so i’ve thought about this for a while, ever since i learned about lore actually. if we take a look at high elves of other works of fantasy we can roughly pick out the qualities that make give elves the elevated status of “high”. for instance, the high elves of J.R.R. tolkeins works are elves that have seen the undying lands of valinor, and learned directly from the valar. in essence, this is just a metaphor for a higher state of enlightenment. they’re also usually the more peaceful of the elven races.
Next we have Age (which is usually followed by emphasis on their long, or immortal lifespans), or originality. in tolkeins work, high elves were a part of the original elven population that agreed to sail across the sea. this is what originally earned them their status of “high”; their willingness to accept change, and embrace the greater good. as opposed to the dark elves of his work, that earned their name from their stubbornness, and refusal to journey west.
Then we have the role that they play in the world. usually, high elves act as bastions of good. Guardians. the first protectors. This is another example picked from Tolkiens work.
and finally, we have the common pattern that many authors of fantasy follow for their elves; dwindling. it’s common to see elves in other works of fiction as a powerful race, that is ultimately fading. i imagine it’s such a popular option for writers for the feeling of awe that it conveys.
so, we have:
- Enlightenment
- Age
- Guardianship
- Fading
this is what brings me to the conclusion that the High Elves of wow shouldnt actually be High at all. from their lore, they fit closer to Dark Elves then anything else. It doesnt fit them. if any of the races of elves should be high, it’s the Night elves.
Why should night elves be high?
The Night elves are the first and oldest race of elves, they were the original, and the immortal (Age). Night elves are also the most enlightened of the elven races, completely giving up their use of the arcane, and taking up the duty of healing the world by building a connection with nature (Enlightenment). They were the first protectors of the world, fighting a war against the legion using their bond with nature (Guardianship). all of this however, has unfortunately brought them closer and closer to death. from the loss of their immortality and the implications that has, to the toll of countless wars they’ve fought over the ages (Fading).
Why shouldnt High Elves be High?
high elves are the descendants of the highborne that rebelled against azshara, but refused to give up arcane out of stubbornness, addiction, and unwillingness to change (unenlightened). After the defeat of azshara and the burning legion, the Kaldorei empire was utterly destroyed, leaving only a small portion of the original night elven population left. most of the remnants of the once mighty race willingly cast aside the arcane out of fear of attracting the legion once again, and remorse for what had happened to the world due to their races reckless use of it. instead, they turned to the power of nature, and light, to heal what they had broken. however, the remaining highborne defied the wishes of their race and clung to arcane, going as far as unleashing an arcane storm over their peoples last bastion as a show of power (reckless, and selfish) . for this, the punishment was usually death, but as a mercy, they were instead exiled from night elven society. eventually they found the eastern kingdoms and built a home for themselves there. eventually, the powers of the sunwell, which they had created from a vial of water stolen from the night elves new well of eternity, changed them into the form that you see currently in game. one of the effects of the changes was a drastically shortened lifespan of 500 years, compared to the night elves 10,000 years. (a new, and short-lived race) The events of the high elves history relates them far closer to a typical dark elf, then anything else.