Case Study of the Sethrak

Lore Story
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So, by now I presume most people probably know I’m strongly in favour of playable Sethrak. There are a number of posts already on them as an Allied Race, with variable activity, but I recently decided to take a trek through Vol’dun and take a good, in-depth look at how the Sethrak are portrayed as a culture in game.

Starting off with the Terrace of the Devoted (imgur.com/FJSIZdA.jpg), it’s important to state this was not built by the Sethrak; its architecture is clearly Troll, and likely a relic from the time both Sethrak and Zandalari lived in Vol’dun. Inside we can find several things; Sethrak studying from scrolls (imgur.com/Bzs4GGe.jpg), a Sethrak smith and his forge (imgur.com/EH9ejpB.jpg) likely making new weapons for the devoted, and a shrine to what could only be the deceased Sethraliss (imgur.com/UUBUxEg.jpg).

Now, let’s move on to the Temple of Sethraliss (imgur.com/yIdp1QN.jpg). This is the most imposing structure in all of Vol’dun, visible from miles away, and easily contends with Uldir, Dazar’alor and Atal’dazar as far as wonders of architecture go, with masterfully crafted statues of Sethraliss. Outside the Temple, you can find a great many things; Sethrak sitting outside of their homes (imgur.com/6r87WAN.jpg), another Sethrak smith forging for the Faithless army (imgur.com/4iXLKBo.jpg), and something I think many people have forgotten, Sethrak Gunners tending to their cannons (imgur.com/qOjb98X.jpg). Immediately we can see that much of the Sethrak presence is subterranean, with only the Temple visible above ground. Their use of cannons clearly demonstrates sufficient intelligence to create machinery, already putting them above numerous Horde races, who continue to use catapults and other primitive war-machines. We also see many examples of beautiful embroidery (imgur.com/zUg02Lb.jpg), demonstrating that at least some Sethrak choose to dedicate themselves to the arts.
As we get closer to the Temple, things get more interesting. A Sethrak guard stands watch over a towering door (imgur.com/dHDlSTZ.jpg). Either a nobles house, or an entrance to a grander underground structure (my bet personally, and you’ll see why later), there are other residences (imgur.com/K1MEPIw.jpg) as well, the taller frames and decoration suggesting more lavish interiors. We can find a Sethrak merchant surrounded by what appears to be spices, desert fruits, and cushions (imgur.com/1ZbSqbQ.jpg). Evidently some Sethrak enjoy finer foods. On a related note, though not found at the Temple itself, we see an example of what the Sethrak eat (imgur.com/kK0m7D4.jpg). A noticeable lack of meat, alongside the presence of fruits and grubs, suggests the Sethrak are omniverous, despite being based off snakes. How they ingest these foods is beyond me, perhaps they just suck them off the sticks?

Inside Vorrik’s old sanctum, now regrettably infested with Vulpera pests, we find either an ornate bath, or a meditative fountain (imgur.com/uyUmzD6.jpg), and though it looks like all of Vorrik’s possessions have either been removed or destroyed, a break in the cave walls gives an amazing sight. (imgur.com/ffNVw3B.jpg) It’s hard to get a good picture, with invisible walls blocking many better vantage points, but this is clearly a massive subterranean Sethrak city. It’s opposite to the Temple itself too, and can’t be seen from inside the dungeon. I wonder if we’ll ever get to see more of this place?
Before heading inside the Temple, there are a few other things to note; you can find Sethrak mages (imgur.com/pvjYReS.jpg) either practicing their unique lightning spells, or imbuing these spires of rock with lightning. These structures can be found wherever the Sethrak go, and are either used for the purpose of desertification, or give the Sethrak a source of lightning to draw upon.

We’re inside the Temple itself now, and immediately you can see more Sethrak residences dotting the walls inside (imgur.com/SU36RJS.jpg). Before killing the first boss, we find a lightning barrier (imgur.com/YKHmDYF.jpg), a signature of the Sethrak and a sort of magic many mages of Azeroth have never seen before. Before heading down to Merektha’s room, looking down from the stone bridge shows us even more of the subterranean homes the Sethrak have made (imgur.com/1pwNbpg.jpg, imgur.com/H7Gzz07.jpg). All throughout Merektha’s chamber, we can also see incubative springs (imgur.com/9bdGDof.jpg) keeping the eggs of various cobras alive. Whether this water is from a hot spring or heated artificially is unclear.
Unfortunately, this is where my delving was ended. I couldn’t solo Merektha, and with all the pictures I already had, I decided to call it quits.

I have nothing to say regarding whether Sethrak will be an Allied Race or not here, or what faction they would be if they were (though my leanings on that front are obvious). Consider this simply a source of evidence for such discussions.

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This is a great thread, why didn’t I see it before?

Thanks for the analysis, I am also interested in Sethrakk culture :smiley:

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This is all great, but I’d like more information on Sandscout Vesarik, please. How did he become so powerful? Would he be the racial leader if the Sethrak were to become playable?

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Can you do this for like, every race? This was quite an interesting read.

Warcraft David Attenborough?

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I like your write up about Sethrak culture. However I find it very lacking in regards to their main domesticated animal.
I’m of course talking about the krolusk.

Krolusk are seen everywhere the sethrak are. They are used as mounts and war animals. They can grow to very large sizes if allowed to, as we can see in several world quests where we are tasked to kill large individuals.
They are a carnivorous species as can be seen at the feeding pits as they’re filled with bones, as well as them only eating meat as hunter pets
imgur com/bdaIwrA jpg

The sethrak also use their exoskeleton in some light construction as can be seen outside the temple of sethraliss. imgur com/KPqserD jpg

I’d argue that even very young krolusks (maybe even newborn) are eaten by the sethrak, I’ll share a picture of a cooked creature that look very alike a krolusk, it has a wide head-plate not unlike adult krolusk, it also have the same amount of legs. imgur com/vVpkyMP jpg

Taking all this into account I must say that krolusks are one of the cornerstones of the sethrak society and their most important domesticated animal, with them acting as everything from a food source and pets to mounts and war animals.

Also you have to add dots to the links yourself as I can’t post links for some reason.

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Great read overall, but you couldn’t stop yourself from attacking the Horde in it, could you?

A bit harsh, considering most Horde races have cannons in addition to catapults, and the main artillery of Night Elves is a big crossbow shooting Glaives.

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More meant as tongue and cheek, but tone is difficult to convey on the internet. The Night Elves do indeed have the worst artillery in the Alliance without really being able to justify why other than ‘it looks cool’.
I’m surprised Undead haven’t ever made cannons, since I’m sure they know how to, what with being former humans, yet they fall into the same trap and just make catapults for some reason.

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understood :wink:

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I really love it! Good work!

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Having now levelled a Horde character and finished the Vol’dun questline, I have a few things to add to this post.

Firstly, the lightning spires that the Sethrak are continuously seen around; I can confirm they are used to continue the desertification process, and can only be created by Sethrak Skycaller’s (imgur.com/CHcAhXT.jpg)
While I don’t have pictures for these next few points, the Sethrak cannons launch balls of lightning, rather than conventional cannonballs. Their actual destructive capabilities are unclear. The Faithless also managed to produce bombs magically infused with lightning (and I can confirm it is lightning magic, as it is continually referred to as such by Vorrik, NPCs, and Jakrazet himself.)
Additionally, leaving offerings to the Keepers seems to be culturally significant to the Sethrak, with them leaving such objects before the statues near Atul’Aman. Additionally, there are 4 relics of Sethraliss recovered during the quest Relics of Sethraliss; the Rebirth Creed, an explanation of an ancient Sethrak belief that Loa can be reborn; the Skull of the First Skycaller, a well-preserved but otherwise unremarkable object; a Sethraliss Sight Stone, with shadowy figures passing through tendrils of magic before dissipating inside the globe; and Blood of the Fallen Loa, claimed to be blood from the battle of Sethraliss and Mythrax long ago.

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they also made plague Harpoons as of recent times, and they do have cannons, and catapults for easier throwing the plague containers.

and because they refused to use the resources around them.

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Yeah, they’ve got cannons on their ships. They never seem to bother using them outside of that, though, and I’m sure they could make a plague-delivery cannon if they wanted to. They just don’t, for some reason.
It’s weird when the Mag’har Orcs are somehow one of the most technologically advanced Horde races.

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That would be the goblins.

imagine the horror one day goblins makes something with a capacity of 60%?
we will all be doomed then.

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The Goblins make more advanced stuff. It’s just, the Mag’har tech, y’know…doesn’t explode 50% of the time?
But yeah, if Goblins we’re still functioning like they were before the Kajamite was depleted, they’d be running circles around everyone except maybe the Draenei.

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Iron Juggernaut Ship carriers, Iron Stars, Guns, Flamethrowers, Bombs and battle siege Gronns are just some of the nice gimmicks they brought over.

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The temperatures inside the barrel when shooting would incinerate the plague in the canisters. :smiley:

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Isn’t “Mag’har technology” the technology fully developed by the Blackfuse Company goblins?

Sooo… They brought over to Azeroth azerothian technology.

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Funny how that works. It’s even stated that the Iron Star, the devastating object that was to be used in Stormwind for another Theramore plan instead became part of the schematics for nearly, if not all Iron Horde technology and/or became the engine core basis for them.

Don’t count on a source though. I just remember it being hotly mentioned in the forums during WoD. I’ve always been interested in tech and its involvement in WoW, to the point where I have an engineer for RP.

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