess that took place when Hellscream was appointed Warchief.
Tim Dec 14th 2010 10:04AM
Meh, what makes a villainous character villainous? His actions, surely. But when you look at the cause behind his actions, it invariably comes down to the same motivation that the old gods have.
Mofasa Dec 9th 2010 6:20PM
Seems most of the dark stuff in WoW is inspired by lovecraft which was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Myes... you can make the list of things inspired by even more things eternally long.
Can't blame blizzard for using his work :DD
Mofasa Dec 9th 2010 6:23PM
C'thulu had three sons:Ghatanothoa, Ythogtha, and Zoth-Ommog
Read up on those. they somewhat remind me of the old gods in WoW.
Tom Dec 9th 2010 6:39PM
And this is the source of todays phrase: ZOMG.
The more you knowwwww!
gandar54 Dec 9th 2010 11:00PM
@mofasa As a side note Stephen King's book "It" was heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft. Also "It" was referenced In the Brann Bronzebeard dialogue in HoS. One of the members of the tribunal of ages say "Abedneum yells: Accessing. In the early stages of its development cycle Azeroth suffered infection by parasitic, necrophotic symbiotes." Now obviously these "symbiotes" were the Old Gods. The word necrophotic though strikes some interest, it translates directly to "Death-light" which is how "It" is described throughout most of Mr. King's novel... this is why I love Blizzard.