As we all know now from A Thousand Years of War, the Sunwell gives High Elves and Blood Elves something akin to immortality, and they can be older than seven-thousand years old and still considered young. Yet this comes in contrast to Anasterian Sunstrider having been considered in advanced age at something under three-thousand years old.
But while checking Lor’themar’s page on Wowpedia I noticed something that might explain this.
This is Lor’thamar on the day Sylvanas was appointed Warchief:
This is Lor’themar now:
It might seem that what befell Lor’themar might have been the same that befell Anasterian Sunstrider: Political stress causes Blood Elves advanced aging, despite their connection to the Sunwell.
I’m not supposed to tell the lesser races… but I trust you not to spread this around.
The reason our leaders appear to age so quickly is because they use magic to appear old so that any assassins or anyone they fight on the battlefield underestimates their ability to fight.
Why else do you think old man Anasterian could fight Arthas (until Arthas figured out his ruse) and Lor’themar is suddenly a survival hunter that can throw himself at people with more force than even a warrior?
Kael’thas aged… poorly, which was why he declared no more kings and kept his youthful appearance.
He is not as close to the thing as Liadrin is I would assume so the effect of purification is taking longer… If the Sunwell indeed removes the Fel from the body… Don’t forget: Lothraxion still has Bat Wings and Hooves despite being Lightforged!
Short of being something like a Paladin and having a stronger connection to the Light outside of the Sunwell, like Liadrin, most Blood Elves should still have green eyes for a while yet.
Vanaelia: Darling, I knew Sylvanas before she fell defending Quel’thalas. You think it’s just political stress?
Imagine a whiny, self-important, petulant spoiled child. Now give her Scourge powers, then set her up as the first and last voice that makes every political and military decision in your government. Now, you have to go work for her.
Anar’alah, she gave me headaches back when she was still blonde. I’m surprised that man hasn’t turned to dust, dealing with that all day every day.
I mean, I prefer dealing with the whispers. At least those act more like adults.
Look if I was Lor’themar and I had to go through musical Warchiefs too, I’d be turning grey before my time. Imagine being the only elf until recently having to deal with the Undead and Kalimdor races.
I mean honestly? Working with Forsaken? Might get blighted, or cannibalized. Orcs? Accidentally get an axe to the face. Trolls? Cannibalized. Tauren? Squished. Goblins? Turned into slave labor. Yeah, It would stress me out too.
I like the idea of a silly little story where Lor’themar goes with the other leaders on a tour of Orgrimmar only to get turned into a frog because some newbie shaman messed up a spell. No one can figure out how to switch him back because the loa are amused so the spell is a little stronger than it should be.
So he gets to go on adventures as Frog’themar until someone figures out how to change him back. It isn’t politics, so he’s more than happy to keep dodging the other leaders for a while. Plus the toads in Orgrimmar are pretty laid back and have some interesting secrets to share about the people living there.
