Hey folks, I do a lot of roleplay around Kul Tiras and in the course of doing research for various characters, I’ve come across an interesting conundrum. A few months ago, I write a post for /r/warcraftlore that examined religion in Kul Tiras in each zone. It mostly focused on the Tidesages and the new lore we’d been given with them.
Drustvar, though, was interesting to look at. There’s no Tidesage influence to speak of anywhere in the zone- not a single NPC or building they use for their religion. this could be attributed to how most of the zone seems to be fallen to the Heartsbane Coven (and the Tidesages could be among those killed). However, even in Fallhaven (which had yet to see any deaths to the witches and is close to the sea) there is no Tidesage.
On top of the curious lack of their presence in Drustvar, there’s also burial practices to consider. In the Tidesage religion, burial seems to be less important than the collection of souls- to lay their dead to rest in Stormsong Valley, the Tidesages perform a ritual to let the souls flow through the Shrine of the Storm. There are no graveyards throughout the entire zone there, only tidesage markers for players to spawn at. Tiragarde Sound has some graveyards, but they are small.
Drustvar, once again, is the odd one out. Not only does it have numerous graveyards, but it has Kul Tiras’ largest cemetery, Barrowknoll. In Barrowknoll, there is a small quest chain dealing with the Coven raising the strongest spirits of the dead (the Defenders of Drustvar) and putting them into wicker constructs. It seems that here, the souls and bodies rest together- meaning they are not released into the sea by Tidesages at all.
Overall, Barrowknoll is quite reminiscent of the places that Light-worshipping cultures lay their dead to rest, as shown behind Stormwind Cathedral, in Gilneas, at Sorrow Hill and Light’s Hope, and even the redone Arathi Highlands. It features the entrances to crypts (though they are blocked off by gates), and gravestones that are overall of high quality, unlike the simple wooden markers we see in Tiragarde. Most importantly, it resembles Forgotten Hill in Tol Barad- an island once under the control of mages from Kul Tiras.
One last curious burial bit is out in Corlain’s graveyard, on the other side of Drustvar. While most of the gravestones there are the standard models used in Whitegrove, one particular one stood out because paladin players walk past it in their class hall. It features a hammer and a libram- a statue that is meant to mark a paladin of the Silver Hand. Considering that Blizzard created brand new models for gravestones to use in both the Arathi Highlands and Kul Tiras, it strikes me as strange that they’d unintentionally place a single paladin’s marker in a graveyard in Drustvar. We may have had a paladin hail from Drustvar at some point and be buried in their homeland.
There’s more beyond simple burial practices, though. I mentioned the Defenders of Drustvar before, who were powerful spirits being raised by the Coven who had presumably been past heroes. Among them is a woman named Mercy Fairwater. She is one of the few NPCs in Kul Tiras to mention the Light expressly, saying “Light’s Peace be upon you, class.” She also bears the Greatstaff of Righteousness, a staff that features a headpiece that is the symbol of the Church of Holy Light. This symbol is on various weapons associated with the Church, and Archbishop Benedictus even wielded it in his fight underneath Wyrmrest.
Another NPC of significance is Inquisitor Erik, a mob added in 8.1. He is a member of the Order of Embers and spawns sometimes for Horde during their world quests. He is dressed in the garb of an inquisitor, yet his attack spells are Crusader Strike and Holy Smite. These are both Light-based attacks… could this really be just a coincidence?
Cleric Loriette is another 8.1 NPC, added from the outpost upgrades you can purchase from the 7th Legion vendor. She is added to Arom’s Stand, and can cast a buff on you called Blessing of the Order of Embers. Clerics are not an uncommon thing in Azeroth- there are the Clerics of Northshire as the most prominent ones, as well as Argent Clerics, Dark Clerics, Alliance Clerics… the list goes on and on. However, no matter what, these clerics are always religious in some manner, usually related to the Church of Light or the Cult of Forgotten Shadow. If Loriette is casting a blessing spell as well, something usually done in Azeroth by priests or paladins, it would seem that perhaps Light worship is implied. The spell is uncategorized on WoWhead, and the effects seem to be orange and almost fiery, perhaps reminiscent of holy fire.
There are other NPCs too that seem to suggest some small level Kul Tiran Light worship, or at least ability to use it. While not based out of Drustvar, the Tol Dagor dungeon features Ashvane-aligned priests who perform the spells Inner Flames and Righteous Flames. The former has a healing effect, the latter is a damage spell. Inner Fire was a once a priest spell.
One last point comes from the invasions. After 8.1, it seems that the Army of Light has set up encampments. Those who remember the Army know that it was once led by the mother naaru Xe’ra. Naaru are arguably the most important figures in Light worship, and even with Xe’ra’s death, the Army are still a major Alliance faction of religious, Light-infused warriors. The Army defend Drustvar from plaguebombing during the Horde invasions of the zone with shield generators and “purified” troops that are both human and Lightforged.
While there is a small presence of standard Alliance forces helping during the invasions as well, the Army seem to be the dominant Alliance forces in the area. this is notable because it is the only invasion of the six where the 7th Legion does not seem to be taking the lead in the assault or defense. While this isn’t a definitive point in favor of Light worship, I think it’s worth noting that the army of Light-infused warriors came only to defend Drustvar, a place that may have Light worshippers, and do not show up in other invasions.
Overall, it strikes me as strange that a region that’s primarily mountainous would look to the sea for guidance like the rest of Kul Tiras. Tidesages often bring the rains for crops in Stormsong Valley, but Drustvar has a number of streams to provide freshwater to its farming regions, and a large amount of snowmelt to feed them, rendering that part of their duties unnecessary. Drustvar’s fishing villages are in disarray for the most part, and so the other part of Tidesage functions (blessing fishing and monster hunting trips, saying where the fish are biting, etc) are simply not present, but that may be more due to Coven attack than them not being there.
Unfortunately, there are a total lack of religious buildings in Drustvar to confirm or deny the possibility of Light worship. Whitegrove Chapel features no priests to speak of and is overrun by monsters when we arrive. However, even going back in time reveals a wedding officiated by Lord Waycrest, rather than a Tidesage or priest of the Light.
Given what’s been displayed between burial practices and NPCs, I’d like to make the case for some level of minor Light worship in Drustvar. I’m curious what the story forum thinks about all this and if it’s all just coincidence or if there is something there for Drustvar.