Iridikron and Neltharion: Earth Dragons and the Old Gods

Recent data mining has shown, once again, that we will be heading underground in Patch 10.1. What’s more, the story that takes is there is likely to be part of Patch 10.0.7!

We’ve already reported on the 10.1 narrative campaign hints on the Dragonflight PTR. The patch’s name seems to be Embers of Neltharion, and datamining hints from as early as the Dragonflight alpha have suggested we will be going underground. By the looks of it we will begin the journey that will eventually take us underground as early as Patch 10.0.7.

Why Underground?

At the end of the Vault of the Incarnates raid, though we defeated Raszageth, we failed to stop the release of her siblings – Vyranoth the Frozenheart, Fyrakk the Blazing, and, most dangerous of all, Iridikron the Stonescaled. These remaining Primal Incarnates did not immediately attack as Raszageth has, but instead have retreated into the earth to build their strength. Iridikron, specifically, is the Incarnate of Earth – and it is therefore his domain.

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder: Raszageth’s reckless haste cost her life, and they will not make that mistake again. They will regain their strength and choose their next moment carefully.
Kalec: Then we must take the fight to them. Strike before they are recovered.
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder: That… will be difficult. Iridikron’s mastery of the earth will harbor them and keep them out of our reach.

Iridikron and Neltharion

In Patch 10.0.7, we will have a chance to explore the Zskera Vaults, many of which seem to contain forgotten experiments from Neltharion. Patch 10.1 is likely to be named Embers of Neltharion. Already, Neltharion plays a major role in the upcoming narrative. But how does that relate to Iridikron, the living and current main antagonist of Dragonflight?

The more we’ve learned about Iridikron, the more we’ve been able to see several noticeable parallels between Iridikron and Neltharion.

Khadgar: What is it about this Iridikron that vexes you so?
Nozdormu: Of the three that remain, Vyranoth and Fyrakk were ever loyal to the Incarnate’s ideals. But it was Iridikron who truly embraced the war. The last captured, and the most difficult to contain.
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder: At the end, he struck terrible bargains to keep their cause alive. His violent desperation makes him dangerous. I believe the other incarnates never knew the truth of his depravity.

• Both are strongly affiliated with earth.
• Both appeared to have been particularly gifted at war. Even as a proto-dragon, Neltharion is depicted in Dawn of the Aspects to enjoy and excel at warfare.
• Both struck “terrible bargains” for their cause. While we are only able to speculate on Iridikron’s bargains – for now – we recently witnessed Neltharion striking his bargain with the Old Gods during Dragonflight Legacies: Chapter Three.
• Both hide the darker side of themselves from their friends – Neltharion hiding his association with the Old Gods from the Aspects, and Iridikron hiding “the truth of his depravity” from his fellow Incarnates.

The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth (Annotated), one of the lore books recently discovered in Patch 10.0.7, may hint at even more parallels between the two earth-aligned dragons. The flavor text of this book reads, “An ancient copy, transcribed by an unknown hand for Neltharion’s private collection. Notes have been scribbled in the margins.” Presumably, therefore, the notes in the margins are from Neltharion, and the offer rare insight into his views.

For a start, the notes express admiration for the power of the elements – something the Primalists would certainly agree with. In the same breath, Neltharion expresses admiration for the Old Gods, before once again echoing a claim that the Primalists often make – that there was no “peace”, but oppression.

The power of the elements was not so easily contained. Nor could they bind the influence of the Old Gods. The “peace” the titans offered came only through oppression.

Alexstrasza: Raszageth, enough! We need not fight another war! There is still time to see reason.
Raszageth: Time is precisely what you stole from me. Thousands of years, rotting in that prison!
Alexstrasza: I failed then to restore peace between us. Too many paid for that.
Raszageth: Spare me your sanctimony! You forced the titans’ edicts upon us all. You betrayed the world that gave us life and when we dared resist you cast us out!

Earth Dragons and Old Gods

While we don’t believe this is true for all Primalists, we think it’s very likely that Iridikron’s “terrible bargains” and “depravity” refers to an alignment with the Old Gods. If Neltharion, the Earth Warden, was susceptible to their whispers due to his association with the earth, the Iridikron – the Earth Incarnate – absolutely would be as well.

Neltharion’s notes also make claims that the Black Empire was something great – and that the Titans only destroyed it out of jealousy.

It was these titans who maligned the glory of the Black Empire. They looked upon the most impressive empire in existence and hated they hadn’t made it themselves! In a fit of jealousy, they tore it asunder.

And though we find the idea of the Titans destroying a wonderful Empire for no reason other than jealousy just a little bit suspect, the claim that the Titans and those affiliated with them have spread propaganda about the Black Empire is not without merit – Edicts of the Prime Designate, Volume 742, another lore book from Uldaman, shows Odyn doing exactly that.

But who cares? The Old Gods have been defeated – the Black Empire is over, right?

We have already speculated on the fifth old god mentioned in every version of The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth. The first copy of this in-game book was found in Classic – it’s nearly as old as World of Warcraft itself, and yet the new annotated version has given us a reason to pay attention to this book – and the lore in this book – again.

In the same way, the Dragon Isles is an old concept, originally meant to be an end-game zone with a raid. From the start, they were meant to be associated with the Old Gods as well as dragons, and were meant to hold temples to the Old Gods. While we haven’t seen any temples, the titan facility Tyrhold can’t help remind us of the Old God tendency to be imprisoned beneath titan facilities.

There are also the new Whispers of N’Zoth to consider, which Steve Danuser wrote himself. As well as the curious Shadowscrawled Coin in our Adventure Guides reminding us that Old Gods are just creations of the Void – not a Pantheon like the Titans of Order or the Eternal Ones of Death. If Iridikron, like Neltharion, spent centuries listening to the whispers of the Old Gods, it feels plausible that one of those whispers may have mentioned how to get into contact with the Void Lords at some point.