Este sitio hace uso intenso de JavaScript.
Por favor habilita JavaScript en tu navegador.
Tema Clásico
Tema Thottbot
Malfurion, Tyrande, Merithra, and Ysera - Surprises and Speculation
Moderna
Publicado
09/12/2022 a las 05:00
por
DiscordianKitty
The story of the Night Elves, Tyrande and Malfurion, Merithra of the Green Dragonflight, and her mother Ysera, continue in a questline unlocked through Renown with the
Valdrakken Accord
. We analyse the cinematic
A Seed of Hope
, and the surrounding lore.
The Story So Far
During the events of Shadowlands, the Winter Queen and her sister, Elune, created a seed from a fallen tear from Elune in the cinematic
By Our Hand
. Later, in the cinematic
The Queen's Gift
, the Winter Queen presented Tyrande Whisperwind with the seed, telling her that the souls of the Night Elves who died in Teldrassil have chosen "to become part of a new beginning for their kin".
Infused with the souls of these fallen Night Elves, the seed has the ability to grow into a new World Tree. It is this seed that is the subject of the cinematic
A Seed of Hope
.
A Seed of Hope
In the questline preceding this cinematic, Merithra explains that something precious is hidden within the Emerald Dream, something that she believes the Primalists are after. The cinematic itself portrays a flashback to a time that must have been shortly after The Queen's Gift.
The scene opens with Malfurion, Tyrande, and Merithra standing in front of a portal to the Emerald Dream. Tyrande is cradling the seed in her arms like a child, Malfurion looking down lovingly at them both. The scene is very much like parents holding a newborn baby, and in a way, they are. Not only does this seed contain the souls of all the Night Elves who fell in Teldrassil, it represents the Night Elves' future, and hope, the way a child might represent the same for a family.
While Tyrande strokes the seed gently - again, holding it as if it were a child - Malfurion radiates worried father energy as he asks Merithra if she's sure the seed will be safe. Merithra only smiles, and tells them to follow her - and she walks into the Dream.
Tyrande: This seed is everything. So many beloved souls entrusting their fate, their hopes, to us.
Malfurion: Are we certain it will be safe?
Merithra: Come.
Despite Merithra's reassuring gentleness, Tyrande still looks worried. Malfurion is off-screen, to the left of her, and Merithra has gone ahead. Tyrande is left holding the seed, and for a moment, she also looks alone.
Merithra shows Tyrande and Malfurion the place where the seed can be planted, protected within the Emerald Dream. She also explains that this will be temporary - sooner or later, the seed will need to be planted on Azeroth. And, once again, child imagery is used, as Merithra refers to the "cradle" of the Dream, and a cradle does, indeed, seem to be waiting for the seed.
When Tyrande puts her forehead to the seed, it's the same gesture of love we saw her use after it was first infused with the souls of the Night Elves. She makes a final promise, and places it down in the cradle.
Merithra: Here, by Elune's grace, this gift will be kept hidden from those who would wish it harm. Yet the time will come when it must leave the cradle of the dream... and take its place in our world.
Malfurion: And when it does, its protection will fall to us.
Tyrande: My beloved kaldorei. All you have suffered, all you have given, will not be in vain. This I swear to you.
As the seed is drawn into the Dream, we understand that this is the equivalent of parting with a child for their own protection. Tyrande lets out a sigh, then turns and falls into Malfurion's arms. Even though this has been clearly painful, there is a sense of hope, as Tyrande says she has a feeling that this time will be different, and we see the first shoot of the new World Tree beginning to grow.
Malfurion: What is it, my love?
Tyrande: Just a feeling... that this time will be different.
Ever since the destruction of Nordrassil in the Third War, attempts at growing World Trees have always been somewhat marred by the corrupting influence of the Old Gods. Even Teldrassil was affected. But Tyrande is not only speaking of this. As a race, the Night Elves have been through an incredible amount of pain. Tyrande hopes that, with this new symbol of hope, things will be different this time.
The Story Continues
It's worth remembering that The Queen's Gift was not the first Tear of Elune that we have seen - the original was one of the five Pillars of Creation of Legion. During the events of that expansion, Xavius corrupted the Tear and used it to corrupt Ysera - in events leading to her death. Both Ysera and the Tear were cleansed by Elune afterwards, and Ysera's soul went to Ardenweald, where the Anima drought was nearly the end of her.
The Winter Queen sacrificed some of her own anima to save Ysera. However, it came with a cost. While most souls attached to the Emerald Dream will eventually be reborn after resting in Ardenweald, Ysera was now bound to that realm, and could never return. Not without great cost.
In this questline, the Primalists gain control over the Ancient Bough, an island in the Ohn'ahran Plains that contains the first portal to the Emerald Dream. Merithra is unable to slip into the Dream, and cannot access the Bough as the Primalists put up defenses. This leaves only one way to stop them - if Ysera is able to enter the Dream from Ardenweald, she could reach the Ancient Bough and help bring down the barrier.
However, as we mentioned, Ysera can't just leave Ardenweald. Not without a sacrifice. In the quests leading up to this cutscene, the green dragon Somnikus offers to take Ysera's place, but she explains why he cannot.
Somnikus cannot offer his life. Instead, someone must bear the binding that connects me to the Winter Queen and to Ardenweald.
Dragons like him, and like his son, Solethus, are not predestined to come to Ardenweald. Ardenweald is for powerful nature spirits that may one day be reborn to their own realms. It has happened countless times over, and it will happen countless times again.
Only someone who is already part of that cycle may take my place here.
Malfurion and Tyrande Goodbye
We
datamined the dialogue
from this cutscene some time ago. Now, we finally see it in-game, as Tyrande implores Ysera to tell her what is needed for her return. Malfurion, however, already knows the answer, and it's confirmed for him when Ysera does not reply, but just looks at him. For Ysera to leave the Emerald Dream, Malfurion will need to take her place.
Like Ysera, Malfurion is predestined to come to Ardenweald when he dies. What's more, his life and Ysera's death are already connected. Ysera gave her life trying to save Malfurion from Xavius in Val'sharah. If she had not flown in, attempting to rescue her friend, the Nightmare Lord would not have been able to corrupt her, and she would not have died.
Though Tyrande is understandably upset, and exhausted, she eventually agrees, and once again, the lovers part. The image of Tyrande, alone, with the future of the Night Elves held in her arms, has come true.
Malfurion's Sacrifice is Temporary
After this cutscene, Malfurion does offer some hope that he will return to Azeroth before Tyrande is expected to join him in Ardenweald.
One day, I hope that I will stand together before the new world tree, our new home.
At this point we want to again highlight a
recent interview with Steve Danuser
, where he clarified that the time Malfurion will spend in Ardenweald in Ysera's place is not meant to be indefinite. Instead, it is more similar to the story of Persephone, an ancient Greek nature goddess who spent six months of every year in the Underworld - causing our world's autumn and winter seasons. By the sounds of it, Malfurion will have quite an active time in Ardenweald, and come out of it with some interesting new abilities. Ysera, however, will likely return once she's done the "things that she needs to do".
Steve Danuser
I want to make clear that this is not us saying "Malfurion doesn't matter, we just want to get him out of the way" it's not that at all, if anything its a set-up for his eventual return, because the way to think of this is that if you look back on mythology there is this story of Persephone and she was this nature Goddess who got tricked into eating some berries that caused her to have to spend part of her time in the underworld and that's why there was winter and why there was spring, and that kind of metaphor really fit the story we were telling with Ardenweald and the cycle of life and death, and how the night elves are intertwined with that. We kind of used a version of that for in order for Ysera to come out of the Shadowlands and do some things that she needs to do someone has to take her place, someone has to take that end of the bargain. So that's what Malfurion is doing, but there can be some benefit from that time that he spends in Ardenweald, Ardenweald is a place of restoration, of recovery and now that the anima drought was dealt with, Ardenweald is getting back to what it was supposed to be in the first place, and it has ties to the Emerald Dream, so there's every possibility that Malfurion can come out of this with not only a new perspective on some things, but perhaps some new energies that he can tap into. We look forward to continuing that storyline when it makes sense to do so.
Ysera's Return to the Emerald Dream
After Malfurion takes Ysera's place, she is able to return to the Emerald Dream. However, it soon becomes apparent that Ysera - and her connection to the Dream - has changed. By the end of the questline, Merithra has realized Ysera can no longer command the Emerald Dream. She has become too connected to Death. We realize that Ysera's purpose for returning is not, after all, to become the Green Dragon Aspect again. That destiny belongs to Merithra.
Merithra says: Mother, I will return this mantle to you in a heartbeat, if you want it.
Ysera says: It is not mine to want or to take back. In my stead, you have grown as a leader, and I am proud of you.
Ysera says: You are the leader of the green dragonflight. And when we regain our full power, you will be the Aspect.
Merithra says: Then I accept. But first, I would very much like it if we could fly together again.
Ysera says: Let us take to the skies together.
Ysera's Purpose in Azeroth
Despite not returning to lead the Green Dragonflight, Ysera does not seem to be planning to head back to Ardenweald yet. She's also received
updated models
to reflect her connection to Ardenweald. It seems Ysera will yet still have an important role to play in Dragonflight.
We also can't help but wonder at the fact that Merithra model is still quite plain - her
visage form
is a simple Night Elf, and nothing close to as unique as the other Aspects. Merithra also did not feature in any of concept art in
Dragonflight's Collector's Edition Art Book
, while Ysera's concept art was front-and-center for the Green Dragonflight. It leaves Merithra feeling underwhelming and out of place, even with this questline backing up her claim to the Green Aspect's powers.
We wonder if this is because any special model for Merithra is being held back until after the Aspects gain their powers - and perhaps Ysera is sticking around to make sure that happens. Perhaps Ysera will honor Malfurion taking her place by helping Tyrande with the growing World Tree - it especially needs extra protection with the Primalists after it. Either way, the changes made to her by her connection to Ardenweald will surely play a part. As the questline makes clear, Ysera might be back, but she is no longer the Dreamer.
Obtiene Wowhead
Premium
USD $2
Un mes
Disfruta de una experiencia libre de publicidad, desbloquea características premium y dale tu soporte al sitio!
Mostrar 0 comentarios
Ocultar 0 comentarios
Inicia sesión para publicar un comentario
Comentarios en Inglés (26)
Escribir un Comentario
No has iniciado sesión. Por favor
entra a tu cuenta
o
registra una cuenta
para añadir tu comentario.
Publicación anterior
Publicación siguiente