WoW Insider's Weekly Webcomic: Safe Passage
by Kelly Aarons 
Feb 8th 2011 at 2:00PM
Night has fallen, and everyone gets a chance to explain themselves. Speaking on behalf of your faction isn't always the best idea, but they do what they can.
Check out the full comic right here, and tune in next Tuesday morning for a new page. You can also see all the previous pages in the gallery below.
Filed under: WoW Insider's Weekly Comic
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
matt561 Feb 8th 2011 7:09AM
So different yet so alike, top notch on the writing this week.
Synchronizor Feb 8th 2011 10:12AM
Well-done page as per usual, but I'm afraid I don't really understand why Enarrai would bring up Southshore as an example here. The Horde's actions in Ashenvale, Stonetalon, and even Darkshore should be much more familiar to her, and are far more relevant to the discussion at hand. Ultimately, the Alliance were forced to neutralize Taurajo because of the Horde's invasion of Kaldorei lands, and many of the attacks in Ashenvale mirror the Horde's perception of the Taurajo incident.
jealouspirate Feb 8th 2011 2:11PM
Yeah, I like the idea of this page, but I think you're right about that point. Mentioning the conquest of Night Elf territory would've made a lot more sense for her to mention and it would've got the same point across.
I suspect the reason Kelly used the Forsaken example is because she need a "some Horde do bad things against orders" scenario. The invasion of Night Elf lands, while a good comparison to Taurajo for a Night Elf, doesn't fit the bill. What the Horde is doing there is exactly what they were ordered to do.
Amaxe Feb 8th 2011 3:26PM
"What the Horde is doing there is exactly what they were ordered to do. "
I find that pretty interesting as a comment. It would make fascinating quest writing if there was a subplot in the game for the issue of conscience vs. orders.
Maybe it would be unworkable, but I would like to see such issues explored.
deepred Feb 8th 2011 5:08PM
Putting things in perspective... for all their brutality, the wars in Ashenvale and the Stonetalons post-Cataclysm are largely symmetrical, with two opposing military forces going head-to-head.
Southshore and Taurajo, on the other hand, were largely civilian targets that didn't stand a chance. On balance, bandits gone troppo have nothing on bio-warfare.
Ktok Feb 8th 2011 5:26PM
While true that she'd be more likely to know details regarding Night Elf holdings, what's going on in Ashenvale isn't really the same as what happened to Camp T. For comparison's sake, Southshore is far more similar.
In Ashenvale, most of what's happening is military vs military.
Camp T and Southshore were military vs civilians.
For the sake of the story telling, and the point being made, it's better to use Southshore.
Synchronizor Feb 8th 2011 6:18PM
"...what's going on in Ashenvale isn't really the same as what happened to Camp T. For comparison's sake, Southshore is far more similar.
In Ashenvale, most of what's happening is military vs military.
Camp T and Southshore were military vs civilians."
The survivors of Silverwind Refuge would probably contest that.
Besides, while Ashenvale might be military vs military, it's still one military defending their ancestral homeland from an aggressive invading military who wants to conquer the entire continent out of warlust and a massive superiority complex.
I understand what Kelly was trying to get across in this page, and she did that well enough. I just thought it unrealistic that a Night Elf would use Southshore as an example in her argument instead of what has been done to her own homeland.
Belfonisis Feb 8th 2011 7:20PM
I figure
a) She may have just been in the Southshore area. Just because she is a Night Elf doesn't mean she wasn't questing in the Eastern Kingdoms. ;)
AND/OR
b) She's probably very intelligently giving an orc and a troll an example of atrocities committed by a race that is part of the Horde but not present around that very campfire. Talking about bad orcs or trolls might have made her new companions immediately defensive, while bringing up things the forsaken are doing is probably less touchy and a safer example to use given the company.
Arrowsmith Feb 8th 2011 2:16PM
The last panel: D'AWWWWWWWWW
That is all.
Drakkenfyre Feb 8th 2011 4:55PM
Contemplative Night Elf going chew chew, hilarious as crap. (In a good way.)
Crimson Feb 9th 2011 1:28AM
OM NOM NOM NOM bread :D
Entaro Feb 8th 2011 2:20PM
Watch out, those Wild Mushrooms in the last panel are going to explode.
DUCK AND COVER!
Cadychan Feb 8th 2011 3:55PM
Friggin' Glop....*seethe* >8l
Amaxe Feb 8th 2011 3:22PM
Nicely done. I don't share the Horde character's optimism that Garrosh will intervene though. I hope I'm wrong though, as that would make some potentially good story in game.
Blayze Feb 8th 2011 5:25PM
What else is he going to do? Pass up on a perfectly good chance to kick something in the face?
Amaxe Feb 8th 2011 7:42PM
Well, when it was an underling, like in Stonetalon, he could react. If he moves against Sylvanas, the repercussions are more severe. From what I understand, he is appalled by Sylvanas' action. The question is whether he will act against her.
I am curious to see what road Blizz will take.
Certainly the questions Garrosh asked the general he threw over the cliff could be asked to Sylvanas.
Tirrimas Feb 8th 2011 8:34PM
"Well, when it was an underling, like in Stonetalon, he could react. If he moves against Sylvanas, the repercussions are more severe. From what I understand, he is appalled by Sylvanas' action. The question is whether he will act against her."
True this. He's got himself the exact same diplomatic situation that Thrall had, only worse. Sylvanas has a larger percentage of the Horde's forces under her control now (what with those Val'kyr and and the Blight and all), and the last thing Garrosh needs right now is to fracture the Horde. I do think (and sincerely hope) that Garrosh is keeping a close eye on her.
There are Forsaken who do not agree with her methods and have split from the main body. Seems to me there was a quest giver in the Plaguelands somewhere who mentioned their discomfort over the "new" Sylvie.
deepred Feb 8th 2011 10:55PM
Indeed there is.
"I once worked for the so-called "Banshee-Queen", Sylvanas, as an apothecary. I used to admire her, but something's changed within her. She's not herself anymore.
I broke my vows with the Forsaken and joined the Crusade. Now, I use my knowledge of alchemy to seek a counter-plague agent. And the Plaguewood is the perfect place to do so."
Damn Dirty Ape Feb 9th 2011 7:46AM
"True this. He's got himself the exact same diplomatic situation that Thrall had, only worse. Sylvanas has a larger percentage of the Horde's forces under her control now (what with those Val'kyr and and the Blight and all), and the last thing Garrosh needs right now is to fracture the Horde. I do think (and sincerely hope) that Garrosh is keeping a close eye on her."
This isn't really true. In actuality, the Forsaken are far reduced in number, which is why Sylvanas has turned to the Val'kyr to 'procreate' her race. You can even see this in the Undercity, as the majority of the guards are still orcs due to the lack of Forsaken since the Battle for the Undercity.
Actually if you want some more lore about this very thing you should DEFINITELY play through the Tirisfal / Silverpine story arcs (and if you did I apologize, but maybe this will help someone else). Very early on in Silverpine you are privy to a meeting between Sylvanas and Garrosh that very clearly shows how Garrosh feels about Sylvanas, the plague, and her new Val'kyr friends. It is also quite clear that Garrosh is keeping a VERY close eye on Sylvanas, as he has several prominent orcs keeping tabs on her. You can see evidence of this throughout the Silverpine story arcs, during the Worgen introduction, and even in her throne room in UC.
** SPOILER **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7k5FjdSCMw
** END SPOILER **
(not my video, but it is of pretty good quality. Garrosh isn't quite as..... diplomatic... as Thrall, haha.)
StClair Feb 9th 2011 5:07PM
He'd start a fight and finish it too
That's what Warchief Garrosh would do