I’m ready for the angry night elven fans. But, I think it could be an interesting discussion and it’s more a thought-experiment than anything else really.
The general concept is pretty simple: A young priest/priestess of the night elves who lost their faith in Elune in the aftermath of the Burning of Teldrassil, but then, while being in Stormwind and living among the humans, turned to the Holy Light for spiritual guidance. Maybe they were wounded and brought into the cathedral where they came into contact with the priests. The feeling of compassion, the feeling of the Light being there for them unlike their goddess who seemingly abandoned them in their darkest hour.
Sure the night warrior then came…and turned the High Priestess into a vessel of pure hatred and revenge, slowly and steadily killing her. What kind of blessing is the goddess giving her subjects? Meanwhile they look over to the Lightforged: Their vigor, their strength and unwavering faith, their immortality…that is truly a blessing worth receiving.
The idea is obviously inspired by the Fall of Quel’Thalas and how the high elves too lost their faith in the Holy Light for abandoning them (even though it can’t because it’s a big, stupid cosmic power without sentience but well). Especially since the Burning is essentially Quel’Thalas 2.0.
It’s obviously a pretty “snowflakey” kind of roleplaying-concept. Not something I personally would roleplay probably.
But what do you think? To make it clear: No I do not want the races to get streamlined, if anything I would love far more diversity and conflict within the Alliance. It’s more a “what if”-question.
I am a huge night elf fan and roleplay three of them, but I think that this sounds very plausible considering the story and situation of some of the night elves. I would not roleplay this concept personally now either, or even want to see it become canon, but years ago I used to roleplay that my night elf death knight believed in the Light and saw Elune and her powers as an extension of it and that the two were connected. I believe I got the concept from others; there has always been speculation about just who and what Elune is, so people supplement and come up with their own beliefs. Roleplaying a night elf who has lost faith, even one who is not a priest/priestess, would certainly make for some thought-provoking storylines and conversation.
I wouldn’t say it’s that much of a revolutionary concept, despite being seldom explored. I wouldn’t even call it ‘snowflakey,’ at least not inherently. That said it seems fine. There is a fairly strong reason behind it and a lot of potential in its portrayal.
Thanks for all the comments so far! Very interesting insights.
I do have some cornerstones or general ideas. It would first be a younger priestess (originally an initiate of the Sisterhood), because I feel like it makes more sense because she’s not fully settled, maybe a bit more rebellious, and she would go on a journey to learn more about the Holy Light and its worship, its tenets etc. Going to people like the Church of the Holy Light, the Silver Hand, maybe the Argent Crusade, and the draenei obviously becoming something akin to a free-roaming-novice.
Maybe she can already call upon the Light. Nothing major only something simple (she’s completely new to this after all) like a basic spell of healing being able to heal a scratch on your arm or smite a rat. The important part is more that the Light does indeed answer her, which motivates her to follow this new and untrodden path.
I don’t see a problem with this. Heck, Holy Priests of Elune are just as much Light Wielders as the Priests of Stormwind. They just give it a “reflected off the Moon” flavor.
I see a lot of Night Elves dumping or at least questioning their faith Delaryn and Sira were just the more dramatic examples… Heck even Tyrande issued her own ultimatum to Elune in a matter of speaking.
Roleplaying a night elf who has lost faith, even one who is not a priest/priestess, would certainly make for some thought-provoking storylines and conversation.