The annual show Gamescom looked a little bit different this year due to the global pandemic that has taken hold this year. Unlike E3 which completely canceled its show this year, Gamescom took its typically massive event and moved it online. The Opening Night livestream hosted by Geoff Keighley showcased a ton of new games, surprise reveals, and even included a new announcement for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. The first animated short called Afterlife shows players what happens to a person’s soul after they die in this universe.
The first animated story focuses on Uther the Lightbringer, former Alliance Paladin and leader of the Knights of the Silver Hand. For most Warcraft players and fans, Uther is known more for his murder at the hands of his pupil, Prince Arthas Menethil, who would go on to become the dreaded Lich King. While Uther met his untimely end inside of Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, the Afterlife animated series reveals that his story doesn’t end there.
Missing a portion of his soul which was consumed by the Lich King’s sword Frostmourne, Uther is still found worthy to enter the plane of the Shadowlands known as Bastion. With Bastion set to be a major element in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, here’s everything to know about this Kyrian controlled kingdom.
Bastion is one four major realms of the Shadowlands, which serves as a location on the edge of reality where the souls of the dead go to when they die. Souls are essentially sorted to one of the realms based on how they lived their lives, serving the afterlife appropriate to how their life. Souls are ferried to the Eternal City called Oribos, where they are judged by The Arbiter. Upon judgement, the souls are then sent to one of four realms in the Shadowlands: Ardenweald, Bastion, Maldraxxus, and Revendreth.
However, things in the Shadowlands have gotten a bit complicated following the Burning Legion’s Third Invasion of Azeroth. The Arbiter has suddenly disappeared, leaving souls to be consumed by an otherworldly prison called The Maw. This location is typically reserved for the most horrific and vile souls, ones typically deemed to be too much of a threat to leave free in the Shadowlands. Unfortunately, with all souls being funneled into the growing presence of The Maw, the other four kingdoms have started to wither and fade from a lack of soul essence.
A kingdom of order, purpose, tall spires and crystalline skies, Bastion is ruled by the Kyrian Covenant. Driven by discipline and duty, the Kyrians of Bastion are angelic looking guides who safeguard souls from the mortal realm as they pass into The Shadowlands. The Arbiter sends souls to Bastion who are naturally drawn to service so they can cleanse themselves of burdens in order to further ascend as a new Kyrian. New arrivals to this kingdom become Kyrian Aspirants, those who train endlessly until they are able to earn their wings and become Ascended.
This is shown in the Afterlife cinematic where Devos, the paragon of loyalty, brings Uther to Bastion to help purge him of his desire for vengeance and justice against Arthas. It’s discovered that Uther’s soul is wounded, a major reason why he is unable to move forward. This alarming discovery pushed Devos to intervene with Archon Kyrestia the Firstborne in order to inform her that someone is using the power of the Maw in the mortal world. After being rebuked by the Archon, Devos takes it upon herself to make Uther an Ascended and the two go and claim Arthas soul upon his death. Unfortunately, for those who do not complete a rite of passage, they become a Forsworn. These are a faction of Kyrians who has a darkened and lost soul, unable to forget something from their past.
In terms of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, not much is known about this area of the expansion. Blizzard has already confirmed the zone as being primarily for players between levels 50-52 with a mix of Horde and Alliance settlements dotted throughout. Two dungeons are currently known, The Necrotic Wake and Spires of Ascension. With a release in only a couple more months, players should be learning more about this region and the rest of the Shadowlands expansion sooner than later.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will become available on October 27th, 2020 for PC.
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