Cult NPCs - Why those races?

Lore Story Forum
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Hey everyone, when I was leveling an alt of mine, I had a curious thought as to why certain races were part of the primalists. That thought then lead to thinking about members of other cults and ‘evil’ groups we’ve had to face over the game’s lifetime and I just sort of wondered… why those races?

Obviously from a gameplay perspective it is simply because they need filler NPCs, and it is much easier to slap some armor on already existing races. Generally it is the core races, and with the introduction of Allied races, they too have started to pad the rosters of some.

But for an In Character/Lore reason I am kind of curious as to why. Granted with all of the absurd world ending events that happen in WoW over it’s relatively short lifetime, I would join a cult too if they promised me safety or give some grasp as to why the world is as insane as it is.

The most common races that I’ve seen are generally:

  • Human
  • Tauren
  • Night Elf
  • Blood Elf
  • Dwarf
  • Troll
  • Orc

Here are my speculations:

1. Human:
For humans as a whole, I think they fit the more generic searching for power and stability type of reasoning. Being a world gone mad, they usually make up groups that try to stabilize it in twisted way. Scarlet Crusade, Cult of the Damned,etc.

2. Tauren:
Tauren I find interesting in the fact that they are nearly always used as a filler NPC for cults or corrupted groups - right alongside the elves honestly. Considering how in terms of prominent NPCs they are portrayed as more rational and steadfast, it is strange to see tauren among nearly every ‘evil’ group. Perhaps they are those who feel like the Earthmother does not respond to them? Or perhaps the Earthmother is angry and trying to punish them, so they turn to different sources of power for comfort?

3. Night Elves:
If there is a cult or some antagonistic group that players must fight against, you can be 100% sure there are Night Elves there. Faced with tragedy after tragedy, these people look for anything to give them stability in these times. Some are power hungry, others feel abandoned by Elune after witnessing so much death. Perhaps some just wish to end all life in general after living for so long. Whatever the reason, they are always there in the chaos!

4: Blood Elves
Similar to Night Elves, but just in a more fabulous way.

One thing I have noticed though is that Worgen in general, are not used that often for filler NPCs in cults - or at least, I’ve not noticed many. There are the Worgen/Wolf centered cults yes, but outside of race specific cults they don’t appear that often. maybe the magic of the cults doesn’t effect them due to their cursed form? Maybe their pride will not allow them to give up on Azeroth or it’s people. Or maybe, just maybe, Blizzard just wants to forget they exist every time they see that mane clip through armor.

But yeah, Im curious, what are your little speculations for why certain races join cults?

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I think the in-universe reasons might also vary somewhat based on which evil faction we’re talking about. The Primalists are basically a militant and very radicalized Shaman cult, so I can see the races who have shamanism as a part of their culture being somewhat inclined to have people be attracted to the idea. While the various Legion allied cults are because someone either thinks the Legion can’t be defeated, wants power, or they might actually believe in Sargeras’ idea of how to protect the universe from the Void Lords.

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I was thinking about that with the primalists. Though they, of course, have Elves of all kinds in their group don’t follow the shamanistic ways. Though they do all have access to the mage class.

I guess it could be assumed that they grew some sympathies for the elements through using their different magics. Though It’s all arcane based fire/water/etc right?

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Arcane does have overlap with shamanism. And if it were only Night Elves in the Primalists I’d handwave it as them being druids who’re tapping into something similar to the Druids of the Flame. Not sure how to justify Blood Elves, assuming there are any, I can’t remember much about the Primalists beyond thinking they’re just the Twilight’s Hammer but lamer.

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I really would like Blizzard to confirm which of these is true:

  • Mage elemental magic is “made” of Arcane “particles” but just looks like elemental magic.
  • Mage elemental magic is drawing on actual Elemental magic ambient in the environment.
  • Mage elemental magic is forced from the Elementals, such that Mages are accidentally Dark Shaman that have swapped out Decay for Arcane as the catalyst to stealing the power.

To be honest, I’ve never liked the thought of the last two. A practitioner of the Arcane should only be utilizing that singular force on the cosmic chart, as Mage “mathematics” only grants power over Arcane/Order.

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Don’t know if it’s still canon, but in The Last Guardian Medivh claims mages use their magic to create fire, which means you can probably apply that to ice as well.

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I prefer option 1, but my money is on option 2, if you forced me to bet.

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Humans are easy. Short lived without any real natural advantages over other races, as well as the typical power structure of most human kingdoms being a ridged feudal hierarchy without much room for advancement. There are other reasons (i.e a mage wanting to delve into forbidden lore or a Paladin losing faith) but humans generally are the most populous race with the least equal spread of wealth or power amongst them

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Oh yeah they are!! Zing!!

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Technically Warcraft Humans do have a natural advantage over other races since they’re canonically more naturally skilled in arcane magic than anyone else. Also, I feel like Stormwind at least has a lot more room for social advancement, or at least we haven’t seen any sign of real classism in it since the House of Nobles plot was dropped after Vanilla.

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It’s stupid that all races participate without rhyme or reason. But what do I expect from those who appear out of nowhere like a cheap version of Twilight’s Hammer? The Primalists should only be dragons!

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There’s a lot of draenei in the Primalists, and I frankly don’t get it. They’re not just titan influenced, they’re titan-influenced ALIENS. They’re basically everything that the Incarnates and the primalists rail against.

If a draenei was inclined to chase power, or join some fringe cult-thing, The Legion was like right there. Instead of squatting in a moldy cave licking protodrake toenails, they could be living that cosmopolitan eredar-lord lifestyle. Fel-Mansions, a fel Space Yatch. All the high life and fel night-clubs Eredath has to offer.

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I see Trolls, Dwarves and Vulpera Primalists more than anything else

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You forgot High Elf Npcs since the Cult of the Damned has High Elf NPCS.

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they all gave up on baine