Seeing as the San’layn might have a…hmm, is bright future really fitting here? Ah well, seeing as they have a bit of a chance for a more positive future, I figured it was about time to go over some aspects of them again as reminders and also taking a new look since we’ve moved far beyond BfA and…something else that came before Dragonflight that for some reason, I keep thinking of a giant toilet constantly flushing. Ah well, it likely was nothing important.
Chances are I’m going to either miss something or need a correction on something, in which case please feel free to add or correct me. Though I try hard, I’m not perfect by any means.
Now, lets put together what we’ve gotten from our investigations:
-The Vampyr Curse-
So we know the San’layn have a Vampyr Curse of some kinda which is why they’re rather bloodthristy. This of course was granted to them by the Lich King when he raised those Blood Elves in Kael’thas’ army (more on that in a bit) and gave them a pretty lousy job offer with lame health benefits that they couldn’t really refuse. I blame Azeroth’s economy, really.
We don’t know how the Lich King had access to this curse, how it was implemented, and why it stayed on the San’layn when we beat up Arthas, where he later went poof after the whole Helm of Domination being destroyed in the giant toilet, I dunno, details seem hazy on that one. You’d think that would grant the San’layn a bit more control of themselves, but as we’ve seen, some still go into business for themselves as generic mustache twirling villains.
If I were to guess, there could be a controlling force behind the Vampyr Curse thing that we likely need to beat up in order to free the San’layn from control. I know there have been origins of this Vampyr Curse involving Vrykul before, which would make for some great backstory. That said, San’layn are the main focus of who we want to free in such a scenario, so maybe a researcher NPC could study up on that to help figure out who we need to beat up.
Sure, keeping them as vampires after the fact would likely still stand, seeing as we have walking zombie Humans and Elves running around that Azeroth’s health insurance won’t cover, But at least afterwards, they could be more in control of themselves and maybe their addiction to blood could be better handled.
Of course, it doesn’t need to be this way. Maybe San’layn are in control of themselves after the Helm of Domination was destroyed. Some could just have gone into business for themselves with the power their got or went insane while others are just trying to stay alive in a world (of Warcraft!) that view them as monsters. It’s another thing to consider, and I can’t say what the best direction is for them.
So two points of this Vampyr Curse I see in a realistic scenario: Potentially beat up a big bad to free them and give them some way to control their urge for blood. Maybe something like a nicotine patch for vampires? I dunno, that is something for me to write up in another post.
-Backstory and Acceptance-
So we know that the San’layn have been Blood Elves who were once the greatest followers of Kael’thas (more on him in a bit). And of course, that turned out to be a bum deal they got out of it all in the end.
Thoughts on Kael’thas in general from Silvermoon would likely be…less than perfect, shall we say. However, some who did live while serving Kael’thas were allowed back into the fold:
“Regent Lord Lor’themar Theron mentioned that a number of the Sunfury had recently returned to Quel’Thalas from Outland, and that their input had ensured the Farstriders have become a little less strained with protecting Quel’Thalas’ borders. Though their return was a surprise to some, it serves as a reminder that not all of the sin’dorei within Kael’thas’ forces were willing to share in the prince’s dark fate”
So given that, I see no reason why Silvermoon couldn’t learn the true meaning of Winter Veil and welcome them back in. I mean, the Alliance lets the Man’ari run around freely and they were very lacking in moral fiber, so I don’t really see San’layn, who at the time died fighting for Silvermoon even if they were following Kael’thas, being in such a situation of being undead with an addiction, something not wholly unfamiliar to Blood Elves, being given the boot by Silvermoon.
So acceptance shouldn’t really be an issue should we save the San’layn and with them wanting to reconnect with Silvermoon and help protect it again. Just throw an epic pizza party and all will be forgiven! 
-Survivors of BfA-
Something worth nothing is despite Dreven going boom, there were some survivors of the San’layn trying to join the Horde.
There is a ship that I believe was full of San’layn Neophytes still, who are friendly to the Horde. Their whereabouts and what they’ve been doing since BfA however is unknown since nothing got mentioning about San’layn at all afterwards anywhere.
However, given there were survivors, this is fairly important and likely could help lead in to future San’layn storylines.
-Leader of the Pack-
Another thing to consider is who would lead the San’layn. There are a few potential ideas here.
With regards to Kael’thas, which is one of several ideas, the idea could be that as punishment and part of his attonement, he would be turned into the San’layn by the psuedo-vampires in the giant toilet or revived as one by someone with access to his body, even if it is in pieces, and sent to Azeroth to help save the San’layn, who were his followers, and also to make it up to Silvermoon for betraying them that isn’t just an ice cream cake with an apology on top.
The idea here is that getting yelled at until he gives in to either go elsewhere in the giant toilet or to join the psuedo-vampires in yelling at people and having tea parties is a bit of a damp squib of an ending for him. Doing it the way I mentioned is a way of actually redeeming himself.
Of course, as I mentioned, this is just one idea. There are many ways to handle Kael’thas. However, given that Lor’themar apparently jumped into the giant toilet to talk with him about something, I assume it isn’t about the stock market, would be a little more meaningful if that inspired something about redemption as a San’layn. But as I said, it’s just one idea.
Another idea is one of the missing Blood Princes that haven’t died yet. Maybe they regained their senses and gathered other San’layn with them to try and survive. Fleshing them out a bit more would be rather interesting, especially with them coming to terms with what all they’ve done while under the control of the Lich King.
And lastly, there could be a brand spanking new San’layn character, likely of blood royalty of some kind, that could come into the picture and be similar to the above paragraph. Not sure if there would be more to work with here or not.
Whatever the case, I do feel like Blood Royalty is pretty important to San’layn culture that it would be kept in. Maybe it’d be a way to handle what San’layn are by taking it from the Scourge and making it their own. Sorta like how the Forsaken have their own identity apart from humans in a way.
At least that way, even as a Customization Race, they have something of their own and aren’t just tossed into the Darkfallen, forgotten about, and have no presence. This way, they can take pride of taking what the Scourge made them and making it their own while doing good.
-A place to call home-
I’ve been of the opinion that Deatholme in the Ghostlands is the perfect place for the San’layn for many reasons.
First off, San’layn being able to help keep the Scourge in check would be invaluable to have. I’m sure Silvermoon would be able to sleep better knowing that the undead won’t be kicking down their lawn ornaments any time soon.
Second, it gives a reason for Deatholme to still be a place. Honestly, I don’t know what the Blood Elves are doing with it, and seeing as that one San’layn just waltz in and took it over for his own nefarious deeds, I assume it isn’t well guarded. With the San’layn, they can keep guard of it, have a place to keep the Scourge in check, and also be a garrison for if there are any attacks from undead, Forest Trolls, Alliance, or door-to-door life insurance salesmen.
Third, if they become their own playable race, it’s a great starting place for them. Moreso if the old world (of Warcraft!) ever gets revamped. Even if they start in Exile’s Reach, there is still a place to call home.
Fourth, they’re close to Silvermoon. They would be accepted, but maybe given their condition, they feel more comfortable staying in the Ghostlands to help there. Especially when it comes to keeping the undead in check.
Thus why I continue to keep the opinion of where San’layn would best reside
-Conclusion-
As I said, I likely have forgotten some things or got something wrong. I’m sure I’ll add more to that list, but the post has gotten big enough as it is already.
San’layn have a lot going for them with their whole backstory and storyline potential. Not to mention that vampires are still pretty popular, and if other Activision-Blizzard games get to have vampire stuff, including of the playable variety, why not do that for WoW as well?
And yes, I know that the chances are higher that they’d be a Customization Race instead of a full race. Even as such, there is still plenty you can do storyline-wise that I think would be fairly popular.
Thus I continue to keep at it to see playable Horde San’layn become a thing. I don’t want them forgotten, I don’t want their potential squandered, and I don’t want to just see them be villain-batted and have that be all there is to them.
Anyway, I’ll do some more posts in the near future as I feel inspired. Until then, I’ll keep dreaming! 
—37 days until Blizzcon starts (Nov. 3rd)!—
–Still dreaming of playable Horde San’layn as a full race! 
Viewer discretion is advised for the following video due to blood and violence:
According to a friend of mine (I don’t have a source, this is just word by mouth, so you know. Grain of salt) Metzen wanted the San’layn to have more of a role in the game. In a good way. And be a help against the scourge. Which would make a ton of sense given San’layn know the scourge well, are incredibly smart, and can make their own decisions.
