Patch 5.2 interview with Dave Kosak
Inside an old alt's vault
The latest patch 5.2 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsFaction leader short stories continue with Sylvanas Windrunner
by Mathew McCurley 
Sep 27th 2011 at 4:00PM
Personally, I think this is one of the strongest leader short stories, delving into answerable questions and giving us real, solid lore to fill in the holes in the story. Seeing Sylvanas' grief and lack of focus after Arthas' death was something I had hoped would be addressed, as well as the Val'kyr, both of which were discussed and explained. Check out the story, written by non other than Dave "Fargo" Kosak, and marvel at a new chapter in the Dark Lady's story.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
mibu.work1 Sep 27th 2011 4:38PM
This is easily the best work on Sylvanus I've seen yet, and it really puts the player's interactions with her in perspective from silverpine. If you havn't done it yet, go to silverpine and go through all the quests, don't skip a one. You will learn what it means to be a forsaken under sylvanus that way, and it makes this story all the more powerful.
Hurbster Sep 27th 2011 4:45PM
And don't forget kids, it's the only way to find out the rest of the Worgen story as well !!
relmatos Sep 27th 2011 4:57PM
I leveled a forsaken priest just to go through the forsaken quests.
Tirisfal -> Silverpine ->Hillsbrad -> Western Plaguelands.
That coupled with the Worgen areas are my favourite quests in the game Lorewise.
relmatos Sep 27th 2011 4:50PM
I really cant read short stories on the computer. It makes my eyes water.
When will they sell aan anthology with all these stories?
Scott Sep 27th 2011 5:08PM
DOwnload and print the PDFs
Bellajtok Sep 27th 2011 5:07PM
They may not. Might I suggest downloading the PDF and printing it out instead?
relmatos Sep 27th 2011 5:09PM
I might end up doing that but it's really not the same thing (Bookaholic)
GuyverIV Sep 27th 2011 5:04PM
A great story, and her change in personality makes much more sense now.
And she must die. I knew she'd crossed a line when she began using the plague as freely as she has been, and had been raising new forsaken from those who oppose her. She HAS become exactly what she hated, she's lashing out at the world in terror.
She's done dark deeds and had a taste of the rewards they've earned her in the beyond, and she's willing to do anything to forestall that. She doesn't care about the Forsaken, she just doesn't want to go back.
She's a monster now.
Bellajtok Sep 27th 2011 5:09PM
Hands up everyone who saw this comment coming. /handup
Shinae Sep 27th 2011 5:19PM
Oh, she is totally a monster! And that's nothing new.
I've always seen the Horde as "the monsters" and that is why I mainly play the Horde. Horde characters are pretty interesting to me.
Angus Sep 27th 2011 5:29PM
I would say it is more than that. It isn't her punishment for her deeds that sent her to the darkness.
She's undead. Read what happened to her again. The very act of ripping her away from the Light after her death tore her should apart in some manner.
Part of her soul is still there, the part that is left can't find it's way back and can't join with it anymore. And this is what awaits ALL forsaken and Death Knights. They don't get to rest when they finally die. They see only Darkness. That's the wort thing about Necromancy in this universe. It robs you of your connection to the light and a part of your soul.
Sylvanas isn't just making more Forsaken to fill the ranks in wars. She's making sure she's not the only one there when the Darkness takes her. She's terrified because she knows without a single iota of doubt, she's in for eternal torment.
Angus Sep 27th 2011 5:31PM
I hate auto-correct almost as much as the lack of AN EFFING EDIT BUTTON
soul. Worst.
Gah
jfofla Sep 27th 2011 6:03PM
Still, I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers.
GuyverIV Sep 27th 2011 6:22PM
While I can see why I got the downvoting, I feel I didn't explain myself well. This is not delighting in the fact that she's suffering, it's not "Alliance-Rawr/Horde-Bleh."
I pity her. She's terrified, but instead of seeking redemption, she's condemning other people, she's using the Forsaken AGAIN, this time as a shield between her and the void, instead of an arrow aimed at Arthas.
I disagree that this is what awaits all forsaken and Death Knights. We don't KNOW what awaits them. The only two undead who's "afterlife" we've seen glimpses of were Arthas and Sylvanas. And while Sylvanas is strong, cunning, and a more than worthy warrior, she uses people. She betrays alliances. She lies, and manipulates, and devices. She may not be evil, but she's quite dark.
What does she do as soon as her soul is pulled from that horrid darkness? Search for redemption? Work to improve the world? Ah. No, she chooses to kill and corrupt. There is a new Lich King, and yet SHE is the one spreading the effects of plague and undeath.
The effects of Fel magic and Necromancy are no reason. Look to the Broken. They may not be able to find the Light as easily as they once did, but they find another way. Crusader Bridenbrad did not forsake the Light, and was not forsaken, even though he was consumed by the plague.
wllmsgame Sep 27th 2011 7:42PM
But they (the broken) lost their connection to the light, not had their souls ripped from their bodies then forcibly brought back. Its like saying, Pull the fish out of water, but then put him in a fishbowl is the same as harpoon a fish out of water, through the heart, and then put him in the fishbowl, he'll be fine.
And as for that one guy, yeah, he's the exception to the rule. So devote was he that the light did not forsake him. Meaning he was so heavenly minded he was no earthly good, how else did he get killed by the lich king with that much power at his hands.
Bellajtok Sep 27th 2011 8:21PM
First, I'd just like to say that the story established something which was very clear to me: Sylvanas is the motivation of the Forsaken. Without her, they'll follow Garrosh or anyone quickly. They have an incredibly strong will... and I guess "purpose" would be a better word. But with Arthas dead, they need a purpose. Sylvanas's purpose is to not die. The purpose she gives the Forsaken is claiming their place in the world. Without her, they would surely die... as we were shown.
But I also have to point out that none of your comparisons are relevant. This isn't like the Broken, who got cut off from the light but could work with the elemental spirits. Nor is it like Bridenbrad, who was plagued but not yet undead. These people died. In some way, their souls rejoined the Light. What's left... is a shadow of that person who had nothing to live for but revenge. Necromancy perverts both the body and the soul.
Just look at the Scourge. If uncontrolled by the Lich King, they would become an unstoppable force of destruction. But when the Forsaken broke free, Sylvanas was the one who took control. I see "Lich Queen" used as a title for her often... Maybe that's true, but she resembles Bolvar, not Arthas. She's channeling all the destructive power of the Forsaken and using it at her own will. If one of those many Light-wielding lazyasses were to go help her find a kinder purpose in unlife, she could get the Forsaken to do it.
ravyncat Sep 27th 2011 5:09PM
This was a very good read.
I am glad to know some of the whys behind what Sylvanas is doing nowadays. I also don't see her as completely crazy like I did before.
She has a very good reason to do what she is doing. Preserving her "life" to put off...judgement? makes perfect sense. I still think she is a bit crazy, but no crazier than any undead creature.
This makes me happy. Sylvanas is much more interesting as a mostly sane person doing repulsive things than the easy route of "oh she went insane due to Old Gods and is going to be a raid boss eventually." She might still end up there, but it sounds like her story will be much better than that at the end.
loop_not_defined Sep 27th 2011 5:31PM
I was getting fairly excited halfway through, when it seemed like she had attained eternal bliss, and one of the Val'kyr might've taken over her body. Still, finding out there is no eternal bliss, only oblivion, waiting for her is almost as exciting.
GuyverIV Sep 27th 2011 6:39PM
Ravyn, that's almost exactly what I was trying to say. Just a tiiiiiiny bit more diplomatically. Thanks for reading my mind, and saying what I meant, not what actually came out. :-)
Hugos Sep 27th 2011 5:18PM
Nice, I have always wanted a Voldemort in my WoW.