I’m just interested, forsakens are too much attached to Dark Lady and speak about her all the time. Now she’s traiter and someone needs to take Forsaken in his/her hands.
My choice is Undertaker Mordo. All the forsaken know him, he is the first NPC every newly created forsaken ever meet, he gives the first ever quest when you create an undead. This guy met all of you undeads, he’s rude sometimes (We were ready to toss you into the fire with the others, but it looks like you made it), but he’s a good leader. What do you think?
After the end of the war campaign, Lillian Voss gives a quest to go and listen in on Jaina’s visit to her brother in Stormsong, who’s been hanging out with Calia Menethil. When you return to Lillian, she says “I must act quickly” and then nothing else. I’m curious as to whether that means Lillian is pro-Calia (and possibly Derek also) for a new leader, or whether she means she must act quickly against them. If the latter, does she want to be leader herself? My Forsaken characters would definitely be happier following someone they know like Lillian than Calia who’s not a Forsaken.
what about a abomination as forsaken leader ? would be unique. maybe that one you make friendly in icecrown together with banshee and few other undead and make it iinto small hub.
Lillian has been hinted at suddenly being “pro Horde” during the Zelling storyline, so it makes sense that she’ll be the new paradigm for Horde Forsaken when Calia shows up.
I think Blizzard have sort of steered it in that direction.
Derek says something about how he would have been lost without her guidance. And Jaina thinks Calia should maybe help guide others who need it now, and give them some hope.
I mean, c’mon, that’s The Forsaken. She’s obviously being set up as their leader. Why else would Blizzard even pair her up with Derek in the first place, or have Lillian listen in on the conversation?
She has the visuals as well. Her robes have the Lordaeron symbol on the shoulder.
I think what’s more interesting is that Blizzard seems to flesh out more of The Forsaken now.
In the past they’ve always been a race that’s revolved almost entirely around Sylvannas. With her gone the race really needs some cool lore characters that can make for some interesting storylines.
I’d wager that they’re working to get Calia, Derek, Lillian, and maybe Delaryn into The Forsaken. Calia will lead though, I think.
Calia wasn’t forsaken by anyone, and hasn’t gone through any of the formative experiences that defined the Forsaken (except dying, I guess). If that’s gonna be the Forsakens’ new identity they’ll need a name change.
Not really. Been around for a while, and we can all experience both the Classic and the updated Cataclysm questing experience.
And given both, the story around the Forsaken has little to do with Sylvanas. Most of the time you are doing stuff and following the agenda of other notable Forsaken characters.
… Same thing goes to Orgrimmar being named after Orgrim Doomhammer, who was one of the most bloodthirsty orcs during the First and Second Wars, considering he hadn’t even drunk the demon Kool-Aid.
Or how Kael’thas still has massive statues in Silvermoon.
But that’s neither here nor there. WoW’s storytelling has made most races (but particularly the Horde) develop different degrees of cults of personality because it was specific leaders that at some point were instrumental in their survival. But building a statue to someone in a small town doesn’t mean that necessarily everyone has undying loyalty to her.
… After all, the Draenei themselves follow Velen as their Space Pope with pretty undying fervor. It’s the problem of this lore-figure-based writing, in the sense that races end up being defined by their leaders.
The real issue with Forsaken loyalty is the fact that it’s very hard for people to back down from their beliefs if they have invested time, blood and tears into them, even if they’re bad beliefs or even when cognitive dissonance is introduced. You don’t just undo it overnight. Being heavily invested in a political side breeds irrationality when it’s questioned.
The mindset of the Forsaken was created through years of political struggle and constant confirmation that it was the right path for them, and a good majority of Forsaken are collaborators because being Forsaken is a voluntary decision as an Undead. Sure, there’s many who might’ve joined because it was the more pragmatic thing to do, but still, you can still make people part of your system even if they’re unconvinced at first.
I would take Lilian Voss over Calia, especially because she’s been developed over BFA.
Also, unless they’re abolishing the factions (which I doubt, as much as I want it) I don’t think it would be a good move to put a pro-alliance leader as the head of a race in the Horde.
I think the Darkshore War Campaign is a good example. The Night Elves basically fight against themselves - they have enough notable NPCs to spare losing a few. And once you think about it, you realize that the Forsaken don’t have many notable NPCs to spare.
There’s Sylvannas.
And Nathanos.
And Lillian Voss.
And…?
The rest are very minor NPCs. Obviously the roster needs to be reinforced a bit. Varimathras, Putress…they’re gone. And now too is Sylvannas. And I’d wager that Natathos is also before this expansion is over.
Compare the Forsaken NPC lineup to the Night Elves.
Malfurion
Tyrande
Maiev
Shandris
Those are a bit more permanent fixtures within the race, and they’ve all got considerably more story coverage than Lillian Voss.
So the Forsaken needs some new major NPCs. And I think Blizzard are maneuvering Calia, Derek, Lillian, and maybe Delaryn into more prominent positions as Forsaken. But we’ll see.
