Ok so just in case SPOILER AHEAD FOR TALANJI’S CORONATION!!
Now that we have that out of the way.
The White Widow had an issue, apparently a pretty major one at that, with Talanji being in the service of Old Bwonsamdi. So much so that she was willing to die to bring that info to the masses.
I don’t actually understand what the issue is though. Bwonsamdi is a Loa. All Loa have servents and those dedicated to their service in Zandalar. There are shrines all over the City dedicated to the Loa, including The Loa of death!
I understand the Bwonsamdi is tricky and that death is not a pleasent subject to worship, but it’s not like people don’t do it already.
Was it just Blizzard trying to make up any reason to cause issue with the Coronation? Or am I missing some lore?
Because Zandalari like living loa more then dead one. Living Loa habe more advantages in a time without war compared to Bwondsamdi. Probably they just can’t get over Rezan or sth.
I don’t think the issue is with Bwonsamdi himself, but more with binding your bloodline to him. He’s probably a great Loa and all, but I can see why binding your bloodline to him is a bit controversial.
I just don’t know enough about Troll lore to answer that, and I’m not even sure who knows that Bwonsamdi is bound King Rastakhan’s bloodline… sorry, can’t help you here.
Headcannon:
Bwonamsandi is a trickster.
Like the grim reaper he is a guy you know you have to deal with as some point but you want to delay that point as long as possible.
Add to that sylvanas is undead, The zandalari have many recent death’s due to alliance raid, Bowamsandi raising undead in defendse of there city, etc.
Bwonsamdi isnt the kind of being you want to make a deal with unless you have too.
Having him as the new loa of kings is scary.
Being a trickster they dont know what he is going to next, He is the loa of graves and thus any death is suddenly suspious as there is no rizan to keep him in line, etc.
Pretty much it is the fear of change to an unknowing being that controls the dead.
As for how the white widow knows.
Palaces are full of servants who are ignored most of the time.
There also good for rumors.
It woudnt be common knowledge but conspercy theorist never needed much evidence to believe there views.
It woudnt cause that much of a panic on the population at large.
I think i remember something from the questlines, isnt actually loa of kings (currently bwonsamdi) taking care of zandalari empire? What can bwonsamdi can do for zandalar? Thats the question which i believe many zandalar citizens ask themselves, as for example Rezan was the patron of prosperous realm, strength, leadership, incarnation of Sun, of honor, Such a loa is nice to have to take care over your empire, but loa of death? I respect bwonsamdi, but i think hes not this type of loa as Rezan for example, or shirvallah
Whichs shows that rezan could force him into doing something he didnt want too.
That is kinda comfirting for people.
To know that death has a boss that keeps death from killing people at will.
It isnt rational fear but instinctive fear of having a loa of death as the highest ranking member of your (for a lack of better word) gods.
I mean the guy isnt evil but what is a god of death going to do for your nation?
I’m pretty sure it’s common knowledge among trolls that you don’t mess with death and undeath. Trolls don’t like the undead, it’s been stated before, Bwonsamdi’s priests know about it so I’m sure they get told.
As for him raising the spirits to fight for Zandalar, he did it to save the city not for petty reasons and he didn’t keep them there. It’s not like he made them into zombies.
Bwonsamdi’s already got a boss, he mentions this in the Vol’jin Quest line and it’s not Rezan. This is also where he comments on his distaste for what Slyvanas is doing by tipping the balance of life and death too far in one direction.
Again your using logic in a mather of feelings.
His actions where entirely reasonable but that still doesnt change the fact he raised the dead, however temporarly.
That kinda scare people on an instinctive level.
Does your avarage zandalari know that?
From what i can tell:
Ever since we allowed the horde into our city we zandalari have payed for it with our blood.
Rezan is dead replaced by bwonsamdi.
The dead who shoud rest in there grave’s rose to fight invaders that killed our beloved king and now we have a queen bound to bwonsamdi.
It doesnt take much to leap of the logic that bwonsamdi planed it all.
Remember that the white widow is pretty much your avarage conspiracy theorist.
She doesnt need much evidence to see evil.
Worshiping bwonsamdi takes some getting used too.
During this critical time you can shape people believe.
How will bwonsamdi be seen?
A tyrant god who will demand death via war?
An uncaring god who just wants your soul but doesnt do anything for you?
A benevolent god?
In time it will be considered normal but right now.
Bwonsamdi when up in the world while the zandalari suffered for it.
There are always those who will blame there goverment for the crimes of other nations.
He raised people that were in his domain, since well he is their patron after all so he is allowed. He did it for a short time for defence purpose. No soul was damaged or damned because of that. He called for the fallen Zandalari to raise and defend their city and their people once more. Once their deed is over they’re returned to the Other Side.
It’s not like scourge or some other abominations.
I kind of see it as with the greek pantheon of gods. Sure, you got both your Zeus and your Hades. Neither is forbidden and both of them are beeing worshipped. But lets say, Zeus got killed. Who would the average greek rather see as the new Prime God? Hades, of all the people? Probably not. More likely, that would freighten a whole lot of people. (And anger all those worshippers of the other gods like poseidon or dionysos, who would rather see their own god the new patreon god)
bownsambdi is an odd one, he seems to do things that pleases him or things he can gain from, for example.
Getting Rastakhan killed, this serverd him way more than Rasta being alive, can in a way say it was Bwon fault rasta died to some extent. Bwonsambdi wanted Talanji to lead so it serverd him well.
one reason he also hates Sylvanas is that she disturbs his way of getting bodies, He might be a troll loa, but I got a feeling he gets others souls or bodies also, including the human ones, only reason he do not like Sylvanas is becuse she raises them, I am quite sure if she only killed others he would not have a problem whit her, matter of fact he most likely would help her to one point, until she is about to be killed and he steps back just to get her body also.
that seems to be his agenda, help others until there is someone else he is intrested in.
Because as Bwonsamdi himself states, the Zandalari are more used to worship the Loa that “makes crops grow” and “make it rain”.
They are used to worship more ‘royal’ and positive Loa like Rezan or Torga.
Loa that don’t thrive in dominantly ‘negative’ aspects like death or conflict.
The Darkspear embraced Shadow Hunters, that are trained to “master said chaos” (Voljin words). The Zandalari rather stay aloof with deities that keep their table full and their families rich. A more complacent approach that favours their recent stagnant mindset.
Throwing them under the wing of the likes of Bwonsamdi, will obviously be quite a shock for them.