So needing a break from my term paper, I’ve thought more about the lead-up questline that would lead towards the San’layn allied race unlock questline. It’s similar to what I’ve typed up in the Ogre megathread, so I’ll use that format for here.
As usual, some assumptions to make before we begin:
- Dreven is going to be revived and given purpose. Since the whole storyline involving him boils down to skeletor voice “Mwheeheehee I am teh evil emos, I need the powerz, get over here zombies! Om nom nom oh noes I am teh asploded! ALLIANCE WINS! FATALITY! FLAWLESS VICTORY!” malarkey in the Alliance war campaign. We’ll be assuming him as the representative, for now, and tie him into Sylvanas’ fall from grace. Speaking of which…
- Sylvanas is slowly going coo-coo for Cocoa-puffs, and we can tie in her getting worse base on factors in this quest.
Again, keep in mind that this is not perfect, and will need fleshing out. That said, let us begin…
We begin with a messenger that pops up in Orgimmar to the player character. We’re being summoned to meet with Sylvanas, Nathanos, and some of her Val’kir in a secret location: her ship in the middle of the sea where that battle took place.
We’re told about the San’layn here and their mission, mentioning that it obviously went as bad as a gasoline elemental trying to make a campfire. Despite this, a contingency plan was put in to revive the San’layn, as Sylvanas really wants and needs them to be part of the Horde, and they need the Horde to survive. The Val’kir know how to revive San’layn, from being under the Lich King, but we need to collect something in Northrend that helps give them power, given that San’layn are a bit different than the usual undead to raise. We get a portal opened to some place on Northrend.
We meet a San’layn contact, who is there to help us collect the macguffins needed, likely in a cave with some mobs to kill. As you collect them, this contact explains who they are, their situation, and what they’ve been through, which is the point of this part. We’re trying to paint that the San’layn aren’t just monsters we thought they were. After collecting the macguffins, the contact opens a portal back, thanks us for listening, and we arrive back.
We give the macguffins to Sylvanas, and stand back and watch as Dreven and his group have been raised back to the unliving.
Sylvanas: Arise, Blood Prince Dreven.
Dreven: Uhhh…that voice…where am…ah! Warchief!
Sylvanas: It is good to see you again Dreven. The plan went well…for the most part.
Dreven: Indeed, although circumstances were…
Sylvanas: No need to worry about that. You did what you had to do.
Dreven: Yes, though I am still confused as to why you allowed me to sacrifice your own people.
Sylvanas: They played a part in serving their warchief. Their deaths were sadly the means that the end result will justify in the end.
Dreven: …really, now? So your people are just tools to be used and discarded as you see fit?
Sylvanas: Watch that tongue of yours, Blood Prince. I’ll remind you that-
Orc Grunt: Warchief! Pardon the interruption, but we’ve received word that the Blood Trolls are launching a massive attack from the swamp!
Sylvanas: Sigh…I thought we took care of them. Nathanaos, champion, Dreven, go assist our new allies. And Dreven, we will talk more later.
Dreven: As you wish…warchief…
We’re currently setting up a future cutscene, and planting the seeds that Dreven’s actions may have been planned by Sylvanas, and that he did what he had to do to succeed for his people. We’ll find out more why this is bothering him in a bit, but for now, off to Naz’Mir!
We arrive in Naz’Mir to find that the Blood Trolls have amassed an army, complete with blood golems running amok! The Horde and Dreven’s group attack, with the San’layn really decimating the Blood Trolls thanks to their blood siphoning abilities. After a fierce battle, the Horde succeed. Rokkhan, who is there, thanks Dreven and compliments him. Dreven responds appreciatively, hitting it off pretty well with him.
Suddenly, the area is filled with a thick mist, and the Alliance attempt an ambush at the Horde, thinking that they’re tired from the big battle. Of course Dreven and his group just turn into bats and, using echolocation, completely destroy the mist totems being used and those who operated it, causing the mist to disappear. After destroying the Alliance, Rokkhan asks you to report to Talanji what had happened, and asks you to take Dreven with you to speak on his behalf.
We arrive in the throne room, where you explain the battle and also vouch for Dreven.
Talanji: The champion speaks highly of you, Blood Prince. I will admit, I had my doubts before, but it seems you are a useful asset to dis war and my people.
Dreven: It is a pleasure of mine, Queen Talanji. I am sure my people can offer much to help you with this Blood Troll problem.
Suddenly, we have a visit from our old friend…
Bwonsamdi: What be goin’ on here, ya majesty?! So dis be where mah missin’ elf souls went and…wait a moment…dis be the work of dat banshee queen again?! Oh no no no mon, it bad enough she be taking human souls away from me, now she be takin’ elf souls?! Pah!
Talanji: Bwonsamdi! Dis be a private meetin’ an noone invited you here!
Bwonsamdi: Mind ya manners, ya majesty. De loa have a right to be anywhere they be pleasin’…bbbuuutttt I tell ya what, though. I be offerin’ that deal again from before, only dis time, ah be offerin’ ya fadda’s soul to be in peace.
Talanji: You mean you’ll let him live again?
Bwonsamdi: No no no, mon, ah be crazy, but not DAT crazy. Nooo, ah be offerin’ his soul to be restin’ in peace in da afterworld and not tied ta dat offer he made ta me. And you…be free too!
Talanji: I told ya before, I’m not interested! Now get out of here! I’m done with ya!
Bwonsamdi: Ahh…shame, shame. But don’t be thinkin’ I be forgetting dis…
Dreven: What a cheerful fellow…must be fun at parties.
Talanji: I’m sure you can imagine.
This cutscene just adds to the tension between Talanji and Bwonsamdi, while also getting her to be a bit more warmly to the San’layn. Dreven is respectful not to be two-timing, but is working diplomacy in hopes of officially getting the San’layn as part of the Horde for survival. Any interaction he has is sincere, and will play a bit later on should a coup occur.
After all that, we get summoned to Grommash Hold in Orgimmar. We need to report what happened in Naz’Mir to Sylvanas. Nathanos is also there.
Sylvanas: Ah, champion. I see that relations with the Zandalari are stronger than ever. I hear also that you, Dreven, perform admirably as well.
Dreven: Indeed, warchief.
Sylvanas: You seem troubled, Blood Prince.
Dreven: I came to you to help save my people, thinking that as former blood elves, you would help save us. Instead, I can’t help but wonder if under you, we’d end up like those forsaken on that ship…
Sylvanas: I assure you, Blood Prince, I do not just take the lives of members of the Horde lightly.
Dreven: Oh? Funny you mention that, as I hear you’ve blighted your own troops haphazardly.
Sylvanas: A consequence of war. It was not a light decision.
Dreven: And then I hear that the Forsaken, this supposed “free-will” that you oh-so graciously “given” them when they raise from the dead, and yet I see them ruled with an iron fist to the point where I can’t tell if they’re living beings or gibbering zombies.
Sylvanas: Watch it, Bloo-
Dreven: And how am I to know that if my people join, we won’t end up that way? Lives to be thrown away, then resurrected, and dying once more. It’s funny, it sounds a lot like what my people had to contend with under a certain king…
Sylvanas: …never compare me to HIM!
Dreven: I find that interesting you say that, because thats what I’ve been hearing in the time I’ve been around, before and after that mission I did for you. I must admit, the parallels are quite noticable.
Sylvanas: ENOUGH!
Dreven: Enough? Enough is what my people had with dying and then being forced into slavery. To be puppets and war tools for years! How do I know we won’t suffer the same fate under you?! You of all people should know what we went through!
Nathanos: holds up his weapon and aims at Dreven
Dreven: Oh yes, lapdog! Do go ahead and kill me for raising concerns for my kind! I’m sure my people will just happily join your cause after the fact!
Sylvanas: Nathanos, stand down.
Dreven: Unless I have promise that my people will not be thrown away and will be free, then we will just accept our fate. It is better to be free in death than slaves in life.
Sylvanas: Very well, Blood Prince. You have my word.
Dreven: Excellent. Then I shall be off to meet with my people. I would advise you to do the same someday…and I don’t mean your zombies.
Nathanaos: Should I have him followed?
Sylvanas: No, I would rather not risk anything upsetting them further. Besides, he’ll know his place soon enough.
This scene is meant for two reasons. First, we’re establishing that Dreven had emotions, a love for his people, and does not want what happened before, with the Lich King, to ever happen again. Do not worry, the San’layn are still planned to be an allied race in this scenario. It also establishes a reason that, if there is a coup, why the San’layn would side against Sylvanas.
The other is meant to show that Sylvanas is really starting to head to the deep end. She is use to people being scared and adopting an obsequious posture. Dreven’s attitude plays on her trying to keep her composure, bringing up what she went through to give a form of internal conflict, and since she wants to get the San’layn into the Horde, she has to swallow her pride. It sets in stone any actions that start a Horde civil war.
We’ll also foreshadow this in this last cutscene…
The player character walks out and a quest opens up, mentioning a beckoning chill that leads to a private area, and we see our old buddy just relaxing there.
Bwonsamdi: Hmm, maybe dis be workin’ out after all…ah! Da “champion” of da Horde! Glad ya be makin’ it mon! Oh don’t worry! Ole Bwonsamdi isn’t mad or here to waste ya time. In fact, I don’t have an offer to be makin’ ya, but I wanted ya to keep somethin’ in mind. Dat Banshee Queen, she not very popular, ya? Dat much ah know, and it be seeming to me that her time as warchief is dwindlin’ and dwindlin’. Now, I’m not askin’ ya to just go and off her, bbbuuutttt should circumstances occur dat be leadin’ to dat outcome, weelll, les just say ole Bwonsamdi will be pleased. And he already be pleased with the souls ya be deliverin’ to him thus far. Jus keep dat in mind, champion mon…"
As a player character, we can’t really sell our soul to him, but this is meant as foreshadow that eventually, actions may be taken that require Sylvanas to be removed, and we all know how much Bwonsamdi wants her!
Anyway, thats the questline I thought of that would lead into the San’layn allied race unlock quest. Sylvanas still wants them to join the Horde, albeit with her pride having been wounded, it establishes who they are, albeit it needs some more work to show them off completely, and sets up some future events.
Fun to type, but I need a break now. Maybe more term paper typing…blah! _o _;