Afleveringen
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This week we take a deep dive — pun obviously intended — into the lore and psychology of Azshara, the ruler of the Naga on Azeroth. But first, we have a lighthearted question from a listener, asking for the lore justification against being able to Skyride on the sad little ghost gryphon when you're dead. I agree. This feels extra bad. Clearly there must be a lore reason why we can't.
Then we turn to the bulk of the podcast, which is about Azshara and her power. How she gained such influence in the Zin Azshari empire prior to the War of the Ancients, all the way to how she ended up in the mess N'Zoth saved her from. Azshara's history is long and complex, and includes an analysis of her as a character -- what could make someone so sure they're always right? Well, when you're told you're going to be someone special by people who count from the second you're born, things kinda turn out that way sometimes. And then, we veer off into tinfoil hat territory, talking about the future and what those golden eyes might mean.
Why do all her followers still follow her, anyway?
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We start off Lore Watch this week wishing Mephisto a Happy Father's Day -- but are there any other fathers among the evils of Diablo? Then, we pivot to World of Warcraft and another set of world-shaking entities. We saw what happened when we killed a Titan and kicked off Shadowlands, but what happens when a world soul dies? Do they just get to hang out in Ardenweald forever? Because that kinda sounds better than having a sword stuck through you since Legion.
Then, we turn beneath the surface of Azeroth, to the Rift of Aln and the Nightmares it may hold. Also, is Xal'atath beneath the surface of Azeroth now, too? Was that some kind of weird portal magic through the Voidwell, or is she and her void baddies just Silver Surfering it up down there?
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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This week, our hosts Matthew Rossi and Joe Perez are tackling the absolutely massive universe of Warhammer 40,000. It's so massive that they can only scratch the surface of it in the time they have, so this is a great primer of one big facet of the setting -- The God-Emperor of Man.
They cover a bit of the Horus Heresy, all the way up to the current events happening in the universe. Who is the God-Emperor of Mankind? How did he get to be stuck on the Golden Throne? Why are some of your friends always talking about skull thrones and blood gods? What are the Primarchs, and how do they affect the current events happening in the universe? These are just a few of the topics that are covered in this look at the grim dark future of humanity in the 41st millennium.
It's time to say a prayer to the God-Emperor and steel your soul against the dark gods who lurk behind the universe as we dive into one of the largest and longest-running tabletop universes of all time.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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In this Diablo 4 spoiler-laden lorefest, Joe and Matt discuss the end of the campaign from Lord of Hatred and where it may lead next. The link between Lilith and Mephisto and us was a core element in Lord of Hatred, and we're discussing the nature of that link, and what that knife had to do with it, anyway. And speaking of that knife, where is Lilith now? Come to think of it, where was she at the start of Diablo 4, before Elias took his three willing participants to give the Daughter of Hatred blood and flesh again? Could that knife be leading us to another future expansion?
As usual, it's a deep dive. And when it's at the end, we ask the real question: Where in the seven hells is Diablo? It's supposed to be his game!
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Diablo 4 lore junkies are in for a treat this week as Matt and Joe run down a spoiler-filled recap and analysis of the story of the latest expansion, Lord of Hatred.
Did I mention that it's spoiler filled? Because it's truly spoiler filled.
From the shocking death in the opening cinematic Blizzard posted to the official YouTube channel, to the shocking death toward the end of the expansion, we discuss the implications of the events of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. We also run through some of the details, like the role of the prophecy from the start of the base game. Also, Zoltan Kulle? Sure, why not. Let's see what Zoltan Kulle has to say about it.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Astalor Bloodsworn is the character at the center of the Midnight expansion's Prey feature, but this isn't the first time we've seen him. Matt, Joe, and Eric discuss his history, which dates back to the release of The Burning Crusade 20 years ago. They're answering listener questions this week, and the next topics diverge from that pretty wildly, examining how the WoW timeline gets a little wobbly when we go revisit things from the past, like old zones. But certain things we revisit in the game, specifically Hemet Nesingwary's entourage, seem to be pointing toward something sinister. Then we come to Elune and the World Trees, and how we seem to keep finding the blood of either Old Gods or the planet itself.
Put together, this week's episode seems a bit more into blood than a usual show, which isn't really a high bar.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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We lead off the week with the history of the most important lore figure of all time to World of Warcraft: Millhouse Manastorm. From his incredibly auspicious beginnings to his even more auspicious middle, and the implausibly auspiciouser current machinations, Matt and Joe showcase this crucial figure in lore.
What's after that is clearly less important, but eh, our listeners had some questions, so we might as well discuss them. There's a thing about the interplay between Xal'atath and Sylvanas, a little thing about the origins of the San'layn (those Blood Elf vampires near Arthas), and how portals affect narrative immersion, but all that is kind of whatever next to the magnificence of Millhouse Manastorm!
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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A lot of our travels as Lorewalkers seem to revolve around what events are happening in World of Warcraft, and Childrens' Week is no exception. As we cart these vulnerable children around to various areas of incredible peril, it re-showed us several spots around Azeroth that made us say, "oh yeah, what was up with that?" Our frequent listener and question-asked scribbleigh asked us several questions in this vein, ranging from the depths of Ironforge to the depths of escorting Marshall Windsor around Blackrock Depths. Really, nostalgia in WoW has a lot of depths to it. Plus, what do you think our former best buds are up to now? I should clarify that in this case I mean the Pandaren, because there are a lot of people we've kinda pulled that number on over the years.
Then, we get a full tinfoil hat conjecture on the connection between Alndust and Kajamite and Azerite. It ends up with the moon, somehow. You'll just have to listen to connect those dots.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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If you could choose a high king for the Alliance, who would you choose? Because who... is the high king of the Alliance right now, anyway? That's the first question on the docket this week. Joe, Matt, and Eric also discussed the races they'd like to see again, or more in-depth. 'Member Yrel, you guys? Then, to close it out: as a massive, glowing font of power, was The Sunwell just always destined to be a portal, eventually?
We adore answering any and all questions you send in for us to tackle, and this week is no exception.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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This week, Joe, Matt, and special guest Liz Harper read the newly released Diablo novel The Lost Horadrim by Matthew Kirby, and are here to share their thoughts. This is where I'd make a joke about that new book smell, but it's Diablo so I don't want to think about smelling anything. In terms of time, the book is set between the events of Diablo 3 and Diablo 4, though this spans several decades worth of time. The three core characters in the novel are familiar to Diablo fans: Tyrael, Lorath, and Donan. And oh, the hijinks these three wacky guys get up to on the way to Skovos!
The book serves to bridge the gaps, and flesh out characters we already know from Diablo while set against the setting for the next Diablo 4 expansion, Lord of Hatred. It explores how some of these characters might know each other and the places they're about to visit while on the hunt for Mephisto. Plus, any extra time with Tyrael is always a fun little romp. Ah, angels. What scheme will they come up with next time? Well, that's kind of what Lord of Hatred is going to explore. So if you want more Diablo lore, come stay awhile and listen.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Is Midnight the Elf-centric team-up expansion of our dreams, or what? That's the listener question which serves as our jumping off point this week. And our cohosts conclude: Yes, mostly! Indeed, Midnight is the elf-o-rama we've always wanted -- nay, deserved. Matt, Joe, and Eric point out some of their shared elf-y foibles (must we always have a singular, vulnerable font of power that serves as both anchor and crutch?). Speaking of, is Silvermoon City just where all the elves are going to live now? And if so, how will that shake out if (when) the tensions between the Horde and Alliance inevitably boil over?
Plus, where's Azshara at? Naga are basically wet elves, and if anyone has a score to settle with some jumped-up cutlery, it's her.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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This week's Lore Watch Podcast takes us back in the day, with a couple questions that ask about lore from the vanilla days.
We start off talking arcs. The Alliance has a great arc involving the Defias in their initial starting zone, which evolves to involve Lady Prestor in the middle levels, all the way up to Onyxia at cap. The Lore Watch crew discuss the various threads of the Horde narrative that branch in similar ways throughout their leveling experience all the way on up.
Then, we pivot to class quests of that same era, up through the Legion Order Hall quests. Some of them felt like a great, cohesive way to celebrate your class and give you a lot of lore about it, and others... less so. Joe, Matt, and Eric reminisce about their time playing their respective classes, and whether they prefer unique class touches -- even if they might be a little half-baked for certain classes.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Comic book artist Sam Kieth passed away earlier this month as a result of Lewy Body dementia, so our Lore Watch Podcast team wanted to take an episode to talk about his impact on the genre and pop culture as a whole. Both Sam Kieth's art style and plotlines shaped comics as we moved into a more grimdark take on the old heroes. Sam's comic The Maxx put him on the map, and his collaboration with now-notorious Neil Gaiman on The Sandman clinched his place in the pantheon of early 90s comics creators. And that was just the start of his career, which included a turn writing Batman, and later included a crossover with The Maxx as one of his final projects.
Because Sam Kieth's comics deal with some heavy topics, this episode comes with a content warning for topics ranging from murder and gore to dissociative identity disorder and sexual assault. While we don't linger on these topics in-depth, they are present as a part of the discussion.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Joe, Matt, and Eric sat down this week to discuss the dragons of World of Warcraft, starting with their origins as proto-dragons, and all the way up through more modern politics. With many thanks for the great questions, we start off with proto-dragons: why do they call themselves that? Seems like they might call themselves "dragons" and come up with something new for those long-armed fellows. But then, this leads into the next question, because the past of the proto-dragons was described largely with Malygos as the narrator. This was written by Richard Knaak, so there's a lengthy bit of discussion on his turn at the writer's desk. But then, Alexstrasza winds up being the leader of the Dragonflights. So, what happened there?
Then, speaking of diplomacy and jockeying for power, how are Lordaeron and Gilneas doing now? Calia is on the new Forsaken council, and Genn has sort of retired and let Tess lead the way, so how are the relations there going to shake out as we move forward into the future?
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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This week Joe and Eric were joined by Liz, and it was a great opportunity to begin discussing the abundance of Loa we've had in Midnight so far. Our cohosts discussed some of the ins and outs of becoming a Loa, and talked about what they thought they might be the Loa of one day, since none of them were nepo babied into the situation. After that they moved into Harandar and its relationship to the Emerald Dream, and how that figures in to the Rift of Aln and the World Soul.
Then, they wrapped up with a discussion on revamped zones, and which ones we'd like to see in the future. While Northrend is in the offing, our hosts have some ideas on other zones they'd like to see updated. Personally, I'm rooting for the Exodar.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We love answering your questions, especially when it lets us don our tinfoil hat. Our first question this week was relatively straightforward: If you were to run a WoW TTRPG for a Horde campaign and an Alliance campaign, what would it be? With three hosts, there were six varied answers. We move from there to conflict among the Titans, and why some all-powerful beings might clash. Speaking of all-powerful, then we talk about the counterplay of the Light and the Void -- and the Naaru. Part of it is how the two forces interact, based on some of the earlier vignettes from the first few expansions of WoW. And how do all those forces relate to another magic force we've seen coursing inherently through all creatures through a few different expansions: Anima?
It is a tin foil hat good time on this week's Lore Watch.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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This week our usual crew of Joe, Matt, and Eric was joined by Liz to discuss William Gibson's novel Neuromancer. This 1984 novel was foundational to the cyberpunk genre in many ways, from establishing the grittiness of the setting all the way down to shaping the way this genre looks and feels across different types of media. The crew discuss themes through Neuromancer which are also inherent through a lot of cyberpunk media now, like the idea of what makes a person, and whether an AI could ever have personhood. They also discuss how older tech can affect our modern reading of futuristic media -- if you've never seen a payphone, you probably have no idea how eerie a bank of them ringing all at once would be, but then Gibson would have no way of knowing where payphone tech ended up today.
It's a great conversation on a foundational work of sci-fi, and if you haven't picked it up, Joe has some suggestions as to where to get it online while still benefitting your local book store.
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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We thank our listeners and patrons for giving us another round of great questions, which we summarily answered and used as a diving board directly into the deep end of tin foil hat theories and speculation. First, who was the elf Xal'atath is currently using for a body? While we do have a pithy answer to this identity courtesy of a particular quest line, there's also a broader lore implication in terms of who this poor erstwhile High Elf once was. Another listener wanted to know what kind of humanoid form Azeroth will have, and specifically suggests it may be a Troll. Trolls were one of the progenitor races of Azeroth, so is it possible they were formed in her likeness? This leads us into a discussion of the races of Azeroth and how they may have evolved over the centuries -- and who may have been pressing a thumb on that evolutionary scale.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Our readers dutifully sent in questions, and our three hosts -- Joe, Matt, and Eric -- gave them all the answers they could want, and more. They start off with a discussion on the music of WoW, spurred by the inclusion of Player Housing decor, and how Taurens all got drums. It evolves from there, to discuss how the themes present within in-game music mirror real life music characteristics. Then, they pivot to more Void vs Light in a continuation from last week, and how those forces might shape both the world we play in, and Anduin and how his characterization may continue forward. The last question involves the discussion of source influences on WoW, from Arthurian Legend through Tolkien, and then we come back to music. However, now the topic is basically the soundtrack to Stranger Things.
If you want even more background story, we also have a guide to every Warcraft book in chronological order (for those of you who prefer reading that way).
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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Our listeners had a lot of questions for the Lore Watch crew this week, and they all center on Midnight, specifically the role of the Void and Old Gods. Is there another forgotten Old God waiting in the wings? Will all the Old Gods come back to wreak havoc during The Last Titan?
Perhaps most tantalizingly in light of the events to come, with all this Void power at her command, what exactly is the prize Xal'atath is here to seek?
If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free!
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