WARNING: Patch 12.0.7 Spoilers in this post!
The Draenei on Naigtal
During our exploits in Naigtal, one of the new mini-zones introduced in patch 12.0.7, we follow the efforts of an ethereal research group called the Hal'hadar. While it initially seems like they are merely scavenging technology from groups like the Army of the Light, the Legion, and the domanaar, further inspection reveals that the ethereals have much grander plans with warframes used by the Lightforged draenei.
After discovering information about device called a 'Soul Lattice', our allies discover that the Hal'hadar are planning to harness the technology that the draenei use in their Vigilants to place their own souls inside of draenei Warframes -- essentially, they want to give nigh-invincible bodies to their fellow ethereals. This technology does not come without its cost, however, as the Soul Lattice must be powered by the energy of other souls in order to work, and the target of their first test run is a draenei crypt found on Naigtal.
Known as Vilaldoun, this crypt was a part of one of the draenei's many settlements during their long exodus from Argus. While the main group of draenei fled the planet in the Genedar when the Legion arrived, the crypt and its interred inhabitants were left behind -- including their mechanical Vigilant bodies.
It is in the chamber containing the Vigilants that we find Artiseer Ahl'syraz, an ethereal researcher attempting to place her Soul Lattice inside one of the Vigilants. While we prevent her from succeeding by wresting the Soul Lattice from her grasp, she is able to survive and teleport all of the remaining Vigilants away to an unknown location.
In addition to the Soul Lattice, we also find a draenei hologem with a very useful piece of information to the Hal'hadar: a map of every planet the draenei had landed the Genedar on since the start of their exodus. With such a map, the ethereals would have a wealth of abandoned tombs to continue their research with... but tombs are not all this map contains.
The Nethersent
In addition to knowledge of abandoned planets, the hologem also contains information about a planet called Nashabor. During Voidstorm questing, we met a group of draenei called the Nethersent who had been captured by the domanaar -- but these draenei were not from Azeroth. They spoke almost no Common, and had never encountered any of the player races beyond fellow draenei. Instead, these draenei hailed from the planet of Nashabor, one of the colonies left behind by Velen and the Genedar.
These draenei were led by Tul'amar, a mage who was able to evade capture and work with the player to free her people from the domanaar and prevent them from finding Nashabor again. Rather than flee back to their world with her people, however, Tul'amar was forced to stay behind to ensure the portal closed without a trace. Handing leadership off to her brother, the lone Tul'amar then joins the void elves in the Howling Ridge to consider her next steps.
Among those next steps was the potential to spitefully inform Velen of their survival, but beyond that, she did not seem particularly keen on joining the draenei on Azeroth long-term. With the information of this quest, however, working with her fellow draenei may be something she is now inclined to do if she wants to save her people from annihilation at the hands of the ethereals.
After giving the hologem to Tul'amar, she is approached by Tala'saan, the leader of the Lightforged expeditions into Naigtal and Val. Rather than propose they bring the golden armadas of the Army of the Light down to save Nashabor, he proposes that Tul'amar meet with Velen to figure out how to reach Nashabor. Tul'amar reluctantly agrees, leaving us on a cliffhanger for what happens next.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Who's there? Show yourself.
Commander Tala'saan sheds his Lightveil cloak and steps forward.
Commander Tala'saan says: It is good to see you alive and well, Tul'amar.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Tala'saan? You're alive. You've changed.
Commander Tala'saan says: So have you, my old friend.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: I preferred you without the glow.
Commander Tala'saan says: It does make my job more difficult sometimes.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Is that why you are here skulking around unseen?
Commander Tala'saan says: I am here to offer you a chance to ensure your people, our people, don't suffer alone any longer.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Let me guess. You want to bring a great golden armada to rescue my people from this threat?
Commander Tala'saan says: No, Tul'amar. But I have seen these Hal'hadar first hand...
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: We found our own ways to survive when we were left behind. Why should that change now?
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: It was the Light that left us scattered to the Twisting Nether, Tala'saan.
Commander Tala'saan says: I would be a fool to doubt you. I can only imagine the things you have done to protect your people.
Commander Tala'saan says: But I am not offering to bring the Light to Nashabor.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Why are you here then?
Commander Tala'saan says: Come with me to Velen. Tell him about the Nethersent. I promise he will listen, and he will act.
Tul'amar grits her teeth as she falls silent for a moment. Her good eye darts toward you and then back to Tala'saan.
Tul'amar, Thrice-Exiled says: Fine. For you, not the Prophet. Let us speak privately.
Commander Tala'saan glances at you and offers an appreciative nod.
The Ongoing Draenei Storyline
The story in Midnight is far from the first time we have seen draenei focus in recent years. While their major fight against the Legion may have ended in their titular expansion, the draenei decided by the end of that story to make Azeroth their home rather than attempting to resettle the ruins of Argus.
Their story continued during Dragonflight, where Velen met with the krokuul leader Hatuun and a penitent Man'ari eredar named Arzaal. After some consternation, and a reminder from Hatuun of the people he left behind on Argus, Velen made the choice to allow a small number of Man'ari to redeem themselves by fighting against the remaining Legion forces on Argus.
During the draenei heritage, this story was expanded further when Velen's plans to renew the draenei's Tishamaat ceremony was interrupted by an attack from Legion forces on Azuremyst Isle. Aided by both Hatuun and Arzaal, Velen was able to prevent this attack, and invited both leaders and their people to join the draenei in celebrating Tishamaat.
Among the many story threads set up during the Tishamaat, its final cutscene ends with the reveal that the draenei plan to build a new capitol city on Azeroth. The ceremony resulted in the closest thing to unity between the scattered groups of draenei and Broken we have seen, setting the stage for a brighter future for the united eredar.
For many, this may be your first Tishamaat.
Our last was long ago. Few among us remember it.
But even here, in another space and another time, its meaning remains the same:
We must let go of the past... to grasp our future.
No longer must we live scattered, lamenting Argus.
We will build a city on the ashes of our exile.
We will finally be home.
Now, with these story threads surrounding Tul'amar and the draenei on Nashabor, the ongoing story of the draenei seems to be continuing. It not only teases our return to Velen after some time away, but also a promise that we will venture to Nashabor to save Tul'amar's people.
Is Nashabor an Upcoming Zone?
With all of the focus given to the draenei in side content, such a blatant peace of set-up begs the question: are we getting a new draenei zone soon?
In all likelihood, this is not setting up a major patch zone in Midnight on the scale of Undermine or the Coiled Isle. While the Worldsoul Saga has left plenty of room for side stories like the goblin and Amani plotlines to be explored, all signs point to us following Xal'atath's journey towards Azeroth's worldsoul in patch 12.2, which will then lead to our return to Northrend and the saga's finale in The Last Titan.
More likely, this is setting up another sub-patch zone like Naigtal or Val. The format used in patch 12.0.7 has allowed for these smaller-scale stories to be told without disrupting the ongoing main story, and since the story on Nashabor seems similarly unrelated to Xal'atath's grand schemes for the worldsoul, it would be a safe bet to assume that Nashabor will be of a similar scale of content and story as the rest of the ongoing draenei plot since Dragonflight.
...But to indulge in speculation, what if this is setting up a major draenei zone? Not only Nashabor, but using that story thread as an excuse to visit the newly built capitol city of the draenei?
Midnight has been a rather massive homage to The Burning Crusade, with our return to Quel'thalas and Zul'Aman as well as the thematic parallels between Netherstorm and Voidstorm and their ethereal presence. While they have shown up as a part of the Vanguard of the Light, the draenei are scarce in Midnight compared to the blood elves. Perhaps this lingering story thread with the ethereals is the excuse needed to give us a proper draenei zone to match the revamped Eversong Woods?
As an instanced-off zone, Azuremyst Isle would be a relatively easy zone to remake and add to the world map of Kalimdor like how Quel'thalas was to Eastern Kingdoms -- perhaps even easier, considering Azuremyst is an isolated island with no direct connection to other zones. With the love given to Silvermoon in Midnight, the same love given to a new capitol city that replaces the Exodar would likely be welcomed by the playerbase.
Regardless of if the story in Naigtal results in a massive new draenei capitol city, or merely a sub-patch zone, patch 12.0.7 has done a great job in setting up future plot threads for us to explore with the ethereals and draenei. As a whole, the draenei have been given phenomenal story since Dragonflight, and Midnight has utilized its side content to explore them further in a wonderful way. Here's hoping whatever comes next with Nashabor is treated with the same level of love and passion -- regardless of zone size.
