(No Shadowlands spoilers please)
The title is obvious. I wrote that to say that Tyrande killing Nathanos was a win. It was a small win, maybe not as flashy as we originally wanted, but still a win. However it was not THE win or our revenge for Teldrassil, that’s Sylvanas. So it’s not over yet.
To those saying that this was a wash and this was just Nathanos getting what he wanted because he’s going to come back, let’s take a look at exactly what going on here, because after I thought about it I realized just who good this could turn out for us and how poorly this could go for Nathanos.
Why is Nathanos at the Marris Stead? It’s because he screwed up and Sylvanas is none too happy with him.
Shadows Rising pg 282-83
Nathanos is in the dog house! He was at the Marris Stead because she sent him away. He was supposed to come back with a solution, but returns needing to be pulled from the Maw! Tyrande did give him what he wanted, it’s why he wasn’t upset. “You’ll send right back to my lady” is what he said. Of course he wants to go back to Sylvanas, because he was supposed to go with her but failed and so he was left behind.
I don’t think that his return to Sylvanas will be as happy as he or we think. He was supposed to kill Bwonsamdi and failed big time. He was supposed to return with a solution and got killed! Now instead of bringing solutions he comes with nothing after anther failure and now she has to divert her attention from the task at hand to rescue him from the Maw.
This wasn’t the ultimate win for we Night Elf fans but I take some pleasure in knowing that when he returns it most likely won’t be in the same compacity or with the same admiration that Sylvanas had for him. He’s been knocked off his pedestal. So in closing, this was definitely a win. Sylvanas is the ultimate goal and this was just one step to getting there.
Yes, I made this point before, but it was a win for Tyrande because she achieved her objective- get information on where Sylvanas is (and remove Nathanos as a threat).
Nathanos’ mockery and continued existence in the Maw is meaningless to her in her quest for justice.
I mean, pretty much. As much of a sass machine as he was, Nathanos had repeatedly proven himself every bit as defective and unreliable a tool as the Forsaken had become (especially after Stormheim with them). There was a very “kill me so I can be with my Queen” vibe to that entire encounter. However, unless he can figure out a new purpose to justify his use … she’s very unlikely to welcome such a valueless tool back with open arms.
Also, as a side note … its fascinating how much of a potential problem Sylvanas sees Bown as. And not just her, but the Jailor too based on De Otherside dungeon. I wonder it really is just because he’s been exploiting that loophole to circumvent the Arbiter system for his own worshippers?
I now believe that her “For Teldrassil” line was not even in reference to Nathanos, but realizing that she’d have to go beyond the veil to hunt Sylvanas (and risk herself). It is also followed by a scene of her disappearing.
It’s why she’s so furious when Nathanos tells her that Sylvanas is beyond the veil she tore open.
It also explains why she is so gung-ho to dive into the Shadowlands in the Intro Scenario. She knows that Sylvanas is in there, and she’s been stewing on that reality longer than anyone else present … beyond perhaps Bolvar.
Yep, exactly this. She may even feel that this victory is a hollow one because she has so far to go. She’s still sad and angry. This whole situation has changed her.
I’m sure the beta has already shot this down but I would have loved for our adventures in the Maw to have us come across him and find out Sylvanas came to him just to tell him she’s done with his failure and left him there to suffer. After all of his smug douchiness that was his final fate.
I’m a fan of Tyrande and this is my favorite cinematic she’s been in. The ease of taking him down, the way she looks at him as something unpleasant found on the bottom of her shoe as he prattles away. The presence she had was what a wanted for her. I was worried they’d go to far and she’d be screaming about revenge, but this cold laser focus is pretty good.
I agree with you that going to the afterlife won’t end up well for him. I suspect he’ll be left in the maw or his soul will be used for something.
I’ve had an argument months ago about him turning on Sylvanas and killing her because of something like this. I don’t see that happening, he’d sooner sacrifice himself for her cause than turn on her.
Yeah that seems out of character. I think the most cooperation we’ll see with him is he’ll reluctantly give up some information about the maw that will let us progress in the story, but he’ll stay a broken and hated man.
Keep in mind, though, Sylvanas clearly did want Tyrande in the Maw. The first attempt with the Mawsworn failed, but Nathanos clearly knows about the Jailer and whatever Sylvanas’ plans are, so as much as Tyrande got a win in finding where Sylvanas is, Sylvanas also did get Tyrande to willingly go right where she wanted her anyways with Nathanos divulging her location.
For what purpose she needed these leaders, who knows, but it seems more like a mutual win on both sides towards their respective goals. As for what that means regarding Nathanos, who knows, but the end of Shadows Rising was very odd and out of place for both of them, even in context of their BfA characterizations, so it actually coming up again when we next see him is debatable.
I think it’s important to point out that Tyrande is the most dangerous of the targets by mile. Sylvanas, for what ever reason, waned her in the Maw, but on her own terms. I don’t think that having Tyrande waltzing around the Maw smiting anything in her patch is good for anyone on her side.
Blizzard most likely thinks that it is resolved for us now, and there’s nobody to get revenge against anymore. The Horde was forgiven because they made a council, Sylvanas is being called “not evil” by the writers and they also stated that she has a plan and people will change their minds about her.
Revenge against who then? The jailer? Does it make sense? Not really. This cinematic alone and sending Nathanos to the maw simply will be it as far as revenge for Teldrassil goes, as there’s nobody or nothing else blizzard would harm for the Night Elves to get justice.
And let me say, it’s just simply not enough. We should’ve gotten Sylvanas, but instead we only got Nathanos, and it’s not even a meaningful victory because he is very likely to come back and mock us again in the maw.
Sylvanas gave the order to burn down Teldrassil, Sylvanas tortured and obliterated the souls after already burning them all alive, not Nathanos, therefore it’s just simply not enough.
You have a good point. Sylvanas is beloved among the developers and fans; this is coming from the guy that was been writing Sylvanas since her inception.
He also said that Sylvanas is much more than a raid boss. I’m not sure what the future has for our beloved but if this is her end she will 100% have a happy ending.
