Broker

Broker
	; Artificer Xy'mox in Hearthstone.
Faction/Affiliation	Broker cartels; Enlightened; Independent
Homeworld	Unnamed realm
Area(s)	Shadowlands

Not to be confused with Broken.

Brokers are a race of humanoid energy beings native to an unnamed realm of the Shadowlands.^[1]^[2] Independent from the Covenants and the Maw, they possess an innate affinity for anima and act as soul-traders that can move freely around the realms. They are savvy, adaptable, and keep their true intentions to themselves. In the wake of the current anima drought, the Brokers have taken the chance to capitalize on new opportunities for profit and perhaps more.^[1]^[3] Brokers value success, and are not afraid to display the results of their endeavors.^[4] Brokers do not only sell, they also collect and put their collections on display.^[5] Their methods of storage are bigger on the inside.^[6] They navigate through the In-Between.^[7]

Since embarking upon their expeditions to chart the afterlives of the realms of Death, the Brokers dreamed of setting foot in the Eternal City of Oribos, which they finally accomplished due to a whim of a navigator belonging to the Cartel Au.^[8] Following their discovery of the city, the Brokers were allowed to establish themselves within. After the arrival of mortal adventurers to Oribos, the brokers decide to provide a variety of exotic merchandise and profession knowledge.^[1]

Brokers value the accumulation of information and knowledge, and the application of such knowledge has the side effect of allowing them to accumulate much influence and wealth.^[4] The lure of information is appealing enough to brokers for them to even go to places as dangerous as the Maw.^[9]

Though Ve'nari is the only Broker operating in the Maw, as she escapes assassins of Cartel Ve who are trapped with her, the Brokers in Oribos of Cartel Ba somehow managed to procure items from the Maw for Kel'Thuzad.^[10]^[11]^[12] Similarly, Cartel Ku is seen selling wares to the forces of Vyraz at the House of the Chosen. Cartel Ba and Cartel Ta are particularly interested in a variety of artifacts from across the Shadowlands,^[13] as well as the Great Vault,^[14] and maintain the portal network for all the Brokers together.^[15] Cartel Ta also runs the Transfer Station Ta in Bastion, the Night Market of Revendreth, provide decorations for the Ember Court, and have collected the writings of the Primus and Margraves from the Sepulcher of Knowledge.^[16] Cartel Au maintains all the profession trainers in Oribos, but also provides the challenges from other planes for the Theater of Pain from the Challenger's Promenade, in collaboration with Cartel So and Cartel Zo.^[17] Cartel Zo is primarily interested in warfare among the mortals. Cartel Xy has only ever been hostile, but Dealer Xy'exa (the only Broker seen in Ardenweald) is hostile due to us needing Bwonsamdi's mojo back, and Artificer Xy'mox is hostile due to Prince Renathal asking us to stop them from stealing the artifacts of Denathrius, who had been a prior business partner of theirs. Though no broker is seen in Ardenweald other than Dealer Xy'exa and Zo'sorg (in the Furrowed Glen), Finder Ta'sul expresses experience with the gorm, identifying as a gorm-breeder (but Ardenweald is too dangerous for them at this time)^[18] and Au'larrynar has been making deals with the night fae.^[19] Cartel Al has been researching the secrets of the First Ones, particularly the location of the Sepulcher, with one of their expedition teams led by Al'firim abandoning the cartel after being labeled heretics.^[20] The former members of Cartel Al were able to arrive to Zereth Mortis long ago and have named themselves the Enlightened having relinquished their material ways to instead focus on the pursuit of knowledge and renounced their cartel prefixes, with Al'firim from then on being known simply as "Firim".

Broker society is divided into cartels. Each Broker's name has the name of their cartel attached as a prefix; for example, Opulence Ba'hare is of Cartel Ba, and Ta'lan the Antiquary is of Cartel Ta.

Tazavesh, the Veiled Market is a giant floating city^[7] of the Brokers in the In-Between, and the In-Between hosts various broker cities, most of which are hidden and change location on a whim.^[21]

Notable[]

WoWBlog Sepulcher Image 03 — Artificer Xy'mox plundering the Sepulcher of the First Ones.

Notes[]

Purrkins are a traditional pet of the Brokers and the two have a mutually beneficial relationship.^[22]
Brokers use their own type of robots, known are P.O.S.T. Master and Prying Eyes.
The Brokers share a lot of similarities with ethereals through their appearance, culture, and society divided into cartels.
The belts of some Brokers bear the same pattern that can be found around Oribos and on other First One artifacts in the Shadowlands.
Brokers use children's toys to teach their cartel's encryption methods.^[23]
The [Ancient Broker Headpiece] made Ta'lan wonder if this belonged to some forgotten precursor or previous history of the Brokers or some group of Brokers who are hiding themselves.
They are not permitted to enter the Other Side.^[24]