WARNING: Midnight Spoilers in this post!
The story involving the elves and the threat Xal'atath posed to Silvermoon has largely concluded, with the Darkwell being purified into the Dawnwell and the Voidstorm disappearing from the sky. Silvermoon was far from the only location under threat in Midnight, however, and we still have two full patches of story until the expansion concludes.
Where might these patches take us, then? Let's speculate based on the information we know so far.
Patch 12.1: Zul'jan and Atal'Utek
The most blatant and explicit of zones that have been set up so far is a second Amani troll zone -- Atal'Utek. At the end of Zul'Aman's leveling, we find Zul'jan sitting at the edge of the zone's massive destroyed bridge, which stretches out towards the conspicuously inaccessible island to the distance. While his speech sets up lingering problems with the loa for him to explore, his gossip text also mentions the importance of the ruins on the island.
Those ruins be ours, gokinye.
We may seem few now, but once upon a time, our kingdom was larger den any dat exists today.
You see those ruins? We called those ruins home.
This island is far from obscured, shown explicitly as an unexplored landmass on the Zul'Aman map and given a very clear location on the continent map for Midnight. In the brief capacity that players can reach the island before being teleported out, the name Atal'Utek shows up, giving us an explicit name.
Beyond teases in game, we also have teased from datamining. Early on in the Midnight alpha, a set of gear icons were added called RaidWarlockUlatek, in reference to a loa from the non-canon Warcraft RPG. These icons showcase a gearset entirely different from the set used by warlocks in the 12.0 raid tier, making their use in a troll raid in Patch 12.1 incredibly likely.
We were given an even more explicit -- if coy -- tease for Atal'Utek in an interview by Taliesin & Evitel with Associate Game Director Paul Kubit this week. When asked about Patch 12.1 and the potential relevance of that 'view off the coast', Paul expressed that it might be a good idea to set a hearthstone in Zul'Aman for the forseeable future.
The upcoming story in 12.0.7 will also heavily involve the Amani, with a promised campaign involving Zul'jan interacting with Orweyna and the Haranir to explore their peoples' legacy.
BlizzardWhen the haranir call for a special gathering, Zul’jan attends as the Amani representative—only to be drawn into an ancient mystery surrounding the legacy of the Amani trolls. Join him and his uncle Kinduru on their journey of discovery to uncover the truth. This content will arrive after the release of the update.
In all likelihood, it is a matter of when, not if, we will see this island as a new zone -- but what is Atal'Utek, exactly?
In an optional lore tablet titled 'The Rulers of Zul'Aman', Atal'Utek is described as a vast monument created at the dawn of the Amani Empire, built in the aftermath of their battle with the C'thraxxi general Kith'ix. The current version merely remarks on the loss of connection to their loa as they entered the lands we now call Zul'Aman, but a previous version from Midnight Early Access mentions that their leader called upon a mysterious 'great power' to aid her in dispatching Kith'ix.
The original tablet text vs the updated tablet text
That mysterious power may have been set up as far back as The Burning Crusade, with the boss Hex Lord Malacrass. According to his boss description, the four main loa of Zul'Aman were not the only ones that he drew upon for power. A fifth, darker loa was also drawn upon to grant him his strength, and we see some potential results of that in his fight: undead wraiths, demonic imps, and most interestingly, venomous snakes.
The question of why we would go to Atal'Utek remains however, and the answers lie in the recently released Void Assaults. In the wake of Xal'atath's disappearance, the Twilight's Blade have been scattered, bereft of her support and uniting purpose. While some gather at Deatholme to harness the remnants of the Scourge there, and others gather at the Broken Throne to continue their old ways, the most interesting group are those seen in the Zul'Aman assaults. Amidst their usual attacks on the Amani, some of their lore items reveal that they have been digging.
With Kith'ix as a clear connection to the Old Gods that the Twilights once served (and a direct connection to Xal'atath herself), it is incredibly likely that he is what they are digging for, and their quest for his corpse will certainly bring them to Atal'Utek. Whether he or the mysterious dark power connected to Malacrass end up as the ultimate boss remains to be seen, but it would certainly be a good idea to complete the Sojourner of Zul'Aman before Patch 12.1 rolls around.
Patch 12.2: Xal'atath and the Worldcore
Perhaps more explicit than even the Atal'Utek set-up is the ongoing threat of Xal'atath. While the destruction of Silvermoon may have been thwarted in the March on Quel'Danas, Xal'atath seemed far from displeased at the fruits of her labor. After narrowly dodging an arrow from Sylvanas, Xal'atath makes the choice to retreat through the Darkwell -- or more accurately, down the Darkwell.
In a conversation between Rommath and Umbric, the two speculate on what Xal'atath's plans for the Darkwell might have been. Contrary to the idea that she was using it as a staging ground to invade Azeroth, Xal'atath used the Darkwell to pour her Devouring Host into Azeroth, digging deep below the surface in search of her prize. If you look closely at the raid cinematic, you can even see void creatures spiraling down through the beam.
The prize that Xal'atath seeks is rather clear: Azeroth's Worldsoul. There must be a reason why she needs an army with her to help claim it, however, and the answers likely lie in the revelations from the Archive back in The War Within. Across our weekly quests during the expansion, we were treated to message logs from the Keeper Archaedas, detailing the work the Titans oversaw in safeguarding the Worldsoul for their own ends.
Among those messages, we learned of the Worldcore, a chamber at the heart of the world surrounding -- and imprisoning -- the Worldsoul. While it clearly acts as a way for the Pantheon to transform Azeroth into a Titan, it also works to protect the Worldsoul from the influence of the Void. Xal'atath alone may not have been strong enough to breach the Worldcore, but it stands to reason that she will have a much better chance with the armies of the Devouring Host at her back.
Archaedas says: The great Khaz'goroth revealed to me that the corrupting influence of the imprisoned Old Gods was affecting the Worldsoul.
Archaedas says: To protect it, we had the earthen construct the Worldcore--a vast chamber at the heart of the world. There, the Worldsoul will slumber, with only the titans to influence it.
The Devouring Host may not be the only group from the surface who fell towards the Worldcore, either. In the moments after Xal'atath unleashed L'ura to create the Darkwell, Alleria and Turalyon fell down its beam and into the depths of darkness. They haven't been seen since, with their family having only scant hope that they might still be alive.
The creation of the Darkwell also resulted in the obliteration of the Vanguard of Light that aided in the assault, with only a few being recovered from the Sunwell Plateau in the aftermath. The rest have gone entirely missing, with not even their bodies being found in Voidstorm or Quel'Danas.
With the likelihood that we won't see this storyline picked up until Patch 12.2, we could arrive at the Worldcore to find the Vanguard there as well, fighting off the Devouring Host from claiming Xal'atath's prize. Whether they will be allies once more, or Lightblinded zealots like their leaders became during the events of the Voidspire raid, that is a question we will have to wait for answers on.
Lordaeron and the Forsaken
While it has far less relevance to the ongoing story of Midnight than C'thraxxi generals or threats to the Worldsoul, hints have also been laid throughout Midnight for a potential return to Lordaeron. Despite their very close proximity, and the prominent appearance of Capital City in Liadrin's animated short, the Forsaken have been almost entirely absent during Midnight, with only a few Light-related lore figures showing up. While that may seem conspicuous or short sighted at first, perhaps they are being saved for a patch of their own.
During Arator's Journey in Midnight's leveling campaign, we return to Lordaeron for a few brief moments. While those visits mostly maintain the status quo, with Scourge being rampant in the Plaguelands and Scarlet Crusade still terrorizing the people of Tirisfal, our quest for holy relics in the Scarlet Monastery also ends with the surrender of a Scarlet champion named Aelyse. In normal stories, we'd simply kill Scarlets like her, but she is instead sent to Calia and put on the path towards understanding the undead. A story like this would certainly be controversial for fans, but the groundwork is seemingly being laid here.
Beyond small story hints, Midnight also added a curious achievement in the files: a Delve achievement with the criteria to 'Die in Lordaeron or Undercity'.
The idea of an Undercity delve would certainly align with the upcoming Labyrinth feature, larger-scale delves with much bigger maps to work with. Undercity has been undergoing the slow process of purification from its blighted state since the end of Shadowlands, and a labyrinth inside its depths would be a perfect excuse to return to Lordaeron, even if only for a sub-patch.
The Naga's Longterm Schemes
Beyond the stories of the upcoming major patches, Midnight has also set up smaller stories, such as the ongoing threat of the Naga. Since Azshara's defeat and subsequent disappearance in Battle for Azeroth, the naga have been bereft without their queen, split into separate tribes in search of the power to bring her back to them.
We first saw this story emerge during Dragonflight in the Forbidden Reach, where we met the Farscale naga and discovered their prophetic "Song of the Depths". In its text, they foresaw Xal'atath's alliances with Iridikron and Ansurek, as well as her plans for the Dark Heart. At the end of that journey, they believe that Azshara will return to them from beyond the veil.
Rise, rise! Our Queen calls to us from beyond the Umbral Veil. She has transcended the Circle of Stars and basks in her eternal grandeur!
The time we have long awaited is nigh.
Even now, the Harbinger gathers the children of the first flesh to reclaim what was lost. They must remember their vows and serve those to whom they owe fealty.
While they toil in the deep places, we will journey to the shores of dragon lands, to the blessed isle where the Worldbreaker first embraced the whispers.
As one storm recedes, another rises. The torches have been lit. The secrets he buried will strike as a dagger into the hearts of his kin!
The Harbinger speaks of a primal power that seeks the end of Order. Such rage can be bent to serve our ends.
A hunger lost to the ages will be reclaimed.
A dark heart left broken awaits the taking.
When these things come to pass, the Harbinger will fulfill the final prophecy and complete the awakening.
Only then shall our Queen return to reign over sea and sky and earth. We must make ready.
Rise, rise! Soon all that was hidden will be revealed.
We again saw the naga on Siren Isle during The War Within, attempting to harness the power of the Siren Crystal for similar ends. During our time there, we learned of an ancient group of Iron Vrykul who protected the crystal against naga incursions in ages past, and a mysterious bargain made between the naga and the vrykul leader Cyrce.
Rise and listen, Darktide!
The screams of the Stormcursed echo through the depths once more but we will not be swayed!
She has evaded our capture for millennia and forsaken the gifts bestowed upon her for too long!
Her wretched isle calls out once again and she will not keep us from it!
Nazeshi, Deepsurge, Hatecoil--all have sought her circlet and all have failed.
But we will succeed.
We will atone for the failures endured upon those shores long ago and claim it!
And with it, we will usher in our queen's return.
By the Queen's Glory
In Midnight, the story of the naga has picked up again, with attacks on Quel'thalas by the Daggerspine naga. While the blood elves in the region initially expect the naga to use the power they gathered to attack their settlements, we instead learn that they are shipping the harvested magic out to sea to their prince, Nazjak.
Their story is further expanded upon in Patch 12.0.5, with the addition of the Ritual Site in the same region. The Daggerspine have now been joined by a new tribe of naga, the Deeplurk, who wield darker powers and aid the Daggerspine in subjugating void creatures. Upon defeating their leader, we learn that she was present under the command of Nar'jira, a naga Battlemaiden who we first learned about during Vashj'ir questing all the way back in Cataclysm.
Deepest tidings, Princess.
Nar'jira the Honored graciously offers you her chosen to aid your endeavors in Eversong.
Accept and behold the Deeplurk's mastery over the powers of old.
Do not shirk this offer like the Darktide who refused her aid in their foolish pursuit of the Stormcursed.
Once you have what you need, return to the deeps. When the Concord of Tides is called, we must be the first to answer.
Unlike the other naga tribes, Nar'jira and the Deeplurk seem to be continuing to wield the powers of the Void they used under the command of N'zoth and Azshara, and are instructing their fellow naga to gather power to answer the "Concord of Tides". Whether that is their term for the return of Azshara or some greater threat remains to be seen, but one thing is clear -- the naga's schemes are escalating in Midnight.
With all of these plot threads in mind, where do you think Midnight will go next with its main story? Let us know!
