Hello everyone!
Last week we begin the story of Light’s Heart in which we talked about its discovery,
the connection to Elune and O’ros while also preparing the vessel for Illidan’s
rebirth.
This week we’re going to finish up the storyline, finish the tour in Illidan’s history but
before we begin, a spoiler warning.
Part of the Illidan novel and the end of the Nighthold does play a part in this storyline
so if you still want to experience those for yourself, run away while you still can!
We left the story last week with Illidan leaving his people behind and making his way to the
palace to offer his allegience to the queen and Sargeras, with the intention of betraying
them and fighting the enemy from within.
He was actually able to shield his real intentions, but Sargeras is no fool and offers to ‘reward’
Illidan for his loyalty with a mark of favor, a mark that will at the same time aid in the
fulfillment of his quest.
Illidan looked up.
For the first time, the barest hint of uncertainty graced his narrow features.
Sargeras: “Behold the Legion’s power” Illidan
“No matter how hard this world fights, it will fall.”
“Our eyes...deceive us.
The army that marches on Azeroth is but a whisper of the Legion’s true strength.
Beyond this army is another...and another...and another...
Even if we defeat them here, it will mean nothing.
We are doomed... unless we find another way to fight them.
And I will find that way.”
The flames burned out Illidan’s eyes of destiny replacing them with magical ones as
well as branding him with magical tattoos.
Sargeras had truly claimed Illidan as a creature of the Legion, but these changes, this new
power was just the start of it.
During his transformation, Sargeras granted Illidan a vision, a truth.
He saw how the legion, in the great dark, conquered planet after planet.
Azeroth was but one amongst millions upon millions of worlds each in turn fell to the
demonic onslaught.
Sure enough some of them were able to stand up for a while, but the Legion always came
back, stronger than before.
Sometimes worlds were not simply destroyed, they were conquered and incorporated in the
Legion’s structure, adding more soldiers to feed its war engine.
1 small speck amongst millions, yet that was just 1 reality.
There were a near infinite amount of universes, new ones were born each minute from the decisions
made a heartbeat before and in all of them the Burning Legion marched, destroying world
after world.
In every one of them, the Legion marched triumphant.
The Burning Legion, invincible, unstoppable, dooming the universe to eternal darkness.
This visions had been meant to convince Illidan that the Legion was invincible, that it was
pointless to oppose the will of Sargeras, that the best and only thing he could do was
join the Legion and have a say in the remaking of the universe.
Xe’ra: “With his eyes burned out for seeing the truth, Illidan still did not falter.
Even under the gaze of the Lord of the Burning Legion, Illidan remained resolute and defiant.”
He had remained who he was and he had tried to do the unimaginable.
Put a stop to the Legion invasion and, despite his own plans backfiring, with the aid of
the night elf resistance, they were successful in preventing Sargeras and the Legion from
conquering Azeroth...at least for the moment.
They did lose their well of eternity in the process, Illidan failed in winning over Tyrande’s
heart since she loved his twin brother, and to top it all off, Illidan had seen the truth
of it.
He knew what none of them understood, that the Legion would come back to take another
bite out of Azeroth and he wanted his people to have the power to fight back.
For this, he decided to use his vials filled with water from the destroyed well of eternity
and made a new one.
“What have you been doing with your hand in the well?”
As you might imagine, the rest of his people were not too happy with this since they had
just fought a war because of the original well and they feared a new one might attract
the attention the Legion once again.
His people didn’t understand, didn’t know what he knew.
He was caught in the act, Illidan lashed out, killed a few of them and he was branded a
traitor.
Instead of executing him though, the night elves decided to imprison him for life and
for millenia he spend his time in darkness under the watchful eye of Warden Maiev Shadowsong
until the events of Warcraft 3.
Just as Illidan had known all along, the Legion had returned and Tyrande decided to set him
free and recruit his aid against the Legion.
“Tyrande...it is your voice!
After all these ages spent in darkness, your voice is like the pure light of the moon upon
my mind.”
“The Legion has returned, Illidan.
Your people have need of you once more.”
There was no remorse, no apology, she had set him free only to be used as weapon and
the worst of it all was that Illidan would still give it to her.
He went out and absorbed the skull of Gul’dan, increasing his power but also making him look
that much more like a demon.
He banished the dreadlord Tichondrius back to the twisting nether and despite saving
the forest, Malfurion and Tyrande did not agree with his actions.
They banished him from their lands too which Kil’jaeden found the demon hunter since
he had a job to do.
His minion the Lich King is getting out of control and he wants Illidan to destroy the
frozen throne.
Illidan does his very best, but his plans are prevented by Malfurion and the warden
Maiev, who wants nothing more then to put the betrayer back into his cage.
She’s so hellbend on this mision, that she lied to Malfurion and told him that his beloved
Tyrande was killed by the scourge troops instead of just sweapt away by the river.Despite all
that happened, Illidan would never do anything to harm Tyrande and he tells his brother that
together they could save the high priestess.
The stromrage brothers team up, Tyrande is saved but the same can’t be said for Illidan.
He has failed Kil’jaeden and Kil’jaeden does not reward failure so he decides to hide
on Outland with the Warden maiev quickly going after him to recapture her pray.
In Outland, Illidan together with Kael’thas Sunstrider, Lady Vasjh and the broken Akama,
they’re able to defeat the pitlord Magtheridon, claim the black temple and the title of lord
of Outland.
It’s at the black temple where the next vision is shown:
Teleport into Illidan’s body, his duplicity is hardly surprising, confront Akama.
Cinematic: Illidan: “Akama.
Your duplicity is hardly surprising.
I should have slaughtered you and your malformed brethren long ago.
” Akama: “We’ve come to end your reign,
Illidan.
My people, and all of Outland, shall be free!”
“Boldly said.
But I remain...unconvinced.”
“The time has come!
The moment is at hand!”
“You are not prepaired!”
“Come, my minions.
Deal with this traitor as he deserves!”
“I’ll deal with these mongrels!
Strike now, friends!
Strike at the Betrayer!”
This vision shows the moment where the evil so called heroes of this world dare to strike
at Illidan Stormrage.
This right here is the true betrayal since up to this moment Illidan has still been hard
at work at trying to fight back against the Legion.
He’s been training more demon hunters, has captured Maiev who tried to put him back in
his prison, did some serious damage to the legion troops on their own worlds, has located
and even managed to establish a link between outland and Argus.
He steeled himself and invoked the last anchor for the spell.
Despite his wariness, he felt a flush of triumph.
The link between Argus and Outland was established.
The portal could be activated once the pattern was finished.
He had but a heartbeat to enjoy his victory, and then the attack came.
An astonishing power grabbed his spirit, but it was not an evil source that grabbed him,
it was an elder naaru, a being of holy light and possibly the eldest remaining in these
universes.
As all Naaru, he worked against the Legion and he had waited for Illidan, for the universe
to throw up a champion in the face of those who would destroy it.
“It could have perhaps have picked a better one.”
The words emerged from his mouth before he could stop them.
“I do not think so.
You are what you are.
All your days have forged you into that.
A weapon aimed at the heart of a great demon.”
“I would like to think I am somewhat more sentient than my warglaives.”
“That is what makes you dangerous.”
“So the universe has anointed me to slay Kil’jaeden.”
His tone was sardonic, but hope flickered inside Illidan.
Perhaps, if what this naaru said was true, there was some chance of victory after all.
The swirl of lights indicated a negative.
“No.
Your enemy is far greater than Kil’jaeden.
Greater even than Sargeras and his Burning Legion.”
“Wonderful,” Illidan said.
“As if they were not strong enough.”
The suspicion that this was all a subtle, mocking trap set by Kil’jaeden sidled once
more into his mind.
-- If this was a trap, his struggle was ended.
If it was not, then things were even worse than he had thought.
“The Void is a more potent foe by far than the Burning Legion.
It is the ultimate opponent of the Light.
It will take all the peoples of Azeroth and Outland united to oppose it.”
-- Before Illidan could defend himself in any way, a bolt of pure Light blasted from
the naaru.
It struck his empty eye sockets and filled them with a golden glow.
Illidan braced himself for a blast of agony that did not come.
-- His vision shimmered and faded, and he found himself looking down on a terrible battlefield.
Amid mountains of corpses, a winged figure battled at the head of the legions of Light.
A golden glow surrounded his warglaives.
He cleft demons asunder with mighty blows.
The soldiers surrounding him gazed up in awe and wonder at their leader.
It took Illidan a moment to realize that this being’s features were his own, transformed,
his eyes glowing fiercely.
-- As Illidan watched, the winged figure rose above the battle, defying gigantic entities
of darkness, creations of the evil of the Void.
A halo played around his head.
His body began to glow brighter than the sun, and from his outstretched arms, rays of Light
emerged to strike down his foes.
-- “You will defy death, “ the naaru’s voice said as the vision faded.
“I have seen this.
Whatever you were, whatever you are, a champion of Light is what you will be.”
-- “You will be a hero, “ said the naaru.
“But there will be a price.”
“There always is.”
The naaru then sends Illidan back to his body where he wonders to himself, could this be
true?
Was there really a path to redemption for him?
He had never dared think such a thing was possible, and yet the naaru believed it would
be so.
It believed in him and just for a moment, he let himself believe too.
“Behold the power...of the demon within!”
The naaru has shown him a vision where he’s flying above the battlefield with a halo playing
around his head, using the powers of the Light against the darkness of the void.
A nice future to have, but right now he’s about to lose his fight to Maiev.
The forces of the black temple have been defeated, Akama has betrayed the betrayer and he stands
alone since his trained demon hunters are on their mission to Mard’um to collect the
Sargerite Keystone which has the power to open portals to all demon worlds, including
that of Argus.
A powerful tool when you have to take the battle to your enemy, but we’re unaware
of all those plans and we bring the betrayer down.
“Is this it, mortals?
Is this all the fury you can muster?”
Maiev: “Their fury pales before mine, Illidan.
We have some unsettled business between us.”
“Maiev...How is it even possible?”
“Ahh, My long hunt is finally over.
Today, justice will be done!”
‘Ahh, it is finished.
You are beaten.”
Cinematic: “Roaaaaaaaaar, you are relieved of duty
illidan.
You cast me out cenarius.
You are our last hope illidan.
You killed them all.
What have you done.
Illidan is destined, a great of cosmos To walk this path requires sacrifice illidan,
something you have yet to understand.
Tyrande...”
Rip in pepperoni Illidan, now focus on Maiev.
She’s way better.
Xe’ra: “Tyrande...The world is only as meaningful to us as the beings that inhabit
it.
Even in the end, Illidan saw her as clearly as the first time he laid eyes on her.
He never lost sight of this world.
You must ask yourself how far will you go for yours.”
Xe’ra wept when it touched our consciousness in the Great Dark for it saw Illidan’s fall
and it saw us, our shadow casting a dark pall over his body.
It felt hatred in our hearts as it corrupted our mind.
It was in fact not Light’s Heart that needed preparation, but it was us.
We needed to know the truth of Illidan and in his intentions.
Yes, we are so very naughty for attacking the betrayer during the Burning Crusade.
Now the reasoning behind the assault has always been a bit vague and unexplained, but let’s
not forget that the naaru were perfectly happy with assisting us during the attack.
I’m all for bringing Illidan back into the story, but did they really have to push it
to make him look better then he actually was?
No mention of making a new well because he had such a lust for power, having Broxigar
giving him his respect, the vision of a freaking halo above his head.
When the time is right, Xe’ra will call upon us to begin the hunt for Illidan’s
soul and his rebirth will be the story of our redemption...
Ow Illidan, we’re not worthy...
So fast forward back to present day, to Legion times where Gul’dan and the Legion assault
the Vault of the Wardens and steal Illidan’s body.
Maiev lets the demon hunters free who where imprisoned together with their master and
together we fight back, yet Illidan is taken away, all the way to blackrook hold where
they seperate his soul from his body.
The demon hunters work throughout their campaign to make contact with Illidan ‘s soul in
the twisting nether and it’s Allari the Souleater who has discovered that Illidan’s
soul was plucked from the Nether – stolen - and taken to the underworld, a place known
as Helheim.If Sargeras truly plans to use Illidan's body as a vessel for his own return
then returning Illidan's soul to his body is integral in preventing the dark titan from
returning to our world!
We must craft a soul prism power enough to hold Illidan’s boundless chaotic energies
long enough to transfer into the naaru and to do this, we’ll need lingering soul fragments
from powerful beings found across this world.
After going about claiming 80 of these fragments it’s time to venture forth into Hellheim
itself, defeat Helya and bring the betrayer’s soul to Light’s Heart.
Now Illidan’s physical body was difficult to track down, but they’ve figured out that
it was taken into the Nighthold of Suramar.
Gul’dan is making his final preparations to the Nightwell in order to use its power
and usher the soul of Sargeras into Illidan’s body.
The only way to stop them is to return Illidan’s immortal soul to his own body so we give the
vessel to Khadgar with the following instructions: When Gul’dan attempts to tear the sky asunder
and bring the dark titan into our world, call forth the power of this vessel and release
Illidan’s soul into his body.
The archmage will do his best while of course we have to do the hard work and lead the assault
on the Nighthold.
We do just that and at the top of the Nighthold, Khadgar does the thing.
“No more distractions, I have work to do.”
Gul’dan rips open the sky “Surrender, I may yet show mercy!”
“Time to return the demon hunter’s soul to his body...and deny the Legion’s master
a host!”
“Burn from within” Cast his magical lightning beam spell.
Gul’dan, Lord of the Shadow Council is brought low, but not everything goes according to
plan.
“You topple a pawn and presume to challenge its master?!
SUCH ARROGANCE!
YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!!!”
On mythic an additional phase happens in which the demon within pops up and has to be subdued
before Illidan makes his entrance.
I speculated on that demon being Azzinoth, but keep in mind that I couldn’t find a
solid source stating “This is the demon within”.
On stream we also discusssed this a bit and some interesting ideas came up like an embodiment
of the powers bestowed upon Illidan during the War of the Ancients or a part of Sargeras
himself...I don’t know for certain, but either way the demon within is defeated, Gul’dan
has failed at providing his master a proper host and Lord Illidan has returned!
Cinematic: Gul’dan is smacked down, , the planet we
saw in the distance quickly moves away.
The rift turns red, unstable, he gazes upon it.
Explosion shoots forth and hits Illidan’s crystal to the ground.
No...whispers gul’dan, seeing his dreams shatter.
Noooooooooooo.
This cannot be.
And zap, the portal is closed.
Empty hands, nothing to show for, all his work... but that’s not the end of it.
BEHOLD, THE MASTER HAS RETURNED.
Gul’dan hears the theme music and he knows he dondiddelygoofed.
Illidan grabs him by the throat and gives him the same farewell as Gul’dan gave Varian...
Justice... and with the final flap of his wings the orc warlock is gone.
Nothing remains but his skull, nice call back to TBC.
“You have seen, what I have seen.
You know what we face.
Now mortals follow me into the abyss.
“ Light’s heart, the ultimate sacrifice of
the army of Light that’s, hopefully, still fighting their war against the Legion has
fulfilled its goal.
There are some interesting bits here and there that I can’t wait to see explained further,
like the origin of the Naaru connected to Elune, how does that work and what exactly
is Elune?
Time not working the same the deeper you go into the twisting nether so how old are Turalyon
and Alleria by now and how come they’re still alive?
What kind of creatures or army does the army of Light have and will that vision with Illidan
or even Anduin Wrynn come to fruition?
Ahh still a lot of awesome stuff coming up, but for now this is where the story of Light’s
Heart end.
Thank you so much for watching everyone!
Subscribe if you like my videos, leave a like if you enjoyed this one and until next time
guys....see ya!