Warning: Spoilers for World of Warcraft: Embers of Neltharion below.
Story beats from the new chapters on World of Warcraft’s Public Test Realm have hinted at the future Aspect of the Black Dragonflight. While the next chapter of World of Warcraft’s story has not yet been fully revealed, these hints tease an unexpected turn for the leadership of the fledgling dragonflight.
World of Warcraft is currently developing Embers of Neltharion, its first major content patch for the Dragonflight expansion. Parts of this new update are available on the World of Warcraft PTR, where players can test and experience certain parts of the new zone, systems, and story to be found within it.
If the name is any indication, Embers of Neltharion will involve unearthing the legacy of the former fallen Aspect of the Black Dragonflight. As such, Sabellian, Wrathion, and Ebyssian–the three main living Black Dragon characters and children of Deathwing–are center stage. In Dragonflight, these characters have mostly been involved in the contest between Wrathion and Sabellian for leadership of the Black Dragonflight. However, this chapter seems to be setting up Ebyssian as the future Black Dragon Aspect instead.
Throughout the campaign, Sabellian and Wrathion continue their bickering to the detriment of the mission at hand–to stop the Primal Incarnate Fyrakk and the traitorous Dracthyr Scalecommander Sarkareth. On multiple occasions, Ebyssian mediates between the two, using his leadership and wisdom to both scold and guide his brothers. Sabellian especially is forced to face his inadequacies as a leader, as he and Ebyssian have a lot of screen time in Dragonflight to interact.
Considering how much World of Warcraft has teased Wrathion or Sabellian as the next Black Dragon Aspect, this development is quite unexpected. While this is no confirmation Ebyssian will become the new Aspect, his prominence in the story, natural leadership skills, and a new unique model currently encrypted on the PTR are evidence he might lead it, or at least become a main advisor to the dragon who does.
Some players are less enthusiastic about this potential development in Dragonflight. Some believe Sabellian would be a better leader because of his experience with members of his own flight, while others think Wrathion would be the best because of his history in World of Warcraft’s story. Ebyssian, on the other hand, has little experience with other dragons, and acted as an advisor, rather than a leader, for most of his life. World of Warcraft fans will have to see which of these dragons will lead the Black Dragonflight in the future–or if all three will take on the mantle together.
World of Warcraft is available now for PC.
Source: Wowhead Part 1, Part 2