Stormwind/The Alliance isn't lead by Anduin

Lore Story
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While he ostensibly holds the crown of King, Anduin Wrynn does not in fact lead Stormwind as is indicated. Much has been made of comparisons in visual, narrative and aesthetic between Arthas and Anduin - both blonde princes and then Kings of their respective kingdoms, both Light users, both challenged by the undead - but a key difference between them that is overlooked I think is their approach to the Light.

WC3 Arthas had a number of quotes which I think helped define him pre-Scourging. The ones I’d like to focus on are “The Light is my strength.”, “For my Father, the King” and “For Lordaeron”. We know that Arthas’ move to the Scourge was driven in part by his loss of faith in the Light’s strength. To Arthas, the Light was power - something which gave him and his fellows strength to do what was right because they knew what was right on their own. And when the Light failed him, when it didn’t have the strength to do what needed to be done, he left it (or, it left him).

This ties into previous depictions of the Light less as a force with will and more of a energy/power that calls to those who desire it but allows them to make their own choices, also reflected in the comparatively Capital-E Evil Scarlet Crusade.

Anduin on the other hand views it in a more modern way - not as something to support his actions, but as something to dictate his actions. To make his choice for him. To support this, I’ve collected a number of quotes from Before The Storm. As one of the most recent pieces of WoW literature it should be quite accurate to Anduin’s current character.

“If indeed I was eloquent, it was the Light speaking through me to comfort those in need of it,” Anduin replied.

He closed his eyes. Light, he prayed, you have given me good advisers and true who have helped me lead well thus far. I trust in you to show me the nextsteps in their proper time.

This next quote is on Anduin’s attitude towards the Light, showing that it has a “will”, rather than just supporting his own strength:

They mended wounds, cured illnesses and curses, and sometimes, if the Light willed, brought the dead back to life. What could they do with a wound to the world?

He knew where they could start. He could feel the answer inside his coat, next to his heart, where he had placed the small, precious piece of Azerite. For a moment he hesitated, looking at the Forsaken, troll, and tauren faces turned toward them. Horde faces. Could they be trusted?
He asked the question of the Light—and his own body.

Next we have Alonsus making a comment that Anduin does not disagree with:

"They are people who serve the Light,” the undead priest reminded him. “As are you.”

His voice trembled as he said it, and he felt the Light wash through him with its sweet, warm blessing. Anduin knew he was speaking a great truth.

Anduin speaking to Calia:

“No apology needed. It’s good to have someone who…well, who’s similar to me in some ways. We both grew up royal children, and we both were called by the Light to become priests."

Anduin asking the Light to guide him on dealing with Calia:

Anduin watched her carefully, taking a breath and centering himself. Light—let me know if she means them harm. He felt no responding ache in his bones, no hint that Calia Menethil was planning some kind of murderous coup. Her intentions were in alignment with the Light they both served.

All will be as the Light wills it, he thought.

Anduin speaking with Turalyon, who strikes a middle ground between Arthas and Anduin’s attitudes:

"You and I are fueled by other things.”
“The Light,” Anduin said quietly.
“The Light, yes,” Turalyon agreed. “But we should let it guide us, not command us. We also have our own minds and hearts. We should make use of those as well.

Note the sheer difference between “As the Light wills it” from Anduin vs. Turalyon’s “Guide, not command”. Per the below, Anduin wasn’t simply guided, but ‘shaped’ by the Light:

He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing the cool, moist air. Light, you’ve guided and shaped me for most of my life.

And then we have an outright request for what he should do, surrendering his autonomy for direct instructions from the Light:

He squeezed his eyes shut and pleaded silently, Light, what is happening? What can I do? The answer came. It was swift, blunt, and brutal. Protect.

And finally, we have him give up not just his mind but his body as well:

He usually experienced the Light’s power flowing through him like a river. But now it seemed like a whole ocean was utilizing him as a vessel.

As you can see from the above, the Arthas/Anduin parallels continue except where Arthas initially gave up his autonomy as a vessel of the Lich King, Anduin is doing so with the Light. Arthas, as we know, eventually rebelled against Ner’zhul to reclaim his Self. Do we expect the same from Anduin though?

To conclude, or to tl;dr - while Anduin may be High King of the Alliance and King of Stormwind he doesn’t actually lead them. The Light does, utilising Anduin as a puppet dancing on magic strings. Considering a number of cultures in the Alliance (Night Elves, Pandaren, Kul Tiras) do not care for the Light, it’s questionable if they’re satisfied with this, especially when Church of the Holy Light has a reputation for…well, Benedictusing.

Then again maybe they’re all fine with it, because, as per Anduin’s imperialist attitude shows, he thinks all religions are just the Light in different dresses: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/284360431684812801/574186295711105024/unknown.png

Thoughts?

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[Inserts funny and smart comment about how Anduin is leader of the Alliance in one sentence]

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So Stormwind is not led by a naive 18-yo-old boy, but by the most primordial force in the cosmos? What a relief to know that!

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Good luck holding it accountable for any “mistakes”. You don’t like a king, you can guillotine. What are you going to do if you don’t like how the Light is working? After all, it didn’t help Teldrassil.

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Jokes on you, I enjoyed watching the second class elves burn.

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See, this is the sort of thing I’m talking about. When you’re satisfied that, to quote Anduin again, “All will be as the Light wills it.” then you start making allowances for some truly monstrous things.

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To Burn Silvermoon down and purge the traitorous blood elves!

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Actually it is Anduin reacting to what he feels the will of the Light is. It is also made quite clear that his body reacts strangely to things since the divine bell fell onto him. So the Alliance follows whatever the bell did to Anduin.

It’s quite strange to say that the Alliance is ruled by the Light, when Anduin actively sent out Alleria to recruit void users. But I do indeed hope that there is some (morally) darker purpose behind introducing Anduin’s magic bones.

And no, imperialism that doesn’t use any kind of force, neither military, nor economical, doesn’t sound problematic to me at all. I would like to see more controversial policies within the Alliance, but that isn’t it.

Actually it doesn’t. That was officially swept under the rug.

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Anduin will always end up interpreting the Light, as there are many interpretations of it, and Anduin is only a mortal Saying that the Light rules Stormwind would be saying that Anduin has such a truthful interpretation, that he knows all about the Light and its intentions. If he doesn’t, then Stormwind ends up being rules by Anduin anyway.

Are you willing to argue that, Elenthas?

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It is not surprusing for Arthas and Anduin to have different approach to Light, as much as, Priests and Paladins differenses in their views about Light, goes .

Unlike Anduin, Arthas used Light like as a weapon to bring justice to his lands. He lost his connection to Light when his Retribution has sacrificed everything he stood for - chasing Malganis.

Anduin on the other hand is Priest, with more spiritual enlightenment of Light as force. Having seeing Draenei and spend some quality time with Velen, mon! Used the Light to Res his Dad. He used his powers to mass heal his own troops. These are the expressions of characters desire.

Light is to enhance the will of a wielder.

And with that yes Anduin thinks that everyone in priest Order Hall ( the same Netherlight Temple) have one thing in common - Light and strong will. Each with different interpretation.

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Pretty sure it was “Lights Will” to accept the Void elves into the Alliance rofl.

All I am seeing is voices in Anduins head, and guess who might be chatting? Yep! Some other force than the light… after all:

“The Boy King serve at the Masters table. Three lies will he offer you”

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