A while back in BFA, I found a texture on Artstation created by Fanny Vergne for the Waycrest Manor dungeon.
This texture was labeled as “Jormungandr” which of course is the World Serpent from Norse Mythology. What I found most interesting about this was the fact that it was in the Drust/Vrykul section of the dungeon, and was seemingly important enough to warrant it’s own name.
Now, Shadowlands has been revealed, and with it, Oribos and the Eternal Traveler’s Armor set. In the center of the set is an emblem which depicts a snake with its body coiled in the shape of infinity. I think it’s safe to say that the emblem is also of this Jormungandr, as you know… you’d think the World Serpent is pretty big.
Now I don’t really know what this all means, but I’m just going to take a guess and just say we’ll see a big snake boi somewhere in this expansion. Personally, I’m psyched about this. I absolutely adore Norse Mythology and seeing as how we’re going to get more Norse inspired stuff in Shadowlands is just awesome.
What are your theories as to what this World Serpent is? Personally, I’m thinking this World Serpent is what keeps the Shadowlands connected to reality As in, he coils around both reality and the Shadowlands and connects them, thus making the infinity shape that he’s depicted in.
(also here are the links to the images of the Jormungandr stuff)
The only defining thing about Deathwing’s head is his jaw. Yes that snake has a large jaw, but it’s not the same jaw. That’s like saying Storm Drakes are all Deathwing. Also what does Deathwing have to do with the Shadowlands and the Drust?
There was actually mention of a mysterious serpent being during Legion. The first is a quote from a C’thrax boss in the Violet Hold, so the Old Gods seem to know about it, and the other two are pamphlets from doomsayers in Dalaran.
Summary
The crooked serpent with no eyes is watching from the endless sky.
Summary
AN EMERALD DAWN
An emerald sun dawns in the vault of the heavens, but it casts no shadow.
The world lifts her voice in terror, but only one can hear her cries.
From the space that is everywhere and nowhere, the crooked serpent feasts on stars.
It has no eyes to see, but it dreams of infinite endings and beginnings.
<Strange glyphs and writing in an unknown language cover the rest of the scroll.>
Summary
THE END OF ALL THINGS
The crooked serpent with no eyes is watching from the endless sky.
Forked tongues flicker through the black pits in dead stars.
The veil between dream and dreamer slides away like skin from bone.
And even the darkness howls for the light it once despised.
<The rest of the note is illegible, covered in strange glyphs and scribbles.>
Doomsaying is doomsaying, so who can say. The C’thrax saying it is interesting though. But a serpent is mentioned enough from different sources that it could well be something real. And it could possibly be connected to the Shadowlands, “the space that is everywhere and nowhere”. We’ll have to see if it’s talked about again!
I think the crooked serpent line is originally from the Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron, but I’m not sure off the top of my head. Considering we know the Drust have a significant presence in Ardenweald, I’d definitely say it’s possible that we’ll see the world serpent.
Yeah I’m absolutely certain that the World Serpent is important, but what I’m most curious about is what the World Serpent does. Obviously he’s important to all the denizens of the Shadowlands, as he’s represented by two opposing forces. (Assuming the Drust are enemies to the Night Fae and thus Oribos)
Also remember, yesterday the Jailer’s appearance was leaked. He looks a little odd, and almost like a Norse god himself. Now, in Norse Mythology, (you may already know this) Loki is actually chained up in a dark cave while a serpent drips poison into his face every couple seconds. His wife, who is also imprisoned with him, tries to help his suffering by using a bucket to stop the venom for some time.
This kind of mimics the Jailer and Sylvanas’ dynamic. The Jailer is being aided by a person who is kind of bound to him in certain ways.
Perhaps, once the Jailer is released (and we know he is), he’s going to try and wake the World Serpent from his sleep, thus breaking the Shadowlands entirely?
Remember, the cosmology chart lists the Shadowlands outside of reality.
I once thought Jaina would want revenge on The Horde badly enough that she would take Bolvar’s Helm and wear it on her own head for a bit of power. Nope.
No I have heard of Ouroboros. Thing is, I think it’s more likely they took Ouroboros and Jormungandr and kinda put them together. Having two massive snakes is just a bit odd.
Also the cycle of life, death, and rebirth is more of an Ardenweald thing and not really Oribos. Unless you consider rebirth into the Shadowlands a thing.
I’m excited to see what they do with him too. Since most of the Norse stuff in WoW revolves around the Titan Keepers I think there’s going to be some big lore moments. Jormungandr is one of Loki’s kids in Norse myth’s and so is Hel. We already have Helya in the game too.
Maybe Helya will have a big role on releasing him? Maybe that’s what she’s trying to do with Sylvanas somehow, if he does play a big part in the Shadowlands.
I think he will kind of be the glue that holds a lot of the cosmology together. I know it’s a reach, but the WoW cosmology chart is held together by a bunch of runic lines. Who’s to say that couldn’t be Jormungandr holding it all together? Who knows.
So my current running idea is that Jormungandr was created by the Jailer/Arbiter. The Jailer seeks to wake Jormungandr and thus cause Azeroth’s equivalent of Ragnarok.
See, as a previous poster linked, there’s a heavy emphasis on dreams and those dreams ending/becoming real.
I think that since the Shadowlands lie outside of Reality, maybe the entirety of the Shadowlands are essentially within the dreams of this World Serpent. Basically, the Shadowlands are real, but they only exist because of the Serpent’s dreams. Like the Windfish from Link’s Awakening. And the Arbiter is the one keeping the Serpent asleep.
The Jailer and Sylvanas want to kill this serpent, as by ending him, they end the Shadowlands. Now there is no death, and it lines up exactly with Sylvanas’ goals and motives.
Personally I just think of Norse Mythos Loki every time I look at the Jailer and I just don’t know why. I just think that they have a connection somehow.
