HotS update at BlizzCon?

[Twilice]

What if it is char? I mean the artefact doesn't only affect kerrigan right? But it might affect them in a way not intended, that is why they are still "zerg/swarm" but no longer the mindless purple creatures.

[flak4321]

Valerian does not know about Duran and is not directly involved with him. Kerrigan getting deinfested was **spoiler alert** part of the plan all along and it is unfolding just as Duran wants.

In reading subsequent posts, I agree you are speculating, even if you aren't using the word. As for listing % sure and such, please clarify whether this is you feeling 90% sure this is the greatest of the myriad possibilities or whether you actually have a source to back this up, complete with any notation as to whether you are bound to keep this source a secret. Either will lend credibility to your posts that will result in less snappy answers.

I definitely feel a return of Duran is indeed in the works. All that need be decided is how and when. I will also add to my previous posts a speculation question: Is there any chance Duran, if he is behind the current and upcoming events in any way, is possibly working for or in tandem with Ulrezaj, who's Taldarim followers plagued our buddy Jimmy? Note: The Dark Templar Saga ends with (spoilers) Ulrezaj being trapped in a DT memory crystal, and we cannot assume even cannon books such as these will not have or develop inconsistencies with in-game lore, which leads to this: Is Duran connected to the Taldarim? Could he have usurped control in Ulrezaj's absence?

On the concept art: nice pics. That ginormous ultralisk thingy looks a lot more plant-like than usual, doesn't it? And the infestor-like appearance of the noted object in the foreground of pic#2 could just be a coincidental shape unless we assume the streakers speckled throughout are them overlord looking things that exploded various detriments upon us in the campaign, which could make this a subtely place WoL concept art piece.

Originally Posted by Norfindel
Anyways, what dustinbowder said is not fact. They said that the guys at artwork were playing with an infested Tychus pic, but it’s not sure they’re going to use it. It’s definitely a possibility, and a quite scary character.

This could happen. Considering they LEFT HIS BODY IN THE ZERG HIVE. At least I think it was a hive.

Film at 11: Tychus Findlay, Queen of Blades... wait a minute...

[Carsickness]

To me all these pics go together. Definitely the Zerg infesting a planet
First comes the Infestors. Then the Liviathan, then everything is fucked.







Maybe the opening cinematic??

[Zero]

I want to stimulate more discussion on this, so I want to throw a theory out there:

We know the Dark Voice corrupted the Overmind, but perhaps it was more than just a corruption of the mind. My theory is that the Xel'Naga artifact purified the corruption of the Dark Voice from the Zerg. The lesser Zerg were wiped out when hit with the energy from the device, but Kerrigan survived. The reason we see the Zerginess gone from her is because it has receded. I don't believe it is gone. We know that Kerrigan has to re-embrace the Zerg, but I don't think she has to reinfest herself, but to strengthen the new pure Zerg within her.



This is where the new Zerg artwork comes into play. Here we see Zerg that seem to blend a lot more into new jungle life forming on Char. The reason behind this is that the Zerg have (or at least started to) become more in tune with nature, and not being complete abominations.

The corruption of the Zerg by the Dark Voice is also the main reason why the "Hybrids" could never be the same as the fusion originally intended by the Xel'Naga. The Hybrids were formed from the corrupted Zerg, not the Zerg that the Xel'Naga had intended, which were likely more in balance with their natural environment like the newer Zerg we are seeing in this artwork. (This isn't to say they're weaker, just not as twisted and unnatural as before.)




The main objection to this, is that if Xel'Naga artifact was meant to cleanse corruption, why would Duran/Narud push for this to be done if it could likely create a stronger, more unified Zerg swarm? Perhaps this was the only means that Duran would be able to exploit a weakness in Kerrigan. Was Duran pulling Mengsk's strings to have Kerrigan killed while at her weakest, knowing the artifact would greatly reduce her power for a lengthy period of time?

The problem with the prophecy of the Protoss' Last Stand, is that we know Kerrigan is killed in that timeline. What we don't know is where or when in that timeline that Kerrigan was killed. We would like to think we make a choice in this grand destiny of universe. Did Raynor's actions against Tychus alter history or has the real decision that determines Kerrigan's fate not happened yet.

[TheEconomist]

FYI, a particular "incident" at BlizzCon was on the 29th's episode of The Soup by the way

It never ceases to amaze me the extreme lengths a Blizzard fan will go to to memorize inconsequential events in the universes. Even to the point of being able to embarass the very people who created the story by how much more you know.

[Zero]

FYI, a particular "incident" at BlizzCon was on the 29th's episode of The Soup by the way

It never ceases to amaze me the extreme lengths a Blizzard fan will go to to memorize inconsequential events in the universes. Even to the point of being able to embarass the very people who created the story by how much more you know.

Link?

I'm assuming you're talking about the red shirt guy?

[SaZun]

Some definite interesting storyline guesses here. PS Zero i <3 the avatar.

[TheEconomist]

Link?

I'm assuming you're talking about the red shirt guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mghX_hfIF8

Yeah, I was talking about the red shirt guy. It's old news by now but I just happened to have been watching The Soup and saw it. It was a bit more special because it caught me by surprise and came right after Charlie Sheen jokes which makes it seem pretty mainstream