The narrative surrounding the Lich King is more intricate than initially perceived, especially when viewed through the lens of the Jailer’s overarching plan. It turns out, Arthas Menethil’s transformation into the Lich King wasn’t just about wreaking havoc on Azeroth; it was a calculated move with deeper implications for the cosmic balance, particularly concerning Bastion and the Archon.
Initially, the Lich King’s purpose was tied to securing a Paladin – a being of unwavering Light – for the Archon’s Sigil. Devos’s unexpected alliance with Zovaal was a deviation from the original design. This explains why Arthas relentlessly sought to convert figures of immense paladin power, like Tirion Fordring or Bolvar Fordragon, into undeath. Their corruption would have served a specific purpose within the Jailer’s grand design, far beyond simply bolstering the Scourge ranks.
With Arthas’s defeat and Bolvar’s ascension to the Lich King, the Jailer’s strategy shifted. The focus moved towards manipulating the denizens of Azeroth to unknowingly serve his ends. A key element of this revised plan was the demise of Argus the Unmaker. Argus’s death was instrumental in weakening the Arbiter, paving the way for Sylvanas Windrunner’s empowerment. Sylvanas, now a key player in Zovaal’s scheme, was tasked with confronting Bolvar, shattering the Helm of Domination, and ultimately becoming the ideal champion for the Jailer’s infiltration of Bastion.
However, the Jailer’s meticulously crafted plan wasn’t without its challenges. The Old God N’Zoth’s ambitions to corrupt and ultimately destroy Azeroth presented a significant obstacle. N’Zoth aimed to eliminate Azeroth before Zovaal could exploit her world-soul for his own purposes, highlighting a conflict of cosmic agendas. Similarly, Sargeras, the fallen Titan, had his own disruptive schemes, notably involving Archmage Xylem.
The incorruptibility of figures like Khadgar proved to be another hurdle. Khadgar’s resilience against corruption ensured that Dalaran, a pivotal magical hub, wouldn’t fall under the sway of either the Legion or the Void. This forced both Sargeras and the Void Lords to adopt more overt and less subtle approaches, shifting their focus to less defended targets or resorting to brute force.
The Void’s shift to direct action became evident with Xavius’s blatant involvement in the Emerald Nightmare, while the Legion, after their stealthy Nathrezim assassins were exposed in various throne rooms, launched a full-scale invasion at the Broken Shore.
Despite these large-scale conflicts, Denathrius and Zovaal continued their subtle manipulations, replacing key figures like Matthias Shaw and Archmage Vargoth with Nathrezim infiltrators. This infiltration by the Nathrezim within the Kirin Tor didn’t go unnoticed by the Legion’s own Nathrezim ranks. They recognized the potential for exploiting other Archmagi and orchestrated the corruption of Archmage Xylem prior to the Cataclysm. Xylem was then tasked with stealing the Focusing Iris, intending to siphon Azeroth’s immense power into the Legion’s Void Revenant – a plan that ultimately failed.
The Void’s response was hampered by the ongoing invasion of the Emerald Nightmare, limiting their ability to react swiftly to the Nathrezim infiltration of the Kirin Tor.
As documented by https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Closing_the_Eye, the Legion was indeed behind the Void Revenant’s possession of Xylem. Their goal was audacious: to have the Void Revenant absorb all of Azeroth’s arcane magic, effectively extinguishing the nascent Titan.
The Nathrezim’s infiltrations served a dual purpose: subtle manipulation for Zovaal and a more aggressive power grab for the Legion. Sargeras, denied the use of Illidan and the Sargerite Keystone to open a pathway for domination, sought to create a Void Titan loyal to himself using a Void Revenant as a foundation. This displayed a remarkable level of cunning and foresight.
Had Sargeras succeeded with Xylem, he would have achieved what the Void Lords themselves coveted – dominion over a Void Titan – but entirely on his own terms. Such an outcome would have instilled terror in the Void Lords, as Sargeras’s Void Titan would have brought both the Void and all of existence under his iron fist.
Sargeras’s keen observation of Vargoth and his deployment of Xylem nearly derailed Zovaal’s intricate scheme involving Azeroth.
The Void’s full-scale mobilization only began after Azshara’s power play in Stormsong Valley was thwarted. Their subsequent strategy became less nuanced: relying on the defeat of Azshara, the release of N’Zoth, and attempts to corrupt Azeroth’s champions – initially through a fabricated Wrathion and, as a backup, direct Void corruption from N’Zoth. Simultaneously, they infiltrated the Amathet with a Sun Prophet, who was discovered while formulating “Reply Code Omega,” a plan to eliminate all life except Azeroth.
Having abandoned subtlety after their failures with Khadgar, the Void struggled to re-embrace nuanced strategies. Sargeras, in contrast, as a being of Order, demonstrated a superior capacity for devising and implementing intricate, subtle schemes, constantly threatening to upset the delicate balance of power and Zovaal’s carefully laid plans.
