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Lore Highlights from War of the Scaleborn (Spoilers)
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Posted
23 days ago
by
DiscordianKitty
War of the Scaleborn is the latest novel in the World of Warcraft universe. Set shortly after the defeat of Galakrond, the novel by Courtney Alameda tells the story of an ancient and terrible war between the Dragon Aspects and the Primalist Incarnates. We go over some of the most important lore points that can be found in this novel.
Warning: Obviously there will be spoilers ahead.
War of the Scaleborn
After they defeated Galakrond, the Dragon Aspects and those who chose to follow them were rewarded by the Titans with new powers, transforming the proto-drakes into the ordered Dragons as we know them today. Not all proto-drakes accepted this gift, or even viewed it as a gift at all - a faction of proto-dragons, led by the Primalist Incarnates, viewed the Titan influence as an abomination and sought to destroy any and all ordered dragons - kicking off the War of the Scaleborn.
Fyrakk was the First Primalist Incarnate
In fact, Fyrakk was the first to speak out against Alexstrasza and the Dragon Aspects. Iridikron came second, but quickly claimed leadership - much to Fyrakk's annoyance. Raszageth was third, while Vyranoth came last.
We don't learn much about how the Primalist Incarnates gained their powers - other than it involved a ritual that killed most primal dragons who attempted it.
As for why Fyrakk hated the Aspects enough to start a whole rebellion against them - it turns out to be personal...
Fyrakk is Alexstrasza's Cousin
Not only are Fyrakk and Alexstrasza related, but Fyrakk personally taught Alexstrasza how to hunt and fight. By the time of the novel, however, he absolutely despises her with all the passion and rage that we've come to recognize from the Fire Incarnate.
Of course, this makes Fyrakk Ysera's cousin as well.
Proto-Dragon Eggs Were Kidnapped and Changed on Alexstrasza's Orders
One major Primalist grievance with the Titans and their Aspects has been the practice of placing Proto-Dragon eggs in Order-infused water in order to force the Titans' transformation upon them. In a recent confrontation, Vyranoth challenged Alexstrasza about this directly - causing Alexstrasza to admit she now considers it an "abhorrent act".
Vyranoth says: You promised me you would not force the Titans' will upon us.
Vyranoth says: But the eggs, Alexstrasza.
Vyranoth says: You did nothing while your masters warped our children still in the shell!
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder says: That abhorrent act should never have happened.
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder says: And I regret my part in it every day.
In the novel, we learn that Keeper Tyr was the one who suggested the act in the first place, but that Alexstrasza was the one to give the order. The reason: primal dragons outnumber the Dragonflights by a significant margin for an extremely long time. With a war looming ahead, Tyr suggests bolstering the ordered dragons' numbers by taking eggs directly from the primal dragons, and raising them in the Dragonflights instead.
Though she's briefly shown to be uncomfortable with the idea, Alexstrasza sanctions the use of Titan-forged to collect primal dragon eggs from the wilds - but only if they are found unguarded. She justifies this with the thought that most unattended whelplings in the wilds end up dying. However, her command results in wanted eggs being stolen from mothers who had not abandoned their nests at all.
Not only that, but Alexstrasza gives the order directly after promising to Vyranoth that she would never allow such a thing to happen. It is an unpleasant side to see in the Dragon Queen, especially considering how she would one day be tortured and forced to mate by Orcs, bolstering their own numbers for war with red dragon mounts.
The Aspects also keep this policy secret from their own Dragonflights - including those who hatched from the kidnapped eggs - and when confronted about the policy, they deny it outright more than once. They even feign self-righteous innocence, demanding proof when Iridikron makes the accusation despite knowing full well that he is telling the truth. Ultimately, it is this egg-theft policy that plays a major role in Vyranoth's choice to join the Primalists.
By the end, Alexstrasza does deeply regret authorizing this policy, and personally apologizes to those dragons who were affected.
The Dracthyr are Designed to Kill Dragons
In fact, the reason why Neltharion created them was because of the growing war with the Primalists, and it is because they're designed to specifically be effective at dragon slaying that Neltharion keeps them strictly under his command. However, he doesn't get to use them much. Though they prove themselves exceptionally skilled against dragons in the battle against Raszageth, that's also their first real battle - as well as their last, due to what they witnessed.
Trapping Raszageth Was the First Time Neltharion Gave Into the Whispers
This was already somewhat implied, but when Neltharion used Void magic to capture Raszageth, it was the first time Neltharion had ever given into Old God whispers.
The novel acknowledges that Neltharion had begun to hear the whispers even before he was Aspect. He spends a great deal of the novel trying to resist them - even long after he gives into their temptation during the Raszageth fight.
We're shown that Neltharion isn't entirely corrupted - the whispers play on his insecurities, but for the most part he remains resolutely determined to defend the Dragonflights and defeat Iridikron, who we also learn was an old personal rival. However, after he uses Void magic he does everything he can to hide it from the other Aspects, especially Alexstrasza. This is the reason why he locks the Dracthyr away.
In the end, however, Neltharion uses Void powers again - this time to defeat Iridikron. Once again, he swears to himself that Alexstrasza must never know, and that he would never again give into the whispers. Of course, we know how that turned out.
Aspects Invented Visage Forms, Primalist Incarnates Copied Them
In the novel, the Aspects develop the idea of visage forms a little after early Trolls begin to appear in Azeroth. The forms they take change over time, explaining why later on the Aspects will have forms of younger races.
While the Primalist Incarnates are revolted by what they see as Dragon Aspects lowering themselves to look like mortals, they also see the value in smaller, mortal-like forms for certain situations, though they choose to make their forms represent elemental forces more than any mortal race.
Sadly, we do not get to hear what Raszageth's form looked like.
The War Lasted Hundreds of Years
When the novel begins, Galakrond has been dead for more than ten years, and the Aspects are settling into their new home of Valdrakken. At first, the conflict is mostly a cold war, with each side making preparations for an outbreak of violence they considered inevitable. In the background of the story, other recognizable events occur - such as the death of Tyr and the Winterskorn War. Eventually, Raszageth's capture at the hands of Neltharion severely ramps up the conflict, and Vyranoth joins the Primalist Incarnates only after Raszageth is captured.
While it can be difficult to keep track of all the time that passes in the novel - time skips of fifty years or more are not uncommon - In a final confrontation between Neltharion and Iridikron, Neltharion seems to indicate the conflict has lasted about five-hundred years.
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Comment by
rowaasr13
on 2023-11-05T16:14:54-06:00
Ah yes, the "Shades of grey writing" The Titans who are bad and evil talk to mortals with a level of respect, but the Primalists literally look down on anyone not a Dragon. It's sort of hilarious how much we've been TOLD that the Titans and their Order magic is bad, but it genuinely sounds like the Titans were the only &*!@s to give a @#$% about anyone.
As if it is first time? Yrel is bad for taking muderousness from Orcs of Draenor, everybody must have free choice to be genocidal mass-murderer!
Comment by
rowaasr13
on 2023-11-05T16:16:52-06:00
I know it's not a retcon because it's not overwriting earlier lore, but making Alexstrasza do something that's pretty clearly evil really goes against the grain of all of her characterisation up to this point. The way they could (and should) salvage that is by explaining that when she was young and during war-time she made bad decisions that were necessary and from her regret she changed to be the person we know and love today.
It's "clearly evil" only in mind of someone suicidal who wants to be erased by Primalists.
There's
nothing
wrong with making dragons not obsessed with genocide.
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