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The Price of Power - Relics within the Crucible of Storms
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Geposted
23.02.2019 um 03:59
von
perculia
With the full Crucible of Storms raid open for testing earlier today, we've witnessed the terrifying glory of the Relics of Power, relics of great strength and strife that the Old Gods, along with adventurers, crave. What are these relics and why are we so keen to loot these elements of destruction? In this article, we'll trace the Relics of Power from their discovery in Stormsong Valley, their empowerment at the hands of The Restless Cabal, and our disturbing mastery of the relics in the Uu'nat encounter--culminating in us keeping these volatile items for ourselves!
Spoilers and speculation for Patch 8.1.5.
Xal'atath's Gambit
During the
8.1.5 Xal'atath questline
, Xal'atath, the sentient Shadow Priest Artifact Weapon, tasks us with gathering three relics of power: the Void Stone, Trident of Deep Ocean, and Tempest Crown. Each restores a bit of her strength, allowing her to take on the form of a shadowy Elf similar to the Alliance allied Void Elves, and the three together are presented to N'Zoth at the Precipice of Oblivion... but the real offering is you. Xal'atath made some sort of bargain with N'Zoth, delivering the player in exchange for her freedom, but while Xal'atath is freed to go, the Blade itself is left behind at N'Zoth's command; we know it later ends up in the hands of Sylvanas, though this scene makes us question whether that's by chance or design. While not stated outright, this seems to indicate she is part of the Old God's grand design.
Xal'atath: Hear me, God of the Deep! I have brought you the Opener... the Bringer of Truths... the Torch That Lights the Way!
Xal'atath: Honor our bargain...free me to find my own fate!
N'Zoth: Go... but the blade must remain... to serve my will.
Xal'atath: A fair exchange. Shadows guide you, my dear friend.
Xal'atath: We will meet again...I am certain of it.
Xal'atath disappears into a Void Portal
N'Zoth: I have dreamed your destiny, mortal.
N'Zoth: The hour is close at hand.
N'Zoth: That which was sunken shall rise.
N'Zoth: All that were sleeping... shall be awakened.
N'Zoth: Receive my gift and see all truths before you.
After the cutscene, you are given the "Gift of N'Zoth", which takes the form of a twitching eyeball forever crowning your head. Upon returning to your capital, you can choose to keep or cleanse this gift:
Keeping it forever marks you, allowing you to see the marks of other players and NPCs who've been gifted in service to N'Zoth, and for them to see yours in turn.
Removing the gift removes the ability to see those marks, but leaves you with
Zuckender Augapfel
, allowing you to temporarily restore the gift for a short time.
It's unknown whether the gift will have any future ramifications, aside from creating a secret society of those who chose to aid N'Zoth and retain his gift - some of them might surprise you, but given that the Crucible of Storms is supposed to be a story tie-in to patch 8.2: Rise of Azshara, it's very likely that the presence of this gift could lead to special interactions.
Loose Threads
While we don't yet know exactly how Sylvanas comes to possess the Blade of the Black Empire, now separated from Xal'atath, we know that she respects its power enough to wield it as her own. As she talks about the Blade of the Black Empire, we hear familiar phrases, uncomfortably reminiscent of Old God whispers - "boy-king has lied to himself," "torch that shall light our path," and "anything that slumbers can be awakened."
Xal'atath... a fascinating weapon. I have heard tales of its exploits.
A pity it now lies dormant. But anything that slumbers can be awakened.
This blade is more than a mere dagger. It is a torch that shall light our path forward.
Soon I will call upon you again, champion. And together, we will steer the Horde toward its destiny.
The Alliance believes that by striking down Rastakhan and decimating the Zandalari fleet, they have broken us. That the Horde will soon crumble.
Fools. The boy-king has lied to himself and his people. He hasn't the faintest inkling of what he's truly up against.
War is a living thing. It writhes, it grows, twisting and turning until its final form is revealed.
This war is about to shift yet again. And it will be this blade that guides our way to victory.
The three recovered relics which were presented to N'Zoth remain a mystery, but a dangerous one. We know they fed power to Xal'atath, and they were presented to N'Zoth, although quickly forgotten in favor of the true offering. They yet remain beneath the Shrine of the Storms, and the factions know it; in
Der Tiegel der Stürme: Relikte des Schattens
, we're told to venture into the Crucible of Storms to ensure they can't be used against our allies.
Your intention to stop the naga attacks was noble, <name>. But that shadowy dagger tricked you into delivering powerful relics into the hands of a great enemy. No doubt those artifacts will be well defended. Gather your allies, <class>, and return to the Crucible of Storms. Defeat any opponents that stand in your way. Ensure the relics cannot be used against the Alliance. The naga cannot be allowed to summon their storm... or to call forth something even worse.
Your intention to stop de naga attacks was noble, <name>. But de talking dagger tricked you into delivering powerful relics into de hands of our enemies. No doubt dese artifacts will be well defended. Gather your allies, <class>, and return to de Crucible of Storms. Defeat any opponents dat stand in your way. Ensure dese relics cannot be used against de Horde. And if any shadowy weapons ask you to do favors for dem in de future... I suggest you decline.
Although with how badly we've seen Azerite handled by various power hungry factions throughout Battle for Azeroth, and our propensity to wage war both for and with each powerful new resource we find, is it really a good idea for anyone to claim these powerful relics?
The Restless Cabal
Zaxasj's and Fa'thuul's objective, as we believe it to be, is to retrieve the relics for N'Zoth. Now that they've been brought to the Crucible, we see the Cabal patrolling about, temporarily empowering the relics, although their true purpose has yet to be revealed.
Called from the depths to retrieve three relics of ancient power, the Restless Cabal is bound to serve N'Zoth and attend to his will. Zaxasj speaks of promises and power while Fa'thuul crushes their opposition with brute force.
Throughout the encounter, they periodically activate the Relics of Power, providing both benefit and drawbacks for players. Not all Relics can be empowered at once, as only the nearest Relic is activated.
Dungeon Journal - Relics of Power
Relics of Power
:
Whenever Zaxasj or Fa'thuul reaches 75%, 50%, or 25% health remaining, they activate the powers of the Relic nearest to their location.
Void Stone
Embrace of the Void
:
Void energy snakes out to all players, reducing healing received by 100%.
Umbral Shell
:
Darkness enshrouds the caster, absorbing the next 750 damage taken.
Embrace of the Void
only ends when this shell is broken.
Void Attunement
:
Utilizing the
Void Stone
increases the caster's damage done by 10%.
Void Essence
:
Upon activation, begins to create
Void Essence
for 10 sec every 40 sec.
Void Essence
draws in all players towards the center. This effect increases each time
Void Essence
is created and resets when the corresponding relic is next activated. (Mythic)
Trident of Deep Ocean
Custody of the Deep
:
The ocean's guardianship creates a protective bubble for the caster and its allies, redirecting 75% of damage taken to the bubble.
Abyssal Collapse
:
When
Custody of the Deep
expires, the bubble erupts and inflicts Frost damage based on the absorb remaining.
Oceanic Attunement
:
Utilizing the
Trident of Deep Ocean
increases the caster's damage done by 10%.
Oceanic Essence
:
Upon activation, begins to emit
Oceanic Essence
every 6 sec. Essences last until their relic is next activated.
Coming into contact with an
Oceanic Essence
stuns the player for 8 sec. (Mythic)
Tempest Caller
Storm of Annihilation
:
Releases a decimating tempest for 15 sec, inflicting 8 Nature damage to all players every 1 sec. This causes targets to inflict 50% less damage for 3 sec.
Annihilate
:
If
Storm of Annihilation
strikes a target below 25% health, that target instantly dies.
Storm Attunement
:
Utilizing the
Tempest Caller
increases the caster's damage done by 10%.
Storm Essence
:
Upon activation, begins to emit
Storm Essence
every 20 sec. Essences last until their relic is next activated.
Storm Essence
inflicts 4 Nature damage to the nearest player every 2 sec, increasing in damage by 10% per strike. Causes
Annihilate
if it strikes a target below 25% health. (Mythic)
Power Overwhelming
:
Utilizing a specific relic more than once per caster causes unknowable power to flow through that caster, increasing damage done by 300%. (Normal, Heroic, Mythic)
In addition, activating a Relic also summons forth a terrible being.
Dungeon Journal - Visage from Beyond
Visage from Beyond
:
Upon activating a Relic of Power, the caster calls forth a Visage from Beyond for 3 min.
Visage from Beyond
:
An ephemeral image that regenerates its own health upon death.
Terrifying Echo
:
Inflicts 15 Shadow damage and causes all players to run in fear for 8 sec. Bringing the Visage to 1 hp will interrupt this spell.
Coalesce Void
:
Draws in nearby shadows, healing for 1% of maximum health every 2 sec. This healing increases over time.
Eldritch Revelation
:
Upon activating a Relic of Power, the caster calls forth Eldritch Abominations to reveal the end of all things.
Eldritch Abomination
:
A ghastly being from the void that grants visions of annihilation.
Witness the End
:
Destroys the Eldritch Abomination, inflicting 40 Shadow damage to all players and increasing their damage taken from
Witness the End
by 100% for 6 sec. (Heroic, Mythic)
Witness the End
:
Destroys the Eldritch Abomination, inflicting 40 Shadow damage to all players. (Raid Finder, Normal)
Incomplete Form
:
Eldritch Abominations are only vulnerable to interrupts for 2 min after being formed. (Mythic)
Yet in spite of these relics having the power to summon beings that "reveal the end of all things" and "grant visions of annihilation," we still think it's a good idea to retrieve them for our warring factions?! This isn't the first time we've heard these themes either, all of them sinister portents.
The phrase "End of All Things" was also the name of Argus' devastating ability
Ende allen Seins
, and the ominous Doomsayer pamphlet
Was bedeutet 'Das Ende der Schöpfung' für mich?
from the Cataclysm pre-launch event, which talks about "a new way of life, beyond death, beyond fear, and beyond the powerlessness of mortality".
We also recall Star Augur Etraeus, who not only taunted us with destruction by the Legion, but should we somehow avoid that also showed us a vision of an even darker and foreboding future, while saying things like - "the true horror of our reality", "avatars of non-existence... knowing nothing but hunger", "the beings who will devour the future", and "you cannot avoid annihilation!". All the while, summoning uncontrollable entities of the void; the
Das Ding, das nicht sein sollte
, a giant eyeball (what's that remind you of!?), framed by what appears to be a planet engulfed by twisting tendrils and shadow.
Uu'nat, Harbinger of N'Zoth
After the Restless Cabal is defeated, the floor gives away as rocks fall from the ceiling and massive tentacles sprout from the earth. The players fall, deep down inside the dark recesses of Azeroth, through a narrow passageway lined with spiked tentacles. At the very bottom, we find the three relics - now glowing bright with even
more
power.
At the end of the passageway, we find Uu'nat talking to one of the many blinking eyes of N'Zoth, while the three relics levitate through the air toward N'Zoth. These relics can then be used by players during the Uu'nat encounter.
While in the previous encounter the Cabal controlled the Relics, now
we
harness their power directly. This is not without drawbacks however, as players can become overwhelmed by their magic, even blowing each other up with
Instabile Resonanz
.
Dungeon Journal - Relics of Power
Relics of Power
:
Players are able to harness the Relics of Power while they are fully charged.
Void Stone
:
Healers can pick up and utilize the Void Stone.
Umbral Shell
:
Applies
Embrace of the Void
to all creatures and players and additionally protects the caster, absorbing the next 150 damage taken.
Embrace of the Void
is removed if this shell is broken.
Embrace of the Void
:
Void energy snakes out to all creatures and players, reducing healing received by 100%.
Feedback: Void
:
Void energy overwhelms the caster, making them unable to pick up the Void Stone for the duration.
Trident of Deep Ocean
:
Tanks are able to pick up and utilize the Trident of Deep Ocean.
Custody of the Deep
:
The ocean's guardianship creates a protective bubble for the caster and its allies, redirecting 75% of damage taken to the bubble.
Abyssal Collapse
:
When
Embrace of the Void
expires, the bubble erupts and inflicts Frost damage based on the absorb remaining.
Feedback: Ocean
:
Water magic overwhelms the caster, making them unable to pick up the Trident of Deep Ocean for the duration.
Tempest Caller
:
Damage dealers are able to pick up and use the Tempest Caller.
Storm of Annihilation
:
Releases a decimating tempest for 15 sec, inflicting 10 Nature damage to players and lesser minions of N'Zoth every 1 sec. This causes targets to inflict 50% less damage for 3 sec.
Annihilate
:
If
Storm of Annihilation
strikes a target below 25% health, that target is instantly destroyed.
Creatures destroyed in this manner do not trigger their death effects.
Feedback: Storm
:
Lightning magic overwhelms the caster, making them unable to pick up the Tempest Caller for the duration.
Unstable Resonance
:
Marks players with Storm, Ocean, and Void for 15 sec. Touching the corresponding relic with this mark funnels the power safely into the relic.
After 15 sec the
Unstable Resonance
explodes, inflicting 120 Shadow damage to all players within 10 yds. Coming into contact with another player of a different Resonance also causes this explosion. (Mythic)
Why does N'Zoth let us use the relics, after we first present them to him, and then come to steal them back. A better question is why we are there in the first place. While presumably in the raid to obtain those relics of power, N'Zoth doesn't seem to mind that we kill his puppets; in fact, not even they seem to mind that we kill them, simultaneously praising our efforts and bemoaning our failure!
When players die, Uu'nat calls them
unworthy
.
They were not the ones you sought, master. We will find others to open the way.
Unworthy!
Upon defeating him, Uu'nat proclaims the players
are worthy
... but worthy of what? Service to N'Zoth? Some other part of his grand scheme?
Master... they are... worthy...
All... shall be... awakened...
Perhaps this is all a test to see if we can control the power of the relics, inflicting terrible damage without falling victim to their risky side effects. Should N'Zoth need help reviving the Black Empire, would we unwittingly assist with our mastery of this volatile magic.
Another good question is why are we so keen to use the relics in the first place - do we simply crave power? They seem incredibly dangerous to use, considering the last time we used them, we summoned N'Zoth, freed Xal'atath, and received a Gift from the Old God itself! This isn't the first time we've handled dangerous weapons, as Legion saw us equip many treacherous weapons such as
Xal'atath, Klinge des Schwarzen Imperiums
and
Szepter des Sargeras
, but the stakes seem higher now, equipping relics the Old Gods crave right after they've unleashed destruction.
While we may feel, in the heat of the moment, that we have no other choice but to channel the magic of the relics in order to defeat the minions of the Old Gods, could this instead all be a part of N'Zoth's master plan? These relics appear to pose great danger to us, but where do they draw power from?
The Old God may be having a bit of fun at our expense, empowering the relics inside the raid to test our strength. The relics may not be particularly powerful in the eyes of N'Zoth, but should their perceived threat bait the heroes of Azeroth into another conflict, without much time to recover after Dazar'alor, they'll have served their purpose.
Relics Falling into the Wrong Hands
After Uu'nat is defeated, players can loot two of the three relics - the
Leerenstein
and
Dreizack der Tiefsee
- another incredibly risky choice, having just seen the power these relics wield. These items, along with all the others from the Crucible of Storms, have interesting procs that offer benefits at great risk.
The visual effect of the
Leerenstein
, which absorbs damage or
healing
taken by a friendly target, replicates the shadow effects we've seen from the item during the raid:
The model for
Dreizack der Tiefsee
, which has a low chance to absorb damage and grant a primary stat, but only procs
sometimes
when you take damage, looks exactly like the trident present during encounters:
Perhaps N'Zoth wants us to take the relics, knowing we are overconfident and misjudge our powers. This already happened in Legion, when we heroically absorbed Sargeras' corruption into our artifacts, leading to their instability and ultimate demise. Perhaps we'll use these relics to unwittingly help take out an enemy of N'Zoth, before succumbing to their madness.
All the while, the faction war continues to rage on - we're sure to turn on each other yet again, fighting for control of the relics much in the same way we fought over the Abyssal Scepter, and continue to fight over Azerite. Also, don't forget that upon freeing Xal'atath and being marked by N'Zoth, we have a choice to
keep
N'Zoth's gift, so it may be canon that some adventurers in the Crucible of Storms are secretly in league with N'Zoth, controlling the relics
while
they have his gift.
However, the third relic, the Tempest Crown is still unaccounted for, missing from the boss loot tables. While the fate of the relic is explained in a cutscene or hidden quest, it could also be tied to this whisper from N'Zoth, indicating that there's more to the story.
The veil wanes. His crown will open the way.
With Xal'atath making its way into the hands of Sylvanas, could the crown find its way to King Anduin, the boy-king, who has already told several lies? It would tie in with the noble, but risky idea, that we can control the power of the relics, and pit two powerful artifacts against one another. The coloration of the helm is also similar to Xal'atath's base tint, while the silver spikes and blue gem in the center are reminiscent of the Lich King's Helm of Domination.
While we may have emerged triumphant in the Crucible of Storms by traditional raid standards, defeating the loyal lieutenants of N'Zoth and recovering the relics for our ourselves, we may have ushered in even more strife and corruption by taking these relics. It's hard to shake the fact that N'Zoth knows more than we do, that we appear to be helping move his plans forward, and that all the little warnings we ignored over years past suddenly have dire implications.
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