Your Character's Mindset, [21st Century / Azeroth]?

[Coppers 10]

This is going to be rather long, so I put it in a spoiler for you all. Generally: I'm trying to get a message across to you players that war is constant and you should apply a tinge of the world's thinking and conflict to your character.

 

 

 

listen to this nibbas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This guide is to inform players on what Azeroth looks like to your character or at least should. This specifically involves the mindset of a common person of Azeroth  which would be your character, a man or woman who needs to work everyday of his or her life to make a living out of this poor world. This will cover a lot of infomation that needs to be spread across to you players. Please note: the heavy Alliance-bias perspective and tinge of speculation and all that shit.

 

Needless to say, I'm a native English speaker that has been RPing for quite a bit now. What strikes me the most is that the conflict that boils from it, or the story lines that read like a book in a good way. The main thing I roll is usually just a generic, common man that stems from a  background of prolonged warfare. Although standing grim, gaunt and usually out of place in the setting, they have much more underneath their skin rather than the seemingly 'edgy GoT RP' theme that runs from people - which I had experienced while simply taking a stance for the Alliance-Horde conflict and strife.
Some of you in this community may know me by a few names and characters, by the way.

 

 

As you know it, the universe that Azeroth belongs in is ground in strife and warfare.

- Troll Wars -2800 years before the Dark Portal, the first major war fought by the first real organisation of the humans and their superior elven allies against the Amani Empire. tl;dr, the Quel'dorei at first drove away the extremely massive Amani Empire with magic, but then the Amani Empire counter-attacked and nearly overran the Quel'dorei nation. (God-Emperor) Thoradin rallied his great army of pre-historic combined human might and swooped in to save the day, causing a massive power shift to favor the combined civilizations rather than the ooga-booga trolls.
This conflict almost spelled doom for the Quel'dorei nation.

 

 

- Founding of various human nations, but in particular Stormwind; -1200 years before the Dark Portal.
- The Gnoll War, -75 years before the Dark Portal was the first challenge that the green-faced and insignificant nation of Stormwind had to overcome. It was when a horde of Gnolls were unified with central leadership and began to swarm the Kingdom of Stormwind. Fighting with intellect aswell, they first pinned down majority of Stormwind's manpower to around Stormwind City itself (around North-West / North Elwynn) and then devour on isolated settlements in other regions.
The King of Stormwind, Barathen Wrynn eventually overcame the Gnollish horde by striking a decisive blow to their leadership. Overcoming against such a large threat, King Barathen the Adamant led the nation into a   'age of unrivaled economic, political, and social stability and prosperity, which lasted for several decades to come. Having rebuilt and repaired the parts of the nation destroyed by the war, the kingdom subsequently began to expand even further, occupying new territories and settling new regions. The great victory they had achieved — without the aid of others — further cemented a sense of independence and self-sufficiency among the citizens of the kingdom. As a result, Stormwind would continue to become even more distant from the other human nations, confident that they were capable of successfully dealing with any danger that arose to threaten their security '

This would be an auspicious moment for the kingdom for many of its years to come.

 

 

 

- The First War, 0 years to 3 years after the Dark Portal. Due to the efforts of King Barathen Wrynn the Adamant, the kingdom indulged in a status of absolute confidence. This was their mistake, as the 'monsters around the Swamp of Sorrows' began to eventually overrun the rest of Azeroth (the archaic name for Stormwind). Although first repelled by the Brotherhood of the Horse, the Horde began to lay waste to every region of Stormwind. The men defending Stormwind's Keep during the 2nd Siege of Stormwind were determined to hold the line, until their leader, Llane Wrynn was murdered. Morale was shattered and the men broke, which heralded the doom of the human kingdom to the South. As a result of this, possibly millions of people were slaughtered, raped or enslaved.
When you think of it, a whole country thriving gets wiped out off the map, completely. Doesn't that sound like an impact?

The artist has done an excellent job here, conveying the desperation against the onslaught of the never-ending tides.

 

 

- The Second War, 4 years to 19 after the Dark Portal. With Horde dominance established to the south, they began to head north, immobilizing the Dwarves and the Gnomes and then striking deep into Lordaeron and reaching its Capital City. Although met with strong resistance, they would of won if Gul'dan didn't retreat from the Horde. The Second War was the largest conflict at that time with mechanized ways of warfare setting their mark on the world, major losses and gigantic movements of troops across the upper-half of the Eastern Kingdoms.
It is important to note that Quel'thalas was set upon by both Horde-bound Trolls and Orcs. Quel'thalas' defenders were driven all the way back to the city of Silvermoon though they successfully defended their city. Pitifully weak elves.
The victory at Blackrock Spire was not enough for the Alliance. King Terenas, about 3 years later ordered the Alliance's most revered figures General Turaylon, Alleria Windrunner and Khadgar to mobilize forces and push deep into the Dark Portal. They were never seen again afterwards.
Lands were razed, people killed or driven into poverty - all by the Horde. A lot of money was thrown at reparations too - which meant poor for the common folk.

The line holds against all the odds. My speculation is that this the most vital part of the battle due to the presence of Paladins and their respective retainers. A captain is spotted on the lower-right with the infantry. Note how the Paladin and his retainers (guys with short winged helmets and that blonde-haired faggot without a helmet) are in the front while Royal Army men are behind them.

 

 

- The Third War, 20-21 ADP. Although extremely short compared to the Second War, no doubt the death count skyrocketted compared to the other ones. The whole of Lordaeron was wiped off the map with all of its population genocided and raised into undeath. The land was set upon by foul plagues and so forth. Quel'thalas simply ceased to exist, as about 90% of their population was exterminated.
The war ended at the monumental battle at Hyjal's peak. Almost the world's fate was decided at that dreaded mountain, with Eastern Kingdom remnants, the Horde and the Sentinels all in the fight at the bloody peak against the onslaught of the Burning Legion.
Though the mortal races won the battle they found themselves in a world shattered by war. The Burning Legion and the Scourge had permanently wiped out many civilizations across the lands. Lordaeron remained in the grip of the Scourge. The Legion's vile corruption still lingered in the forests of Kalimdor. The night elves had sacrificed their immortality to defeat Archimonde. The races of the world of Azeroth all faced an uncertain future.

Is is what the Alliance base appears like in WoW. As you can see, it is barely fortified. It is amazing on what men can do - to square off against the possibly odds. Is can happen because of your duty, your orders, your steel in your hand and the men next to you.
 

 

 

- Year 25, 

Drums of War

• Open violence between the Alliance and Horde begins in Silithus and the Eastern Plaguelands.

 

- Year 26, Outland Campaign begins. At first, Nethergarde responded quickly to the opening of the Dark Portal and the Legion forces pouring out. Due to the efforts of the Argent Dawn (and a few mercenary companies or the player themselves) and the timely arrival of the Alliance/Horde factors, they pushed the Legion forces back into the portal and jumped through to the other side.
On the other side, they met massive resistance. Digging their heels into the ground and setting up barricades, they did what their duty dictated and they held the line against the marauding demonic forces of unmatched power until revolutionary  air-bombing tactics straight-outta-Area 52 could destroy the Legion's constant reinforcements.
It would come as a shock to people. Your world being almost invaded another time by the Burning Legion - to face another chance of being utterly decimated.

 

 

- Year 27, Wrath of the Lich King

The Lich King Arthas reawakens and begins his campaign of conquest anew.

The Traitor-Prince of Lordaeron, Arthas Menethil awakes from his seemingly eternal slumber and declares a war against the living. Stormwind Harbour is engulfed by an surreal fog and then hit by a surprise attack on the docks. Despite the nature of being so sudden and the factor of the Undead being unseen of by Stormwind's population, the defenders at the dock do their duty - to hold the line against any costs. Varian Wrynn participates in the fight too. In the aftermath, the Valiance Expedition is created - to spearhead deep and true into the bitter winds of Northrend and put a stop to Arthas' wrongdoing.

The battles became ever more desperate as it became apparent that the expeditions would be driven back into the sea if they were unable to maintain these footholds.

The initial landings at Northrend were rough. The headquarters of the Expedition, Valiance Keep is assailed by a grand host of Nerubians. Despite the castle/fort/base still being under construction, their flying bugs from Starship Troopers and the massive ones on the ground, the guns keep on barking and the line is held with a wall of steel.

Having firmly established themselves on the continent, and withstood all that the Scourge had thrown at them, the Alliance and Horde now began to launch their own offensives against the Lich King's forces. Both factions' expeditions pressed further into the continent, encountering fierce resistance from both the Scourge and its allies.

Wintergarde was quickly established when the Alliance gained ground into Dragonblight and the banners proudly adorned the 7th Legion's colours, the absolute finest of Azeroth and most war-experienced men and women of the Alliance. Oddly enough, there was already parts of village there of human construction, hinting at the Lordaeron 1st Legion's expedition. To counter the vigorous efforts of the Alliance, Naxxramas was sent to hover over the fields and impose a looming presence on the Alliance base. Also in the Isle of Conquest, units of the 7th Legion were deployed to reap the island of its strategic holding. Units were also deployed to the Strand of the Ancients on a lesser scale.
Due to the valorous efforts of a (possibly) few 7th Legion operatives and most notably adventurers, the threat of Naxxramas was deterred and the press onto the Wrath Gate continued - to meet the Lich King head on.
With the Wrath Gate disaster, relations of Horde and Alliance deteriorated even more. It was a stinging blow to the 7th Legion with 5000 elite troops lost and the Valiance Expedition's Bolvar Fordragon killed in a matter of minutes. The Alliance had to reel from the disaster while the Argent Crusade took the lead.

 

This picture depicts soldiers marching out from Fordragon's command position into the field before the Wrath Gate. Just take a second to look at the weather. This twisted, Light-forsaken rock is torn apart by constant wind that cuts to the bone and broken ground that is frozen.

 

Eventually, when the Argent Crusade made their bloody breach into Icecrown, the factions followed suit but in style. Mechanized warfare began to play its part, with massive floating bases of unspeakable firepower roaming the skies. The Alliance launched an attack on Mord'rethar: the Death Gate but was annihilated by Horde backstabbery and the Scourge. After that, Skybreaker marines were dropped into the area to infiltrate the Vrykul stronghold of Ymirheim, the Saronite mine.

Devastation left by the Horde's backstabbery.

 

The efforts of the Alliance against Ymirheim were irrelevant compared to the Lich King's bastion, the Glacier. The Argent Tournament was propped up to determine the best of fighters. Stormwind's champion was Marshal Jacob Alerius, a battle-hardened veteran that consistently triumphed over the others except to the player.
As the Tournament was infiltrated by the Lich King, the time was to strike. While the Crusade and Ebon Knights led their attacks, Alliance and Horde infiltration parties led by Jaina Proudmoore and Sylvanas Windrunner penetrated deep into the bastion. While Proudmoore was an adept mage, she had an entourage of Lordaeron veterans that had seen Hyjal and the birth of Theramore to defend her - but over half of them perished in the Lady's defence against the vengeful Captain Falric and his ruthlessly efficient 1st Legion veterans.

The war eventually drew to an end. When word got out that the Lich King was defeated by Tirion himself and a handful of companions, the Alliance was instructed to pack up and leave - for there was nothing on the frozen continent. The war-weary men and women simply opt to leave their positions and shamble to the boats, tattered and worn by the twisting battles of desperation against the Lich King and the bitter winds. Alliance fortifications were barely scrapped for their stonework and they still stand today, gathering dust and ice.

The war took a heavy toll on all involved, with the Alliance alone losing nearly 50,000 lives. As a result of the war, many Alliance citizens were left homeless and unemployed, and would eventually move to the region of Westfall where they would take part in the recreation of the Defias Brotherhood.^[48] This threat proved nearly disastrous for the Kingdom of Stormwind, which found itself unable to effectively prevent the Brotherhood's rebirth.

 

 

- Year 28-29, the Cataclysm shakes the world.  The Gilneans are under attack by both the curse and then the Forsaken. The 7th Legion are absent from any fields of conflict in the Cataclysm Expansion and completely focused in Gilneas. They share a role in retaking the country and driving the Forsaken out with the Gilneas Liberation Front - a motley band of the remnants of the Gilnean county-raised regiments to armed citizens / worgen things.
Andorhal is assailed upon by Thassarian and his men. They manage to claim the west half of the ruined city.
The Horde makes its move to secure an island raised freshly east due of Stormwind Harbor and the Alliance replies by sending its Stormwind Marines to contest over the island. Little did they know is that the place is rigged with Old God-aligned forces basically.
Men are deployed over to the Twilight Highlands to secure the area. They are slow to act compared to the Horde's Dragonmaw Port and as a result, Highbank is left unfinished and attacked. The attack is repelled however.
Marshtide Watch, a re-garrisoned base launches attacks on Stonard, and eventually the Swamp of Sorrows is engulfed in warfare that is petty compared to other theaters of war.
Nethergarde Keep is attacked from the Horde for the rich Nethergarde Mines. Constant skirmishes litter the fields of the dusty rocks of the Blasted Lands.
 

Ashenvale is set upon by the hawkish Garrosh and the Warsong Clan. Personally leading his troops reinforced by specimens from Northrend, Garrosh plows through the ranks of Sentinels like a scythe on wheat. The Warsong Clan pushes deep into Ashenvale, conquering almost a third of the forest's establishments while wrecking havoc upon its inhabitants. The Kal'dorei people are enslaved, raped and brutalized on every occasion and the Sentinel are always in a constant retreat or rout. If it weren't for the timely arrival of hastily-assembled Gilneans and Varian Wrynn, the whole situation of the forest would of plummeted even more downhill. 

In the Barrens, troops rush out of Theramore in response of Garrosh's actions in Ashenvale. They move into Southern Barrens and rebuild what Daelin's force of Tirasians left and entrench their positions. They meet the Horde head-on in the Battlescar in a brutal duel of sun-scorched attrition.

 

 

- Year 30

The world is engulfed in the Alliance-Horde War. 

• Quest for Pandaria
• Tides of War
  • Attack on Theramore Isle
  • Alliance-Horde War evolves into a full-scale conflict

Landfall

• The Alliance and Horde navies make landfall in the Krasarang Wilds of Pandaria.
• A Little Patience
• Dagger in the Dark: An assassination attempt by the Garrosh's men forces Vol'jin into hiding.
  • Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde
• Lion's Landing
• Domination Point
• Assault on Zan'vess
• Garrosh's agents raid Darnassus to sabotage Lor'themar's negotiations with the Alliance.^[95]
• The Purge of Dalaran: The Horde is removed from Dalaran.

The armies of Horde and Alliance clash against each other in full might. Every inch of their arsenal is utilized. The factions by this point are now bashing each other into the dirt and throwing manpower at each other. At this point of time in Azeroth, never has a war been so colossal on a scale that covers almost the whole of the world.

The Alliance forces erected a base extremely quick  to square off against the Horde in the Karasang Wilds.

 

 

 

What I believe is that many players act rather irregularly for their character.
There are too many damned cases of players speaking like Goblins even when they're not one and not even acknowledging the pious presence of Paladins, simply dismissing them with a waddle of the middle finger. But the real elephant in the room is that too many people act like a complete pacifist in a world of Azeroth that is ruptured by constant warfare that spans generations. You don't just simply play a Quel'dorei slutmog Archmage, happily skipping to a tune everyday. I mean, your whole generation has been bloody wiped out almost and you're a tiny glass fragment of what's left after a genocide and then political strife.

 

Some people would argue that this is a high-fantasy world and that we don't have to be grim-dark GoT knights. Well - you're true. But when you look at the world's history, well then there's a lot of conflict. Hell, the name is even 'Warcraft', so you should actually consider that and keep it at the back of your mind because this is a land of strife - so there are going to be beggars, war-torn men and women, lost relatives to the enemy, etc.

 

There are many neutral organisations in the world of Azeroth, such as the Argent Crusade.
The Argent Crusade is a religious-based organisation however. It draws all around the Holy Light and defending Azeroth against those who'd seek to destroy it. So speaking out of common sense, it would hold a preference of Eastern-Kingdoms based people, where the Holy Light originated from and not completely 'hold hands neutral' stance.

Neutral cities in this world include: Booty Bay and Dalaran.
Booty Bay is a thieves' den, a quick death from a back-alley robber, etc etc. It's a place of profligate lifestyle or extreme lawlessness, so the worst of folks would dwell in there. No doubt there would be a lot of violence due to the low living conditions and the mixing of races.

Dalaran is a city that is populated dominantly by humans and elves. It is a place that is all about the studies and respect of Magic. It can cater to Orcs, Trolls but in their cultural sense they wouldn't spend their time around some scholarly place.

 

Remember, in a world of war, peace is not a thought.

 

Edited August 13, 2017 by Footman

[Rogan 158]

This is a fantastic piece, I really like it for what you try to convey, and it isn't just a reformatting of lore but rather building off it.

+1

[alexandra 31]

Love love love. 

[Mordred 183]

A necessary topic that will (hopefully, please..) clear up a lot of the confusion that takes place with the throwing around of "treaties" and the blatant misuse of the word "neutral."

 

And let us not forget the cursing Elves.

 

Thank you for this, keep up the great work.

[Traius 41]

remember the tauren who got mad my draenei said "get back in the kitchen"

[Brune21 0]

Great read, and sadly so very true. So often do you have people completely ignoring the setting of the game for their own ends. Many of these people are ignorant of the lore and setting, and just here to enjoy themselves.

[Valrik 24]

An excellent post about an urgent topic.

 

+1

[Montague 4]

 

[Romeo 320]

An easy thing to forget but a rather simple thing honestly. Always have this in mind when I roleplay. I've never agreed with silly truces or elves that let orcs live just because there's some political statement going around on the other side of the world. If I see an orc, I am going to spear that motherfucker, period.

Nice job on this! Liked

Edited August 13, 2017 by Romeo