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Worgen Spirituality

That’s a very big question, and a sensitive topic. No matter the answer, someone would be upset. Even I have changed my perspective on it from time to time, as I learn more about Druidism, worgen cultures, and The Light.

The topic of worgen religion itself is quite a difficult one, because there is no one single culture of worgen to look at. There’s Gilnean culture, then Gilnean worgen. There’s Kaldorei culture, then there’s kaldorei worgen. Beteween the Gilneans, there’s a cultural divide between upper-class Royal and lower-class Rebel. Between the Kaldorei worgen, there’s a divide between those that worshipped Goldrinn and became worgen, and those who were simply bitten in the crossfire. There are packs made of just Kaldorei-Worgen (Terrowulf), of just human Worgen (Greymane, Moonrage, and Bloodmoon), and several consisting of both, no doubt mixing the cultures (Nightbane, Bloodfang, and Talonbranch).

There is such a variety of contributing variables that, in the end, it really depends on what culture the character is a part of, what their personal experiences and beliefs are, and what kind of character you wish to play.

That said… I’ll tell you what I do know.


Worgen Religions (click to expand)

Goldrinn and Elune

The two gods Goldrinn and Elune are frequently mentioned in the worgen lore, for good reason. It is their combined magics that created the worgen curse, and thus it is to they that the worgen owe their strength. Even if Gilnean worgen do not openly worship these pagan deities, they surely seem to revere them. Genn Greymane himself refers to Goldrinn as “our patron spirit”, and respects Varian because he is Goldrinn’s chosen champion.

We see things that no normal human can. Some call you Lo’Gosh, though that they use a Taur-ahe title for you I find ironic. Still, it is but another name for Goldrinn, as we have come to know our patron spirit since our transformation. I saw the aura of that spirit around you the first moment you arrived at the banquet, and even though you gave every indication of crushing our hopes then, I still held out for our chances because I could see his touch upon you as if it were your own skin. . . .”

Knaak, Richard A… World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (p. 267). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

Varian surveyed the other worgen, and though they were swift to recover from their shock, their movement yet struck him as slightly slower than his own. “Goldrinn . . . ,” Genn muttered, staring. “Lo’Gosh . . . his aura . . . it surrounds you so completely. . . .” Around them, the ears of the other worgen flattened, but in awe, not fear. “Goldrinn truly touches your heart, your soul . . . ,” Genn murmured. “The wolf honors you, and so—so do we. . . .” Varian said nothing, but he, too, was at last able to sense what Genn had known from the beginning. The ghost of the great wolf had made him its chosen, its champion.

Knaak, Richard A… World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (pp. 331-332). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

Some Gilneans, however, have come to embrace and worship Goldrinn fully, such as those that joined Alpha Prime’s “Wolf Cult” in Gilneas. Alpha Prime himself spoke of both Goldrinn and Elune when he spoke of the curse as a purity, in his cult’s holy book “Purity of Essence”. Thanks to this book, the Wolf Cult appears to be the dominant belief in the Bloodfang (Curse of the Worgen) and Nightbane (Dark Riders) packs. The Nightbane and Bloodfang even refer to the Scythe of Elune as the “Fang of the Father”, referring to the male wolf god Goldrinn, rather than Elune.

The Gilneans at least revere Goldrinn and Elune, while the more tribal worgen seem to heavily worship Goldrinn. While it is not stated that ALL worgen MUST worship Goldrinn, it may be difficult not to feel some respect and gratitude towards the great god of the hunt, and the goddess of balance. But again, it comes down to the character. A street rat risen to greatness thanks to the Curse may be thankful, while an aristocrat knocked down to a new low may loath those gods responsible for the curse. Even so… it is indeed curious that Genn Greymane, the King of Gilneas itself, enjoys the worgen form so readily, and respects Goldrinn so much.

The Old Ways

Now to address the Old Ways, which the Harvest Witches of Gilneas follow. I’ve heard it referred to as Gilnean Paganism, and really, that seems quite accurate. We don’t know much about the Old Ways, but we know that it was an old animistic (pagan) belief left over from the days of human tribes. We are told that this had completely died out in other human nations, and was in the process of dieing out (more slowly) in the secluded city of Gilneas. We are also told that it was rare, only practiced on the fringes of agrarian villages, and that Genn hadn’t been exposed to it - in his own country - until the fall of Gilneas.

He had heard that druidism was practiced among some of Gilneas’s agrarian folk, but he hadn’t been exposed to it until recently.
Lord of his Pack, pg 2

The Old Ways are indeed a secondary religion of Gilneas, if not even rarer. Gilneas is based on industrial revolution England, so let’s look there as an example. Paganism once dominated Scotland and Ireland. Now, 59.5% are Christian, while Neo-Paganism is counted somewhere within the 0.4%. Meaning, if you have one thousand people, up to four of them may be some variation of pagan. This may have been slightly higher in the industrial revolution some two hundred years ago, and may be higher in Gilneas - set in a fantasy world with spirits - but the point still stands that the “Old Ways” would be rather rare. This number is said to have grown slightly during the Gilnean famine, and of course may have grown more popular among Gilnean Worgen as they become closer with nature.

Yet even so, the Old Ways are far from being the prominent religion among worgen. Rather, it is more akin to added lore, to justify and introduce Gilnean Worgen druids.

The Light

The Light… is an interesting topic. The Light appears to be the dominant religion not only among humans, but among the other Alliance races as well. The Gnomes pray to the Light in the starter zone, the humans dwarves and draenei all have priests as their current racial leaders, and several civilian NPCs pray to The Light.

The Light appears to be the dominant religion of Gilneas as well. The “Light’s Dawn Cathedral” stands at the very center point of the city. Genn refers to praying and The Light multiple times in Curse of the worgen (“I pray you’re both wrong” and “Light, no… not this. Not now. Not the Forsaken.” in issue 5), as well as Liam, who says “Light, help us all!” directed to the The Light, as the cataclsym strikes.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/512036763871739925/570805527651811330/unknown.png

As for Gilneans once they become worgen, it’s difficult to say. I would say an individual’s belief is heavily influenced by the culture surrounding them, and this certainly applies to worgen. Those like Genn living in Stormwind amid other Alliance races may continue to worship the Holy Light alonside them, maybe even strengthened in this fellowship, “as iron sharpens iron”. Those living in the Nightbane and Bloodfang may revere the Light in their spare time, alongside Goldrinn and Elune, or forget the Light altogether. The same can be said for those that spend their time in the Cenarion Circle.

Also, the one worgen Priest I can recall is in Raven Hill Duskwood, named Sister Elsington. She uses holy Light, and gives you quests regarding the restless ghosts in the area, helping you calm their souls.
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Sister_Elsington

All Three (Speculation)

Some food for thought as well… My own character has explored each of these religions in his own way, over the years. In a way, he now practices a balance of all three. Because it is religion, it is influenced by personal experience, personal choice, and cultural influence. With a Harvest Witch past, discovering Goldrinn and Elune in roleplay a few years ago, and a recent near-death encounter with The Light, he’s found a way for all three to work in agreement.

The Light is all that is good in the universe. Goldrinn is a god of Life, far lesser in power than the Light. Elune is a goddess of balance, found only on Azeroth, while the Light covers the whole universe. The Old Ways is simply a reverence of nature, and caring for nature in the mortal world with basic nature magic.

Chronicle 1 says that in the beginning, there was Light. Where the Light was absent, Shadow grew to power. Rising tension between the two resulted in conflict, “rupturing the fabric of creation, and birthing a new realm into existence”. If only Light and Shadow existed, then the other four planes of magic (Life and Death, Order and Disorder) resulted from the “explosion”. Since Life and Order are positive, they must have come from Light, and since Disorder and Death are destructive, they must have come from Shadow in contrast. If Life goes hand-in-hand with Light, then nature itself - as well as the demigods - exist because of the Light.

Therefor; Nature obeys the Wild Gods, which obey the plane of Life, which obey The Light.

In this way, using nature magic, revering Goldrinn, and worshipping the Light functions, as a nature oriented follower of the Light. Just as a soldier may serve in a different regiment, but serve the same country.


This is certainly going to be an interesting topic to include, in the worgen RP guide. “Religion” itself is a field of study, that people can major in, especially anthropology, theology, and psychology. I’m just a worgen-obsessed Environmental Science major. :sweat_smile:

I dare say I went far deeper into this topic tonight than needbe… but such a big question! And worthy of a good answer.

And bacon. :bacon:

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