The Importance of Battle Pet Lore

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

If you liked the content leave a like, comment and share. I am always looking to improve so any feedback is appreciated. Apologies if the video quality is low the processing will eventually catch up.

[@kent4833]

The squirrel chipmunk find was brilliant. Bravo, next level find. Furthermore, I can't tell you how long i agonized over the cursed lovers. They made absolutely no sense in context of the raid. What a glorious discovey.

[@paulcaellaigh2485]

This really helped me understand the importance of world building through flavour text. I've played MTG for years, but never really took in the flavour text on the cards. This video helped me look at it in a new way, so thank you! As for feedback, many of the images used did not fully fill my screen, which is more than fine, but something to consider! Great work.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Glad I could help and thank you for the feedback. The images not filling the screen was a choice, it allows for more abstract shapes to fit with out having to stretch or shrink the image to fit the screen. If it is off putting though I will change the style.

[@paulcaellaigh2485]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 that makes perfect sense! A lot of the art pieces would look ridiculous stretched! I wouldn't call if off putting per se, just something I noted while watching. Loved it though man!

[@surtur9861]

All of that from beetles and chipmunks. Imagine what else one can find

[@maureenbouterse]

Okay, it's going to take some time for me to scrape my brain off the wall, because wow... All of this, put together by referencing locations, flavor text, chronicles, real-world mythology, and speculation?! Well done. It's going to take at least a few more rewatches to truly sink in but... In relation to the Old Gods and how they're said to be "seeded". It'll be mindblowing if they're just the "maggot" faze of something infinitely more powerful. It's a shame that so many people have become so disillusioned with the overall narrative execution of Blizzard's current plot that they're saying that "Blizz doesn't care about lore. What's the use in speculating if they're just gonna keep retconning things to fit the plot?" And while there are arguments to be made about poor narrative execution and too much Rule of Cool, no one can deny that there is considerable thought put into further fleshing out the WoW universe. I really hope you do another battle pet deep dive in the future. If this is what we can get from looking at scarabs, beetles, chipmunks and squirrels, I can't even begin to imagine what else might have been missed in other pets and locations.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

I completely agree, hopefully thing will change but we'll have to see were things go. One day I will. Not going to lie though it will probably be a while before the next. I've known about a lot of this stuff since the end of legion but had only recently been able to put all the research together, to the point at which I was like "Oh...! That is a thing."

[@lhokvalkenhayn9703]

Well there isn't any titan ruins in or near Gadgetzan (outside of the Caverns of Time). However there is the ruins of one in the shimmering flat, complete with Silithid beetles and a keeper head nearby. Not to mention the ruins of Zul'Farrak nextdoor in Tanaris too.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

There is and their connection to Zul'farak seems quite apparent, especially when considered Atal'dazar. I didn't mention them because I was trying to keep to the precedent I had established earlier with out adding to much divergent information. With that said I do think the reason beetles battle pets don't appear in that region of Tanaris is because of a transition to the scarab npcs you see in Zul F. So the connections are there, however unless those ruins are explored in 8.3 and explained, the speculation related to them will warrant its own video.

[@shadowgamer4306]

This speculation was so great! You are truly a master detective. Can you make a video where you cover the darkmoon faire and the mysteries sorounding it? That would be appreciated! Keep up the amazing work! You are truly the best theory chanell out there.😀

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Thank you.

[@shadowgamer4306]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 Hey, Etch when will the next video come? Can you please give us a little sneak peak at what the next theory or R.O.M.D is going to be about? I constantly keep rewatching your videos because they are so interesting. Honestly, I can’t wait till the next one gets uploaded. Your videos always make my day better.

[@LDaemontus]

Unsure if anyone has ever mentioned it, but another biblical reference you might find interesting is that within the Ulduar raid with Algalon, if you pay close attention to both the reflection in the floor and the styling of the room you can find artworks depicting Kyrians/Angels in classical painting styles.

[@electricmayhem8147]

wow! good stuff!

[@TheRealCeeJai]

Firstly, the beetle/scarab theory is intense and makes perfect sense in the context of the Titans/Old Gods. That was a great find. Secondly (and unfortunately, mostly) I don't meant to sound dense, but in the last section about Elune, etc. you made a major mention of the Cursed Lovers phase, but I've watched the whole section 3 times now and I can't put together what connection you were making there and how you were making your connections. I'm not disagreeing that the Cursed Lovers stage makes no sense in context to Azshara (frankly, imho Hearts Unleashed doesn't really make sense either, but I digress...). This was my understanding: you started with the Cursed Lovers and made your point that it doesn't fit the fight, then you said this applies to Adam and Eve (which, again imho, is very questionable and tenuous - I don't feel they really fit the 'Cursed Lovers' archetype). Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no real connective tissue here: it's a huge jump from Azshara's CL phase to Adam and Eve, and then another huge jump to the constellations, both IRL and in Ulduar. (By the way, you never explained where Virgo appears to solidify this and I can't find anything about it appearing in Ulduar.) Bottom line, I don't see how any of this ties back into the Azshara fight's Cursed Lovers phase (especially given how the mechanics work and the stereotypical Romeo & Juliet-esque aspect of the classic Cursed Lovers archetype) and furthermore, how any of it ties into Elune, who seems to come into this theory out of left field. I really want to get into this Elune/Azshara theory, but I'm just not seeing how any of it actually ties together. I don't want to sound mean, angry, belligerent, or ignorant, but it seems like you've taken a lot of things in the last section that are absolutely, unquestionably interesting and cool, and pointed them out in a row with no real conclusion or connection between them. Again, sorry if I'm missing some obvious conclusion or thesis in this section, but if I am, please enlighten me. P.S. - The video overall was very good, I myself have noticed some 'questionable' lore text on battle pets. The same goes with a lot of grey items. Always good to turn off auto-vendor for the first few weeks/months of a new expansion or patch so you can read those. One of my favorites in recent history has been “The markings on this robe resemble both the sign of Elune and several venerated Loa spirits.” from Crumbling Ceremonial Vestments found as a trash drop in Zandalar. P.P.S. - In response to your question about whether battle pets show up in areas they aren't actually "supposed" to be in according the the Pet Journal: yes, yes they do. I've seen it happen a few times now, most often at the beginning of an expansion when I come across a pet and I'm checking to see if I already have it. Personally, I just feel like it's a programming error/delay - it wouldn't be a high priority to make sure any battle pets you're re-using in new zones have those zones as capture areas updated, frankly.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Don't be sorry in regards to retorts, this was well thought out and civilized and I appreciate the fact your putting in the effort to understand considering this frankly is one of my more quacked theories. I guess the connective tissue I found when researching that section was night elves. As in most of things I mention are related to night elves or at least a pieces of elven related lore. The only real exception being the constellation which is more expressly related to the titans however after the reveal of the pillar of creation there does seem to be some form of connection between Elune and the titans. You are also correct Virgo is not on the Ulduar forges, so the logic I am using to justify her possible existence is, if Boötes, then possible Virgo equivalent, (coupled with the other references in I mention in the vid), kind of how with the intro of the Ulduar watchers back in wrath, there was always the question of, well... most of the pantheon is here so... where's Odin? And what do you know he eventually turned up. (Also I know sketchy logic to say the least.) But getting back to the connection stuff. I guess the way I was kind of looking at this stuff was, we know wow has amalgamated references to Irl religion and mythos ect ect, and that stuff can influence where the story goes and just over all what may appear in the story. So with that in mind when you have a reference to the Garden of Eden, then expansions later get a tree that literally sprouts fruit that is such and easy equivocation/metaphor to the forbidden fruit of knowledge, all related to one specific culture of WoW, it just seems a bit to easy to say its all a coincidence. Especially when you slightly broaden the search and start to notice the other very apparent references like Ysharrj the serpent and his off connection to the moon and Cenrious being born in the "Kingdom of the heavens" which we know is Ardenweald (Or at least is highly highly likely), which as a zone not only matches ascetic of the Arcan'dor but also could easily be considered a Garden of Eden equivalent. Though realistically I am probably just paranoid. I mean trying to get an sense of a timeline for this theory is a nightmare and that just one problem, so its why I consider this one of my most quacked theories. I hope this helped convey where I think the connections are but if not I'll try to make my theories more clear in future. Also thank you for info about battle pet locations. I'll treat them the with a lot more scrutiny from now on.

[@shadowgamer4306]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 I do not think that Ardenweald is the equivalent of The Garden of Eden. I think that it is the equivalent of Heaven.

[@bryanjfranco2082]

battle pets usually only spawn where its says example the inifintie whelps only outside caverns of time and the slithid hatchling thing only in sand storms in tanaris

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Thank you for the comment and confirmation. It helps a lot.

[@ASIRA89]

the very last image "the bandicoon's diet consists mostly of apples" -> could this be a referance to the squirrel eating a certain apple? Did some bandicoon eat that sacret fruit as well and evolved into the first pandaren?

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Maybe. I mean I'm glad someone mention it, the funny thing about that reference is that one of the other Bandicoons battle bets has a flavor text that says "Some druids say Pandaren and racoons are distance cousins..." Which for me made me wonder weather Pandaren were similar to the Worgen. As in a druidic form some of its practitioners could never shake, especially when the other Baindcoon battle pet indicates that they carry rabies and in turn could of had a Worgen like, feral state or form of transmission ages ago. So the connection could definitely be there.

[@ASIRA89]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 and when creating a Pandaren, there is also the option to choose red furr and other visuals that make it resemble a "red panda" which doesnt look much different from the bandicoon.

[@ADoggomancer]

Da quack is back

[@LDaemontus]

Coming back to these videos with current knowledge and speculation from Dragonflight and recently published books, its quite clear that there's allegories taken from Christianity (and other mythologies) being used in WoW. So, my thought process is, since Revendreth is arguably Catholic in inspiration (and Bastion has a reference to the Garden of Eden, btw) if they're using Adam, Eve, the Snake, the Apple, the Garden and possibly Lilith, then whose the Virgin Mary? Reason why I bring the Virgin Mary up is because September, the month of Virgo, is the month of her supposed birthday and she's associated to that month. She's celebrated by Catholics on the 8th of September with a dedicated Mass. This is why Virgo is also known as the Virgin. There's been speculation (with some possible lore tidbits to back it up) that Azeroth may of been or is "pregnant" in whatever cosmic sense that may be. Now, the cosmic forces are all at war fighting over who can a) kill her or b) corrupt her to their will, whatever their motivations are. If there's development in the truth to this, whatever Azeroth may give birth to or may be able capable of creating into the universe has everybody else scared or power hungry. Its definitely food for thought. Bonus, to answer your question. Yes, most pets are only contained within certain locations. This is important because certain critter achievements are tied to finding different pets around WoW and finding them within certain zones.

[@HavocHounds1988]

I personally believe the Darkmoone Faire is in service to N'Zoth not Y'shaarj. But that's me.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Why N'zoth?

[@HavocHounds1988]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 The big eye, it being red surrounded by purple. And it's located on a mysterious island, which of course would mean in the ocean somewhere. Which is N'Zoth's domain, or at least was till he got free.

[@shadowgamer4306]

@@thedreadexpanse3817 I hope that you will make a proper theory about The Darkmoon Faire in the future.

[@HavocHounds1988]

I'll try and find some interesting pet flavor text and send them to you on Discord.

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

Thanks Gzimo

[@cahntwhoat7351]

You really have to be bigger.. Keep the shit going!

[@RichardJamesStayAtHomeDad]

Did you find anything interesting in Shadowlands?

[@thedreadexpanse3817]

In relation to battle pets? Maybe. I think. As in there's another one of those open ended questions similar to the squirrels attached to one of the battle pets that will require a bit of research and on the other hand I think its possible to figure out what the Tirnnen are from battle pets as well. Or at least what they are kind of made out of.