Mists of Pandaria: Siege of Orgrimmar
by Alex Ziebart 
Mar 19th 2012 at 3:02AM
The format of how Blizzard tells its story will change in this expansion, too. Mists of Pandaria itself, the game that comes in the box, will be a full, contained story. The entire arc of Mists of Pandaria will be there when you install the game, before any content patches at all. The content patches will be treated as sequels to that story. We will arrive on Pandaria when we install the game, have our adventures, and then see that story end. When the first patch hits, we will see Pandaria begin to be truly ravaged by our war.
While the steps taking us there are still unknown, Metzen did reveal that the war waged in those patches will reach a massive conclusion: We will lay siege to Orgrimmar to remove the mantle of warchief from Garrosh Hellscream's shoulders. It didn't sound as if it would be an Alliance-only venture, so it seems the new Warchief of the Horde will get a little too Old School Grom for their taste. However, there is a possibility that the Horde will get to deal a similar blow of their own ... Knowing the fate of Garrosh Hellscream, it's possible nobody is safe this expansion.
Filed under: Mists of Pandaria, News items
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 13)
Omegan01 Mar 19th 2012 6:16AM
BTW, I really like how you keep saying "your king" and how he "leads me" as if I'm some kind of Stormwind guard sitting behind the computer in my imperial plate set.
I play a video game. Varian isn't "my king" any more than Garrosh is your warchief.
(And btw, I main Horde.)
But keep projecting, railgun.
James Mar 19th 2012 6:24AM
Its a shame that your blind to it but your entitled to your opinion, however poor it is.
Good night to you.
Killik Mar 19th 2012 6:33AM
Good grief, it's not as if Varian Wrynn has to be 100% the same as Garrosh or 100% perfect.
Wrynn is an angry and impatient man, who has made some foolish decisions because he wants to see the Alliance prosper. He has anger management issues. He's not a fantastic leader.
Garrosh is a full-on raging buffoon, who would gladly run the entire Horde off a cliff if he thought there was honour at the bottom. He's incapable of negotiation on any terms other than total victory or surrender.
Don't get me wrong, I love Garrosh, but he's not a Warchief who could ever make peace. Wrynn is a King who potentially could.
Arrohon Mar 19th 2012 6:42AM
The only time that we've really gotten anything Varian after Wolfheart is the (lame) intro to Twilight Highlands. There he's still overprotective about Anduin, but that's about it. A man that he trusted enough that he chilled in his throne room suddenly attacked him. After the attack, he thanks Anduin, AND doesn't rage out like he used to. I think we'll be surprised who Varian will be when we first see him in Panda Land. He'll be less consumed by his hatred for the Horde, and more focused on preservation. If he was still nothing more than a berserker king, a doubt the "justice loving" pandaren would join anyone at all, let alone the Alliance.
RyanEX2000 Mar 19th 2012 6:46AM
Big difference is that Varian has received development, both ingame and in books since, despite what naysayers would have you think, he was fairly well received.
Garrosh on the other hand has had little to no development ingame, no development in the books other than being a typical warmonger. Basically what I see happening is that the Horde are going to continue from Cata only to realise that
1)they didn't much like sacking Theramore and
2)The Alliance are suddenly fighting with a viciousness only the older orcs remember, a la Blackrock Spire. With Garrosh refusing to even contemplate negotiation the Horde turn on him, orcs like Saurfang terrified at the thought of the internment camps again.
Darkke Mar 19th 2012 10:41AM
It's purely speculation at this point, but we do know Garrosh is going to do something HORRENDOUS. Warcrimes are warcrimes.
I'm thinking maybe execute Chen Stoutmantle? For assisting the enemy?
Or maybe a mass killing of the Alliance aligned Pandaren. But that's kinda been done already in south barrens, to the Horde. (against the commanding officers instructions, BTW)
Killik Mar 19th 2012 7:31AM
Garrosh got a fair bit of development - see Stonetalon, Silverpine, er... a smidge of Hillsbrad. Well, a little. Enough to show that he's not evil and that a substantial portion of the Horde love him.
But you're right. The choice is: get rid of Garrosh or turn back into the Old Horde.
Revrant Mar 19th 2012 9:28AM
@Omegan01
Among their many faults, these two individuals, you're forgetting Varian is also the man who ordered a secret operation to capture and execute the former Warchief, an orc attempting to help the world, in the midst of a global crisis where his work was vital to defeating Deathwing and then covered up his malicious actions leaving the Alliance ignorant of what their king had done.
If you don't call that as blind, warlike, and provocative as Garrosh then you should rocket-jump out of the conversation, "railgun".
Killik Mar 19th 2012 10:26AM
Did Wrynn order that? I thought it was the Twilight Cult, who had high level traitors in both the Alliance & Horde at that point. Got a source?
Omegan01 Mar 19th 2012 10:33AM
There isn't, Kil. He's responding to the same point I refuted hours ago.
Oh, and I see all the posts I had that were upvoted into blue status have been voted down again, with the reverse done to those I was arguing against. Looks like someone's had a busy night. I'm quite flattered. =)
byronius_prime Mar 19th 2012 12:24PM
I fully agree with Kilik. I like both guys, since they're leaders both factions haven't had for some time - leaders that want to make war. And that's the whole point. Now there seem to be people who equate Varian and Garrosh. That's stupid. Sure both of them are stubborn, and crave war, especially Garrosh. But they've had their good, even great moments.
On another note: Siege of Orgrimmar doesn't necessarily mean Garrosh dies. I'm nearly positive, that he'll do something attrocious(condone use of plague / kill a major player in the expansion, neutral or alliance) - and we'll come to apprehend him, and perhaps try him.
Revrant Mar 20th 2012 4:45AM
"Have you never heard of Onyxia? Have you never read the comic?"
Massive Retcon Warcraft Edition? Yeah, I have read that comic.
"Yeah, you'd almost think he just found out Thrall allowed humans to be caged and experimented on for the plague. Oh wait. HE DID."
Nope, Sylvanas, and he was appalled, and then he put in his personal guard to keep watch over the city after learning of her atrocities, Garrosh allowed what Thrall would not have - the new Forsaken. Now on the other hand Varian let the massacre of Taurajo go unpunished where the massacre in Stonetalon got someone thrown off a cliff by the Warchief himself, things aren't so black and white, are they?
"You do realize the implication behind the Alliance Twilight Highlands intro is that BENEDICTUS arranged that for the Twilight, don't you?"
...No such thing happened, that's a blatant lie, he had no hand in it, it was Varian attempting retribution after Thrall refused to act after the massacre of the druids, this was made crystal clear at least three times including the books, and I was there anyway, I did everything on both sides, the Twilight Highlands intro implied nothing of the sort.
You're desperate to play down Varian and attack Garrosh, the truth is they're both bad news and have shades of grey, although Varian may yet be redeemed and it appears Garrosh won't be.
byronius_prime Mar 20th 2012 3:30PM
"You do realize the implication behind the Alliance Twilight Highlands intro is that BENEDICTUS arranged that for the Twilight, don't you?"
Did I miss anything with the Alliance intro to the Highlands? Benedictus wasn't heavily involved with them, since Cho'gall was alive and all, and the intro was about the Samuelson guy anyway.
As for Thrall's kidnapping, there's no indication whatsoever to Twilight's Hammer influence. In their defence, knowledge of Thrall leaving office possibly hadn't circulated yet around Azeroth, although if SI:7 knew of the trip's purpose and still acted like that they're dumbasses.
Omegan01 Mar 20th 2012 5:15PM
"Massive Retcon Warcraft Edition? Yeah, I have read that comic."
Dhohohoho, that's cute. Calling it a retcon because that seems to bolster your argument.
We never knew the details of what happened between the Stonemasons and the House of Nobels. In the comic we found out that Onyxia engineered the dispute by mentally coercing both sides into becoming more greedily and unwilling to compromise.
Not a retcon. Canon. Deal with it.
"Nope, Sylvanas, and he was appalled,"
Being "appalled" doesn't let Thrall off the hook here. He was Warchief at the time, meaning he has unlimited authority and power over the Horde. Guess what, with unlimited authority comes the unfortunate fact that ultimate responsibilty rests with same. Thrall is entirely at fault for what happened in Undercity during his reign.
"and then he put in his personal guard to keep watch over the city after learning of her atrocities, Garrosh allowed what Thrall would not have - the new Forsaken."
Actually the Kor'kron permit the experimentation to continue. There's even still people kept in cages. Go on down to the apothecarium and see. Rather strengthes Varian's position.
"Now on the other hand Varian let the massacre of Taurajo go unpunished"
Varian didn't need to step in, genius, General Hawthorne already had the perpetrators who broke ranks arrested.
"...No such thing happened, that's a blatant lie, he had no hand in it, it was Varian attempting retribution after Thrall refused to act after the massacre of the druids, this was made crystal clear at least three times including the books, and I was there anyway, I did everything on both sides, the Twilight Highlands intro implied nothing of the sort."
Yes, it did. If you're willing to use your brain. I realize this might be hard for some people. Major Samuelson was a twilight agent inside Stormwind Keep, and during the Highlands intro we find out he's manipulating SI:7.
Who does Samuelson work for? The Black Bishop, a high-level Twilight agent in the cathedral.
Who was the Black Bishop originally meant to be, and who did all members of the cult pay obey as Twilight Father?
*drumroll*
Benedictus.
"You're desperate to play down Varian and attack Garrosh,"
I've barely said a word about Garrosh for this whole debate, are you even reading my posts? Or are you just so urgent to defend your video game leader that you'll scream anything at the "other side" you can think of to make yourself look better?
Take a chill pill.
Revrant Mar 21st 2012 3:18AM
"Dhohohoho, that's cute. Calling it a retcon because that seems to bolster your argument."
Nope, it was a huge retcon, previously it was established lore before the comic decided to scrub away one of Varian's most significant misdeeds.
"We never knew the details of what happened between the Stonemasons and the House of Nobels. In the comic we found out that Onyxia engineered the dispute by mentally coercing both sides into becoming more greedily and unwilling to compromise."
We surely did, again, this was all established long before the comic, being I'm a Lorekeeper and was editing articles long before that crap came out I should know, before "loldragonsdidit" the nobles refused to PAY period and tossed the workers out, leading to revolts and attempts to coerce the leadership into betraying them - VanCleef refused.
"Not a retcon. Canon. Deal with it."
You have an extremely poor understanding of lore.
"Being "appalled" doesn't let Thrall off the hook here."
No, it would be the part where he was ignorant of it, not the part where he was apalled that lets him off the hook, Garrosh knew and let it continue, Thrall took steps to thwart it.
"He was Warchief at the time, meaning he has unlimited authority and power over the Horde. Guess what, with unlimited authority comes the unfortunate fact that ultimate responsibilty rests with same. Thrall is entirely at fault for what happened in Undercity during his reign."
Cool, the person who knew nothing of what another nation was doing is 100% responsible for what they did, awesome logic, high five.
"Actually the Kor'kron permit the experimentation to continue. There's even still people kept in cages. Go on down to the apothecarium and see. Rather strengthes Varian's position."
That's in-game, the lore ended those experiments, don't equate dev team laziness or lack of resources with Thrall being complicit, and you can stop shining Varian's boots at any point in this discussion.
"Varian didn't need to step in, genius, General Hawthorne already had the perpetrators who broke ranks arrested."
...No, he didn't, in fact the one who urged the General to perpetrate the act in the first place was his second in command, what happened is the troops didn't care to restrain themselves - and they went unpunished for it, even continuing to chase down the Tauren, to the point that many fled into dangerous oasis areas. The General's opinion was these things were "unfortunate" and he eventually sends you to interfere with the murder and looting.
"Yes, it did. If you're willing to use your brain. I realize this might be hard for some people. Major Samuelson was a twilight agent inside Stormwind Keep, and during the Highlands intro we find out he's manipulating SI:7."
No, we don't, we find out he's manipulating the city guard and various other localized elements of Stormwind's kingdom, we actually pair up with SI:7 to further investigate him.
"Who does Samuelson work for? The Black Bishop, a high-level Twilight agent in the cathedral."
Some dude, right.
"Who was the Black Bishop originally meant to be, and who did all members of the cult pay obey as Twilight Father?
*drumroll*
Benedictus."
...No, the Black Bishop is just an agent, the Twilight Father was cemented long before this quest was added and was always intended to be Benedictus, your fabrications don't work on a Lorekeeper, pal.
"I've barely said a word about Garrosh for this whole debate, are you even reading my posts? Or are you just so urgent to defend your video game leader that you'll scream anything at the "other side" you can think of to make yourself look better?"
You're attempting to elevate your leader above theirs by miscasting his deeds and mistakes as the machinations of others, even going so far as to embrace a blatant retcon in hopes of casting him in a positive light, I've already stated my opinion of each and have maxed characters on both sides, I recognize the flaws of each side - you, on the other hand, have got me beat on the urgent apologist platform.
"Take a chill pill."
Leave, you've lost the argument, be mature and move on.
Omegan01 Mar 21st 2012 5:19AM
Good god, again with this "your leader" talk. Are you delusional or something? Do you really believe there's a Varian out there? Do you expect a phone call from Garrosh thanking you for taking his side? This is getting disturbing. Again, because you don't really seem to read my posts: I. MAIN. HORDE.
And guess what. I have 85s on both sides too. And the Loremaster title.
But hey. Keep downvoting my posts and convincing yourself I only like Varian because I wear Imperial plate in my free time if it makes you happy.
Revrant Mar 21st 2012 6:41AM
"Good god, again with this "your leader" talk. Are you delusional or something? Do you really believe there's a Varian out there? Do you expect a phone call from Garrosh thanking you for taking his side? This is getting disturbing. "
Really? You're on a site discussing lore, admit to having the in-game Loremaster title, and can(incorrectly) recall minutia in lore and you're going the "get a life this isn't real" route? Tryharder tryhard.
"Again, because you don't really seem to read my posts: I. MAIN. HORDE."
I read it just fine, but I sincerely doubt someone who mains Horde is going to be an Alliance apologist, and you've fabricated parts of your argument to further that apologist stance, therefore I don't believe you.
"And guess what. I have 85s on both sides too. And the Loremaster title."
Good for you, I also have the silly title, but I wasn't referring to that, being a Loremaster isn't wearing an insulting ! tabard and having a title the same way having Jenkins doesn't make you Leeroy - it just means you completed an achievement.
"But hey. Keep downvoting my posts and convincing yourself I only like Varian because I wear Imperial plate in my free time if it makes you happy. "
Your rampant paranoia aside I will keep putting down your apologist fabrications and the apologist fabrications of Horde-minded players, both of you are rather ridiculous from my perspective.
Skarlette Mar 19th 2012 3:05AM
Booooooooooooyeah! I'll be first in line to pop a fireball right between that guy's eyes!
Xabidar Mar 19th 2012 3:05AM
My word.
GhostWhoWalks Mar 19th 2012 3:05AM
"We will lay siege to Orgrimmar to remove the mantle of warchief from Garrosh Hellscream's shoulders."
YES. And even if, for some bizarre reason this ends up being an Alliance-only undertaking, I will gladly disguise myself as a Human and lend a hand.