The Earthen Ring; Where are the Ajahs?
September 14, 2009 :: Posted by - Rhabella :: Category - Lore
While listening the weekly pod cast of But Wait, There’s Lore, I heard Pride & Omacron talk a little about Thrall as the new Guardian of Tirisfal. They still, even after the expansion announcement, are convinced the reports of Thrall becoming the new guardian are a bit out of place. They go onto talk about Thrall and how his involvement in the Earthen Ring is a much more likely avenue for Cataclysm to explore.
Ajahs
Like the Aes Sedai in Robert Jordan’s the Wheel of Time, the Earthen Ring could be broken into sub-groups like the similar to the Ajahs.***Note: I only notice similarities, but they are pretty striking given what we know about each race.***
Each Ajah has a single purpose, and they could easily be tied to the races.
The blues fight for causes and seek out justice. Even though many may see the Draenei as the blues, I think given Thrall’s influence and the direction he tries to lead the Horde in, the orcs are much better suited for such a responsibility.The browns are obsessed with knowledge. They are often librarians. No other race would better find a better match with such a philosophy than the newest shaman, the dwarfs.
Yellows are healers through and through. With an impending breaking of the world, who better to heal the planet but a race with a natural ability to cultivate? The Tauren seem to fit most likely into this role.
Whites are mediators and are notorious for negotiating through sheer will. If I were worried about a dispute of some kind in Azeroth, I’d want some goblin trying to get me the “best deal anywhere.”
The greens prepare for the last battle. The most likely last battle we all fight in the World of Warcraft will be against the Burning Legion. The Draenei have spent millennia in opposition to the Legion. Who better to lead the charge when that day finally comes? We have not fully explored the Draenei, and when we do, their resolution will come when the Legion falls.
The trolls are more problematic, partly because I don’t really know too much about them. They could be philosophical whites, but it doesn’t feel right to me. If I were to categorize the trolls and try and define a role in the Earthen Ring, I would look to giving them a new organization that doesn’t exactly fit into the Jordan model. I would prefer this because I believe the trolls and gnomes have been neglected in WoW. It would be nice to see what direction Metzen and Co. would like to take their stories.
Thrall’s Role
The Earthen Ring is will hopefully become more visible in Cataclysm because we will be taking our fights to Ragnaros and his buddies in their homes, the elemental planes. Why would any intelligent shaman not find it appropriate for Thrall to lead the efforts of the Earthen Ring? He is a fitting and easy choice. As But Wait pointed out, it would make much more sense for him as a member of the Earthen Ring’s Elder Council, or even the highest member.
His new focus could mean he doesn’t actually hand over control of the Horde to Garrosh, but that in his new efforts, Garrosh takes control of the Horde as it’s keeper when Thrall is away. I think this makes more sense to many Hordies who are absolutely appalled at the idea of Thrall just handing over control. As late as the Trial of the Champion’s exceptionally long dialogue, it is obvious Thrall still understands the need to keep Garrosh under control.
The Rise of the Shaman
Wrath was the paladin’s expansion. Who else would so passionately storm the walls of Icecrown and destroy the man who was once a brother of the light and abandon it for darker magic and greater power? The Argent Crusade serves no purpose but to see Arthas’ end. If Cataclysm truly is about a ripping apart of the world by Deathwing and angry elements, the shaman will have a major role in its resolution, and I hope we see just how powerful shaman can be when focused on one goal under steady leadership.
