That and how odd it was that Zelling was welcome to sit among the rest of the leadership of the Horde without an explanation given. One was simply left to assume he was dumb enough to sit right next to the guy he had just performed treason with and thought nothing of the fact that the meeting was meant to assess the leadership for traitors. I knew something was going to happen to him based on that alone. He had no other reason to be there, except to be punished.
Then there’s the fact that the Banshee Loyalists don’t miss a single beat of the story. We do the majority of the work springing Derek from his confinement, same as the rebels.
We help Nathanos get the blade to Azshara, and then help defeat Azshara before we leave her little trap, job well done.
We spring Baine from confinement alongside Thrall and Jaina and get a pat on the back from both for helping.
We attend Saurfang and Anduin’s little talk about good and evil and report back to Nathanos that yeah, Vol’jin’s rebellion 2.0 is a go.
Etrigg tells us this is going to end the same way Mists of Pandara did years earlier, and we nod and agree.
The only thing unique to us is meeting up with Sylvanas at the Windrunner estate so she can give out early World of Warcraft: Shadowlands merch to us and Nathanos, while leaving us behind to wonder what the point of this fast-tracked sequel to the Horde Divided storyline was.
Honestly, it seems to be a reoccuring theme of the Horde.
The cool new Horde characters with tonnes of potential are either:
Swiftly killed off
Vilified (and then killed off)
Become shills for the Alliance.
used to enable the virtue-signalling provided by the Alliance
or showcased in such a way for Alliance characters to flex on and thus ruin their awe-appeal.
Sometimes even multiple of the above.
There’s also the flaw of X characters meaning to be a big-shot or awe-inspiring power in X field, only to be overshadowed by some Alliance character and not hold a candle to them …
Example?
The Nightborne, Thalyssra, Oculeth, Valtrois and the Blood Elf magisters like Rommath — are all overshadowed or narratively outshined constantly by Jaina, Magister Umbric, Khadgar and other Alliance race mages …
So yeah, Thomas Zelling being such a cool & well-written character — Yet killed off before he even got to truly shine was just like a spit in the face to Horde players from Blizzard which seems to be a reoccuring theme.
I may prefer Alliance, but I feel bad for Horde players given how much the story has screwed over the Horde (much as I adore Jaina, I think Thalyssra being a better mage makes more sense).
Let him eff up. Spectacularly. Let him get his comeuppance (maybe he hurts his own sister and has to win back her trust). And let that be a lesson to him. But, yeah; don’t kill the guy.
For one: while “pigeon twins” may be overdone in media as a whole, is there even another set of confirmed “pigeon twins” in the setting?
I’m not in the beta but why does he need a comeuppance and to learn anything?
From what it sounds like he doesnt trust the Loa and is disillusioned with his own gods. In fact that core trait seems to be the origin point for all the reasons people like him.
So why develop that away? Then he’ll just be boring.
which seems to be a reoccuring theme.