Previously, in Khaz Algar
Our story in Khaz Algar opened with a rather explosive event, where we witnessed the destruction of Dalaran above the Isle of Dorn at the hands of Xal'atath and her Dark Heart, with the help of the nerubians. Allying with the local Earthen, we fought back the nerubians in their attempts to destroy their capitol of Dornogal, before pursuing Xal'atath below ground. There, in the Ringing Deeps, we thwarted a conspiracy to convert the Earthen into void-corrupted Skardyn, solving many of the Earthen's cultural issues along the way.
From there, we followed Anduin and Alleria into Hallowfall, the cavern dominated by the shifting crystal known as Beledar. While Alleria struggled with her desire of vengeance upon Xal'atath for Dalaran's destruction, Anduin struggled with more deep-rooted personal doubts -- ones helped through by a local of the region named Faerin. After helping Anduin along the path towards regaining his faith in the Light, our path takes us down into the nerubian kingdom of Azj-Kahet. There, we found a kingdom in conflict with itself, and while Alleria's desire for vengeance initially got the better of her, she was able to turn away from the path of darkness and remember who she was fighting for.
Returning to Dornogal, we rallied the factions to Khaz Algar, and after fully uniting the Earthen and aiding the rebel nerubians against their corrupt queen, our fight culminated in a massive siege against Hallowfall. While the factions battled the nerubian armies, Alleria realized that Xal'atath had orchestrated the entire conflict as a ruse to gain access to Beledar's power. Pursuing her alongside Anduin and Faerin, she meets with Xal'atath head on, but instead of continuing her blind pursuit of vengeance against Xal'atath herself, she chose to target the Dark Heart, shattering it and forcing Xal'atath to retreat from Khaz Algar.
The story of Khaz Algar contains many more details, and for those looking for a more in-depth summary of 11.0 and the story leading up to 11.1, check out our previous segment of this story recap!
Undermine and the Dark Heart
During our time in Khaz Algar, we encountered many goblins, and after following the trail of their escapades alongside Gazlowe, Renzik, and the mysterious Orweyna, we eventually discovered a massive mining operation in the Ringing Deeps, run by none other than Jastor Gallywix, the former Trade Prince of the Bilgewater before Gazlowe. After finding that it was mining the corruptive void substance known as Black Blood, our trail leads us to the goblin capitol of Undermine in pursuit of Gallywix and his schemes.
Upon arriving, we find the city under Gallywix's heel, with the prominent cartels all working under him to funnel Black Blood into its warehouses. After further inspection, we also learn that they're harvesting Kaja'mite, the magical ore that is responsible for the intellect of the goblin race, and one with numerous unexplored properties. We then learn that Gallywix is working with Xal'atath herself, having struck a bargain with the void entity to repair the Dark Heart. Using Kaja'mite to stabilize the Black Blood, Gallywix is able to repair it from Alleria's attack... but not before his city is set upon by void ethereals.
Initially believed to be working for Xal'atath, we learn that the ethereals are instead working against her, with their leader Phase-Thief Azir stealing the Dark Heart from Gallywix's clutches before he's able to return it to his voidsent ally. Desperate to maintain control of his city, he cracks down on Undermine, and ends up inciting a rebellion of the people against him. After being abandoned by Xal'atath for his failure, he retreats into his fortress, the Gallagio, where he is ultimately brought down for good.
Undermine is ultimately liberated from tyranny, with the remaining cartel leaders banding together to set the city right, but the zone ends on an ominous shot of Azir standing before the ruins of the ethereal homeworld, K'aresh. This cliffhanger is ultimately what will be directly followed up on in 11.2's opening quests, but we had a number of stories between that ending and the upcoming patch as well.
Hallowfall and Stromgarde
In the wake of their victory against the nerubian's main assault alongside Xal'atath, the Arathi of Hallowfall did not have much time to rest. Emboldened by vengeance for the murder of their queen, the remaining Sureki loyalists banded together to assault Hallowfall once again, and the Arathi responded in kind.
Based on ancient legends from their imperial homeland, the Flame's Radiance was formed, an army of soldiers and civilians alike all trained to defend their home when the need arose. Faces from both the main story and side quests of Hallowfall returned in this new faction, showing updates like the reformation of the Priory of the Sacred Flame under their new Prioress Etna Blayze, as well as their reforged alliance with the local Earthen.
Meanwhile, Faerin Lothar takes a very different path for the Arathi storyline. Driven by a desire to help the world beyond Hallowfall, Faerin joins the leader of Stromgarde, Danath Trollbane, in his return to his homeland of the Arathi Highlands. As the site of many legendary stories from Faerin's childhood, she is initially enamored by the idea of venturing there, but is quickly hit by the harsh realities of Azeroth's faction conflicts and the lingering tensions that come with it.
Following up from the Heartlands novella, Faerin and Danath find themselves in the midst of a new faction rising to power: the Red Dawn. Formed of disparate human groups such as the Defias Brotherhood, Scarlet Crusade, and Alteraci Syndicate, this new organization finds itself bound together by tenets of human supremacy, and a disdain for the Horde and Alliance alike for their perceived roles in causing the downfall of humanity.
Looking to uncover the ongoing conspiracy, Faerin travels across the Arathi Highlands, meeting members of the Horde and Alliance alike and learning of the ongoing struggles with famine in the region. In the end, the troubles tie back to Danath's niece Marran Trollbane and her part in orchestrating the Red Dawn's rise. Though she attempts to overthrow Danath and install herself as ruler of Stromgarde, her actions are thwarted, and Faerin nearly lands the killing blow -- before being stopped by Danath, who instead lets her go free without rank or title to prevent her martyrdom.
Faerin's time in Stromgarde left her slightly disillusioned, but Danath manages to inspire her to continue spreading her ideals across Azeroth, a story that will likely continue into Midnight and beyond.
Lorewalking Reveals
Though not explicitly a story set in the ongoing events of Khaz Algar, the recently released Lorewalking features stars many of our ongoing main characters that we will see in 11.2, such as Xal'atath and Locus Walker.
For Xal'atath, we learn more and more about what she is -- or more precisely, what she isn't. After a recap of her story in WoW so far during Legion and Battle for Azeroth, we're treated to a flashback to the time of the Black Empire, when Xal'atath attempted to overthrow the Old Gods. Amidst her failure, they confirm that Xal'atath is not like them; she is neither an Old God nor a natural being of the Void, but something entirely different that chose to embrace the darkness, becoming the Harbinger of Dimensius. What that means for her true origins remains to be seen, but her unique nature will certainly play a role as we pursue her in K'aresh.
For Locus Walker, meanwhile, we learn not only that the Brokers of the Shadowlands were ones the same native species of K'aresh as the Ethereals, but that Locus-Walker was friends with Ve'nari, our broker ally from the Maw. The two begrudgingly agree to work together, and Locus-Walker is called to action to return to K'aresh and aid Ve'nari in her efforts. Given their similarities, the revelation of their shared origin is hardly a surprise, but Ve'nari's vested interest in gaining Locus-Walker's aid will prove to be a core piece of the story of the two groups in 11.2.
The Doom of K'aresh
Another story not quite set in the present, the recently released short story The Doom of K'aresh paints a rather important picture of the story to come in 11.2, with Locus Walker telling Alleria his account of the events leading up to the planet's destruction. The story itself takes place shortly before the destruction of Dalaran, but its flashbacks and its lessons for Alleria and Locus Walker will have impacts for both 11.2 and Midnight.
Back before its destruction, K'aresh was an arid planet, built around technological cities such as Tazavesh. In that time, Locus Walker was a technomancer in charge of studying mysterious arcane artifacts known as Reshii Ribbons, though he frequently drew ire for his interest in the Void. That ire only increased as the people of K'aresh began hearing the voice of their planet's Worldsoul, but when the skies above turned to an unnatural dark, he joined a secretive cabal of intellectuals known as the Ravel who aided him in his research.
Warned of the Dimensius' arrival by a mysterious voice in his head, and spurred on by the words of his lover, Krysson, he proposed a plan to protect K'aresh by erecting massive arcane barriers that drew upon the Reshii Ribbons to absorb the encroaching void energy and convert it into a protective arcane barrier. Aided by the planet's leader, Salhadaar, the barriers were successful in driving back Dimensius and his forces -- too successful.
In the process of converting Dimensius' attacks into pure arcane energy, the barriers surrounding K'aresh continued to grow in strength, searing the planet within and transforming the native K'areshi in a process known as the Wasting. As their flesh and features began to decay, they wrapped themselves in magical bindings to keep themselves intact, but eventually they discovered that the Wasting was transmuting them beyond the limits of their own flesh.
Shortly before K'aresh's destruction, Locus Walker was betrayed by Salhadaar, who declared him an enemy and forced him to part from Krysson, who he never saw again... that is, until he and Alleria track her down in the present day as a horrifically void-corrupted being. Throughout their trip, Locus Walker told Alleria of Krysson and their love as a lesson against the bonds she continued to hold for her loved ones, but Alleria instead teaches him a lesson about the drive that love had given him in times of hardship.
Those lessons are that Alleria will certainly be thinking of as she heads into the starring role of 11.2 and Midnight, especially as her path crosses with Xal'atath once more and her desire for vengeance rears its head. For more context on the backstory of K'aresh and Locus-Walker before the patch, be sure to read The Doom of K'aresh for yourself!
Read 'The Doom of K'aresh' Novella Here
What's Next
Between our pursuit of Xal'atath and the Dark Heart, the revelations about the ethereals and brokers prior to K'aresh's destruction, and the imminent threat of Dimensius, 11.2 offers a massive increase in stakes for our ongoing story in The War Within. The patch will bring us to the shattered remnants of K'aresh, with the broker's city of Tazavesh acting as our hub for the patch as we work to prevent the arrival of Dimensius. Look forward to the first three chapters of the 11.2 campaign being released after maintenance, and enjoy K'aresh!
