Modern-times Mayhem
Centuries have passed since the Rebellion and War on Gnox. The Empire has suffered near-collapse under the hand of Vorios the False, and is now under the rule of Myrcalus the Vindicator, known as “Dominus Reborn”. In that time, the once-primitive Chua have been brought into the Empire, showing a startling ability to grasp technology, and taking prominent positions in the Dominion Research and Experimentation Division.
There have also been further conflicts. The quarantine of Grismara started after the Mordesh developed incurable cannibalistic tendencies, which even their finest scientists could only hold at bay. The Exiles managed to smuggle some through the Dominion blockade, gaining incredible alchemists as allies in the process.
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Arboria (or planet 45658b), once home to the Aurin, was plundered by the Dominion for its bountiful natural resources, their primitive weaponry being no match for the Chua Planet Reapers. Again, the Exiles came to the rescue and helped mount an evacuation, but were unable to stop the Dominion harvest the planet – a process which is still continuing.
And then, some 1600 years since the Dominion was founded, Nexus was discovered. With supplies and safe havens running low, the rag-tag group desperately needed a new home, and explorer Dorian Walker found it for them. An agreement known as the Exile Accords was drawn up, and the fledgling faction began in earnest.
Of course, the Exiles aren’t the only ones headed to Nexus. As soon as word got out, every mercenary for light-years around wanted to get their hands on that fabled Eldan technology. Including, of course, the Dominion.
Beyond the Launch
For me, one of the strongest lures for WildStar is the promise of an evolving storyline that continues beyond launch and – crucially – beyond level cap. As part of those regular content updates (roughly once a month), we can look forward to bundles of lore that continue to push the story forward. And from the sound of things, Carbine has even been taking pointers from living story stalwarts ArenaNet on how to do it.
So where might the story lead? The big question is where the Eldan went; the Caretaker seems to indicate he was abandoned, which seems to indicate that they’ve headed off-world somewhere – perhaps to a remote monitoring station? After all, Nexus is one giant project, although the purpose of the experiment remains unclear.
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There’s also the question of this sprawling Empire – if you’re the biggest, baddest thing in the Galaxy, what are you going to be afraid of? It’s got to be something repugnant, yet powerful enough to devour entire planets without blinking. Something like an Accordion-powered Death-Star with Wheatley-esque AI comes to mind. Either way, it’s got to be apocalyptic enough that it’ll shake the very Empire to its core.
Threats from within are also a possibility. Since the rebellion, Serric Brightland has been in cryosleep following a critical injury. After being on ice for that long, can he be defrosted safely? What about Arboria? Will the enemies the Dominion has made rise up against them? There’s also a ‘Ghostly Lady’ that wanders Nexus, but few have seen. Could she be the spirit of Toira trying to warn of a greater threat?
And what of Nexus itself? My feeling is that we’ve barely seen all that the planet has to offer, either on the surface or somewhere in orbit. With everything we learn about the Eldan, further questions are raised about their motives and purpose, and what secrets they’ve locked up in exo-labs for us to discover. But more crucially, what didn’t they discover hidden within Nexus – what primal energies and fantastic creatures are locked up in undiscovered regions, just waiting to be unearthed?
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The good news is that we won’t have long to find out. In two short months, launch day will arrive. And then, the story starts in earnest.
Gareth Harmer / Gareth Harmer has been blasting and fireballing his way through MMOs for over ten years. When he's not exploring an online world, he can usually be found enthusiastically dissecting and debating them. Follow him on Twitter at @Gazimoff.
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