Gonna do a breakdown of the lore reveals now that I finally got the book today, some of it will already be information you know but just putting it all in one spot:
Intro
- it is written by Ta’lora (Lora is Spanish for parrot and refers to someone who talks a lot, maybe a joke) to Overseer Ta’reador (Ta Reader? joke?)
- Brokers refer to each other by their Cartel name, e.g. “the Ve”
- Ta’lora believes Cartel Ve financed an expedition to the Maw after the Maw Walkers arrived, with Ve’nari leading that expedition (this doesn’t add up timeline wise)
- Ta’lora refers to her report as a grimoire (which is weird since grimoire in-game has always followed it’s IRL use)
Chapter 1: Rites of the Dead
- There are three general umbrellas for all funerals on Azeroth: burial, cremation, or hybrid
- Night Elves believe their souls are welcomed by the world tree and that the “world welcomes its child back”, bodies are bathed by moonwell water by Priestesses, use arcane + nature magic to fix the corpse, name and life is sung by priestesses, shroud and flowers cover the dead, corpse laid upon grass and a druid then grows flowers around the body, and then the plants overtake the body entirely
- Broker considers the wisp a soulshape due to Elune’s interference
- Goblins are “gaudy”, Trade Prince Donais (in-game character) ended up in Revendreth, one’s status and wealth is tied to the opulence of the funeral, such as number of mourners and a party, Goblins bury their dead in coffins, there is a reading of the list of assets that they had at the funeral, they usually are buried with all their assets rather than give it to anyone in full view of rivals/enemies/family, the living seem to have to do the final wishes of the dead culturally speaking
- Kul Tirans always bury at sea, led by tidesages (there’s an in-game prayer, with a “Ask not for whom the bell tolls” reference), the Tidesages have a bell called the Dead Ringer that causes the soul to rise while the body sinks into the sea, Ta’lora learned this from Brother Parker (there is no brother parker in-game), Star Moss is part of the funerary rites, Broker considers Kul Tirans (and all mortals) to be superstitious
- Tauren was learned from Tamaala (lifemate of Cairne, mother of Baine), she was able to reject the Kyrians taking her soul because Cairne never left her in life, Broker is confused, each Tauren tribe has specific ceremonies and traditions but in common there is a funeral pyre to cremate the dead specifically at dawn (the Yeena’e and An’she are involved), some are done at Red Rocks for heroes of the tribes and the ashes are scattered to the winds to rejoin the Earth Mother (it seems Sky Father has been purged from the lore lmao), Tauren are wrong and Spirit Walkers do not cross into the veil upon the Broker investigating their practices, Broker claims Tauren could be susceptible to mass delusion (YIKES)
I’m literally so tired man, so, so tired. That they only used this language for the Tauren is unfathomably problematic and incredibly disrespectful. That they’re doubling down on in-universe mocking of shamanistic races and their religious beliefs, invalidating the entire Tauren Heritage Armor Questline, is bewildering.
Not only that but they literally just threw Sky Father out the window and focused on An’she but where he at?!
- Odyn is prideful, Broker considers he made the Val’kyr because he was desperate for adoration
- Lich King is of the Maw/Jailer manipulating the Burning Legion
- If a Kyrian Watcher determines that the soul is tethered by a sufficient powerful source, then the Kyrian nudges it back to the mortal plane or given to the force that claims it
- Broker affirms Helya and others were forced to become the first Val’kyr, and that she had no chance to seek vengeance, but took it when presented (Yikes)
- This page has some runes that corresponds to the runes of domination in sequence on the Loom of Fate and Runecarver room
Chapter Art:
- Night Elf funeral, woman laid with a translucent veil and flowers, like a cross between the Veiled Christ by Sanmartino and a viking funeral
- Goblin funerary horde, very similar from the Folk Tales book
- Kul Tiran boat funeral art
- Tauren burning someone, no visible War Bonnet, but their totem is being burned with them (it’s a Mulgore totem, eagle motif, like in the heritage armor)
Chapter 2: entering the Shadowlands
- Kyrians take souls from the Veil to Oribos (they do not seem to cross the In-Between)
- Anima varies between individuals
- Ta’lore insists the Arbiter (robot gold white blue girl) was always the Arbiter; does not mention or seem to be aware of Zovaal the Arbiter. (I think this implies the Brokers came up after Zovaal was banished)
- There are a “considerable number of worlds” (This implies that the earlier lore of Azeroth being one of the last worlds left is no longer the case) and so since people are constantly dying thus the stream is always full
- It takes a moment so small for the Arbiter to judge a soul that they cannot measure it
- Ardenweald = souls with affinity to nature and creatures of the wilds
- Bastion = the dutiful, a life of selflessness in exchange for an eternity of service to those worthy of ascension; Kyrestia “forged the path for her kyrian to follow” (It’s almost implying Kyrestia was made from a mortal soul)
- Revendreth = prideful deemed worthy of one final chance at redemption, the most desperate and sin-burdened souls, “Denathrius is to blame for the anima drought and the suffering of countless mortal souls” (confirmation they’re going with Remornia broke the Arbiter?)
- Maldraxxus = thirst for conflict, prove their worth in the immortal army of the necrolords
- Maw = pit of agony, details of its origins purged from history, darkest/cruelest souls unfit for any hope or reprieve
- Fatescribe and Attendants tabulate and archive each soul
- Anima proportionate to one’s life, the more significant or extraordinary the more anima (footnote has an equation: Delta Anima alpha Sigma experience function life, aka the “change in anima is directly proportional to the sum of one’s life experiences”)
- Anima can be offered or stripped, Brokers never thought to stockpile anima due to its abundance
- Shamanism confirmed to be 6 Elements (Spirit/Decay are two of them), Spirit/Decay can affect one’s anima, and Shamanism is referred to “low magic”, “Low magics, as well as those who practice them, are inherently unreliable.”
Great so most Horde races are considered inferior by the Brokers, thanks, good to know.
Chapter 3: Oribos
- Cartel Au found Oribos, previously the Brokers did not know where Oribos was, but they were from the Shadowlands and searched all over the In-Between
It stands to reason I think the Brokers may have originally been some sort of servants of Zovaal, and they were mind-wiped and placed somewhere in the In-Between, and somehow remade their civilization, maybe. Idk.
- Coiled snake symbol = First Ones symbol
- Oribos made by First Ones, souls can move between realms once redemption is complete
- Arbiter’s origins are unclear to the broker, Attendants believe she chose to dwell within the heart of Oribos
- Arbiter’s power is to witness one’s entire life, and the Attendants believe she is fair, impartial, and implacable (I think this affirms all Attendants were creations of the Eternal Ones post Banishment)
- Broker discovered ancient references to a time when the Arbiter was “not quite so benevolent” (ie Zovaal the Arbiter period)
I think it stands to reason then maybe souls were disproportionately damned once upon a time? Universal Damnation and Jansenism are two fringe IRL theologies.
- Broker is confused why the First Ones trusted the Arbiter with such a duty
- The Purpose = The guiding principle of all the Arbiter’s attendants (I think this is again gesturing that The Purpose = the agreement established after Zovaal was banished)
- The Attendants believe they were created by the Arbiter (HMMM)
- Each attendant mirrors a facet of the Arbiter’s ancient voice
- The Arbiter has never spoken, so Tal-Inara the Honored Voice speaks on her behalf
- Tal-Inara insisted the purpose was behind the Arbiter being shut off
- Hands of the Arbiter = Caretakers = maintain function/stability of Oribos = First Path
- Second Path = attendant scholars = history of Oribos and all who pass through it = this group includes the Honored Voice (who interprets the Will of the Arbiter) and Fatescribe Roh-Tahl (the Vision of the Arbiter, who has insight into the threads of fate, the innumerable possibilities, and has the power to affect destinies of living mortals)
- Third Path = Protectors = Shield of the Arbiter = defend the Eternal City
If each Attendant was created after the Arbiter, then that means that each Attendant contains a fragment of Zovaal’s anima.
Meaning the Fatescribe, the Honored Voice, etc, are all constructs based upon the power of Zovaal. Zovaal had the powers of the Fatescribe. Zovaal had the powers of the Voice. Zovaal was the Arbiter.
Meaning Zovaal was the Moros and Moirai of the Shadowlands.
- Ta’lora mentions a rumor that the Brokers were once another race of beings and shunned their name and form to pursue anima (Eternal Travelers?)
This makes me wonder again about the relation between the Attendants, the Brokers, and Zovaal.
- Cartel Au = basic stuff, Cartel Ta = cool stuff (Hall of Shapes vs Hall of Curiosities)
Ardenweald
- First Ones enabled their agents of LIfe to create vibrant realms that reflected seasons of that force in its apex, whereas its partner in Death would be the mirror
This soft-confirms the Emerald Dream of Azeroth and Overgrowth of Draenor pre-date the Titans I wager, and were shaped by the First Ones.
- Confirmation Wild God, August Celestial, and Loa are interchangeable should they refer to “great spirits aligned with nature” (again)
- Wild Gods regenerate in Wildseeds and are fed anima, and returned to their plane of origin (Dream/equivalent?)
- Running joke among Wowpedia editors, but the ardenweald trees have literally like six different names, the book uses “Celestial Trees” = communities and means of anima distribution
- Souls who served the wilds generally refer to “druid, hunted, and shaman” (THERE WHERE ARE ALL THE ORC, TAUREN, AND TROLL DECEASED CHARACTERS BLIZZARD, WHY WASN’T A SECTION OF ARDENWEALD UNDER BWONSAMDI’S JURISDICTION AS A DROMAN?!)
- Soulshape = “the true nature of their bond with the wilds”
- The Broker believes all the Wild Gods simply appear as the local fauna, and that they and Cenarius “chose” Azeroth
- Dragonflights are unique to Azeroth
- Ysera was revived by a portion of the Winter Queen’s essence, the broker is unsure whether or not Ysera can leave Ardenweald, and Ysera isn’t sure either
- First Ones established the Cycle of Life and Death and laid it as the foundation of the cosmos
- “It is logical to assume that the existence of a reciprocal being [to the winter queen] who serves as her counterpart can be found as well” = Elune = Pantheon of Life
- Apparently Elune/Winter Queen parted and the Winter Queen became resentful and in pain
- Wild Hunt is not a standing army, but a summoned group selected by the Winter Queen in times of need; assembly of the Wild Hunt is rare
- Court of Night is authorized to speak and act on behalf of the Winter Queen, including Droman Krelnor (RIP), Lord Renard (Wild God, "Student of Silence), Lady Moonberry (faerie, Lover of Narration), Droman Aliothe (Wild God, Hero of the Follow), and Droman Tashmur (tirnenn, Kin to Trees)
- Tirnenn emerged first among the fae, they can alter the forest at will
- Tirna Achiad = Heart of the Forest = first tree
- Sylvar = crafters/tenders, Vorkai = fierce protectors, Faeries = skilled in illusion and trickery
- Each Covenant = “a group of dedicated individuals who have vowed to carry out their sacred duties and see to the needs of their unique environment”
- To be part of the Night Fae Covenant = “to become one with the trees, the rivers, and the eternal twilight”
- the first boon given to the first mortal in Ardenweald was and is the ability of soulshapes
- the covenant armor is another boon, created from the forest itself
- the gift of soul bonds in another boon
- Watcher Vesperbloom is the historian/information broker of Ardenweald
Chapter 4 Bastion
- it is referred to as a “beatific land” (reference to the Catholic/Western Apostolic Christian theological concept of Beatific Vision I wager, how many devs are Catholic? Revendreth, Bastion, etc lol)
- “paladins from Azertoh and Light-Bearers of Fanlin’Deskor”
- Kyrian purged memories/emotions and tormented thoughts/emotions can become manifestations
- First Ones = The Progenitors
- The Kyrian Virutes were chosen by the Archon it seems
- At the time of this report, Devos had not be replaced, so this book was written at the end of 9.0
- “The gaze of a watcher dictates whether a mortal soul firmly clings to the tethers of mortality and should be nudged back to life - or if that soul is ready to be borne into Death.”
- Watchers can see when a mortal’s existence is “fated” to end
If Fatescribing was a power of Zovaal, then it explains where/how the Kyrians were also able to have this power.
- Forsworn as an organization post-date the Anima Drought (this presents a minor problem as Devos/Uther were already “forwsworn” politically at the time of Wrath, but maybe she didn’t recruit until later?)
- Kyrian Aspirants who cling to their past naturally turn darker skinned from their “bright azure skin” because magic, but simply turn back to blue after “purification” again
Bruh lmao of all the ways to frame this, the difference between Forsworn Purple and Kyrian Blue is just a few shades, it’s not that deep lmao
- If a Kyrian Aspirant could not turn back from being darkened were brought back to Oribos and exiled from Bastion previously
- Stewards keep momentos of their achievements, circumventing the “forgetting” standard of Bastion
- Elysian Hold = “beacon of Bastion’s light” that is “in the shadow of the Spires of Ascension”
- Joining the Kyrian Covenatn = “vow to place the greater good ahead of self-satisfaction”
- All members have their own personal Steward
- Kyrian soulbinding is sacred, solemn, and priceless
- Kyrian armor embued with the strength of the realm
Chapter 6 Revendreth
- souls sent here = pride, arrogance, wrath, desire, avarice, and envy
- a promise of redemption rather than a place of punishment by the Arbiter
Meaning Zovaal originally sent souls here to avoid damnation once upon a time.
- Anima is proportional to amount of sin
- Venthyr are the best at harvesting anima
- Some of the Xy Cartel collaborated with Denathrius
- Denathrius siphoned anima from each realm to add to his hoard, ergo contributing to the drought
So what broker the Arbiter, will we ever be told, tune in next year at Blizzcon 2022 so further lack of clarity
- Confirmation Prince Renathal was the Harvester of the Ember Ward
Whether or not this was always their intent or are canonizing speculation on the wowpedia Court of Harvesters page, we shall never know 
- Also implied Denathrius chose the sins to correspond to the divisions of the seven wards
- The book says the Stonewright hasn’t given her medallion yet so it is written at the end of 9.0
- The First Ones never intended for Revendreth to be on the front lines against forces beyond the realms of Death (this means that the Sinstones around the Dais of Sinfall were written by Denathrius/the Court)
- Ta’lora asked Z’rali whats up with Remornia, she didn’t answer them
- The Fearstalker is who allowed Cartel Ta to operate in the Forest Ward
- The Village Ward venthyr aspire to become nobles of the Castle Ward
- The Accuser has regained control of the Ceremony Ward and “pontificates from her pulpit” within the Halls of Atonement
- Catacombs Ward = archival knowledge of the hidden pasts of all those who inhabit Revendreth
- Upon arrival in Darkhaven, each soul is compelled to inscribe all their transgressions committed in their life upon their sinstone
- The soul bears the sinstone through a gauntlet of rituals
- While the rest of the Ember Ward was devastated, Sinfall withstood the assault from the Light, broker theorize it is due to the defenses Denathrius put on Sinfall when conducting his rituals to prevent the other Eternal Ones from noticing
- Soulbinding reveals memories to each other
- Choosing Venthyr Covenant = “to be welcomed into an eternal family - one that values trust and loyalty and therefore does not look kindly upon those who forsake oaths made to their beloved kin”
What
- a gift of the venthyr upon new oath-makers is translocation magic called Door of Shadows
- Stoneborn were created by the Venthyr as the Venthyr were created by Denathrius
- Stoneborn keep unruly souls on the path to atonement or acting as soldiers; each has an unwavering sense of loyalty to their makers
- Stonefiends, gargons, and dredbats are not stoneborn proper but stone-wrought creations
- Dredgers are also not stoneborn “per se” (so they’re similar? is muck stone? Muckborn?)
- Dreadlords infiltrated the shadowry domain of the Void Lords and the demonic armies of the Burning Legion according to rumors
I’m telling y’all, Ilgynoth was a Dreadlord who got ate by N’zoth, that’s why N’zoth knew about Zovaal
- Ta’lora wonders if any Brokers are Dreadlords
Maldraxxus Chapter 7
- Maldrqaxxus is a realm for the sadistic, martial-minded, courageous, determined, and fierce; the ultimate qualification for a place among the Maldraxxi is victory, whether honorable or questionable, whether through might or guile
- The power to Fleshshape was given to the Primus by the First Ones
- Maldraxxus has unique qualities among the realms of the afterlife
- The Five Houses were established by the Primus in conflict
- infighting was essential to their success
- 1 Margrave and 2 Barons per House
- House of Constructs = home of juggernauts, physical might, intimidation
- House of Rituals = home of necromancy, sorcery, intellect, ambition
- House of Eyes = subtlety, infiltration, secrets, weaknesses
- House of Chosen = arms, armor, tactics, strategy
- House of Plagues = toxins, poisons, debilitation, decay
- One rule of Maldraxxus = the rivalry that existed between his five houses must never overshadow their duty to defend the realms of Death at any cost
- Seat of the Primus made after the Five Houses
- The Primus has suffered losses, but were intentional (lol)
- The Primus invented necromantic runes and domination runes, two “runic languages”
- The Primus invented the runic language throughout the Shadowlands
- Each necromantic rune corresponds to the foundations of Maldraxxus, whether a simple command or necromantic energy manipulation
- Azeroth Death Knights use this Maldraxxus necromantic rune magic
- Domination runes were invented to bind Zovaal and were meant to stay in the Maw forever
But given Domination Runes feature all over Torghast, does that mean Torghast and the Maw were invented by the Primus? Did pre-banishment cosmos not have a Hell at all?
If so, yikes
- Domination runes are the most potent runic language the Primus had ever created
- Broker has no idea how Zovaal managed to have his binding loosened
MAYBE, THE NEW ARBITER SENDING SOULS TO BE AUTO-DAMNED? MAYBE DOUBLE PREDESTINATION IS BAD METAPHYSICS? MAYBE GIVING HIM A STEADY STREAM OF ANIMA FOR EONS?
Tired
- Ta’lora learns Draka’s story cuz a Goblin Maw Walker sold it to them lmao
- House of Plagues fell after the Primus disappeared
This presents a problem: Draka tied at the end of the First War, Vashj died during The Burning Crusade; both were Baronesses of the House of Eyes when it fell, that means that the Primus disappeared after both died.
Meaning the Primus disappeared sometime after Serpentshrine Cavern raid.
HOWEVER, Kel’Thuzad was who orchestrated the fall of the House of Plagues, whose soul did not return to his phylactery after Wrath era Naxxramas.
Thus by necessity, The Primus disappeared before patch 3.0.2 but after 2.0.2.
HOWEVER THIS CANNOT BE, as the Primus = Runecarver and it is where Zovaal got Frostmourne/Helm of Domination which he gave to the Burning Legion for the Lich King at the end of the First War when Draka died
Gaping, enormous plot hole.
- Fleshcraft = first commendation of new necrolord covenant members
- Maldraxxi = camaraderie in war and draw strength and guile from those on the field around them
- The echo of memories endue even if your soulbond dies
Chapter 8 Maw
- Maw is the embodiment of misery
- is inescapable, there is no redemption or hope
- souls damned are twisted until nothing but an echo of their former being remains
- Echo is broken by the Maw so it serves
- Even those with a slim chance to atone for their crimes were sent to Revendreth
- There are other afterlives of punishment for souls who deserve it
Wait, so Maw = Super Hell and there’s OTHER HELLS?!?!??!
Bruh what the Hell who is deciding this cosmology/metaphysics
- Torghast = Spire of infinite dread, where souls are broken to serve, ascending labyrinth, ever-shifting interior corresponding to the tumultuous state of the Maw and the whims of the Jailer, chaotic energies inside, Tarragrue guards Torghast
So, did Torghast always exist? Was it the original Oribos? Was it always a place of damnation? Who ran it before Zovaal was banished if so? If it was made by the Primus and the other Eternal Ones why did they think creating Hell was a good idea if the First Ones didn’t see the need to do it? What the Hell lmao
- Confirmation Vessels of Domination = Frostmourne and Helm of Domination
- Confirmation Frostmourne can either trap souls inside of it or create a fragment, thus Uther was split into three: Kyrian Uther, Frostmourne Uther, and Torghast Shard Uther.
Also, Mourneblades = Runeblades made with Domination Runes rather than Normal Runeblades = Maldraxxi Necromancy Runes
- The Broker wonders why the Waystone exists in the Maw
- The Broker believes the Maw was created by the First Ones because the records indicate it was always there
Note: the records also indicate the Robot Arbiter was always the Arbiter so lol
Man if the Eternal Ones created Hell that would be so cringe
- "I feel in regard to these questions, we are left with little more than speculation."
- Kel’Thuzad was taught necromancy by the Lich King
- Phylacteries were invented in Maldraxxus
- The Broker thinks Kel’Thuzad was sent to Maldraxxus by the Arbiter after his phylactery was destroyed
This is false, so we know a Kyrian (Devos?) brought Kel’Thuzad to Maldraxxus in patch 3.0.2
- Kel’Thuzad became a baron at record pace, partially thanks to Denathrius’s anima
- Kel’Thuzad is confirmed again to be behind causing the House of Plagues to fall
- Mueh’zala is considered a spirit of nature by the Broker, demanded living sacrifices, and feasted upon their fear and despair, preventing souls from going to the Shadowlands
- Empowered Bwonsamdi to be the new Loa of Death in exchange for souls to him, gave Bwonsamdi control of the Other Side
- Mueh’zala brought Odyn’s eye to Zovaal
- Mortals brag about beating Helya a lot (yikes)
- Helheim is on the precipice of the Shadowlands
Chapter 9 the first ones and the grand design
- The broker thinks the Purpose of Oribos was given by the First Ones
- Other First Ones shadowlands cities are Oribos, Baraneth, Nirem-Ahn, Korthia
- First Ones = shapers of the cosmos
- Archives of Oribos, “singing stones” of Nirem-Ahn, confirm First Ones = The Progenitors
- Great Cycle of Life and Death and the lesser pendulums of Order/Disorder, Light/Shadow
- Al’firim’s report is mentioned and detailed in the the book, with some quotes
- The Broker is unsure if the First Ones still walk the cosmos
- Zereth = keystone/cornerstone
- Al’firim is mad because he learned too much
- Azerothians have a freedom of mind and fate the denizens of Death lack