Yes, this is the most likely scenario at the moment until proven otherwise. I have written it before somewhere but I think that the other way around it would have made more sense in the long run:
Playable High Elves as the first AR and they unlock during the Argus scenario the Void Elf abilities. This would not only serve a better connection to the given lore at this point but would also rather have interesting internal conflicts between the Silver Covenant and those new Void Elves. The Void Elves would have been the natural progression of the Alliance High Elves and people could either root for the natural or the voidy ones. Both skin variations would be available without shoving an unnatural story progression into the playerâs mind.
Itâs also possible that the process that new recruits are going through is like Alleriaâs, but takes some shortcuts to accelerate their mastering of the void, and maybe accidents happen, resulting in some of the new recruits having the blue skin, or tentacle hair, or both. This sort of explanation would ensure that the blue skin and tentacle hair remain features of at least some of the future Void Elf generations.
Having some Void Elf NPCâs with the natural skin and hair tones, some mixed with both the original voidy and natural options, and some being full on voidy blue tentacle haired, would show that the Void Elves can come in a variety of appearances, and that the blue skin/tentacle hair isnât just for the first generation.
Maybe down the road, weâll find out Void Elves can indeed procreate in the usual fashion. And perhaps their offspring will inherit void skin/hair traits, but also a resistance to the whispers (because I am not sure how a child would be able to survive them otherwise).
Obviously thatâs all headcanon. Weâll have to see where Blizzard takes the canon Void Elf story⌠assuming they bother to do anything with it at all.
When it comes to what these options represent it could honestly be both. Second Gen Void Elves who are Silvermoon Scholars/High Elf Wayfarers. But it could also just be theyâre to represent plain old High Elves as well. In the same way that Wildhammers are represented by the playable Bronzebeard Dwarves despite the fact the racials and some other things donât really match.
Or the fact that several Orc Clans are all rolled in under Magâhars.
Or that Farakki Trolls & Dark Trolls are now rolled in under the Darkspear Jungle Troll race.
Regardless though it would be cool to see some of the old High Elf npcs around the world get updated to use the âVoidâ High Elf customization options. Create more of a difference between them and Blood Elf NPCs.
On one hand, there are ways to figure out how to cast Void Magic that donât involve eating a dark Naaru or being corrupted by a prince. Honestly, she ate a dark narrow, Alleria may very well be able to change people into Void ElvesâŚ
No more lore breaking than void elf itself. Maybe they dye their hair or use a glamour. Be creative about it. The void doesnât seem to be a 1;1 in how it effects people because Alleria herself is still blonde and all her voidy powers.
Itâs also known that high elves literally join the Void Elves to study void magic, maybe youâre just not a first gen âI was made half voidâ void elf.
If I were to guess (speculative headcanon), the primary incentive I can see for elves wanting to join the Renâdorei is rooted in overcoming what is viewed as one of most malefic cosmic forces. While we only see Uldum and The Vale of Eternal Blossoms get invaded by Nâzoth in game, itâs possible that other areas of the world were affected. Not to mention the whole Nyâalotha raid.
The forces that dealt with the assaults and Nyâalotha itself, got a good close look at the power and danger the void represents. Seeking mastery over that power, so as not to be overwhelmed by it, or even to turn it to beneficent ends, could be quite the motivator for some to seek out the Renâdorei and join them, despite the risks that come with it
With that said, the above explanation is a bit shaky because that same incentive would apply to everyone, not just Thalassian elves. I mean, it could be explained that the magic assimilating nature of elves is what makes it possible for them to master the void as they have, but that would mean that Kalâdorei/Shalâdorei could probably also master it in the same way if so inclined.
And of course thereâs age old cliche âfor power!â as incentive.
I just think that with how much of a role the void and the old gods have played in the shaping of races on Azeroth, either directly, or through the effects of actions taken by those who wield it, that many would seek to understand and master the void in order to protect themselves from it, if nothing else.
My preferred explanation that I want them to implement is that Umbric and his magisters have been researching the ritual that changed them, Locus-Walker and Alleria being there means they can refine the path she took.
So theyâve refined the training bit to not take a thousand years with what they now know through Alleria and how it affects elves.
They now have much of the ritual that changed Umbrics group into Void Elves.
And there is a large Void Storm on the third island.
I want them to contain that storm with some sort of magical building/edifice. Think Altar of Storms looking but⌠Void Elfy.
Then using Alleria and Locus-Walkers refined training regime train up new recruits to resist and control the void.
Then bring it all together using a less damaging ritual with the Void Storm as a catalyst to infuse the void into new void elves.
I want Blizzard to show this in game, and have the results of that final step have void elves comes out with either a random set of customizations available to players or just have a few NPCs with mixes, some with blueberry looks like Umbrics, and a few like Alleria untouched.
That way we get lore on how weâre made, lore in general, and everyoneâs options get to be canon void elves without any room for argument. Plus newer players wont have to seek out a vague reference in the ether to know how new members are made.
Doesnât really make sense for the majority of High ElvesâŚ
and itâs a good way to end up corrupted and turned into weird void sludge. Itâd be like a bunch of Gnomes wanting to become leper gnomes for the power they wield.
Donât get me wrong, I like Void Elves and Iâve got a few. But there is no reason why any elf would want to replicate it.
I guess, perhaps, Alleria can be some kind of role-model but in the three sisters comic its shown that even she is barely holding it together sometimes.
I think a racial tag/subrace system might be the next big thing when it comes to new races/allied races. Specifically being able to pick that subset within a race including the proper tag and perhaps even racials.
High Elves becoming the âSubâ option for Void Elves. Opening up the Paladin option.
Wildhammers becoming the âsubâ for Dwarves. Opening up druids while losing Paladins/Warlocks/Mages.
Sanâlayn/Dark Rangers becoming the âSubâ For Blood Elves while losing paladin option.
Would be nice if we got something like this if it also came with more heritage gear or a mount.
When it comes to Void Elves/High Elves (assuming the subrace thing i suggested never happens) i think this would be a good choice tbh. Something that can encompass BOTH the standard High Elves of the Alliance as well as Void Elves. Iâve suggested âAllerian Elvesâ before but im sure there could be a better name if need be.
âYou didnât become Blood Elves because you refused to drain mana. But just consider, if you do a crazy experiment with void magic that may turn you into a tentacle monster, then you can hear whispers telling you to kill your family for the rest of your life.â
Void Elves are unfortunately a dead end for rational lore. Theyâre a small squad of Blood Elves⌠and if other elves have any sense itâll stay that way.
Once again, I do like them. Itâs just nonsensical anyone would pursue it.
These elves are just for whatever reason showing up. Thats just in the lore already. Its where most of the theories on how more Void Elves are made come from.
Most of them seem to be happy that theyâre no longer being restricted by their text. So Iâd assume these elves just have some interest in the void.
Donât really need an explanation for the why. People do things for all sorts of reasons. Elves do have a tendency it seems to seek power regardless of group involved.
The void power up should have been just a key to press and power up, literally. Would have saved so much trouble about the entrope discussion. But this was bound to happen if you deny the people their High Elves and have to backpaddle the whole situation.
I hope so too. Still cannot believe that they added three (!) human races into the slots.
With the addition of the toggle option, weâll then be able to have free reign to mix and match, creating a spectrum from a fully void-embraced void elf, to one almost high elven like Alleria.
We can only go forward from here for more customization, together.
Absolutely! And I hope the toggle option allows us to add tentacles to hair options that didnât have them, thus allowing a full range. New things we get wonât just be for the âhigh elfâ or the âvoided up void elfâ, itâll be for our race as a whole.
Not to mention tattoos and a couple more hairstyles, weâd be set for good.
HMT should have been Alliance, to be honest with you⌠but I do get why they added them to the Horde.
Worgen shouldnât allowed to stay permanently as a human, it undermines the value of the race but I think itâs okay how they found a solution for this.
