Dawn of the Aspects: La première partie du roman pour le 19 février
Bonne nouvelle pour les amateurs du Lore d'Azeroth. La première partie de Dawn of the Aspects sortira en version eBook le mardi 19 février. Il s'agit d'un nouveau roman de Richard A. Knaak dédié aux Aspects. Ce roman sortira exclusivement en au format électronique, du moins dans un premier temps. Espérons en effet que nous pourrons un jour mettre la main dessus, probablement quand les 5 chapitres seront disponibles sur eBook. Aucune traduction française n'est pour l'instant prévue, là aussi il faudra patienter et croiser les doigts.
Le pitch est le suivant: L'âge des dragons est terminé. Les anciens gardiens d'Azeroth ont maintenant du mal à trouver un nouveau but dans un monde en proie à l'incertitude. Kalecgos, le plus jeune des Aspects, a été durement touché par les changements qui ont suivi la chute d'Aile de Mort. Ayant perdu ses grands pouvoirs, comment peut-il, lui ou un autre de ses pairs, faire la différence dans le monde ?
La réponse se trouve dans un lointain passé, lorsque les proto-drakes régnaient sur les cieux. Au travers un mystérieux artéfact trouvé au coeur de Norfendre, Kalecgos témoigne de cette ère de violence et de l'étonnante histoire des Aspects originaux: Alexstrasza, Ysera, Malygos, Neltharion et Nozdormu.
Dans leur forme la plus primitive, les futurs protecteurs d'Azeroth doivent s'unir et faire front contre Galakrond, une créature assoiffée de sang menaçant l'existence de leur race. Vont-ils faire face à cet adversaire seuls, ou une force extérieure va-t-elle les aider ? D'où vient cette force qui les rendra légendaires, l'ont-ils prise dans le sang ? Les découvertes de Kalecgos changeront tout ce qu'il sait au sujet des évènements qui ont mené à l'aube des Aspects.
Notez que si l'histoire revient dans le passé, une partie sera également dédiée à ce qui arrive après la défaite d'Aile de Mort à l'Âme des Dragons, ce qui sera inévitablement passionnant ! La première partie sortira donc le 19 février, tandis que les suivantes sont attendues pour le 18 mars, le 22 avril, le 20 mai et le 17 juin.
World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects - Part I Excerpt
And then... a sound louder than thunder stilled not only the sisters, but every proto-dragon in the vicinity.
The sound erupted again, shaking the rocky ridges upon which Malygos and many of the other hunters perched. Several of the proto-dragons were cowed, and Kalec felt even Malygos fight not to prostrate himself.
Only then did Kalec realize that the incredible noise was a gigantic roar.
A vast region of the overcast sky broke away, descending with astonishing swiftness. The velocity caused the clouds to quickly scatter, revealing a sight that truly could daunt not only a proto-dragon, but even the most powerful of Kalec's own kind.
This was supposed to be a proto-dragon, but so immense was its size that not even a dragon could be chosen for an adequate comparison. Kalec could think of no creature save one that could be used… and that would have meant comparing Galakrond to himself.
Even though Kalec had never seen the gigantic Galakrond in the flesh, the remote possibility that he would not have recognized this titanic being had been eliminated by Galakrond's name racing over and over through Malygos's mind. In addition, through his host's brief glimpse away from the Father of Dragons to the other proto-dragons, Kalec saw that not one of the hunters remained in the sky. Galakrond now commanded the world above, and there was no proto-dragon foolish enough to challenge that rule.
He swooped down, passing over the entire region in a matter of seconds. In Galakrond's wake there came a vicious wind that even tore several proto-dragons from their roosts and sent more than one meal toppling to the ground far below. Galakrond's roar was no less ground-shaking miles away, forcing Malygos and the sisters to grip their perches tighter.
For such a colossal creature, Galakrond turned with remarkable agility. Once more, he passed over the now-panicking herd, but this time with intent. Galakrond seized up two caribou in each of his much larger hind paws and scooped up another whole in his gargantuan maw, then rose up. The grazer in his mouth vanished down his gullet and a moment later so did both of those in his left hind paw. By the time Galakrond leveled, all five of his catches were well on their way down to his stomach.
But five was not enough. Galakrond veered back and lunged toward the scattering prey. This time, however, he suddenly pulled back. Confused at first, Kalec watched as the bending of the vast wings during the halt created a windstorm that sent dozens of beasts rolling uncontrollably.
Before several of the caribou could rise to their feet, Galakrond plucked them up. With at least eight claimed that Kalec could see, the Father of Dragons soared back into the clouds.
It was not until several seconds after Galakrond's departure that the first proto-dragons dared move. There was no renewal of the hunt; not only were the caribou scattered so far and wide that pursuit would have required too much effort, but most of the proto-dragons were still too shaken up by Galakrond's startling manifestation. Some took to the sky themselves and fled for calmer climes. Others remained subdued.
The Father of Dragons… Kalec could still not believe the stunning image. To witness Galakrond alive was something he could never have imagined.
The blue knew little of Galakrond save that he had been one of the largest beings to roam Azeroth and that he had represented the shift from proto-dragon to true dragon. It was not that Galakrond had actually fathered all true dragonsthat was a myth somehow spread millennia agobut that after him had come the five Aspects and their respective dragonflights. Proto-dragons had all but vanished after that.
There were other legends concerning Galakrond, but, in truth, Kalec understood that only his three counterparts knew the truth. He had never thought to ask them about the Father of Dragons, but now wished that he had.
Yet, Kalec's momentary awe soon gave way again to his anger and frustrationand growing concernover his being trapped in these ancient visions. Each one seemed more and more lifelike, as if his own time were the fantasy and this scene now were the true present.
Not for the first time, he tried to will himself back, but nothing changed. He continued to be an insignificant, unnoticed phantasm trapped within Malygos. Not even Alexstrasza or Yseraboth of whom in the future would have abilities that should make them sense his presenceso much as glanced in curiosity at the male beside them.
I will be free! Kalec abruptly roared, though his roar went unheard by any save himself. Bereft of a throator a bodyhe felt like nothing but a memory remembered by no one.
Laughter filled hisor rather, Malygos'sears. Kalec at first thought that someone mocked him, but instead, the laughter was aimed at the other proto-dragons by a charcoal-gray male a bit larger than most, who actually sneered at the others.
"Little hatchlings!" he bellowed. "Afraid of the sky! Afraid of the ground! Galakrond laughs at you for being afraid, and I, Neltharion, do, too!"
Some of the proto-dragons hissed at the gray male, but no one challenged him. By their glances, they knew him to be strong and able to back up his taunt. Even those proto-dragons who clearly had little more intelligence than their prey appeared to know better than to fight
Neltharion? The name finally penetrated. Kalec sought in vain to seize control of Malygos's body as the newcomer, still laughing, flew off. Where Galakrond had been a startling, unsettling thing of legend, this gray male represented a danger to the future of all life on Azeroth. If there was a creature more evil than Neltharion, Kalec could not think of one.
Of course, by the blue's time, the gray male would be better known by his more apt title… Deathwing.
And then... a sound louder than thunder stilled not only the sisters, but every proto-dragon in the vicinity.
The sound erupted again, shaking the rocky ridges upon which Malygos and many of the other hunters perched. Several of the proto-dragons were cowed, and Kalec felt even Malygos fight not to prostrate himself.
Only then did Kalec realize that the incredible noise was a gigantic roar.
A vast region of the overcast sky broke away, descending with astonishing swiftness. The velocity caused the clouds to quickly scatter, revealing a sight that truly could daunt not only a proto-dragon, but even the most powerful of Kalec's own kind.
This was supposed to be a proto-dragon, but so immense was its size that not even a dragon could be chosen for an adequate comparison. Kalec could think of no creature save one that could be used… and that would have meant comparing Galakrond to himself.
Even though Kalec had never seen the gigantic Galakrond in the flesh, the remote possibility that he would not have recognized this titanic being had been eliminated by Galakrond's name racing over and over through Malygos's mind. In addition, through his host's brief glimpse away from the Father of Dragons to the other proto-dragons, Kalec saw that not one of the hunters remained in the sky. Galakrond now commanded the world above, and there was no proto-dragon foolish enough to challenge that rule.
He swooped down, passing over the entire region in a matter of seconds. In Galakrond's wake there came a vicious wind that even tore several proto-dragons from their roosts and sent more than one meal toppling to the ground far below. Galakrond's roar was no less ground-shaking miles away, forcing Malygos and the sisters to grip their perches tighter.
For such a colossal creature, Galakrond turned with remarkable agility. Once more, he passed over the now-panicking herd, but this time with intent. Galakrond seized up two caribou in each of his much larger hind paws and scooped up another whole in his gargantuan maw, then rose up. The grazer in his mouth vanished down his gullet and a moment later so did both of those in his left hind paw. By the time Galakrond leveled, all five of his catches were well on their way down to his stomach.
But five was not enough. Galakrond veered back and lunged toward the scattering prey. This time, however, he suddenly pulled back. Confused at first, Kalec watched as the bending of the vast wings during the halt created a windstorm that sent dozens of beasts rolling uncontrollably.
Before several of the caribou could rise to their feet, Galakrond plucked them up. With at least eight claimed that Kalec could see, the Father of Dragons soared back into the clouds.
It was not until several seconds after Galakrond's departure that the first proto-dragons dared move. There was no renewal of the hunt; not only were the caribou scattered so far and wide that pursuit would have required too much effort, but most of the proto-dragons were still too shaken up by Galakrond's startling manifestation. Some took to the sky themselves and fled for calmer climes. Others remained subdued.
The Father of Dragons… Kalec could still not believe the stunning image. To witness Galakrond alive was something he could never have imagined.
The blue knew little of Galakrond save that he had been one of the largest beings to roam Azeroth and that he had represented the shift from proto-dragon to true dragon. It was not that Galakrond had actually fathered all true dragonsthat was a myth somehow spread millennia agobut that after him had come the five Aspects and their respective dragonflights. Proto-dragons had all but vanished after that.
There were other legends concerning Galakrond, but, in truth, Kalec understood that only his three counterparts knew the truth. He had never thought to ask them about the Father of Dragons, but now wished that he had.
Yet, Kalec's momentary awe soon gave way again to his anger and frustrationand growing concernover his being trapped in these ancient visions. Each one seemed more and more lifelike, as if his own time were the fantasy and this scene now were the true present.
Not for the first time, he tried to will himself back, but nothing changed. He continued to be an insignificant, unnoticed phantasm trapped within Malygos. Not even Alexstrasza or Yseraboth of whom in the future would have abilities that should make them sense his presenceso much as glanced in curiosity at the male beside them.
I will be free! Kalec abruptly roared, though his roar went unheard by any save himself. Bereft of a throator a bodyhe felt like nothing but a memory remembered by no one.
Laughter filled hisor rather, Malygos'sears. Kalec at first thought that someone mocked him, but instead, the laughter was aimed at the other proto-dragons by a charcoal-gray male a bit larger than most, who actually sneered at the others.
"Little hatchlings!" he bellowed. "Afraid of the sky! Afraid of the ground! Galakrond laughs at you for being afraid, and I, Neltharion, do, too!"
Some of the proto-dragons hissed at the gray male, but no one challenged him. By their glances, they knew him to be strong and able to back up his taunt. Even those proto-dragons who clearly had little more intelligence than their prey appeared to know better than to fight
Neltharion? The name finally penetrated. Kalec sought in vain to seize control of Malygos's body as the newcomer, still laughing, flew off. Where Galakrond had been a startling, unsettling thing of legend, this gray male represented a danger to the future of all life on Azeroth. If there was a creature more evil than Neltharion, Kalec could not think of one.
Of course, by the blue's time, the gray male would be better known by his more apt title… Deathwing.
Discord