Aidan Hartwood Cameos in WoW
[Part 1: Jedelan and Vilthea] - this contains spoilers to Jedelan's fate so skip this if you don't want that spoiled as Aidan does not know what happened to him ICly, otherwise check it out to learn more about Vilthea, and how she connects Aidan to Jedelan.
The first time the player can encounter Aidan is upon arriving in Boralus. Traveling to the docks just beside Pinky's Groggery in Upton Borough the player can see Aidan working at the dock. If spoken to he will say:
If you're planning to go to Drustvar, don't. The rumors about there are true. I narrowly escaped with.. help. Avoid that place at all costs.
Aidan will then have a quest that the player can accept.
Level 10 Quest: Way of the Tides
Clicking the quest Aidan will mention:
Growing up in Drustvar I always wanted to be a Tidesage, I dreamt about it every day, but the reality was there was little chance I'd get to leave my home to become one.. After escaping Fallhaven, I was rescued and brought here to Boralus and since have decided to follow my dream. I have been in talks with a Tidesage, and am supposed to meet with them to hear their response on if I will be accepted and can begin my training. Unfortunately, with my duties here cleaning the docks I am running late. Could you go meet with them and tell them I will be soon?
Accepting the quest the player will then be guided to the Tradewinds Market.
Once there they will find a dark-haired woman in Tidesage robes near the Enchanting trainer. Speak with her to progress the quest:
<The woman wipes something red from her lips with her thumb before turning her gaze to you>
Can I help you?
🗨️ Aidan Hartwood sent me, to tell you he is going to be late for his meeting regarding becoming a Tidesage.
If the player selects the dialogue option the quest will update and she will say the following:
Ah, yes! Well, unfortunately Mister Hartwood was not accepted, we believe he has the skill but not the resolve to join our ranks. Now, I'm a very busy woman, I need to get back to the Monastery, I was expecting him to be here on time. One moment.
<She takes out a piece of parchment and summons a magical quill before writing on the parchment>
Here. Give this to Mister Hartwood, as well as my condolences, I just know he will be distraught.
The player will be given the letter to take back to Aidan to complete the quest. Making their way back to him they will find him standing by the crates where he was cleaning, speaking to him he will say:
You're back! What's this?
<You hand over the parchment and he begins to read it, his expression turning solemn before crushing the parchment in his hand>
I see.. Thank you for bringing me this. What am I supposed to do now? I lost my home, my family, and now my dream is dead? What do I do now? I- I'm sorry I need a moment.
Completing the quest the player will receive 5000xp and 10 gold, as well as 150 rep for the Order of Embers. Aidan will then walk off and disappear.
This first time we see Aidan gives a few backstory hints First, he is from Drustvar, and alludes to the fact that there is something bad going on there, but doesn't say explicitly what that is perhaps out of fear. After his narrow escape he began working at the docks in Boralus, but his dream is to become a Tidesage.
The quest reveals that he lost his family and home to whatever happened in Drustvar.
And, if the player saw the other cameos for Jedelan and Vilthea, they may recognize that the dark-haired woman that the player met was not in fact a Tidesage, but Vilthea in her human disguise. Her wiping her lip hinting at the fact that she killed the Tidesage Aidan was supposed to meet.
2. The second cameo players may encounter Aidan is later in BfA once they reach Drustvar. In Corlain, at a farmhouse near the armory, the player can find Aidan on the balcony of the home examining what looks to be a ritual site. With him are an imp named Zorjub and a succubus named Vilthea. All three can be spoken to and will have the following to say:
Master won't let me burn evil nasty witch book. Zorjub is good at burning things.
<Zorjub's hands ignite with fire as he bounces excitedly and looks at the book and then Aidan>
Can I burn it? Can I burn it?? Let me burn it!
No, not yet! Calm down, Zorjub. We don't know if it's her book, if it is then I definitely don't want you burning it.
<Aidan looks from Zorjub to you>
He gets a little excited. I'm still new to this whole warlock thing so I'm not really sure if there is a way to make him... not so fire happy.
When Aidan became my master's apprentice I never thought it was going to mean I'd have to watch over him like some pet.
<Vilthea sighs rolling her eyes>
At least he's cute. Maybe he will be fun to play with.
This cameo hints at a few things. Since we know BfA takes place over two years this cameo hints at a bit of some time passage. During that time Aidan has become a warlock! He's still learning as he only has his base imp, Zorjub. With his new walk of life he has also gotten some new armor and a scythe that is similarly styled after the Heartsbane. It can be assumed he is hunting the witches, which given his comments in his first cameo means they were responsible for him losing his home and such.
His comment about "her book", is a hint that he may know the witch that left it there.
Vilthea's appearance also hints at a few things. It seems her pretending to be a Tidesage to crush Aidan's dream was a ploy to get him desperate, to which he apparently turned to a darker path and eventually made a deal with her master to be taught how to be a warlock. It has also let to her being Aidan's 'watcher', or babysitter effectively, much to her dismay, though this cameo shows she does find him attractive.
This is the first time the player hears of her having a new master as the last time she was seen, during MoP, she had none. Apparently during the the years she became bound to a new warlock.
The next time the player can encounter Aidan is if they select Shadowlands timewalking, or are level 60, and find their way down into the crypts under the Cathedral. There they will find Aidan casting a spell on a Voidwalker as it writhes about, while Vilthea stand behind Aidan next to a skeleton. Approaching, the player can speak with both Aidan and Vilthea who will say:
I have to focus...
<He pushes his hand forward and the shadowy energy pulsates>
Aidan is progressing well in his studies of demons and fel magic. I knew he was ready to summon his own Voidwalker, and what better way than to summon the one that belonged to a rival my old master killed many years ago? Add a little insult to his memory.
<Vilthea laughed and looked down at the skeleton before kicking it>
Lest you think me just another evil demon, the man was a scourge upon the world. Part of a noble family that protected him despite knowing he used his demonic powers to harm innocents. Kidnapping people and experimenting on them. He deserves only the worst.
<She shrugged and then turned her attention to Aidan, stepping forward to trail her hand across his neck lovingly>
You're doing great, Aidan.
Aidan's story has progressed since the player last saw him. The fact that he is now in Stormwind shows he's left his home and venturing out into the world. The fact that he is no learning how to summon his own Voidwalker and bind it shows he's learned more about being a warlock since the player last saw him as he only had his imp, Zorjub.
The player also gets a little more of Vilthea's history with her old master, he apparently had a rival warlock within the city who he eventually killed. This cameo also hints at there being a little more to her and Aidan's relationship compared to before.
The next cameo takes place in Dragonflight, once the player hits level 70 they can find Aidan in Old Town, in the back alley by the Pig and Whistle. It's quite the scene as Aidan is surrounded by two imps, two dreadstalkers, and a dead Felguard. Aidan has a quest the player can accept.
Level 70 Quest: Chasing Tomes
If spoken to Aidan says the following:
I'm in a bit of a situation here involving a untrustworthy thief, go figure, and a not too happy warlock. Think you can help?
The player can then select the quest to which he says:
I'll try to give the short of it. Basically, I'm after some old tomes written by a warlock named Jedelan decades ago. He went missing and some took advantage of that to steal all his work. I was supposed to meet an... less reputable trader here who allegedly has dealt with one of the books only for him not to be alone.
<Aidan gestures at the dead Felguard>
If I was a betting man, which I am, I'd say this dealer is in league with one angry warlock who has the tome I'm looking for, but doesn't want to give it up. The dealer fled to Dalaran through a portal. I could use some help, I have no idea what to expect in Dalaran. You in?
Accepting the quest the player is directed to head to Dalaran (Legion). Once there the player will see a succubus run up to them and start to follow them while using Lesser Invisibility, this is of course Vilthea, who will say:
Hurry! Aidan tracked the dealer into the Underbelly of the city. We need to help him and get that tome back!
If the player wanders around too long instead of heading to the sewers she will say:
Normally I'm all for taking in beautiful sights, but now is not the time.
The quest then points the player to the Underbelly where they will find Aidan accompanied by his Voidwalker, Hathnos, two dreadstalkers, and two imps. Across from him will be a man in robes named Endrik Wyther and his numerous demons including two Felguards, a succubus, and two imps. The player can then attack. Aidan and his demons will help during the fight until Endrik goes to 5% health at which point he open a Demonic portal and flee. Leaving behind a tome the player can loot. To finish the quest the player need only give the tome to Aidan who will say:
Thank you, I'm not sure I could have fought him alone. A shame he fled, but I cared more about getting the tome than anything else. Here, it's not much, but it's the least I can do for you helping me.
Finishing the quest rewards the player 250 gold and 500 rep with Order of Embers. Aidan will then walk off with his demons and disappear.
This cameo shows Aidan has made further progress in the dark arts! He now has multiple imps and two dreadstalkers, showing his knowledge on summoning demons is growing.
This quest also shows Aidan has begun to hunt for Jedelan's old grimoires. Having found one which a warlock named Endrik Wyther's came into possession of somehow.
2. The second cameo in Dragonflight takes place after the player completes Aidan's quest. If the player finds their way to Olivia's Pond in Storwmind they can find Aidan reading a book. However, if close enough the player can see an invisible Vilthea standing just behind Aidan. The player can speak to both who say:
I spend a lot of time out and about, but never to just enjoy nature and relax with a good book. This is a nice change of pace.
<Aidan flips through the tome>
Vilthea wasn't kidding when she said her old master had a plethora of knowledge. It's incredible, actually. I hope to learn a lot from this tome, then we can try to find the others.
I'm a woman of my word, Aidan. I promised you power and knowledge from Jedelan's tomes as long as you helped me find them.
I always keep my promises.
<Vilthea spoke in a sultry whisper leaning her head on his shoulder>
This second cameo confirms that Aidan is searching for Jedelan's tomes cause Vilthea promised him he could learn whatever he could from them. It also shows that when Aidan has down time he enjoys to simply read and be outdoors.
