Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Rise of the High King and the Future of the Alliance

Ironically, while the Horde has always been under the direct command of a single executive (the Warchief,) and the Alliance has let most of the various people within it live with a degree of autonomy, it is the Alliance that feels like a much more cohesive group. Night Elves chill out with Dwarves in the Human capital, and generally speaking, people get along.

Long before the Alliance formed, Humans were getting along with Dwarves, Gnomes, and High Elves in the Eastern Kingdoms, and had already fought side-by-side to fend off the threat of the various Troll tribes. They have a longstanding shared history. The only Horde races who have a history with each other prior to the First War are the Forsaken and Blood Elves, who were, after all, both originally members of the Alliance. (In fairness, the Forsaken and Blood Elves also knew the Trolls, but only as enemies. This is actually why the Amani did not join up with the Horde - Zul'jin hated the Blood Elves.)

The schism in High Elf society (between Blood Elves and still-calling-ourselves-High Elves) has left the Alliance with far fewer of their more slender and blonde allies from the north, and newer members like the Night Elves and the Draenei are somewhat less integrated into the Alliance society, but it can be a comfort to members of the Alliance that they are far more unified than their rivals in their efforts to deal with the various problems that arise in the world.

The Alliance is actually in for big changes, and for the time being, they look positive, though I'm sure there will be some conflict inherent in the transition. Until now, the Alliance did not have a single leader. The Humans were given a degree of deference, given that the Alliance was founded by humans, but ultimately, Ironforge, Darnassus, and the Exodar were independent. Yet now, Varian is on the path to becoming the High King - a leader with the same kind of scope of command as the Horde's Warchief. So how is this going to effect the various people of the Alliance?

Humans:

Stormwind and the Humans in general are probably not going to feel much of a change. Varian's been in charge since he returned at the beginning of Wrath, and especially given that he's listening to his son's advice a lot more now, he's grown into a worthy leader. The one danger I could see for Humans is falling into the trap that the Orcs did. With Varian in command of the entire Alliance, the other races could be seen as subservient. The humans would do well to foster a culture of equality and respect, lest they find themselves alienating their allies.

Dwarves:

The Dwarves have a lot of internal problems now that the Dark Irons have been brought into the fold. There was, after all, a foiled coup in Ironforge, and Moira's presence there is a big swirling ball of issues. The Dark Irons, though, are the exception rather than the rule. The Bronzebeards have, of course, always been loyal and reliable members of the Alliance, and the Wildhammers have integrated with great success. All that said, the Wildhammers might not be terribly happy about having to officially recognize a non-Dwarf as their leader, and the Dark Irons are sure to cause some issues. If there's any potential for inner conflict within the Alliance, I'd bet the Dark Irons would be at the center of it.

Gnomes:

The Gnomes are not ones to worry much about politics and such. Especially now that most of Gnomeregan has been re-taken, the Gnomes are unlikely to raise any issue with Varian. Like the Dwarves, they've been part of the Alliance for a long time, and it's worked out well.

Night Elves:

Tyrande is a very forceful personality. She's led her people for millennia and while she's made some rash decisions, she's a passionate leader who is fully committed protecting her homeland. The Night Elves have been fighting tooth-and-nail against the main bulk of the Horde for a long time. She's watched Azshara turned into a Goblin amusement park, and seen half of Ashenvale cut down for lumber. The Night Elves are certainly glad for Alliance assistance, but I could imagine a thousands-of-years-old leader like Tyrande feeling a bit unhappy giving the reins of the Alliance to a short-lived human. Still, she's seen the guy at work (in the "A Little Patience" scenario,) and while I'm sure she's still going to give him more advice than he asks for, I think she'll be willing to see Varian lead.

The Draenei:

While the Night Elves are also very old, they have lived in Azeroth all their lives. To the Draenei, they have only just arrived. Still, what an eventful few years it has been! The Draenei do feel a bond with the Alliance, sharing their faith in the Light, and welcome having allies to bolster their safety after the horrible betrayal they experienced in Draenor. Still, the Draenei, and particularly Velen, have their eyes on the big picture. The Legion is still out there, and every day, the prophet watches worlds burn away to nothingness in Sargeras' crusade. Not only that, but unbeknownst to the rest of the Alliance, the Exodar has been repaired, and the Draenei could leave if they so chose. While I doubt the Draenei mind giving Varian and the humans military control, they are probably itching to bring the fight to the Legion finally.

Worgen:

The people of Gilneas are in a strange position. They spurned the Alliance, shutting themselves off from the world after the Second War. Yet after the ravages of the Worgen curse and the invasion by the Forsaken, they were not only forced, but glad to accept aid from the Alliance, particularly the Night Elf druids who understood the nature of the curse. Genn Graymane has likely been humbled by the death of his son, the invasion of his homeland, and his own transformation, yet I can imagine that he would not be terribly excited about putting Varian in a position higher than his own. The two are both kings of human nations, after all. The Worgen also remain a somewhat marginalized part of the Alliance - human and yet not at the same time, and while I doubt many non-Worgen Gilneans are likely to pull a Godfrey, there is already a major inevitable schism in Gilnean society before one factors in the other races of the Alliance. Still, if the people of Gilneas are ever to return to their country, they will need the help of the Alliance.

Tushui Pandaren:

Like the Huojin, the Tushui Pandaren don't get a huge amount of attention. Unlike their red-themed friends, the Tushui have probably had a better time with the Alliance, comparing histories with the Night Elves and getting drunk with the Dwarves.

The Alliance has had a tough time of it ever since Deathwing broke the world. Their victory in Northrend cost them dearly, and Garrosh's opportunistic mobilization coupled with Sylvanas' increasingly depraved methods have had the Alliance falling back and losing ground, the ultimate culmination of which was the destruction of Theramore. And yet, the events in Pandaria see the balance beginning to return to normal. Despite the bravado the Horde displays, the Alliance is resilient, and only grows more determined when the pressure is put on them.

And let us not forget as well that, despite the sad miscommunication that may have resulted in an even greater prize, Dalaran is now (plot-wise - I doubt that they're going to make it so Horde players can't go there) fully dedicated to the Alliance. Expect the Kirin Tor to bring some serious heat down on Garrosh in the coming months.

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