Disclaimer: This guide was originally written by Melyria of Moon Guard (2008), revised by Celegil, Aldrannath, and Kestrel of Steamwheedle Cartel EU (2010), then subsequently updated and maintained by Feyawen (2012-Present) with contributions and input from various community members. To help update this guide with new lore from Legion, Battle for Azeroth and other sources please write a reply with the updated information you have obtained, and please remember to include your citations. Last updated: Fall 2017.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Traditional vs. Liberal
III. Biology
IV. Culture
V. Religion
VI. Relations
VII. Outlooks
VIII. Class Paths
IX. Trade Skills
X. Language
XI. Land & Cities
XII. Timeline
XIII. Citations
Introduction
Night Elf lore can be vague at times and they're a race far from human, meaning that everything about them, from social interaction to biology can be different. A person who hasn't roleplayed a Night Elf before or a fresh player might be intimidated by all the lore they have to sift through to get a good idea about what the Night Elves are about.
Ultimately, the plethora of quests, books and in game reading one has to do is astounding. I decided to take up that job so others don't have to, should they not want to. Buying books or doing every quest in a zone just to understand a race can get boring or drain your money. So I did all those quests, read all the books and comics, sifted through all the information and logged it all.
Before you jump into the guide, I just want to express my gratitude for reading it. I put a lot of work into maintaining this and I hope everyone enjoys what has been put down here.
I've cited a lot of things. My sources include the WoW comics, Stormrage, Wolfheart, the War of the Ancients Trilogy, the quests from every Night Elf zone (and then some) from pre and post-Cataclysm, archaeology finds, game manuals for both WoW and WC3, WC3 plus the expansion, The Chronicle Volumes, and things like the Cdevs and magazines. See citations at the end.
Traditional vs. Liberal
Tradition, heritage, and change all matter to a race. No two Night Elves are the same, just like no two Dwarves or Humans are the same. One should realize that Night Elves do have sub-factions within their society, just like we do today, consisting of the traditionalists, the liberals and those in between.
The key to roleplaying a Night Elf is, no matter what 'side' or outlook you choose, your character is a Night Elf and not a Human or Dwarf. They were raised in a culture much different than those other races and even if they're open minded, their roots still show.
For the sake of this section, imagine a scale going from 1 to 10, with 1 being extremely liberal and 10 being hardcore traditional.
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Traditional
Traditional Night Elves are those who cling to the old ways, the ways before the Third War and the rules and lifestyles of the Long Vigil. These elves very much so embody what it meant to be a Night Elf not even 15 years prior to the current timeline.
Those who are on the far end of the tradition scale will usually and religiously push for how things were prior to the Third War. They may dislike the changes to the Night Elf government and lifestyle, may dislike outlanders or believe that their old ways are superior. As they move closer to the middle of the scale, traditional elves mellow a bit and make concessions or compromises in their beliefs, perhaps still favoring the old ways but able to cope with the new, or approving of some of the gender changes, yet not the inclusion of foreign races. It is, of course, up to you where they fall on the traditional scale, but the higher up they are on it, the more set in the old ways they'll be.
It should also be noted that Night Elves are slow to change [1]. Because of this, it is very likely that the majority of Night Elf society falls in this range, not yet transitioned into the new ways and ties made since the Third War.
An example: A traditional Night Elf will choose a bow over a gun at every opportunity, even if the gun is slightly better.
NPC examples: Maiev Shadowsong (10), Jarod Shadowsong (9), Fandral Staghelm (8), Shandris Feathermoon (7)
Adventurous
Adventurous Night Elves are those who are not quite liberal, yet not quite traditional. Here Night Elves may be getting used to outsiders, forming more bonds with non-Night Elves and traveling outside of Kalimdor and Night Elf territory. These elves are far more likely to break with tradition but may still lean one way or another, with traditional-leaning elves still holding on to what they've learned for hundreds of years.
The traditional-leaning may speak up or hesitate to break taboos or try new things, while liberal-leaning ones may be more inclined to experiment. They may understand another race's viewpoints or plight, possibly mixing it with their own ways. They may be eager to understand yet awkward or out of place in another race's city or territory.
Example: An adventurous Night Elf will choose either rifle or bow and will choose whichever suits the situation or is in the best condition, though may still have a bias.
NPC examples:Tyrande Whisperwind (6), Malfurion Stormrage (5), Broll Bearmantle (4)
Liberal
Liberal Night Elves are those who have broken away from tradition. These elves have embraced the new allies, techniques and lifestyles put forward to them. They may be very willing to surround themselves with other races, use new technology and break with heritage. They may feel just as at home in Stormwind as they do in Darnassus, though as said above, roots still show.
Those who join the Argent Dawn, go on away missions for the Cenarion Circle or become mercenaries may be this kind of elf, willing to be near those so very different than their old lives. On the flip side, those who fall into thieving or cults also fall into this range, by letting the new world overwhelm them.
At this point, though, it should be remembered that Night Elves are still Night Elves. Even though liberal, they might prefer their traditional food or prefer the feel of grass on their feet. They'd still worship Elune, given the proof of her existence, but may be willing to accept the Light as a valid view on how to live one's life or even compare teachings and see which is better.
Example: A liberal Night Elf may become fascinated by firearms and will choose them over bows if presented the choice.
NPC examples: Vestia Moonspear (3), Illidan Stormrage (2), Kyle Radue (1)
Biology
For the average Kaldorei, peak physical health is one aspect of achieving overall personal harmony. Individuals can spend centuries sculpting their form to perfection for both aesthetic appeal and battle prowess.
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Height & Weight
Night Elves stand approximately 7 feet tall.[2] Using the height comparisons between avatars, and assuming avatars represent a near average height for each gender and race, this puts females at approximately 7 feet tall and males at 7.5 feet tall.[3]
If Night Elves have the same ratio of height variance as humans, then their height can vary within a foot shorter or taller from the average height designated to their gender.
Night Elves tend to be on the athletic side in terms of body type.[1] Assuming Night Elves are not, inch for inch, heavier than a human, one can simply use modern day humans to estimate weight.
Yao Ming (Basket Ball player) stands 7'5 and weighs 310 pounds. Isis (Female wrestler) stands 7'0 and weighs 245 pounds.
Age
Without their immortality, we don't know exactly how long a Night Elf lives. It is said that the Night Elves now share a similar lifespan as their High and Blood Elven cousins. [4] And while Blood Elf and High Elf age are suspect, it still puts Night Elves far and beyond other Azerothian races.
Night Elf aging also appears to be the same as human aging up to a point, with Shandris Feathermoon being an adolescent during the War of the Ancients and looking the part.[5] As well, children have started 'growing up' on Teldrassil, meaning that within the less 8-10 years since Teldrassil's growth they have matured steadily into teens.[6] Around the Night Elf's 20s to 30s the aging process slows or stops.
Speculation: The first few centuries of a Night Elfâs life are presumably nothing like the first 18 years of a human life. This is inferred because the first few centuries of a Night Elf's life, when they are still considered youth in their society, spans the entire life expectancy of a human twice over. This means that young adulthood for a Night Elf is similar to living two full human lives.
Tyrande Whisperwind was roughly 13,836 during the Warcraft III campaign. Malfurion and Illidan Stormrage were 15,032. Add ten years since that time and that is their present age. [141]
Skin & Hair
Night Elf skin tends to come in shades of purple. These can range from dark, such as plum and maroon, to light, such as lavender. It is unknown if Night Elves can 'tan'.
Their skin color has led to the 'slang' term âPurpleâ in reference to their entire race.[7]
Night Elf hair comes in a variety of colors. These include raven black, midnight blue, light blue, light green, forest green, silver, dark purple and light purple. Female Night Elf Death Knights exhibit pink hair, yet this seems to be tied to their undead state as no living elves show this hair color.
Hair styles are varied. Long and short hair are both unisex, as are ponytails and braids. Females are shown to decorate their hair with tiaras, leaves[8] and feathers.[9] Men sport a wide variety of beards, some being quite thick and Dwarf-like.
Night Elf blood is purple.[10] Because of this, a Night Elf's blush would be very dark, almost maroon or black in color.
Senses, Eyes & Ears
Night Elves have heightened senses. Furthermore, they are able to see in the low light situations.[4]
A major power Night Elves have is they are able to detect and sense 'wrongness', corruption and evil, at least in a general area.[11][12][13][14]
Night Elves only have two naturally occurring eye glow colors; amber and silver.[4] A blue glow occurs in Death Knights.
Before the War of the Ancients, amber eyes were considered to be a sign of great power or destiny. After Night Elves started to dabble in druidic magic it was revealed that amber eyes are a sign of druidic potential. It is possible for a Night Elf's eyes to turn from silver to amber after taking up druidic studies.[4]
Night Elves also seem to have some issue with daylight, as they are a nocturnal race. At least once we see Night Elves having to squint during the day to make something out in the distance.[15]
There is a significant difference between ears of a Night Elves and the ears of other elves that we see in World of Warcraft. Where other elves tend to have straight, upward pointing ears, the Night Elves have longer, slightly curved ears that protrude directly toward the back of the head, and often extending beyond. Additionally, we can see from some of the cinematic trailers and videos by Blizzard Entertainment as of the Legion expansion that night elf ears shift and move, and can be expressive.
However, like all elves the Night Elves large ears tend to be greeted with admiration or mockery by other races.[4]
Fangs & Claws
Art is conflicting in if Night Elves have claws or not. Earlier art portrayed them with long, claw-like nails, yet art (especially after WoW) depicts them without. As of Cataclysm, however, every new or updated Night Elf models, including Azshara, Malfuion, Illidan, and Tyrande, have been displayed with elongated nails and canines.
However, almost all art depicts Night Elves, both male, and female, with sharp, elongated canines.
Evolution
Recently it has been confirmed that Night Elves evolved from Dark Trolls.[16]
It is unknown if this is known to the race as a whole. Even if it was revealed it may not provide any source of strife as Night Elves believe they are Elune's children. It has been speculated that Elune did have her hand in the Night Elves' creation, given her son, Cenarius', appearance.
Culture
For more than ten thousand years, the night elves have been bound to nature, shaping their culture into what it is now. Modern night elf society was founded on the very grounds of protecting nature, signified by their connection to the world tree.
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Gender Roles
The term âNight Elfâ is a general, layman's term in reference to the race. The Night Elves, in their own language, call themselves âThe Kaldoreiâ, which translates to âThe Children of the Starsâ.[17] Unlike the Quel'Dorei and Sin'dorei (High and Blood Elves, respectively), Kaldorei is not spelled with an apostrophe.
In traditional Night Elf society, there is a clear distinction between male and female gender roles. Beyond the civilian sector, women could progress to the formal military or the sisterhood while men could only progress into the Cenarion Circle.[18][19][20] Recently, because of the losses from the Third War, the Night Elves have lifted the restrictions on their society, yet women still hold the majority in the temple and military while men hold the majority in the Circle.[18][19]
A common misconception is that the majority of men became druids, leaving the women behind to enter the Emerald Dream, the realm of Ysera the Aspect of Nature. However, this was not the case and in truth only a small number of men were druids.[4] This meant that a large portion of the populace was male during the 10,000 year period between the War of the Ancients and the Third War.
Another misconception is that men were/are looked down upon in Night Elf society. This was and is not the case. There is no proof that such opinions were held. In truth, because Night Elf men had only one path beyond the civilian sector, while women had a few more choices, this would ultimately lead males down the path of being artisans, traders, and hunters, all key facets of a society. Men could be warriors, archers or scouts, holding those skills without being in the formal military, similar to how one can own a gun without joining the army in modern life.
Because the gender roles have been lifted, males can become Sentinels and priests, while women can become druids. It is important to recognize that there is a vast power gap in these positions. The restrictions were only lifted less than ten years prior to the current timeline. This means that your male priest or Sentinel or female druid will only have at most two decades of experience compared to the hundreds or thousands of years the opposite gender possesses.
However, in recent expansions we see more and more male night elf NPCs (non-player characters) holding higher military ranks such as captain and even commander, and more female night elves holding positions as high as Archdruid. Examples of male leaders are Captain Elendilad at Fallen Sky Lake in Ashenvale and Commander Skyshadow who is the town leader at Sylvanaar in the Blade's Edge Mountains. Examples of female archdruids are Lilliandra, Elerethe Renferal, and Koda Steelclaw <Archdruid of the Claw>. Other female druid leaders include Sylendra Gladesong who is the leader of the Druids of the Antler.
Government
The Darnassian government is fairly simple. In modern terms, Night Elf territories are considered a theocracy and military dictatorship. What this means is that the individual who runs the religion also runs the government and that order is kept through the formal military. This does not mean that Night Elf society is oppressive in any way, just that the military is who keeps the peace.
Tyrande Whisperwind is the head of the Temple and, thus, the leader of the Night Elves. With her marriage to Malfurion Stormrage, he has also acquired the title of leadership.[21] Tyrande also runs the Sentinel army through her adopted daughter General Shandris Feathermoon, who happens to be next in line for Tyrande's position of High Priestess should anything happen to her.[22]
In smaller settlements and towns there is usually a village elder and/or a council. These both control the local Sentinel guards and seem to handle local politics, passing judgment and running the town.[23][24]
The Temple
The Sisterhood of Elune is the main religion of The Night Elves. These elves count themselves among Elune's servants, leading day-to-day Night Elf society and the faith. They work as healers and spellcasters, calling down Elune's power to heal and to destroy.
As mentioned above, the majority of the Sisterhood is still female, though some males have taken to their ranks. Most men would only still be acolytes, considering the age gap between the new male adherents and the more experienced female priestess.
The Sentinel Army
The Sentinel Army is the formal, official army of the Night Elves. They employ a wide variety of units, including archers, mounted cavalry, scouts, outrunners, foot soldiers and priests from the Sisterhood.
The Sentinel Army was created 9,400 years prior to the Third War, for the purpose of defending Night Elf land and preparing for the Legion's return. They replaced the old, devastated Highborne army, which had become more of a spot for nobility than soldiers, resulting in poor tactical and military command during the War of the Ancients. The Sentinels were crafted from the existing Sisterhood of Elune and thus were composed of only women.[18]
The longer a Night Elf stays in the Sentinels, the more skilled they become. They are subjected to a great deal of specialized training and drills, keeping them sharp even during times of peace.[18] Veteran Sentinels could potentially have served in several campaigns prior to joining the Alliance, including the War of the Ancients, War of the Satyr, War of the Shifting Sands and the Third War. They are potentially the most experienced soldiers of any Azerothian race. Sentinels are known to place blessed banners around their camps to grant protection and aid.[162]
However, The Sentinels lost many, meaning new recruits and men were accepted into the ranks. The army is still composed of mostly women and, due to the gap in training, the men tend to be a lower rank than the more experienced women. With the destruction of the original Feathermoon Stronghold, the Sentinel Army rebuilt on the mainland of Kalimdor. Other changes included the addition of the Moonclaw worgen to the ranks of the Sentinels, serving directly under General Shandris Feathermoon.[163]
Cenarion Circle
Initially, the Cenarion Circle was an entirely Night Elf organization up until after the Third War, sans the Sons and Daughters of Cenarius. The Circle's name itself comes from the demigod Cenarius, who was the trainer of Malfurion Stormrage, the first druid of the order.[19]
The Cenarions initially were a male only organization, with the druids going for extended dream walks through the Emerald Dream. These dreams could last hundreds to thousands of years.[25] After the Third War, the Malfurion taught druidism to the Tauren and opened the Circle to them. At the same time, because of the causalities of the war, the order opened its doors to females as well. Since the Cataclysm, Worgen and Trolls have also entered the Circle's service.
Unlike The Sentinels and The Sisterhood, the Cenarion Circle has moved away from being a purely Night Elven organization. They have pulled away from the race slightly and focus on the world at large, becoming neutral in many conflicts and recruiting aid from both the Alliance and Horde.
Still, even with a neutral tie they still have a presence in Darnassus, with many druids pledging themselves to their beliefs.
They are currently being led by Malfurion Stormrage and Hamuul Runetotem.
Love & Children
Love for Night Elves seems fairly similar to other races. Courting seems to involve gift giving, between both genders.[31][32] At some point, there may have been a restriction on two castes or levels of society from being in a relationship (of course this was in ancient times).[33] Love can blossom early on in Night Elven life and doesn't appear to need the two to be extremely old.[29]
It appears that love is a long lasting emotion for Night Elves, with numerous cases of Night Elves holding on to relationships for thousands of years. Malfurion and Tyrande were loyal to one another, even with there being thousands of years without contact. Jerod and Shalasyr were together for thousands of years as well. We even see Night Elves who stay devoted long after the death of their spouse.[34][35] Because of such devotion, it is likely that these relationships are not jumped into the spur of the moment.
If two Night Elves do manage to get married, both keep their surnames. It is unknown if children normally take the mother or father's surname or if it is something agreed upon by the two.
We have one possible case of same-sex interest in Night Elves. Sentinel Sweetspring in Dragonblight seems to flirt with her commanding officer without nothing but slight exasperation in response.[36]
As with any race, Night Elves look after their young and help them grow to maturity. While we don't know much about Night Elven children and how they live, we know a few key facts.
We know Night Elf children participate in 'plain' activities by a modern standard; chasing wisps,[26] racing, hunting,[27] playing with dolls,[28] and collecting glass figurines.[29]
Upon coming of age, Night Elf women tattoo their faces as a rite of passage.[30]
Food & Drink
Night Elves are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetables. Night Elves have no large farms and tend to hunt for their meat. Hunting is an old tradition amongst the Night Elves.[37]
We know Night Elves eat kimchi as a staple.[38][39][40] Kimchi is made by fermenting and pickling specific spices and vegetables in pots over the course of weeks or months. The vegetables can vary but, usually, it is cabbage. The taste depends on the vegetables and spices included, but one can make the comparison between it and sauerkraut.
Rice, both white and wild, also seems to be a staple, with most houses having a bag of rice flour.[41] Rice flour can be used to make dumplings, bread, rice bread and rice noodles. Rice can also be molded into rice cakes, which Night Elves consume.[42]
Night Elves also have a staple called pine nut bread.[43] It isn't known if this is bread with pine nuts in it or a type of bread made using ground nuts as an ingredient. Either way, pine nuts taste like how you would expect, like a pine tree or pine cone.
It also seems like Night Elves consume plenty of fresh fruits. Moonberries, eyes of Elune, sun fruit and lunar pears grow around moonwells[44] and Night Elf vendors sell heaven peaches.[45]
Likely a side-dish, Night Elves also appear to eat a variety of dumplings. We know they're served as part of the lunar festival[46] and mandu is readily available from Night Elf vendors.[47] Mandu tends to be a dumpling filled with shredded or ground meat of varying types.
Meat tends to be implied by the animals Night Elves have access to. We know they use deer meat[48], tallstrider[49] and have no issue with consuming giant bugs.[50] However, Night Elves also have access to boar, wolf and bear meat. They don't seem to have had access to beef or lamb prior to off continent contact with the Alliance.
Because of the above-mentioned lack of cow or sheep/goats there comes the question of where Darnassian bleu comes from. After some research, I've found out that it isn't possible to make cheese out of carnivore milk, meaning nightsabers, wolves, bears and such are out. After more research I found that it is possible, however, to make cheese out of deer milk.
Fish also seems to be a fairly important part of the Night Elf diet. Clams are eaten,[51] octopus.[52], herring[53] and whitefish[54].
For drinks, Night Elves seem to have invented moonberry juice as they grow by moonwells.[44] Presumably, they also drink other fruit juices.
In terms of alcohol, we know that Night Elves make wine and we haven't seen a case of Night Elf ale, beer or mead. In some cases, Night Elves add ginger to their wines.[55] Some Night Elf wine can be sweet.[56] Considering their aging and access to exceptionally sweet moonberries, it is likely that Night Elven wine can be exceptionally strong and/or well aged. It should be noted that wine can go bad, the oldest drinkable wine to date is approximately 350 years old.
Clothing
Clothing in Night Elf culture varies, especially from caste to caste. Druids can often be seen wearing furs, priestesses dresses and robes made from mooncloth and sentinels in their armor. Civilians can be seen wearing a wide variety of dresses, robes, shirts, vests and pants. Many wear sandals or go barefooted.
Skin isn't something that is shied away from. Women, often archers or soldiers, can be seen wearing revealing armor and men are free to walk around shirtless. Modesty seems to be taken differently by the Night Elves.
As well, there seems to be a small group of Night Elven outfits that herald back to their oriental style. Hanboks and dangui are both Korean style dresses, dangui typically being worn like a jacket over top of the hanbok.[57] As well, some Night Elves can be seen wearing an almost hakama-esque outfit, with robes and a jacket over top.[58]
Religion
Faith plays a major and active role in night elven society, and Elune is at the beating heart of it all. However, the night elves use phrases such as "Gods help us all"; "May the gods have mercy", and the Temple of the Moon in Suramar City once had murals depicting Elune and many other gods (actual gods, not demigods) shaping the world.[166]
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Elune
Elune is the chief deity of the Night Elves. She is depicted as the larger of the two Azerothian moons, the White Lady. The Night Elves refer to her as Elune, âThe Goddessâ and âMother Moonâ.
The Night Elves believe that they originally were born in darkness and that Elune's light allowed them to see. This light filled the Night Elves and allowed them to see in the dark and to channel her power even when the moon was not visible.[59]
While she is a goddess of peace, Elune also is a warrior.[60] She accepts sacrifices of weapons and flesh of the Night Elves' enemies in exchange for her blessings.[61][62] It is said that she takes the souls of dead Night Elf soldiers and guides them to the afterlife.[60]
Most consider Elune to be kind and loving to her children. Her priestesses are to be devoted to her, yet she did not expect the complete and total attention of her clergy.[63] However, all priestesses are required to have an unshakably strong faith to become a member of the temple.[64]
Calling upon Elune's power invokes moonlight, starlight,[65], moonfire,[66] and falling stars.[67]
Washing one's face is considered a religious act to the Night Elves.[68]
There are suggestions that Elune may have a connection to the shadow. Being the moon, Elune represents the light that is present in the darkness, but even the light of the moon casts a shadow. Elune may be the Goddess of the Moon, but even the Moon has a dark side. [158] This is further supported when Khadgar discovers evidence that Elune played a part during the great ordering of Light and Shadow, and may even have had a hand in the creation of the naaru.[159]
The Ancients
Aside from Elune, the Night Elves venerate the Ancients, aspects of nature and demi-gods. While the Night Elves worship Elune, pray to her and give her offerings, the same does not seem to be true of the Ancients. A comparison I've seen used describe the Ancients much like how the Virgin Mary and Saints are depicted in the Catholic faith, being revered and venerated without being the focus of true worship.
Druids often work alongside and walk the path of these beings. Should an Ancient gain a following of druids, they become a 'totem' ancient. The current totems include:
- Ursoc and Ursol, the bear siblings. Druids of the Claw follow these two and can transform into bears and felines.
- Aviana, the sky ancient. Druids of the Talon follow her path and control storms, winds and can transform into birds, particularly the Storm Crow.
- Malorne, the stag. Druids of the Antler are said to follow his path but their skills are unknown. Presumably, they can transform into deer.
- Goldrinn, the wolf. Druids of the Pack, a defunct sect, followed his example. They became the first Worgen and propagated the curse.
Other venerated Ancients include:
- Tortolla, the turtle.
- Aessina, the forest spirit
- Cenarius, the son of Elune and Malorne
Other Ancients have existed in the past but many were slain. We only know of a sparse few that the Night Elves focus on.
Death
Typically Night Elves bury their dead, believing in returning them to the earth. In special cases, a druid may hasten the process and burial is not needed.[59][69] Prior to the funeral and burial, the body is washed, clothed and any injuries are hidden.[69]
Night Elves believe that Elune calls them to the hereafter. It is not known exactly what the Night Elf afterlife is like or even if they know themselves.
Small shrines and cemeteries are constructed for the dead, graves marked by small, rounded stones. A common custom is to lay food, specifically blessed rice cakes, by the shrines as an offering to the deceased.[70]
The Balance
The balance is the philosophy of 'The balance of nature'. This entails keeping nature going on, keeping things in order and for the natural cycle to continue, preventing unnatural means from taking hold.[71] Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage would often reference the balance during the third war.
This philosophy permits for the culling of excess fauna.[72][73]
Moonwells
The well of eternity's waters are placed within a stone well and allowed to absorb moonlight during the night.[74] These are called moonwells. These wells have many practical purposes but Sentinels (and presumably priestesses) keep them as shrines to Elune.[75] Night Elves use them to bless food stores and weapons. Moonwells contain sacred waters that can heal wounds and restore energy and vitality, and often are put to use purifying corrupt areas.[160] A few drops of water from a moonwell can cleanse the taint of the scourge from wildlife.[161] Fruit grows readily by them, specifically moonberries, and Moonwell water has the ability to destroy corruption, create mooncloth and the water has a number of magical properties, including purification and enhancing spellcasting (though arcane is strictly prohibited).
Relations
In general, Night Elves prefer the company of their own race to others, staying solitary and aloof.[2] They are reclusive[76] and non-Kaldorei are not normally seen on Teldrassil.[77] Some don't trust other races and believe peace can fall apart at any time.[78] Even the newly arrived Worgen seem to stay on the outskirts of the city or in the wilderness.[79]
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Humans and Night Elves met ten years prior to the current timeline. They fought together in the defense of Hyjal. Now the Night Elves have joined the Alliance. Humans are perhaps the alliance race that has the most interaction with the Night Elves, even sharing a marine route. Up until recently, the Stormwind Park was a spot for the few Night Elves within the city to stay and rest. Now that it has been destroyed, the Night Elves are staying outside the city, near the docks.
Dwarves
Dwarves and Night Elves have occasional interactions. They met alongside the human forces during the Third War. The only permanent Night Elf settlement in the Eastern Kingdoms is found in Dwarf land, the Greenwardenâs Grove. Dwarves are permitted to dig in Night Elf territory for artifacts and research.
Gnomes
Night Elf and Gnome relations are strained. Night Elves take issue with Gnomish technology[80] and it is said that only in dire situations will the two races cooperate.[81]
Draenei
The Draenei are somewhat distant allies of the Night Elves. They work together in Forest Song, Ashenvale, but beyond that, there seems to be little interaction. Even after a few years, ambassadors still work in the temple. During the Alliance summit, Tyrande and Malfurion were surprised to see the Draenei in attendance, showing how much they were aware of the raceâs current situation.[82]
Worgen/Gilneans
The Night Elves went to the Eastern Kingdoms to save the Gilneans from destruction. As the Worgen were the result of their curse, the Night Elves gave the refugees a home within their city. Many willingly stay outside the city in the wilds to hunt.[79]
Orcs
The Orcs are the main enemy of the Night Elves in the current day. Since their incursion into the forests of Ashenvale, they have not stopped and had only pushed deeper and deeper as time went on. After the cataclysm, the Orcs pushed even further into the forest, slaying many Night Elves in the process. They have been described as monsters.[83]
Trolls
Trolls are one of the Night Elvesâ longest foes, going as far back as 10,000 years. However, the Darkspear were not the breed that was normally encountered since then. As they fight alongside the Orcs, they are considered enemies. It is entirely possible that because of the past crushing defeats the Night Elves have delivered to the Trolls they have a hard time taking them seriously.[84] During the advance of Hellscreamâs Horde the Darkspear Trolls allied with the Alliance forces to defeat a common foe, this was likely a tense situation for the Night Elves at the time but they operated in bulk alongside their old enemies.
Tauren
Tauren used to live in relative seclusion with the Night Elves but without any hostility between the two Kalimdor natives. This led to the Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage teaching the Tauren their lost skill of druidism. Since then the Tauren have sided with the Horde in the war against the Alliance, making them enemies. Those of the Cenarion Circle work together readily but on the battlefield, the two races will fight. Strong friendships have been made with this race however, we see this in the bond between Tholo Whitehoof and Anren Shadowseeker.[139]
Forsaken
The forsaken have little contact with the Night Elves, save for some Orc supervised operations in Kalimdor. However, simply because they are allied with the Orcs puts them at odds with the Night Elves. Furthermore, their destruction of life, nature, and the balance would instantly make them enemies, regardless of their tie to the Horde.
Blood Elves
The exiled Highborne eventually evolved into the High Elves, which then became the Blood Elves. The Blood Elf practice of magic instantly puts them at odds with the Night Elves.[2] Even prior to their joining the Horde, the Night Elves invaded QuelâThalas and set up spying camps throughout the forest, making hostile attacks against the Blood Elves. On their side, the Blood Elves seemingly take glee in any chance to attack and humiliate the Night Elves.[85][86]
Goblins
Goblins have a nasty habit of deforestation, strip mining and creating pollution. Any Goblin organization that does this earns the ire of the Night Elves.[87] Because both the Bilgewater and Venture Co care little for nature, they tend to be at war with the Night Elves. The Steamwheedle Cartel, however, seems to be slightly less destructive and remains a neutral party. Because of this, it is unknown how the Night Elves would view the varying factions within the cartels.
Pandaren
More than 12,000 years ago, when the Kaldorei were still settling around the Well of Eternity the Mogu had already conquered a swath of territory and enslaved the ancient Pandaren in it. Despite their best attempts to prevent an uprising, the Mogu were eventually overthrown by a Pandaren rebellion.[167] Between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago, before the night elves addiction to arcane magic, the ancient elves and Ancient pandaren were were close allies.[168][171] Presently there is little canon evidence in-game or in novels to illustrate their relations during that time, but it is speculated that they were closer to one another over other neighboring empires such as the troll empires (which sided with the mogu and were sometimes openly hostile to the night elf empire).[169]
After the night elves grew too obsessed with the Eternal Well, the pandaren decided to sever their ties and close their border in Pandaria.[168] Before their departure, they offered a gift in the form of a chest to the highborne said to contain all the arcane magic they would ever need. However, when the chest was opened, it was found empty. The gift was actually a message of advice and wisdom, which the Highborne did not heed. [170]
In present times the Night Elves seem accepting of Pandaren. There was no evidence of Night Elf monks until the coming of the Tushui Pandaren from the Wandering Isle in recent times. Under modern Pandaren tutelage, the monks craft spread to the various races of Azeroth, including the Night Elves. [132]
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Outlooks
As one of the longest living races in Azeroth, night elves tend to be slow to change. Slow to anger and slow to cool off, the night elves experience emotions as deeply, or perhaps more so, than the younger races. While generally slow to respond emotionally, their minds have seen much and tend to have a honed wit and sense of humor.
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The Highborne & Arcane Magic
During this period, the Night Elves decreed it illegal to practice arcane magic, punishable by death.[4][88] Furthermore, the offenderâs entire family would be publicly shamed over this event.[88]
With the return of the Highborne, this ban was lifted in a way. The study of magic was permitted and the Highborne were allowed to return, but arcane magic is still forbidden on Teldrassil.[89][90] The Highborne are still ostracized and treated somewhat poorly, though are protected from harm by the Temple.[89] Even Shandris makes mention that it is only Tyrandeâs word keeping the Highborne safe.[91]
Recent Night Elven students and apprentices to the Highborne have been showing up. The majority of these are younger elves, who came of age near the time of the Third War.[92] Those who take up the arcane studies are usually met with confusion and misunderstanding from those around them.[92]
The Undead
Corporeal undead, specifically The Scourge, has been referred to in a number of ways; Evil,[93][94] miserable,[95] and âa direct affront to natureâ.[96] Furthermore, Eluneâs power, through the moonwells can actively destroy undead corruption and items.[97][98]
The first encounter with necromancy the Night Elves had was in the War of the Ancients. Dreadlords were capable of raising the dead elves to fight for them.[99]
Fel Magic & Demon Hunters
Demon Hunters, as well, are outcasts and despised by the rest of Night Elf society.[101] As well, Maiev killed a Demon Hunter by the name of Telarius Voidstrider in Darkshore. Since Illidanâs escape took her from Hyjal to Azshara, this would mean this confrontation happened prior to her vendetta. This likely means she slew Telarius for being a Demon Hunter, as an official arm of Night Elf justice.[102]
Machines
Wisps absorb stone, wood, and metal from the land and use these raw essences to grow buildings and other constructs as well as repairing them.[104]
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Class Paths
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Warriors are martial masters, which allows for a wide range of interpretation. If your character is a soldier, gender comes into play. As the Sentinels were female only up until approximately 10 years before the current timeline,[18] male warrior Sentinels will only have a decade's worth of formal military training, maximum. Females, however, could have Sentinel training as far back as 10,000 years back. Sentinel Warriors can be either your standard foot soldier or they can be part of the mounted, shield wielding cavalry, Huntresses (note: Huntresses are not the hunter class, per say, they are unique to Night Elf military).
If one is not a standard soldier there are more options. You could be a wandering blade master, moving from spot to spot. You could be a part of a town militia. Perhaps a blacksmith who trains with the weapons he/she makes? Or you could be part of the military arm of the Cenarion Circle, which we see in Silithus.
Rogue
Like with Warriors, Rogues follow the same, vague prerequisites. They can be spies, assassins or simply thugs or self-learned fighters. Also like the above, Rogues can be part of the Sentinels, meaning the gender restriction still applies. Rogues in the Sentinel army can act as runners, spies, scouts, assassins and other stealth-oriented ranks.
Outside the military, Rogues fall into a few ranges. Crime seems to be fairly low in Night Elf society, which means playing a thug or thief seems less viable. However, you could easily play freelance spies, bounty hunters, self -learned fighter, a sailor or swashbuckler or an information gatherer.
Hunter
Hunters are those who employ beasts and archery in their adventures. Again, like the above, this has a fairly wide range of paths one can follow. Hunters can fall into a number of specializations, from marksmen to beast tamers to simple trackers. However, in Night Elf culture, hunting is steeped in tradition.[37]
Archers are frequently employed by the Sentinels, which once again means there are the above gender restrictions.[105] Here, they are generally archers and trackers, alongside an animal companion. Those who arenât in the Sentinels can simply be your usual hunter, beastmaster, archer or woodsman.
Even though Hunters can tame most any beast there are some that lend themselves to a Night Elf flavor:
- Owls: Owls were the favored companions of Priestesses of the Moon and Huntresses.[67][106]
- Chimaeras: These beasts were once used by the elves as aerial fighters. [107]
- Nightsabers: The have tamed them and are even able to communicate between one another. [108]
- Bears: Often tied to the druids of the claw, also with the Ancients Ursoc and Ursol
- Wolves: Tied to the Ancient Goldrinn.
- Frostsabers: These legendary cats allied themselves with the night elves 4,000 years ago when Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind saved the frostsaber queen, Shy-Rotam, from rampaging giants. These intelligent creatures are cousins of the nightsabers, but have larger appetites that earned them the nickname âdragon bellyâ. Additionally, they are raised from infancy, forging lifelong bonds of trust between rider and beast. Taming frostsabers from the wild requires patience and strength, which has made them popular among huntresses and priestesses. [151][152]
Druid
Druids are set into the reverse gender roles as the Sentinels, with the Cenarion Circle only taking females starting 10 years ago. This means that the males are, for the most part, going to be more experienced. Most druids have to choose a path or âtotemâ.
Druids of the Talon use aerial forms, such as storm crows, and command spells such as faerie fire and cyclone. This tends to put them more in the âBalanceâ tree. The biggest issue for this was the Moonkin form. With the expansion of Pandaria, however, one can glyph out of this. Their primary role in society is information gathering and intelligence. They have the ability to transform into storm crows and fly over the field of battle to scout and deliver orders to distant troops. Druids of the Talon are also known to take forms of the cat, as seen in player garrisons in the Draenor expansion. Their leader is Skylord Omnuron.[10]
Druids of the Claw transform into beasts, such as bears and cats. They usually prefer melee and stay on the ground. This generally puts them in the Guardian and Feral trees. The leader of the Druids of the Claw is Lea Stonepaw, a female druid.
Druids of the Antler is a druidic subgroup who take the form of a stag and revere Malorne, father of Cenarius. They were first mentioned in the Warcraft Encyclopedia, and come Legion they can be found within Malorneâs Refuge in Valâsharah. The Druids of the Antler have rarely let themselves be known to outsiders; like Malorne, they spend most of their time in the wilds. Their leader is Sylendra Gladesong. [19][153]
Druids of the Wild are druids who are prompted to train slightly from each totem, giving them some aptitude with each form. This is more of a class than a confirmed organization.
Druids of the Flame and Druids of the Fang are considered enemies of Darnassus.
All druids have the capacity to heal and commune with nature, such as calling roots from the ground or healing rain from the sky. Some just are better or more focused on this aspect of druidism.
Archdruids are incredibly powerful members of the Cenarion Circle and generally lead their own groups of druids. To roleplay an Archdruid would imply that their skill and mastery of druidism is far beyond others. This may be frowned upon by others.
Druids and Night Elves in general only have antlers growing from their brows as a sign of great, arch-druid level power and aptitude.[109]
Priest
Priestesses are much like the Sentinels in that they only started allowing males to join about 10 years prior to the current timeline. Because of this, a male priest may still only be an acolyte while females can be very experienced.
There are no known Shadow Priests of Elune. The Night Elf creation myth specifically states that Eluneâs power is present during times when the moon is not seen, meaning her light shines no matter what.[61] Night Elf Priests specifically call to Elune for their holy power but there seems to be no source for the Shadow Priestâs magic.
Tyrande is the High Priestess of Elune. One should refrain from using the title âHigh Priestessâ.
Mage
Mages are split into two subsections, Highborne refugees, and Night Elf apprentices. When the Highborne returned they were permitted to teach the arcane arts to others. Because of this, the Highborne can have up to 10,000 yearsâ worth of magical experience, yet the Night Elf learners will have less than a year.
As a Night Elf mage, you may be fairly young, as it is noted that those who joined the Highborne were only of age.[92] Overall they will be much more liberal than the other Night Elves, having picked up a previously forbidden practice.
The Highborne, on the other hand, are very different from Night Elves. Prior to their return, they were holed up in Dire Maul, draining magic from the demon Immolâthar. The Highborne are not exclusively arcane practitioners, as they can be warriors or rangers as well.[110][111] Most Highborne respect only power,[112] and are generally known for their haughty, arrogant attitudes.[112][113][114]
Because of their isolation for some several thousand years, the Highborne use outdated arcana. Other, more progressed races, such as the Blood Elves (who were free to practice, advance and study magic without being in a hole) moved past or improved upon the Highborne magics still used today.[85]
The Highborne are known to wear extremely outlandish outfits, gaudy and clashing in color.[115]
Arcane magic is forbidden on Teldrassil.[89] Night Elves who are learning the arcane arts are likely to train at the Tower of Estulan in Feralas.[91] They may practice outside Teldrassil however, as the practice of arcane is no longer illegal. [140]
Monk
Monks are a martial-arts based class of fighters whose primary attacks are done with their fists. Despite the fact that theyâre pretty much defined by that unique fighting style, thereâs actually a lot more to monks than just fighting. All monks trained in Azeroth are being advised and taught by the Pandaren from the Wandering Isle who have chosen to share their skills with the rest of the world.
However, because non-Pandaren monks have adopted Pandaren philosophy and even venerated their deities, it conflicts with traditional night elf roots.
Demon Hunter
Demon hunters are the disciples of Illidan Stormrage who embrace fel and chaotic magic-energies that have long threatened the world of Azeroth â believing them necessary to challenge the Burning Legion. Wielding the power of the demons theyâve slain, they develop demonic features that incite revulsion and dread in fellow elves. [154]
Demon hunters ritually blind themselves in exchange for spectral sight that enables them to better sense their prey. This enhances awareness, together with their great agility and magical powers, makes demon hunters unpredictable adversaries.
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Trade Skills
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In large scale 'mining' Night Elves use wisps, which absorb stone and metal from the ground without harming it.[116] However, on a smaller, less damaging scale there likely wouldn't be any objections to mining exposed mineral nodes. Night Elves have access to a specially blessed metal called Elunite.[117]
Skinning
Much like the First Nations, it would likely be seen as a good act to make use of everything a slain animal has to offer.
Herbalism
Night Elves have a number of botanists.[118][119] Because of their study plants, it is likely Night Elves have a wide understanding of plants, flowers, and roots.
Alchemy
Wardens, at the very least, have access to poisons, which would require alchemy.[120] Furthermore, their use of botanists and study of plants lends itself to the practice of alchemy.
Inscription
Most races have a written language and would have need of scribes. Night Elves seem to use glyphs for magical reasons, such as the elven waygate in Darnassus.
Leatherworking
Because hunting is a tradition in Night Elf culture, skinning and leatherworking would go hand in hand. Druids often use animal parts in their clothing, such as druids of the claw wearing bear pelts.[121]
Blacksmithing
Many consider Dwarves to be master smiths (which they are) but they are not the only race with a proficiency in smithing. Night Elves are able to make vorpal-edged glaives[122] and are credited with the creation of both QuelâSerrar and QuelâDelar.[123]
Jewelcrafting
Night Elves females, particularly priestesses and sentinels, wear jewelry. The kinds of jewelry made can range from nose studs, moon crested earrings, and circlets[124] to pearl necklaces,[125] hairpins,[31] and ornate rings.[126]
Engineering
Night Elves didnât even have trainers for the profession until Cataclysm. And even now, theyâre entirely Worgen. However, this does not mean Night Elves donât have engineers, just that it doesnât match the overarching profession. Engineering takes several different elements and mashes them together. This includes gunsmithing, bow making, lens crafting, tinkering, explosives, and robotics.
Night Elf âengineersâ would have taken from a few, but not all of those elements. We know Night Elves use bows, so bowyers would be present. We know Night Elves employ fireworks and gunpowder, yet donât seem to use them for military use.[127] Glass or lens crafting seem to be possible, as some Night Elf buildings have stained-glass (such as the temple). Glaive throwers may need some adjustments and the weapons they make may require special calculations to create.
We also know Night Elves are capable of using low-tech, hand-wound clockwork, as seen by their use of music boxes.[103]
However, the use of tinkering, robotics, and complex technology would not have been an option for the Night Elves until after joining the Alliance. Even now, Gnomish technology is described as âobnoxiousâ.[128]
Tailoring
Night Elves can be skilled tailors. Their moonwells are required to create their signature material, mooncloth. Primal mooncloth also requires a moonwell, yet it is unknown if this fabric was made by the Night Elves or just inspired by the original.
We know Night Elves have skill in weaving silk.[129]
Enchanting
Unfortunately, we do not know what kind of magic is employed to enchant objects. It seems like the simple process of withdrawing the essence of an object and then using it to imbue another. We know Night Elves use enchantments, such as on their weapons.[106]
It is likely enchanting is not viewed as an arcane based skill due to the presence of Night Elven enchanter trainers, even back when there were no engineer trainers in Darnassus.
Archaeology
Because of the age of many Night Elves, archaeology would be less about digging up their forgotten past and more about recovering artifacts. Many Night Elven ruins contain artifacts from before the War of the Ancients, some powerful and magical.
Highborne, specifically the ones from Dire Maul, are known to hoard and seek knowledge, as evident by their massive libraries and lore-keepers.
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Language
Here, there will be specific words and phrases found in the Night Elven language. These words have been either confirmed or near confirmed, due to the presence of certain phrases found repeatedly (Nordrassil, Teldrassil sharing the phrase âdrassilâ, for intance). The Night Elven language is called Darnassae in their own tongue.[130]
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Lore Confirmed
âAlâanathâ = âFrostsoulâ[156]
âAlaraâshinuâ = âFinding beauty in imperfection.â[157]
âAnâda!â = âFather!â*
âAlorâelâ = âLoverâs leafâ*
âAndeâthoras-ethil.â = âMay your troubles be diminished.â**
âAndu-falah-dor!â = âLet balance be restored!â**
âAnuâdorini Talahâ = âLet my will be known.â - Said by the Voice of Elune.[135]
âAsh Karath!â = âDo it!â**
"Bandu Thoribas! = âPrepare to fight!â**
âEllemayneâ = âReaverâ[136]
âElune-Adore.â = âElune be with you.â**
âElunâdrisâ = âthe Eye of Eluneâ****
âFandu-dath-belore?â = "Who goes there?**
âIshnu-alah.â = âGood fortune to youâ**
âIshnu-dal-dieb.â = âGood fortune to your family.â**
âJaiâalatorâ = âNoble blade of Eluneâ***
âKaldoreiâ = âchildren of the starsâ, âpeople of the starsâ. (Starborne, night elves).[17]**
âLatharâLazalâ = âSeat of the Skyâ****
âMinâdaâ = âMotherâ*
âNahlenâdoâ = âMaster of the Fangâ
âNordrassilâ = âcrown of the heavensâ**
âQuelâdoreiâ = âchildren of noble birthâ (âHighborneâ, âHigh-borneâ, âhigh elvesâ).**
âRu shallora enudoril.â = âI anoint these caretakers of the wild.â - Said by the Voice of Elune.[135]
âSaelâahâ = âYouâre Welcome.â (Quest: Encrypted Sigil)
âShaha lorâmaâ = âThank you.â[137]
âShallaâtorâ = âShadow Renderâ[136]
âShalânarâ = âAuntâ[138]
âShanâdoâ = âHonored Teacherâ**
âShanna melorâne adala falâ = âThe truth is a guiding lightâ[138]
âShenâdralarâ = âThose who remain hidden.â****
âSunstriderâ = âhe who walks the dayâ**
âTeldrassilâ = âcrown of the earthâ**
âTheroâshanâ = âHonored studentâ**
âTor ilisarâtheraânal!â = âLet our enemies beware!â**
âVordrassilâ = âBroken Crownâ****
âXaxasâ = Chaotic, elemental fury. Also the name for Deathwing.**
âZin-Azshariâ = âThe glory of Azsharaâ**
 * = Located in the âSeeds of Faithâ story
 **= Located in the Warcraft Enclyclopedia
 ***= Stormrage Novel
 ****= Chronicle Vol. 1
Speculation
âAlahâ = âTo youâ (Ishnu-Alah and Ishnu-dal-dieb, Ishnu likely meaning âGood fortuneâ. Alah would mean âTo youâ)
âAnaarâ = âVillageâ ( as seen in villages Dolanaar, Sylvanaar, Astranaar, Talanaar and Satyrnaar)
ââAranâ = âCityâ (as seen in city ruins such as TehrisâAran, MorlosâAran, OrdilâAran, AmethâAran, BashalâAran and LorethâAran)
âDoâ = âTeacherâ (Shanâdo = âHonored Teacherâ, with Shan meaning honored)
âDoreiâ = âChildren, Bornâ (Kaldorei, âChildren of the Starsâ and QuelâDorei, âThe Highborneâ)
âDrassilâ = âCrownâ (Teldrassil = âCrown of the Earthâ, Nordrassil = âCrown of the Heavensâ)
âIshnuâ = âGood fortuneâ (Ishnu-Alah = âGood fortune to youâ, Ishnu-dal-dieb = âGood fortune to your familyâ)
âKalâ = âStar(s)â (Kaldorei = âChildren of the Starsâ, Dorei being children)
âNaarâ = âSettlementâ (Astranaar, Dolanaar, Thalanaar, all towns or outposts)
âNorâ = âHeavensâ (as in sky) (Nordrassil = âCrown of the Heavensâ, Drassil meaning crown)
âQuelâ = âHighâ (as in noble) (Quelâdorei = âHighborneâ, Dorei meaning children)
âSerrarâ = âBlade or Swordâ (QuelâSerrar = âHigh Bladeâ, Quel meaning high)
âShanâ = âHonoredâ (in reference to a person) (Theroâshan = âHonored Studentâ, âShanâdo = âHonored Teacherâ)
âTheroâ = âStudentâ (TheroâShan = âHonored Studentâ, Shan meaning honored)
âZinâ = âGloryâ (ZinâAzshari = âGlory of Azsharaâ, with Azshari referencing Azshara)
Naming
Night Elves have surnames and given names. Their given, or first, name is not usually something you'd expect a modern day human to have (John, Jack, etc) but more exotic and flowing (Maiev, Tyrande, Malfurion, Shandris).
Surnames, however, are much easier to decide upon. Often these names are a combining of two words. These two words tend to fall into defined categories. These can include animals (usually ones important to the Night Elves, such as ancients), actions (movement, etc), celestial bodies (particularly the moon and stars), the night, natural forces (such as storms, leaves, trees, etc), clothing (crown, cloaks) or weapons (glaive, blade).
Examples:
Raene Wolfrunner: Animal (wolf) + action (Run)
Broll Bearmantle: Animal (bear) + clothing (mantle)
Tyrande Whisperwind: Action (whisper) + natural force (wind)
Fandral Staghelm: Animal (stag) + clothing (helm)
Shandris Feathermoon: Animal (feather) + celestial object (moon)
Maiev Shadowsong: Night (shadow) + action (song)
Kurâthalos Ravencrest: Animal (raven) + clothing (crest)
Daros Moonlance: Celestial object (moon) + weapon (lance)
If you are really struggling with a surname, take a look around Darnassus, Teldrassil or a Night Elf heavy zone and pick two names you like. Break them apart and combine them into a new name! For instance:
Erion Shadewhisper (Rogue Trainer: Darnassus) and Jeen'ra Nightrunner (Hunter Trainer: Darnassus). These names now give you the terms âShadeâ and âNightâ, then âWhisperâ and âRunnerâ. Combined you could take the name âShaderunnerâ or âNightwhisperâ!
Land & Cities
A question many have to answer is âWhere did my Night Elf grow up?â or âWhere were they born?â. Because of their age, this leaves a lot of confusion. The following is a list of Night Elf territories, followed by appropriate eras, plus a blurb about the area if needed.
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Before the War of the Ancients
Destroyed
Zin-Azshari: Formerly known as âElunâdrisâ or Eye of Elune before Queen Azshara renamed it in her image. This was the Night Elf capital city, the center of Highborne activity, by the Well of Eternity in the Kaldorei Empire more than 10,000 years ago.
Status Unknown
Hajiri: A city in northwestern Kalimdor prior to the War of the Ancients. Kaloâthera was said to have ascended to the stars there.[133] Maiev Shadowsong was stationed there just prior to the War.[133] It is unknown what happened to the city after the Great Sundering, but it is presumably destroyed.
Hills of Urae: Also simply called âUraeâ were a series of plains and hills near the heart of the Kaldorei Empire, bordering Zin-Azshari. It was presumably destroyed during the Great Sundering. [164]
Galhara: An ancient Night Elven city some distance away, on the opposing side of the Well of Eternity, from Zin-Azshari. The city had hundreds of emerald crystals lining its boundaries. Amongst other things, these crystals in conjunction with each other could defend against magical attacks. It is unknown what happened to the city after the Great Sundering, but it is presumably destroyed.[134]
LatharâLazal: The grandest of all Temples of the moon, the name meaning âSeat of the Skyâ. This temple was constructed by masons, but Queen Azshara personally shaped the waters around it, using the Sharasâdal, Scepter of Tides. She spoke the names of the rivers and seas, and they moved at her command. Creatures of all kinds populated the waters. It was a place of study and amusement for the Highborne of old.[165] It was presumably destroyed during the Great Sundering.
Ruined but still present
AmethâAran: Ancient Highborne city. Ruins located in Darkshore.
BashalâAran: Ancient Highborne city. Ruins located in Darkshore.
Bathranâs Haunt: The site of an ancient night elven ruin, long abandoned by the night elves. Presumably destroyed during the Great Sundering.
Constellas: A sprawling night elven ruin located in Felwood.
Eldreâthar: Ancient Highborne town. Highborne only. Ruins located in Stonetalon.
Ethel Rethor: Ruins located in Desolace.
Falanaar: Night elven town. The site of the first Arcanâdor and now overrun by the Falâdorei. Ruins located in Suramar.
Faronaar: Night Elven island covered in the ruins of an ancient city. Ruins located in Azsuna.
Isildien: Night Elven city. Ruins located in southern Feralas.
Jaedenar: A series of ancient night elven ruins and two druidic barrow dens on the western edge of Felwood.
Kalâdelar: A Kaldorei military city. Ruins located in southwestern Valâsharah.
Kelâtheril: Night Elven city. Ruins located in Winterspring.
Llothien: Night Elven city. Located in northeastern Azsuna.
LorethâAran: Night Elven city. Home of the Green Dragon Riders. Ruins located in Bloodmyst Isle.
Lornesta: Night elven ruins located in Darkshore, recently unearthed by the Cataclysm wrought by Deathwing.
Mathystra: The ruins of an ancient night elven city before the Great Sundering, but was utterly decimated by the destruction of the Well of Eternity. The ruins contain scattered relics of the old Highborne, and young night elves sometimes attempt to search through the ruins for these relics. Located in Darkshore.
Meredil/Eluneâeth: Night Elven and Highborne city. Meredil was once part of Suramar city, but was not protected by the energy shield. Ruins located in central Suramar.
MorlosâAran: Night elven city. Located on the southern edge of Felwood. Presumably fell during the Great Sundering.
Narâthalas: Highborne city. Ruins located in the heart of Azsuna.
OrdilâAran: Night Elven city. Ruins located in Ashenvale, that fell during the Sundering.
Ravenwind: A Highborne city. Ruins located in northwestern Feralas.
Sashjâtar: Night Elven city. This was formerly an ancient elven research community, located in Suramar.
Seradane: Night Elven ruins. A ruined area in the northeastern part of the Hinterlands.
Shalaânir: A Night Elven village. Ruined shortly before the third Demonic Invasion, located in Valâsharah at the base of the world tree Shaladrassil.
Shandaral: Night Elven city. Ruins located in Crystalsong Forest.
Solarsal: Night Elven city. Ruins located in Feralas, on the old Feathermoon Isle.
Stardust: Presumably the ruins of a small night elven settlement or shrine, the Ruins of Stardust (located in Ashenvale) have been overrun by large bog beasts. The most notable feature of the ruin is the stardust shrubs scattered about the area.
Tethris Aran: A night elven city. Ruins located in Desolace, and overrun by wild creatures. The city presumably fell during the Great Sundering.
Zarkhenar: Highborne city. Ruins located in northern Azsuna.
Zoram: Night Elven city. Ruins located in Ashenvale, the Zoram Strand. There is speculation that the ruins at Zoram Strand could be the remnants of LatharâLazal, which might explain the heavy naga presence in the area.
Still habitable
Eldreâthalas: Hold home of the Shenâdralar. Highborne only. Barely habitable.
Suramar: An ancient city now overrun by the Nightborne.
After the War of the Ancients
Auberdine / Darkshore: Auberdine was a coastal village in Darkshore. Recently it was destroyed in the Cataclysm. Lor'danel now resides up the coast from it, a place for the refugees and survivors.Ashenvale / Astranaar: Ashenvale is the ancestral homeland of the Night Elves, who remain in control of several holdings throughout the territory. Astranaar is a Night Elven town situation on the east-west road that divides Ashenvale in two.
Moonglade / Nighthaven: A bastion for the druids, both currently and in the past. Nighthaven was/is the center for the Lunar Festival.
Felwood: Unknown towns/settlements. Felwood was where the Skull of Gulâdan resided during the Third War. This was used by the demons to utterly corrupt the land, making it impossible to live in. Recently, attempts have been made to heal the land and purge the demons.
Winterspring / Starfall Village: An out of the way village up in snowy Winterspring. Presides over a barrow den for sleeping druids.
Azshara / Nendis: Azshara was a coastal area, though a Satyr threat was present there was a small town called Nendis on the shore. When the Naga first appeared 10 years ago they wiped out the city in an attempt to aid Illidanâs escape.
Feralas / Dire Maul: Feralas was discovered only in the last few years, according to two in-game lore sources.[131][155] The Highborne, however, have been in the area for 10,000 years. Currently, Feathermoon Stronghold has been rebuilt here after it was destroyed by the Cataclysm. Sentinels train here and Shandris Feathermoon leads the army from this position.
Desolace / Nigelâs Point: Because Feralas had not been discovered until recently, the same is likely true of Desolace. The outpost of Nigelâs Point is sparse and has a heavy human population.
The Barrens, Durotar, etc: There is no evidence that the Night Elves built any post-sundering settlements in these areas.
The hills of Hyjal: A generic term for anywhere on the slopes of the mountain, from the actual Hyjal zone to Ashenvale, to what is now Felwood.
Teldrassil / Darnassus: Teldrassil is less than 10 years old. Those who are born on it would be that young or younger. This is the Night Elven capital city now, housing the Temple of Elune.
Valâsharah/Lorlathil: Valâsharah is located in the Broken Isles. The forests of Valâsharah predate the War of the Ancients, but has been maintained into modern times. It was in the Night Elven village of Lorlathil that the Stormrage twins were born and, in the wilds surrounding, where druidism first began.
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Timeline
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15,000-10,000 years before the Dark Portal : The Well of Eternity and the Rise of the Night Elves. [142]
10,000 years before the Dark Portal : War of the Ancients, the Shattering. [143]
10,000 years before the Dark Portal : Illidanâs imprisonment, Mount Hyjal, and the World Tree. [143]
9,400 years before the Dark Portal : The formation of The Sentinel Army. [144]
9,300 years before the Dark Portal : War of the Satyr, formation of the Druids of the Pack. [145]
7,300 years before the Dark Portal : Exile of the Highborne and the start of the Long Vigil. [146]
4,500 years before the Dark Portal : The Felling of Andrassil. [147]
1,200 years before the Dark Portal : Eldreâthalas and the Binding of Immolâthar. [148]
1,100 years before the Dark Portal : Maraudon and the Rise of the Centaur. [149]
975 year before the Dark Portal : War of the Shifting Sands, death of Valstann Staghelm. [150]
14 years ago : Battle for Hyjal: Death of Cenarius, Illidanâs freedom, sacrifice of Nordrassil
13 years ago : Maievâs pursuit of Illidan, Maievâs exile.
12 years ago : Gender roles loosened, Teldrassil grown, Tauren join the Cenarion Circle.
12 years ago : Vanilla WoW. The war in Silithus.
11 years ago : Burning Crusade: Maievâs release, Illidanâs recapture.
9 years ago : Wrath of the Lich King.
Prior to Cataclysm : Stormrage Novel: Malfurionâs awakening, Fandralâs betrayal.
7 years ago : The Cataclysm: Immediately after the Cataclysm: Seeds of Faith: Destruction of Auberdine, destruction of Feathermoon.
During the events of Cataclysm : Wolfheart: Alliance summit, Maievâs betrayal, Jerodâs return.
During the events of Cataclysm : The burning of Hyjal, the Molten Front offensive.
6-7 years ago(estimated) : Deathwingâs fall, Mists of Pandaria.
2-5 years ago(estimated) : Events on Draenor. The betrayal of Cordana Felsong.
Present : The third Legion Invasion of Azeroth began. Leadership of The Wardens falls to Sira Moonwarden in the absence of Maiev Shadowsong.
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Citations
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[1] World of Warcraft Battlechest Guide, page 153
[2] World of Warcraft Beginners Guide, page 17
[3] World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Game Manual, pages 16-17
[4] The Warcraft Encyclopedia/Night Elves
[5] War of the Anchients Archive, page 328
[6] Quest: The Sister's Pendant - http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29324
[7] Wolfheart, page 82
[8] http://www.wowpedia.org/images/3/39/Tyrande-Whisperwind3.jpg
[9] http://www.sonsofthestorm.com/images/raneman/WarCraft_Raneman028c.jpg
[10] Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
[11] Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, Tides of Terror, Chapter 6
[12] Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Eternity's End, Chapter 1
[13] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=12168
[14] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=26455
[15] Wolfheart, page 26
[16] World of Warcraft: The Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1
[17] Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, page 109
[18] The Warcraft Encyclopedia/The Sentinels
[19] The Warcraft Encyclopedia/The Cenarion Circle
[20] Archaeology: Druid and Priest Statue Set
[21] http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/race/night-elf
[22] Stormrage, page 82
[23] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=4761
[24] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=4740
[25] Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Eternity's End, Chapter 3
[26] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=13882
[27] War of the Ancients Trilogy, Well of Eternity, page 46
[28] Archaeology: Tyrande's Favorite Doll
[29] Archaeology: Chest of Tiny Glass Animals
[30] Stormrage, page 81
[31] Archaeology: Hair Pin of Silver and Malachite
[32] Archaeology: Cloak Clasp with Antlers
[33] Archaeology: Silver Scroll Case
[34] Leyara
[35] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=13563
[36] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=27056
[37] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=26947
[38] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29313
[39] http://www.wowhead.com/item=21031
[40] http://www.wowhead.com/item=21030
[41] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29316
[42] http://www.wowhead.com/item=16169
[43] http://www.wowhead.com/item=58260
[44] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29279
[45] http://www.wowhead.com/item=16168
[46] http://www.wowhead.com/item=21537
[47] http://www.wowhead.com/item=16170
[48] http://www.wowhead.com/item=75027
[49] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=2178
[50] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=4161
[51] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29321
[52] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29325
[53] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29359
[54] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29323
[55[ Archaeology: Night Elf Amphora
[56] Wolfheart, page 204
[57] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=4184
[58] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=40132
[59] Wolfheart, page 98
[60] Archaeology: Necklace with Elune Pendant
[61] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=14358
[62] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=14357
[63] Well of Eternity, page 110
[64] Seeds of Faith, page 4
[65] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=54544
[66] Seeds of Faith, page 4
[67] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/priestessmoon.shtml
[68] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=14193
[69] Seeds of Faith, page 1
[70] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=29314
[71] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=9720/
[72] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=28713
[73] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=9895
[74] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/buildings/moonwell.shtml
[75] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=28730
[76] http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/race/night-elf
[77] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=3119
[78] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=3118
[79] Wolfheart, page 195
[80] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25613
[81] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=1085
[82] Wolfheart, page 113-114
[83] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25671
[84] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=13511
[85] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=14428
[86] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=14196
[87] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25878
[88] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=1439
[89] Wolfheart, page 63-64
[90] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=26841
[91] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25463
[92] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=40132
[93] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=6626
[94] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=27421
[95] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=12258
[96] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=27063
[97] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=12166
[98] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=12167
[99] Demon Soul, page 226
[100] http://youtu.be/B6qTT_1kACY?t=3m
[101] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=28218
[102] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=28529
[103] Archaeology: Delicate Music Box
[104] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25407
[105] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/archer.shtml
[106] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/huntress.shtml
[107] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/chimaera.shtml
[108] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=938
[109] Stormrage, page 343
[110] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=11488
[111] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=55419
[112] Wolfheart, pages 64-66
[113] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25766
[114] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25402
[115] Archaeology: Highborne Soul Mirror
[116] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/wisp.shtml
[117] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=1692
[118] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=2080
[119] http://old.wowhead.com/npc=4051
[120] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/warden.shtml
[121] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/druidoftheclaw.shtml
[122] http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/glaivethrower.shtml
[123] http://www.wowpedia.org/Blood-Queen_Lana%27thel
[124] http://www.wowpedia.org/images/3/39/Tyrande-Whisperwind3.jpg
[125] Archaeology: String of Small Pink Pearls
[126] Archaeology: Green Dragon Ring
[127] http://www.wowhead.com/item=21640
[128] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=25614
[129] Archaeology: Scandalous Silk Nightgown
[130] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=9528
[131] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=3116/
[132] http://www.wowhead.com/npc=62450
[133] The Sundering, page 53
[134] The Well of Eternity, page 252
[135] Loreology Twitter https://twitter.com/Loreology/status/465903699592626176
[136] Flashback, page 22
[137] Loreology Twitter https://twitter.com/ChristieGolden/status/464499511889780736
[138] Collected Hardcover edition of Curse of the Worgen
[139] http://wowhead.com/quest=29197
[140] Tweet by Lead Narrative Designer https://twitter.com/DaveKosak/status/461283703604277248
[141] Warcraft III manual, page 46-47
[142] Chonicle Volume I, page 93
[143] Chonicle Volume I, page 112
[144] Chonicle Volume I, page 114
[145] Chonicle Volume I, page 115
[146] Chonicle Volume I, page 117-119
[147] Chonicle Volume I, page 122
[148] Chonicle Volume I, page 139
[149] Chonicle Volume I, page 144
[150] Chonicle Volume I, page 145
[151] http://wow.gamepedia.com/Quest:Rampaging_Giants
[152] In-game Mount Journal, Spotted Frostsaber, Striped Frostsaber, Swift Frostsaber, Winterspring Frostsaber
[153] http://wow.gamepedia.com/Quest:Grip_of_Nightmare
[154] Warcraft Class Guide
[155] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=4125/the-missing-courier
[156] http://wow.gamepedia.com/Al%27anath
[157] Rensar Greathoof NPC gossip text
[158] TCG Cards; Kintara Wintermoon, Anduros Silversong
[159] Quest: Goddess Watch Over You
[160] Before the Storm, page 120
[161] http://www.wowhead.com/quest=12166/the-liquid-fire-of-elune
[162] http://www.wowhead.com/item=143741/blessed-kaldorei-banner
[163] https://wow.gamepedia.com/Quest:General_Shandris_Feathermoon
[164] The Well of Eternity, page 279
[165] World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, page 95
[166] Well of Eternity, Chapter 8
[167] Chronicle Volume I, page 87, 88, 89
[168] Ask the Devs (China Edition) April 5th 2012 (translation: http://www.scrollsoflore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21125)
[169] Chronicle Volume I, page 98
[170] Pearls of Pandaria (Comic)
[171] https://wow.gamepedia.com/Elloric