Oh lord. Xao’lio as leader of the Huo’jin Pandaren…
He’d likely be the reason the entire Pandaren group disbands. He’s not a leader for military nor civil matters. He’s a selfish, crass, and adventurous man. He’d petition to make expansion into Kalimdor and integrate pandaren culture outside the homeland.
He would just have very selfish and superficial ideas that would get him shot down by the rest of the Horde.
I know this is a second post but… not so secret secret, I plan to turn Dao-Yi here into a Death Knight once they become available. As such…
With the events of the Shadowlands trailer occuring and the Deathlord missing, the call goes out for a Regant Deathlord. How Dao-Yi, recently turned Death Knight, got the position is a Question even she has no answer too. But for once Dao-Yi actually has some good-ish ideas.
-Redouble efforts to make sure that the Ebon Blade is a known authority. Outline that if another Sylvanas occurs, Horde or Alliance side, they WILL be taking care of it.
-For that matter, new mission statement: we are the weapons that do what others cannot. Stop tyrants, crack down on doom bringing cults, take the fight to Sylvanas
-Make sure Bolivar is ok.
-After a bit of thought and probably suggestions from Orc, Nightborne and Forsaken Knights, establish a group of Death Knights within the Ebon Blade meant to weed out corruption, both from the Deathlord/Regant or those beneath. Dao-Yi likely wouldn’t consider this herself.
-Find beer that undead can experience. Pandaren Values. We are family.
That dwarf DK in WoD found a way to get drunk. Better go make friends with him!
((Gordon(Vagrul) is a Death Knight but he considers himself one of the Forsaken and a son of Lordaeron.))
Gordon establishes himself as Lord Protector of Lordaeron.
-Ignore Sylvanas entirely, let someone else deal with her
-Ignore the Old Gods entirely, let someone else deal with them.
-Fortify the borders and rebuild the destroyed settlements in Lordaeron.
-Try to get out of the Horde so as to not pull the Forsaken into any more wars that aren’t directly beneficial and so as to look less threatening to the Alliance.
-Attempt to reestablish strong connections with the Blood Elves outside of the Horde.
-The Forsaken military is centralized with a strong three man High Command put in place, two being required to be Deathguard and the third being a Deathstalker. All are made sure to be loyal to Gordon.
-The Royal Apothecary Society is made subject to the military with its current leadership removed and replaced as Gordon distrusts them. They are tasked with finding a method of raising willing humans to undeath in complete secrecy.
-The Cult of the Forgotten Shadow is given a more prominent place with a Forsaken head of the Cult chosen by Gordon so as to remove any disloyalty potentially caused by Natalie Seline’s status as a member of the living.
-Invite Cailia Menethil to take the throne of Lordaeron,remain as Lord Protector, do his damnedest to prevent her from having any power whatsoever. This will hopefully sway the Alliance and Argent Crusade to leave us alone for now.
-Gordon having already replaced local and military leaders with those loyal to him should prevent a civil war from occurring from this likely unpopular action.
-Attempt to achieve closer ties with the Argent Crusade at any cost. If possible this would be a great way to achieve better relations with the Alliance, perhaps work out a deal for settling humans in the Plaguelands with Forsaken support as long as they are ruled by the Argents instead of the Alliance.
-Remove the five remaining Scarlet Crusaders.
-Give up being Lord Protector to form a ruling council of three, a council with Gordon as a permanent member. Still keep Cailia from actually having power
Katamari Draeneicy…
Here have Part 2 of my “What if Vanndrel was a Racial Leader?”, in which is entitled “The descent into becoming a Loot Pinata”.
In the aftermath of forcibly voiding all remaining Quel’dorei - driving Vareesa officially into the Horde as she and her few survivors take refuge in Silvermoon - the other Alliance leaders start looking at Vanndrel and the Void Elves with legitimate concern. Greymane and his Worgen start aggressively scouting Duskwood from Raven Hill, with a worrying number of scouts failing to report back in.
It’s at this point Lotus-Walker turns back up in the narrative, approaching the Tushui Pandaren about his concern that Vanndrel, unsuited for the pressure of being the guiding force of an entire people, is potentially being influenced by the whispers of the Void.
Why go to the Pandaren? Because Aysa doesn’t have a reactionary bone in her body and when dealing with the power of the Void, a deft hand is often the better approach then a head on conflict.
Thus begins a lengthy quest chain involving players helping Aysa observe Vanndrel’s preparations within Duskwood and Karazhan while approaching those within the Alliance who are most able to help without risking setting off the “bomb” of void energies that Vanndrel could, in desperation, seek to use. This brings players into contact with the Night Elves, themselves fighting a newer, darker aspect, The Draenei, and the Dark Iron Dwarves. It culminates with Khadgar begging Anduin to put a stop to Vanndrel’s plans within Karazhan, fearing the Void Elf could do irreparable harm to Azeroth as a whole if what he’s building within those halls comes to fruition. This takes the careful agency approach of Aysa and her allies and throws it out the window, and both the Worgen and Lightforged react swiftly.
With the Alliance becoming internally fractured over the “Void Elf Question” (Gnomes side with Greymane and Turaylon, but the Mechagnomes side with Aysa. Wildhammers and Bronzebeards split with their Dark Iron kinsmen against the Ren’dorei, Anduin feels the mad experiments within Karazhan must be stopped, while Jaina’s experience with reactionary measures has her side with Lotus-Walker), it culminates in a new raid in which the upper sections of Karazhan play a part - specifically the part of the tower that opens to the Twising Nether. Vanndrel has established a gateway into the Void there. After all, what good is a bulwark against ones enemies without a means to sally out and take the fight to them?
Vanndrel’s gone a very “Illidan and Illidari” route, mentally and that’s how he’s been clouded into believing that opening a gateway into the Void is a good idea, as opposed a work of the whispers themselves. After fighting through Vanndrel’s retainers (Including the “Void Worgen”, those Worgen scouts that vanished), you get a fight against Vanndrel himself with his stable of pets who have all been void-touched.
The fight’s “twist” is it’s on a Enrage Timer, but instead of Vanndrel just going ham and one shotting the raid after that point, if players don’t defeat him within a set time limit the Gateway opens and a new final boss of the Raid (The Void Lord who has been whispering to Vanndrel) appears. The choice the raid has to make however is that opting into one fight sacrifices the loot table of the other - and the special Mythic level mount of the Raid drops off Vanndrel, not the Void Lord.
Nice use of Aysa and the many factions that make up the Alliance, but would this solely be an Alliance problem and thus mirrored with a situation the Horde is dealing with, or would the Horde also be taking notice of the void experiments and be sinilarly divided?
Horde-side, the Raid would lose the story’s nuance. It’s why I kicked Vareesa Red-side. She’s the onus and the reason Lor’themar finally gets motivated to call the Void Elves more than just traitors. Vareesa and the newly rechristened Crimson Covenant are just as interested to figure out what Vanndrel’s up to.
Horde loses the opposition story by and large, with Lor’themar and Vareesa hot for Ren’dorei blood but ultimately overruled when pretty much every other Horde racial leader opts to give the Void Elves a chance, post-Vanndrel. Especially if Lotus-Walker offers assurances it won’t happen again.
Because while I can’t really comment how Goblins, Undead, Orc, or Darkspear Troll rulers would react (Mostly because none of those races post-8.3 have confirmed racial leaders), Baine, Ji, and Talanji would all side with Aysa’s faction in sparing the Void Elves.
Not sure where the Nightborne would fall but I’d see them being sympathetic. Mag’har would probably side with the Blood Elves, though.
Tam’s first order of business as leader of Bilgewater Cartel would be to get rid of that eyesore of an edifice Gallywix had carved into the side of the mountain in Azshara.
…It’d distract from the even larger and more garish full body likeness of herself that’s going up. With spot lights!
Then she’d fire a whole bunch of his underlings in order to make way for her own friends, family, and a host of sycophants to run the operation while she makes the Pleasure Palace into a true wonder of the world. The go to destination for all celebrities, nobles, foreign dignitaries, and other movers and shakers of Azeroth. A non-stop party.
The (inevitable) revolution will not be kind to her.
Fizz has actually been in politics before. In his home cartel he quickly rose through the ranks of a broad union called the Shipyarder & Engineer’s Band that largely opposed the ruling cartel of their city. He served the union’s interests through each Trade War, and became its president during the Peace War. This lasted very briefly, because hitmen and union busters quickly tried to oust him.
If he had the chance to take over the Bilgewater Cartel he’d mandate the formation of unions in every division of the business, get the best and brightest minds in there, and go to actual war with any mogul that tries to trip him up. He’s not gonna play around with it, no sir.
He doesn’t mind riches or wealth, hell he’s a rich man himself. However! He won’t stomach fat cats exploiting and brutalizing those beneath them to get to Gallywix levels of wealth and power.
Fizz coming into power: The revolution is here.
So, gonna be cheeky and use Vanndrel’s idea, but if Loh were to become a Loot Pinata since it seems like fun.
So, Pt. 2 of “Becoming a Loot Pinata”. Be warned, it’s very much a sort of “The Zanda Empire Strikes Back!” sort of thing. Basis is that Alliance, as predicted, is the more aggressive party and Round 2 is Underway with Genn and Tyrande being the main figures of the Alliance acting aggressively.
So, the story shall pick up following the Gurubashi Trolls having been ‘Brought to Compliance’ with the Horde. Zandalari and Darkspear have conquered Zul’Gurub and begin getting to work making it a hub for the Horde in the Southern Eastern Kingdoms. This, understandably, royally angers an Alliance who would be strongly opposed to it’s major geopolitical rival just moving on in. Enough to the point an ultimatum is given for the Horde to clear out or else.
Rather than simply obliging, Loh’kash respectfully declines to the ultimatum and build up likely begins. Knowing full well that staying is going to mean a major clash, the lead up ends up having two narratives for it.
For the Alliance, the lead up would see Admiral Rogers being the one entrusted to organize the force to move in and raze all Horde settlements in Stranglethorn. In a oddly familiar parallel, the Alliance runs operations to gather intelligence on their foe and prepare sabotage actions, operating on the basis of what worked at Dazar’alor would surely work against a far less occupied and fortified area (Understandably with some raising concerns. For sake of RP, I’d have it be the voice of reason here is either Shaw or Moira). Among other things, their goal would be to try and figure out the supply ship schedules of when they arrive at Grom’gol and attacks on the supply caravans as they move to help rebuild Zul’Gurub.
On the Horde side, Loh and a Huojin Pandaren who would be introduced are likely creating the plan and the chess moves. At the behest of someone more experienced, the Horde (namely said Huojin) leave highly credible information in places they know the Alliance would strike. The catch is that the information being left there is either scrapped plans or -just- obtained too late to be truly useful.
Eventually, however, it becomes readily apparent to Loh that actually holding Zul’Gurub wont be a good plan. Thanks to how close it is to the main hub of the Alliance, any victory to hold it would be Pyrrhic at best and likely not last. Horde planning, in turn, shifts to turning Zul’Gurub into a trap to catch capable Alliance individuals and leaders flat footed and kill them before retreating off continent at Grom’gol. As such, the final Questline for the Horde is turning Zul’Gurub and the passage into Stranglethorn into a trap.
On the Alliance side, recently claimed victories in the previous few skirmishes with horde forces in Stranglethorn have emboldened the command present. Deciding now is the time, Admiral Rogers gives the order for Alliance forces to fully encircle Zul’Gurub. The final quest scenario is the Alliance launching an attack on Bambala and then move right into the attack on Zul’Gurub.
The Raid “Invasion of Stranglethorn” then begins. The raid itself would be similar to BoDA in it’s structure with the first section having Horde/Alliance bosses accordingly. The Alliance would be attacking Zul’Gurub with the intent to capture the city and kill the Horde leaders present. Horde, in turn, would be launching a counter attack from Grom’gol with the intent to stage a break out for the now trapped Horde forces and to -kill- Admiral Rogers. It, however, begins to divert after both kill the bosses at the end of the first ‘wing’.
The second ‘wing’ opens with a cutscene of the northern passage as Alliance reinforcements are preparing to move in. Goblins sappers on the ridge detonate the explosives planted in the quests leading up to it, collapsing it and trapping them in Duskwood. Moira, the one who had been leading these reinforcements, commands the shamans present to not move the blockage, but burrow right through it. The might of Khaz-Modan will not be stopped by some rocks. Admiral Rogers, however, now on top of Zul’Gurub’s pyramid with no Loh in sight can only watch in confusion.
The second wing itself, however, is Horde leading an assault through the Alliance occupiers of Zul’Gurub, fighting their way to the top of the pyramid in a grim mockery of BoDA. Now, Loh and an orc character introduced to be a survivor of Rogers’s massacre in MoP leading the charge, they confront Admiral Rogers with the heroes. With no where to run, and the reinforcements dramatically delayed, Admiral Rogers is a 3 stage boss fight, but is eventually slain by the Heroes of the Horde.
For the third ‘wing’, it is Alliance driven. Arriving and learning of the situation and Rogers’s death, Moira orders the Alliance army to turn about hard and run the Horde forces down before they evacuate to and out of Grom’gol! First is the Huojin mentioned as the first solo Pandaren raid boss. From there, it is likely a Goblin mech, possibly the Gob Squad!
Finally, with the epic music pumping, Alliance arrive to and quickly Breach Grom’gol to find the horde forces evacuating onto a large ships. With no other choice to allow them to escape, Loh steps forward to confront the Alliance. After a exchange of words with Loh declaring the Alliance should turn back and look after it’s wounded, the battle begins.
For mechanics wise, Loh would have need to have switched between tanks regularly due to stacking holy damage from a specific attack (DoT that stacks and lasts 10-20 seconds). He’d also have a Holy Power bar that gradually increases and, upon capping, the raid needs to stack to share damage for a battle wide AoE. Upon it’s conclusion, Loh gets a buff that increases his damage. The Holy Power Bar is not aligned with damage caused by raid. Stage 1 is him in Prot Stance, Stage 2 is as a Ret pally with, finally, Stage 3 being a Ret Pally, but him now mounted on his Crusader’s Direhorn, Tiny. The encounter ends with Loh reaching 2% HP and bubble hearthing away, only for Moira to dispell it at the last second so player attacks get through as he hearth.
Cutscenes follow. Horde wise, leaders to be decided will be saying the plan to use Zul’Gurub as a trap went largely as expected. Casualties to the army were harsh, but not dramatic. Loh’kash will only be mentioned to be gravely wounded to leave it open ended if he actual survives.
Alliance wise, a grim Moira is giving the report to Anduin and Halford. She reports that Admiral Rogers and multiple other member of Alliance command as dead, the entire first wave army was obliterated and that to their knowledge, Horde Leadership present escaped. Just after she does, Halford reports that Alliance forces in the north are now being forced back and out of the Plaguelands recently taken and the Kaldorei reconquest in Kalimdor has officially stalled. Shaw reports of the Alliance’s war of aggression also becoming more unpopular among the general populace.
Loot wise. Loh would drop a specific mount on Mythic that is, I kid thee not, a Golden Plated Devilsaur mount. Lower difficulties it would be a special Crudader’s Direhorn mount.
A population center or two or three or four will be getting an Infernal or two or three or four dropped on them.
No particular faction or anything, discrimination isn’t nice.
“Ma’am, why did you drop a infernal in Old Town?”
“Reasons that wont be named… BRAD!”
Assuming this means Crowngarde here somehow became King of Stormwind…
He’d start by stepping back Stormwind’s influence in the Alliance, asking an assembled council of Alliance leaders to either select a new High King (or Queen) from the more experienced leaders of the Alliance, or to abolish the position and establish a position for a mediator to focus as the speaker for gatherings of the leaders to keep conversations focused and fair. There’s something to be said for a central figure to keep things simple, but endowing that figure with too much power is damaging in the long run, as can easily be seen with the position of Warchief.
After that he’d want to focus more on Stormwind, resolving the crisis of various provinces of the Kingdom. Knowing him, he’d offer a blanket pardon to former Defias agents under the pretense that all involved parties were being manipulated by external forces, and therefor should not be held accountable for the sins of the past. The power of the House of Nobles would, at the same time, be diminished in power by establishing a House of Commons, wherein officials are elected by the people of various settlements, and gather to speak on behalf of the people of the Kingdom. The two houses would have to co-sign any legislation or official documents of counsel, for it to be sent to the King to be made into law, or taken under consideration, with the caveat that the King may intervene if such documents/legislation takes too long to reach him, or comes up several times.
After that he’d want to focus on reclaiming and putting into service many of the Kingdom’s resources. In Elwynn Forest alone he’d want to see the Jasperlode and Fargodeep Mines cleaned out and put back into service, providing work for the homeless. This would also extend to various orchards and farms currently held by bandits. Once Elwynn is secured he’d do the same in Westfall, removing any last remnants of outlaws, and seeking aid from Shamans and Druids within the Alliance to help make the lands fertile once more (considering the Defias salted much of the land to sabotage farms). Restoring Moonbrook and making it into a trade hub by adding a port along the coast right next to it would also be a way to bring in new jobs and homes for the transients.
It’s more or less the same for Redridge, though at this point, he’d want the Mages of the Kingdom to establish inter-connecting portals between the towers of Azora(Elwynn), Mortwake(Westfall), and Ilgalar(Redridge) so that soldiers and provisions could be moved between the provinces with greater speed in the case of emergencies.
Duskwood would end up something of a diplomatic project, as he’d be interested in the displaced races of Night Elves and Worgen establishing homes for themselves there, considering their connections. For the Worgen, Ravenhill would be supported as a primary settlement, with resources from Westfall coming in to support the construction effort. For the Night Elves, Twilight Grove seems like it is theirs entirely by right, even if it’s location is somewhat perilous. He’d want to establish resources to help them create tunnels leading to Ravenhill or Elwynn Forest for safer routes of travel. As for Darkshire, given it’s unfortunate history, he’d either opt to rebuild it (if resources to aid the Worgen and Night Elves permit), or to offer that land to anyone willing to work there, with the assurance of aid and support from Stormwind, with the only requirement being that the Worgen and Night Elves living in Duskwood would accept their presence.
I should add he would not consider Ravenhill or Twilight Grove to be part of the Kingdom of Stormwind at that point. Those settlements would be beholden to the laws and governments of their respective leaders (Genn, Tyrande, and Malfurion).
Once all of the above was accomplished he would do his best to re-focus on Stormwind’s place in the Alliance more as a support function, than the face of the Alliance itself.
If Viromath became the leader of the Void Elves, there would be substantial changes.
First and foremost, with the conclusion of the Fourth War, all Void Elves would be recalled to the Telogrus Rift, where resources and effort would be put into creating a proper home there. A single Void Elf would remain on Azeroth, the one who is proven to have the most control over the power of the void and whispers, and the one least inclined to use it, to act as a channel of communication to the Telogrus Rift. This self-imposed withdrawal from Azeroth would be done out of the planet’s interests; to reduce the chance of void-based corruption by those at risk of succumbing to the whispers.
Within the Rift, aside from construction, Viromath would want to focus on establishing a few institutions for the Ren’dorei.
The Obsidian Order would be a faction comprised of Shadow Priests, with their area of focus being on helping those most at risk of succumbing to the whispers of the void to cope with it. They’d explore new methods of controlling the whispers and seek a permanent cure to them.
The Black Blades would be a faction comprised of former Blood Knights, Spellbreakers, or just anyone who had experience with heavy armor and combat. Their focus would be on developing combat techniques using the void. Short-range void based teleportation, as an example, would be a way to close the gap between enemies, or even to attack from range by using such techniques along their blades. Their primary goal is to fight extra-dimensional foes. Essentially, the Paladins/Spellbreakers of the Void Elves (elite, prestigious forces).
The Ravengarde would be a faction of former Farstriders, Rangers, or anyone specialized in scouting, espionage, and assassination. Like the Black Blades, they’d be tasked with developing unique combat skillsets for their members, though their duties to the Rift would be in scouting potential threats and looking into any, “friendly,” visitors such as Ethereals, to determine their trustworthiness.
The Onyx Eye would be a faction of former Magisters, Mages and Warlocks alike, whom focus on expanding the magical knowledge of the Ren’dorei beyond just that of the Void. Although no field of magic would be taboo, the practice of certain kinds of magic would be restricted to appropriate circumstances. As an example, necromancy would not be acceptable for use in combat, but for studying the threat which undead pose.
The Voidforgers would be a faction of craftsmen and artisans seeking ways to imbue raw materials with void energies to enhance the powers of the Ren’dorei. Their main function would be to make a Heritage Armor that doesn’t look like a Dreadlord cosplaying as a Dark Naaru. Seriously, our Heritage Armor, ugh… I feel like an edgelord pixie trying to use it…
Assuming all of the above is accomplished, Viromath would then consider the Ren’dorei to be on the road to a proper future. Visitation to Azeroth for any individual would require authorization by the council of leaders of each of the orders. For an individual to go to Azeroth, they would need to specify their reason, expected duration, and undergo an examination by the Obsidian Order to ensure they do not pose a threat to the well being of either the Alliance or Azeroth as a greater whole.
Viromath would also secretly have a self-destruct function built into the rift that would require a majority of the leaders of the factions to activate, in the off-chance that a Void Lord comes along and starts enslaving everyone. Better the entire, “race,” should die than become weapons against Azeroth.
Queen Selleth, I like it.
First order of business is securing Forsaken Territory, that’d be everything northwest of the thoradins wall.
-stromgarde will be the frostwolves problem (since they abandon us in cata hillsbrad)
-Alterac will be somewhat restored, with a special interest in mining
-gilneas will be taken as it’s a port city and naval defense is always a good idea
-persuade the crusade to leave hearthglen. In exchange we help them clean up stratholme.
-hinterlands and arathi highlands remain largely untouched.
With our land claimed, held and stable we can begin phase 2
-Commission the RAS to begin efforts to begin making the land suitable for farming
-These lands will be delegated to those loyal to our grand vision and will be provided the means to work them. The mills and farms of Tirisfal will be allocated first.
-stockpile food and resources for phase 3 and sell excess to rest of the horde, primarily the blood elves.
The Queen feels as though Azerite is being mishandled…by everyone. Securing the Azerite is almost central to her Grand Vision. Phase 3 would begin
-begin harvesting and stockpiling Azerite in newly fortified keeps, mostly within the Cathedral (for symbolic purposes)
-invite the blood elves to study the stuff within the Cathedral
-once sufficient research has been done we can start experimenting on the undead wildlife and eventually Forsaken individuals
The purpose of these experiments is to see if we can restore the undead body enough to restart bodily functions, including baby making
With success, we come upon phase 4, the Grand Vision made real.
-starting with the first farmers, begin rolling out new body process en masse (called the restoration)
-soldiers would be last, as an undead army is easier to maintain than a live one.
Selleth herself would remain undead partly to be symbolic but mostly cause it’s good to be Queen.
Winner.
Gordon Vagrul
Thank you, thank you. I try my best
Kai as the Leader of the Illidari would mandate attempts to turn Marduum into a party house. She would attempt to reach out to the remaining bastions of the Legion, similar to how Lord Illidan recruited Legion defectors, and try to amass enough power to set up a watch crew. Then she would mandate that every Illidari must maintain a neutral position to be recognized as Illidari, with exceptions made for the latest Horde war crimes because if the Horde wholesale slaughters civilians again then the Illidari must be involved. She would try to recognize the misdeeds of the Illidari and try to steer the Illidari away from Illidan’s actions and more towards what she believes his intentions were, acknowledging that he failed horribly but swearing to do better.
She’d also probably have Altruis as her second in command because she wants someone who can look critically at her decisions. She’d probably directly reach out to the Draenei and ask what reparations can be made. Then she’d do them.
Kai’s story is about walking the hard path of trying to do better and be better. So her as an Illidari leader would be that.
(She no longer recognizes the sin’dorei as her race so Demon Hunters it is.)
Ji Firepaw has replaced Sylvanas for the AR recruitment NPC, if anyone was wondering. It’s not much, but it’s a good position for him, at least.