22nd day of 11(1) ES 33, hard embargo – immediate release
N.B. Spoilers for World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm after the jump
Participants
- Deeve Spairs [Deeve]
- Lady Jaina Proudmoore [Jaina]
- High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof [Baine]
- Prince Anduin Wrynn [Anduin]
Introduction
[Deeve] /say: Welcome to a special cross-faction edition of The Faction, where we will be talking about what on Azeroth is going on with [Azerothian] world politics these days. Joining us are representatives from both dominant factions; for the Alliance, Lady Jaina Proudmoore, leader of Theramore Isle...
[Jaina] /s: [:Common;enthusiastic] King's honour, friend!
[Deeve] /s: ...and for the Horde, newly ascended High Chieftain of Thunder Bluff, Baine Bloodhoof.
[Baine] /s: [:Taur-ahe;] Greetings.
[Deeve] /s: We are coming to you from the sitting room of Foothold Citadel in Theramore [Isle]; we thank Jaina for hosting this interview.
[Jaina] /s: My pleasure.
[Jaina] /whisper [Deeve]: Do not spread this around, but I... support what you are trying to do.
[Deeve] /emote nods at [Jaina], smiling sincerely.
[Deeve] /s: Now, I trust that Warchief Garrosh Hellscream will not be sending attackers after us...
[Jaina] + [Baine] /e appear uneasy.
[Deeve] /s: ...In relation to which: you have my sympathies, Baine, for your late father. Same to Jaina for King Magni Bronzebeard. Now, Baine, about Cairne: what happened?
[Baine] /s: My father challenged the current Warchief Garrosh to a Mak'gora and... shall I say... 'lost'.
[Deeve] /s: A Mak'gora... I understand that any citizen of the Horde can challenge the incumbent Warchief's leadership in a duel. Is it supposed to be to the death? I have heard otherwise.
[Baine] /s: It normally is not to the death, as [Warchief] Thrall has decreed, but Garrosh insisted that traditional rules be followed. Setting aside the high stakes, it is a rather ceremonial occasion: one weapon, blessed by a shaman, no armour save for a loincloth, lots of anointing oil, and at least one witness each.
[Baine] /e sighs.
[Baine] /s: [:;sombre] And yes, to the death. My father accepted.
[Deeve] /s: Surely for good reason? I understand that the Alliance, in contrast, does not condone duels as strongly.
[Jaina] /e nods in agreement to both points.
[Baine] /s: For the reason that he honestly believed that Garrosh was disgracing the Horde, doing so by ordering the attack on a night elf supply convoy in Ashenvale [dramatic irony: the Twilight's Hammer did this]. And also by ordering the attack on the druid meeting, also in Ashenvale [dramatic irony: the Twilight's Hammer did this too]. Both of which you so crudely joked about…
[Deeve] /s: My apologies.
[Baine] /s: He had the best of intentions in heart for the Horde. Being a challenger, you need to have absolute faith that what you are about to get yourself into is right. Otherwise… you are being irresponsible. The right to Mak'gora should never be taken lightly.
[Deeve] /s: Especially when your life would be at risk. Considering that, you do not seem comfortable with that outcome. Is it simply because of your familial relationship with him, or something… more?
[Baine] /s: Partly because he is my father, but also because Garrosh cheated.
[Deeve] /s: [:;surprised] Cheated?
[Jaina] /s: He told me in a meeting, in this same room, mind you, that Garrosh had a peculiar blessing on his weapon.
[Baine] /s: It was not even a blessing; instead of sacred oil, Garrosh had it poisoned. I am sure that even those of the Alliance see using poison as the easy way out. So yes, the challenge was not resolved properly; hence my 'discomfort'.
[Deeve] /s: Did you challenge Garrosh yourself? To decide the matter properly?
[Baine] /s: Well, despite the disregard of rules, despite any obliviousness by Garrosh, despite my father's possible death from something as minor as a flesh wound…
[Baine] /e stands up, apparently tense.
[Baine] /e takes a deep breath (although not in an Onyxia sort of way).
[Baine] /s: …The matter has been decided once and for all. Challenging Garrosh to avenge my father, that would be challenging for the same reasons held by him.
[Baine] /e calms and sits back down.
[Baine] /s:We do not consider such reasons sufficient. I believe that the Stormwind courts of law know a similar rule by the name of res judicata.
[Jaina] /s: Well, res judicata in relation to civil matters, and double jeopardy for crimes.
[Deeve] /s: Thank you for that insight, Baine. Up next: how to claim the throne of Ironforge. We will take a quick break; stay with us.
[Deeve] /s: Welcome back to this special edition of The Faction, coming to you from Theramore Isle. I am Deeve Spairs, and we are joined by two special representatives from the two dominant factions: Lady Jaina Proudmoore from the Alliance, and High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof from the Horde. Now, I understand that Ironforge's throne was vacant for some time?
[Jaina] /s: Yes, King Magni Bronzebeard became petrified after a ritual that was thought to allow him to talk to the earth.
[Deeve] /s: This ritual was inscribed on an ancient tablet, I heard.
[Jaina] /s: Yes. Brann [Bronzebeard] found it in Ulduar. He was rather unsure of the earthen script, but he understood something about 'becoming one with the earth'. So, naturally, he sent it back to the Explorers' League to have it examined. Mind you, Anduin [Wrynn] was all over it as much as the League members were.
[Anduin] /e materialises in front of the hearth, clutching a hearthstone in hand.
[Anduin] /e gapes at the journalist sitting directly in front of him.
[Baine] /e turns to [Anduin] and chuckles, simultaneously with below.
[Jaina] /s: [:;simultaneous with above] Speaking of which…
[Deeve] /s: Ah, welcome, Prince Anduin Wrynn, to this special edition of-
[Anduin] /yell: The Faction? Really?
[Anduin] /e composes himself.
[Anduin] /s: Sorry, please excuse me. I am a fan of your work, Mr Spairs; pleased to meet you.
[Deeve] /s: Always nice to meet someone interested in diplomacy. Please join us.
[Anduin] /s: It would be my pleasure!
[Anduin] /e takes a seat.
[Deeve] /s: So yes, why did Magni decide to participate in the ritual himself?
[Jaina] /s: -
[Anduin] /s: -The one to talk to the earth? Ah yes, he said something about being the leader of the “children of the earth”, and that it therefore was his duty to do it.
[Jaina] /s: Anduin, I have been wondering: did he have any hesitations?
[Anduin] /s: Nay, he trusted the translators that much. He also told me, in these exact words, “what kind of a king would I be, to let others face the danger of the unknown while I cowered in safety?”. Of course, I nay say that he had petrifaction in mind when he said that.
[Jaina] /s: Just like your father [King Varian Wrynn] Magni is, Anduin. Always at the front line.
[Anduin] /e blushes.
[Deeve] /s: Of course, you yourself can find other ways to serve your people, Anduin. –So yes, it is good to see that they eventually got the succession sorted out. It must have been quite a ruckus having Moira Bronzebeard, Empress of the Dark Iron and direct heir to the throne, at the throne for a time.
[Jaina] /s: Yes, she shut Ironforge off from the rest of the world for a while. No mail, no gryphon flights, no portals or warlock summoning, even the Deeprun Tram was shut down from the other side [looking from Stormwind]. Her being the heir did not justify this.
[Jaina] /e glances at [Anduin], apparently concerned.
[Jaina] /s: It must have been quite an ordeal for poor Anduin.
[Anduin] /s: Aunt!
[Jaina] /e resists the urge to ruffle [Anduin]’s hair.
[Anduin] /s: It was not that bad! Although, I must say that I was rather disturbed by Moira’s not wanting me to leave; it somehow felt that I was like a prize pet to her. Other than that, some conflicts did erupt between the guards [of Ironforge and Dark Iron], which quickly settled down. Fortunately, there were not any hearthstone wards up, so I used the one Aunt Jaina gave me to escape.
[Deeve] /s: That is how you appeared in front of that hearth over there?
[Anduin] /s: [:;enthusiastic] Aye!
[Baine] /s: Mind you, he did give me a scare when he hearthed one time. It was the first time I met him. I did not think favourably of him at first, but, of course, I should have known at the time that-
[Baine] + [Anduin] /s: [:;reciting] –We are not our fathers.
[Deeve] /s: Indeed. Do any of you think Moira would have made a good Queen of Ironforge?
[Jaina] /s: –
[Anduin] /s: –Nay! I do not know if the Dark Irons mind, but she rules with an iron fist [mind the pun]. The level of control she exercised [over the city] was excessive by Alliance standards. Mind you, she was so hated that father [King of Stormwind] went as far as almost assassinating her. Of course, I do concede that he was taking it too far.
[Jaina] /s: I concede that too, mind you.
[Deeve] /s: Hence your intervening, Anduin.
[Baine] /s: Yes. Destruction is easy.
[Anduin] /s: Yes, thank you for that advice, Baine. I managed to convince father to consider another way [to find an heir to the throne] telling him that.
[Jaina] /s: That is how he [Varian] came up with the elegant Council of Three Hammers. One representative from each clan would sit in it: Muradin or Brann for the Bronzebeards, Falstad for the Wildhammers and Moira for the Dark Irons. Considering what Brann is up to these days, Muradin seems more likely of the two. And, mind you, Moira will be taking her husband Dagran[ Thaurissan]'s surname for it.
[Deeve] /s: [:;emphasising] The all-important question: Will this work?
[Jaina] /s: Well, what definitely will not work is having Moira as sole Queen. Other than that, each clan is certainly capable of governing themselves. So yes, I would say that each clan would be better served having equal representation on the throne.
[Anduin] /s: I, for one, would be more surprised if this arrangement did not work.
[Deeve] /s: Thank you, Anduin. Up next: the scheming Grimtotem and shamanic politics. We will take a quick break; stay with us.
The grand coup of Thunder Bluff
[Deeve] /s: Welcome back to The Faction, this very special edition coming to you from Theramore. I am Deeve Spairs, and with us are Lady Jaina Proudmoore and the recently arrived Prince Anduin Wrynn from the Alliance, and High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof from the Horde. We have been discussing the issues plaguing both [dominant] factions. So, Baine, the coup on Thunder Bluff by the Grimtotem must have been rather crippling.
[Baine] /s: Yes, the Grimtotem seemed to have been well prepared. That is not surprising, since they were attracting suspicion for a long, long time. What was surprising, though, was how well prepared they were, which is nothing short of very.
[Deeve] /s: Given that, why were the Grimtotem, and especially Magatha, allowed into Thunder Bluff beforehand?
[Baine] /s: Well, that was my father’s decision, one which I wholeheartedly trusted. He pointed out that Grimtotem are tauren too, no matter how… far removed they are from the united tribes of Thunder Bluff. You see, us tauren have deep respect for each other; which tribe they belong to does not matter.
[Deeve] /s: That, of course, poses the question of why they would want to take Thunder Bluff over.
[Baine] /s: The Grimtotem seem to be an exception to that rule. They believe themselves to be superior to all other races, and, as has been demonstrated in the coup, to the other tauren tribes as well. They have always wanted to reclaim the territory we have lost over the years. When Thrall extended a diplomatic invitation to all tauren to join the Horde, the Grimtotem refused. It then follows that they would take Thunder Bluff over as a way of increasing their power. Allowing the Grimtotem into Thunder Bluff beforehand allowed father [High Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof] to keep a close eye on them, to gauge for things like this.
[Deeve] /s: How were they so successful with the initial takeover? As you pointed out earlier, there must have been much preparation in such a successful stunt...
[Baine] /s: Warriors of the Grimtotem receive rigorous combat training, even as children. This is in stark contrast to the other, more peaceful tauren tribes; we learn more of how to be in tune with nature at so young an age. And, they do not fight as honourably as us either; they do not hesitate to use any trick to gain the upper hand. Such tricks may include staging a coup at early morning, while citizens are defenseless…
[Jaina] /s: Mind you, Magatha was the shaman who 'blessed' Garrosh’s weapon for the Mak’gora. She used that 'trick' to depose Cairne without much effort or risk.
[Baine] /e sighs.
[Deeve] /s: Umm, I have been told that, instead of executing Magatha, you banished her from tauren lands, and despite that which Jaina pointed out. Why did you choose to do so?
[Baine] /s: As I have said beforehand, the Grimtotem are fellow tauren, and a decision to execute Magatha would indeed be near unconscionable considering that. However, what is also important, at least to the tauren, is that there are alternatives to punishing such heinous crimes than returning the favour. By exiling her and her followers to the harsh Stonetalon Mountains, I would be leaving it to Mu'sha [the Earthmother] and the elements to deem what is just. I trust that such punishment as they decide will fit the crime.
Politics and [shamanic] religion
[Deeve] /s: On the topic of the elements… Of course, the two things never discussed in polite conversation are politics and religion. I am not well informed in the shamanic arts, but I admire their relationship with Azeroth's elements which, I must say, combines the two in a very interesting way.
[Baine] /s: I do not know much of the way of the shaman, being a warrior in combat. However, from what I can discern from father's [Cairne's] spiritual advisors, I can confirm that the shamanic religion does involve a fair bit of politics with the elements. You see, the elements naturally are rather chaotic, which I am sure Anduin can attest to.
[Anduin] /e mourns the death of Aerin.
[Jaina] /e comforts [Anduin], simultaneously with below.
[Baine] /s: [:;simultaneous with above] Horde society trusts its shaman to soothe the raging elements. Only a few individuals have the gifts that will allow them to communicate with the elements directly. Shaman consider the experience somewhat like negotiation and compromise; they build a relationship of mutual trust and respect, and doing so, be able to, in addition to calling to them in combat, request [the elements] to 'behave'. Mind you, that is strikingly similar to the practice of political leaders especially of nations at odds with each other. If only [Warchief] Garrosh knew of it…
[Anduin] /s: [:;distraught] And father [King Varian Wrynn].
[Deeve] /s: Of course, that is somewhat an exaggeration, since we would be in war, and we would not be talking right now, should that fully be the case.
[Jaina] + [Anduin] + [Baine] /s: Of course.
[Deeve] /s: You have my sympathies, Baine, of the fire that razed Orgrimmar. Why is it that the fire grew so large? Were the shaman able to 'negotiate' with the fire elementals?
[Baine] /s: Many thanks, Deeve. From the reports that I received from Orgrimmar, shaman did try communing with the fire elementals. However, they found them to be strangely defiant. Despite the good relationship built up, the elementals seemed concerned about something… something significant enough to dwarf [mind the pun] the high regard they held of the shaman.
[Anduin] /s: Maybe this "something" can explain the earthquake at Dun Morogh.
[Jaina] /s: Or the recent deluge here.
[Baine] /s: Yes, or even the violent and sudden storms out at sea some time ago.
[Deeve] /s: Hence why Thrall journeyed to Nagrand.
[Baine] /s: Yes. He is hoping to be able to learn from the elements there. People witnessed very similar behaviour by the elements at Outland before. Maybe there is a similar cause here on Azeroth.
[Deeve] /s: Thrall could not come back sooner and say for sure. On that note we will need to leave it there. Lady Jaina Proudmoore, High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof and Prince Anduin Wrynn, thank you all for joining us.
[Jaina] + [Baine] + [Anduin] /s: Thank you.
[Deeve] /s: That is all for this edition of The Faction, only on Critically Analyse.
Bibliography
- Golden, C (2010), World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm, 1st hardcover edn, Gallery Books, New York.
- Grimtotem tribe – Wowpedia, Your guide to the World of Warcraft, wiki article, Wowpedia, viewed 14 November 2010, <http://www.wowpedia.org/Grimtotem_tribe>.
Acknowledgements
- Inspired by The Nation with David Speers on Sky News
EDIT 21Nov10: Appended advertisement transcript for introduction.
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