Lots of confusion and inconsistent perceptions of Night elves around, I thought produce a knowledgebase to help iron something out and challenge some mis-conceptions I have noticed held by players on this topic. This is the purpose of this topic.
What the Devs Say About Night Elves
Some seem to think blizzard don't know Night elves, or took the development of the Night elves in a wrong way. They never think to challenge or question whether how they viewed night elves or perceived them may have missed what blizzard intended. Night elves are enigmatic, they aren't straightforward to understand, this is intentional. However if you really like them, and have delved into all their lore (not cherry picked the ones you liked), you will find a lot of it makes sense, there isn't nearly as much inconsistency as you think.
Firstly, let us look at what the developers intended for the Night elves. Here is a piece that stood out from another topic.
The Non-Savage Arcane/Nature Duality Night Elf - The Night Elves are not JUST Forest Elves
The devs have expressed the intention behind the night elves: One such interview is here
https://web.archive.org/web/20010205...667651,00.html
They were never the pure forest elf race some felt.
Though I sometimes see people feeling the night elves are a savage race or a forest elf race, they can be forgiven because of the strong influence of druidism in the night elves, but while a significant part of the race, it doesn't dominate them and roughly comes to about 1/3 to 1/2 of their makeup. I gently remind them that it was not the intention or purpose, nor do we witness the portrayal of night elves as either primarily or entirely a savage race or a forest elf race. Worgen were the savage race, you don't call a savage race Elf - Elf is not what you use when you want to do savage. Nor are they primarily forest elves never intended that way (nor shown to only be forest based), they have a forest/dark elf duality.
We have been told in lore shown the Night Elf race to be both arcane and nature prolific, the pre-sundering civilization, the Highborne, the Moonguard, the magic wielders, the priesthood of Elune - those are all part of the dark elf aspect of the night elves.. whether the civilization was destroyed yesterday or 10,000 years ago, the night elf remains the arcane affinity, arcane essence magical elf,
with a natural racial disposition to the arcane and a great love of nature. We have been seen a lot more of the magical side of the priesthood of Elune recently in the game, and also far more arcane night elf activity in game in Cataclysm expansion and Legion expansion - not to mention 5 books (the War of the Ancients Trilogy, Wolfheart and Illidan) have much information and lore on non-forest elf druidic night elves. Contrary to what some believe, the Highborne part of the night elves is not created solely for the Thalassian elf, and is not to be considered as only there to be part of the Thalassian lore. No, it is fully a part of the night elf and its make up, a substantial half, it is from this half that the devs connect the night elf to the high elf, but that part is ALL night elf too. Both halves together represent all the night elves.
Now the forest elf side of the night elves is represented mostly in the druids which the classic game's levelling experience dominates as well as in The sentinels and huntresses who see much more action in WC3. However it is incomplete and incorrect to ignore the lore material in the novels and the material that shows up in the game, including the highborn of 1.1, the Darnassian re-instated Highborne caste of 4.0, the Farondis, Moonguard and Nightborne of 7.0, and to ignore the Demon hunters no matter how small their numbers are, they are a significant part of the night elves and a core part of their make up.
Night elves are magical, very magical - this is what the lore tells and shows us
If you look a little closer, clearing your mind of bias or the focus on your favourite parts, you will see it so clearly.
Pre-sundering
Most of Night Elf written history focuses on the pre-sundering era, the most notable thing about the Night elves then was not as hunter/gatherers or savage feral combatants, but as prolific arcane users, who built an entire empire filled with magic, to an extraordinary level that is still coveted today by the magical societies of the world. The great account of the first invasion of the Legion and the sundering is full of the magic of the Night elves. Arcane magic was what most of them fought with, members of the Moonguard and the famous Palace Highborne Sunstriders who joined Tyrande. Illidan and Tyrande employ a lot of magic during their accounts, so does Malfurion, who performs many magical spells, both the newly learnt nature ones and previous arcane based spell work he knows.
Post-Sundering
After the sundering, the 3 main Night elf groups we know of are again most renowned for magic. In Northern Kalimdor, the Long Vigil group bans the practise of arcane magic, yet we know of them most for their great strides in nature magic, working in the emerald dream with magic, trying to heal he world, suppress arcane magic usage to prevent the Legions return, growing world trees, hiding Kalimdor in mists. The magical arcane Well of Eternity was the focus of that era for them, and while it wasn't used for arcane spell work, it's magical arcane energy was used to create Moonwells all over the land where priestly and druidic magic were employed to utilise that magical energy to boost the environment and its inhabitants. The Long Vigil ends in WC3, while Night elf units do shoot lots of arrows, most notable are the magic of the priesthood and druids employed - whether the arcane starfall or the nature tranquillity, summoning trees and animals to join the fight.
Amongst the Night elf group in Eldre'thalas and Suramar - the same intensity of arcane magical use continued in one, while another group in Suramar city went even further ingesting pure arcane energy for food when their natural resources faced total depletion.
Current Era - Post Long Vigil
In the current era, after WC3, the most notable actions and activities of Night elves are magical. The druids grow a magical world tree (the largest by far, and the 4th such), you meet magical problems that require magical remedies full of magical creatures.
You meet the Shen'dralar and it's all about magic in Dire Maul
In 4.0, it is magic is the focus of the Night elves, the ban on arcane is lifted and the Highborne of Eldre'thalas join up with the Darnassians continuing the new developments, because their magical might is greatly needed.
The druids you work with in Mount Hyjal and the lost ruined Night Elf sunken city of Vashj'ir are all dealing with, involving, using, protecting, protecting against, acting with and counteracting MAGIC.
Bad Assumptions that Have Warped This Perception
If you only focus on one aspect and talk about it the most, it will colour your overall impression if you are not careful. So to avoid that:
1. Try not to think of the night elves as ONLY feral hunter-types, that is minor in comparison: magic has always played a larger role for them, whether it was the arcane intensive period of the pre-sundering, or the druidic achievements of the Long Vigil, or the priesthood of Elune and it's magical origin and purpose.
2. Nature magic is also magic, although most references to magic are talking about the arcane, do not forget divine magic and nature magic are also magics
3. Don't let the Long Vigil period (where the most famous Night elf group felt they had to ban the use of the arcane) blind you from perceiving that magic (yes arcane magic now) was still quite central to the Night elven group, even without using the arcane directly for spells. There were other Night elf groups who hadn't banned spell usage.
Banning the use of the arcane for spells doesn't make a group less magical. It just makes them less practised with using that type of magic for spell work. indeed during the whole time of the long vigil, they were surrounded and suffused with the magic of the Well of Eternity and the Moonwells they bathed the lands they win with its power. they made good and responsible use of the magic they had, despite not using it directly to cast spells.
Whether with arcane or nature magic, the Night elf race is heavily steeped in Magic
Common Mis Conceptions From Players:
1.
WC3 presentation of the Night elves is NOT the main or only thing there is to the night elves or should be. - it really isn't and they weren't intended to only be or even mainly be the way you saw them there [as evidenced by WoW's presentation subsequent book releases of their past, and future development both in novels and in game]. WC3 focuses on 1 group of Night elves only (not all Night elves) and is a turning point in that most famous group of the race's existence where a way of life is about to end due to another destiny altering event. It is the 2nd such event for the race - made clear from the stat. It is a race introduced with a 15,000 year back history, and it's 2nd major pivotal moment. The first saw the end of the Night elf empire and what is referred to as the pre-sundering era. Wc3 shows you the end of the event that marked the end Long Vigil era.
Tell me, if Night elves had been introduced as their Nightborne sub-race in Legion was, with the 1st invasion of the Legion, would you be thinking night elves were only arcane elves? Even if WoW fast forwarded to the present? Exactly - you consider the entire lore.
Liking the Night elves as forest elves of WC3 does not make them exclusively into forest elves. If that is what you think, you must correct your thinking. You are shown a major facet of the Night elves in WC3, but it is not the only, there are key aspects indicated in WC3, but that have much larger stories and roles told in other volumes and games that followed the release of that product.
It is best to view WC3 as showing a side of the Night elves, but only part of a much bigger whole.
2.
Misconception that The novels and books on the Night elf don't matter and aren't canon. - This is incorrect, the novels and books like Chronicles are all canon material. in fact most of the Night elf lore is in books. The majority of the history of the races and the Warcraft universe is in books and a considerable amount of story, background, are in books. The Night elves had very little in-game development, however they had a large number of novels around them. Their tally comes to 6. Higher than any single race in the Warcraft universe.
How to treat Conflicts:
Everything in WC3 is canon, same with the books - sometimes, minor details have some conflict, this doesn't make the previous work all invalid eg. in WC3, the map of the broken isles is different and Suramar is a total ruin rather than partial - some are tempted to think WC3 isn't valid any more. NO, the devs never said that, just take the later version has having a fuller picture. The images of Silvermoon City and Dalaran in WC3 are very different from what we see in WoW, does that mean WC3 is invalid? No, take the wow version as the more complete one in that instance.
As a general rule, the newer version supersedes the older one, simply take it as a more accurate version
Common Incorrect Statements from the Opposition-to-Magical Night Elven players.
1. To the Players Who Say the Arcane and Civilization Is not for Night elves
That's opinion, not fact.
a) To say the night elves
shouldn't have an arcane culture
b/c they banned arcane for 10k years, is also opinion not fact, and is based on the blood elf view of the matter - it is not fact.
b) To say they have no arcane culture is also wrong - it is wrong in the Darnassian group since the Shen'dralar have joined as it exists amongst those Highborne, it is also wrong amongst other groups like the Moonguard and Farondis.
c) To say the past doesn't matter as some sort of proof that the night elves don't have the arcane because it's the past is also wrong - not only do they have current arcane users, but just because something is in the past doesn't mean it is somehow no longer a part of them - what you mean to say is that the arcane doesn't play a major role in current Darnassian society - that would be correct but to say this is because the night elves have moved on or rejected the arcane would be incorrect, You have no proof, only head canon. In fact the only correct statement is that
the Darnassian group don't have much of an arcane culture as a society.
N.B.
- Don't generalise. When you say Night elves, remember you are talking about a race, not just a faction. If you mean a faction, you should say so, and specify which one. For example the faction most player night elves play are the Darnassians, (exception of the demon hunter Night elf - which is not a Darnassian).
- There is a difference between the arcane as a magical power and the practise of the arcane in a society. The main Night elven never banned the arcane, or hated it, they banned the practise of the arcane for magical spells. It is worth noting that 3 other large Night elven groups did not do so.. .so to generalise that the Night elves banned the arcane is very incorrect.
- Note the difference between an activity in a society and the capability of an individual or race. To say the arcane is not a core part of the night elves is incorrect, to say it isn't a core or significant part of the Darnassian society at present is correct. Massive difference.
2. The arcane is not the exclusive purview of blood elves, it is incorrect if you feel it is, it is not (not amongst elves as Nightborne and Night elves show or other races as humans, forsaken, Draenei etc show. Nor are elven magical cities the exclusive right of Blood elves or the horde. Looking at you horde only Blood elf fans, you have erroneously taken it upon yourself to feel that the arcane is your exclusive right, you shouldn't, the birth, greatest development and mastery of it has always been a part of the Night elf race from the start. It is part of the Elf race type set and it is not exclusive to blood elves - as the Nightborne and Kaldorei lore past and present clearly show you. Remember when alliance players felt that having cities, civilizsed races and arcane magic were exclusively their right, well they were wrong when the Blood elves went horde, but in this case, you were shown from the start and told the night elves had this in them.
3. Blizzard doesn't do races that are about one thing only. The night elves were never only about the forest/nature, the blood elves never only about the arcane. This is clear in every single playable group, race and faction. And is not just meant for very important diversity and a more realistic approach, but also to give players a wide assortment of fantasies to play their characters in a role of. It is a roleplaying game and multiple roles are defined for each race.
a) Nature is a major part of the Night elf theme - but it is not the only major theme amongst the Night elves.
b) The arcane has and still plays a major part both in the affairs, history and nature of the Night elf race - note this is not the same as saying "arcane Culture" is predominant or a major part of the Darnassian society
Arcane, Nature and Divine in Night Elves
The arcane , nature and Elune are very distinct in night elves yet totally intertwined, this is very unique thing of this race. Each Order whether Elune, the Druids or the Highborne/Moonguard.
This section is devoted to pointing out key parts where we see aspects of each magic type in all night elves.
The Arcane In the Night elves
- Their creation by the magical Well of Eternity
- Their great affinity and skill for the arcane - by the time of the 1st invasion, all Night elves were learning the arcane from early childhood [note learning doesn't mean all became as prolific as Highborne mages]
- All Night elves are suffused with the power of the Well of Eternity (their eyes glow silver b/c, and the purple skin tone is a result of the Well's influence on their make-up)
- The World's most famous magical caste, the Highborne are all Night elves (while it is true some Highborne were turned into Naga by the old gods, some into Satyr by Sargeras, one group by Darth'remar became a new race of elves, the High elves and like all the Night elves of Suramar, the Highborne amongst those left in the city became the new night elf subrace, the Nightborne), the original Highborne is night elven, always was, and the current ones raising new talent amongst the Night elves.
- The Kaldorei is the only elf group to this day remains unchanged from the arcane infused being that came to be 15,000 years ago, his arcane affinity and talent still there regardless of his chosen class or devotion.
- The arcane Well of Eternity was the main feature of the Long Vigil era for that group of Night elves
- The arcane was used prolifically for spells by the city groups in Eldre'thalas and Suramar, as well as the Moonguard in Moonguard Stronghold
- The arcane waters were all over Night elf Long vigil group lands in Moonwells, suffusing the land, flora and fauna with arcane energy that was utilised to improve them.
Arcane in Society and Arcane Practice:
- There is a distinction between the arcane itself and the use of arcane in society or practising.
- Arcane in Darnassian society is mostly limited to the highborne group, but amongst them it is still quite prolific
- Arcane practice is prolific amongst arcane wielding Night elves like the Highborne, the Moonguard, Farondis ghosts etc, it is not however a big part of the wider society of Night elves.
Arcane in the Priesthood:
- While priests and druids don't use the arcane in the same way or depth as mages do, the arcane is very much present
- Priesthood of Elune is shown to largely use Arcane spells offensively, fitting the arcane half of the Night elves and its arcane origin
- Elune is inextricably linked to the arcane Well of Eternity and arcane energy. It's not to say she's only about the arcane, but it's a part.
- Night elven priests discover Elune first through studying the Well, [I propose that it could be that it is pursuit of the Goddess that drove the initial study of the well that led to discovering the use of arcane magic, and that what became the mage class developed from those amongst the priests or other night elves that sought practical uses for this magic.]
- The Order is said to hold the Arcane Waters of the Well of Eternity as sacred, and appear to view the use of magic as sacred thing - this would explain their anger at the abuse of magic by the Highborne at the end of Azshara's reign, and Tyrande's disgust at the state she found the Nightborne in when she returns to Suramar. It is also indication that neither the arcane nor arcane magic is hated, but quite the opposite. It is the abuse and reckless misuse that is frowned on as you would expect from a body that holds this magic as sacred. During the Long Vigil they would have opposed the use of the magic for spells, not out of hatred, but out of purpose. . However I can imagine a holy fear over its use to have increased during that period, causing a reticence towards its practice again in some priestesses even after the ban is lifted. It is not a straightforward interaction, there is nuance there, as you would expect.
Arcane in Druidism
- Druids suppressed the use of the arcane for spells during the Long Vigil period, but are known in wow, after it ends to use arcane based spells
- The source of the druidic arcane spells are the stars and moon, not an arcane source like the Well of Eternity - this may explain why druids use these spells.
- The fact that druids do use arcane powered spells is an indication of the arcane core in this race - their druidism is clearly also linked to the arcane.
- This also makes sense when you consider the Night elves have an arcane and nature duality, there is going to be arcane love in druids, and nature love in mages.
Arcane practise and arcane use in society vary, and should not be confused with arcane capability and the presence of arcane magic
Nature in the Night elves
- Night elves are shown to also have a deep love and care for nature and the wilds - this was something that drew Cenarius to them before they gained great arcane mastery.
- Night elves of the Long Vigil on having to ban the use of arcane magic, showed they were quite good at developing nature magic, during that period they:
- Grew magical world trees,
- Guided the evolution of the world magically in the Emerald Dream.
- All Night elves care for nature incl some of the Highborne
Nature in the Pre-sundering era and Highborne:
- The Night elves built their cities combining arcane magic and nature magic wielded by powerful Ancients. [source: Well of Eternity Novel]
- Night elven cities are typically shown to have many gardens, mini forested, garden rooftops, more so than any - as seen by the images of pre-sundering Zin'Azshari in Warbringers Azshara and Suramar City in Legion, the ruins of Eldre'thalas still have Ancients, nature wielders seeking to restore the bastion of arcana.
- Chronicles mentions that revere for the wilds was absent in the Highborne closest to the Queen during the pre-sundering era, but still there amongst most of the arcane wielding Night elven populace.
- Azsuna quests show that Highborne not under the greater direct influence of the Queen, like the Farondis did have a courteous respect for the wilds and Elune.
- Suramar, where the night elves there continued and deepened their intense indulgence in arcane magic, we see having nature and gardens. In the Nighthold, though High Botanist Tel'am sides with the Legion and starts creating twisted aberrations, he and the Nightborne in the gardens are indication of the night elven arcane using communities continuous use of nature magic. It isn't as developed or advanced as what Malfurion (pretty much a genius with nature) did to advance those studies.. but it is further indication of nature amongst arcane wielding night elven groups
Nature in the Priesthood of Elune.
- The Order of Elune certainly don't worship the wilds or the wild gods, but they do revere them
- The priesthood order and their sentinels are seen to fight for the wilds and defend the lands of the night elves, claiming them as the lands of the Goddess.
- The Priestesses always work closely with the druids when Moonwells are set up, blessing its waters and working in tandem, fully in agreement with the goals of the druids and nature even though they do not actively work towards those ends.
- It would be very inaccurate to think of the priesthood of Elune as Forest priests or nature priests - that is actually what the druid is. The Order does not worship nor is devoted to the forest or its spirits, and they don't interact much with the druids at all (Feralas Quest line tells us). This makes sense, the druids are constantly in the wilds, the Order operate from bases and oversee civilian life, both during the Long vigil and currently. However, their care for nature exists and is evidenced - we see the priesthood working hand in hand with druids in times of great distress to nature.
- A good portion of the sentinel army are forest rangers and scouts, huntresses and woodland roamers - this is partly because this has been the main habitat of the Night elven Darnassians over the last 10k years, and as such necessitated a growth in this wing of the Order, but it is an indication of a connection and is quite visible in a good portion of them.
- There are no nature spells witnessed in the priests, only arcane, light and void ones, however the Sentinel branch of the order with their bows and animal companions are the wing that operate mostly in nature and its environment. You wouldn't become a sentinel huntress if you didn't love the forests. This in my book counts as evidence.
Elune in the Night elves.
- The Night elves have had an attachment to the Goddess Elune from the very beginning.
- They believed she dwelt within the arcane well (hence the Preisthood's arcane connection), and they studied the well as a consequence.
- The Night Warrior ritual is a powerful spell empowerment for vengeance ruthlessly employing arcane and void energy used initially to conquer Kalimdor around 15,000 years ago and recently in the Night elves' reclaiming of Darkshore
- The Priesthood has been a staple in ALL forms of Night elf society, although it appeared to be absent from the Suramar community after the sundering, and no record of it being a part of the Eldre'thalas city, it is shown in lore to have been inextricably interwoven with the pre-sundering civilization and we see it is also the leading executive branch of the Kaldorei during the Long Vigil.
Night elf priests are seen in Night elf lore operating fully in Civilization and Forest wilderness alike
- Druids may revere the wilds, but they do employ blessings and spells from Elune that are arcane based.
- Druids can also be heard praising Elune, though their focus is nature and the wilds
- Farondis Highborne and Shen'dralar Highborne are also heard to praise Elune - now while this may just be an unaltered Night elf file being used, blizzard didn't see it fit to alter the Farondis or Shen'dralar NPCs like they did the high elf or Nightborne ones who have different voice files to the blood elves and Night elves despite being closely linked to those groups. While it may be slight, it is an observation.
- Arcane civilization and the priesthood went hand in hand in many things. It is quite likely the mages and magecraft originate from the Order of Elune who spearhead the first studies of the well of eternity that lead to the mastery of the use of arcane magic.
- Highborne may not be devoted followers of Elune, druids aren't either, but both revere and believe her as Goddess.
- Other arcane wielding Night Elves (lest you forget that the Highborne are not the only arcane wielding Night elves, only the most noble and skilled group of them), are counted as the other night elves that both fear Elune and revere the wilds.
This is all indication that the Goddess is in every part of the Night elf societies and their people, to varying degrees of devotion, but there none-the-less.
Conclusion
Night elves are Elves - magic, the arcane is a core component of the species set, in the Warcraft universe, all this starts from the Night elves, every divergent, off shoot and sub-group of elf carries the arcane aptitude from the Night Elf.
Night elves are to elves what Zandalari trolls are to trolls, they have the broadest scope, the most diverse attributes of what the elves have - they are the first and the longest going. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Arcane lives on in the night elf race and is present in all aspects of it (as detailed above - whether the Moonwells and Well of Eternity, the spell set or the arcane groups like the Highborne), nor should it surprise anyone that there are still arcane focused night elven communities and groups, even if arcane practice isn't so widespread amongst the total number of night elves still around today.
Elunism and Druidism are core parts of the Night elf too, parts which the off shoot groups like the Thalassians (who dropped it) and the Nightborne (who were without influences in these) don't have. However what they do share with the existing kaldorei is the arcane affinity and the magic excellence and practice (also the percentage that it influences each of the various groups and societies varies - with it most prevalent amongst the Nightborne and Highborne group, a little less in the Thalassian groups (most in the void elves, least in the Silver Covenant high elves, with blood elves around the middle mark) and least prevalent amongst the Darnassian society overall (seeing the Highborne society is a smaller section of the Darnassian and doesn't influence it as much as during the pre-sundering era).
Still, it should be noted this is a core elven attribute - that the night elves have in lore and in game, and to rid them of it basically is to eliminate the most tangible bond between the groups.
I would go so far as to describe Elunism an Druidism key elven aspects missing from the smaller groups. This is because the night elf is the parent and wider group, so it has the greater diversity and is the founder of all the branches of "Elvenism" (all the key things related to elves, that elves are most known for)- these stem from the elves and the other groups have this because they come from night elves. While the Thalassians have the Light, bear in mind this expertise does not originate from the original elves, the night elves. The arcane one does, demon hunting does (which they have), but so does druidism and Elunism which they don't have (and I really feel they should, Botanists should have caught up to druids and even some joined them, while some elves, especially Nightborne and void elves should be picking up Elunism). Night elves have also been the longest practicing of all of these, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that night elves like the Shen'dralar are as powerful as any Nightborne or Blood elf - with arcane knowledge only Nightborne can match, and we will have night elf demon hunters that are more powerful or rather more experienced (power is based on how much you've absorbed, if you've been a DH longer, you'd have absorbed more power) because many of them have been at it much longer, or druidism.
This is the night elf race, the parent elf race, it will have arcane, druidism, demon hunting, divine practice, all magical things associated with the Elves will be present in the parent elf race, just like all the things associated with trolls, the height of the Loa knowledge and expertise and the full representation and diversity is present in the Zandalari - and while some of the troll sub-races have picked up things the Zandalari don't do, like cannibalism and warlock - these practices come either from outside (so not troll in origin and are considered evil or bad enough they won't).. it's a similar case with the original elf group not having the Holy Light things in them.
The Future:
Now fully aware that there is a strong long for the nature loving side of the night elves and some calls for savagery (especially from horde fans - regardless of motive), and seeing their is no playable elven group that focuses on this niche, I propose going forward blizzard create a worgen night elf allied race to focus on that.
Truly night elves as the progenitor Elf race and the originals, should have all facets of the Elves represented in various aspects and societies of the race - this is what makes the night elf unique and not just a forest elf focusing on druidism and forests, nor just a dark elf focusing on arcane magic, dark night and all the other stereotypes.
While the next night elf allied race I would link to the naga, the worgen one would be perfect to fill the spot, also allowing the Gilnean worgen to focus more on the human kingdoms, reclaiming Gilneas etc, and just having a friendship bond with the night elves, while the night elf worgen to be the ones that relay relate to the druidic night elves as allies.
Night elf worgen would fill both the savage niche and forest elf niche perfectly. Like a naga race, they'd have a unique humanoid form. So unlike Gilnean Worgen, don't need to be forced to worgen form only in combat. The elf form should be a night elf with more animal features that you can customise, feathered arms like Malfurion's model, animal feet, sometimes claws etc. They should also have a unique worgen form to distinguish them from Gilnean worgen.
Their story is basically the night elf worgen that were trapped away in the Emerald dream, are now being freed and restored thanks to the recent advances and success with the Emerald dream, Scythe of Elune, and revelations of the Goddess Elune.
Meanwhile the actual night elves can continue to develop. Urban environments are largely for Highborne and Priests, just like in pre-sundering times, and forest rural environments are dominated by the druidic culture with some priest assistance reminiscent of the long vigil era - players get the best of both worlds. interesting plots and involvements that keep the Illidari demon hunters in the mix albeit on the fringe of societies - but together they are the night elf people. Allied race like the Nightborne, the Naz'dorei and the NElf Worgen continue on, giving players increasingly interesting and exciting customisations to play with.
Equilibrium in Future Night Elf Society
It was Queen Azshara who led them. Then after the sundering when they split, each community had it's leaders, for the main kaldorei group it was Tyrande - Malfurion was saving/healing the world primarily, Tyrande led the people as High Priestess - they and the druids were not joined at the hip - they had totally separate lives and functions - with their race and shared responsibility of the Long Vigil the things that held them together. I suspect the first night elf leader was a Priestess too, and Azshara ascending to prime Monarch was because of how incredibly brilliant she was, I would wager she captured the hearts of her people and inspired them, she showed the great benefits of the arcane, a field she was extremely good at and through which extraordinary things could be achieved. When a society becomes more interested in things and stops valuing the true unquantifiable treasures of life, it will go off kilter - to the night elves, the Queen and the wonders she could pioneer became more important even than their goddess and revere of the wilds. And so Zin'Azshari was renamed.
Society Development and Future
Back then, Azshara's arcane leadership and the progress it produced must have amazed them to great levels of awe previously reserved for gods (Elune, demi god Cenarius), but this time the power was in the hands of the night elf – a very heady development for a once primitive people emerging (or awakening as they call it) with god like powers.
This is why arcane development can never capture or snare the hearts of the night elves like it did in the past (they've been there, to the top and fallen too, it's not new any longer), it is also why I feel a fully developed Highborne caste amongst the Darnassians today should not result in the levels of arcane devotion amongst Night elves capable of usurping or undermining that held by the people and druids for nature and the wild gods or that held by the people and priests for Elune like it did towards the end of that era. So those who object to greater NElf arcane development have nothing to fear from a natural rise and advancement of kaldorei arcane institutions returning. it won't spread arcane dependency in the whole race like happened in the pre-sundering era around the invasion era or like exists in the smaller blood elven or Nightborne societies. Or at least it shouldn't. I don't think any night elf (unless they're unhinged) would believe this would happen. Firstly the night elves are much bigger than the other elven off shoots and are the wisest of the groups (most long-lived too alongside the Nightborne), they are also the most complete and so would be model like, having large sections in each area elves are good at, and will be entirely focused on elven life, while the like of Thalassians have always been part of a larger picture involving humans, trolls and orcs etc. And will continue, the Nightborne joining them would likely share that fate, unless blizzard choose to write them more involved with night elf affairs and the night elf world.
This is why it makes me believe that new night elf society in the post-vigil era, i.e. the current era would be far more balanced than before, and actually eventually restore the best of the pre-sundering era and exceed it. Cities would be the arcane centres and frontier of development and progress for the race, and the places where Highborne would dominate and the priesthood would be intertwined, while the forests would be dominated by druids with the priesthood intertwined - having in a sorts a pre-sundering setting in cities, and a long vigil one in the forests, but an equilibrium, a balance of sorts and harmony that neither previous periods could achieve at their heights- And so this would eventually go the furthest. Gone and never coming back would be the days all the people were swayed into arcane excesses, neither likely to return are the days when total abstinence of the arcane practice and only nature dependence would be the only way to live. The first state became like that because of the Queen and the novelty of what the arcane could do, the second state was because of the Legion and the need desire to stop them.
Night Elf Empire Would Not Return
The night elves no longer need to rule the world or dominate it for this future to happen either, so a night elf empire would never return (and that is not what I mean by best ever) – arcane development will grow, but more responsibly which would also lead to greater long term benefits and progress, and even with an enigmatic Azshara like arcane leader, the people are not primitive any longer, they’re not going to be wow’d by wonders into exalting the arcane on a pedestal, only the Highborne caste and arcane mages will, it won't capture the whole society like before, but then neither would druidism or Elunism, regions would have greater influence of one over the other (like cities and Highborne zones would have higher arcane influence, forests higher nature ones) but the revere for the wilds, and trust in the goddess as well as delight tin the arcane would be equally esteemed, and the experts in the each of these fields (i.e. the mage, priest and druid) would be greatly revered –
What would happen is that the people would have roughly the same reverence for all three, the power of the arcane is phenomenal, but as wielders of it, elves have flaws they must work hard at managing -this keeps you humble, the goddess is a goddess afterall, and that’s incredibly amazing in and of itself, Elune continues to do things for the night elves in ancient time it was her most ruthless phase that helped them and their Moonguard mage armies conquer those what sought to destroy them handing them Kalimdor, and they’ve never forgotten that. Finally nature, nature is what sustains and keeps them alive, keeps them balanced – the fate of the Nightborne is a warning to all elves of what can happen if you indulge in the arcane unchecked and without balance, and nature is the only thing that can remedy that.
So the arcane provides progress and development, the Priesthood humility, discipline and mental health, the druids balance, harmony and physical health and vitality. This is what there civilization would be, regardless if it is led by one individual or several. My preference would be several. Personally, Tyrande Whisperwind would lead the Priesthood Order of Elune, Malfurion the Druids, a restored Prince Farondis the Highborne and civil leadership. when it comes to matters that threaten all night elves the council will operate in concert.
They'll have their own zones and realms - with different communities and community leaders - rather than a monarch like before, it would more be a case of the Orders dominating, and then local government - this wouldn't be as effective for development as leadership under one great leader, but they are no longer in a hurry anymore.
Summary on the Other Elf groups
Night elves will be closest to blood elves and Nightborne in the city areas, but it would be different - blood elf society is full arcane integrated, not as highly arcanised as the Nightborne were - but the Nightborne are a small group, you are better off think of them like a group of Highbonre who are a city state and prefer to work with the blood elves, the main Highborne group drives the kaldorei urban, development and international relations with far greater resources and numbers. The Nightborne won't be some unique expression of Elves if they continue in their original expression because that's not unique, it's entirely Kaldorei - so there function would be similar to Highmountain, Void elves, Lightforged, Mag'har, essentially a side group that allows you to play a different customisation, and in their case gives the horde access to night elf like models and lore.
if they want to be unique, they have to find a new purpose, chronomancy is a possibility, but forging a new shared destiny with the blood elves is another - but it isn't ultimately unique either because it's just swapping night elven for blood elven.
No one should expect the elven groups to be totally unique to each other, yet I find this expectation only amongst elf fans. Trolls all share a lot of similarities, so do all the human races, same with the dawrven ones, the Tauren ones, the Draenei ones despite their differences,. Night elves are the parent elf group, to expect night elves not to have an arcane side or their cities not to have a culture t hat also embraces the arcane and thus view it as "too similar to blood elves just because of that" is disingenuous - night elves uniqueness is in their package, their nocturnal nature, their star/moon based culture and their harmony of the magical elven traits.. It is not that blood elves have arcane and night elves have nature - I keep mentioning this is not DnD, the vision here is bigger, more unique and is more conducive to better roleplaying. Races have more than one thing, and race types will share things, for the elves, it's the arcane that's shared, it cannot therefore be completely absent I the night elvs, and it's great importance means that the night elves will have areas where this is common and prevalent, the cities are the natural choice.
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! I love editing pictures of my characters, and I just love this option! The new lilac hair color can fit so well with Highborne aesthetics, and yay upturned pointing ears! now I am very excited to create HB mog sets!
Originally Posted by MyWholeLifeIsThunder
My Shadowlands wishlist: Sub-race templates, Highborne customizations for the Night Elves and Eldre'Thalas as their new capital city.
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