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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 4.2 preview: Thrall's fate revealed in epic quest [SPOILERS!]
by Mathew McCurley 
Apr 29th 2011 at 12:30PM
Blizzard has just released a preview of the patch 4.2 epic quest line that awaits players involving Thrall, former warchief of the Horde. After the events of Hyjal and the successful thwarting of Ragnaros' invasion, things were quiet for a short while. A meeting between the many heroes of Hyjal, the Earthen Ring, and the dragon aspects took place at Nordrassil, where Thrall's fate was severely changed.
We'll talk about it more after the break, which has some spoilers for those who are concerned about such things.
THRALL DIES. Sort of. At the Nordrassil meeting, a Twilight's Hammer agent infiltrates and strikes down Thrall, shattering his elemental spirit into the four domains of the elements.
Is Thrall gone for good? Who was the Twilight's Hammer agent who successfully interrupted the meeting and took out Thrall? Will we be able to enter each of the elemental realms and save Thrall's spirit? We'll have to wait until patch 4.2, Rage of the Firelands, to find out!
Patch 4.2 -- Elemental Bonds
After the druids and their allies thwarted the invasion of Hyjal by the Twilight's Hammer and Ragnaros, an air of peace settled on the sacred mountain. As new growth bloomed across the region, members of the Earthen Ring and Cenarion Circle, along with the noble Dragon Aspects, convened at the ancient World Tree of Nordrassil. Among the gathered heroes were the legendary archdruid Malfurion Stormrage, the former Horde warchief and accomplished shaman Thrall, and his strong-willed companion, Aggra. Together, this illustrious assemblage was to unite its wondrous powers and restore the World Tree for the good of Azeroth.
Yet this auspicious event ended in tragedy. The details are still unclear, but word has spread that an incredibly powerful Twilight's Hammer agent, shrouded to hide his identity, interrupted the ceremony and struck down Thrall with dark magics... casting his spirit into the four domains of the Elemental Plane. If these terrible rumors hold true, the Earthen Ring -- indeed, all of Azeroth -- has potentially lost one of its greatest champions.
...Is this the end of the Son of Durotan?
In patch 4.2, level-85 characters will have the opportunity to answer this question and more.
While even the Aspects concede that Thrall may be lost to the elements forever, there is one who still believes that he can be saved from this bleak fate. Aggra, a powerful shaman in her own right, will call upon you to assist her as she travels to the ends of the earth and beyond -- to Skywall, the Abyssal Maw, Deepholm, and Firelands -- to rescue her beloved from an eternity of torment.
Thrall is no ordinary mortal, though, and this will be no ordinary quest. You will not only have to face the denizens of the elemental planes, but the very essence of Thrall himself and everything that has shaped him into the orc he is today. Before you can return his spirit to the natural world, you must overcome his doubts, his willfulness, his desires, and his rage -- for it is these aspects that bind him to his elemental cage.
Are you up for this challenge? Can you break Thrall from his elemental bonds and ensure the restoration of the World Tree? The fate of the world, and one of its foremost heroes, hangs in the balance.
Yet this auspicious event ended in tragedy. The details are still unclear, but word has spread that an incredibly powerful Twilight's Hammer agent, shrouded to hide his identity, interrupted the ceremony and struck down Thrall with dark magics... casting his spirit into the four domains of the Elemental Plane. If these terrible rumors hold true, the Earthen Ring -- indeed, all of Azeroth -- has potentially lost one of its greatest champions.
...Is this the end of the Son of Durotan?
In patch 4.2, level-85 characters will have the opportunity to answer this question and more.
While even the Aspects concede that Thrall may be lost to the elements forever, there is one who still believes that he can be saved from this bleak fate. Aggra, a powerful shaman in her own right, will call upon you to assist her as she travels to the ends of the earth and beyond -- to Skywall, the Abyssal Maw, Deepholm, and Firelands -- to rescue her beloved from an eternity of torment.
Thrall is no ordinary mortal, though, and this will be no ordinary quest. You will not only have to face the denizens of the elemental planes, but the very essence of Thrall himself and everything that has shaped him into the orc he is today. Before you can return his spirit to the natural world, you must overcome his doubts, his willfulness, his desires, and his rage -- for it is these aspects that bind him to his elemental cage.
Are you up for this challenge? Can you break Thrall from his elemental bonds and ensure the restoration of the World Tree? The fate of the world, and one of its foremost heroes, hangs in the balance.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on the new quest hubs. Plus, new Tier 12 armor!
Reader Comments (Page 7 of 8)
Orkchop Apr 29th 2011 2:46PM
Looks like this will be the 5-man dungeon content for patch 4.2. New quests, and possible encounters, in the existing Heroic Dungeons. Well, except there isn't a Heroic in the Firelands, but that may be a separate quest, related to the new daily quest hub, or handled in one of the existing Heroics.
raingod Apr 29th 2011 2:51PM
He'll leave us Gandalf the Grey and come back like Gandalf the white.
Neotaeo Apr 29th 2011 3:20PM
Ok, although a Thrall aspect would be pretty cool, I'm still holding out for him to become the new and long awaited Guardian or Trisfal. I mean, come on, we could have used one of those time and time again lately.
Snark Apr 29th 2011 3:22PM
Meanwhile, Varian Wrynn is handling the tumultuous events.... of Stormwind's throne room! *GASP*
Dreyja Apr 29th 2011 3:46PM
Could this be where we see the ACTUAL high-ranking twilight spy that was data-mined ages ago? Interesting...
Murdertime Apr 29th 2011 11:19PM
In response to these terrible events, Varian Wrynn builds another, larger statue of himself.
Craig Apr 29th 2011 3:43PM
Sorry was reading comments pretty much think someone said this whole questline will be a solo operation. I just do not raid and as someone who believes in lore just want to see how this plays out and would be sad if I was not able to. That said, this could help explain the whole thrall becomes aspect of eart when deathwing finally falls...I would think the four aspects could call their powers together to bring thrall 'back' but in dragon form...so maybe first orc-dragon model.
Filip83 Apr 29th 2011 4:13PM
I feel REALLy ecited about hearing all these news.
Then I think how everyone was REALLY excited with all the news on Cataclysm originally.
And how everyone has been having some mild to strong disappointments with Cata later.
I hope they really nail it though.
Just find it funny how people go berserk for a little info that gets released, immediately forgetting their imagined or not imagined gripes with the game now.
Awesomebob Apr 29th 2011 4:15PM
WoW? Thrall?
People still play this game?
Noah Apr 29th 2011 4:52PM
I have a point to make here. If you're here to degrade WoW players, then would you please go to blogger.com, create an account, and rave there where we can't hear/see you?
Appreciated.
Drack Apr 29th 2011 5:14PM
@Noah
But then how could he troll us? ;)
Nipah Apr 29th 2011 4:30PM
I wonder if he can mess around with other Shaman's totems?
*summons his Fire Elemental Totem*
... It's very 'orcy' looking today.
*gets Fire Nova'd*
Thrall! Oh you! *wags finger*
GhostWhoWalks Apr 29th 2011 4:48PM
I'm all for Thrall being promoted to Aspect, don't get me wrong, but I was struck by a bit of Fridge Logic: "wait...all the other Aspects are dragons, with entire armies of offspring to act as their agents. If Thrall becomes the Aspect of Earth, he's going to need an army of his own to help him out, he can't be expected to be everywhere at once. The Black flight is a bit out of the question. I don't really see a new flight being made out of thin air. Army of empowered shamans? Possible, but I kind of doubt it, what would happen to the Earthen Ring then? Conscripts from the Horde? Unlikely."
It occurs to me that there's a reason only Dragons have been Aspects; they come with a large Dragonflight that can go out into the world and enforce their will. Is Thrall really expected to do this all on his own?
I will say this though: if Blizzard really can scrounge up an army for Thrall to lead, they would almost definitely be the next Shattered Sun Offensive/Ashen Verdict, the faction that leads the attack on the expansion's endboss.
Bodrake Apr 29th 2011 5:41PM
I predict that the "incredibly powerful Twilight's Hammer agent" will be none other than Fandral Staghelm.
Rime Apr 29th 2011 6:25PM
Thralls coming back as the aspect and he gonna be the one with us in the deathwing raid just like Highlord Tirion Fordring was there in ICC..kinda obvious whats gonna happen but still excited to experience it
Donegan Apr 29th 2011 6:49PM
Has anyone considered the possibility that the soul fragments we will be rescuing and then restoring will be infused into that Black Dragon Egg we saved awhile back thus having Thrall become reborn as a Dragon and satisfying the whole you-gotta-be-a-Dragon-to-do-the-Aspect-hokey-pokey thing.
Alexstraza: Hey, bring those soul thingies to me. You, fetch that egg from 4.0.
/dragonmagic
Alexstraza: Your Orc is now a Dragon Aspect.
The more you know...
/starrainbowcomet
Drack Apr 29th 2011 7:33PM
Hello Azerothians. Look at your orc, now back at me, now back at your orc, now back to ME. Sadly, your orc isn't a dragon like me. But if he stopped being alive and was resurrected into the body of a black drake he could look like me!
Look down. Back up. Where are you? Your in the Badlands with the Dragon your orc can look like. What's in your hands. Back to me. I have it. Its the soul of your orc! Look again. He is now a dragon!
Anything is possible when your shaman looks like a dragon and not an orc.
I'm on a Titan.
Drakkenfyre Apr 29th 2011 7:44PM
Wow, that would be incredibly lame and cliche.
"Hey, your favorite all-powerful Horde Warchief has been reborn AS A DRAGON!"
While I have nothing against Thrall, I know there are people out there that see him as a Mary Sue. That would send them over the edge.
There was never a "you have to be a dragon to be an Aspect", the Titans simply made the dragons the Aspects.
Donegan Apr 29th 2011 9:14PM
@Drakkenfyre
A valid critique, but I think there are probably just as many if not more players out there (especially the fans who aren't particularly critical of Blizzard's story direction) who would be on board with Thrall reborn as a Dragon. Cliches exist because, generally, people accept them.
Also consider:
● By making Thrall a Dragon Aspect, Blizzard eliminates the problem of having a Horde-biased character that they obviously intend you, the player, to really like despite your character's faction. As a Dragon Aspect, he could transcend "petty" Horde-Alliance bickering and remain neutral.
● Unless we completely wipe out the Black Dragonflight (and the presence of that Badlands egg seems to indicate we will not) they will need new leadership once their current head honcho is forcibly removed. I'd be surprised if the plan was for that egg to hatch forth a fresh Dragon Whelpling with no prior backstory at all and have him or her be crowned Aspect. And as far as I know, the Black Dragonflight roll call isn't filled with any other potential candidates (I'm far from an expert, though).
● We know with reasonable certainty that Thrall's destiny was planned out before the expansion even dropped, based on comments made at Blizzcon by Metzen himself. At this point, since supporting quests (like the Badlands egg one) are already in-game I'm not sure they could develop an acceptable alternative solution even if the uproar from the "Thrall is Metzen's Gary Stu!" portion of the fanbase was deafening.
● Lastly, I'm pretty good at predicting these things. (I couldn't stop myself from bringing that one back. C'mon, you know you smiled.)
Drakkenfyre Apr 29th 2011 10:50PM
It's a theory, but I am sorry. The idea of "Let's take the 4 piece of Thrall's soul, put them in a dragon egg, and he's reborn as a dragon" is just ridiculous. I would also imagine that wouldn't be taken too kindly to by some of the other Aspects. That's like, fan fiction type stuff. The "Only person powerful enuf to save the world" already annoys some people. Making him a dragon would be like, 10 times that.
Thrall is Thrall. He might come back changed, he might come back altered (think super powered up with elements) but he will never be completely changed to the point where he is no longer humanoid.
Metzen absolutely loves Thrall. And absolutely loves the Horde. He wouldn't take Thrall, and turn him into something completely neutral to both factions. Friendly, maybe. Completely neutral to the point where he was supposed to leave the Horde, no. No one, no matter who they were, would ever accept that Thrall was no longer a part of the Horde. No matter how neutral they wrote him. It would piss off both Alliance and Horde fans.
Again, there is no rule saying Aspects have to be dragons. Dragons were just the most powerful creatures at the time when the Titans delegated them to being Aspects.