Order

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“Trust in the ways of Order.”

Watcher Koranos
Order as depicted in Chronicle Volume 1.

Order is one of the six cosmic forces that govern the cosmic systems of the Great Dark Beyond. Acting as a counterbalance to Disorder, it is most commonly perceived in the physical realm as arcane magic, a type of energy innately volatile that requires intense precision and concentration to wield,[1] and which can warps time, space, and controls the flow of mana. The titans are the main manifestation of Order in the physical universe, they are colossal, planet-sized cosmic beings imbued with the raw power of creation itself. Unified as the Pantheon of Order, they shaped and brought life and order to countless worlds with the help of their titan-forged, while watching over the universe and searching for others of their kind.

Origins and characteristics

The Seat of the Pantheon, the "very cradle of creation".[2]

The cosmic force of Order was conceived by the First Ones, as well as the other forces five other governing forces of reality.[3] The Eternal Ones, the rulers of the Shadowlands, believe that the universe originated from six First Ones: Light, Shadow, Order, Disorder, Life, and Death. They existed in constant conflict until their battle with each other gave way to balance. A pattern was created, and each First One gave something of itself to the design, which birthed "children of their kind" who existed in both harmony and discord.[4] The broker Firim reached a similar conclusion based on his interpretations of the First Ones' writings: that the cosmos began with six forces (or possibly a different number) existing in opposition to each other until they came together (or were brought together) and gave form to a design. Each "architect" gave a portion of themselves, and thus "the pattern was drawn". With a framework in place, all things in the universe came to be, like a fungus growing upon the frame. The six forces were now in balance, and others arose from their intersections—a simple structure growing infinitely more complex.[5] Firim believes that the reason the forces are locked in constant and jealous conflict is that the First Ones gave each of their "children" only a portion of their gifts, making the forces' very nature one of limitation and denial.[6]

Despite what is commonly known on Azeroth as history, the titans are in some way connected to the First Ones, the same entities that organized and designed the Pantheon of Death and the Shadowlands themselves. The titans' connection to the Progenitors, and the otherwise unknown facility known as Zereth Ordus, was concealed and forbidden by the command of Odyn, placing the titans as the absolute pinnacle of existence in their records so as not to "confuse" mortals, in his words.[7] The titan language uses the same word for "created" as it does for "Ordered",[8] and servants of the titans do not consider something to be finished[9] or even truly exist until Order has been imposed upon it. Odyn used this line of reasoning to argue that it is not inaccurate to consider the titans—and not the First Ones—as the source of all creation (though some of his fellow keepers disagreed).[7]

Time is a progression of instants and a construct of Order.[10][11] This movement is ordinarily perceived by mortals as regular and determinant, functioning much like a clockwork; and flowing like the sands of an hourglass. Living mortals which are influenced by the force of Order perceive time the way they do. Without a tether to their mortal plane, they no longer have the same perception.[12]

Ulderoth is an alternate universe of Azeroth and a titan utopia where there is no Void presence, only Order and Life, as the Pantheon saw their experiments through.[13]

Arcane magic

Main article: Arcane

Arcane magic (also called "Order magic")[14] is a cold and intellectual magic that warps time, space, and controls the flow of mana.[15] As the manifestation of Order in the Great Dark Beyond and the Twisting Nether, arcane is the language of order and the opposite end of the spectrum from fel which represents Disorder. In eons past, the titans used the primal "language of the arcane" to weave entire worlds into existence. Arcane has been described as the "base fabric" of the world,[16] and can be pulled from ley lines,[17] channels of immense magical power that course through Azeroth itself.[18] Though extremely volatile, arcane is so similar to an element it might as well be one, for all magical intents and purposes.[19] In general, arcane magic can be used to do nearly everything and is seemingly limited mostly by imagination, as it can be used to manipulate both space and time, and bend reality.

Prominent figures

Order realm

Like the other cosmic forces, beings of Order can normally only be permanently killed in their realm. If killed in the mortal realm, their essence returns to their plane to reconstitute, though some exceptionally powerful forces can intervene in the process.[20] It has been hinted that when titans die, their souls would return to their own Order plane.[21] By corrupting Argus with Death magic, the nathrezim ensured that, upon its death, his soul would be sent to the Shadowlands rather than his cosmic plane.[22][23]

Races of Order

Keeper Tyr, the mightiest of the watchers.[24]

Titans

The titans are colossal godlike beings made up of the primordial matter from which the very universe was born, and are the embodiments of Order.[25] Imbued with the raw power of creation itself, they roamed the Great Dark Beyond like walking worlds,[26] shaping and bringing life and order to countless worlds across the cosmos.[27] After they formed the Pantheon of Order, they came to realize that order was crucial to finding the worlds that could contain nascent world-souls.[28]

Titan-forged

The titan-forged were the armies crafted by the Pantheon to fight the Old Gods' Black Empire. The first generation was divided between the aesir and vanir, respectively fashioned from metal and stone. They are now collectively known as watchers. Some were also imbued by the titans with their specific likeness and powers to lead the titan-forged and became known as the keepers.[29] The keepers later created more titan-forged through the twin forges, the Forge of Wills and the Forge of Origination.[30]

Arcane elementals

Arcane elementals, also called "arcane wraiths "mana elementals", are manifestations of volatile arcane energy and are described as beings of pure mana.[31]

Arcane Constructs are intelligent but unpredictable, spawned of pure mana, and allow their user to quickly assimilate large amounts of arcane knowledge.[32]

Notes and trivia

Speculation

Questionmark-medium.png
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Constellar may be creatures from the plane of Order, given their orderly nature and arcane-like appearance. Eonar and the other titans also resemble them in their non-corporeal forms, such as when manifesting as the Seat of the Pantheon, further indicating a deeper connection between the Pantheon of Order and the constellar.

Gallery

See also

References

 
  1. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 11
  2. ^ Aggramar (tactics)
  3. ^ World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 150 - 151
  4. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 4, pg. 176 - 177
  5. ^  [Expedition Report A37J - Part 1]
  6. ^  [Firim in Exile, Part 6]
  7. ^ a b  [Edicts of the Prime Designate, Volume 742]
  8. ^ World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 154
  9. ^  [On the Nature of the Dream]
  10. ^ Ion Hazzikostas interview with Blizzplanet - "Time is a construct of Order and structure; and things in the Shadowlands are more Chaotic in a lot of ways."
  11. ^ Ezgi Pajecki 2020-09-26. Maldraxxus, Shadowlands and Beyond - Interview with Steve Danuser. Lorekeeper. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27.
  12. ^ Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands
  13. ^ Time Rifts#Ulderoth
  14. ^ N [10-70] Lessons From Our Past
  15. ^ Legion Class Preview Series: Mage
  16. ^ A Mage [10] Mage-tastic Gizmonitor
  17. ^ War Crimes, pg. 359 on e-book
  18. ^ World of Warcraft: Paragons, pg. 584 on e-book
  19. ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 25
  20. ^ Ezgi Pajecki 2020-09-26. Maldraxxus, Shadowlands and Beyond - Interview with Steve Danuser. Lorekeeper. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27.
  21. ^ Steve Danuser with Taliesin & Evitel - 00:40:01
  22. ^ N [60] Acquaintances Forgotten
  23. ^ World of Warcraft: Sylvanas, chapter 25
  24. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 42
  25. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 8 (cosmology chart)
  26. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 13
  27. ^ World of Warcraft: The Magazine Volume I Issue IV, 71.
  28. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 19 - 20
  29. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 31
  30. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 60
  31. ^ N [25-30] The Unending Invasion
  32. ^ H [5-30] Arcane De-Construction
  33. ^ B [10-70] Whispers on the Winds
  34. ^ Mobs in the Primalist Future: The age of order is ended, the age of the elements is now!
  35. ^  [The Legend of Elun'Ahir]