reviews:
Guest 1: While the fall of Constantinople was certainly intriguing I don't see what about it stands out sadly from the Siege of Lordaeron...hell where the Ottomans moved ships over land, the Alliance had a flying Man of War which blew open Lordaeron's walls...because apparently all the other flying ships in existence were suddenly commanded by Dumbasses who could neither think to use their superior speed, mobility and altitude to disable said ship, but also no one else though to use their airship's cannons on said wall...because "plot"... seriously either the wall had fallen well before Jaina showed up or the Horde took her out, because even if both Horde and Alliance sky-fleets absolutely destroyed one another it wouldn't take that much for a single ship as it's operating to have a unengaged side assault the city walls, while there is a "number of cannons diffrence" even Man of Wars didn't fire that many at once instead prioritizing the ability to sustain fire, the destruction of tall thin walls made of marble, or even heavy stone like those used in Lordaeron doesn't require more than a half dozen cannons at most to destroy. If Lordaeron's walls had been thick at the point destroyed then maybe Jaina's excess would make sense.
In reality a real world siege which might be comprable or better refrences would be the Siege of Candia (Ottoman victory but the start of their decline and was the 2nd longest siege in history), the Historical Trojan War (another long siege and a perfect example of bad conditions and bad planning meeting with good field commands which ironically makes the whole situation worse), of course the Siege of Vienna (aka "then the wing hussars arrived"), and there was a certain Star Fort Siege that i always used to visually since it was so formulaic yet with particular but small and noticeable points were it diverged from the standard in a way that contrasted with the progrsssion everywhere else, that i used to reference but now i can't remember its name to save my life...though my favorite siege has to be the Battle of Alesia (Wall ception, we build a wall around a wall, around a wall!)
Guest 2: A good take, and honestly lets just light the whole armory on fire, see which bomb goes off first. As for Irma, well the Empire is both strong and weak when it comes to their Intelligence agencies. The Empire itself is easy to infiltrate, and the Witch Hunters...well they deserve their poor reputation. BUT the various agencies, the redundancies within their existence, and the conflicting non-imperial agencies, cults, etc makes it very difficult for someone to infiltrate the Empire in a way that's effective. Which is noticeable in the Blackhearts series where those poor sods keep getting dropped to serve as a wrench in the works for plots that should have been absolutely invisible to Imperial intelligence, and if you read Ulrika the Vampire, well Lahmians are aware of far more than anyone thinks but their priorities are always a little off, but they're certainly shielding the Empire for their own purposes...then again Vlad, Vlads just the Jailer and Wrath Arthas if either of them had a competent writer, thinking that the Vampires would be best suited to shielding humanity against Chaos.
Guest 3: Well Black Irons are just mutant dwarves, while the Dawi-Zharr are lords of the Darklands, children of Hashut, and masters over all inferior races.
Hakuryuu: What bad feelings? what ever could they be? See nothings wrong no evil plots here.
But certainly thankyou for the Input, though I might use everyone's ordering to decide to merge two of the stories if my plotting leaves some gaps or a need for a change of pace.
Dragon King of the West: The Light shall guide ournheroes way...i hope. But now things shall spiral into true anarchy.
JiggyliFAP: Well maybe i wasn't too direct or open with it. But Vampires are Wells of magic, and they litterally pull the Winds of magic to themselves to sustain their very existence, their presence alone draws magic wind to them and when more gather the "Vampiric corruption" from TWW is a actual thing. Skaven Corruption might not be, but certainly Vampiric Corruption is and its all because the connection the Vampire's soul has to the winds of magic. So where they go, inevitably the winds of magic will end up going to as well, though they can persist and even still raise and command small armies even when cut off from magic like Luther Harken. Then there's the similarities between pre-chaos WHFB magic, and the magic of Azeroth's laylines, while the 8 winds, and the 6 powers are diffrent the laylines for both worlds are almost the same in function and use. Even after the near destination of WHFB's laylines by chaos, they even have druids and elves tending to them and magic pools just like Warcraft.
Jak23: little hard to read there, but I get you. But got to give the Alliance this, they're almost entirely aware of Mallus, where the Empire at this point still has entire Grand Counties that aren't aware yet. And while the Empire's turf is huge compared to any individual state in the Alliance it's very small when compared to the totality of the Alliance.
Ironwall: Yeah, Mallus is a harsh place, part of why I'm there going Azeroth would win a world v world war. Not because their that much better, but because Mallus itself not even counting Chaos and Undead and Orks would make getting armies from point A to Point B a trial. Hell when a wall is a requirement for a normal human village in Mallus, and Altdorf gets assaulted by random ass armies doomed to fail, even at the times the Empire's borders are the most secure, and the worst Azeroth has that way is Jaina Proudmoor throwing a tempertantrum over her home getting bombed after housing a entite navy and the Alliance's command structrue in said home...or the unleashing of a world threatening monster are what's required to threaten a capital...a capital with very pathetic defenses thanks to Azeroth using the defense doctrine the God-Emperor of Man used to earn my perpetual scorn and conclusion the guy was a fucking moron long before i ever heard of his IQ negative 2000 plan to get rid of chaos.
Azerotheans wouldn't last LIVING on Mallus, but certainly militarily on the field they're better performers, even though the concept of mass, something still highly emphasized by officers modernly, is lost on them. but their logistical potential and recovery magic is too good to ignore. A siege scenario sadly I'd label them as inferior seeing how I'm almost certain that in command of say Helms Deep's defense they'd put their entire army outside the wall ...and then wonder why an adventure hadn't walked by to accept some chump change to kill one guy and win the entire war. But criticism of "tactical genius" characters aside the layout and design if most defensive networks (towers/walls/etc) shows a general lack of knowledge when it comes to sieges, where WHFB the GW writers are also just as, if not MORE, ignorant (glares at the few building models for Tabletop) they at least copy pasted castles from IRL depictions which certainly were designed by people with expert knowledge of what they were doing.
DaoistDreamwalker: Thankyou, though i wouldn't say Zhao Ming is the tamest, he may be the most affable, but from everything we've been told I'd give that to his Brother Yuan Bo the one guy who during the siblings civil war was trying to be reasonable and negotiate peace between his four siblings...only to get dragged into the fighting and if i recall the interview right the writers seemed to imply it was Li Dao and Yin-Yin who dragged him into the war. But honestly based off his description i could see him in some basic ass Jacquard robes with a very basic hair bun and glasses with just some of his marks of station as his only embellishments looking all like IP-man meets zhuge liang...or maybe like one of the ming dynasty secret police (jinyiwei) from a modern period drama.
TheJackinati275: Well the Cathayans and the Pandarians are so stupidly different in their "chineseness" its actually scary to think about. The Pandarians are Daoist/ Tai-Chi primarily inspired with various Americanized psudeo-chinese/asian inspirations such as Kung-fu Panda (though obviously the Pandarians predate Po) and Avatar. Where Cathay...hoooo boi, their inspirations are litterally the people who directly rivaled or at times slaughtered the Pandarians core inspirations. While there's "Harmony" as a mechanic and of course that ascribes to Daoism, the entire Cathayan state reaks of Legalism, particularly the "he just insulted a Dragon, kill him! but don't spill any tea while we kill him." and the presence of the Black Crows. and the Legalists as part of making the Qin Dynasty slaughtered the Confucians and challenged the Daoists basically the Legalists wanted the sams goal but through methods that stand opposed to the Daoists. Cathay will either find themselves amused by the "backwards fools" (see Legalist view of Daoists) that are the Pandarians...or they'll get offended real easily by them and want to crush them for their inherent mockery of the Dragons with the cloud serpent riders and all that stuff...Honestly just knowing how fucked Chinese history is...the thought of the two meetings scares me.
micelzod: If they choose a side, they could just attack both, after all they have Dragons and Dragon-blooded Shugengan and an army whose numbers of professional troops exceeds anything the Empire could field. On a sort of review of Cathay they are one of the top threats to the WoW factions from Mallus.
But ironically they are held back technologically by their dragon rulers and their skewed view of the passing of time. because remember the guns used by Cathay now were in the early stages of their development back before Nagash created Necromancy, meaning both dwarves and the Empire developed firearms tech faster than the Cathayans...but well Cathay's magic is pretty great and has at least 1 OP (in this context) spell which would BREAK most WoW factions, because per the effectiveness of Missile Mirror it seems to reflect all projectiles, and WoW has a excess of these attacks. And then their ability to summon spirits is built around the Dragon of Dreams which means their spirits and spirit summoning is actually independent of Necromancy and their Ghosts are ~ehh kinda better. like I'd still choose Necromancy, but there's a bit more purity to Cathayan spirits.
Post Story Notes
Character Status: (I think I covered everyone)
King Anduin Wrynn: Alive, In in great health, and in Stormwind. Fully motivated and surrounded by allies, but faced with mounting enemy advantages.
Jaina Proudmoor: Alive, in Good health, in transit. Fully motivated to avenge everything she's lost to the Horde.
Marthias Shaw: Alive, in good Health, advising Anduin in Stormwind. Trying to develop SI:7s presence on Mallus while rebuilding after the War of the Thorns.
Genn Graymane: Alive, in Good Health. Advising Anduin in Stormwind. Currently preparing for war with the Horde.
Lorna Crowley: Alive, in good Health. Currently awaiting Alliance aid to liberate Lordaeron.
Turalyon: Alive, in moderate health. Currently attempting to aid recovery after the War of the Thorns.
Sky-admiral Rogers: Alive, in good health. Attempting to reorganize the fleets after the War of the Thorns and preparing for a wider war.
Tolgar: Unknown, in poor health if alive. Past seen in Mordheim post Mana-bomb detonation.
Brian: Deceased, Head split by a Vampire woman. Last seen before burial being used as a meat shield.
Eike Brunner: Alive, health uncertain. Looking for profits to be made on Azeroth.
Elector Count Wolfram Hartwig: Alive, old, health is good. Currently dealing with and waiting for reports on Mordheim.
Hans: Alive, in good health. Currently finishing his contract with the trade Caravan.
Ping: Alive, in good Health. About to help unload cargo at the Trade Convoys destination.
Ye Luoyang: Alive, in good health. unloading cargo and selling it.
Thomas Zuckerborg: Dead, killed by Relyea for trying to assault Avenah.
Relyea Redcap: Alive, in Moderate health, recovering in Stormwind.
Abram Turnau: Undead. Lost his life betraying Aleksandr but became a lich due to a prepared ritual, now seeking revenge.
Aleksandr Von Carstein: Undead. Returning to Sylvania the long way around with captive Draenei.
Alya Von Carstein: Undead. Currently with Abram under unknown conditions.
Captain Günther: Alive, in moderate health, recovering in Stormwinf and trying...and failing to overcome culture shock.
Volkmar the Grimm: Alive, in good health, Advising Anduin in Stormwind with full intent to return to The Empire as soon as possible.
Emperor Karl Franz: Alive, in Good Health, informing the Author that this does not have his concent.
Lady Gertrude: Alive, in good health, Currently writing stories of illicit love between a blue alien and a Imperial Captain.
Lady Emmanuelle Nacht: Alive, in Moderate Health, currently leading the re occupation of Mordheim.
Lady Irma Schoff: Classified
Malfurion Stormrage: Alive, in critical condition and slowly recovering. entirely unconscious under the care of Cenarius.
Tyrande Whisperwind: Alive, in decent health. Trying to avenge her people.
Shandris Feathermoon: Alive...And here she lays, armless, friendless and Homeless, but not Talking Dog best friendless!
Captain Delaryn Summermoon: Dead, last seen alive on Darkshore having a drama moment with a drama queen.
Datris Sageclaw: Dead, last seen alive trying to use bear strength to overpower a vampire.
Kyn'ra : Alive, in moderate health. Last seen viciously fighting with Skaven and Undead in Moderhiem.
Sister Avenah: Alive, in Good Health, currently providing aid in Stormwind.
Aursuun: Alive, in Good Health, currently providing aid in Stormwind.
Prophet Velen: Alive, recovering from severe poisoning, attenpting to still guide Anduin.
Muradin Bronzebeard: Alive, in Good Health, considering options for the looming war.
Moira Thaurissan: Alive, in good health considerind options for the looming war.
Gelbin Mekkatorque: Alive, in good health, inventing new weapons in response to reports from the War of the Thorns.
Forimush: Dead, killed by skeletons.
Rorgor: Dead, Blood drained by Tarei.
Kindra: Dead, Blood Drained by Tarei.
Gerunn Goldenpass: Dead, decapitated in Mana-bomb Explosion
Tillux: Alive, in questionable santity. Currently attempting to research Mallus magic and Warp Stone.
Nimm: classified.
Nodd: classified.
Arman Duelmail: Dead, last seen falling through the purple sun of Xereus
Mata Copperguard: Dead, last seen falling though the purple sun of Xereus.
Silandel Lividbrook: Alive, health poor, currently recovering while following Eike Brunner.
Tyrant Kogkradd Kegeater: Alive, in good health, groveling to Greasus.
Gaster: Alive, in decent health, Eating.
Druk: Dead, Eaten by a Dreamaw.
Lilian Voss: Undead, releived of command of Crimson Monastery, classified.
Gin Wallkeep: Dead, last seen attempting to deliver a warning to the Horde while holding a dead rat.
Zannae Sunguard: Dead, killed by Bonecrucher
Launchalot Bloodfeeder: Dead, killed firing a mana-bomb rocket.
Captain Kitala Starshadow: Dead, Killed by a blight detonation in Crimson Post.
Sylvanas Windrunner: Undead, currently solidifying the Horde Alliance with their Mallus Allies.
Astalor Bloodsworn: Alive, in good health, leading Horde Portal Research.
Alyzz Kneecord, P.I, Mawrider, ?Isekai Choosen One?: Alive, in Good health, Negotiating with Ogres and trying to think of weight loss exercises to do before going home.
Kaxu Softtusk: Dead, died saving Anduin and Volkmar in Mordheim.
Kuyu: Dead, killed by Mana-bomb in Mordheim.
Thanquol: Alive, in good health, plotting on Kalimdor.
Ikit Claw: Alive, in good health, sending reports to the Council of thirteen
Varok Saurfang: Alive, in Good health, feeling guilty.
Eitrigg: Alive, in Good health, attempting to repair what of Orgrimmar he can.
Nathanos Blightcaller: Undead, plotting with Sylvanas Windrunner.
Chief Faangschtick: Dead, Killed by Launchalot in battle.
Chieften Snikthroaght: Dead, killed by Gin in battle
Ghozul Gazaruth: Alive, hoping to remain alive and to get revenge after meeting with his Sorcerer Priest.
Conclusion from input from reviews:
As of the time I'm writing this the winning votes seem to be Drums of War followed closely by Dragonlord meaning the title will be Drums of War. And featuring the Dragonlord as its side story. Will the Empire finally sign into a treaty and form its own Coalition with the Alliance? What will become of Zhao Ming and the Cathayans march on the Crimson Post? We Will see in...
Gate of the Elder Gods: Drums of War