Antorus, the Burning Throne raid dialogue features heavy lore spoilers

If you clicked on this article not expecting spoilers, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s spoilers all the way down. Have I been clear? This post contains major spoilers for patch 7.3!

Last week had more raid testing for the upcoming Argus raid, Antorus, the Burning Throne. Heroic Varimathras, The Coven of Shivarra, and Aggramar were up for testing last Thursday, and the Normal versions were open during the weekend. Because of this, Wowhead has some juicy new dialogue for Varimathras and Aggramar, and what it potentially means regarding our world and alliances.

When we last saw Varimathras he was in the middle of a coup d’état in Undercity, being berated by a voice we suspected to be Sargeras. Varimathras and Grand Apothecary Putress had risen up against Sylvanas in a coup years in the making, and Horde and Alliance adventurers confronted and “defeated” him — though he unknowingly lived on in the Twisting Nether. As punishment for his failure in Undercity, Varimathras has been tortured by the Coven of Shivarra in a specially made creepy cage. When we encounter him, he taunts us about someone he knows well.

Alliance:

Varimathras: So, your Alliance still endures. Longer than I expected, though she has already planted the seeds of its downfall. She is patient, that one.
Varimathras: When your thrones run red with betrayal… when your holy places burn and the shattered mask hangs above your hearth… only then you will know. And it will be too late.
Varimathras: It matters not. You are blind to the true darkness closing in around you.

Horde:

Varimathras: So, she found me at last. Sent her underlings to finish the job.
Varimathras: Tell me, when she seized your throne of hides and bones, was your allegiance forced? No… I’d wager you surrendered it willingly… or were convinced you did.
Varimathras: It matters not. You are blind to the darkness in your midst.

The dialogue seems to hint pretty heavily at Sylvanas in both instances. Her symbol is the shattered mask, and she planted seeds of distrust when she abandoned the Alliance at the Broken Shore, leading Jaina to break away and Genn to become even more obsessed with revenge. Varimathras is being plagued and tormented by demons, but he sees Sylvanas as the larger threat. Remember, she’s obsessed with avoiding death and will do whatever it takes.

The darkness he speaks of is very interesting, given that her sister is also dabbling outside of the Light. Alleria has been training in Void magic, in order to use it against the Legion, but it makes the long-awaited reunion with Sylvanas that much more interesting…when it does ever happen.

The Coven of Shivarra aren’t just tormenting Varimathras, they’re tormenting the Titan souls as well. Ever the completionist, Sargeras has been on a mission to capture all the Titan souls and raise them as a sort of fel Pantheon. He’s already gotten to Aggramar, who Illidan takes a really dim view of. Apparently Illidan has no patience for long-dead Titans who side with Sargeras.

Prophet Velen: This may be the one place in the universe sacred to the Legion. Demons would pluck out their eyes sooner than gaze upon it.
Illidan Stormrage: Who could ever imagine such a sacrifice?
Aggramar: Mortals. I wasted millennia fighting to spare you from corruption. Until at last my eyes were opened to the truth.
Aggramar: You are the corruption. We will save the universe by wiping all memory of you from existence.
Aggramar: Soon comes the awakening of my brother, Argus. Together, our new Pantheon will join the master in breaking your fetid world. But you will not live to see it.
Illidan Stormrage: I have heard all the prattling I can bear. Let us show this lackey of Sargeras that he has no claim to our world.

Aggramar stands between us and Argus, the final boss of the raid. This is our only chance to defeat Sargeras and his plans once and for all, saving the universe as well — though it may not be without a little more sacrifice.

Wowhead has more dialogue as well as zone previews of the raid if you’re interested in the scenery.