Analysis: Secrets of The Doom of K’aresh

Blizzard Entertainment released the 3 chapters of The Doom of K’aresh audio novella with Locus-Walker and Alleria hunting a Void Revenant that incursioned inside the Telogrus Rift — the Void Elves’ class hall zone.

Locus-Walker begins to reveal to Alleria his history before the Fall of K’aresh, when their worldsoul whispered warnings of the impending arrival of Dimensius. It’s a well-written story that I recommend everyone watch with subtitles (CC) on. Take note that watching all 3 chapters will set you back nearly 3 hours’ worth of story narration.

I am embedding the videos for convenience, and after the 3 videos, you can read some of my analysis and secrets of The Doom of K’aresh after the Spoilers sub-title.

SPOILERS: Secrets of the Doom of K’aresh

Assuming that you have already watched the three chapters of The Doom of K’aresh audio novella, I’m now gonna discuss some peculiar details derived from the novella that might or might not be true.

The Whisper

Locus-Walker reveals to Alleria that shortly before the fall of K’aresh, the worldsoul whispered to some people about the impending arrival of Dimensius the All-Devouring. This whisper continuously warns Locus-Walker, and he, as a technomancer, devised a method that might save his people, the K’areshi. For millennia, their prosperous and technological society had studied their past and knowledge. Some have been forgotten over time, but are stored in museums and studied by scholars.

Locus-Walker postulated to the Ravel — a sort of religious conclave — that they should use the Reshii Wraps around Arcane engines to power up an impenetrable force-shield around their major cities to survive the arrival of Dimensius. This arcane barrier protecting their cities saved them from the void surrounding them, but at a grave cost. For the arcane shield absorbed the constant void barrage and converted the void energies to Arcane energies that powered the arcane engines — but also permeated and saturated everything within the barrier.

Locus-Walker called this saturation of arcane energies upon the K’areshi as The Wasting. In short, the arcane energies permeating within the shield were slowly shedding away their skin and, in extreme cases, killing the people within the domes.

Locus-Walker continuously heard this mysterious whisper in his mind, guiding him. It might be said that the voice told him how to survive this new threat. The Reshii Wraps were an ancient magic that may be used to protect the body from the constant bombardment of arcane energies permeating through the dome. The constant void assault outside the dome caused the dome to convert Void energies into Arcane energies, but that continuous conversion bombarded the people with surplus arcane energies — as if exposed to radioactivity.

Their bodies slowly decayed, but Locus-Walker postulated that wrapping their bodies with Reshii Wraps could prevent their deaths. Sure, their bodies would forever be changed as their bodies slowly transform into pure arcane energy contained by the Reshii Wraps. Transforming in such a way meant they could leave K’aresh and survive anywhere they pleased.

That’s pretty much most of what the 3-hour novella reveals to the spectator, but it really makes you ponder a question: Who was behind the whispers?

I have come to the conclusion that there are two possibilities:

1. There were two whispers: the K’aresh Worldsoul and Xal’atath… OR…
2. Xal’atath is the Karesh Worldsoul.

To quote Pet Detective (film) with Jim Carrey… “Einhorn is Finkle! Finkle is Einhorn! Einhorn is a man!”

There are some implications if this is ever revealed to be true. This could mean that Xal’atath saved the K’areshi by telling Locus-Walker what to do to survive at the cost of her own life, and then, as the K’aresh Worldsoul, Xal’atath had been claimed by Dimensius after The Doom of K’aresh novella.

A Worldsoul is in many ways some sort of Ovum artifact created, maybe by the First Ones (Shadowlands). In turn, when one of the 6 Cosmic Forces seeds this ovum artifact, it flourishes into a newborn being infused with that Cosmic Force (read more about the Cosmic Forces in Wowpedia):

• Light
• Life
• Order
• Shadow
• Death
• Disorder

If the Naaru (championing the Light) invades a planet and takes its Worldsoul (ovum), that Worldsoul transforms into a sentient being that joins the Light.

If the Wild Gods (championing Life) invade a planet and take its Worldsoul (ovum), that Worldsoul transforms into a sentient being that joins Life.

If the Titans (championing Order) invade a planet such as Azeroth and take its Worldsoul (ovum), that Worldsoul transforms into a sentient being that joins Order.

Same for each of the remaining Cosmological forces: Void Lords (Shadow), Undead (Death), The Burning Legion (Disorder).

The cosmic force seeding the Worldsoul ovum decides what it transforms into.

In this case, Dimensius the All-Devouring — one of the Void Lords — invaded K’aresh and claimed its Worldsoul (Ovum), transforming it into a sentient being that woke up and joined the Shadow cosmic force. That sentient being is (maybe) Xal’atath.

The Void Lords sent Xal’atath across the universe to be their herald, scouting the cosmos for new Worldsouls to feast on and transform into Void soldiers.

One day, Xal’atath is sent to a promising planet harboring a Prime Worldsoul. The Void Lords sent Xal’atath to Azeroth to oversee the work of their Old gods pantheon — but it seems the Worldsoul might have somehow affected the Old gods… with free will? …. as the Worldsoul did with some of the Titans’ Earthen? That’s a story yet to be confirmed.

In rebellion against their Void Lord masters, the Old gods imprisoned their herald… Xal’atath in the Blade of the Black Empire.

Eventually, N’Zoth freed Xal’atath from the blade. When players next see her in World of Warcraft: The War Within, Locus-Walker helps Alleria and the player and commands Xal’atath to leave. This was the first time players noticed Locus-Walker knows Xal’atath. In itself, very intriguing.

As the upcoming The War Within Patch 11.2 approaches, Blizzard Entertainment released a spoiler cinematic where Alleria is summoned to meet Locus-Walker. He wants to introduce Alleria to their new ally against Dimensius… Xal’atath.

This revelation puts many pieces of the puzzle together. That time Locus-Walker commanded Xal’atath to leave Alleria and the player alone, he gave away that he knew Xal’atath from long ago. Now he is asking Alleria not to trust Xal’atath’s willingness to be their Ally against Dimensius the All-Devouring … but to trust Locus-Walker instead.

This is a massive giveaway. How else is Locus-Walker sure of Xal’atath’s willingness to help but because she was the K’aresh Worldsoul who, through whispers, helped him save his people? Herself, willing to help him once more to bring down the Void Lord that dug deep into K’aresh’s core to claim her, and then transformed her into a Void being.

It has not been confirmed yet whether Xal’atath is the K’aresh Worldsoul converted to a Void being, like Argus the Unmaker was the Argus Worldsoul converted to serve the Disorder cosmic force (via the Burning Legion pantheon). But we have been introduced to some interesting pieces of the puzzle that lead me to conclude that’s where the story is taking us.

The Cliffhanger

If you watched all 3 chapters of The Doom of K’aresh audio novella, then you were left with a cliffhanger … and like me, who didn’t know there were only 3 chapters, kept pressing F5 the next day, waiting for Chapter 4.

Alleria: “Do you know who this creature was once?”

Before him, the Void heart of the Void Revenant floated. A long moment passed before Locus-Walker reached out and took the Void heart. He paused only for the span of a breath, and then he consumed it, and it was gone. And with it, the memory of a love from another time.

The first Void Revenant we encountered in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King was known as Nexus-Prince Bilaal. That’s a very familiar name to remember, and you will hear that name again in The Doom of K’aresh audio novella. Bilaal was the ruler of Tazavesh — present during the Ravel meetings and antagonist to Locus-Walker’s technomantic postulations.

We met Biaal as the leader of the Ethereum. His holographic image was seen in an Ethereum communication device. The Ethereum came to the Nexus in Coldarra (Northrend), to steal Surge Needles to pierce a crack into the Twisting Nether. Bilaal succeeded and transformed into a Void Revenant. He is one of the dungeon bosses.

How Nexus-Prince Bilaal looks like in-game as a Void Revenant.

I present to you a Void Revenant boss we fought in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor in the Shadowmoon Burial Grounds: Nhallish.

Another Void Revenant we have encountered before is named Nhal’athoth — in Eredath (Argus), during the Legion Expansion. We found him the first time we met Locus-Walker shortly after he introduced himself to Alleria. He is the one Locus-Walker, Alleria, and the player defeated outdoors. Alleria consumed his Void Heart, guided by Locus-Walker to do so.

If you go back to the audio novella, you can hear that the Void Revenant is described in detail, and there is no doubt that those Void Revenants are the same we have encountered before. The point of this trip down memory lane is to confirm that the Void Revenant Alleria and Locus-Walker hunted down in Telogrus Rift in The Doom of K’aresh audio novella is Krysson… Locus-Walker’s beloved.

This means high-ranking Ethereals who succumbed to the Void when the Arcane engines were turned off eventually were transformed into Void Revenants. The precedent is that Nexus-Prince Bilaal transformed into a Void Revenant in The Nexus (Coldarra). The same ruler of Tazavesh was present during the Ravel meetings with Locus-Walker before the fall of K’aresh.

That means that most Void Revenants were formerly races indigenous to each of the planets the Void corrupted or who willingly submit themselves to the Void as willing-servants. The one in Draenor is possibly an orc or draenei.

Blizzard Entertainment left us with a cliffhanger about the story of what happened after the Arcane Engines were turned off and the Void freely entered the city. What happened to Krysson? How did Nexus-Prince Baliaal and what would become the Ethereum escape? How did Locus-Walker escape, and how did he become Void-infused himself? How did he escape the iron-will of Dimensius to not serve him? A Lot of questions unanswered.

Hopefully, The War Within Patch 11.2 will answer most of those lingering questions that left us hungry for more after reading/listening to The Doom of K’aresh.

All this talk makes me wonder… will we meet Ner’zhul (from Warlords of Draenor) in World of Warcraft: Midnight as an emissary of the Void?

The Betrayal

At the end of The Doom of K’aresh audio novella, there was a big gap of info the spectator didn’t get as it happened off-panel.

Locus-Walker postulated that using the Reshii Ribbons, the K’areshi could survive The Wasting by transmuting their bodies into pure arcane energy. The High-Priest Salhadaar — who we remember as a summoned boss during a Netherstorm quest — told Locus-Walker to leave the Ravel and that he would have an answer in a few days. Many days passed by, and no word came from Salhadaar.

One day, the bells rang, and Saldahaar came to the balcony of his palace to make a public announcement to everyone below in the streets.

How long our conference lasted, I did not know. But before long a bell sounded across the city – it came from the market square, and we four went with all haste to find the plaza alive with more bandage-wrapped citizens than I had seen together for some time.

The news Nari heard had spread, it seemed, and not for the first time I cursed my dedication to my oath, which often cloistered me from the news of the world. The bell rang a second time, and there was movement on the balcony of the market guildhall. Salhadaar appeared, Bilaal at his side.

But there was another with them I had not seen for a long, long time.

“Soul-Scribe,” muttered Ky’veza into my ear. “Out from hiding at last.”

This was true. Since the erection of the barriers, the nomadic peoples of the Testing had become more integrated with residents of the city-states, but even Krysson had not seen the Soul-Scribe for many a month.

Salhadaar spread his arms and the crowd hushed. “The future of K’aresh hangs in the balance,” he said.
“I will not lie to you, my people. We have fought long to protect you.

We have worked hard to give you the future you deserve. The All-Devouring is a torment without end, and the means of our protection is a suffering we can endure only for so long.”

The moment had come, and now, despite the voice in my mind, despite the warnings of Nari, I felt my confidence returning.

Salhadaar was doing precisely as we had suggested. The people needed to know what was to come, because after years of struggle and change, this was to be the greatest challenge of them all.

“There is change coming,” Salhadaar continued. “Change for all of us. For these last years, you have worked hard and followed the path of your oaths.”

The Council of Oracles has asked much of you, and the strength of the K’areshi has endured, even as our bodies wither and our numbers dwindle.

“We are soon to face the greatest test of all, and for that reason, we must unite, cast aside our differences, forget our arguments.

We have fortitude, we have resolve, and I commit to you now the new oath I have undertaken. For I am no longer your high priest… I am your high king.”

I felt my companions grow tense beside me, even as I struggled to comprehend Salhadaar’s meaning, if not his words. To declare himself high king was not a strategy I had expected or understood.

“And as your high king,” Salhadaar said, “there are truths I must tell you.”

At this, he cast his gaze skyward, at the pink dome above that protected us from the boiling darkness of the Void beyond.

“The barriers both protect us and condemn us. We are trapped beneath them as the Wasting destroys us.”

He stepped forward on the balcony to look down upon his people. “But the Wasting was no accident, my people. There were those among us who schemed and plotted, who designed this fate, who sought the doom of the K’areshi
even as we fought for our very survival.”

And there, on the balcony above, the newly declared high king was pointing a bandaged hand. Pointing it at me.

“There stands the Locus-Walker,” he said. “Void-Sorcerer. Arch-traitor! And there, his comrades, the leaders of a conspiracy that would gift this world to the void lord. They and their friends have met in secret, plotted against us under the guise of saving K’aresh. It is they who have undone us, my people. It is they who have deceived us. The Wasting was by their design. They have betrayed us all with their blasphemy!”

Something tells me the Soul-Scribe betrayed the K’areshi by making a pact with Dimensius the All-Devouring or one of his heralds, because the Soul-Scribe and Saldahaar did not flinch when the arcane dome protecting them collapsed, letting the Void surrounding the planet enter their city. As if they conspired with the Void to do this, and blamed the dome’s collapse on Locus-Walker, Ky’veza, and Nari.

The last time something like this happened was shown in an animated cutscene — the Azj-Kahet Queen was betrayed by her own daughter, dagger in her side. Xal’atath convinced her to take the mantle of her mother and to serve her plans in exchange for power.

It seems plausible that the Soul-Scribe was approached by a herald of Dimensius and convinced him to manipulate Saldahaar into taking down the arcane dome. The question is… when will the developers give us a playable scenario, timeways timey-whimey quest, or cutscene to witness what happened after Locus-Walker left the Ravel meeting that made Saldahaar decide in favor of whatever the Soul-Scribe told him; and before that … how the Soul-Scribe was approached by the Void before that Ravel meeting took place.

There is another lingering question. Recently, a Patch 11.1.7 quest revealed that Ve’nari and Locus-Walker know each other. We bring some sort of holographic device to Locus-Walker, which allows Ve’nari to communicate with Locus-Walker. He was a bit of an a-hole to her, saying he wished more time had passed before seeing each other (along those lines), and she responded in a tone of injured feelings. I uploaded those quest videos some time ago, showing that dialogue (watch them here).

I am assuming that Nari in the audio novella is Ve’nari. Whatever happened between the novella finale and now that made Locus-Walker resent her? Does it involve the fate of Krysson? Did Nari betray Locus-Walker?

I am increasingly wanting to learn more about what happens next after the audio novella.