Grim Tidings

Blizzard really screwed the pooch on this one. There is a warning for siding with Sylvanas, but NO warning for when you side with Saurfang. The quest never implies that agreeing with this white-knighting troll has a permanent effect on the plot, or that it was actually one of two possible options. You cannot change your mind later. Once you accept and complete "Grim Tidings," and move on to the next phase in the quest, you cannot go back. Had you lacked the foresight to approach Wowhead to further look into this quest, you would be none the wiser.

The multiple realms of role-players that have been playing WoW for over a decade were, in all essence, given the middle finger after finally being given the option to actually role play as their character. While I don't play on an RP realm, I still love story choices, and the fact that Blizzard didn't warn my Forsaken character that I'd be siding with Saurfang permanently, and not Sylvanas, who my character has been loyal to since I created him, is kind of-- nay, very insulting. The quest itself was a bit of an insidious lure. It hooked in my curiosity, my need to investigate and to learn more. Had I known I could never change my mind, I never, ever would have chosen to help Saurfang as my undead warlock.

Players worldwide have been trying in vain to reach out to GMs about this horrible implementation, and they've been told that they have to suck it up. It's almost as though they're trying to sneakily guide players into siding with Saurfang. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but that wouldn't surprise me in the least. He seems to be their precious golden boy that they're grooming to become the new warchief, and it'd be nice to feel like I influenced something for once. However, I feel like the choice itself was not given to me, but taken. All because I went on with the quest without realizing that a simple, casual dialogue choice-- something that hundreds upon hundreds of quests have featured until now with no story consequences-- was an actual, real, permanent story choice in the game.

Now I'm left stranded, and I'm not helping either of them. I'd rather do nothing than take part in a choice I didn't even want to make. Whether you agree with me about who should be sided with-- my own personal choice doesn't matter-- it can be agreed upon that the first major story option in a game should have come with its own giant red button. I realize I can complete it differently on my alts... but it's not about that. I wanted my Undead character to have the choice he would have made.

I came here looking for the TLDR on what the two choices result in at least in the short run...couldn't find it, so here is a quick summary.

I chose to stick with Sylvanas on my main. It results in a quest called "For the Queen" which sends you back to Orgrimmar to speak with Sylvannas and rewards 456 Azerite power and ends the quest line for now.

On an alt I chose to side with Saurfang. In this case you go on a small quest chain to encounter Saurfang and get a toy, the Worn Cloak which you will not get if choosing the side with Sylvanas.

I kept it a bit vague so I didn't ruin the choices completely.

***Follow up***

The decision made at this stage of the game has no appreciable bearing on the next 'choice' involving Blaine Bloodhoof in patch 8.1.5.

***2nd Follow up***

I just finished the 4th war story line. The choice at this stage has no bearing or limitations on subsequent choice options. There is no impact on your reputation, quest choices, rewards (i.e. you're not going to miss a toy---save this step--- or a title). However, there is a small twist to the ending scenario and a bonus quest to speak with Sylvannas for those that remain loyal throughout the stages.

If you constantly click on Zekhan he will eventually say:

"The other trolls say i become something called a..er meme. Can anyone tell me what that means?"

Best line in BFA