Okay… wow… this is a doozy. So, where to begin? Many people have been confused (myself included) over what exactly is happening in Midnight. It seemed so strange that we would do this large scale fight in the heart of Azeroth and then we would randomly do an entire expansion just in Quel’thalas, only to go to Ulduar in Northrend.
Here’s the twist. We’re not spending most of the expansion in Quel’thalas. There’s a detail Metzen is hiding for obvious reason. We don’t entirely win at the end of War Within.
We defend the WorldSoul from the “Forces of Darness” but this is just a ruse or an intentional misdirection for the “Forces of the Void” to close in on Azeroth and consume it in the Void. Many major areas of civilization in Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms will be revamped and Quel’thalas will be the last bastion of light left in Azeroth. This is where the Midnight expansion starts, when the world is metphorically at midnight with little light light remaining. There, the Forces of the Void are “intent (as in they have not yet succeeded) on snuffing out the Light of the Sunwell” and “plunging the world into darkness and fear.” However, we succeed at this starting point and throughout the expansion we “will not only help reunify the scattered Elven tribes of Azeroth, but we will make our stand with the Forces of the Light and banish the Shadow forever.” However, after this supposed victory there is a massive plot twist. We uncover a vast conspiracy, one that stretches throughout the history of the world, one which will challenge everything you think you know about the Titans, their intentions and the true Nature of Azeroth itself.
Here’s what gives away the secret. Metzen introduces every expansion by talking about how it starts . We start War Within by descending into the Heart of Azeroth. We start Midnight by fighting back the Void in Quel’thalas in the darkest hour. We start The Last Titan by uncovering a vast conspiracy that will challenge everything we think we know about the Titans, their intentions, and the true Nature of Azeroth itself.
After he tells us how they start, he only walks through what happens at the middle and vague end of War Within and Midnight.
In War Within, throughout it we’ll be exploring new subterrean kingdoms and engaging with ancient cultures like the Earthen and Nerubians. Then he ends War Within with the clever line “you will be called to do what you always, which is dispense indiscriminate justice upon all those who got it coming.” He’s not actually saying we’ll win. He’s only saying that we will be “called.” This makes sense given the War Within Cinematic Trailer. Thrall and Anduin both allude to being called. Thrall says at the beginning “Something, someone, is calling out from the Heart of Azeroth, like a voice from a dream.” Anduin asks at the end “Who is it, Thrall? Who is calling out to us?” I suspect Metzen used this clever word trick out of concern it might disincentivize people to play War Within.
In Midnight, throughout it we’ll “not only” help reunify the scattered Elves of Azeroth, but also “make our stand with the Forces of the Light.” This expansion will then end with us banishing the Shadow forever.
Finally, in the Last Titan, Metzen gave a fascinating transition. This time, he only talked about the beginning of the expansion. He said the following:
“Of course, Blizzcon, it is Azeroth, things may not go to plan . Things may just spiral wildly out of control. Leading us to the third part of the WorldSoul Saga. World of Warcraft, The Last Titan! In this chapter, you will be again returning to the old world, this time to the wintery lands of Northrend and there, at Ulduar, you will bear witness to the return of the Titans to Azeroth and there you will uncover a vast conspiracy, one that stretches throughout the history of the world, one which will challenge everything you think you know about the Titans , their intentions and the true Nature of Azeroth itself .”
Since we are uncovering this great truth at the beginning of the expansion, the full scope of the expansion is more hidden. This will be the last part of the WorldSoul Saga after all. They want to keep that all a secret. It’s unclear what that secret will be exactly, but I suspect the old theories about the evil of the Light will be true. This would tie in the Last Titan to Midnight, as this is a three expansion Saga. This would also be an insane twist, how we just banished the very forces of Darkness that were trying to stop the Titans.
This is insane and clears up all my confusion about the WorldSoul Saga and Midnight in particular!! Oh man, oh maaaaan, this is going to be incredible!! These three expansions will be like no other. A center of the world expansion. An expansion that revamps Azeroth with the Void. The expansion that uncovers the malicious nature about the Light! I cannot wait!
Please tell me what you all think though. I’m curious what the general thoughts are.