With 11.2 on the horizon and more Voidy content on the way, it seems Shadow is quickly losing its more priestly aspects and becoming more “Void mage”. So how does this affect the Forsaken and their religion?
The Cult of Forgotten Shadow has, forgive the pun and irony, been all but forgotten in-game. From my understanding, the Cult was made in the time before Shadow and Void were made to be the same cosmic force. I don’t see Forsaken - at least mine - worshipping the madness-inducing, tentacle loving Void but rather a skulls and raven-esque Shadow. Think Shadowy Apparitions and Insidious Ire (shadow ghosties and circling shadow ravens for non-spriests).
As we come into K’aresh, I can really only see my Cultist worshipping either basic Shadowy death or the serenity of pure Void - like Shadowheart in BG3 with Shar. Peaceful oblivion of a painful existence. I don’t really see him worshipping Old Gods or sprouting tentacles. If you’re a Forsaken fan, how do you rationalize the shift in tone for Shadow? Has it changed how you RP a religious Forsaken?
So as far as RP goes, we’ve always had the opportunity to express our understanding or desire for our characters and what they are in any number of ways. So nothing is stopping you from being more of that skulls and ravens shadow.
In the game and lore too, “shadow priests” have always represented a wide breath of understandings and religions. Tauren “shadow priests” revere and focus their understanding on Mu’sha, the moon, as opposed to An’she, the sun (as Holy priests and paladins would, disc finding balance in both), Orcs are about the void and and power of the stars and celestial nature of it all, trolls have always been about the voodoo in their representation and understanding of “shadow priests.” All in quotes because on is a Seer, another Lok’ash, and so on.
In recent changes, I think we can safely (essentially) ignore them instead double down and focus on the skulls, ravens, and horrific visions, and apparitions of shadow. Shadown/void is still the opposite of light, and keep with the, although non-canon, RPG material.
You know, I genuinely hate that they went this route with things. Turning every shadow priest into some Lovecraftian worshipper just feels so reductive. There’s no interplay with Light and Shadow, anymore. It’s “We worship the Light, but sometimes we want to devour all existence”.
Bah.
Towards your question, I do lorebending with this kind of thing. I envision it like Light is one thing, Void is another thing, and the absence of both of these things is Shadow. It keeps the idea that too much shadow can allow the void in, or too little can have it turning to the light. That’s just my stance.
As a Forsaken, you can also just say ‘Yknow, I’m forsaking Cthulu in the same way as the Light forsook me. I’m finding my own way, and this is what brings me comfort’. That kind of feels like it still keeps those not-quite-zombie-but-close vibes going you’ve got as a Forsaken.
As Infernal pointed out, there’s no need to be so beholden towards one interpretation of things. You’re fine to stick to the skulls 'n birds of the old days.
Overall I feel rerolling my Forsaken to Affliction is the best method. Let my Void Elf have, well, the Void. Affliction now feels more ‘Forsaken’ to me. Reaping souls, draining life from others and using Shadow to sustain yourself all feel perfectly Forsaken. Also using Ulthalesh for transmog just makes sense for a Forsaken Shadow Priest. Also, the Soul Harvester hero tree flavor I think fits Shadow cultist vibes better. We literally have a demon of Shadow inhabiting our soul. It’s what Dark Ascension wishes it was in regards to fantasy.