Returning to Dornogal - Patch 12.1.7 Campaign Playthrough (Story Spoilers)

In patch 12.1.7, players depart Silvermoon and return to Dornogal in pursuit of Xal'atath!. Here, we showcase the story of this prologue chapter for patch 12.2.

WARNING: Patch 12.1.5 and 12.1.7 Spoilers in this post!.

Return to Khaz Algar.

Following the climactic sacrifice at the end of patch 12.1.5, the plot of Midnight rather immediately made a pivot away from the story in Quel'thalas, and back on track to Xal'atath's ongoing machinations. Thanks to a vision from Orweyna, our characters finally learned that Xal'atath is attempting to claim Azeroth's Worldsoul herself, and rushed to Arator to begin forming a plan to pursue her to the center of the planet.

Orweyna says: The goddess... she has her--we must--where is Arator?. Arator says: Orweyna!. What happened?. Orweyna says: The goddess is in danger!. Xal'atath has infiltrated the heart of the world!. Arator says: That must be where she sent the Devouring Host!. Orweyna says: Time is running out. The coreway of the earthen is our only chance of stopping her. Go to the earthen. See what can be done. Orweyna says: I must speak with my people. They need to know--our goddess... our world... it cannot fall, Arator. Arator says: We will never let that happen.

With patch 12.1.7, no time is wasted in returning us to Khaz Algar, and Lor'themar sends us to Dorgonal alongside Arator to check in on the Earthen. When we last saw them during The War Within, their people had united in defiance of the Titans' edicts, and were in the middle of clearing out the collapsed Coreway that leads down to the Worldsoul. Upon arriving, we meet with Brinthe, who reveals that they have had a number of ongoing problems in their endeavor.

Machine Speaker Gerta says: Speaker Brinthe, the Coreway excavation project progresses slowly. We are doing everything we can.

Arator says: Xal'atath is deep in the heart of the world as we speak, and the Coreway's elevator is our only means of catching up to her. Arator says: Is there any way we can clear the collapsed passage faster?. High Speaker Brinthe says: All available earthen are applying their full capabilities to the effort, but complications arose that require a keeper to mitigate. High Speaker Brinthe says: Tyr was summoned to assist, but has yet to arrive. Arator says: Complications?. What kind of... Dagran Thaurissan II says: Is... is this thing on?. High Speaker Brinthe says: Dagran, is everything alright?. Dagran Thaurissan II says: No!. Things are VERY much NOT alright!. Dagran Thaurissan II says: We've got a wee skardyn problem pouring out o' the Coreway passage and could use some help right away!. Dagran Thaurissan II says: GAH!. GOTTA GO!. High Speaker Brinthe says: Complications, young Arator. Arator says: Well, at least this sounds like one a sword can help with.

High Speaker Brinthe says: Begin another search for the keeper!.

In addition to their need of Tyr, the Keeper we resurrected into a new body back in Dragonflight, Dagran is also in imminent need of help against void-corrupted skardyn pouring from the Coreway excavation site, so we head down into Hallowfall to help stem the tide of enemies.

After fighting off skardyn and saving the Earthen and Arathi workers, Dagran's search affirms that in order to delve any deeper into the Coreway, they will need higher security clearance. With no other problems happening with the excavation, we return with Dagran to the surface.

Dagran Thaurissan II says: Arator!. Champion!. Skardyn just started pouring out of the Coreway. We have to save everyone!.

Reassured Earthen says: My thanks. I will not become a skardyn so quickly. I will recover. Reassured Earthen says: Thank you. I must refocus. The skardyn cannot stop our work. Reassured Earthen says: I require downtime. The Coreway is so near, but so far...

Dagran Thaurissan II says: I can't get the console to work. We'll find Tyr. Maybe he'll have the security clearance we need.

Back in Dornogal, we find a number of Earthen waiting around for Tyr, and find out that he has still not arrived. Unable to merely sit around, we set out with Dagran to search for him ourselves, and along the way bump into none other than Dagran's uncle, Brann Bronzebeard!. Having caught him in the middle of a few delves, he joins us on the hunt for Tyr across the Isle of Dorn.

Dagran Thaurissan II says: Where's Tyr?. Hasn't he arrived?. Why is everyone waiting around?. Dagran Thaurissan II says: The Isle isn't small, but a titan keeper should stand out. We'll find him!.

Dagran Thaurissan II says: Uncle Brann!. Are you looking for Tyr too?. Brann Bronzebeard says: Of course!. Come on, Dagran!. We have a keeper to find.

High Speaker Brinthe says: Dagran. Champion. Brann Bronzebeard. We have found the keeper.

After searching further, and speculating if he was on some grand quest, we ultimately find Tyr simply... sitting on the beach, admiring the view. Brinthe has also arrived to speak with Tyr, but she allows Dagran's request to come first, and Tyr reveals that it is not in his capacity to access the Coreway -- but it is the capacity of another Keeper.

Tyr explains that the Coreway was under the jurisdiction of Archaedas, the Keeper who we defeated all the way back in vanilla WoW as the final boss of Uldaman. During The War Within, the weekly Archive quests revealed periodic messages from Archaedas, detailing the importance of Azeroth's Worldsoul, the creation of the Worldcore to contain it, and the troubled maintenance of the Coreway by the earthen of Khaz Algar.

While Tyr himself may not be able to enter the Coreway with his own access disc, Archaedas' might, and so Tyr gives us his and sends us to Uldaman along with Brann and Dagran to retrieve it from Archaedas' corpse. The pair are giddy -- perhaps too giddy -- and set off towards Dornogal to take a teleporter to Uldaman.

High Speaker Brinthe says: Hail, Keeper Tyr. I am High Speaker Brinthe of the Council of Dornogal. Thank you for responding to our call. Tyr says: It is an honor to meet you, High Speaker Brinthe. I will assist however I am able. Dagran Thaurissan II says: It's so exciting to meet you, Keeper Tyr, sir!. I'm Dagran. I have so many questions for you!. High Speaker Brinthe says: Indeed, we both have queries. Dagran, you have priority. What did you find that required the keeper?. Dagran Thaurissan II says: Oh, right, of course!. We need to access the Coreway, but it needs a higher security disc than what we've got. Where can we find one?. Tyr says: The Coreway was Archaedas's project. His security disc would grant you the access you seek. Tyr says: Take my security disc. Archaedas's remains are within the vault in Uldaman. This disc will allow you to find him. Brann Bronzebeard says: Uldaman?. I've been there loads of times. I can help ye find that disc, Dagran. Dagran Thaurissan II says: Are you ready to revisit Uldaman, Uncle Brann?. I can't wait to see it with you!. Brann Bronzebeard says: With Tyr's very own security disc!. Think of the things we'll uncover, laddie!.

Brinthe, meanwhile, stays behind to have a chat with Tyr about her doubts over his role as Keeper. The Earthen of Khaz Algar have a fraught past with their Titanforged masters, especially the namesakes of their city, Keepers Dornic and Galan, who abused them over the course of millennia. Despite this, Brinthe sees the earnestness of Tyr even with his memory loss, and endeavors to start a new and amicable relationship with the resurrected keeper.

High Speaker Brinthe says: Keeper Tyr. The last time one of your kind visited was not a pleasant memory. Tyr says: You refer to Galan. Both Galan and Dornic lost sight of their directives. High Speaker Brinthe says: That is a mild way to phrase our intended deactivation. Tyr says: Their protocols are not my own. High Speaker Brinthe says: Yet you are still a creature of great concern, Keeper. We earthen have found our own directives. We value our new freedom and understanding. Tyr says: I... am uncertain how to proceed, High Speaker Brinthe. What do you require from me?. I would prefer an amicable relationship. High Speaker Brinthe says: Very well. What is your directive, Keeper Tyr?. Tyr says: My... directive?. I do not... Forgive me, my memory is... High Speaker Brinthe says: I see. Perhaps you understand, then, the trepidation of my people. Tyr says: I wish only to understand your people. To be an ally. High Speaker Brinthe says: Then I believe we may continue to learn more about one another. Amicably.

Exploits in Uldaman.

Upon arriving in Uldaman with Dagran and Brann, we quickly hit a snag with a sealed door. Dagran uses Tyr's security disc to open it... and ends up freeing a group of trapped goblins inside, who steal the disc and take control of the Titanforged robots inside.

Instead of coming away with Archaedas' security disc, we end up losing Tyr's as well, and so we help Dagran and Brann fight through the goblins and Titanforged to retrieve the disc. Along the way, Dagran does a number of conspicuous bits of tinkering with Titan technology, continuing his story from the Overcharged delves in The War Within and allowing us to create a makeshift fake disc to control the Titanforged instead.

Brann Bronzebeard says: Come on, Dagran!. We've some rivals to take care of!. Dagran Thaurissan II says: I'm right behind you, Uncle Brann!.

Dagran Thaurissan II says: Right then, I'm starting to put the pieces together. Keep the constructs and goblins away!. Dagran Thaurissan II says: I cannae translate this rune here, Uncle Brann. What do you make of it?. Nifty "Two Boots" Boltdigger says: What're you doing in here?. Stop riling up the constructs!. Brann Bronzebeard says: Oh, I've got this. That'll disable security in this room. Nifty "Two Boots" Boltdigger says: I just wanted to see the sky again...

Dagran Thaurissan II says: Seems it brought more. Let me try the prototype!. Dagran Thaurissan II says: It worked!. Er, sort of. Dagran Thaurissan II says: How fast do ye think ye can trigger more titan security measures, Uncle Brann?. Brann Bronzebeard says: I'm an expert, lad!. Hey you golems, follow me!.