The Growing Threat: Speculating the Story of Retaking Gilneas in 10.2.5

Welcome to a thrilling new blog post by WowCarry! Today, we will be diving into the exciting details of Patch 10.2.5, Seeds of Renewal, which brings us a Gilneas revamp and reclamation. Although this questline is not yet available for testing, we can't help but speculate on how this captivating story will unfold.

The Story So Far

Located southwest of Silverpine Forest, Gilneas is a human kingdom ruled by King Greymane. When the undead plague engulfed the kingdoms of Lordaeron, Greymane took drastic measures to protect his kingdom by erecting a Great Wall and unleashing worgen from the Emerald Dream to combat the Scourge. However, the worgen curse proved difficult to contain and quickly spread throughout Gilneas.

During the Cataclysm, Gilneas faced several challenges simultaneously. The kingdom suffered considerable damage from the Cataclysm itself, with parts of the peninsula sinking into the sea. Additionally, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream commanded the Forsaken to invade Gilneas under the leadership of Sylvanas Windrunner, resulting in the death of Greymane's son. To make matters worse, the worgen infection continued to proliferate, even transforming King Greymane into a worgen.

Eventually, Gilneas rejoined the Alliance. However, due to the ongoing threat from hostile Forsaken neighbors in Silverpine Forest, the kingdom has remained largely deserted despite the Alliance's successful retaking.

Players have long been anticipating a return to Gilneas, and we were assured that such a momentous event would occur in-game. Now, it's finally happening with Patch 10.2.5, as the Gilneas Reclamation takes center stage as one of the patch's highlights.

King Greymane is determined to reclaim his kingdom, but it seems that Gilneas isn't as empty as anticipated. Join us as we embark on a journey to help restore what was lost and return the kingdom to the hands of the Gilnean people.

Speculation on Upcoming Story

According to the available information, Gilneas "isn't as empty as expected." As there is now an official peace treaty between the Alliance and the Horde, it is unlikely that the unwanted presence in Gilneas is the Forsaken. So, who could it be?

A Trading Post task called "Complete the Gilneas Reclamation storyline" provides some insight, as it features the quest names associated with this storyline. Although these names are subject to change, they give us a glimpse into the general outline of the upcoming content.

Warning: Mild spoilers for the Gilneas Reclamation storyline lie ahead.

Firstly, the trading post task states that players must "Speak to Genn Greymane in Stormwind or Calia Menethil in Silverpine Forest to begin this storyline." This suggests that the Gilneas reclamation will not be limited to the Alliance, as Calia Menethil is likely to offer it to the Horde. Additionally, this indicates that the questline may not solely focus on worgen characters.

Secondly, the chapter names hint at the Scarlet Crusade being the main enemy in this conflict. The Scarlet Crusade has been causing trouble once again, as seen in the recent Forsaken Heritage armor questline, which revealed their malevolence in Silverpine Forest.

The Scarlet Crusade is a fanatical religious sect derived from the Knights of the Silver Hand. Known for their extreme views, they vehemently oppose both the Forsaken, whom they perceive as Scourge-like, and the Alliance, which they view as led by a traitor.

During the latter stages of the Battle for Azeroth, the Crusade began distributing propaganda that criticized Anduin Wrynn's perceived leniency towards the Forsaken. One particular pamphlet made some bold claims while also foreshadowing events currently unfolding.

"The Would-Be Queen" explains that the Scarlet Crusade is aware that Calia has risen as undead and that she had a child. Although the details are incorrect (claiming a son instead of a daughter and blaming Anduin for her assassination), certain elements ring true. Calia was indeed married, but she and her daughter were separated during a Scourge attack. Calia herself is now undead, holding on to hope that she may one day reunite with her loved ones, possibly as Forsaken, though she has heard no news of them.

Curiously, the Scarlet Crusade alleges to possess Calia's child, whom they have proclaimed heir to the throne of Lordaeron. The note also reveals that Calia's husband, a footman, had Arathi heritage. While it is unlikely that the Crusade truly has Calia's child - more likely a pretender - the connection to the Arathi bloodline piques our interest, especially considering the upcoming events in "The War Within."

According to the propaganda, the Crusade planned to present this alleged Menethil heir as the rightful ruler of Lordaeron after purging the land of both Forsaken and worgen. It appears that their plan is persisting in Silverpine and Gilneas, despite the combined efforts of the Alliance and Horde to thwart them.

Nevertheless, the Crusade is known for its resilience, and the claim of a self-proclaimed Menethil heir would undoubtedly add a much-needed political dynamic to the World of Warcraft following the signing of the peace treaty between the two major factions.

Conclusion

The upcoming Gilneas Reclamation storyline in Patch 10.2.5 promises an exhilarating adventure as players help King Greymane retake his kingdom. With the Scarlet Crusade posing as a formidable adversary and the potential revelation of a Menethil heir, the stage is set for a dramatic and thrilling expansion of the World of Warcraft lore. Stay tuned for more updates as we uncover the secrets of Gilneas in continuation of 10.2 patch!