night elves are nature lovers. they’re the epitome of the ardenweald races. nightborne are more scientific, if you will. less nature knowledge and more scientific knowledge, book smarts, intellectuals. they dont have an equivalent in the shadowlands as they dont fit in the gruesome maldraxxus, the dark venthyr, the holy bastion nor the tree hugging ardenweald. the closest is venthyr but the venthyr are much too dark/goth for nightborne, i think.
i designed a game idea at one point involving a factional divide based on natural or technical/scientific ability. one faction favors tech, the other favors nature. wow is somewhat like that, though they did give the horde shaman and druids, their overall theme is that nature is useful (echoes of blood elves seeing the light as a tool), whereas the alliance theme is nature is to be worshipped, as is the light. iotw, the alliance is heavy on religion and the horde is heavy on utility. nightborne are definitely in the utility category and night elves are definitely in the religion category.