I guess in a way this applies to shadow priest and subtly shadow magic rogues as well, not just warlocks…. But how do lightforged draenei use shadow/void magic without having explosive results that would harm them?
If I remember correctly, Alleria and Turalyon couldn’t physically touch due to void and holy magic having a volatile mixture when exposed to each other. I guess I’m wondering how volatile combining the two magics together would be? Is it along the same lines as a forsaken priest casting holy magic where they are in pain with the possibility of exploding if their willpower isn’t strong enough? Perhaps there is some new lore that I missed that helps explains this better?
I like immersing my character in the canon lore to make sense of his abilities. As a warlock how would using the shadow magics or using a voidwalker affect my lightforged Draenei?
There is no explosive element between the two when used correctly. A discipline priests channels both shadow and light to manifest and balance both. A Void Elf using holy magic will not explode and a Lightforged using a Void portal won’t either. In fact, the Void elf feels a tingly sensation same as a Lightforged Draenei. As seen in the book, “Shadows Rising.”
Alleria Windrunner opened a Void portal and Turalyon went through it. He felt tingly and the Lightforged Draenei felt the same. When Alleria and Turalyon interrogated an orc mother. They combined their powers to effectively discern the lie from the fiction.
The Void sees a thousand truths, and the Light only one, when properly combined you can find out which truth is real and which is not. The Light guides and Void reveals. The two when combined with a holy priest Void Elf or a Warlock Lightforged Draenei can show mastery which are unparalleled by outside races or factions. The power of Light and Void are the causal forces which created existence and only when used in balance can they truly be a cosmic threat. As apart they fall into either linear causal failure as seen in the Light or infinite failures caused by being spread thin and internal entropy by the Void. Hope that clears it up! We don’t have explosive results unless we want it and when we do… Well, no other faction can rival the Light and Void masteries of the two races.
Okay, I was always under the assumption that opposite cosmic magic forces had a natural explosive and volatile relationship when combined together. I also assumed discipline priest got away with using both because they channeled each spell separately before using it and they weren’t actually combined together. Whereas, for example, a void elf is imbued with void magic with every fiber of their life force. So any holy magic spell they cast would get mixed with their body’s natural void essence and cause issues for them.
So if I’m reading what you’re saying correctly, opposite cosmic forces can actually be used together if the individual is correctly using the magic attacks. So I am assuming that explosive interaction Alleria and her husband had was merely both of them not understanding their powers correctly and being new to the concept of combining both cosmic forces together?
Exactly! If they were untrained and just channeled their powers to their zenith without regard that could end very badly for themselves, but for their enemies such disregard can reward explosive results. Opposing forces doesn’t automatically mean death. It just means a greater chance of volatility if not carefully used.
A Lightforged warlock dabbles in the impossible and will discover superior results than a mere orc or trifling gnome. You can master and bind your enemies in ways the regular warlocks could not imagine! Moreso, with the Light you can concentrate your ambition to laser focus all while your enslaved demons finishes off your enemies with zeal. Imagine the suffering you can concoct to your enemies when the Light’s judgement strikes them as Doom or Agony withers at their souls. The two forces careen through your enemies’ bodies… Pain so exquisite just imagine it! Lore wise you’re not just a dark spell casting warlock you’re a master forged in the Light! One who uses both regularly upon your foes. A foe who is almost certainly unready and unable to counter the opposing forces.
Okay that clears up a lot for me and makes me feel a lot better about my race and class choice. I really appreciate you helping me understand the cosmic mixing of magic. I was getting frustrated trying to find lore references online that could support the use of the mixing of magical forces without issue. So thanks a lot.
I kind of envisioned my lightforged Draenei warlock similar to a Warhammer psyker within the empire. I’m trying to use my dark magic for good but my lightforged brethren are keeping a close eye on me to make sure things don’t get out of hand with my chaotic magic choice, or else they may have to step in and end my life.
Exactly! You’re using the powers that destroyed Argus the home world of the Eredar. As an eredar Draenei you are definitely a pariah, but not one Velen would not care for. He understands the need for rogues, warlocks and death knights. He may not agree with their methods, but their results? As we can see, pertinence even for most the corrupted of kin. Because using dark powers doesn’t automatically make you the enemy or a villain. You can roleplay like you would your psyker. You wield powers that would make most mad, and you succeed at it. More so, with counterbalancing powers you are the harbinger of your people’s wrath if not your own. Careful for great power often corrupts and leaves even the best-intentioned men utterly corrupted. Look at Argus… Such is the price of the power wielded without regard, but you’re not like that! You’re a “good” warlock.
I would play up your warlock as you see fit, like a psyker fighting for the imperium of man or a Lightforged Draenei. You know that the powers of chaos come at a price.
If you want to do that, I highly suggest you ignore most of the lore from the past few years. It’s done wonders for me, and everything makes so much more sense. As I recall, in the new lore the Twisting Nether formed when Light and Void clashed together. So, shouldn’t light + void magic = fel?
Except that’s completely ignored at other times. And then we have the example with Alleria and Turalyon you brought up.
If we go by old lore, then divine magic comes from your own beliefs and ideology, not directly from the Old Gods or some sort of Light “force”. So, it’s more a matter of your mindset and perspective when you use one form of magic vs. the other. It’s all about the power of faith and ideals. This is why the Scarlet Crusade could use the Light despite being evil, for example. It’s also why the Light “abandoned” the Blood Elves for a while: it was a crisis of faith.
But, of course, all that’s retconned.
If you’re set on playing a lightforged warlock, then obviously ignore this advice and listen to other suggestions <3
There have been some examples of this, but really, they apply to almost any combination of cosmic powers. There was a boss in WoD’s final raid, who consumed void and fel and exploded as a result. That having been said, mixing Void and Fel doesn’t always result in an explosion.
Although we don’t see it very much these days, Alleria is perfectly capable of wielding the Light as we heard in, ‘A Thousand Years of War.’
I would say being able to wield both powers would largely depend on the individual doing so. Lest we forget, Naaru themselves are a manifestation of both powers in a cycle.
I find it very silly that they decided Post-Legion to make the Twisting Nether a combination of Light and Void, which should imply that Light + Void = Chaos/Fel. At the very least, it implies that when you combine the two, you get a big bang style explosion of magic.
And yet, as usual, they can’t commit to an idea for more than a few days.
Holy and Shadow should have remained internal sources of power. The Holy Light and Old God worship should have remained personal religious expressions of these magics. Fel and Arcane should have remained two forms of the same magic from the Twisting Nether. It solves literally every potential plothole with divine magic without all this overcomplicated cosmic math nonsense.
I think when they decided to expand the lore. They realized that the powers that be couldn’t just be explosive, but counterbalancing and at times even hegemonic. As we see with Life/Death Magics, Light/Void magics and so on. If the powers are abused or not properly vetted or harnessed that’s when explosions occur or an imbalance of one or other causes issues as seen with the arcan’dor which is born of arcane/nature fusion. These combinations aren’t unique, but difficult to maintain and even more dangerous to continually use without balance.
This WAS when they decided to expand the lore. The Twisting Nether = Light + Void thing was invented for Chronicles. That was never part of the lore beforehand. They literally chose to make it a big-bang style explosion, and then never followed through with it. It’s like they never think this stuff through.
I appreciate you tying to piece things together to make this make sense. It’s definitely possible to make this new lore work if you try hard enough. It reminds me of Elder Scrolls fans doing Bethesda’s job for them, and covering up their plotholes with community worldbuilding.
And just like The Elder Scrolls, the story will continue to go downhill until the writers get a handle on their own setting.
Exactly or in WoD the fusion of fel and void boss. If the power isn’t properly balanced and attuned it causes the controller to literally explode. Combining forces like shadow and flame like we see with Deathwing is actually a far more deadly power than fire or shadow alone. It appears we can combine any cosmic force with any other and get insane results.
