World of Warcraft’s 7th expansion, Battle for Azeroth, was fraught with momentous lore events. Ensconced in a brutal conflict, the Alliance and Horde had to resort to drastic measures to ensure victory. The ripples of these tremendous decisions still reverberate to this day, though most of the wounds inflicted have slowly begun to heal in the years since.
Sylvanas Windrunner, the then Warchief of the Horde, even set the entire city of Teldrassil ablaze, kickstarting a story arc wherein Tyrande Whisperwind, the night elf leader, sought vengeance. She hunted Sylvanas all the way to the Shadowlands, but in the end, she chose to renew her people’s hope instead of killing her arch-enemy. OneWorld of Warcraftcharacter - Queen Talanji - had no such retribution, and she awaits the day she can enact her desire.
Zandalar’s Queen Has a Vendetta Against Jaina Proudmoore
Queen Talanji ascended to the throne of the Zandalari Empire following the untimely demise of her father, Rastakhan. After her people sided with the Horde in the Fourth War, the Alliance retaliated by launching a full-scale invasion ofZandalar’s capital city, Dazar’alor. Using both cunning and force, Jaina Proudmoore’s forces cut through the Zandalari and Horde defenses with surgical precision, right to the heart of the empire.
Rastakhan put up a valiant fight, but even with thehelp of Bwonsamdi, the Loa of Death, he was laid low by Jaina and her allies. Having gotten their message across, the Alliance made a hasty retreat while Jaina acted as a diversion. Whether one could even consider Lord Admiral Proudmoore as the sole reason for the invasion’s success was immaterial to Talanji. Filled with unbridled rage, the new queen swore she would never forgive Kul Tiras or its leader.
Why Taking On the Alliance’s Archmage Might Not Be a Good Idea
Unfortunately for Talanji, her hopes have thus far been in vain. With theend of the Fourth War, the Hordecalled a truce with their longtime foes, withdrawing their war effort. This means that, despite remaining allies with Zandalar, the Horde will never agree to aid them against Kul Tiras and risk sparking more conflict. On top of this, if Zandalar did rebuild its navy and attempt to attack Kul Tiras on its own, the entire might of the Alliance would respond in kind, and Zandalar would not survive the ensuing war.
Talanji’s best shot would be to send assassins after Jaina and her family, but once again, this is easier said than done. Derek, the Proudmoores' oldest son, is a close confidant of the Forsaken’s Desolate Council and therefore a part of the Horde. Going after Jaina’s younger brother, Tandred, or her mother, Katherine, would be difficult too, since they are closely protected andTalanji can’t risk Kul Tirasfinding out about her plot.
Setting Up the Coolest Fight Since Sylvanas vs Tyrande
Essentially, Talanji would be wisest to attack Jaina directly, and having the power of Bwonsamdi at her disposal would make for aspectacularWorld of Warcraftbattle. If Blizzard wanted to end Jaina’s story, this would be the most plausible method and could lead to further exciting developments. Jaina is one of Azeroth’s most fearsome sorcerers, capable of immense destructive power, but then again, so is Bwonsamdi, holding sway over his people’s souls now and forever.
With the weight of a glorious troll empire on her shoulders, Talanji is in a difficult position, and at the moment, paying Jaina back would only lead to more suffering. Talanji seems to know this, as her emotions are tempered by a love for her people above all else. Time will tell whether she or Bwonsamdi will act on this desire, and what that will mean for Jaina and her close companions likeThrall, Anduin Wrynn, and Baine Bloodhoof.
