The story unfolds...My WarCraft theory

[Dheemersi]

A lengthy read but bare with me please-----

After completing Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne's campaign mode once again last night i was able to piece together exactly where the WoW storyline stands in perspective to WarCraft3: TFT storyline.

At the end of the human campaign in W3:TFT we see Illidan and his new found followers, the Blood Elves, team with the Draenei, led by Akama, to take down Magtheridon, the ruthless pitlord of Outland. After doing so Illidan claims the title of Lord of Outland and voews to Kil'Jaeden that he will destroy the Lich King.

---A brief history of Warcraft---

As we all know, the Burning Legion is stopped in their attempt to destroy another world. Nherzul(the lich king) was brought to power by Kil'jaeden and planted in Azeroth to do his bidding. Nherzul went rogue and took root in Northrend, with the help of the spider race of crypt fiends and Kelthuzad, he unleashed the scourge on the rest of Azeroth as the burning legion ravaged as well.

Kil'jaeden hated this rogue act of Nherzul and recruited the power hungry Illidan Stormrage(with an offer of unending power) in attempt to destroy the entire frozen throne using the Eye of Sargaras(the destroyer of worlds). Illidan fails because of the night elves ignorance, and flees to Outland in attempt to hide from Kil'Jaeden. The Blood elves are imprisoned injustly(for that reason BEs hate humans) and flee to outland using a portal.

They find Illidan and become his apprentice's in their co-thirst for magic. Together with help of the Draenei, defeat Magtheridon, which is where WoW: The Burning Crusade takes off. The fel orc's, still present in the Hellfire Citadel, along with many other fel beasts and dungeons present in the shatterd world of Draenor, now known as Outland.



Its my theory that, since WoW:The Burning Crusade takes place directly after the Human campaign in W3:TFT(with the undead campaign still left to complete), we can assume that a future expansion will ensue later in WoW's timeline in which we will be able to go to Northrend and face the Lich King himself(lvl 80-100)(in doing so completing the story of this age of Warcraft).

---I have made a conclusion as to why this could very well be true---In WoW:TBC we see that Illidan is alive, where in W3:TFT, in the final race campaign of the Undead, we know that Illidan dies by the hand of The Lich King(after which we see arthas break the ice barrier holding the lich king(whos essence was in a powerful helm) and puts the helm on ultimatly becoming one with the lich king and taking his place on the frozen throne).

Given in WoW:TBC we see Illidan is alive, and must know that we have not yet gotten to Northrend, in which Illidan eventually will die but we will finish the deed by joining forces as a World, united, and bringing down the Lich King once and for all.

---Dheemersi

[KalziEast]

Lol, Illidan doesn't die in WC3:TFT, he fights with Arthas and Arthas wins, and tells him to leave him alone, but does NOT die.

[Cerberus]

It seems Illiadan didn't die at all:

"After his defeat at the hands of the evil Prince Arthas, Illidan fled to the remnants of Draenor and dubbed them Outland. He quickly seized control of the chaotic region and sealed the last of Ner'zhul's cursed gateways."

http://www.wow-europe.com/en/burningcrusade/townhall/outland.html

With Illiadan allready being mentioned as the hardest boss in the expansion it would be hard to place the last part of WC3:TFT after TBC as well. I even think WOW happening after WC3:TFT is stated on the intro/promo for WoW.
But Arthas and Northrend most certainly will be introduced in later content, I'll put a few bucks on that.

edit: Bha.. too slow ;)

[Gealach]

Also, I personally doubt the Draenei helped take down Magtheridon. After all, Illidan is a demon too and the Draenei would want nothing to do with those. I think Illidan and his allies managed it themselves, and they're now using Magtheridon's blood to empower and control the Fel Orcs.

Meanwhile, Kazzak now has access to the greater resources of the Burning Legion once again, and Illidan, while definitely on their hit list, is lower priority than Azeroth and Arthas. Meanwhile, Illidan as his hands full just trying to keep portals locked down.

And yes, I believe the timeline places the beginning of WoW at 4 years after TFT.

[KalziEast]

Geal, you haven't played TFT have you? They DID help take down Magtheridon since he helped them take out the Fel Orcs. Illidan controls ALL of Outland supposedly since he told them all that he controls Outland. Kazzak is just a Burning Legion member who is more powerful than some. WoW takes 8 years after the World Tree.

[Gealach]

I will admit its been a long time since I've played it. And now that you mention it I do remember the Draenei, tho it would appear that they were actually Kurenai rather than the playable Draenei of the expansion. Sorry, caught up in recent stuff.

I stand corrected. =)

The 4 years thing was based on the history timeline at Blizzard's own site tho. THat's since Arthas ascends Icecrown tho, so yeah its prolly 8 since the World Tree got blown up.

[Dheemersi]

It seems Illiadan didn't die at all:

"With Illiadan allready being mentioned as the hardest boss in the expansion it would be hard to place the last part of WC3:TFT after TBC as well. I even think WOW happening after WC3:TFT is stated on the intro/promo for WoW.
But Arthas and Northrend most certainly will be introduced in later content, I'll put a few bucks on that.

Ok i just watched the end to TFT and its pretty clear Illidan dies against Arthas. Arathas blade crosses Illidans chest, and see him wreathe on the ground and then go limp. Following this we see the end cinematic(awsome to say the least).

Both the Draenei and the Blood Elves help Illidan take down Magtheridon directly before the start of the Undead Campaign. Notice how both the Blood Elves and the Draeenei are the new races in WoW:The Burning Crusades, and the fact that Illidan is the "Lord of Outland"(directly quoted from blizzard BC storyline---not to mention they say that Illidan has killed Mag in storyline as well).

In the intro to WoW it clearley says it had been 4 years after the fall of the burning legion. We dont not know however when the expansion takes place after the war. Is it possible that W3:TFT takes place 3 or perhaps 4 years after the fall of the Burning Legion? Its a big possibility.

[Valas Azuviir]

Don't have a lot of time right now, but what it boils down to is this Dheemersi, there was a sound file missing from that cut scene. Illidan was severely wounded but not finished off by Arthas. The latter went off to merge with the Lich King, whereas the former was found by Kael'Thas and Vashj and dragged back to Outland so he could be healed.

See here for more (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter5.html), and it just needs to be noted, we are chapter 6.

[Dheemersi]

The Lich King Triumphant

Even weakened as he was, Arthas ultimately outmaneuvered Illidan and reached the Frozen Throne first. Using his runeblade, Frostmourne, Arthas shattered the Lich King's icy prison and thereby released Ner'zhul's enchanted helm and breastplate. Arthas placed the unimaginably powerful helm on his head and became the new Lich King. Ner'zhul and Arthas' spirits fused into a single mighty being, just as Ner'zhul had always planned. Illidan and his troops were forced to flee back to Outland in disgrace, while Arthas became one of the most powerful entities the world had ever known.



thank you for the clear up. It seem that Illidan still lives! I had assumed he died.

[Calamir]

Its my theory that, since WoW:The Burning Crusade takes place directly after the Human campaign in W3:TFT(with the undead campaign still left to complete), we can assume that a future expansion will ensue later in WoW's timeline in which we will be able to go to Northrend and face the Lich King himself(lvl 80-100)(in doing so completing the story of this age of Warcraft).


Well...yeah. Blizzard have said ages ago that Northrend will be a future expansion pack which will include taking down Arthas. It's always been in the works.