Is there a name for the creature they turn into?
They’re not Arakkoa.
2 Likes
I think it’s supposed to be some sort of Pterrordax/troll hybrid.
8 Likes
I don’t know the name of the creature in game… but it is often suggested that todays IRL birds are descended from certain dinosaurs, called Theropods. As i read google… some scientists even technically consider todays birds as reptiles and modern dinosaurs.
Now, why is that related to wow?
I am sort of thinking that the Zandalari Moonkin Form is like a Protobird form of the regular Moonkin we are familiar with. Like, a Moonkin at an earlier stage of evolution. A less avian and more reptilian form.
Perhaps the Zandalari learned the mysteries of the Balance Druid early on, before the creatures evolved, and chose to maintain that form. While the Elves and Tauren learned from the Moonkin we know of later on, after they evolved or mutated into the Moonkin we are familiar with.
Just a theory I have, though, that doesn’t help you with the actual name.
6 Likes
To be as clear as possible, it’s about as much of a ‘suggestion’ at this point as the concept that bats or whales are mammals: it’s just an accepted fact. Birds are a highly specialized group of theropod dinosaurs, with stereotypical ‘bird’ features such as feathers, a pneumatized skeleton, and the furcula (wishbone) all being very well-documented in non-avian dinosaurs before we even get into the galaxy of weird little transparently birdy theropods like Microraptor and so on.
You can still probably find a few rogue paleontologists insisting that it ain’t so, but you can also probably find a few flat-earther physicists. Scientific consensus doesn’t need to be universal to exist.
As to the Zandalari ‘moonkin’, the weird combination of feathers and skin composing its ‘wings’ makes me think of one of the odder dinosaurs of the last decade: Yi qi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi_(dinosaur)
(seriously, check it out - it looks wonderfully weird)
14 Likes
I assumed it was just a humanoid pterrordax.
Until they retcon it, the last we heard was that the Moonkin were straight up created by Elune, to guard the Gem of Elune (and other sacred places).
5 Likes
Sure. I am all but certain Blizzard did not have Zandalari Druids in mind when they introduced Moonkin more than a decade ago. But as they add stuff, they often change previous lore. Most of the Zandalari Druid stuff is entirely new stuff, and the Lunalai lore is pretty empty, just waiting to be filled in.
Would it be a massive retcon to say Elune created the Moonkin out of what ever the Zandalari creature is? As if she prodded their evolution into the Moonkin we know? Similar to how the Dark Trolls were directed to the Well to become Night Elves?
I suppose if we ever learn more about the Lunalai, we might learn what the heck that form even is, and what it is called. But then again… Night Elves and Tauren use bear forms, while the Zandalari use a different Guardian form, so perhaps there is no connection.
3 Likes
Not massive, no. But still a retcon. As it stands, the Priestess you consulted on the matter in Ye Olden Quests said she prayed for a way to protect the Gem, had an Elune-given dream about the Moonkin, and the next day, the Moonkin were there.
Though, I’ve honestly expected it to be retconned for a while now, and am pretty surprised it hasn’t been, so far. For a goddess that directly interacts with Azeroth as seldom as Elune does, creating an entire race is pretty momentous.
I honestly just figured it was the devs being cheeky about Moonkin being based on a chimeric DnD creature called an owlbear. So, they made a chimeric pterroraptor.
2 Likes
I remember reading somewhere that Druidism has made a comeback fairly recently in Zandalari society which obviously suggests the Zandalari have previously had Druidic powers long ago, so i suppose it’s possible?
I don’t think the Zandalari would’ve called themselves “Druids” though, that’s a specific title/order created by Cenarion for the Night Elves when he started to teach them his ways. I can imagine they called themselves something like a Shapeshifta.
I’m not sure about the Elune angle though. The shapeshifting makes sense as Zandalari have strong bonds with Dinosaurs, the nature based healing powers and abilities make sense due to their surrounding environment. Sun powers also make sense but the moon powers though, i dunno? Were Trolls worshipping Elune or at least had a connection with her before the Night Elves? The Lun’alai may be a recent order or perhaps ancient, i dunno? Like you said, it’s pretty empty with loads of room to be filled in on.
6 Likes
Well I would assume so, but those don’t have feaders. Not one loa matches it really. I like the form, but it’s weird.
The Zandalari feral and tank from also don’t have a loa, which is sad.
Same goes for the water form. Most people will say it’s supposed to be Gral. The thing is, Gral is a shark. The Zandalari travel form is clearly reptilian and I prefer it for them.
1 Like
I think it’s somewhat possible that either they’re lesser loa with fewer followers than most on Zandalar, or they’re all connected to Gonk’s shapeshifting abilities. Like these are the forms Gonk would change into, maybe.
1 Like
That’s true for sure. But we even got the spirits from Stranglethorn like the ape, and the crokolisc with their respective elements.
Creating a plaque for everyone of those minor loa (not even Zanza has one) isn’t too much to do in my view. Especially not for something druids are using.
2 Likes
Zanza totally got shafted. He’s supposed to be the loa of the Arcanitals and Enchanters, both of whom show at least a fair presence at Dazar’alor and even in the Zocalo if I remember correctly. As for said other minor loa, it’s also a shame we didn’t get to see more, but at least we have a good list of loa that we’ve seen before.
9 Likes
Not only that. Zanza was the main loa of the Zandalari before BFA. For me it was really sad to see him shafted in such a drastic way. And like you said they could have given him a cool temple with the enchanters. What did we get? Mostly elves in the Zandalari enchanting area… yeah.
10 Likes
One of the most interesting gray items I’ve come across was what I think is a trash item in Legion. I felt it so significant, I actually kept it on when I came across it on my main, so that I could reference it in times like this!
As everyone knows, the Kaldorei were evolved from trolls (Dark Trolls, to be precise, which is a little ironic, as they are supposed to be slightly more primitive and savage than most of the rest of the other troll sub-races), so it would make sense that, as the trolls evolved into night elves, there would be evidence of their transition in their culture. This item is such evidence.
The Crumbling Ceremonial Vestments have this flavor text on it:
“The markings on this robe resemble both the sign of Elune and several venerated Loa spirits.”
So we have evidence that the early elves worshiped both Elune AND Loa spirits!
6 Likes
Whoa. This is pretty big. So at some point in the past it’s fair to say the Night Elves worshipped both, i mean Cenarius and Goldrinn are basically Loa themselves it’s not the big of a stretch. It also may mean that Trolls (Dark Trolls like you said) have worshipped Elune in the past and since Dark Trolls came from the Zandalari… It’s also possible that BOTH Night Elves and Trolls worshipped Elune and the Loa and at some point decided to separate gods and their worship.
Great find!
2 Likes
There’s a group of Zandalari in Zuldazar named the Lun’alai that state that the city dwellers don’t consider their deity a true Loa, and it’s heavily implied these Zandalari druids worship Elune. They also are all in the Zandalari Moonkin form.
The Lun’alai use the Zandalari Moonkin form, so perhaps they are where the form originate from.
1 Like
To be fair that’s no longer canon. Now they are described more peaceful.
We really don’t know when the split happened for the Night Elves. I would assume with their change.
Perhaps indeed. But they also use other forms like the tank form, so… yeah. It doesn’t seem fleshed out at all.
2 Likes
It looks like scientific theories as to the intermediary between raptors and birds
Same goes for the other forms, except cat. Like the “bear” turtle form imo resembles the turtle ancestor in ancient times, and the “monster shark” looks like some pictures you can find of modern shark ancestors.
Would be cool if maybe the Wild God Loa of the Zandalari used to look differently in ancient times.
Cat form yes is absolutely random and not a possible cat ancestor at all, just a cat-dino lmao
Had a thought there.
Atal’ai = Devoted Ones
Atal’Dazar = Devoted to Dazar
So one can infer “ai” means “ones, people, followers”
Therefore Lun’alai = Followers of Lun’al, Lun’al’s Ones
So maybe Lun’al is Elune’s name in Zandali.
3 Likes
It has skin on his wings. Neither of those animals had this feature. But “close” enough.
You could say that for the tank, but for the shark? Eh, I don’t know. It feels off and missing to me.
1 Like