| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thrall_26_cairne_saving_babies.jpg]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:"What is worth fighting for?"]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | '''All "Moments" pages are Spoiler Free. UNMARKED SPOILERS BELOW''' |
| 5 | ---- |
| 6 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 7 | |
| 8 | [[folder:In General]] |
| 9 | * The achievement "What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been" involves completing other achievements associated with the various holidays throughout the year. The less-inclined often scoff at those who dedicate themselves to completing it, questioning why a badass adventurer would take time off from saving the world to participate in petty festivities. When you do complete it, however, Alexstrasza the Dragonqueen sends you the following letter: |
| 10 | |
| 11 | -->''With the drums of war pounding in the distance, it is easy for the denizens of Azeroth to forget all that life has to offer.'' |
| 12 | |
| 13 | -->''You, on the other hand, have maintained the dignity of the good races of Azeroth with your ability to remember what we fight for. To not celebrate our victories is another form of defeat. Remember that well, reveler.'' |
| 14 | |
| 15 | -->''May others be inspired by your good cheer.'' |
| 16 | |
| 17 | --> -''Alexstrasza the Life-Binder'' |
| 18 | * [[http://www.wowpedia.org/File:Thrall_%26_Cairne_saving_babies.jpg This piece of art]] from Blizzcon '09 that Chris Metzen had to stop to deliberately point out as his favorite. "For all the epic weapons, that's who those guys are." |
| 19 | * From a [[DevelopmentGag development standpoint]], the [[http://www.wowpedia.org/Shrine_of_the_Fallen_Warrior Shrine of the Fallen Warrior]]. Can also double as a TearJerker. |
| 20 | * The community has often done some Heartwarming things too: |
| 21 | ** A player [[DiedDuringProduction died in real life]], and his server organized a massive funeral for him. Then another guild decided to crash it and kill everyone in attendance. |
| 22 | ** Ahab Wheathoof. If there's a reason why he sounds so different from other Tauren...because he's a kid who was flown out and made a quest for the Make a Wish foundation. |
| 23 | *** [[http://www.wowpedia.org/Ezra_Chatterton "Will you help me find my dog?"]] |
| 24 | ** One guild actually has a blind player...and another who acts as his seeing eye friend. [[http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/guide-dog-player-and-guild-embrace-sightless-guildmate-steer/ read more here]]. |
| 25 | *** [[http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/guide-dog-player-and-sightless-guild-mate-honored-with-in-game/ It gets even better]]. |
| 26 | ** [[http://www.wowhead.com/quest=11451 This quest]], in memory of a player who died of leukemia. The poem is equal parts heartwarming and tear jerker. |
| 27 | * Children's Week (starts on May 1st each year). You get your very own orphans, Human, Draenei and Kul Tiran for Alliance, Orc, Blood Elf and Zandalari for Horde and Oracle and Frenzyheart in Northrend, and you take the orphans to various places in Azeroth, Outlands, and/or Northrend. At the end of the questline, you return the orphan to his/her matron, the orphan gives you his/her pet and sends you a letter telling you how much fun they had and that you're his/her new big brother/sister. |
| 28 | ** Liam, the Kul Tiran orphan, expresses his wishes to become a pirate to an Irontide Recruiter. Though the recruiter was initially abrasive at the sight of a child in Freehold, he softens up to Liam's childish wonder and tells him that piracy isn't as fun as the romanticized stories make it out to be, and encourages him to keep studying. He even gives him a spare pirate's hat. |
| 29 | * It's a minor one, but the baby Murlocs in Loch Modan. Especially when they're selected and do a baby version of the Murloc battle cry. |
| 30 | * This thread [[http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6397970442?page=1 about how one faction should kill another]] somehow ends with an actually rational argument, and even more shockingly, starts a trend of reasonable discussions on [=WoW=] from it's beginning to the first day of Mists of pandaria. In other words, a bunch of people who don't know each other actually got over their hate of people different than them and ''beat [[ForumSpeak G.I.F.T]]''. |
| 31 | * A parent posts on the official forums looking for information about Blizzard's hiring practices on behalf of their eight year old son, [[http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/7592909216 who wants to get into the gaming industry when he grows up]]. Despite forumgoers predicting otherwise, Blizzard staff respond to the thread, culminating in a massive post chock full of advice and the qualifications that Blizzard looks for when hiring staff that was posted on Lead Systems Designer Ghostcrawler's behalf. |
| 32 | * A poster on the Korean forums told a story of how he helped the local server outcast ([[http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/7864486403 helpfully translated to English]]) improve his game, and how it ended causing a massive shift in attitude amongst the Korean players. |
| 33 | * The tomb of King Terenas Menethil II, last true king of Lordaeron, was built not by the Silver Hand nor the Forsaken. It was built by the former citizens of Lordaeron, who risked their lives so that his memory would not be forgotten. |
| 34 | * Players may complain about getting sick of hearing Scrollsage Nola commenting when [[MemeticMutation a turtle makes it to the water]], but when the elderly lady who voices Nola created a Twitter account to share her appreciation to the [=WoW=] community, [[https://twitter.com/MaryannStrossn3/status/1038596556742582273 the [=WoW=] community gave her nothing but love in return]], to the point where her Twitter account was temporarily suspended because so many people were accessing her Twitter feed in such a short period of time. |
| 35 | * [[https://www.wowhead.com/news=287853/running-of-the-gnomes-charity-event-on-october-13th The Running of the Gnomes]], an event started on the server Scarlet Crusade in order to raise awareness and donations towards breast cancer research and vaccines. Blizzard has even turned this into a micro-holiday for all servers due to its popularity, and the spirit of goodwill that surrounds it is something to behold. |
| 36 | ** For Horde players, there's also a concurrent "Running of the Trolls" as well on Scarlet Crusade. |
| 37 | ** Unconfirmed, but it's also possible Blizz tallies up the amount of folks who did the run on all servers and donates an amount for each completion as well. |
| 38 | * In an interview with Eurogamer concerning the end of the public beta for ''World of Warcraft: Classic'', the lead and a senior software engineer for the game said that they were blown away by the fans' devotion to the beta, expecting people to just play for a short amount of time, but instead people played for hours to find bugs even though the characters would be deleted. One group of testers even spent ''hours and hours'' punching turtles and generating ''thousands'' of combat log entries to try and help deal with an issue with critical hits. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | [[/folder]] |
| 41 | |
| 42 | [[folder:Classic Old World]] |
| 43 | * After finishing the now-removed questline for Tier 0.5 (Dungeon Set 2), if you go back to find Bodley's ghost on the Blackrock Spire balcony he'll greet you with some warm words: |
| 44 | -->''<name>! You've returned just to talk to me? That's very thoughtful of you, and you look pretty sweet in that outfit, too!'' |
| 45 | |
| 46 | -->''You don't know how good it makes me feel to see you. It can get pretty lonely up here, what with most of these yahoos not being able to see me, and all. It's a great thing that you did for all of us, and I'll never forget it!'' |
| 47 | |
| 48 | -->''Thanks for dropping in and saying hi, and don't be such a stranger.'' |
| 49 | * In an odd sense, the relationship between the Horde player and Nathanos Blightcaller over the course of his questline. Originally disdainful of you and constantly belittling you by calling you an imbecile and a fool, you eventually earn genuine respect from him through your actions, which include the death and decapitation of Ramstein the Gorder, the abomination that killed him, and the masterful way you assassinate the Scarlet Oracle Demetria. |
| 50 | [[/folder]] |
| 51 | |
| 52 | [[folder:The Burning Crusade]] |
| 53 | * Close to the end of a lengthy quest chain in [[GhibliHills Nagrand]], which involves you running about the place and finding out what's up with the spirits of the Mag'har ancestors, sweet old granny-type orc Greatmother Geyah mentions that she is Durotan's mother. Immediately you inform her that Durotan's son, Thrall, is now the Warchief of the Horde, and you rush off to Orgrimmar to tell Thrall where his granny lives. Thrall comes to Nagrand and, after telling Garrosh Hellscream that Grom slew Mannoroth and redeemed himself and the orcs, spends the next few hours happily reminiscing with Geyah. It's made extra heartwarming by all the effort you made to bring them all together. |
| 54 | ** A (paraphrased) quote from that part of the quest: "Go to my grandson. Tell him that his blood is here, in this shattered world." So sad, and yet so heartwarming. This old lady thought she alone was the last surviving member of her family and finds out that she has a grandson on another planet, family at long last on the shattered world of Draenor. |
| 55 | ** Also, Thrall learning that his real name is Go'el after so many years of not even thinking his parents had even had a chance to name him. All the more heartwarming when he ends up casting off the slave name of Thrall and becoming Go'el for real and saving the world by HOLDING IT TOGETHER WITH ONE SPELL! In Lord of the Clans novel, Thrall taking up the Doomhammer after Orgrim's death and leading the Horde. |
| 56 | * The draenei quests on Bloodmyst Isle. After a long grind through multiple quest chains, you're congratulated by the head of the small settlement for all your hard work, and he informs you that because of you, your exiled people will forever have a home. Par for the course, but then you turn to leave the building... and everyone you helped on your quests, from the injured soldier you helped clear a safe path back for to the elekk stablemaster you ran errands for, to the night elf fisherman and his daughter you reunited, is there, applauding you - complete with one of the leaders of the draenei, who's come all the way from the Exodar to thank you personally. '''ManlyTears'''. |
| 57 | * Lorewise, the conversation that Lady Liandrin has with the Naaru in Shattrath City during the Burning Crusade. Her people were abandoned by the Alliance, chose to follow a dark, demonic path and were turned evil by Kael'thas who vampirically corrupted a Naaru to regain their connection to the Light. It's the beginning of the redemption of the Blood Elf people. It's revealed after killing the final boss of the Sunwell Plateau raid that this was all part of a major XanatosGambit by said Naaru, and a shard from his remains is used to reignite the Sunwell, this freeing the Blood Elf people from the need to feed on fel magic. |
| 58 | [[/folder]] |
| 59 | |
| 60 | [[folder:Wrath of the Lich King]] |
| 61 | * We have the Alliance-side [[StoryArc quest line]] centered around Brann Bronzebeard. Its conclusion definitely applies here. After escaping with Brann from the Engine of the Makers, he asks to be introduced to King Yorg Stormheart, king of the Frostborn Dwarves. He happens to be a Mountain Dwarf. Upon meeting him, Brann immediately recognizes Yorg as his dead brother Muradin. However, we find out earlier, in Dragonblight, that Muradin Bronzebeard is still alive--and word has already reached Magni. The resulting reunion of the brothers Bronzebeard is simply touching, especially for fans of ''Warcraft III'' and earlier. Just as soon, Muradin's memories return in flood, and he resolves to fix his mistakes... Namely Arthas. The brothers split once more. Thrall (and his Grandma), eat your hearts out. |
| 62 | * After the defeat of Deathbringer Saurfang in Icecrown Citadel, as an Alliance player, you get to see a man who, until this point, has had nothing but bile and hatred for the Horde (and, if you know his complete backstory, completely justified in those feelings), perform one of the most heartwarming gestures ever. Keep in mind, Deathbringer Saurfang was originally a Horde warrior that fought alongside one of the most famous Alliance paladins but was struck down re-animated by the Lich King himself. He also was the son of High Overlord Saurfang, who is more or less the leader of the Horde forces just under Thrall. |
| 63 | -->'''High Overlord Saurfang says:''' Behind you lies the body of my only son. Nothing will keep me from him.\ |
| 64 | '''Muradin Bronzebeard says:''' He... I can't do it. Get back on your ship and we'll spare your life.\ |
| 65 | ''A mage portal from Stormwind appears between the two and Varian Wrynn and Jaina Proudmoore emerge''\ |
| 66 | '''King Varian Wrynn says:''' Stand down, Muradin. Let a grieving father pass. |
| 67 | * Defeat the Lich King with Shadowmourne, and he drops a sealed chest with some items in it. The box is a veritable ''fountain'' of heartwarming moments. |
| 68 | ** Giving Sylvanas the vial of her own blood causes her to ponder what the Lich King's defeat means, which is not heartwarming in and of itself. As a reward, however, she gives you a music box that summons banshees to sing the sad Lament of the Highborne. |
| 69 | ** The following quote is from Muradin when you show him Arthas's old training sword. It may [[TearJerker jerk some tears]]. |
| 70 | -->"Oh lad, how I missed those endless days in Lordaeron, sharpening your skill with this dull blade. Forging you into a weapon meant to withstand the demands of a great destiny. Heh! You sure put them skills to use, didn't you lad? If only I'd been able to stop you that day, how different things migha' been. If only I'da never discovered that accursed blade. Farewell, Arthas, my brother." |
| 71 | ** Handing Arthas's old Silver Hand badge to Uther's ghost will cause him to admit that forgiving Arthas for his terrible crimes was difficult, but that he will choose to remember Arthas as he used to be. |
| 72 | ** Another one of the items is a locket with a picture of Jaina on it. Showing it to her leads to the following: |
| 73 | -->"What's this! He... he kept it? All this time, he kept it! I knew! I sensed a part of him still alive! Trapped... struggling... Oh, Arthas! Perhaps - perhaps he might someday remember what he once was. By the Light, may he at last find rest, free from the icy grip of that terrible blade." |
| 74 | ** Finally, you can find the soul of Alexandros Mograine, father of the death knight leader Darion Mograine, and reunite father and son. |
| 75 | -->'''Highlord Darion Mograine says:''' Father...\ |
| 76 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' Darion, my son.\ |
| 77 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' At last, I am able to lay my eyes upon you again.\ |
| 78 | '''Highlord Darion Mograine says:''' Father. I feared for your... your sanity.\ |
| 79 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' The Lich King tormented me without end, Darion.\ |
| 80 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' Endlessly, he sought to break my will, to force me to serve him, to bind me to his blade...\ |
| 81 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' Finally, when events demanded his full attention, he left me.\ |
| 82 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' The one memory, I clung to, Darion... The one thought that kept me from giving in...\ |
| 83 | '''Highlord Alexandros Mograine says:''' It was [[{{ComicBook/Ashbringer}} your sacrifice]], my son, that again saved me from eternal peril.\ |
| 84 | '''Highlord Darion Mograine says:''' Father... For you, I would give my life a thousand times. |
| 85 | ** Heartwarming and a tearjerker: The variant of the {{leitmotif}} of the expansion, ''O Thanagor'', used for the ending cinematic, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV46qFZrOzk Invincible]]'', is about Arthas' horse. [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Arthas really loved that horse]]. |
| 86 | * Earlier on in the storyline, there's Thrall consoling High Overlord Saurfang after the Battle of Undercity. "I'm sorry about your boy." |
| 87 | * The short questline Brothers In Death from the Death Knight starting area. Death Knights were created to be cold-hearted killing machines, encouraged to fight to the death to test their strength and weed out the weak, operating on a pure survival-of-the-fittest mentality. If one gets captured, it's because they were weak and deserved to die. And yet, Thassarian still cares about Koltira enough to risk the Lich King's retribution by sending you to rescue him. Koltira is touched by the gesture and then plays a distraction so you can get back safely. If you stick around by Thassarian for a bit after accepting the quest, he has a short chat with Bloodbane, where he comments that he doesn't give a damn about the Lich King, the Alliance, and the Horde, Koltira is his friend and that's all that matters. |
| 88 | ** Continues a bit at the end of the Andorhal chain for Alliance players. Even though the battle ends badly (see the above entry), Thassarian ends it by deciding to go to Undercity and confront Sylvanas by himself over what happened to Koltira, showing that he still cares deeply about his friend even though earlier in the chain they both acknowledged that they couldn't call each other brother anymore and would probably have to fight to the death one day soon. |
| 89 | * From the Death Knight starter experience, during the second Battle of Light's Hope. Tirion delivers a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Darion Mograine and his Death Knights. But the tone is less like two bitter enemies verbally sparring and more like a father scolding a wayward son for his poor choices then urging him to mend his ways. Adding to this, the instant the Lich King was struck back, Tirion immediately revives Darion and accepts the Knights of the Ebon Blade's help against their common foe. |
| 90 | * A Gorloc named Moodle in Sholazar Basin spends almost all of her (I think Moodle is female) time insulting her people and talking down to them because she is so much smarter than they are. Most Gorlocs have the minds of five-year old children. She talks normally. When she sees what happened to the Mosswalkers at the hands of the undead, she finally admits that she loves her people and wouldn't ever want anything to happen to them, even if she DOES talk bad about them. Tearjerker and Heartwarming all in one. Moodle eventually becomes a helper on the daily quests for Oracle reputation. She went from hating having to do things for people she didn't know to willingly helping her people with 'silly tasks' like collecting 'shinies' for some unseen deity. |
| 91 | * This is more a TearJerker, but if you have any kind of soul at all, the end of the Crusader Bridenbrad quest is also heartwarming. You went through all that trouble to stop him from becoming undead, and you succeed. Not only does he not become undead, he is personally taken to heaven by Azeroth's version of a powerful angel. Not to mention Tirion doing everything in his power to save Bridenbrad, including using up favors he's owed by some of the most powerful beings on Azeroth: Remulos, son of the demigod Cenarius, Alexstrasza the Dragon Queen, and A'dal the Naaru. |
| 92 | ** What makes this even more impactful is that this entire quest chain was done in the memory of the brother of a Blizzard employee who had died of cancer, Brad Bridenbecker. All of the steps in the quest chain are metaphors of steps attempted in cancer treatments. |
| 93 | [[/folder]] |
| 94 | |
| 95 | [[folder:Cataclysm]] |
| 96 | * There's a Questline in the eastern kingdoms, where you join two paladins (a dwarf and a blood elf) and a worgen shopkeeper on the journey to Light's Hope Chapel. In the middle of it there's the typical commentary in the caravan and such. However, soon, you find that Gildwin (the Dwarf) is captured and is about to become a death knight. Note that this is ''after'' the death knights of Ebon Hold betrayed the Scourge, so he won't be coming back if he does. So the entire RagTagBunchOfMisfits comes in, this by itself is not a lot, however if you realise that the team consists of two already dead people, a RetiredBadass and a Goblin who barely wanted to join the first place. you have to realise how much they've bonded over the course of the trip. |
| 97 | * If you do the Battle of Darrowshire make sure you stay for a bit after you complete the quest. |
| 98 | ** Since ''Cataclysm'', the quest line that sends you around the Eastern Plaguelands lets you choose an item that grants a perk while you're in the zone. Once you've finished Darrowshire, you can take Pamela's Doll ("Is someone following you?"). You don't get a bonus to damage, or money earned, or anything. But every now and then little Pamela appears and follows you around, keeping you company while you fish or visit Light's Hope Chapel. |
| 99 | * In Cataclysm, the entire Western Plaguelands seems like it will be one of these, especially for everyone who played through the Western Plaguelands up until the expansion comes out. There's something about seeing the WPL 80% cleansed of Scourge taint very relieving. |
| 100 | * In the latest Novel, Thrall meets an alternate version of his dear friend and foster sister Taretha (in this timeline he still died as an infant). After proving his claims and asking her for help, he tells her what happened to her in the real timeline and how he blames himself for failing to save her. She tells him that it doesn't matter, because even though she died she ultimately made a difference for countless people. |
| 101 | ** From the same timeline, one of the bright spots is that Arthas does not fall from grace. Instead, fleeing from Blackmoore's regime in Lordaeron, Arthas escapes to Stormwind with his wife, Jaina Proudmoore, and [[BabiesEverAfter their son]], [[DeadGuyJunior Uther Menethil]]. |
| 102 | * In Northern Stranglethorn you end up having a baby Lashtail Raptor start following you around and thinking of you as it's parent. Naturally, there are quite a few quests with the hatchling. Cut to a few quests later, and the [[BackFromTheDead newly reborn]] Bloodlord Mandokir takes the baby away. After a failed quest to try and have it escape, Mandokir expresses that he will get the hatchling to forget all about you. Much later, inside Zul'Gurub, after slaying Mandokir, you see that the baby is still there, and still remembers you. The text says that while she is a little bigger and has a few scars, she is overjoyed that you actually came back for her. Upon rescuing her, you are allowed to keep her as a vanity pet, her title being <Playername>'aka. |
| 103 | ** "She recognizes you. Her father/mother has finally come back to save her." |
| 104 | ** Also, after rescuing Ohgan'aka, it is possible to see her traveling with you in Northern Stranglethorn as an NPC, without the vanity pet tag. |
| 105 | * In ''Cataclysm'', After having endured years of [[GuideDangIt players not finding her]], [[http://www.wowpedia.org/Mankrik Mankrik]] finally reclaims his [[http://www.wowpedia.org/Mankrik%27s_wife wife's]] body and gives her a [[http://www.wowpedia.org/Humble_Monument proper burial]]. |
| 106 | ** Heartwarming and also Awesome, Mankrik will show up as one possible helper during a daily quest, helping the player kill some ''very tough'' bad guys. It's his way of working through his mourning: |
| 107 | --->'''Mankrik:''' My rage is not silenced... but it is quieter. For now. |
| 108 | * Another quest new to ''Cataclysm'' (and involving an old NPC) is a short quest line involving Azuregos. After being farmed for money and gear for years, his mind is beginning to fail him. After a lengthy chain started by Kalecgos, future Aspect of Magic players find the former resting in the spirit world with one of the countless and undoubtedly familiar Spirit healers that help adventurers [[DeathIsCheap resurrect]] when they die. He has discovered the name of this one and fallen in love with her. Azuregos proceeds to chew the player out, calling him/her out on the fact that the player in question probably doesn't even realize they HAVE names. The quest cropping up as a result of this is the player convincing the dragon that it can't last, and breaking both hearts. This eventually doubles as a heartbreaking moment when the player realizes what he or she has done. While still a good action, a couple in love are still split up. This truly sinks in with the words of the Spirit healer as she resurrects you: |
| 109 | --> ''Thank you, *race*. Ultimately we both knew this wouldn't last... You should return to your world now, it is not yet your time. Don't worry, *race*, this one's on me.'' |
| 110 | * The Elemental Bonds questline, in which Thrall's LoveInterest Aggra, along with the player, go through the four elemental realms in what everyone else decreed a hopeless endeavor to make Thrall whole again. An orc motivated by the PowerOfLove is a sight to behold, in and of itself. The questline ends with Thrall & Aggra marrying. |
| 111 | * There is a short questline in the Blasted Lands about a group of murlocs who were betrayed and attacked by the naga. While it starts off as a TearJerker , at the end you manage to rescue three baby murlocs and deliver them to the sea, where they swim to freedom. |
| 112 | * A Titan watcher by the name of Myzrael can be found in Deepholm. If you fought and "killed" her back in Arathi Highlands, she greets you by name and thanks you for having saved her from corruption by the Old Gods. |
| 113 | * In the Forsaken starting area Deathknell, you met an aspiring Forsaken NPC named [[https://wow.gamepedia.com/Darnell Darnell]] who helps you in several quests. After you finish the quest "Assault on the Rotbrain Encampment", which is the second-to-last quest (the last quest is simply delivering report to an NPC outside Deathknell) he reveals he's just been recently promoted as a Deathguard and wishes you luck for your assignment outside Deathknell. |
| 114 | -->'''Deathguard Darnell''': Hi, <player name>! What do you think about my new gear? They're making me into a Deathguard. Can you believe it? I'll probably be staying here in Deathknell. If things work out though... who knows? Maybe I'll get to meet the Dark Lady herself. How about you? I've heard that Sarvis is going to send you off to Calston Estate. Big assignment, eh? Well, I won't hold you up. It's been a pleasure, <name>. I hope our paths cross again soon. |
| 115 | [[/folder]] |
| 116 | |
| 117 | [[folder:Mists of Pandaria]] |
| 118 | * Though it begins as a TearJerker, the Krasarang Wilds storyline where you helped Sunwalker Dezco repel the mogu ends with this. Looking after his newborn twins, if you ask him if he named them, he'll tell you that he named one of them Kor, the orc general who was Dezco's oldest friend who died at the end of the quest chain, and the other child he names after his savior, '''YOU'''. More like, your character's name. |
| 119 | ** In the equivalent Alliance quest, the Night Elf Lyalia is killed by the mogu. Her father, Lorekeeper Vaeldrin, realizes that he's been selfishly searching for immortality rather than spending time with his daughter. He tells you to relay a message to her - "I love you" - then uses water from the Pools of Youth to transfer his own life to Lyalia, killing him and resurrecting his daughter. |
| 120 | * The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPFN0kyQL8 ending]] to the Pandaren starting zone, as the balloon lifts off you see the ghost of Master Shang Xi bowing before you one last time as you head off into the World of Warcraft, set to some [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic soaring, uplifting music]]. |
| 121 | * In the Dread Wastes, a fishing ship has run aground on the southern coast. The crew decided to form a small village, and have lived there ever since. A few quests in the captain, Soggy, asks you to retrieve a charter which was supposed to show that the ship and crew was hired to do some fishing outside the Jade Forest, but Soggy decided to ignore the job and go exploring instead on the other side of the Great Wall which led to the crew's current predicament. Upon retrieving the charter and turning it in, however, it is revealed that the crew found out ages ago and replaced the charter with a letter where they thank him for bringing them along. |
| 122 | -->'''Soggy:''' Would you excuse me for a moment, <name>? I've, uh... I've got somethin' in both my eyes. |
| 123 | * The NPC [[http://www.wowhead.com/npc=66658 Lon'li Guju]], who is a tribute to the last Pinta Island tortoise who died in June 2012. He follows your character around for a bit if you /wave or /love him. |
| 124 | * Varian Wrynn reuniting with his son after Anduin had been missing in an unknown--to the Alliance-- land without the protection of Alliance forces and an escalating Horde presence, for over two months. |
| 125 | * This: |
| 126 | --> '''Anduin:''' Father, you can't do this. All the hatred and anger our war brings here-- it poisons this place.\ |
| 127 | '''Varian:''' Easy, son. We're fighting a different war now. This isn't about hatred of the Horde. This is about a love of what's right. About doing what needs to be done. |
| 128 | ** And this: |
| 129 | ---> '''Anduin:''' This land is-- different than ours. It's a treasure.\ |
| 130 | '''Varian:''' Then we'll protect it with our lives. Son, I need you with me on this. We in this together?\ |
| 131 | '''Anduin:''' Together... |
| 132 | ** And also this: |
| 133 | ---> '''Varian:''' Anduin, I can handle this. I need you to trust that I'm going to do the right thing here.\ |
| 134 | '''Anduin:''' ... I trust you Father. |
| 135 | ** Which is all part of the dialogue where the Alliance finds out that the Horde have attempted to take over The Temple of the Red Crane. Anduin, knowing his father's history of hatred against the Horde, doesn't want his father to rush in and destroy the Temple just to get to the Horde, and King Wrynn agrees that that would be the wrong thing to do. |
| 136 | * The very moment King Wrynn steps foot on Pandaria it's obvious that he's become a changed man. In addition to the above quotes, there is this, one of the first things he will say on the Shieldwall quest line: |
| 137 | --> '''Varian:''' Hm. I used to think leadership was all about strength. I see things more clearly now - it's a little bit of give, a little bit of take. It's about binding people together. A bundle of sticks is not easily broken. |
| 138 | * The aftermath of the raid on the Thunder King's city and the defeat of his [[TheDragon Dragon]]. Jaina and Lor'themar confront each other with their respective forces, tensions quickly rising as Jaina accuses the Sunreavers of aiding Garrosh while Lor'themar adamantly defends their innocence. Just when it looks like a fight is going to break out, Taran Zhu rushes in and gives both sides a ''much'' needed reality check: That the whole Alliance-Horde conflict is due to a never ending cycle of aggression. Even after Jaina insists that the Horde is always the aggressor, Zhu manages to get through to both and Jaina and Lor'themar agree to stand down (despite Veressa's vehement protests). Maybe hope for peace isn't lost after all. |
| 139 | ** It isn't. The Alliance and the Horde make a joint effort to stop the tyrant Garrosh Hellscream from corrupting the Horde into an unstoppable, AlwaysChaoticEvil empire. |
| 140 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceFYxg-nD0Y Jaina's Hope]], a cutscene which plays early on in the Operation: Shieldwall questline. Jaina talks about Dalaran being a beacon of hope, as proof that Alliance and Horde can work together in peace, while uplifting music plays in the background. It's all rather inspiring, but unfortunately it's ruined just a few quests later when Garrosh, having infiltrated the Sunreavers with spies, manages to get the Horde into Darnassus. From Jaina's point of view, it looks like the Sunreavers were responsible, and that causes everything in Dalaran to go to pot instantly. |
| 141 | * In the Horde's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFrWZk5gRJA ending cinematic]] for the Siege of Orgrimmar, Vol'jin tells Thrall that the Horde needs its true Warchief more than ever before. Thrall's response is to kneel before Vol'jin and nominate ''him'' to be the next Warchief. While Vol'jin is stunned by the very idea, Baine and Lor'themar bow, Gallywix tips his hat, and even Sylvannas acknowledges the choice. Vol'jin finally bows in his own acknowledgment. |
| 142 | -->'''Vol'jin:''' I... am not worthy. But I will give my all.. for the Horde. |
| 143 | ** The Alliance's is no less heartwarming. Jaina urges Varian to finish off the Horde in their weakened state, and he calls the guardsmen he brought with him to arms, strides forward with sword in hand to "do what a king must do"....which is to say, publicly recognize that Garrosh was not the entire Horde, and to bury the hatchet as far down as it can go. TookALevelInKindness at it's best. |
| 144 | * Emperor Shaohao discusses [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38p68V5w3AM why we fight.]] |
| 145 | * Throughout the expansion, players could complete quests with Lorewalker Cho which would unlock cutscenes where he describes important moments in Pandaria's history with names like "Tell me the story of the Warchief and the Darkness". Each patch (except 5.1) added new stories, though in the final patch, Cho was given only one last tale to unlock. What is it? "Tell my story". |
| 146 | * The Wanderer's festival is a heartwarming festival during which [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic the Song of Liu Lang]] is sung by Lorewalker Cho at the start while paper lanterns are placed in the water to float away from Pandaria's shore. The magical feel of the festival is compounded by it happening at night with a rain that doesn't cloud up the clear night sky or put out the fires set out. Of course the reason the rain doesn't put the fire out nor come from clouds that cover the night sky is because they are in fact the tears of the Sha of Despair which makes the nature of it's rain adding to the magical feel without harming the fire nor obscuring the night sky ironically Hope bringing despite coming from the embodiment of Despair. |
| 147 | * While farming reputation for The Tillers, players come across a starving dog. You get a quest to gather twenty steaks for him and afterwards the dog can be found at your farm. While you get gold for it, your character's only motivation for helping the starving dog is simple kindness. |
| 148 | ** Later in ''Warlords of Draenor'' said dog can be found wandering your garrison. It nudges your hand if you /pet it. |
| 149 | * Speaking of the Tillers, Ella is a ShrinkingViolet who simply wants to try her hand at brewing. When she finally gets the courage to actually have someone try her brew, everyone who tastes it remarks on it being some of the best beer they've ever had. |
| 150 | ** Also, if players give her a red apple as a present, she insists on sharing it with them. |
| 151 | * In the Pandaren opening area, using /hug on Ji Firepaw when he asks you to at the beginning of one of his quests brings you the message, "Ji Firepaw warmly hugs you back." Aww! |
| 152 | |
| 153 | [[/folder]] |
| 154 | |
| 155 | [[folder:Warlords of Draenor]] |
| 156 | * When Thrall travels to alternate Draenor, he saves alt Drek'Thar and meets up with Durotan. At first Durotan doesn't trust Thrall because the only other green-skinned orc he knows is Gul'dan, but Drek'Thar vouches for Thrall and the player saying they are heroes at heart, and they saved him and Durotan's brother. |
| 157 | * Garrosh stops his father Grom in the cinematic from dying the same way as he would in the Prime timeline, managing to tackle him away from the blast just in time to save him. |
| 158 | * The new ([[TimeyWimeyBall old?]]) Shadowmoon Valley. Players of ''The Burning Crusade'' know the zone as a barren, destroyed, fel-corrupted wasteland infested with demons and where few forms of life exist. The Shadowmoon Valley of ''Warlords of Draenor'' is a gorgeous and vibrant zone full of many different lifeforms. It couldn't be more different than the Outland Shadowmoon Valley. Also doubles as a Fridge TearJerker when you go back to the Outland version and realize to the full extent how much the draenei and orcs lost and how badly their homes and societies were decimated by Gul'Dan, the Shadow Council, and the Burning Legion in the main timeline. |
| 159 | ** Tanaan Jungle is much the same. Filled with life, trees, animals everywhere. Its original name in ''Burning Crusade'' was Hellfire Peninsula. A barren cracked red desert with only demons, worms, 200-foot tall demon steam mechs and a road paved with the bones of tens of thousands of draenei. The same road in the new timeline is the Road to Glory. |
| 160 | * Heartwarming in an orcish sort of way is a conversation between Thrall and Draka. Draka asks how Thrall has no mate yet, causing Thrall to stumble in surprise over his answer that his mate is caring for the little ones back home. Draka scolds Thrall, telling them that they're at war and that's when it's ''most'' important to have family at your side. Draka finds it amusing that [[RaisedByWolves Thrall]] never considered this before. |
| 161 | * The fact that Dark Iron Dwarves are a quite well-integrated part of the Alliance after years of being relegated to villains. Thaelin, Hansel and Hulda Shadowblade are amongst the supporting characters of the faction storylines. |
| 162 | ** Even better, the only characters who show any open distrust of the Dark Iron dwarves are the other dwarves, who seem to distrust them mostly as a matter of prejudice being a hard thing to get past when it runs that deep--and when the chips are down, they don't hesitate to help the Dark Irons either. Looks like Moira stepping up when Varian sounded the call did wonders for her people, after all. |
| 163 | * Lieutenant Thorn, the patched eye, commander of operations that is also a Worgen (though she's usually in her human form) says this: |
| 164 | --> '''Lieutenant Thorn:''' Commander, I was just wondering. Has Baros mentioned me by any chance? What? Oh...no reason. *Thorn blushes* |
| 165 | ** And to make everything even sweeter, Baros says this privately: |
| 166 | --->'''Baros:''' Lieutenant Thorn is a shining example to us all. Never have I seen such a dedicated leader. I haven't worked up the courage to speak to her, but perhaps someday, she will know my name. |
| 167 | * Back on Azeroth, Upper Blackrock Spire contains a moment that was a decade in coming. In Classic [=WoW=], one of the quests in UBRS involves saving a tiny blue dragon whelp, Awbee, from being tortured and killed by Blackrock orcs. Ten years later in the revamped UBRS, Awbee returns as a fully-grown dragon to back you up during the fight with Commander Tharbek. |
| 168 | -->'''Awbee:''' You saved my life once, it is about time I returned the favor! |
| 169 | * In one of his greetings, [[AscendedExtra Exarch]] [[AdaptationalHeroism Maladaar]] states that he would ''forfeit his own soul'' in order to protect his people. Kind of a TearJerker when you consider what happened to him in the main timeline, where he's the end-boss of the Auchenai Crypts dungeon, driven to madness after all the other Exarchs fell and turning the group he led into necromancers. |
| 170 | * The numerous times the [[FireForgedFriends Draenor Draenei and Frostwolf Clan]] struggle through the Iron Horde together and work right alongside one another all the way through to the final battle, without any indications of hostility after the Iron Horde is defeated. A lasting peace between draenei and orcs sharing Draenor seems to finally be a reality. Sadly, ''Battle for Azeroth'' reveals that the alternate Naaru had other plans for the Orcs... |
| 171 | [[/folder]] |
| 172 | |
| 173 | [[folder:Legion]] |
| 174 | * When Magni awakens, he ''finally'' acknowledges Moira's hard work as part of the council and that he was aware of all the things she had said to him. The acknowledgment moved Moira to shed a tear as her father sets off to Ulduar. |
| 175 | * A minor one comes in the cinematic trailer where Varian and Sylvanas exchange a nod in greeting. It isn't much but it gives hope for eventual peace between the Alliance and the Horde. |
| 176 | * The climax of Anduin's prologue comic are this and awesome. His own thoughts are interspersed with dialogue and Varian's final letter. |
| 177 | -->''Dreadlord'': But there is another way. |
| 178 | -->''Letter'': Anduin, I now believe as you do... |
| 179 | -->''Dreadlord'': Peace. |
| 180 | -->''Letter'': ... is the noblest aspiration. |
| 181 | -->''Dreadlord'': You cannot fight and win. Join us. [etc...] |
| 182 | -->''Anduin'': You're right. I'm a man of peace. |
| 183 | -->''Letter'': But, to preserve it... |
| 184 | -->''Anduin'': And the Wolf is gone forever. I am the '''Light''' that remains. |
| 185 | -->''Letter'': ... you must be willing to fight. |
| 186 | -->''Anduin'': And I will finish this. ''Anduin proceeds to obliterate the dreadlord in one shot with a Smite'' |
| 187 | -->''Anduin's thoughts'': Yes, I changed my father. But he also changed me. Will that be enough [to save] the Alliance? For Azeroth? It will have to be. There '''will''' be peace, one day. |
| 188 | ** In the Madefire motion-comic version, this is made even better by a swell of the heroic version of Anduin's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ua3DAw36o new theme]]. |
| 189 | * In a Death Knight quest, the Ebon Blade form a new Four Horsemen. One of the first horsemen? [[EnsembleDarkHorse Nazgrim.]] And there isn't any Fridge Horror, either - he is the type of Orc that would gladly become a Death Knight if it means to sink his axe into the deserving again. |
| 190 | * When you dismiss your Voidlord, it says something that is... less than favorable, but it shows that [[VillainousFriendship a power-hungry megalomaniac has gained the respect and friendship of a being made of pure, congealed darkness and evil.]] |
| 191 | -->'''Voidlord:''' When my armies devour this world, we will save you for last. |
| 192 | * In Durotar, you can find Tyrathan Khort watching Vol'jin's funeral pyre from afar. He honors his friend so much that he's willing to infiltrate enemy territory where he'd almost certainly be killed if found to attend Vol'jin's funeral. And he fully intends to avenge Vol'jin's death to honor the pact they made. |
| 193 | * Even after the complete tragedy that was the Broken Shore, with the Alliance and Horde back at one another's throats, with Varian dead and Sylvanas Warchief, with Genn and Jaina pushing for all-out war on the Horde and Tirion Fordring, one of the few remaining voices of peace dead, the heroes of the Alliance and Horde still band together for the invasion events, with Horde and Alliance alike going to Sentinel Hill, Kharanos, Tarren Mill, the Crossroads, and even ''the rear gates of Orgrimmar'' without so much as an issue (aside from the occasional scuffle breaking out once the dust settles), and the commanders coordinating the defense such as Gyran Stoutmantle, Saurfang, and Helcular show only respect to the defenders regardless of faction, calling on their shared love for Azeroth to inspire them. It's moments like that which give hope that one day, Azeroth ''will'' present a united front against the Legion and be just as unstoppable as they were against the armies of C'thun back in the day. |
| 194 | * Partway through the Highmountain questline while following Huln Highmountain's past, you learn a truth about Spiritwalker Ebonhorn. He is an uncorrupted black dragon, his true name Ebyssian, that was rescued by Huln, using the Hammer of Khaz'gorath to purify his egg. In thanks, Ebonhorn has been watching over Huln's descendants all this time. |
| 195 | * In Highmountain, a tauren sends you to find his lost baby son, Moozy; he's too injured to keep searching, and his wife is checking upstream. Of course, you find the baby in a basket and reunite him with his parents... But one player went and created [[http://rhovinthorne.tumblr.com/post/149816288466/rhovinthorne-rhovinthorne-rhovinthorne this adorableness]] out of the experience. |
| 196 | * In Suramar City, there's the occasional Nightborne that's clearly starving. There's sometimes a world quest to feed them, but even if there isn't, Players have the option to give said elves a bit of ancient mana in return for a 10% health buff. The name of the buff? Empathy. |
| 197 | * The finale of the Nightfallen questline has players giving fruit from the Arcan'dor to the various Nightfallen members and finally curing them of their HorrorHunger. |
| 198 | * In Suramar, there is a rather shady fellow named Arluin who will help the resistance, but usually charges you through the nose in Ancient Mana for it. Although he claims to be in it for the money, He ends up pulling a HeroicSacrifice to help at a critical moment. His only will stated that his reward for the mission be given to a certain Nightfallen woman in the city. His reward was the be the fruit of the Arcan'dor, which saves the woman from her withering. Sometime later, the woman shows up at the Nightfallen resistance headquarters, completely cured and healthy, and reveals herself to be Arluin's sister, whom Arluin had been gathering all that mana to keep alive. |
| 199 | * In a twisted sort of way, the finale of the Death Knight class storyline, pre-Broken Shore. With the plan to raise Tirion Fordring as the commander of the new Four Horsemen having failed, and the power within Light's Hope Chapel poised to destroy the Deathlord and the first three of new Horsemen, Darion Mograine, who had disagreed with the plan but went along with it anyway, opens a death gate and holds it for everyone else to escape, at the cost of his own life. This allows him to be reanimated by the Deathlord as the commander of the new Four Horsemen, of course, but the important part is that Darion, who even after the Ebon Blade was freed from Arthas's control had always acted as the perfect cold-blooded pitiless death knight, gave his life to save others, and ensure that the Ebon Blade would survive to protect Azeroth--at least until the Legion is defeated. In effect, he proved that death knights might be monsters, but they can also be heroes. |
| 200 | * Even though the context of the scene is rather tragic, Vol'jin naming Sylvanas his chosen successor as Warchief has undertones of this. He admits he never trusted her, (or probably ever even ''liked'' her) but he praises her for coming through for The Horde in its hour of need, basically admitting that she is the person he believes The Horde needs to hold it together through one of its darkest hours. The icing on top of it all is Sylvanas doesn't even seem ''pleased'' about being placed in charge of the entire Horde, (like you might expect her to be) and she simply stares at Vol'jin in shocked silence as he expires. Even as the other Horde faction leaders respectfully carry their now deceased leader out in silence, Sylvanas just stands there. |
| 201 | * After an Alliance player retrieves Varian's compass, Anduin visits the Broken Shore to see the evil first-hand with his own eyes. Reaching the exact spot where Varian fell, Anduin breaks down in grief and stress, having had no time to mourn his father's death, and feeling that he is unable to be the hero and king his father was. Greymane -- who had himself recently criticized Anduin for being soft and naive, partly prompting the visit -- takes it upon himself to console Anduin in his darkest hour and explains the purpose of Varian's HeroicSacrifice and valiant actions; a message of inspiration and defiance to his people in the face of an overwhelming enemy. |
| 202 | ** The above, prompted with a vision of Anduin standing face to face with his father in the afterlife prompts a meek question from Anduin that makes Varian quickly reaffirm his belief in Anduin's ability to lead his people, giving the boy the resolve needed to step out from his father's metaphorical shadow. |
| 203 | --> '''Anduin Wrynn:''' "What am I supposed to do now?"\ |
| 204 | '''Varian Wrynn:''' "[[CallBack What]] a ''[[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre King]]'' must [[TakeUpMySword do.]]" |
| 205 | * It's possible to find and loot a small pebble in the streets of Dalaran - "rubble from when the city was transported to the Broken Shore". It has a very, very faint aura of magic to it, but other than that doesn't ''seem'' to have a purpose... except if, for some reason, you return to your garrison on Draenor and show it to Dog - the same one who followed you from Sunsong Ranch - the canine will sniff it curiously. And then, somehow, Dog will follow you across worlds again, to Dalaran's new location, where he's being cared for in Breanni's pet shop. Just to see you. |
| 206 | * In the Demon Hunter storyline, you return to the Black Temple to recruit Akama. If, during the breakout sequence in the Vault of the Wardens, you chose Altruis the Sufferer--who had left the Illidari in protest of their growing extremism--as your second in command, Akama realizes that the Illidari have changed for the better and willingly joins after you defeat him. (If you chose Kayn Fury, [[NightmareFuel it's the]] [[TearJerker other thing]]. |
| 207 | * Since Wrath of the Lich King, the Alliance version of the Traveler's Tundra Mammoth had a merchant named Hakmund of Argus, a wandering draenei without a home. Years later, when we go to Argus, you can find Hakmund standing in Mac'Aree, absolutely speechless about finally being back where he belongs. |
| 208 | * During one of the storylines in Azsuna, you find a Wretched NPC named Runas the Shamed, who was banished from the Nightborne and thus wracked with the same mana addiction as the rest. The Blue Dragon Elder Senegos is very mistrustful of him, and warns you to keep an eye on him. Yet through it all, addiction aside, Runas certainly insists that he wants to help...right up till the very end, where [[SubvertedTrope his last act]] [[GoodAllAlong is to warn you]] about the resident leader of the Nightborne, Ael'Yith, and his plan to attack Senegos. One sentence, in particular, stands out: |
| 209 | -->'''Runas the Shamed''': This hunger is consuming my very mind. It is taking every ounce of my energy to just...just...can you hear me, my friend? I...I cannot see you anymore. I think...[[EmptyShell perhaps it is time to say goodbye, then]]. [[TearJerker Thank you, my friend, for letting my last hours mean something]]. |
| 210 | ** Of special note is that the ensuing zombie-like husk remains friendly afterwards...as if whatever little remains of Runas the Shamed doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. |
| 211 | * Late in the Suramar rebellion, as it goes from a camp of refugees to a full-scale insurrection, Khadgar brings the Night Elves and the Blood Elves, and even the ''High'' Elves, the descendants of the Highborn, to Suramar to help liberate it. Leading the Night Elf contingent is Tyrande herself, who was born in Suramar. Both factions of Elves are (mostly)ready to put aside their ancestral and factional differences to aid their kin. |
| 212 | * From the Antorus cinematic, a moment without words. After watching Sargeras be dragged away and imprisoned by the assembled Pantheon, Velen gives a slow, gentle sigh, evidently realising that after thousands of years of running from the Legion, at long last, his people's eternal battle has ended. |
| 213 | ** From the same cutscene, a warm smile comes from Illidan's lips as he realizes that Velen has finally taken to heart the lessons he was trying to teach him about [[SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate choosing your own path.]] |
| 214 | ** Still from the same, Velen's parting words to Illidan. |
| 215 | --> '''Velen:''' Light be with you, Illidan Stormrage. |
| 216 | * In the Alliance epilogue to ''Legion'', Anduin gives a speech to the people of the Alliance to commemorate the fall of the Burning Legion. Meanwhile, Genn just stands in the back, smiling proudly at the young king. |
| 217 | * In the Horde epilogue, Baine Bloodhoof gives a RousingSpeech at a victory banquet attended by Horde leaders, honoring those that died and saying that now is a time to celebrate. |
| 218 | * If you complete Uuna's scenario, "A Dark Place", congratulations. You have freed the soul of an innocent draenei child and gained a friend who will give you hugs and react to your surroundings. May double as a TearJerker while you'll be doing the scenario. |
| 219 | * Illidan's farewell messages for Malfurion, Tyrande, and the player character |
| 220 | ** To Malfurion, he spoke of how the teachings of Cenarius were not for him as they were for his brother, and how all the power he sought was not to conquer or rule, [[WellIntentionedExtremist but to save Azeroth]], [[PoorCommunicationKills despite Malfurion's distrust]]--though Illidan admitted he did not make it easy for Malfurion to do so. With his fate becoming clear, Illidan wished to finally quiet the strife that had long divided them and entrust the safety of the world to his brother, for there was no one he trusted to face threats more than him. While Malfurion had spent a lifetime fighting for the dream of what Azeroth could be, he now must fight for what it is. With his final words, Illidan asked Malfurion [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy to take care of Tyrande]] and listen to her counsel, for she was always the best of them. The road ahead would be long, but whatever came, he knew Malfurion would bring honor to the name Stormrage. |
| 221 | ** To Tyrande, he spoke of how all the paths he had taken had led to a single purpose, saving the world; he could bide no half measures or compromises. He told her how whenever he faced doubt, he held on to one anchor: [[SingleTargetSexuality Her]]. He told Tyrande that she embodied the best of Azeroth with her faith and devotion, and asked her to take care of Malfurion. While he sometimes [[HopelessSuitor wished her heart had made a different choice]], in the end he knew [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan she made the right one]] |
| 222 | ** To the player character, he praises and thanks them for their commitment and dedication to Azeroth while also remembering his HappyFlashback with Malfurion and Tyrande on the shores of Well of Eternity. Finally, he tells the player that the defense of the world rested with them. |
| 223 | [[/folder]] |
| 224 | |
| 225 | [[folder:Battle for Azeroth]] |
| 226 | * While the opening cinematic is a bit sad to see that once again without a third party the Alliance and Horde are back to killing each other. It's really nice to see that Anduin and Sylvanas have fully come into their own as leaders. For Horde players it can be downright a tearjerker to hear the sad and lonely Sylvanas scream "'''FOR THE HORDE'''". Anduin putting down his sword and mass healing his troops is a great show of him becoming the leader he was always meant to be. |
| 227 | ** Sylvanas is able to inspire and lead her forces in a breakout against The Alliance lines. Not bad for someone who only joined The Horde for convenience and spent most of her time with them before her rise to Warchief as TheFriendNobodyLikes. Genn is also right there by Anduin's side in the battle, just like he was for Varian at the end. |
| 228 | ** Genn facing-off Saurfang to protect Anduin. It's clear not just a King saving another, but Greymane's PapaWolf tendencies as he yells Anduin's name and offer him a hand. In turn, when a troll shaman blasts Genn to the ground, Anduin instantly leaps on another troll, bashing him furiously until he finally boils over and drops a Smite that turns the poor sod into a crater. |
| 229 | *** The troll who zapped Genn? Zekhan from ''Old Soldier''. He was backing the play of Saurfang - his personal hero - and sticking with him, just like he'd planned to when the High Overlord tried to suicide-rush the Alliance watchtower lines before dawn. Even better, he manages to ''not'' be the one on the wrong end of Anduin's epic Smite, another, older troll stepping in to protect him. |
| 230 | *** Genn's smile toward Anduin when he and the rest of the army are healed and Anduin rallying the troops. That is a smile of pride, especially heartwarming considering how he showed doubt to Anduin's leadership during Legion. |
| 231 | * In ''Warbringers: Jaina'', the ferryman who guides Jaina to the sunken Kul Tiran ships is the ghost of her own father, Daelin Proudmoore. Despite the fact that she stood aside as he was killed, he still lent her his aid when she finally took the path he thought correct. And when she finally says she is listening to him - acknowledging at long last that he had, sadly, been right about the Horde - he gives her a final stoic nod before fading away, content in the knowledge that she will soon return home (on his resurrected galleon, no less), bring the navy of Kul Tiras back into the Alliance's fold, and finish what he started (hopefully, [[FinalSolution she doesn't do the last part]]). |
| 232 | ** And not only does she do so, with the Adventurer's help, she's also named Lord Admiral, having proved to her people how much she truly cared for them, and they her. |
| 233 | * In the prequel novella Elegy, Anduin discusses the Horde's ongoing invasion of Teldrassil with Greymane. He despairs that Sylvanas' plan is to divide the Alliance, using fear from the example set by Teldrassil to cause them to [[DividedWeFall focus on defending their own lands]], calling himself a fool for not realizing this sooner. He even surmises that he'd expect Genn to withdraw Gilnean support for a a counterattack in order to prepare for an offense to retake their homeland. Genn, for his part, is practically [[WhatTheHellHero insulted]] at this insinuation. |
| 234 | --> '''Greymane:''' "Well, you ''are'' a fool. A fool to think for a moment that I would withdraw my support because you are helping the Kal'dorei. Do I want my kingdom back? My people to return to their homes? Of course, I do! Do I want it badly enough to allow innocent night elves to suffer, [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe when they so generously have helped the Gilneans these last few years? When they mitigated the Worgen curse, so we could hang on to ourselves and not get lost in madness? When they fed us, sheltered us, and offered us their home when we had nothing?]] [[UndyingLoyalty No, I would never betray that kindness by turning my back on them now]]. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Sylvanas doesn't understand that about the living]]. And she certainly doesn’t understand [[TrueCompanions the Alliance]]. She is in for a rude awakening, and you can mark my words." |
| 235 | ** Genn's speech above is then made further heartwarming by the reveal that, [[WhatYouAreInTheDark unknown to both him and Anduin]], Tyrande was standing there the whole time and overheard the whole thing. |
| 236 | --> "''I'' mark your words, Genn Greymane, and my heart is full to hear them. They are a beacon in a time of terrible darkness. " |
| 237 | * Katherine's reconciliation with Jaina is equal parts heartwarming and [[TearJerker tearjerking]]. After witnessing visions of her daughter's guilt, including the revelation that Daelin's death was never Jaina's fault, the Proudmoore matriarch sees an illusion of herself about to sentence Jaina. [[IHatePastMe Katherine immediately destroys the image and implores her daughter’s forgiveness, both of her family and herself.]] Both Proudmoores emerge from the illusion and, upon seeing each other, the two engage in a tight embrace. |
| 238 | ** A special Tearjerker/Heartwarmer is Genn's interaction with Katherine, convincing her to seek out and forgive her daughter Jaina. Genn points out that for all the faults Katherine sees in her daughter, Jaina is still alive. Even if his son Liam were a traitor to him and Gilneas, Genn would give anything to have his son back even for a moment. |
| 239 | * During the Alliance War Campaign, John J. Keeshan, an Alliance war veteran and {{expy}} of ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'', is personally in awe of Shandris Feathermoon, who's fought in many wars over the course of her 10,000-year long lifetime. Shandris, however, points out that Keeshan is still quite respectable in his own way, and while fighting her former friend, the Dark Ranger Areiel, tells Areiel that her [[FantasticRacism views on humans]] are outdated. For all Battle for Azeroth is about the war between the Horde and the Alliance, it's touching to see that people from very different cultures can develop a genuine respect for each other by fighting side by side. |
| 240 | * At the end of the Night Warrior arc, Tyrande, without a hint of hesitation, elects Maiev as the leader of the Alliance forces that will fight to liberate Darkshore from the Horde. Maiev, in a rare moment of emotion that is ''not'' extreme anger, is visibly and audibly taken aback that Tyrande would willingly grant her such an honor after the ''intense'' bad blood they shared in the aftermath of the Third War, and pledges that she will not disappoint her. |
| 241 | * The Beast Mastery Hunter quest to get Hati back. After spending the whole expansion without him due to the HeroicSacrifice of the artifacts back in Legion, you go from Northrend to Sithilus in search of his energy. The Huntsmaster finally reunites with their pet in a touching cutscene where Hati reforms and he and his master share a HeadButtOfLove. |
| 242 | * Jaina and Derek's reunion. While Jaina is initially ''enraged'' that her long lost brother was made into a Forsaken, she calms down when Derek proves that his will and mind are his own, ''not'' Sylvanas'. When Jaina asks Baine why he did this for her, knowing that Sylvanas will most likely kill him for it, Baine responds that [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight he's simply being true to himself]]. |
| 243 | * In a questline in the Heart of Azeroth storyline, Brann and Magni Bronzebeard are working together to recruit MOTHER from Uldir for help with healing Azeroth. Brann flies the player to Uldir and, as he does so, explains how he always felt Magni took too much burden on himself. Even as he describes Magni as a brother, king, and Speaker with the utmost pride, he also swears he is ''not'' letting Magni shoulder this one by himself, no matter what. |
| 244 | * In the Crossroads cinematic, Jaina, Thrall, Varok, and Shaw have managed to spring Baine from Sylvanas and retreat back to Thunder Bluff. Jaina and Thrall both talk about all their past actions, and Thrall voices his utter remorse for indirectly setting all of this in motion. Jaina reminds Thrall that the Horde and the Alliance have worked together in the past, and when Thrall points out it always falls apart, Jaina reminds Thrall that they are the different ones. After years of Jaina being the most vicious warmonger, the understanding peacemaker has returned. |
| 245 | ** When Jaina states she could not let Baine die, Jaina clearly is thinking of how Baine reunited her with her brother. Obviously, Baine's act of kindness slowly allowed the old Jaina to remerge. |
| 246 | ** One line from Varok Saurfang sums it up: [[CallBack "Tell your king, he is not alone."]] |
| 247 | * Unlike Gallywix, Gazlowe is AFatherToHisMen and BenevolentBoss, refusing to risk extra workers on a lead to Mechagon and giving them the rest of the day off with pay. After most of his workers are killed by King Mechagon's machines, Gazlowe orders Skaggit to pay their families the full life insurance policy without haggling. |
| 248 | * The Horde exclusive mounts Kua'fon and Child of Torcali are raised from hatchlings. Aside from the fun of playing fetch and having them happy to see the player, the quest lines have a few stand out moments. |
| 249 | ** Kua'fon is unable to fly for a long time until Pa'ku hits upon the idea that he needs motivation. The player agrees to trust Pa'ku and is hurled off a cliff. Kua'fon, panicking at their keeper's imminent death, dives after them and manages to fly them to safety. |
| 250 | ** While checking wayshrines for Torcali the player finds a heartbroken Zandalari whose direborn hatchling was killed defending her from a predator. After avenging the fallen hatchling, the loa Torcali personally blesses its grave to create a vibrant bloom in memory. |
| 251 | ** The Child of Torcali was originally poisoned by a goblin potion the player gave them and lingered in a coma for months. Torcali and her priests are reproachful but accepting of the player's wish to make amends and the Child herself is always loving. |
| 252 | --->'''Mount description''': This daughter of the great Direhorn loa, Torcali, never lost faith that her keeper would help her grow to her full potential. |
| 253 | * In a cinematic for the war campaign, the Horde and Alliance manage to establish a moment which shows how they're not so different. |
| 254 | -->'''Saurfang:''' Where is our home?\ |
| 255 | '''Zekhan:''' Orgimmar?\ |
| 256 | '''Saurfang:''' Not our city, our home\ |
| 257 | '''Zekhan:''' Azeroth?\ |
| 258 | '''Anduin:''' And ours?\ |
| 259 | '''Jaina:''' Azeroth. |
| 260 | * In the Horde version of "The Price of Victory", if you look carefully before entering Baine and Ji's tent, you can see Aysa and several Tushui helping to stand guard against a potential Banshee Loyalist attack. Even though she is a loyal member of the Alliance, Aysa did not hesitate to come to Ji's aid. |
| 261 | * Following the ousting of Sylvanas as warchief, we get to see Orgrimmar transform. Many orcs and trolls are telling respectful stories about Saurfang and his heroism, following his example and living for his honor. Zekhan is in front of the orphanage, telling tales of Saurfang's exploits to starry-eyed orphans. Most tellingly, two small events show former Sylvanas loyalists going into the bank and auction house and getting turned away, only for Baine and Gazlowe to intercede, making clear that they acknowledge they made the wrong choices and were manipulated by her, and they took the oath so they are still Horde. This is especially powerful in Baine's case, since these same loyalists just hours ago would have killed him and he had been imprisoned and nearly tortured to death, he had every reason to hate Sylvanas loyalists by proxy, but he still forgives them. |
| 262 | * In 8.3, while in the Chamber of Heart, Wrathion and Ebonhorn talk, with the latter wondering how Wrathion knew he was starting to hear N'Zoth's whispers. Wrathion then admits that he had one of his agents watching over him out of personal concern, as Ebonhorn is his only brother. |
| 263 | * One Vuplera quest involves getting a band of Peons back to work, as they were on strike on crappy work conditions they are force to deal with. Kiro's plan to get them back to the Horde is to throw them a party. As he says "A little goodwill would go a long way." |
| 264 | [[/folder]] |
| 265 | |
| 266 | [[folder:Shadowlands]] |
| 267 | * Despite the countless memes surrounding her corpse, Olgra (also known as Mankrik's Wife) can be found ''alive''(-ish) in the afterlife. And she seems to have been doing quite well for herself; she can be found in Maldraxxus with a new title, effortlessly cleaving through hordes of Ranishu. |
| 268 | * Plague Deviser Marileth. Despite the guy having lost his memory, his first reaction to seeing you is to assume you're his old apprentice.. and is ''overjoyed'' you came back. He helps you make a slime for yourself that helps you in the next quest (and you can even keep it afterward. it becomes a Battle Pet) while admitting that he's being too patronizing, ''of course'' such a good student of his would know how to do it. He'll even hug you if you ''/hug'' him. The only negative thing he asks is to assassinate somebody, but that somebody tried to steal from the House of Plagues, and Maldraxxus ''is'' the militaristic part of the Shadowlands. |
| 269 | ** And the slime itself. It fetches his lab equipment by diving into the corrosive muck it's buried in, and then carrying it on its top like a dog playing fetch. AdorableAbomination anyone? And the occasional debuff Gross? Gross because the slime tried to hug you! |
| 270 | ** The questline concludes with him having you make a potion for his Margrave, Stradama, who has been transformed into a near-mindless monster. The potion summons Stradama and grants both her and Marileth a brief moment of lucidity. When Marileth insists he must save her, Stradama comforts him and says he was not to blame for what happened to her and he must endure without her. |
| 271 | * The Stewards of Bastion are adorable creatures as it is, but in the northwest of the zone there's a place called Stewards' Rest, where...Stewards rest. The heartwarming moment is when you see that this place is free of the Kyrian civil war - both Kyrian and Forsworn aligned Stewards tend the place together, and in peace. |
| 272 | * The Ardenweald leveling questline is for the most part a TearJerker, but after finding out who is in the seed your character becomes very personally invested in seeing to Ysera's survival. When the seed is critically damaged in a Drust attack, ''everyone you've helped'' rallies along with you in a pilgrimage to the Heart of the Forest to personally beseech the Winter Queen to intercede. While at first hesitant, seeing that her entire realm is backing your plight for all you've done, she decides to accept your request and personally revives Ysera, who finally gets a second chance to make a difference after her corruption and tragic death in ''Legion''. |
| 273 | * The Night Fae covenant campaign has a major heartwarming moment, particularly for Night Elf fans. During the campaign questline, you are sent to save Tyrande from the Maw. While she refuses to come with you until Sylvanas has been defeated, you personally rescue the souls of her people trapped within the Maw and release them into Ardenweald. After the suffering countless Night Elf civilians endured in the burning of their home and torment in the Maw, it's heartwarming to see them finally free and at peace in the eternal forest. And then it transforms into a weekly quest where you continue to delve into the Maw to save even more Night Elf souls--some of which are named figures--who all express their gratitude to being in the forest once more when you bring them to safety. |
| 274 | * One of the Baron(esse)s you meet in Maldraxxus is Lady Vashj, who still has a Naga-like form despite having been restored to a Night Elf when her soul arrived there. As she explains, when she was merely one of Azshara’s handmaidens, she was just a pretty face. But as a Naga, she made herself into somebody valued for their intelligence and drive. And as such, is a form she is proud to be comfortable in. |
| 275 | * During the Maldraxxus Questline, you're sent into the Maw to rescue a missing Baron. Bolvar instructs you to rescue Darion Mograine as well, who had been trapped inside the Maw since the Player's first exodus. Darion helps you find the missing Baron, but when he recognises the Baron as his father, Alexandros Mograine, he is stunned into disbelief. Once Alexandros is free, Darion earnestly thanks the Maw-Walker. And upon returning to Oribos for the next leg of the Maldraxxus campaign, Darion promises to fight once more at his father's side. |
| 276 | * After overcoming his tribulations in the Maw, Thrall Journey's to Maldraxxus, where he meets the Baroness Draka. On a mission together, it slowly dawns on Thrall that Draka is his mother, who was killed shortly after he was born. At the end of the mission, he tries to confess his suspicions to Draka, she tells him that she realized it the moment she saw him. Thrall has his father's eyes. |
| 277 | * In Maldraxxus you can find Kearnen the Blade, who in life was Amber Kearnen. If you're a rogue who did the Legion class hall campaign, she asks you if her message - which she died attempting to deliver - about Shaw's abduction got to the Uncrowned, and is very relieved when you tell her it did. |
| 278 | * Jaina and Uther ''finally'' get to meet each other again - the last time they spoke being just after Arthas [[StartOfDarkness had culled Stratholme]]. To say that a ''lot'' has happened to both is an understatement, but despite all the CharacterDevelopment between the friend they knew and the one now in front of them, they speak to each other as old friends who have missed each other dearly |
| 279 | * To help free Tyrande from the Night Warrior, one of the items needed is a memento of a loved one. Ysera sends you to Alexstrasza, to ask her to give you a memento of her deceased mate Krasus, who died in Cataclysm. After you make the request, Alexstrasza says, in clear fondness that her most prized remembrance of someone beloved to her isn't a memento of her late mate, but a toy that her beloved sister Ysera crafted for her when the two of them were still whelps. She follows by saying she knows who you're requesting the item for, and asks you to give Ysera a reminder that Alexstrasza will always love her, and she's overjoyed that, even if it's in another plane, her sister still exists. When you return to Ysera and tell her all of this, she nearly cries in bittersweet happiness. |
| 280 | [[/folder]] |
| 281 | |
| 282 | [[folder:Dragonflight]] |
| 283 | * The trailer shows [[HereThereWereDragons the Dragon Isles being vacated by the dragonflights as they go to deal with affairs across Azeroth]], and leave the watchers to light the beacon back when they're sure everything has calmed down. Through the eyes of one such watcher, we see that the isles have become desolate and are beginning to crumble due to a lack of care, as well as the dragon's magics fading. All the other watchers have been eroded and destroyed by the passage of 10,000 years, including their leader who was supposed to light the beacon. The watcher gives everything he's got to relight the beacon and save the Isles, even forcing the halves of it back together and getting knocked off the edge by the shockwave. As he closes his eyes and prepares to be dashed against the ground below... none other than ''Alexstrasza herself'' swoops in to his rescue, and the look on the watcher's face goes from one of resignation to ''pure wonder'' as he sees that she's not alone. [[TheDragonsComeBack The dragons have returned home.]] |
| 284 | * The launch trailer shows that not only has the peace between the Alliance and the Horde after the Fourth War endured in the TimeSkip since ''Shadowlands'', but relations between the groups seem to have improved dramatically, as a Wildhammer Dwarf and a Zandalari Troll are shown having a friendly race on their dragons and later working together when they're being attacked by Primalists. |
| 285 | * The newly introduced Trading Post adds some small touches to show characters moving on with their lives over the last few years. |
| 286 | ** Aethas Sunreaver commissions the traders to search for a music box belonging to Daelin Proudmoore which was lost off the coast of Theramore as a peace offering to Jaina. He admits the gift is likely to backfire, but he genuinely wants to try and rebuild their friendship. |
| 287 | ** Mankrik requests a new axe and then begrudgingly asks for a pretty bracelet for his low key love interesst Mahka, the trader congratulating him on finally pursuing her. |
| 288 | ** Flynn contracts the traders to procure a pet for Matthias, feeling that he's overworked and could use some extra companionship, but asks them to keep it secret. The traders are a bit skeptical that the spymaster won't find out about this, and sure enough by the time Flynn walks across the city, Shaw already knows about the order. |
| 289 | * It turns out that Captain Gerrick and Warlord Grimaxe, the leaders of the Alliance and Horde's expedition to Exile's End, are in fact old friends who, even before the newfound peace [[FireForgedFriends had fought together against the Scourge]] during the events of ''Wrath of the Lich King''. The two eagerly joined the Dragonscale Expedition and help keep relations between the factions smooth. At the end of their quest chain, they offer to treat their counterpart to drinks after the current situation is dealt with. |
| 290 | * At the Ruby Lifeshrine players encounter Mother Elion, the last eggtender of the Black Dragonflight. She tells the player of how she once watched over many clutches here, but with no clutches left to raise her flight is truly extinct. Yet still she remains here, ten thousand years later, due to hope. And the player gets to witness that hope come to life as a new clutch of black dragon eggs is delivered by Sabellian to her caring hands as she vows to raise them with love. |
| 291 | * Taivan is a GentleGiant of a bakar, the centaur equivalent of a hunting hound, and his clan is questioning whether he is worth keep around. The healer who tasks you with trying to find him a purpose hints that he will be at best abandoned if the player can't find a role for him. He's too afraid to hunt and too timid to herd animals, but just as the healer is about to give up a village is attacked. [[CowardlyLion Taivan runs through the flames and battle without concern to move wreckage and pull centaurs to safety.]] The healer is ashamed to realize she missed his true purpose as a search and rescue animal, a perfect companion for her. And then Taivan, all on his own, approaches a shell-shocked child who won't eat anything or even speak, and helps them recover from their shock just by being a comforting presence while the healer is reduced to tears. |
| 292 | --->'''Chimei:''' [[SuddenlySpeaking Hi there, pup. What's your name?]]\ |
| 293 | '''Healer Selbekh:''' [[OhMyGods By the Windmother!]] This is Taivan, and I am Selbekh. You're safe in Maruukai now.\ |
| 294 | '''Chimei:''' Hi Taivan. I'm Chimei. Miss Selbekh?\ |
| 295 | '''Healer Selbekh:''' Yes, Chimei?\ |
| 296 | '''Chimei:''' Can I have something to eat?\ |
| 297 | '''Healer Selbekh:''' [[TearsOfJoy *Bursting into tears*]] Of course you can, child! Of course you can. |
| 298 | * The Cobalt Assembly is a battleground between the Sundered Flame rebels and the blue dragonkin who watch over the place. High above is a pleasant overlook populated by dragonkin children with books and toys. A Sundered Flame dracthyr flies up from below, believing a magical artifact is hidden there, only to injure himself. The children ask you to heal him and then happily offer to let him take what he wants. The dracthyr is confused at the helpfulness and is shocked to realize the kids are alone because their parents are dealing with his comrades at the ground level. After one of the children is injured by the artifact, the dracthyr is terrified at what they did [[ChildrenAreInnocent and decides to stay here to watch over the children until the battle ends, much to their delight.]] They even give him a MeaningfulRename from Venderthvan to "Vendie" |
| 299 | * A famous Tuskarr painter has found himself unable to paint and has thrown away many of his pieces. Eventually he mentions that he first lost his inspiration after getting married, and his wife offers to leave so he can rediscover his passion. The painter immediately refuses because he's never been happier than since they got married. This allows him to realize [[TrueArtIsAngsty his past paintings were a way to deal with his own loneliness and misery]], and he doesn't need that crutch anymore with his wife at his side. The questline, however, started with a young drakonid painter whom, he decides, shows real promise [[PassingTheTorch but needs a mentor]]... |
| 300 | * Veritistrasz is an ancient dragon who has gone through a serious case of WarIsHell throughout his ten-thousand-year life. He's on the verge of a HeroicBSOD when the player can offer to simply... [[YouAreNotAlone sit and listen to him]]. As he talks about his long life and all the death and hopelessness he has felt, where even returning to the Dragon Isles has left him a StrangerInAFamiliarLand, he asks the player to retrieve a time capsule that he left behind all that time ago. Retrieving it rekindles a small semblance of hope within him, and when the player later stumbles into a diary mentioning him by name from his LostLenore, he slowly snaps out of his funk and realizes that, even though she's gone, he can still make her proud by ensuring the Black Dragonflight lives on, giving him the hope necessary to rekindle his love of life. |
| 301 | ** He makes good on this promise in later patches when he befriends Voraxian, a young black dragon with a keen interest in history and archaeology. Seeing Veritistrasz gradually come out of his shell as he helps Voraxian identify the artefacts he finds is very sweet. |
| 302 | * Belloc Brightblade returns, but this time he's reunited with his daughter Cymre to go on a dig. The two are obviously happy to be back together, with Belloc amusedly noting that his daughter keeps stealing his hat. |
| 303 | * Nozdormu is resigned to his destiny of becoming Murozond and tells Chromie he trusts her to do what must be done when that day arrives. |
| 304 | -->'''Chromie:''' I will do exactly what you need me to. I will find another way.\ |
| 305 | '''Nozdormu:''' There is none.\ |
| 306 | '''Chromie:''' [[ScrewDestiny Time encompasses all possibilities. You taught me that. I will search every timeline, every moment, until I find a solution to save you.]]\ |
| 307 | '''Nozdormu:''' Chronormu... In all timelines, please know. I am, and always have been, proud of you. |
| 308 | * Ysera is brought back to the world of the living but can no longer act as the Green Aspect because she has been touched by Death. Her daughter Merithra worries she is not prepared to take her mother's place, but Ysera is confident her daughter is ready. After Merithra succeeds in her first act as the Dreamer, the two fly off to talk and reconnect. |
| 309 | * Watching dracthyr learn to integrate into civilian life is heartwarming in its own way. Created by Neltharion as completely obedient soldiers who have only known war and duty, they treat every minor thing they learn with awe and delight, often becoming jubilant at the chance to pursue something that interests them. |
| 310 | * Quite possibly everything from the Orc Heritage questline is a crowning moment of heartwarming for the orcs. The questline centers around the return of an orcish tradition, the Kosh'harg festival that unites all the clans biannually. The Orcs reuniting and setting old issues aside for the sake of the future and community is a beautiful thing to behold. |
| 311 | ** Lantressor from the Burning Blade clan accepts the invitation to the feast, travelling all the way from Outland, and despite his disapproval of his clansmen’s’ choice of path in life (warlock, and not blademaster), he’s just happy to have relatives left. The warlocks in question, Arnak Fireblade and Mordak Darkfist, are in awe of him, bordering on hero worship. |
| 312 | ** Rexxar, who has been estranged from his father Leoroxx since the Second War due to joining the Horde, is conversing with his father at the same table, however awkwardly. |
| 313 | ** Garona Halforcen, historically a clanless outcast, is both present at the feast and is invited to join the Shattered Hand clan by its’ new leader, Thega Graveblade, an offer Garona seems to be considering. |
| 314 | ** General Nazgrim, who fell fighting for Garrosh in the Siege of Orgrimmar, feared that he wouldn’t be allowed to join due to his resurrection as a Death Knight/Horseman of the Ebon Blade, and his former allegiance to Garrosh, but during the feast, he’s welcomed with open arms, and the new chieftain of the Warsong clan, Gorgonna, assures him he has a place in their clan. |
| 315 | *** Speaking of Gorgonna, during the ending cutscene where the ancestors join in the festivities, Gorgonna’s sister Krenna, who she and a player had to kill during ''Wrath of The Lich King'' due to Krenna’s disastrous way of leading the fortress she was in charge of, turns up by her side. |
| 316 | ** The orcish ancestors themselves happily give their two cents: Durotan being happy the nation is named after him, Draka paying a visit from Maldraxxus to see the renewed tradition, and Orgrim Doomhammer and Varok Saurfang sending a message with the player to Eitrigg and Thrall, Saurfang admitting to Eitrigg that he was right to bring back the festival tradition. Eitrigg himself is greatly amused by Saurfang’s stubbornness, having to die to admit it, and professes he misses his friend. |
| 317 | *** The fact that Varok Saurfang was able to find his way there has a different implication too: Sylvanas, in her continued penance, must have found his soul in the Maw and guided him back to his deserved afterlife. |
| 318 | ** Jorin Deadeye revealing his decision to move the entire Bleeding Hollow clan to Azeroth to unite them for the future. |
| 319 | ** Then there’s Gorfax Angerfang’s vow to redeem the Dragonmaw clan for their actions, both enslaving the Red Dragon flight and joining Garrosh, or, in true orcish fashion, die trying. |
| 320 | * Senegos's death. It's not violent, nor abrupt: he had promised Stellagosa's mother that he would keep both the Azurewing and his granddaughter safe until the Blue Dragonflight was restored. To that end, [[MilesToGoBeforeISleep he unnaturally prolonged his lifespan using every means available to him]], and he ''succeeded'' - with his aid, the blue dragonflight is reunited and on the road to recovery... and thus he decides it's [[ButNowIMustGo time for him to go on his own terms]], surrounded by friends and family. |
| 321 | --> '''Senegos:''' [[GoOutWithASmile A life as full as mine should be celebrated, not mourned]]. |
| 322 | ** Stellagosa also sends you a follow up letter if you completed the ''Legion'' Azurewing questline, where she mentions just how much it meant to both herself and Senegos the final adventures he was able to go on, and how often Senegos would speak fondly of the player's character. |
| 323 | ** If you revisit the Azure Archives later, you'll find that Emmigosa, who previously stayed in her drake form, has now chosen her visage: a troll with grey hair and black streaks, very reminiscent of her great, great, great, etc. grandfather Senegos' chosen form. |
| 324 | * The new Black Dragon Aspect cutscene provides two: |
| 325 | ** After spending much of their time butting heads over who would gain leadership over the Black Dragonflight, and after the complicated situation involving Sarkareth, Sabellian and Wrathion both end up not only accepting each other as siblings, but also acknowledge that they both are too flawed to really become the new Black Dragon Aspect, resolving to be good leaders on their own terms. It's especially poignant given how much [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder the Black Dragons have long since suffered from the arrogance and cruelty of its leaders]], that two of the few Black Dragon leaders have decided to turn away from that path. |
| 326 | ** Who do these two Black Dragons point to instead? ''Ebonhorn'' - a Black Dragon who was so ashamed of what he was and Deathwing's Legacy that he hid for more than ten thousand years in Highmountain; watching over and anointing new Tauren Chieftains. Now he gets to ensure that Deathwing's VillainousLegacy is consigned to the history books for good, and that going forward the Black Dragonflight will be protectors of Azeroth once more. He also recognizes both Wrathion and Sabellian's skills, informing the other aspects that though he may be the Earthwarder, he will always be counselled by his diplomat and general respectively. |
| 327 | * By the end of the Dawn of the Infinite, Chromie does something no one else has done: Nozdormu has always been one to believe YouCannotFightFate, resigning himself to one day become Murozond regardless of what was done - after all, Murozond exists, and so he must inevitably turn into him at some point in the future. While Chromie and the adventurers doesn't manage to do more than postpone that, the way she does it managed to shake Nozdormu out of his malaise, to the point where he can at the very least be described as a DeterminedDefeatist. |
| 328 | -->'''Nozdormu:''' No matter what lies ahead, you were right, Chronormu. The future is worth fighting for. |
| 329 | ** For her part, Chromie is so overjoyed to see that she's managed to give her beloved mentor a reprieve that she actually ''hugs'' him. It's a very cute moment, especially considering a) how professional and undemonstrative the bronze dragons usually are in the course of their duties, and b) since she's in her gnome form, she can only reach his shins. |
| 330 | * Ysera having a proper farewell to Alexstrasza and Merithra, sharing a hug with each. |
| 331 | -->'''Ysera:''' You did not need me to guide you. |
| 332 | -->'''Merithra:''' Mother, I will always need you. |
| 333 | -->'''Ysera:''' I shall not be far. |
| 334 | -->'''Ysera:''' I am so, so proud of you, my heart. |
| 335 | -->'''Ysera:''' Remember - all time is borrowed. And in this, there is beauty. |
| 336 | * Kalecgos and Jaina's reunion during the celebration at Amirdrassil with the dialogue seeding the possibility of them getting back together after the hardships both of them had to go through on their own. |
| 337 | -->'''Kalecgos:''' I think we both needed to make a journey. Just not together. |
| 338 | -->'''Jaina:''' And that's all right. |
| 339 | -->'''Kalecgos:''' It is. Do you have some time? I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. But I must warn you. They'll probably insist that you try their soup. And they like to use... eel guts. |
| 340 | -->'''Jaina:''' I'm Kul Tiran, remember? I grew up on eel liver soup. It sounds wonderful! (giggles) |
| 341 | * After almost a ''decade'' of real world time, Gilneas is finally and officially reclaimed by its people. Not only is this a monumentous moment for the Worgen, but it's also a massive redemption for the Forsaken; the race that originally drove the Worgen from their home, that was responsible for so much death and suffering in the Fourth War, has finally redeemed themselves for one of their worst crimes and proved definitively that they're truly working to atone for their past actions. |
| 342 | ** Genn naming Tessa his successor as acting ruler of Gilneas. Genn recognized Tessa's leadership and compassion, seeing her willing to accept Forsaken aid when he couldn't bring himself to, and saw how hard she fought to reclaim their home. As far as he's concerned, his people are now in good hands. |
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