Some thoughts about the Forsaken in Cataclysm

Tifferleigh the Belf backed by her Orcish guard. Not that they are any good. Tiffer's worg is worth more than six Orcs.

It makes me wonder. Orcs are supposed to be those warriors with a Bushido, more or less. However, any Orc I come across is either drunk or generally low on IQ. And then I'm not even talking about that Warchief Hellscream. How in the holy heavens is the Horde supposed to trash the Alliance with that guy in the lead? Okay, Sylvanas' methods are not really savory, but at least she has focus. And she appreciates talent. It didn't take Tiffer long to become Sylvanas' most trusted soldier. So, there's Sylvanas, litterally handing Hellscream victory and dominion over the Alliance on a silver platter and Hellscream throws it back in her face.

I've come to believe that Hellscream is afraid of Sylvanas. His constant mouthing her off and openly questioning her is a sign of that. Hellscream knows that if Sylvanas wanted to, she'd kick the Orcs out of Orgrimar and take control of the Horde. Think about it. Sylvanas can raise undead armies at the snap of a finger, she alone has access to the plague and those who deploy it are firmly behind her. The Valkyrs have thrown their lot in with Sylvanas, and that means that on the battlefield, Sylvanas can raise the fallen Orcs as Forsaken and turn them against Hellscream. And this time there's no Black Dragonflight to intervere!

I haven't played far enough into the Horde-Cataclysm story from the Forsaken point of view to make guesses, but to me it seems that Hellscream has his position on loan from Sylvanas, purely because she's more interested in the plight of her people then that she is for the plight of the Horde as a whole. There are many instances where a Hellscream-follower, planted by Hellscream to report on Sylvanas' every move, corrects her when she says "Forsaken" instead of "Horde".

Had I been Hellscream, I would have jumped at the chance to use Sylvanas' procreation plan as a weapon on the battlefield. First target? Stormwind! Horde would rule Azeroth. It would also take away Sylvanas' primary headache, control of Lordearon. As soon as Stormwind falls, any Alliance claim to Lordearon would cease to exist too. The Nelfs are still trying to find ways to come by another world-tree and the Dwarves have no interest in Lordearon. And the Gnomes just want Gnomeragan back and are finally booking some success. They won't be as stupid as to challenge Sylvanas.

I love how the new Lore in Cataclysm plays out. And I'm very interested in how the Forsaken point of view plays out. I have no way of knowing yet, but I think that Hellscream gets served in the end. Allthough probably not by Sylvanas or by her doing. Sylvanas is too linear to see the potential she has to unify the Horde under her banner. If I were to make a guess... All of Sylvanas' work will be nullified by the Horde and the Forsaken will once again stand alone.