Blizzard Entertainment recently released new The War Within Animated Shorts as a lore primer for the launch of the World of Warcraft expansion.

The first one focuses on the choices made by the Azj-Kahet queen and how the empire succumbed to the whispers of Xal’atath. What not many players know about the nerubians under her iron fist is that there are two castes of nerubians. Those who rejected Xal’atath and those who embraced her. The latter no longer look like nerubians.

The second animated short focuses on Alleria. It shows her life journey during the second war as the Horde invaded Quel’Thalas, later her choice to join the Alliance Expeditionary force that traveled to Draenor, her long time fighting beside X’era, and her transformation after embracing the powers of the void.

Alleria plays an important role in The War Within questline, where Xal’atath is constantly present in her thoughts and throughout the different points of your journey toward the Azj-Kahet zone.

The War Within Animated Shorts

Threads of Destiny

As the might of the Nerubian kingdom of Azj-Kahet falters, their queen must decide the choices she’s willing to make to ensure her people’s survival. (source)

Alleria: Light and Shadow

Alleria Windrunner was once on the road to becoming the Ranger General of Silvermoon. But an invading horde, family tragedy, and the threat of unending war compelled the eldest of the famed Windrunner sisters to leave behind her family and civic duty to journey across the universe to face unknown enemies.

This animated short acts as a primer to dive into who Alleria is and the choices she’s made as well as show her transformation into the character players will see in the upcoming tenth World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within, which launches globally on August 26. (source)