Azeroth (titan)

Azeroth is a nascent titan, or world-soul, growing within the core of the eponymous planet. The Pantheon believed her to have such great potential that should she ever awaken, she would become the most powerful titan ever seen—even more powerful than the mighty Sargeras and strong enough to overthrow the void lords by herself. For this reason, Sargeras came to see Azeroth as a threat, and set on destroying her before she could be corrupted by the Old Gods.
==Background==
===The Black Empire===
Azeroth's elementals are extremely violent and chaotic, because as its vast world-soul developed, it consumed much of the Spirit of the planet, which balances the elements.
One day, as the titan Aggramar was wandering in the Great Dark Beyond, he heard the tranquil dreams of the most powerful world-soul the Pantheon had ever encountered, one they would later name Azeroth. To his horror, he discovered that the planet had already been claimed by the Old Gods, though the defenseless world-soul within remained as yet untouched. After Aggramar and Eonar convinced their brethren to save Azeroth from corruption, the Pantheon crafted the titan-forged to do battle against the Old Gods, before eventually imprisoning them deep beneath the surface of the planet.World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 - The discovery of Azeroth, pg. 30
The destruction of the Old God Y'Shaarj, who was pulled from the surface of the planet by Aman'Thul, caused the nascent titan to bleed out. Her bleeding would be halted with magical wards by the Keepers, and the immense lake left behind when the tumultuous arcane energies calmed became known as the Well of Eternity.
===The ordering===
The Forge of Wills was constructed by the Keepers to shape Azeroth's budding sentience, while its twin the Forge of Origination would regulate the rhythm of deep earth and fortify the world-soul's form.
Though some believe that Freya wove the Emerald Dream into being from nothing, others claim that this strange place had always existed in some form, a dream born from Azeroth's slumbering world-soul. It is said that Freya tapped into this realm and molded what would become known as the Emerald Dream as a way to commune with the nascent titan.
===Sargeras' vision===
The Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras is known for the gleaming jewel that adorns its apex. Many theorize that it represents Sargeras' baleful eye, which caught only a glimpse of Azeroth before the fallen titan was ripped back to the Twisting Nether. But the truth is far different.
Soon after the War of the Ancients, Sargeras had a vision: the Well of Eternity imploded, but instead of being cast back to the Twisting Nether, this time he was dragged down to the very core of Azeroth. He was there for only an instant, but in that moment, he saw Azeroth's slumbering world-soul—and in that moment, the world-soul opened one eye and gazed at the Dark Titan. He was enraptured.
Since then, the eye of Azeroth's world-soul has not been far from his thoughts. He commanded the eredar who forged the Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras to crown it with that lone, wondrous orb. Next to it, the eredar placed two nathrezim wings, a testament to Sargeras's conception of the world-soul: corrupted, demonic, and most importantly, his.Tome of Blighted Implements
When Sataiel used Ulthalesh to drain what would later become known as Deadwind Pass of life, even Azeroth's slumbering world-soul quailed. The spell ripped open a magical nexus of unspeakable force, over which the Guardian Aegwynn would one day build Karazhan.
===Modern times===
While the Pantheon had told the Dragon Aspects many things, they did not tell them about Azeroth's slumbering titan spirit. Malygos's campaign during the Nexus War to redirect ley lines and eject arcane from the planet upset the equilibrium of the world, sparking natural disasters from Northrend to the southern tips of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. If Malygos hadn't been stopped, these disasters would have spiraled out of control and caused irreparable harm to Azeroth's world-soul.
On Kezan, the Bilgewater Cartel dug deep enough into the earth that they were able to find a small vein and mine Azeroth's blood. Jastor Gallywix fashioned it into the orb on his cane. He believes there is a possibility that this mining operation bears partial responsibility for the eruption of Mount Kajaro, and it may not have been solely the fault of the Cataclysm.Before the Storm, chapter 3
She has been able to heal her wounds caused by the Cataclysm.Before the Storm, chapter 8
===Legion===
At the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Azeroth chose Magni Bronzebeard, the dwarven king who became one with the earth just before the Shattering, as her speaker. It was Magni who revealed to the people of Azeroth that she was a titan.The Diamond King
When the spirit of Sargeras tried to take control Illidan Stormrage's body in the Nighthold, The Demon Within roars that the Dark Titan will claim Azeroth.Gul'dan (tactics)
Azeroth contacted Magni to tell him about the Primordial Observatory beneath the ocean near the Maelstrom, though as Magni would explain to Brann she did not do so in words but rather in "feelings". He described it as feeling like a sunrise. The reason she directed Magni there was so he would find the seekers: creatures that the titans had infused with the Light to aid the titanic watchers. Azeroth knew the High Priest of the Conclave would protect the seekers and use them in the service of the Light.The Sunken Vault (quest)
When Azeroth tried to send Magni a message, something wasn't right and some force was interfering. Magni requested aid in Sholazar Basin, where he revealed the existence of the Hall of Communion accessed through the Makers' Overlook. The Hall of Communion had been built by the titans to watch over the world-soul, and from within it Magni could hear her clear as diamond. They discovered that what was wrong was that Azeroth was afraid. After fighting off phantoms of Azeroth's nightmares made manifest, which took the form of minions of the Burning Legion and Old Gods, and reactivating Damaged Constructs, Azeroth revealed that Sargeras was on his way to Azeroth and that their destiny lay on Argus, homeworld of the Burning Legion.Whispers of a Frightened World
At the climax of the Legion's invasion, Sargeras attempted to destroy Azeroth. Although he was stopped and imprisoned by the Pantheon, he did manage to wound her in Silithus. Like she did when Y'Shaarj was removed, Azeroth began to bleed out of the wound Sargeras inflicted, forming a pool of blood in the area that could be compared to the Well of Eternity.
Aided by the heroes of Azeroth and their powerful artifact weapons, Speaker Magni Bronzebeard was able to stabilize the planet's grievous wound. Azeroth was stable, but the road to healing her fully would require much more than a temporary bandage. The events in Silithus were just the first step in aiding the planet.Battle for Azeroth Preview: Closer to the Heart of Azeroth
===Battle for Azeroth===
Following the start of the Fourth War, Azeroth bid Magni to call for a hero who could lend her help. The Speaker brought the hero to the Chamber of Heart at the heart of the world, where they were given the :Heart of Azeroth. The path to restoring Azeroth would consist in gathering :Azerite and healing the world-soul through the Heart. In doing so, the Heart would also empower the hero in turn. Magni told the hero to keep the necklace close to them at all times while he continued to search for ways to undo the damage done to Azeroth. He would be able to contact the hero through the necklace if need be.The Heart of Azeroth (quest)
Eventually, Magni and Brann brought MOTHER, a titanic watcher from Uldir, to the Chamber of Heart so that she could analyze Azeroth and find a way to heal her.Necessity is the MOTHER With the help of Magni, MOTHER, the Dragon Aspects, Wrathion, and many adventurers, the final Old God, N'Zoth was defeated. The wound, however, still remains.
===Shadowlands===
During the war against the Jailer, Zovaal and his servants claimed that Death would soon come for the soul of Azeroth.Stand as OneSecrets in Shadows The Primus thought so too, but believed that it could be saved with the help of the mortals.Covenants Renewed#Notes
When the Jailer gained access to the Sepulcher of the First Ones in Zereth Mortis, he used the Forge of Souls in Icecrown Citadel to draw out her lifeblood, Azerite, and use it to power the Machine of Origination after he attuned its control pylons, in order to unmake all existence and remake the cosmos under his dominance. Azeroth resisted Zovaal's assault despite his efforts and in the end, he was struck down by her champions.Adventure Guide entry for The Jailer With his death, the tear in the Veil above Icecrown Citadel closed and her lifeblood ceased being drawn into the machine. It is unknown what damage the Jailer caused to Azeroth in the process. Magni Bronzebeard said that when Zovaal tried to pull Azeroth's soul into the Shadowlands, her screams of agony nearly split his head in two.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 125
According to Magni, since Azeroth's spirit was restored after the end of the war against the Jailer, it's like she's started to sing a new song, a melody of hope and healing, and it feels as though a new age is dawning.
===Dragonflight===
As Azeroth reawakens, primal forces2022-04-20, World of Warcraft Expansion Reveal. YouTube, retrieved on 2022-04-20 - "As Azeroth herself reawakens, those primal forces are expressed throughout the environment..." and the life energies of AzerothDragonflight Official Website - "The dragonflights of Azeroth have returned, called upon to defend their ancestral home, the Dragon Isles. Surging with elemental magic and the life energies of Azeroth, the Isles are awakening once more, and it's up to you to explore their primordial wonder and discover long-forgotten secrets." are expressed throughout the Dragon Isles.
==Personality==
From what little has been gleaned of Azeroth's personality, typically communicated through her Speaker, Magni Bronzebeard, she appears to have the demeanor of a frightened child. She suffers horrific nightmares based around the Old Gods and other threats to her, and pleads Magni to stay with, and speak with her after she was wounded by Sargeras' sword, similar to how a parent would comfort a child.Magni: The Speaker, pg. 12: Magni: "Don't worry, lass. I'm right here... and I ain't gonna leave ye." Magni has compared Azeroth's voice to a song. There's beauty in it, even when her message is unclear.Visions of Torment
==Notes==
*The world-soul is the subject of a prophecy by the vrykul oracle Rythas. According to him, the "world's soul" is weak but will one day be strong, and only the worthy (e.g. the Valarjar) can protect it.The Favored of Odyn: The Prophecy of Rythas the Oracle
*According to one Azerothian legend, the world-soul gives of herself to nourish her inhabitants while she sleeps and is watched over by the Sun and the White Lady."The Embrace"
*At BlizzCon 2011—roughly 5 years before Chronicle Volume 1 confirmed the existence of Azeroth's world-soul—Dave Kosak hinted at the idea by stating that "I think it is safe to say that there is something about Azeroth that is unique within the cosmology, and there's a reason that it's kind of the focus of this". With the release of patch 5.3 in 2013, her existence was hinted at in-game by the Heart of the Thunder King (quest) quest, in which an unknown voice spoke through Wrathion to state "". With the release of patch 7.3 in 2017, this "final titan" was confirmed to be Azeroth, as Illidan and Magni refer to her by that name in Antorus.
*In March 2016, Kosak made a comment on the /r/wow subreddit about the state of Azeroth:
:"It's too late. Azeroth will never wake up. He was the Titan's last hope.
:...But a bit of his spirit dwells within every hero of Azeroth, every mage who picked up a wand, every warrior who took up a blade, every champion from any world who took root in Azeroth and decided to defend it as their home.
:We mortals are all that stands between the Light and oblivion, but so long as this world is our home we're lit from within by the heroic spirit of a dormant Titan."
:*He later added that his comment was not meant to add to the lore, and was non-canon. This created backlash from readers since nothing in the original comment hinted that Kosak, an official Blizzard representative, was "merely musing".Dave Kosak on Reddit
*Magni refers to Azeroth as "lass" and is shown to have almost paternal care for her.Magni: The Speaker This is implied to be a result of his feelings of failure towards Moira.
*Baine Bloodhoof associates Azeroth with the Earth Mother; when Azeroth was dying during the Fourth War, he said it was the Earth Mother who was dying.Derek and Jaina Proudmoore Reunion cinematic
==Speculation==
===Retroactive plot effects===
Since the revelation that Azeroth is, in fact, a titan, certain quotes might have gained new meanings retroactively.
*During the War of the Ancients, Mannoroth believed that it was as if the world itself sought to prevent Sargeras from entering. This could retroactively refer to Azeroth trying to protect herself and her inhabitants from Sargeras.
*Yogg-Saron's famous quote ""Yogg-Saron (tactics)#Quotes might too now refer to Azeroth.
*Given that Anveena Teague was formed from the remains of the Sunwell's energies and that the Sunwell was created from the waters of the Well of Eternity—the lifeblood of the nascent world-soul of Azeroth—she could be seen as an incarnation or avatar of the world-soul. However, she developed sentience and a personality of her own, so one could argue that she evolved beyond that.
===Prince Renathal===
Prince Renathal seems to be aware of Azeroth, and is one of the only non-Eternal One inhabitants of the Shadowlands to possess this knowledge prior to meeting her champions. He even goes as far as suggesting "she has been quite busy of late", possibly implying activity in the eternal conflict between the six powers, or simply her ongoing self-defense against outsiders seeking to exploit her or her home's resources.
=== Vol'jin ===
Given that Azeroth seemingly has the power to give her chosen champions exemption from some of the rules of the Shadowlands, including the Maw, and that Vol'jin's current state is said to be linked to the same power as the Maw Walker's, it may be that Azeroth was the "hand of valor" that touched him. 
==References==
Category:Lore characters
Category:Titans
Category:Before the Storm characters