With patch 7.36 in Dota, the second act of «The Crownfall» was released - «Desert of Druids». Just like with the first act, let's delve into the lore and storyline of the update.
Lore analysis of «The Crownfall». What's up with the Empire and the teaser for the new hero
The Third Ancient and how it granted aspects to the heroes
At the beginning of «The Crownfall», we noticed a comet passing by on the «Crossroads of the Sun» map. As we progressed through the catacombs, the comet moved further until it disappeared behind the Crossroads. It was also shown in the «Day of Ascension» comic.
It turns out to be Anzua - a wandering star that visits the planet «every sixtieth harvest». And in the second act, the comet finally fell. The event is dedicated to a whole comic; you can read it in our post.
The star broke through a passage in the mountain, where Skywrath and Arc Warden immediately arrived. Samoset reveals that the mountain is аanother Ancient. Interestingly, after the star fell, the third Ancient also directed a huge beam upwards, similar to what Radiant and Dire did in «New Horizons».
However, Samoset claims to know nothing about the mountain. If the Ancients on the battlefield are the nominal brothers of the Warden, then this one is a god from a forgotten past.
Inside the Ancient's mountain, an entire city is carved out, where the Watchers, paired portals, lotus ponds, and a huge skeleton are located. A similar one lies on the Dota map next to the Dark Seer.
Perhaps the gigantic horned creature is a representative of a civilization that once worshipped the third Ancient. In patch 7.33, new objects also emerged from the ground - all this time, we've been running over an entire world!
At the end of the comic, Dragonus touches the Ancient, something Samoset asked him not to do, and it instantly wakes up. Its shards scatter across the land, bestowing new abilities upon the heroes. That's how the developers explained the existence of aspects in the game. Lore-wise!
We were waiting for the Gazrulians, but we got the Hungerers
Initially, Skywrath went to the Druid with an army of Gazrulians - bird warriors who fled the tyranny of Dragonus's homeland. If you're unfamiliar with «The Crownfall» storyline: Skywrath wants to overthrow Vengeful Spirit and reclaim the throne of Shendelzare.
At the beginning of the second act, it is revealed: that when the Gazrulians arrived in Druid, they united with the Red Mist army. The Red Mist is a wandering army of Hungerers, centaurs, and humanoid reptiles. The army is led by Sorla Khan, whom we've already seen in Artifact.
And when the Gazrulians meet the Red Mist, a battle with demons is already on the horizon - led into battle by Underlord and Rix, another hero from the Dota card game.
Together with the Gazrulians, the Red Mist defeats the demons, but 99.95% of the birds perish in battle.
The main plot of the second act revolves around saving Crow, the young leader of the bird samurai, from a dangerous wound. He's the only one who survived.
To save Crow and the Gazrulians' merits, Sorla Khan gives us the best fighters, and Skywrath with a new army is ready for a coup against the Empire.
Additional quests further explore the theme of the Hungerers
With Warlock, we restore Barzum - once a great city of the Hungerers. Previously, Axe's kin were considered scholarly and advanced people, but because of the demons (yes, them again), they lost the «Desert Diamond» and became nomads.
Most likely, this is why some Hungerers differ from each other. For example, Warlock has a lighter shade of skin because he lived through the times of libraries, archives, and comfortable dwellings. Axe, like other young Hungerers, grew up in constant expeditions after the destruction of Barzum, so he turned very red.
With Sorla Khan, we help conclude a temporary truce between the Red Mist and the Bronze Legion. The Bronze Legion is another huge army from the Dota universe. It is led by Tresdin (Legion Commander), serving the Emperor Stonehall. The empire's main task is to constantly expand its borders.
The Bronze Legion, militarily speaking, is the antithesis of the Red Mist: here, a strict hierarchy, a pragmatic approach, and iron discipline reign. Logically, both armies compete with each other, and Tresdin and Sorla Khan are sworn enemies.
Tresdin intended to finish off the weakened Hungerers after the battle, but Sorla convinced her to change her mind: since the Red Mist coped with the demons, the end would come for the Bronze Legion too. Diplomacy!
With Centaur, we obtain another arena belt from Omex, as the old one has worn out. Through paperwork, gladiatorial combat, waiting, and paperwork again, we get a new decoration for Bristleback.
In the third act of «The Crownfall», we learn about Vengeful Spirit's adventures in Icewrack. On the glacier, she will be looking for other runaway Gazrulians - possibly meeting Tusk, CM, and Wyvern. Let's wait!