The Tauren & The Goblin – Warcraft Story & Lore

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#25: On Blizzard Cinematics and Who is Kel'Thuzad Aug 29, 2017

Show notes

This week we take a bit of a detour from World of Warcraft as we react to the cinematics Blizzard shared at Gamescom. First, Katie talks about farming for transmog and running the Trial of Style, which she and Nick enjoyed. Nick mentions his progress getting his artifact weapons, and they discuss how aspects of the artifacts such as the warlock skull or druid appearances will carry on if the weapons will only be used for transmog after Legion.
Then, the duo discuss the Blizzard cinematics. The Overwatch Mei cinematic "Rise and Shine" brought a heavy dose of the feels. Katie gushes over the Hearthstone cinematic "Home" that managed to feature three singing goblins. She also enjoyed the Junkrat cinematic, since he is like a human goblin. Nick comments that Blizzard's heavy focus on cinematics at Gamescom felt a bit off, but its hard to complain because they were all so good. Nick wonders if Blizzard could be preparing to launch their own streaming animation service. Finally, they start discussing the Kel'thuzad cartoon from Monday's preview. They mention that Dreadlord Jaina is a skin for Heroes of the Storm, and Nick talks about how Lich Queen Jaina from Hearthstone and Dreadlord Jaina make it less likely that Jaina is evil in WoW.
Going off the cinematic, they start reviewing Kel'thuzad's past. He was a member of the Kirin Tor with an interest in necromancy and other forbidden magics. He heard the Call of the Lich King and went to Northrend, and when he returned he did so as Ner'zhul's agent and was responsible for setting up the Plague Cauldrons. He founded the Cult of the Damned, and first encountered Arthas and Jaina in Brill. Arthas chased him through the Plaguelands and killed him, only to resurrect him as a Lich using the Sunwell. Kel'thuzad summoned Archimonde, and then battled Sylvanas before disappearing. He re-emerged as the final boss in Naxxramas, but survived when his phylactery was given to one of his minions. This allowed Kel'thuzad to be resurrected for Naxxramas in Wrath of the Lich King, which was the last we've seen of him.
Thank you for listening to The Tauren & the Goblin! Please email us at taurengoblin@mashthosebuttons.com with any feedback or topic requests.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1uo
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#24: The Trial of Genn Greymane Aug 15, 2017

Show notes

Finally, the trial of Genn Greymane is here! Except its not really a trial its just a discussion. But first, Katie talks about her working with her alts and hitting a point where she feels like she's done most of what she's needed to. Nick is working on his artifact appearances for his warlock and death knight. Katie thinks they should run some battlegrounds.
Alisaunder emailed in about Wrathion and his relationship to the Old Gods. Nick says that we have to take him at his word, but we really have nothing to base that on, and his visions for the Legion invasion seem to have come out of nowhere. Scott emailed in to say that we think too hard about some topics, like applying the science of tides to Azeroth and Argus, but Nick and Katie argue that overthinking is fun and kinda what they do.
Finally, its time to talk about Genn Greymane. Katie starts with a bit of history about Gilneas, and they look at how it reluctantly participated in the second war. After the war, Genn decided to withdraw from the Alliance after being upset about having to fund the internment camps and Nethergarde Keep. Genn seems to trust Lord Godrey, Baron Ashbury, and Lord Walden, three Gilnean nobles who go on to become the bosses in Shadowfang Keep. He sacrifices his friendship with Lord Darius Crowley when he builds a wall, cutting off part of Crowley's lands outside Gilneas. Crowley leads an insurrection which gets him locked up, but the wall proves useful when the Scourge come.
Looking for a way to survive the invasion, Genn tasks Archmage Arugal with summoning the worgen. This balks the undead, but now the feral worgen must be dealt with. One of them infect Genn, who hypocritically hides his wound. The Worgen claim Gilneas City as Genn and the surviving citizens flee to the coast. They are there when the Cataclysm splits open the wall just as the Forsaken attack from the sea. Genn is driven to Darnassus, where he attempts to finally join the Alliance to Varian's frustration. A softer Genn serves as Varian's advisor and a mentor for Anduin.
Genn's character arc is intended to show a stubborn man softening as he is defeated. Do you think that absolves Genn for his selfish actions earlier? Let us know at taurengoblin@mashthosebuttons.com!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1uf
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#23: On Living Planets and Frozen Thrones Aug 01, 2017

Show notes

For the first time in a while its just Nick and Katie to talk about Warcraft lore. Katie hasn't been playing much lately, so Nick talks about his time with his warlock working on the Broken Shore quests and also trying to get the hidden artifact appearances. He also started leveling his rogue through Legion, and this leads to a discussion about Outlaw rogue and the pirate-based class fantasy.
In the news, Russell Brower was let go from Blizzard, and Nick and Katie talk about his impact on the music of the game and how they hope he will be involved going forward. Alisaunder emailed in to ask about applying the Curse of Flesh to a planet, which Katie thinks might produce the Old God corrupted planet (with a giant tentacle sticking out) as seen in Nighthold. This leads to a discussion of the Mogu as a race who could wield the Curse of Flesh in either direction, and Nick laments that we didn't get to see the giant Mogu statues from the Vale of Eternal Blossoms come to life.
Alisaunder also asks about how to kill a Titan, and this leads to speculation about how Titans turn from planets (world souls) into actual beings. Nick suggests that maybe TItans don't change - that they remain inside the planet as a consciousness, and they simply create and control avatars of various sizes for different purposes. Next, Katie talks about what it is like for children living on Azeroth, who are growing up in a world with such mixed races and elements, while their parents were alive during the first and second wars and must have a very different outlook on the world.
With Hearthstone's Knights of the Frozen Throne coming out, Nick and Katie focus on Death Knights. Katie picked up a copy of the Death Knight manga, which tells the story of Thassarian, one of the first Death Knights you meet when playing through the new character intro. The comic shows how he became a Death Knight and explains his bromance with Koltira Deathweaver. This leads to a discussion about how Death Knights are (or are not) accepted in greater society, and how even if Death Knights aren't respected, our characters must be because of all we've done for the world. Assuming of course that the world knows what we've been doing.
Finally, Nick brings up the Hearthstone comics promoting Knights of the Frozen Throne. While the stories are fun and do a good job of introducing the Death Knight versions of the Hearthstone heroes, Nick appreciates how this shows that Hearthstone lore consists of stories t... Visit website for full summary.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1u6
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#22: Patch 7.3 Spoilers Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

SPOILERS FOR PATCH 7.3! DO NOT LISTEN/READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED!!!
Nick and Katie are finally reunited and Emery joins them to talk about all the spoilers in Patch 7.3. First, Katie mentions that she completed her feral druid artifact challenge, and then she mentions she got the Wild Dreamrunner from a Dreamweaver Cache. Emery, meanwhile, has completed the quest to get the monk class mount, Ban Lu. Apparently, Ban Lu is an old man who thinks that monks are too fat and complains to them while ferrying them around on his back. Nick mentions that its going to be sad when the expansion ends and all the talking weapons disappear (like Thal'kiel or Xal'atath) and that leads into a discussion about what the end of the expansion will bring.
Nick is excited that we are facing Titans. Aggramar is a raid boss, apparently reconstructed by Sargeras. Given that Aggramar and Eonar are seemingly alive, Nick questions who is the narrator for Chronicle, as Chronicle explicitly stated the Titans were dead. The group wonders about how the Titans could have survived, including the fact that their essences traveled to the Keepers, and maybe by collecting enough of their essence the Titans can be revived.
The discussion shifts to characters we will see, including Yrelka, who appears to be some variation of the Yrel we knew on Draenor. Is she our universe's Yrel, who stayed on Argus many years ago, or could she even possibly be the same Yrel we knew but aged and shifted through time? Alleria will finally be in game. It doesn't appear that she will meet Sylvanas, but she does encounter Vareesa as well as her son Arator. Alleria also has words with hunters who have collected Thas'dorah, her family bow. Turalyon is also there, and his model (and his sword) are impressive.
Hints at the next expansion are also in the patch, as quest armor suggesting Kul'Tiras was found. It also has an Old God theme which gets Emery excited. He talks about how N'Zoth may have been found in the Maelstrom, thanks to one of Il'gynoth's clues. If Kul'Tiras is featured, then Jaina should be brought back into the lore. Nick wants to see a book detailing what Jaina's been up to during Legion, and also a book going over events in Orgrimmar and Stormwind as well. Overall, Patch 7.3 has everyone super excited!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1tx
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77
Jason Bond
twitter.com/_EmeryPF

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#21: On Warcraft Music (feat. Kavo) Jul 04, 2017

Show notes

Nick's back, but Katie's gone this time! Don't worry, Kavo from Patch Day is here to fill in as our eponymous Goblin! Kavo's been running the Deaths of Chromie scenario, which gets Nick to speculating about who is behind Chromie's deaths? Could it be Cho'gall (despite being dead many times over)? At the very least, Nick thinks its someone under the influence of the Old Gods.
Nick asks Kavo if he's watched the Tomb of Sargeras cinematic, but Kavo has not, because he is waiting to legitimately beat the raid. Nick praises his dedication, and this leads to a discussion of Terran Gregory's cinematics, going back to the Wrathgate. They then talk about the Saurfang encounter in Icecrown Citadel, which prompts Nick to mention that he needs to go in and kill Professor Putricide to get his Unholy Death Knight hidden artifact appearance. Good news, everyone! He should be able to solo it!
After a brief interlude about bell choirs and Andy Kaufman, the discussion turns to the music of World of Warcraft. Nick recounts when he first discovered the music during an epic check writing session, and he talks about how the main themes of each expansion do a great job of establishing the places and threats we'll be facing. They then talk about the Goblin and Tauren theme music. Surprisingly, Nick is more excited by the Goblin music, as the percussion invokes images of Goblin engineers.
Kavo likes the Native American drumbeats of the Tauren, and uses his musical experience to analyze the Goblin sounds. Kavo talks about enjoying the Storm Peaks music in Wrath of the Lich King. Nick talks about Canticle of Sacrifice in Legion. Nick likes what sounds like horses galloping and monks practicing in Way of the Monk from Mists of Pandaria. Kavo praises the Obsidian Sanctum music. Kavo also brings up Lament of the Highborne, and Nick praises how Blizzard is able to evoke such emotion with people effectively chanting gibberish. And of course Nick mentions the Grizzly Hills music.
Then, they talk about Kavo's musical parody work. He talks about how he got started by hearing a Lady Gaga song and replacing one of the words with Jaina, and then how that lead to him recording. Nick complains that he doesn't know new songs, like the Chainsmokers "Closer". Kavo mentions getting recognized for some his larger songs, like Phantom of the BG, by the likes of Anne Stickney at Blizzcon. Finally, he talks about writing some of his best lyrics. Thanks again to Kavo for being on the show! And... Visit website for full summary.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1to
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Host:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#20: The Tauren takes a..."Holiday" Jun 20, 2017

Show notes

Klanker and Alisaunder are at it! We kick of this Goblin and Gnome filled podcast by chatting about what we've been up to, leveling alt and Legion invasions, then meander to other topics. And his, the Tomb of Sargaras, Character models, and even Draenor! Oh...and Khadgar's favorite hero, which is 'Champion'.
We discussed in length what it would be like to have alternate timelines, as well as proposed some interesting lore ideas for books we might find in Argus. What if Kil'jaden wrote misleading times for us to find? What if we were able to store physical books in a tome? We then went on to talk about our favorite Prince, Anduin, and what he's been up to for the last six months. We also mentioned Kil'jaden a few times and we discussed what makes him a compelling character worth keeping around.

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1tf
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Host:
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#19: On the Running of the Trolls Jun 06, 2017

Show notes

Dravvie joins Nick and Katie this week to talk about the Running of the Trolls event taking place on June 10th at 9 pm E/6 pm P. Make a troll character on Feathermoon-US or Scarlet Crusade-US and join in the fun journeying from Sen'jin Village to Silvermoon all in support of the Trevor Project! Dravvie is also behind the Running of the Gnomes event, which Blizzard is making a micro-holiday this year! Dravvie compares running the two events, as well as shares some of the details involved in running such big charity events for the last few years.
Nick asks Dravvie a little bit about trolls, asking her about how she felt about Vol'jin's ascendence as Warchief only for it to be cut so short. He also asks about how she felt watching Vol'jin challenge Garrosh during the Horde Civil War in Mists of Pandaria.
The discussion then pivots to warlocks, as Dravvie shares how she's felt about many of the recent class changes, and how warlock popularity has gone up and down over the years. She talks about Thalkiel's Skull, the demonology artifact, and how it will talk to the demons that you have out. Nick and Katie try to compare Demonology Warlocks and Beast Mastery Hunters, and Dravvie reminisces about the time that Warlock demons had their names changed. They discuss certain quests that Blizzard has removed from the game, like summoning warlock demons or druids earning their various forms. They also talk about Kanrethad joining the Warlock class campaign, and discuss how warlocks seem to be able to resurrect people rather easily. They also look at how warlocks fit into Azerothan society and how that has changed over time.
Thanks for listening, and please check out the Running of the Trolls on June 10th, and please be sure to donate!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1t5
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#18: On Mothers May 23, 2017

Show notes

Nick and Katie are back with an episode focused on the Mothers in the World of Warcraft! First, Nick and Katie talk about what they've been up to in the game lately (not much), and then they get into a discussion about playing demonology warlocks and how it feels to keep summoning all those demons. Nick complains that he misses the old drain-tank warlock build from vanilla.
Warcraft can seem like a game that focuses on father-son relationships, but this week, its all about mothers. They start by talking about one of the newer mother's recently introduced to the lore, Taria Wrynn, and also her daughter-in-law Tiffin Wrynn. In Tiffin's case, they discuss the odd fact that she had a relationship while she was set up for an arranged marriage, and also discuss how she was there primarily to fuel Varian's plot. Then they talk about Wrathion's two mothers, Nyxondra and Rheastraza. Rhea is the dragon (in goblin form!) who sacrifices herself to Deathwing in one of the more tragic moments from Cataclysm.
They also talk about Alexstraza as mother of all dragons, and life to some degree, and who Katie feels displays a strong maternal instinct. This leads to a discuss of Mylune, who, while not a mother herself serves as an adoptive caretaker for all the critters. They also talk about Therazane and Theradras, the Earth elementals who birthed the centaurs. Nick compares Therazane to the Venus of Willendorf, in her fertile motherliness. E'lune is another mother to all figure, who created the Naa'ru and allegedly parented Cenarius with Malorne.
They also discuss Moria Thaurissan and show their weak knowledge of the Blackrock Depths. Leza was Sunwalker Dezco's wife who birthed two children and then died, drawing comparisons to Tiffin for her portrayal. The Windrunner ladies get attention, as Liressa is the mother to Alleria and Vareesa, each with their own children (of speculative gender, apparently), and also Sylvanas, who serves as the mother of the Forsaken. They also discuss Greatmother Geyah, who is Thrall's grandmother, as well as Thrall's mother Draka (mostly AU Draka), and then Aggra, and review Thrall and Aggra's decision to go to Draenor in Warlords.
Finally, they talk about Magatha Grimtotem, who apparently is a mother (she has a granddaughter) though she has no named offspring in game. Thank you for listening to our Mother focused episode of The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1sv
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#17: On the Horde-Forsaken Relationship and the Riddler's Mind-Worm May 09, 2017

Show notes

Nick and Katie are here to revisit several of their topics from last episode that drew heat! But first, Katie mentions that she finally got the Ji-kun mount to drop in Throne of Thunder, and that she also got the Wonderous Wisdomball pet from her Kirin Tor emissary chest. Nick is jealous, but all he's been doing is working on his final falcosaur even though he has flying unlocked.
Jackal wrote in to let everyone know that he was disappointed with how Sylvanas was well-regarded despite being a War Criminal, while Genn was abused last episode. This leads to a discussion of how the Horde hasn't properly had time to react to Sylvanas as Warchief, because of the Legion invasion being all encompassing. Nick and Katie discuss how the Forsaken dominance in the Horde would leave their characters uncomfortable, and recommend that Sylvanas cease using her Blight as it makes everyone look bad. Sylvanas is extensively compared to Garrosh as far as possibly creating a situation where Horde leadership is heading in a direction the rest of the Horde disagrees with. Hopefully, the post-Legion novel will address Horde politics in detail to resolve all this.
YepX wrote in to point out that mechanics trump lore, and that the game is how it is because of mechanics. In particular, he suggested that the Bronze Dragonflight keeps sending us to certain times to help out, which is why our characters always see the world as being immediately post-Cataclysm. Nick and Katie appreciate the theory, and discuss some other mechanics that affect the game. This leads to a discussion of what our characters know vs. what the average Azerothan knows. Nick comments that the fact that Draenai can have memories going back 25,000 years or longer is mind-blowing. Thanks to Jackal and YepX for the feedback!
Finally, Katie shares her experience hunting the Ridder's Mind-Worm, as Blizzard released a post explaining their riddles. She talks about working in a community of over 10,000 people to solve the puzzle, and even how people from around the globe were able to participate. Overall, Blizzard did a great job implementing this challenge for the players! All this and more is on this week's The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1sn
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

#16: Dark Mirror, Cinematics, Dadghar, and Genn's Doghouse. Apr 25, 2017

Show notes

Jason (aka Emery) is back and he's here to talk about the recent story and cinematic developments in game. First, he talks a little about his monk which he changed to a male Pandaren. Katie shares her experiences getting the Riddler's Mind Worm mount, and Nick comments that he waited for everyone to figure it out so he could just read the instructions and claim it. Katie then shares her theory that the worm is an attempt by the Old Gods to control the smartest minds on Azeroth, and it leads to a discussion that adds this as further evidence the next expansion will focus on N'Zoth.
They discuss the recent Dark Mirror short story about Nathanos Blightcaller, as it answers the questions of why he looks so different now -- a topic we have been wondering about since our earliest episodes. Jason and Katie talk about Sylvanas being evil, but Nick theorizes that this is how Sylvanas shows love, especially after her rejection by her sister in War Crimes. For the first of many times, Katie mentions that she dislikes Genn Greymane. Katie doesn't think enough Alliance leaders have died, and Nick calls her out on that.
The discussion turns to Khadgar, and how he can be annoying but still enjoyable, and his role as the pun-making Dadghar. Alisaunder emails in with comments on the TCG and Threshadons. Everyone discusses the 7.2 cinematic, and Kil'jaeden's updated appearance. Praise is heaped upon the cinematics team, for their brilliant use of callbacks, such as Kil'jaeden looming over the holographic Dalaran mirroring Archimonde towering over the sand-representation of Dalaran in Warcraft III.
The Anduin cinematic was also released as the culmination of the quest chain to return Varian's compass to the new king. The movie is compared to the Seige of Orgrimmar finale to show how far the cinematics team has come in such a short time. Anduin has grown up, and now we know why Warriors were not offered Varian's sword as a potential artifact: because Anduin was going to empower it with the light for himself. Jason ends by comparing Sylvanas and Greymane, and everyone agrees he needs to go the doghouse. All this and more on this week's The Tauren & the Goblin!

Episode URL: http://mash4.me/1sf
Show Twitter: twitter.com/TaurenGoblin

Hosts:
Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH
Katie Grace
twitter.com/hyrulemaster77
Jason Bond
twitter.com/_EmeryPF

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: mashthosebuttons.com
Twitter: twitter.com/themashnetwork
Discord: mash.gg/discord

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