Official High Elf Discussion Megathread

[Odintdk]

Of course, such a statement is no longer relevant since blood elves dont mana tap living things anymore

While I agree with the rest of your post, I just want to comment on the bolded part. As far as I know they primarily mana tapped into magical/elemental "creatures", infact even ingame if you go to their starting areas, and target these mana Wyrms (or whatever they're called), you'd see the tag "Elemental" on them, as opposed to beast or whatever else they might be labeled as.

Ofcourse I'm not entirely sure the elementals of Azeroth can or cannot be called living things in the traditional sense of it, I'd have to dig back and re-read the elementals part of chronicles.

[Obelisk Kai]

As far as I know, there hasn't been a time where the blood elves were offended being called a high elf. It wouldn't make any sense for them to be offended unless someone insisted on calling them that despite knowing the significance of the blood elf title.
I know there is one case in TBC where a high elf goes "im not a blood elf i wont suck the mana out of you" in a contemptuous way, but I think its mostly a way of making it clear of the difference in philosophies at the time. Of course, such a statement is no longer relevant since blood elves dont mana tap living things anymore

Indeed. One elf in one location was objecting to being seen as a Blood Elf. (On a side note it is funny she had to make that statement, what with the high elf exiles being such a major and important part of the Alliance after all. After all, why would she rush to assure the Alliance player she wasn't a Blood Elf given that the Alliance is apparently chock full of high elves).

And as the big differentiating factor does she cite eye colour? Does she cite allegiance? Nope, she cites the philosophical divergence over mana tapping which was resolved a few months afterwards.

I wonder what she would say now in an updated Terrokkar forest. That is if she is still there and hasn't gone home or anything like that.

[Broflake]

While I agree with the rest of your post, I just want to comment on the bolded part. As far as I know they primarily mana tapped into magical/elemental "creatures", infact even ingame if you go to their starting areas, and target these mana Wyrms (or whatever they're called), you'd see the tag "Elemental" on them, as opposed to beast or whatever else they might be labeled as.

Ofcourse I'm not entirely sure the elementals of Azeroth can or cannot be called living things in the traditional sense of it, I'd have to dig back and re-read the elementals part of chronicles.

They consider them living beings, since when you're doing the quest the quest giver laments them mana tapping these creatures because they have a respect for nature. So, even when they were mana tapping living things they did so out of necessity rather than desire.

- - - Updated - - -

Indeed. One elf in one location was objecting to being seen as a Blood Elf. (On a side note it is funny she had to make that statement, what with the high elf exiles being such a major and important part of the Alliance after all. After all, why would she rush to assure the Alliance player she wasn't a Blood Elf given that the Alliance is apparently chock full of high elves).

And as the big differentiating factor does she cite eye colour? Does she cite allegiance? Nope, she cites the philosophical divergence over mana tapping which was resolved a few months afterwards.

I wonder what she would say now in an updated Terrokkar forest. That is if she is still there and hasn't gone home or anything like that.

Probably something like "I desire reunification of our people" since Auric was in the same camp as her

[Obelisk Kai]

Probably something like "I desire reunification of our people" since Auric was in the same camp as her

I am sure she would be welcomed back to Silvermoon whenever she wanted so long as she pledged to serve Silvermoon and it's allies, but I figure she wouldn't want to turn her back on those she spent the past twenty years with.

[Broflake]

I am sure she would be welcomed back to Silvermoon whenever she wanted so long as she pledged to serve Silvermoon and it's allies, but I figure she wouldn't want to turn her back on those she spent the past twenty years with.

I would not be surprised if she took a Valeera approach. Identified as a blood elf but stayed neutral

[Obelisk Kai]

All salient points. Sylvanas' arc is fairly cohesive and believable. I suppose I just lament her not going down the path I would have taken her down (I would have made Genn the villain of BfA, forcing Sylvanas into an accidental anti-hero role, validating Vol'jin's choice and avoiding a repeat of the Garrosh arc. But hey ho!).

Ironically part of the reason I thought Sylvanas would be a good leader of the Horde was that they wouldn't want to repeat the entire Garrosh arc with her so I gave her the benefit of the doubt during Legion. My main was even a Sylvanas loyalist (although my alt was a Saurfang devotee so I got the best of both worlds).

- - - Updated - - -

I would not be surprised if she took a Valeera approach. Identified as a blood elf but stayed neutral

Possibly, but I think it's likelier she'll still be calling herself a high elf and associating with her buddies from the Draenor expedition.

Still, would be interesting to ask her in a hundred years when they're all dead if she still feels the connection (assuming of course she isn't dead herself at that point).

[matrix123mko]

presumably because the priest is using magic, however there were lots of portrayals of them didnt have glowy eyes as well,

Peasant had glowing eyes too. The only units with pupils were sorceress and high elf citizen female. However, sorceress was initially planned to be human so I think it might be an oversight.

I guess it's because I think of them differently, more like humans possessing great magical ability and acumen, but not a magical creature inherently like a view the night elf...now that's just my view of it. As elves, devolved from night elves, they are elves, but they are not quite the same or quite as powerfully constituted as the original elf, they lost alot naturally in the exile, which is why they are very similar to humans, coming off as idealised versions of them .

They haven't devolved. They evolved. Remember that Dath'remar had exact night elven form before creation of the Sunwell. Only at that moment he transformed.

They generated their own magic, the love for it is in their elven DNA, but they are not filled internally with arcane power on a genetic level like the night elf, so they glow magically only when suffused with the Sunwell or in its absence another magical source like fel Crystal's or the light side of the new sunwell. I personally think of it that way, besides eyes you cant see irises in just look weird on normal human or very near human people - purple people dont strike me as normal people category.

This is your personal aesthetic choice. I highly disagree but this is also personal.

Draenei have no record of a massive hole in their planet with lifeblood capped, and that lifeblood actively remaking and rebuilding one of its sentient in heightened arcane magical beings, whose racial signature is magical affinity .

Eredar lore is less developed than night elf one. Which of course makes it really interesting. You need to read between the verses.

Argus had rivers that were magically glowing in the night and the buildings were decorated by argunite crystals. You can see on Argus that everything( homes, golems, security systems) was powered by titan's blood. There is no mention of a pool of argunite because eredar could have simply mined it, as its deposites aren't that far below the ground.

As for their magical affinity, keep in mind that naaru have given them Ata'mal Crystal and shards of T'uure because of their potential. It doesn't require a lot of mental gymnastics to find out that they had potential because of titan's blood on their planet. Later on, Sargeras chooses eredar to be his champions because of their arcane power. They are the only mortal race that had this honour. According to Xal'atath, Sargeras didn't want to give such power to night elves, which shows that eredar were simply superior to them.

The Naaru, light beings, used Ata'mal Crystal's to enlighten the Draenei, and they gifted and intelligent grew in many areas, not just magic, to a better level than the elves, I guess they are much older and were at it a lot longer than the elves have been. But nothing about being born of the arcane, that is the elves' origin story, not the Draenei, not the orcs, not the humans, not the trolls etc, just the elves.

Actually orcs and humans are born of the arcane. This is the reason of their plot armor.

I not all undead did.

The mindless ones didn't.

Night elves are connected to the well of eternity directly, they have this inner power from it as a racial trait whether they use arcane magic like the Moonguard night elves or highborne other abstained for 10k years like most of the Darnassians.
It's why they didnt lose the glow when the well imploded and still have it despite the Well not being used to cast magical spells. Nit the same as high elves who without the Sunwell, it's all gone.

Do you have any source for that? I think it is your headcanon.

[elbleuet]

Heritage quest says otherwise. They have preserved their culture and returned to their ways prior to the sunwell being destroyed. They certainly consider themselves high elves, their name is meant solely to represent the honoring of the dead. Not sure why this is even being stated given the nightborne quest and lorthemar stating "we value the ways of our people.".

That does not contradict with what I stated above.

And :

They certainly consider themselves high elves,

This is your headcanon, nothing more.

Red herring that is entirely irrelevant given that blood elves also speak Thalassian. Seriously, what relevance does this have to anything?

We say farewell to the High King in Thalassian. Thus, High elves are an Alliance core race.

Again, entirely irrelevant.

"I have no argument so I'll say this is irrelevant."

Blood elves are high elves. They have the culture, language, and everything else associated with them prior to the name change of WC3. Arguing otherwise is disingenuous. If anything, you should be saying that the high elves represent a change. Which is ironic that those who changed their name preserve the high elf ways, and those calling themselves high elves are leaving behind well...what was high elf in the first place.

Again, that does not contradict with what I said above.
Blood elves are still fel corrupted elves.

[Broflake]

That does not contradict with what I stated above.

Sure it does, because they have not rejected what they are, they simply acknowledge a terrible genocide happened to them.

This is your headcanon, nothing more.

I mean...lorthemar stating they are preserving their ways, and their ways are of WC3 and earlier, which is the ways of the high elves,. then its safe to say they consider themselves high elves in everything except name.
Do you have information that says otherwise?
You cannot claim headcanon without lore directly contradicting my statement mate.

We say farewell to the High King in Thalassian. Thus, High elves are an Alliance core race.

I mean...Anduin says goodbye to Saurfang in ogrimmar, I guess humans are a Horde core race?
Secondly., a core race is a race that is playable.
High elves aren't a core race for the alliance, but they are for the Horde.

"I have no argument so I'll say this is irrelevant."

My calling it a red herring without relevance is a logical refutation. I am sorry you disagree, but someone saying bye in thalassian means literally nothing in relevance.

Again, that does not contradict with what I said above.

Except it does. Don't shake your head refusing, that's like refusing Kevin Bacon is in footloose.

Blood elves are still fel corrupted elves.

What?

https://wow.gamepedia.com/Felblood_elf

That's a fel corrupted elf.
Blood elves aren't felblood.

Let alone
https://www.wowhead.com/quest=24564/...n-of-queldelar

Your statement of them being fel corrupted is headcanon which is...not a surprise from you.

Devs state they aren't corrupted.
The game says they aren't corrupted.
Blood elves AND high elves are both hooked up to the Sunwell, so to claim blood elves are corrupted would be to claim high elves are corrupted.
In fact, they should have green eyes too since OUtland is BATHED in fel energy.

Now I know you won't accept these facts, so I'll just ignore more of those dishonest claims.

[elbleuet]

Sure it does, because they have not rejected what they are, they simply acknowledge a terrible genocide happened to them.


I mean...lorthemar stating they are preserving their ways, and their ways are of WC3 and earlier, which is the ways of the high elves,. then its safe to say they consider themselves high elves in everything except name.
Do you have information that says otherwise?

Still not contradicting with what I said above, but nice try. High elves, or Quel'Dorei, are blue-eyed, untouched Alliance elves. Blood elves are green/yellow eyed, Horde elves. Where's the difficulty for you here ?

I mean...Anduin says goodbye to Saurfang in ogrimmar, I guess humans are a Horde core race?

Irrelevant comparison. Where's my song in common/dwarven/darnassian to say farewell to a Horde leader ?

Secondly., a core race is a race that is playable.

No.

Wildhammer have always been a core Alliance race since WII. They will be finally unlocked in 2020.

High elves aren't a core race for the alliance, but they are for the Horde.

Still called Blood elves, aka Sin'dorei, aka fel/light corrupted elves.

My calling it a red herring without relevance is a logical refutation. I am sorry you disagree, but someone saying bye in thalassian means literally nothing in relevance.

It does.

That's a fel corrupted elf.
Blood elves aren't felblood.

Both are fel corrupted. One is just more fel corrupted than the other.

Blood elves AND high elves are both hooked up to the Sunwell, so to claim blood elves are corrupted would be to claim high elves are corrupted.
In fact, they should have green eyes too since OUtland is BATHED in fel energy.

Then where are my blue-eyed blood elves ?

[Broflake]

Still not contradicting with what I said above, but nice try. High elves, or Quel'Dorei, are blue-eyed, untouched Alliance elves. Blood elves are green/yellow eyed, Horde elves. Where's the difficulty for you here ?

Well, let us correct a few misconceptions.
1. The high elves were present in Outland. Outland is covered in fel energy. Per the devs, fel energy turns high elves/blood elves eyes green. So, the reason high elves in Outland don't have green eyes, is purely for aesthetic purposes. After all, if just being around fel energy = green eyes for those in silvermoon, then being in Outland which is saturated in it, should give all elves green eyes. It doesnt though, so its clearly an aesthetic.
2. Blood elves have numerous blue eyed NPC's. To deny this is the same as denying gravity exists or that the earth is round.
3. High elves are not unified in allegiance as in Vanilla, you have high elves who work with the Horde. Being a high elf =/= alliance aligned as indicated in WotLK with Dalaran high elves.

So...you're wrong in what high elves are, how they look, and why they look the way they do.

Irrelevant comparison. Where's my song in common/dwarven/darnassian to say farewell to a Horde leader ?

It is the exact same thing dude. "Someone of another race spoke in this language saying farewell to someone on the other side! THIS MAKES THEM A CORE RACE!".
It is completely flimsy, and the fact that you're trying to use what language it was spoken in, is only indicative of how flimsy the argument is.

No.

Yes

https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/184544

Wildhammer have always been a core Alliance race since WII. They will be finally unlocked in 2020.

Wildhammer dwarves, are literally just dwarves. They are not a distinct sub-group of dwarf the way night elves are a distinct sub-group from high elves.
They've always been playable, the means of showing it just have not been available until now due to the coding WoW uses.

Still called Blood elves, aka Sin'dorei, aka fel/light corrupted elves.

I mean...
devs say you're wrong.
Game says you're wrong.
If you're saying light corrupted, jokes on you, high elves are connected to the sunwell. So...that means high elves and blood elves are the same, and that the race is playable on the Horde, and you shot your entire argument in the foot.

It does.

You're in denial at this point elb.

Both are fel corrupted. One is just more fel corrupted than the other.

Devs say you're wrong. Take it up with them.

Then where are my blue-eyed blood elves ?

Under the DK option.
Which means the high elf aesthetic is also taken by the blood elf one.
Which means there is no place for high elves.


All right, I'll definitely not reply to what is a bad faith argument. After all, you've chosen to literally ignore the actual information from the game, lore, and the devs.

[ddi2]

I don't see the relevance in this question.
If the devs state "you're not from Kul Tiras just because you pick a Kul Tiran", then that is it on the matter until they say otherwise. Games are limited according to coding.
I didn't address the rest of your post, its just bad faith on your part.

You don't see the "relevance" of my question so you are dodging it. I would say it's a pattern.

[baskev]

I don't actually remember that Blizzard even told anywhere that Blood Elves and High Elves are the same thing.

Blizzard nope, and ingame they have shown it.

But game director sadly said otherwise....so depends if he is true to his worth.

[elbleuet]

1. The high elves were present in Outland. Outland is covered in fel energy. Per the devs, fel energy turns high elves/blood elves eyes green. So, the reason high elves in Outland don't have green eyes, is purely for aesthetic purposes. After all, if just being around fel energy = green eyes for those in silvermoon, then being in Outland which is saturated in it, should give all elves green eyes. It doesnt though, so its clearly an aesthetic.

Then why Outland Night elves don't have green eyes ? Your fooling yourself with your own headcanons.
High elves kept their pure eyes because they chose nobility over survival (everything was good except sucking other living creatures).

Blood elves have numerous blue eyed NPC's. To deny this is the same as denying gravity exists or that the earth is round.

Bugs for the vast majority (confirmed by the devs). The Alliance also have Alliance blood elves in Telogrus Rift. And Anduin's best spy is a blood elf too.

3. High elves are not unified in allegiance as in Vanilla, you have high elves who work with the Horde. Being a high elf =/= alliance aligned as indicated in WotLK with Dalaran high elves.

Same for the blood elves. Actually, it's even worse with the blood elves. A lot of them are neutral, others are evil. Some are Alliance. Valeera even chose to betray her people to help the Alliance High king.

It is the exact same thing dude. "Someone of another race spoke in this language saying farewell to someone on the other side! THIS MAKES THEM A CORE RACE!".
It is completely flimsy, and the fact that you're trying to use what language it was spoken in, is only indicative of how flimsy the argument is.

The thing is, Blizzard wrote this song in Thalassian whereas they had plenty other Alliance languages to do so. Still not getting it ?

Wildhammer dwarves, are literally just dwarves. They are not a distinct sub-group of dwarf the way night elves are a distinct sub-group from high elves.
They've always been playable, the means of showing it just have not been available until now due to the coding WoW uses.

No. Wildhammer dwarves are still not playable.

If you're saying light corrupted, jokes on you, high elves are connected to the sunwell. So...that means high elves and blood elves are the same, and that the race is playable on the Horde, and you shot your entire argument in the foot.

Yes, blood elves and high elves are the same. I did not deny it.

Blood elves are just fel corrupted Horde elves whereas the High elves are untouched Alliance elves. That's the difference.

Under the DK option.
Which means the high elf aesthetic is also taken by the blood elf one.
Which means there is no place for high elves.

You seem to be lacking of arguments at this point. You're not getting blue-eyed blood elves anytime soon and that's a good thing.
So I'm asking you : where are my blue-eyed blood elves ?

[bobwuzhere1224]

As an aside, I don't think Sylvanas will end up being a raid boss or even killed in Shadowlands. I think she's too popular for that. What I think might happen is that she'll end up taking the Jailer's place in the Maw, becoming some sort of "master over death" entity. In this way she could never be trapped in whatever "hell" she foresaw when she leapt from Icecrown because she would become the one responsible for sticking souls in those "hells".

In this way Blizzard gets to keep using her (since she's popular) and avoid raid bossing yet another Horde faction leader. They could also then say "See? She's not Garrosh 2.0!". Obviously that's all pure speculation on my part.

As a Sylvanas fan still to this day, I just want them retcon all the retcons they stupidly chose to do.

[baskev]

It was stated by the devs that the fel effect is cosmetic only and would fade over time.
It has also been statd the sunwell would cleanse the effects.
So yes, we do know what the effects over time because a direct statement by the devs says such.

Yes, until they change it again. And who says they are not corrupted already....You do know they where are mad because the undead attacked there city...so they helped a other undead burn down a other one :S....does shown signs of corruption.

This is done purely due to game limitations bask.

Says who?
They have changed it.
And you really make me repeat the suramarc city ingame cut scene again....Its clearly states them as 3 species. and it clearly makes a difference in the looks....

Uhhh...where are you getting the 5% number?

Its not a perfect number. its a rough guess. Using the wow pedia/ingame lore about how much .
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Blood_elf#Population

Night elves and highborne are the exact same race. Its a social caste.
Azshara's body is a night elf female body with a different skin.
I am sure it will bean option in shadowlands

....... https://wow.gamepedia.com/Highborne#..._Quel.27Thalas

Nope. Night elves are closer biological to highborne then high elves.

Social wise...yeah they where much closer then other elf species.

I hope its a option for Night elves...but not for blood elves.

And if its only a different tint...why not give alliance high elves?

[Broflake]

Then why Outland Night elves don't have green eyes ? Your fooling yourself with your own headcanons.

Night elves eyes don't change color in the presence of other magic types?
If you mean high elves? Aesthetics.

High elves kept their pure eyes because they chose nobility over survival (everything was good except sucking other living creatures).

Yeah, that is headcanon.
Eye coloration relates only to the magic they are using per the devs.
So, yellow = gold
Green = fel
blue/purple = arcane

It has nothing to do with them choosing nobility, which, I am not sure how they are noble by abandoning their people to die to a scourge of undead but hey, perception is a thing.

Bugs for the vast majority (confirmed by the devs).

Sweet, provide a link then cause I have seen nothing to indicate it.
In fact, we have a dev who actuall commented about Lanesh, who has kept his appearance through several expansions now.

The Alliance also have Alliance blood elves in Telogrus Rift. And Anduin's best spy is a blood elf too.

They also use the DK blue eyes so...I guess... blood elves have blue eyes. You do realize this contradicts your earlier point then yes?

Same for the blood elves. Actually, it's even worse with the blood elves. A lot of them are neutral, others are evil.

Which means...nothing. This is a red herring. One does not change the other.
your assertion is that high elves are all alliance.
I pointed out this is false. So what relevance does this have to do with anything?

Valeera even chose to betray her people to help the Alliance High king.

This is headcanon.
Valeera identifies as a blood elf and agrees with the choices her people made. She takes absolutely no part in the alliance vs. Horde, and works only for the Wrynn family.
To declare her a traitor to her own people is false, given she goes out of her way to assist them. Her story is a bit more complicated.

The thing is, Blizzard wrote this song in Thalassian whereas they had plenty other Alliance languages to do so. Still not getting it ?

Nope, because that's like saying the U.S. is a major ally of China because shared sympathy for the events of 9/11.
This is simply a case of a high elf fan giving something more weight than it truly has, while ignoring everything else. Like when Ion said why they didn't do high elves and chose void elves instead.
We still use songs in LATIN, I guess the Roman empire isn't gone. Like come on dude.

No. Wildhammer dwarves are still not playable.

Devs word > you.
If you wish to continue your logic, then wildhammer dwarves are not playable in Shadowlands. This inconsistency is not logical.

Yes, blood elves and high elves are the same. I did not deny it.

Cool, glad you admit it.

You're not getting blue-eyed blood elves anytime soon and that's a good thing.

And?

So I'm asking you : where are my blue-eyed blood elves ?

On the Horde through the DK choice. =3

You don't see the "relevance" of my question so you are dodging it. I would say it's a pattern.

Or, maybe your statement has no relation to the discussion and is merely being made to distract.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, until they change it again. And who says they are not corrupted already....You do know they where are mad because the undead attacked there city...so they helped a other undead burn down a other one :S....does shown signs of corruption.

The corruption being discussed is in terms of their biology, not in terms of political behavior.
They are not corrupted per the devs.
Politically? Seems like it.

Says who?

Says anyone with knowledge of coding. This is not a debatable.

They have changed it.

No, they haven't.

And you really make me repeat the suramarc city ingame cut scene again....Its clearly states them as 3 species. and it clearly makes a difference in the looks....

This is a fallacy, and I am rather over refuting it.

Its not a perfect number. its a rough guess. Using the wow pedia/ingame lore about how much .
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Blood_elf#Population

Ah. Was puzzled

....... https://wow.gamepedia.com/Highborne#..._Quel.27Thalas

Nope. Night elves are closer biological to highborne then high elves.

The Highborne (or quel'dorei, meaning "children of noble birth" in Darnassian),[3] were the upper class and a sect of the ancient night elf civilization[4][5].
Its literally ON THE SAME PAGE.
Highborne ARE Night elves. They are the same exact race. It is only a SOCIAL cast.
Blood elves come from highborne who were exiled, but night elves and highborne are the SAME race.

I hope its a option for Night elves...but not for blood elves.

It is...click a night elf...choose ANYTHING...and there you go.

And if its only a different tint...why not give alliance high elves?

There is no different tint.
Let alone Blizzard literally stated why they wouldn't do high elves in their explanation of void elves.

You want something that looks different? Go void elf.
You want the high elf race? Go blood elf.

Factions offer different things, and it should stay that way.

[ddi2]

Or, maybe your statement has no relation to the discussion and is merely being made to distract.

Or maybe you literally pretended to answer it, twice, by ignoring my question which was literally a "yes/no" question about the fact from the game. You could have simply answered to it and then explained why it doesn't matter in your opinion but you didn't even want to mention it because it would have made your point look not strong as you'd have liked. I actually genuinely didn't know the answer though it's obvious to me now with all your dodging. And then you dare to accuse others of bAd FaCe. Yeah, not worth replying to you indeed. That's my last post to you.

- - - Updated - - -

Blizzard nope, and ingame they have shown it.

But game director sadly said otherwise....so depends if he is true to his worth.

Are you talking about Ion? The closest he said, as far as I know, is that High Elves are kinda Blood elves, together with Void Elves. I don't remember him telling that High Elves and Blood Elves are literally the same thing.

[SeniorJoker]

Looks cool. Better than void elves that literally appeared from nowhere. I wish also them to be upright.

[ravenmoon]

Do you have any source for that? I think it is your headcanon.

no, not headcanon, but putting two and two together from the canon lore we have. WotA tells us they are connected to the WEll, Chronicles revealed how and why, because they are made and modified by it directly although it doesn't show us how. WotA the Sundering tells us that when the 2nd well was reformed they could feel it inside.
Warcraft website articles on eye glows that tells us they glow is because of the inner power from their connection to the WEll of eternity - which I deduce to me a link to Azeroth'z arcane blood, since the glow was never lost when the first well imploded.
Several places in lore it is remarked the blood elves hold the night elves, in particular the Darnassiasn in contempt because of the power they have had and wasted by not ustilising, this refers to the Well and Moonwell and the inner power they've being squandering out of "cowardice", "superstition" and baseless "fear" - as they put it.


Meanwhile the High elves devolved, the connection and inner arcane power lost, this to me implies there were no glowing eyes as they lost immortality, lost height, lost stature, lost intelligence and became much weaker versions of their former selves. Until they found Quel'thalas and established the sunwell, they keep themselves constantly suffused with its power, they aren't made from the sunwell, and their natural connection to the WEll of Eternity is severed (this is lore), so what they have is a man made or rather elf made artificial connection (this is the deduction I make). I imagine this to mean that these elves in a weakened state require this enhancement more than ever, but it's not on the same level as the Well of Eternity, but thye make very good use of it. When the power source is destroyed by Kael'thas (lore), I deduce gone is the eye glow, for there is no arcane power charging them up, and they have no natural inner one biologically. It's dangerous for them when their well is polluted because of how connected they are to it, meanwhile when a moonwell is polluted or the Well of Eternity imploded the night elves don't lose that connection though they notice the loss keenly (this is lore in War of the ancients and in quests), because the connection is the aracne blood of the titan (the source of the Well, not the physical pooling in a location like Zin'Azshari or Hyjal).