No, this was a completely unforced error. There are dozens of ways to handle this that aren’t lazy and dumb. Azshara could have opened up Nazjatal as a show of goodwill toward the factions and invited them in peacefully. An opportunity to demonstrate her power and dominance of the oceans. But she just needs one favor from us as a show of good will. And maybe “accidents” keep happening. And/or she can’t be expected to reign in all her subjects, they have their own free will, and we’re obviously capable to taking care of ourselves anyway, so what’s the big deal? Like a very complex zone-wide drama-of-manners like Waycrest Manor. And at some point we are contacted by the nagoblins who plead for our help, and we start to uncover more and more around Nazjatal that’s just not right , and it becomes increasingly obvious there is a major conspiracy/plot here that threatens the world itself, and we’ve been being used as pawns or maneuvered into a situation that will force our hand, to her advantage.
And that’s just me brainstorming for 5 minutes. Imagine what writers with months to work on this could have come up with.
That would only work if you completely ignore every bit of lore regarding Azshara and the Naga that has ever been written.
Any major NE lore character: Oh, our former queen that made a deal with the Legion and has since been in league with N’Zoth, the old god behind the Cataclysm, is inviting us to her home. Seems legit.
Another city of gnomes, this one no less dangerous to gnomes than the first one.
After I get VoP rank 3, I’ll never have a reason to go back to Mechagon (as by that time I’ll already have hit revered for PF2) — not the island anyway.
That would only work if you completely ignore every bit of lore regarding Azshara and the Naga that has ever been written.
Any major NE lore character: Oh, our former queen that made a deal with the Legion and has since been in league with N’Zoth, the old god behind the Cataclysm, is inviting us to her home. Seems legit.
Sure, like I said, this was a few minutes brainstorm. But as a writer, one has almost limitless latitude to create conditions that make sense. Azshara has the Tidestone, and has proven it by opening up Nazjatal. If she’s willing to talk you don’t take her at face value. But maybe you send in a proven champion to feel the place out, get some reconnaissance, find out what she says she wants, and try to do some investigation to see what’s really happening. And, since the people you’re sending are already the strongest mortals in the realm, if things go sideways they can potentially make a commando raid or sabotage to delay Azshara, escape, and bring back the cavalry.
Again, this is off-the-top-of-head stuff that at least doesn’t show contempt for the audience. It could be improved a lot by a dedicated writer with weeks to work on it.
That would fit her being a manipulative and scheming queen far better.
“We have been at odds for far too long. There are matters we must discuss. I have opened the oceans. Come, come and talk with my delegates.”
Open the ocean. Both sides know its a trap, but they come in anyway, realizing the need to know what she’s up to. With both sides preparing for the inevitable conflict in different ways.
All while having her people sabotage us behind the scenes.
THAT would be Queen Azshara’s style.
But, like usual, they went with Rule of Cool.
Rule of Cool breaks down under the weight when you have a mostly continuous story.