Blood elf
- This article is about the blood elves' lore. For the playable race, see Blood elf (playable). For elves in general, see Elf.
Blood elves | |
---|---|
Artwork of a pair of blood elves by Glenn Rane | |
Faction/Affiliation | Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, Horde, Illidari, Scryers, Shattered Sun Offensive, Kirin Tor, Argent Crusade, Burning Legion, Cult of the Damned, Independent |
Character classes |
Death knight, Demon hunter, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior Druid |
Racial capital | Silvermoon City |
Racial leader(s) |
Lor'themar Theron Voren'thal the Seer |
Formerly | Kael'thas Sunstrider † |
Racial mount |
Hawkstrider Dragonhawk Mana wyrm |
Homeworld | Azeroth |
Area(s) | Azeroth, Outland, Alternate Draenor |
Language(s) | Thalassian, Darnassian, Common, Orcish |
“We must put this misery behind us. We must enter a new chapter! And so I say to you that, as of this day, we are no longer high elves! In honor of the blood that was shed throughout this kingdom, in honor of the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters, our parents, and our children, in honor of Anasterian... as of this day we will take the name of our royal lineage! As of this day, we are sin'dorei! For Quel'Thalas!”
- — Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider proclaims the rise of the blood elves[4]
The blood elves (or sin'dorei, "children of the blood" in Thalassian — pronounced [ˈsiːndɔraɪ], [siːnˈdɔraɪ] or [siːndɔreɪ]) are high elves who changed their name after the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas.[5] Their new name is a dirge, referencing both the blood of their many brethren who fell during the Third War, and their royal lineage.[4][6]
For nearly 7,000 years, high elven society centered on the sacred Sunwell, a magical fount that was created using a vial of pure arcane energy from the first Well of Eternity. Nourished and strengthened by its potent energies, the enchanted kingdom of Quel'Thalas prospered within the verdant forests north of Lordaeron. During the Third War, however, the high elves were nearly scoured from Azeroth. Led by the death knight Arthas Menethil, a Scourge army stormed into Quel'Thalas, slaughtering almost ninety percent of the kingdom's population. Arthas then used the mystical Sunwell to resurrect the fallen necromancer Kel'Thuzad, irrevocably tainting the fount in the process. Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider rushed to his homeland's aid, and the survivors of the onslaught were renamed the "blood elves" in honor of their fallen people.[7] The corrupted Sunwell was destroyed, but the elves had grown addicted to its energies over the years and were left weakened and despondent without them. Kael'thas assured his brethren that he would find them a cure, and left Quel'Thalas in the hands of his regent, Lor'themar Theron, while he traveled to avenge his people and find a way to sate their hunger for magic.
The blood elves strove to rebuild Quel'Thalas and reclaimed much of their land from the Scourge. Kael'thas had assured his people that one day he would return to Quel'Thalas and lead them to paradise, yet time revealed that his promises were nothing more than lies. On Outland, the prince became twisted due to his reliance on fel energy, the dark and corrupting essence wielded by the demonic Burning Legion itself. Unbeknownst to his ally, Illidan Stormrage, Kael'thas also came under the sway of the Legion's supreme commander, Kil'jaeden. The prince ultimately returned to Quel'Thalas, seeking to usher his new master into Azeroth through a Sunwell restored but defiled; nonetheless, he was killed for his treachery before his cataclysmic ambitions could be fulfilled.
Following the battle for Quel'Danas, Prophet Velen of the draenei used the essence of the naaru M'uru to purify the Sunwell as a fount of both arcane and holy energy.[8] Inspired by the Sunwell's rebirth, the blood elves have since entered into a shining new era in their ancient race's history. Although some elves remain hesitant to abandon their dependence on arcane magic, others have embraced change for the betterment of Quel'Thalas.[5] Despite the numerous tragedies of their past, the blood elves continue to stand strong and endure, tenaciously striving to restore their beloved nation's past glory.[9] Reinvigorated, they fight to protect Quel'Thalas, conquer their magical addiction, and help redeem the soul of their ancient people.[10]
History
- Main article: High elf
In the centuries following the War of the Ancients, the night elves adopted druidism and outlawed the practice of arcane magic, which became punishable by death. However, many Highborne who survived the Great Sundering grew restless, since they viewed magic as their birthright and suffered from magical withdrawal. At their head, Dath'Remar Sunstrider chafed at the restrictions that weighed on his kind, and eventually, he and his followers began to practice the arcane arts without fear or restraint, daring the other night elves to act. Around 7,300 BDP, the night elves could not bring themselves to put so many of their kin to death, so they decided to exile the reckless Highborne from their lands and barred them from setting foot on Mount Hyjal ever again, cutting them off from the Well of Eternity's energies. Most of the Highborne happily accepted their banishment, glad to be rid of their conservative cousins and free to practice the arcane with impunity.[11] Under Dath'Remar's guidance, the Highborne built a fleet of mighty ships and set sail upon the seas until they made landfall on a new continent some years later, which would one day become known as the Eastern Kingdoms.[12]
When they finally reached the nexus of ley lines they had been seeking since their arrival, Dath'Remar poured a vial of water from the Well of Eternity into a small lake at the center of the nexus. A brilliant fount of energy tore through the skies of Azeroth, and the Highborne dubbed this glorious cradle of power the Sunwell; a name chosen in honor of Dath'Remar and his bold quest to reignite their culture. They called their new land Quel'Thalas or "High Home" in Thalassian, and declared that it would dwarf the night elves' civilization and stand as a monument for the ages.[13] In time, they would even be known by a new name: high elves, and from that point on, all had access to the Sunwell's powers from anywhere on Azeroth. Over time, the Sunwell's unique energies became part of them acutely and they came to regard its waters as holy.[14] The elves then prospered for thousands of years in their enchanted kingdom, under the rule of the Sunstrider dynasty and the Convocation of Silvermoon. Although they were constantly warred with a grudging foe, the Amani trolls of Zul'Aman, who had been displaced from the land by the elves' Highborne ancestors - Quel'Thalas stood strong for 7,000 years to come.
Fall of Quel'Thalas
- Main article: Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas
During the Third War, Arthas Menethil led his army of the Scourge against the elven kingdom, ravaging Quel'Thalas and corrupting the Sunwell. Despite the elves' best efforts, most of the high elven population was eradicated during this conflict. The elven scion, Kael'thas Sunstrider, quickly rushed to the aid of his homeland to rally the survivors. He surveyed Silvermoon City's ruins and attended his father's funeral, succeeding him as leader of a kingdom on the brink of extinction. The surviving elves greeted their prince with thinly veiled resentment, and Kael'thas made no excuses for being absent in Quel'Thalas's hour of need.[15] In remembrance of their fallen brethren, the survivors renamed themselves the blood elves, or sin'dorei ("children of the blood" in Thalassian), and swore to avenge their fallen race. However, the greatest danger to the sin'dorei was not the Scourge remnants, but the Sunwell itself. Given enough time, the necromantic energies would kill them all, and the prince painfully concluded that the Sunwell, the heart of their society, had to be destroyed. With the aid of the most powerful remaining magi, who had come to the same conclusion, Kael'thas executed a plan that would irrevocably change the fate of his people, and succeeded in destroying the Sunwell through a great ritual.[4] Though he had saved his people from continued exposure to the dark energy, the destruction of the Sunwell resulted in a withdrawal-based lethargy for the elven race. In the end, only about ten percent of the entire race survived the genocide.[5]
Desperate for aid following the Third War, the blood elves joined the Alliance resistance. Kael'thas commanded his regent, Lor'themar Theron, to safeguard the elven homeland, and Halduron Brightwing was named the new Ranger-general of Silvermoon and general blood elf military leader. Prince Kael'thas himself took 15% of the blood elven race, including some of his most powerful and gifted magisters, to join with the Alliance resistance fighting in the equally destroyed Lordaeron.[16] However, this tenuous alliance would not last, and the blood elves came under the bigoted scrutiny of one Grand Marshal Garithos, a human who had felt wronged by the high elves' conduct in the past. The grand marshal consistently gave the blood elves either meager tasks beneath their capabilities, or worse, suicidal missions devoid of reinforcements, in order to rid himself of the sin'dorei.[17] Kael'thas and his forces were offered aid from an unlikely source: the naga under Lady Vashj, who shared a common ancestry with the elves and a common enemy in the Scourge. When Garithos discovered this alliance, the blood elves were imprisoned in the Dungeons of Dalaran and sentenced to death for "conspiring with the enemy". However, Kael'thas and his soldiers escaped the prisons of Dalaran with the aid of the naga.[18]
In the extra-dimensional wastes of Outland, the remnants of Draenor, Kael'thas beseeched Illidan Stormrage for a cure to the blood elves' addiction to magic. The Betrayer had a different proposal in mind, though: in return for the blood elves' loyalty, he would teach them to drain magic from powerful alternative sources, including demons.[19] It was an offer Kael'thas felt he had to accept; he was certain his people would die without either a cure or a new source of magic.[20] These teachings spread to the other blood elves in Outland, who were then able to stave off their painful hunger for arcane magic. Together with their allies the naga, Illidan led the blood elves to conquer Outland. They later followed Illidan to the Icecrown Glacier in an attempt to destroy the Lich King; however, they were defeated by Arthas who wounded Illidan with Frostmourne, forcing the blood elves and naga to retreat.[21][22] During the battles in Northrend, several of the deceased blood elves, including the powerful bearer of Quel'Delar, Lana'thel, were raised into undeath by Arthas, to serve him as his "San'layn".[23]
In Quel'Thalas, the blood elves were undergoing their own tribulations. Retaking their homeland seemed a daunting task, as the Scourge was still occupying it in large numbers, and the kingdom was still a wasteland. Weakened by their addiction to magic, the general blood elf populace relied heavily on the Farstriders for protection, who were relatively unaffected by the withdrawal.[4] The essence of the Sunwell, a woman named Anveena Teague, was kidnapped by Dar'Khan Drathir (who had sold his people out to Arthas during the Scourge invasion) and brought to Quel'Thalas. Lor'themar and the rangers attempted to avenge the Sunwell's destruction by killing Dar'Khan but were unsuccessful in the face of his dark magic. They ultimately allied with the blue dragon Kalecgos and his companions, and succeeded in eliminating Dar'Khan for the time being. Lor'themar put Anveena under sin'dorei protection, her status as the Sunwell's mortal avatar to be kept a closely guarded secret.[24][25]
Rise of the sin'dorei
In time, Prince Kael'thas sent back Grand Magister Rommath and a group of magisters to Quel'Thalas, to spread Illidan's teachings (smoothly attributed to Kael) and to reclaim Quel'Thalas with their powerful magic. They also passed a message of hope for the survivors, that one day Kael'thas would return to lead his people to paradise. Invigorated by the formidable new techniques at their disposal, such as forcibly taking the magic and power of arcane-bearing creatures, the blood elves were able to retake much of Eversong Woods and even restore much of Silvermoon City. Unlike their brethren on Outland, the blood elves of Azeroth employed this technique only on mana crystals and small mana-bearing vermin.[26] Others were not content with this and traveled south to the Ghostlands in order to drive the undead from Quel'Thalas. The blood elves were encouraged to deal with their magical addiction sensibly and with good judgment, to walk the line between deficiency and overindulgence.[4] The remaining Scourge eventually proved little match for the Magisters, who then rebuilt the city "almost overnight." Emboldened by the notion of the prince's promised return to lead his people to power and glory, the blood elves began to focus on regaining all of their homeland and their strength to this end.[7]
Meanwhile, the blood elves in Outland under Prince Kael'thas dispersed—most, such as the powerful Sunfury forces, remained with the prince and took over the mana-rich area of the Netherstorm. Others, such as the Eclipsion, traveled to serve Illidan Stormrage's ambitions in Shadowmoon Valley. Several were trained as demon hunters under the Betrayer himself. They were sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. Some were trained in the arts of war, others were simple artisans, but one thing they had in common was the hatred that burned in their souls. They had all lost someone to the Legion and they were all consumed by a need for vengeance. Each were forced to eat the flesh of a demon and bind their spirit with the creature. The elves transformed, sprouting horns and wings much like Illidan's, and from that point on, each demon hunter would fight an inner struggle against the monster that lurked in their soul. The success rate of this training was mixed: some were driven to insanity, while others fully succeeded in their training and became elite members of Illidan's retinue.[27]
When Illidan decided to strike against Shattrath City, believing the naaru's holdings could threaten his own sovereignty over Outland,[28] he left the matter to Prince Kael'thas and his blood elves. Under the leadership of Voren'thal the Seer, an elder magister and advisor to the prince, a Sunfury contingent moved towards Shattrath City. En route to the battle, Voren'thal was struck by a vision that forever changed him: his homeland of Quel'Thalas, restored to its golden glory by the grace of a radiant light; and his people, at last freed from the shackles of addiction and despair, their torments eased by the naaru from whence flowed this Holy Light. The magister shared this vision with his followers, who began to consider that their race's salvation lay not with their increasingly volatile prince or the capricious Betrayer, but with the very naaru they'd been commanded to slay. As the regiment of blood elves approached Shattrath, the unexpected happened - the blood elves put down their weapons before the Aldor defenders. During an audience with the naaru A'dal, Voren'thal pledged himself and his followers to the cause of the Sha'tar. The defection of Voren'thal and his followers was the largest loss ever incurred by Kael'thas' forces. Many of the strongest and brightest amongst Kael'thas' scholars and magisters had been swayed by Voren'thal's influence. They became known as the Scryers.[29]
Publicly, Kael'thas condemned the act as treason and an attack on his sovereignty as prince. Privately, he saw Voren'thal's defection as evidence of his own failure. This incident widened the rift between the prince and the Lord of Outland, who paid little attention to Voren'thal's army. Under the influence of Kil'jaeden, Kael'thas lost all faith in his former master and looked to the demon lord as a new benefactor. The prince knew that he should not trust the Burning Legion, especially after what it had done to his kingdom, but he could not resist the temptation of fel magic. In return, Kil'jaeden granted the prince what he sought most: more knowledge about using fel magic, but also promised him salvation for his people and ultimate power.[30] In secret, Kael'thas began harvesting the great power coursing through the Netherstorm, and his judgment—and actions—became increasingly callous, notably when he ordered the slaughter of the people of Kirin'Var Village.[31]
Despite his allegiance to Kil'jaeden, Kael'thas still cared for his people and decided that the naaru M'uru he captured at Tempest Keep power could sate the elves' cravings for magic. However, his people had mixed feelings and were troubled by the idea of leeching energy from a being of the Holy Light. Others experimented on it for months until they learned how to force out its holy energies to wield the Light themselves. In addition to their traditional Magisters and Farstriders, the blood elves expanded their power base with the Blood Knights, a group of paladins under the lead of Lady Liadrin.[4][32]
Having rebuilt much of their kingdom, the blood elves looked to finding new allies. They had once been part of the Alliance of Lordaeron, but the Alliance no longer cared to defend Quel'Thalas.[7] The blood elves were offered aid from an unexpected source: the free-willed Forsaken undead, one of several established powers battling in ruined Lordaeron, reached out to the bewildered and overstretched sin'dorei. The blood elves were initially wary of their intentions, fearing a trick; but the elves eventually acquiesced, as no one else was willing to fight for Quel'Thalas at all.[7][33] Since their induction in the Horde, the Forsaken have been working closely with the blood elves to purge the greater phalanxes of Scourge presence from the Ghostlands. Lor'themar Theron was Sylvanas Windrunner's second in command during the Scourge invasion, and many Forsaken were high elves culled from the same battle. Their aid included reinforcements, a number of outposts in and around the reclaimed blood elf territories, and a teleportation device between the Undercity and Silvermoon. Sylvanas herself later claimed to have retained a great love for her homeland and its people.[34]
World of Warcraft
A few years after the Third War, some blood elves continued to leave Quel'Thalas and travel across Azeroth. Some like Ferelyn Bloodscorn joined the ranks of the Argent Dawn,[35] others for their own interests. An expedition led by Magus Rimtori notably traveled to Azshara searching for a rune, hiring and later betraying several orcish guards of the Horde.[36]
The blood elf Lethtendris was drawn to Dire Maul and created a device to gather magical power that siphoned the energies of the place, in order to satisfy her cravings for arcane magic and ultimately destroy her enemies.[37] Master Telmius Dreamseeker himself was incinerated by Prince Tortheldrin while trying to gain knowledge from the Shen'dralar ancients found within the place.[38]
In the Blasted Lands, Ambassador Ardalan tried to convince the Alliance to put aside their "petty squabbles" with the Horde, and to instead unite with them against the Burning Legion.[39] The two siblings Drazial and Lynnore were also found in the Blasted Lands handing out quests to adventurers.
The night elf Gershala Nightwhisper was worried that by toiling with demonic magic, the blood elves would mutate further than they already did. Wishing to avoid the rise of another vile race of monsters, he studied the brain stems of naga and satyr so that he might deduce what fate the elves were headed toward.[40]
The Burning Crusade
Although the sin'dorei were able to reclaim much of Quel'Thalas, Quel'Thalas was still in turmoil with packs of undead roaming the land, while the technique of taking magic from external sources resulted in the birth of the wretched, a small offshoot of undead-esque, disorganized magical addicts who were unable to keep their withdrawal in check. Their presence became a reminder to the blood elves of the importance of controlling their magical addiction.[41] To make matters worse, Kael'thas Sunstrider had still not returned from Outland and Lor'themar could not leave Quel'Thalas undefended to launch a campaign to assist the prince on Outland. The blood elves were caught in the throes of constant combat: with the Scourge presence emanating from Deatholme on one hand and continued raids and attacks coming from the Amani trolls, who maintain their own holdings within Zul'Aman on the other.
Quel'Thalas needed allies, and the answer came from an unexpected source, Sylvanas, who introduced Lor'themar to the reformed Horde, which the Forsaken owed allegiance to, and arranged Warchief Thrall and High Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof to meet with the regent lord. Despite the elves' history of warfare with the orcs, Lor'themar was receptive to the idea. He knew the modern Horde was different than the one that had ravaged Quel'Thalas in years past. He was also painfully aware that time was running out for both his people and his prince, and Quel'Thalas would not survive without allies. At the same time, Thrall and Cairne saw great promise in the blood elves who had proved their courage and resolve to protect their kingdom from the Scourge. They also believed that helping the blood elves would be an act of honor: like many races of the Horde, the sin'dorei were a people brought near to extinction and were trapped in a struggle between restoring their once-glorious kingdom and their addiction to magic. This alliance allowed the Horde to gain another foothold on the Eastern Kingdoms and the blood elven mastery of the arcane to their arsenal, while the Horde's support would allow the blood elves to reach their missing prince on Outland.[42]
However, the Scourge under the control of the resurrected Dar'Khan Drathir prevented the blood elves from becoming full members of the Horde. The Betrayer of Quel'Thalas was ultimately neutralized, thanks to the combined efforts of the Magisters and Farstriders, along with support from the Forsaken, while his head was sent to Regent Lord Lor'themar.[43] Concurrent with failed negotiations with the Alliance,[44] and night elven incursions into Quel'Thalas,[45] several ambassadors were sent to and from Silvermoon, and Dar'Khan's death allowed the sin'dorei to take an equal seat at the Horde's political table.[46] Consequently, Quel'Thalas began to find its footing once again. Rommath and the magisters quickly went about silencing any dissidents speaking against the new direction Silvermoon was taking, and the blood elves enforced what bordered on a totalitarian police state to better keep their people united.
Nevertheless, antagonists from the past soon re-emerged. The troll warlord Zul'jin, still embittered by the orcs' abandonment of their siege of the elves' high home during the Second War (and the New Horde's subsequent acceptance of the same elves into their ranks), turned against his former allies. Within the walled fortress of Zul'Aman, largely untouched by the Scourge onslaught, Zul'jin directed the Hex Lord Malacrass to infuse the spirits of ancient animal gods into living troll warriors. Once again, the fearsome troll army was defeated, and Zul'jin himself was killed in the conflict. The sin'dorei would not be troubled again by their old enemy for years to come.[47]
Fury of the Sunwell
More blood elves from Quel'Thalas began their travels into Outland, urging their Horde allies (whom both Lor'themar and Rommath had enticed with the notion of uncorrupted orcs still holding a presence there)[48] to do so too.[47] However, what awaited them was not the paradise that was promised, but the barren wasteland of Hellfire. After dismantling his presence in the Netherstorm, Kael's switch of allegiance was uncovered by the Scryers, and the prince himself was cornered in Tempest Keep. He was defeated, left for dead, yet Kael'thas clung to life. The prince appeared before the leader of the Sha'tar, the naaru A'dal, and berated him for not finishing the job. Announcing his loyalties to all those present, Kael'thas resolved to usher Kil'jaeden into Azeroth.[49]
Silvery moon, washed in blood, led astray into the night, armed with sword of broken Light. Broken, then betrayed by one, standing there bestride the sun. At the darkest hour, redemption comes, in knightly lady sworn to blood.
The mad prince returned to Quel'Thalas and briefly attacked Silvermoon with his felblood minions. Retaking M'uru from its chambers, Kael'thas set the stage for his final stand on the Isle of Quel'Danas. He also spirited Anveena away from her undisclosed location in Quel'Thalas, and leeched both her and M'uru's powers to restore the Sunwell, performing a ritual fortified by the arcane energies harvested from the Netherstorm.[8] Lady Liadrin witnessed her prince's attack on Silvermoon herself; and now without a power source for the Blood Knights, she traveled to Shattrath to meet with A'dal. She learned that M'uru had resigned himself to this fate a long time ago, and pledged the blades of the Blood Knights to ending the prince's dark ambitions, and restoring Silvermoon to its glory.[50]
The Shattered Sun Offensive, a coalition of the Scryers' blood elves and the Aldor's draenei, marched to liberate Quel'Danas. Prior to this turn of events, the prophet Velen foretold the revelations to come, tied to the sin'dorei and their fate. Kael'thas made his final stand in the Magisters' Terrace, little more than a shadow of his former self, reduced to a wretched himself. He was cut down, and the Shattered Sun Offensive took the battle to the Sunwell - now occupied by the most powerful blood elves under Kael's command, the Shadowsword, allowed to gorge themselves upon unlimited fel power, and defeated them, along with their Burning Legion allies. Ultimately, the heroes relieved the Sunwell from the Legion and banished Kil'jaeden back to the Twisting Nether.[8]
After the encounter involving Kil'jaeden, the Sunwell was once more fouled by corruptive energies. The tainted well threatened to engulf both the blood elves and their kingdom, and Quel'Thalas' regent was forced to consider destroying it, as Kael'thas had done years before. However, Prophet Velen and Lady Liadrin appeared on the scene shortly afterwards, and the draenei prophet presented another solution: Velen recovered M'uru's heart, alone unblemished in the naaru's fall to the void, and cast the small flickering "spark" into the Sunwell. With that, the Sunwell was cleansed,[8] and a huge pillar of light emerged from the fount, to which Velen declared: "In time, the light and hope within, will rebirth more than this mere fount of power... Mayhap - they will rebirth the soul of a nation."[51]
Inspired by the Sunwell's rebirth, the blood elves have since entered into a shining new era in their ancient race's history. Although some elves remained hesitant to abandon their dependence on arcane magic, others embraced change for the betterment of Quel'Thalas. Yet only time would tell if the blood elves can avoid repeating the tragic mistakes of their past.[5] The blood elves no longer required draining magic to keep in good health, and their crippling addiction is sated once more, if not conquered completely. With the Sunwell's rebirth, the Blood Knights have engaged in a far more harmonious relationship with the Light, which they now channel directly through the Sunwell itself, wielding the Light in a healthy way, instead of dominating it.[52][53] They have resolved to embrace their new source of power, as they forge for themselves a new identity as they lead their people into a more promising future.[47]
Interregnum
With the betrayal and death of Kael'thas, power passed to his regent, under whom the sin'dorei have turned to for leadership in their prince's place. Regent-Lord Lor'themar resolved to see his people conquer their addiction completely. Rather than proclaim a new elven dynasty (which he claims neither he nor any other elf has a right to do), Lor'themar opted to retain his title of regent lord, despite his kingly side being encouraged by his ranger-general Halduron Brightwing. With no surviving members of the Sunstrider dynasty, Lor'themar thus became the sole ruler of Quel'Thalas.
During this period, the blood elves fortified Quel'Danas, keeping it well-guarded and not open to visitations. Halduron Brightwing now controls access to the revitalized Sunwell, and the sin'dorei remain ever vigilant. Lor'themar attempted to mend bridges with what remains of his quel'dorei cousins, allowing them access to the sacred Sunwell and offering the exiled inhabitants of a certain lodge aid and supplies. These attempts varied in success, the former making pilgrimages to Quel'Thalas and the latter outright declining any assistance.[33]
Kael's decision to ally himself with the Burning Legion, attack Silvermoon City in an attempt to steal M'uru, and forcibly put the few pilgrims who reached Outland into harsh labor,[54] effectively severed the ties of loyalty to the twisted prince for all but the most damningly fanatical sin'dorei.[55] Following Kael'thas' demise, a number of the Sunfury forces returned home to serve their people, rather than follow in Kael's increasingly dark path. Quel'Thalas has since branded Kael'thas a traitor, though the ramifications of this monumental betrayal have shaken its leadership to the core.
Shortly after the reclamation of Quel'Danas, the Lich King turned his gaze towards conquest. Though Lor'themar was apprehensive about committing to another battle so soon after the events that transpired on Quel'Danas, with Sylvanas Windrunner's own brand of insistence the sin'dorei agreed to fight alongside their allies in a renewed Northrend campaign to finally end the Lich King and avenge Quel'Thalas.[33]
Wrath of the Lich King
During the war against the Lich King, the blood elves accompanied the Warsong Offensive into Northrend. Archmage Aethas Sunreaver, a powerful blood elven member of the Council of Six, was instrumental in allowing the Horde a sanctuary in the magical city of Dalaran, and his followers, the Sunreavers, sought to have blood elves admitted as members of the Kirin Tor.[33] The Sunreavers sent numerous battle-mages to the Horde capital cities, in order to allow their allies quick travel to Wintergrasp Fortress.
During the Argent Tournament in Icecrown, the Sunreavers represented the Horde champions, and several blood elves including the Blood Knight champion, Malithas Brightblade, fought during the tournament. An ancient quel'dorei blade known as Quel'Delar was soon discovered sheathed in the snow outside the tournament grounds. Its owner, Thalorien Dawnseeker, had perished valiantly during the Scourge invasion, wielding the blade in defense of the Sunwell.[56] It was later retrieved by Thalorien's good friend, Lana'thel, who accompanied Prince Kael'thas into Northrend, where she wielded Quel'Delar against Arthas himself. However, she was cut down and raised into undeath. Now as the Blood-Queen of the San'layn, a fallen sect of vampiric darkfallen from that fateful expedition now forced to serve Arthas' will, Lana'thel reappeared and shattered Quel'Delar in an effort to sever all ties of emotion to it. The onlooking elves swore to see it restored.[57]
The journey to purify Quel'Delar ultimately led heroes to the Sunwell, where they were admitted entry once Ranger General Halduron Brightwing gave his permission. Within, Lor'themar, Rommath, and Liadrin were seen, along with Auric Sunchaser and groups of elven pilgrims. The purification of Quel'Delar - which varies from near-death for a non-blood elf and all-around praise for a sin'dorei - ended with the reforged blade taken back to Dalaran. Liadrin publicly encouraged her brethren to completely conquer their addiction to magic, using the Sunwell to sustain them on this quest.[58]
Blood-Queen Lana'thel and her San'layn minions would ultimately perish during the battle in Icecrown Citadel, and the Lich King himself would follow suit.[59] At long last, the blood elves had achieved their goal of seeing the despoiler of Quel'Thalas fall.
Cataclysm
Though relatively unhurt by the Cataclysm, the blood elves of Quel'Thalas were still dealing with sating their addiction. With the encouragement of their Regent Lord, Lor'themar Theron, and the renewed Sunwell's holy energy, a great number of the sin'dorei have resolved to overcome the magical addiction that had plagued their race, though some are still hesitant to abandon their dependence on arcane magic. Over time, the Sunwell's Light could cure the blood elves of their cursed state, but some still cling to the arcane powers they procured and are hesitant to relinquish them. As ever, the sin'dorei fight to protect Quel'Thalas, and to help redeem the soul of their ancient people.[10] Lor'themar, who had weathered many of the kingdom's darkest days, fittingly will be the one to lead his people into a prosperous future.[5]
Under the leadership of High Examiner Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher, an ancient order known as the Reliquary resurfaced to support Quel'Thalas and its Horde allies. With the goal of acquiring powerful magical artifacts for the safekeeping, and to free the elves of their magical addiction for good, the agents of the Reliquary established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.[60] Tae'thelan's goal is somewhat similar to the stated ambition of the Blood Knight matriarch, Lady Liadrin, who has also resolved to see her people overcome the baneful addiction that had so weakened them in the absence of the restored Sunwell.[61] The Reliquary soon held a presence in various zones, including the Badlands, the Blasted Lands, Uldaman and at least some degree of Uldum.
Since their expulsion from night elf society was due to their use of magic, the blood elves were outraged to hear that the kaldorei had welcomed the Highborne back and were tolerating the practice of arcane magic again. After witnessing the "rookie" mistakes made by the new kaldorei magi, however, the blood elves are anxiously awaiting whatever mess the kaldorei are going to put themselves in.[62]
A number of blood elves also took a more active role within the wider Horde. Garrosh Hellscream himself held court with several representatives of Silvermoon, and the Blood Knight Master Pyreanor was referred to as one of the Warchief's personal advisors.[63] Envoy Sheelah and Guardian Menerin were sent to Ashenvale to support the Warsong Clan, though enemy agents were able to interrupt their plans.[64] Several sin'dorei have carved out a considerable rank in the army sent to conquer the Stonetalon Mountains, such as General Salaman, Spy-Mistress Anara, and Master Assassin Kel'istra. Subjugator Devo gained the loyalty of the Boulderslide Kobolds, and used them to reinforce Overlord Krom'gar's forces against the Alliance.[65] Following the death of Furien at the hands of the Alliance in Desolace, his bereaved sister Cerelia claimed revenge - which culminated in the eradication of Nijel's Point.[66] In Azshara, several blood elves were found learning more about their heritage from the ancient elven ruins, and Andorel Sunsworn coordinated the forced removal of the lingering night elves in the area.[67]
A retelling of elven history concerning the Crystal of Zin-Malor could be undertaken in Winterspring, addressing the intertwining plights of the Highborne,[68] their fallen quel'dorei descendants,[69] and the recent venture of a blood elf Farstrider regiment, all of whom met their end on the icy shores of Lake Kel'Theril.[70] Their stories were told through the lingering Kaldorei Spirit, Quel'dorei Spirit, and Sin'dorei Spirit.
With the threat of a new troll empire brewing within Zul'Aman, the Ranger General Halduron Brightwing has called upon the support Vereesa could offer, to which she gladly accepted, though Lor'themar was less than pleased with this decision. Later, Halduron and a regiment of Farstriders were found on the outskirts of Zul'Aman, securing the area and conversing with both the Darkspear Chieftain Vol'jin and Vereesa Windrunner.[71]
Tides of War
With the war between the Horde and Alliance reaching boiling levels, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream sought to make his expansionist dreams a reality, beginning (but not ending) with Theramore Isle. The blood elves were viewed as an essential part of the Horde, due in part to their considerable technological advancement, particularly their fearsome mana bomb technology. At the same time, Regent Lord Lor'themar distanced himself from the thumb of Sylvanas Windrunner, in contrast to his almost subservient attitude post-Quel'Danas. Instead, he gained favor and respect from Garrosh Hellscream, while keeping himself at a safe distance from the Warchief, too. The Regent Lord stated that the blood elves are loyal to the Horde that took them in when no one else would, and that loyalty to Garrosh, being its leader, was a result of that, not the cause.[72]
Lor'themar and Halduron Brightwing later decided to send Kelantir Bloodblade and two ships of sin'dorei warriors to fight in Garrosh's war against Theramore.[73] However, Kelantir was ultimately assassinated after gravitating more towards the views of Vol'jin and Baine Bloodhoof, openly questioning Garrosh's methods.[74]
The blood elves of Dalaran, now an official part of the Kirin Tor after the Sunreavers' successful efforts to have them readmitted as members, found themselves undergoing their own intrigues: Aethas and Rhonin chose to allow a contingent of Kirin Tor magi to aid Theramore as a deterrent,[75] but the mage the two nominated for the task—Thalen Songweaver—was revealed to be Garrosh's spy, with knowledge of the theft of the Focusing Iris.[76] Thalen created a mana bomb for the Warchief which, augmented by the power of the iris, was dropped over Theramore, utterly annihilating it. Thalen's treachery was a blow to Aethas' cause.[77]
Mists of Pandaria
In Pandaria, blood elven history could be seen with Lorewalker Cho, who made several observations as he viewed figures of the blood elves, their high elven forefathers, and their night elven ancestors, taking special note of the suffering the race had gone through in recent times, the reason behind the blood elves' moniker, the great power the race wields, and the burdens that had come with it.[78]
During the course of the Alliance-Horde war, the blood elves joined the Horde's war effort with Regent Lord Theron himself leading a retinue of Farstriders and Blood Knights. The Reliquary had also been deployed, dispersing to uncover secrets long-hidden on the continent.[79] However, relations between the sin'dorei and the Horde become strained due to multiple instances of the blood elves' welfare being disregarded by Warchief Garrosh Hellscream,[80] culminating in Lor'themar contemplating pulling Quel'Thalas out of the faction and rejoining their old allies of the Alliance.[81]
As Lor'themar and King Varian Wrynn began the negotiations, however, the Sunreavers (whose ranks included agents of Garrosh Hellscream willing to risk their neutrality for his sake)[82] were violently expelled by Jaina Proudmoore during the Purge of Dalaran, who declared the Kirin Tor's allegiance to the Alliance. In retaliation, Grand Magister Rommath assaulted Dalaran in an effort to rescue Aethas Sunreaver and the Sunreavers. He succeeded in his mission, coming to the aid of many wounded Sunreavers,[83][84] forewarning those unaware of the danger, and freeing Aethas himself from the Violet Citadel.[85] In the aftermath of this, the Sunreavers came to hold Garrosh as responsible for their removal from Dalaran as Jaina herself. Though Jaina's purge ended the negotiations with the Alliance and forced the sin'dorei back to Hellscream's Horde, Lor'themar was incensed at Garrosh regardless, and relations between them fell apart. Consequently, the regent lord ordered Halduron and Rommath to assemble the rangers and magisters and stated that the time had come for the sin'dorei to take matters into their own hands.[85]
On the Isle of Thunder, Lor'themar led the Sunreaver Onslaught, which gathered members from the Blood Knights, the spellbreakers, the Farstriders, the Magisters, the Reliquary, and obviously the Sunreavers. The assault was directed to counteract the Thunder King and their Zandalari allies, but also to recoup all useful titanic artifacts from the mogu in order to guarantee their survival during the Horde's crisis.[86] The blood elves came on three destroyers and managed to build the Dawnseeker Promontory, thanks to the efforts of Scout Captain Elsia.[87] As the war raged, the sin'dorei forces managed to break the wall of the Throne of Thunder.[88] With the Shado-Pan Assault, they took control of the Thunder Forges[89] and tried to prevent the resurrection of Nalak,[90] while confronting the Kirin Tor Offensive.[91][92]
After Horde agents defeated the Dark Animus and secured its power source within a crystal, Archmage Aethas and his magi were tasked with uncovering the secrets behind the origin of the animus golems' powers, allowing the elves to empower functional blood golems of their own.[93] The animus' power was adequate leverage for Lor'themar, who had sought to find powerful weapons on the isle to prepare for an uprising against Garrosh Hellscream.[94]
By the end of the war, Lor'themar pledged his forces to the Darkspear Rebellion against Garrosh and the True Horde. During the Siege of Orgrimmar, they took control of Bladefist Bay and made contact with Vol'jin. The mad warchief and his forces were eventually defeated by the combined forces of the Horde rebels and the Alliance. When Thrall made Vol'jin the new warchief of the Horde, the regent lord pledged his loyalty to him alongside the other Horde leaders.[95]
Warlords of Draenor
This section is a lore stub. |
During the war in Draenor, the blood elven Sunsworn force traveled to Draenor under Lady Liadrin's command. They fought with the Auchenai in defense of Auchindoun and Shattrath.
The Reliquary also made their way to Draenor, where Examiner Remy Starminder and his excavators were tasked with using this once-in-a-lifetime chance to acquire the lost artifacts of power on the continent, though they were soon clashing with the Explorers' League and Steamwheedle Preservation Society on Ashran, the former in search of an ancient artifact and the latter over the ethics of hoarding magical items versus selling them for profit.[96]
Legion
At the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, blood elf demon hunters belonging to the Illidari made their return, having been sent on a mission by Illidan Stormrage some ten years beforehand during the invasion of Outland. Like their night elf counterparts, their demonic features and heavy reliance on fel magic have caused them to be frowned upon by their people, but their great powers proved invaluable in the battle against the Legion.[97][98]
Following the disastrous Battle for Broken Shore, Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing led the Farstriders to Trueshot Lodge, pledging their aid to the new leader of the Unseen Path following their inauguration.[99] Meanwhile, Lady Liadrin pledged the Blood Knights to the reformed Order of the Silver Hand and its Highlord.[100] Despite their strained relations since the Purge of Dalaran, several Magisters also joined the ranks of the Tirisgarde, as Esara Verrinde stated that she would ensure that they would support the reformed order to fight the demons.[101]
During the Nightfallen rebellion, Lady Liadrin and Grand Magister Rommath led the blood elf forces to Suramar to support the Nightfallen rebels in their attempt to reclaim the city from the Burning Legion. A formal, if tense, truce was later made between the Horde forces and Alliance troops led by Vereesa Windrunner and Tyrande Whisperwind.[102] In time, the combined elven army fought its way to the foot of the Nighthold itself, where the kaldorei, sin'dorei, quel'dorei and shal'dorei rebels were confronted by Grand Magistrix Elisande. As she turned to address Liadrin, Elisande expressed her disappointment that of all the elves she thought they would understand her choices, but insted, allied with "misfits and monsters". The Magistrix of Suramar then unleashed her time magic, trapping the entire elven army in a time stasis.[103] They were later freed after Elisande's defeat at the hands of the adventurers.
At some point, a group of blood elf scholars led by Magister Umbric was exiled from Silvermoon for their experimentation with the Void. After an altercation with void ethereals, Umbric and his brethren were transformed into void elves.[104] Alleria Windrunner, the first mortal to succeed at mastering the Void, came to the aid of her kin and taught the void elves how to control the shadows. Through her, they pledged their newfound powers to the Alliance and made Telogrus Rift their new base of operations.[105] A few Silvermoon Scholars later traveled to the broken world in order to better study the Void.
Battle for Azeroth
The shared history of the blood elves with the nightborne, as well as their assistance with the rebellion, played a major role in bringing them into the Horde during the Fourth War.[106][107] Following the Battle for Lordaeron, Quel'Thalas was also known to be one of the last bastions of Horde power in the Eastern Kingdoms.[108] Blood elven soldiers played a moderate role during the war, participating in the Battle for Stromgarde and Faction Assaults with the rest of the Horde troops.
The Reliquary later arrived on Zandalar after the Horde was granted sanctuary by King Rastakhan. The expedition was a joint blood elf-nightborne led by Tae'shara Bloodwatcher in an effort to excavate the bones of Xibala, first of the devilsaurs and mother to the great loa Rezan.[109][110] During the expedition, the blood elves have been teaching their nightborne allies the art of the dig, though some were particularly rather out of their element.[111]
Amidst the war, the blood elven champions went through an annual ritual, in which they remembered the losses of their kin to the Scourge.[112]
As the Horde divided itself between Varok Saurfang and Sylvanas Windrunner, Lor'themar Theron and the rest of the blood elven leadership sided with Saurfang, while other blood elves such as Magister Hathorel sided with Sylvanas. In the aftermath of the battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar, which ended with Saurfang's death during a mak'gora and Sylvanas abandoning the Horde.[113][114] Lady Liadrin led a retinue of Blood Knights in ensuring that the Banshee loyalists were gone from Orgrimmar.
Following the death of N'Zoth, the leaders of the Horde gathered together within the Orgrimmar Embassy with Lor'themar representing the blood elves and subsequently joined the Horde Council, a conglomerate of leaders who would represent their people's interests, which was created to lead the Horde.[115]
Shadowlands
Following the war against the Jailer, the blood elves faced off against a resurgence of Scourge in Quel'Thalas led by the san'layn warlord Vorath. Undead forces soon poured from the Dead Scar and besieged Tranquillien. Rather than risk its loss as they waited for the support of their Horde allies, Silvermoon's leaders agreed to call upon Blood Knight trainees to reinforce the battle.[116] While veteran Blood Knights held the line, Grand Magister Rommath and Archmage Aethas Sunreaver established arcane protections around the town. The blood elven forces eventually defeated Vorath in Deatholme,[117] and in the aftermath, Regent Lord Lor'themar lauded the efforts of his people, as they stood strong and held the line.[118]
Dragonflight
With the re-emergence of the Dragon Isles, at the behest of the Horde, the Reliquary worked alongside the Explorer's League to form the Dragonscale Expedition.[119]
The War Within
When Xal'atath and the nerubians of Azj-Kahet invaded Dalaran, the Sunreavers defended the city and its citizens alongside the Silver Covenant and the Kirin Tor.[120] Among the victims, some blood elves were either killed or captured to be taken to Azj-Kahet. After the destruction of Dalaran, the Sunreavers continued to protect the survivors from the nerubians when they were marooned on the shores of the Isle of Dorn,[121] until they were saved by the earthen and took refuge in Dornogal.
Ranger General Halduron Brightwing and the Blood Knights were amongst the Horde forces that Thrall brought to Khaz Algar for the fight against Xal'atath.[122]
Population
The Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas ended with the slaughter of roughly 90% of the high elven people.[5] Following the Quel'dorei's decimation at the hands of the Scourge, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider rallied roughly 90% of the survivors, who took up the name "blood elf" in honor of their fallen brethren.[7]
After they left Garithos' Alliance resistance, Kael'thas took 15% of the blood elven people to find and claim a new homeland in Outland, while the remaining 85% remained on Azeroth to reclaim Quel'Thalas from the Scourge.[7] After the prince's defeat a number of the Sunfury returned to their brethren in Quel'Thalas.[33]
Regarding the current blood elf population: the high elf population of survivors was estimated around 1,481, or 10%, meaning the 90% that became blood elves would be put at least 13,329. Of the 15% of the blood elf population went to Outland (at least 2,000) one faction became felblood elves, with another becoming the neutral Scryers faction who remained in Shattrath City. Also considering the casualties suffered in Outland, there is the question of what percentage of the 15% died, became Felblood elves, or remained among the Scryers.
Of the 85% that remained behind in Quel'Thalas (around 11,000), some were exiled, became void elves or wretched, with further losses from various conflicts in the following years.
Physical appearance
Blood elves are, biologically and physiologically, high elves.[7]
On average, blood elven women are 5'9" tall while blood elven men usually stand around 6'3" in height,[123] with males typically having slender, muscular, and athletic bodies. Blood elven females can possess much the same, albeit typically sporting a slim elven physique. Like the other elves, they have unusually acute senses and are able to see clearly even in low-light conditions with their keen sight. Their sharp eyes can notably see farther than those of humans.[124] As a general rule, elves are also slim, athletic, and graceful.[14] They are taller than most humans.[125] Like all elves, they are considered highly attractive by the standards of most mortal races.[124][126]
They typically have fairly long hair, and generally do not grow their facial hair to gigantic proportions until old age. They possess long pointy ears, and while night elves have long, slanted ears while blood elves' ears are shorter and tend to point upwards. Furthermore, their pointed ears have been greeted with admiration or mockery by other races.[14] Their hearing is so sharp that they can pick up the sound of a butterfly landing on a nearby flower.[125] Humans and dwarves often make fun of their ears by comparing them to those of donkeys, swine, or—worst of all—goblins.[127]
They are also the favored humanoid form of the red dragonflight.[128]
Eyes
Like the high elves, blood elves' eyes are well-attuned to the dark and "pierce the gloom," a trait they thank their night elven ancestry for. They can also visually identify the hue of arcane energy around objects or people.[4] Their eyes glow with magical energy, the color of which depends on the individual elf's source of power, or prolonged exposure to a certain kind of magic.
- In World of Warcraft, blood elves have access to varying shades of four eye colors
- Green, denoting fel corruption. When the Sunwell was destroyed, the blood elf magisters rebuilt Silvermoon using demonic energies; living in proximity to this gave many blood elves fel-green eyes.[129] The corruption will fade eventually, but the process takes time.[62]
- By the time of the war against the Primalists, enough years have passed for some blood elves' eyes to return to their original blue color.[130][131]
- Gold, signalling a connection to the Light-infused Sunwell. With the blood elves' fount of power restored, the well has cleansed some blood elves' fel corruption.[132] Blood elf paladins and priests, who are attuned to the Light and linked closely to the Sunwell, are commonly depicted with golden eyes.
- Blue, their natural high elven eye color.[133] This was a character customization option added in Shadowlands, to give the blood elves (and void elves) high elf customization options.
- Light purple, likely representing arcane energy, as the raw substance of arcane power is often depicted as violet. They also have a defined iris and white sclera.[134]
- Some sources depict them differently, and with other eye colors
- Several blood elves in Hearthstone (and the old Trading Card Game) are depicted with fiery orange eyes. Lady Liadrin's appearance in Hearthstone is generally thought to have been a precursor to players receiving golden eyes in World of Warcraft.
- In The Frozen Throne, blood elven eyes were depicted white and pupil-less, both in-game and in official artwork. A possible explanation for this is that when the blood elves were first exposed to fel magic, it took a while for their eyes to change. In classic World of Warcraft, blood elves had normal white eyes with pupils, which was also depicted in the Sunwell Trilogy and on some Hearthstone cards.
- Some blood elves have been shown with deep purple eyes, which seems to be associated with several power sources. When Valeera Sanguinar absorbed the magic of a naga sea witch's trident, her eyes instantly turned purple like the magic of the weapon.[135] Similarly, an artwork by Red Knuckle showed a blood elf with purple eyes due to his warlock powers.[136] Several pieces in Hearthstone show blood elves with purple eyes, some with an explicit link to the Void. In World of Warcraft, void elves have access to both light and dark purple eyes, but blood elves only have the light; this is likely because while light purple indicates arcane magic, dark purple is associated with the void, which is outlawed in Quel'Thalas.
- The novels Tides of Darkness and Beyond the Dark Portal did not suggest there was a magical component to high elven eyes; for example, Lor'themar Theron's were described as dark brown[137] and Alleria Windrunner's were described as emerald green.[138] This idea has not been revisited since, and newer material tends to depict all pre-Third War high elves with blue eyes (with exceptions, such as Anasterian's golden eyes in Reforged).
Aging
Blood elves can potentially reach up to several thousand years of life.[14] It appears that physical maturation is roughly on par with human aging, as seen with several young elves (such as Valeera Sanguinar, who was a child during the Scourge invasion yet physically mature a few years later), though only up to a point. The aging process appears to even out at around their physical peak before their aging becomes more sporadic and typically elven.
How fast they age precisely is unknown, but the oldest of their kind seem to be roughly 3,000 years old. Anasterian Sunstrider, the High King of Quel'Thalas, was extremely long-lived, having presided over a number of long-standing conflicts and died in around his three-thousandth year. By this time, his physical appearance had become elderly and wizened, suggesting that typical blood/high elven old age is induced around that time period. Lady Liadrin specifically attributed his elderly appearance to his 3,000 years of age in Blood of the Highborne.[4]
In addition to this, the blood elven engineers in the Secret Level Powerup told Prince Kael'thas that they "built Dalaran's original defenses". Given that the events of the Secret Level Powerup take place in the Third War and the original defenses of Dalaran were erected almost 2700 years prior to this, this would lead us to assume that the engineers themselves were older than this. However, because of the fact the blood elven engineers only exist in a secret level, the extent of which they are canonical is debatable, as specified in their article. Jaina Proudmoore also mentions that the Sunreavers contain members who had taught humans magic to begin with, implying that some among them are over two thousand years old.[139] This was further muddied by the addition of Lorash Sunbeam, a blood elf whose backstory explicitly puts his age at over 7,000: he was born after the exile of the Highborne, but before Quel'Thalas was founded, meaning that he was a Highborne night elf and among those who gained high elf forms after the creation of the Sunwell. This would make Lorash by far the oldest known Thalassian elf in the lore, but also creates inconsistencies.[140]
Culture
“Our lives have been turned upside down, <name>, but we nonetheless carry on. It is our way; we are survivors. If you are to survive this upheaval... to carry on in your own right, then you MUST learn how to survive. All blood elves must do this. You must master your insatiable hungering for magic before it masters you.”
The term "blood elf" itself is a cultural identity: a show of respect and honor for the fall of the high elves, the destruction of the Sunwell, the near-annihilation of their kingdom, and their rebirth from its ashes.[7] It is also a reference to their royal lineage—their bloodline.[4][6] As a culture, the sin'dorei have retained the look and feel of their fallen kingdom, though they've developed a greater penchant for the color red. Crimson-red robes, decor, and armor have become far more commonplace within their society since the fall of the high elven people, a reference to the blood of their many brethren who had perished in the Third War.[141]
The traditional blood elven colors are red, gold, and, to a lesser extent, blue—all of which can be seen on their racial crest, the Icon of Blood.
In general, the blood elves are a proud, pragmatic, and somewhat jingoistic people; they place great emphasis on their love for their homeland and are ruthless to their enemies, as demonstrated by many of their in-game quotes. Their reputation for isolationism is well-earned, and many prefer to keep to their own kind. Esara Verrinde was described as a misfit among her people, since most of the sin'dorei are content to live out their entire lives in the confines of Silvermoon City, while she spends most of her time on the road as the Magisters' Seeker of Wisdom.[101] However, they are not an evil people.[142] Blood elves are a resilient race of survivors, and their most prominent figures stand as beacons of courage, tenacity, and the strength to fight on, regardless of what foes stand in their way.[143]
In the past, Quel'Thalas hosted bright, pompous ceremonies with mock battles and pageantry, but the various calamities the former high elves have had to endure have caused them to become much grimmer and more bitter. While they still love their luxuries and comforts, they now consider such excessive displays to be distasteful in the wake of the tragedies suffered by their people.[144]
Blood elven architecture is of the same illustrious and elegant design as it was when Dath'Remar Sunstrider founded Quel'Thalas. It involves pendulous creations of wondrous curves and columns, their designs involving natural, floral, flowing, and animal motifs. Their fountains seem to defy physical boundaries, creating or warping water in impossible ways.
The study of the Void is as frowned upon in blood elf society as it is among the high elves.[145] Grand Magister Rommath once clashed with Magister Umbric and his disciples, who had pursued research into the Void against his wishes, and ordered their exile on the grounds that the Void poses a direct threat to the Sunwell.[146]
A frequent consumer of bloodthistle is called a "thistlehead", and looked down upon by common blood elf society.[147]
Language and naming
Blood elves speak Thalassian, the language of their ancient race. They originally spoke Darnassian, leading to some overlap and linguistic similarities between the two languages, but with time their language evolved to the modern one. By the time of the Second War, their elder tongue had been almost forgotten.[148]
In World of Warcraft, blood elf players speak Thalassian and Orcish. Several of the common sin'dorei sayings spoken in-game have been translated by the Warcraft Encyclopedia's entry on Thalassian, and can be found here.
In contrast to their night elven cousins, blood elven naming conventions tend to favor the concepts of the day, the sun, and brightness/light/fire over the night, the moon, and darkness. A prefix referencing one in some way ("Brightwing," "Sunhallow," "Dawnglow," "Blazefeather," etc.) is quite common in many blood elven surnames. However, some others eschew this altogether and have fairly standard elven names that evoke no particular imagery; Lor'themar Theron himself is a prominent example of this.
Unlike the high elves, however, a number of blood elves have taken on more aggressive surnames - often incorporating the word "blood" into their identity, which had not been heard of prior to the sin'dorei coming to power. Presumably, this is to better illustrate their cultural identity and their drive for vengeance, as many blood elves would have lost family members during the Scourge massacre. Some blood elves changed their surnames as a further homage to their fallen people and loved ones, taking names such as "Bloodwatcher," "Bloodblade," and "Bloodwrath."[4] This is also particularly prevalent within the Blood Knight order, which displays a number of members bearing the term - "Bloodvalor" and "Bloodsworn" among others. A number of blood elven ranks, titles, and organization names are similarly fashioned, such as Bloodwarders, blood mages, and of course the blood knights themselves.
Classes
The blood elves have a considerable plethora of classes available: the hunters of the Farstriders, the mages of the Magisters, the paladins of the Blood Knights, they can also become rogues, warlocks, warriors, priests, death knights, monks, and demon hunters. The Frozen Throne also marked the debut of blood elven blood mages, spellbreakers, dragonhawk riders, priests and sorceresses, the latter three being the post-Third War incarnations of their high elven selves. Blood elves part of the Cult of the Damned have demonstrated the ability to become necromancers,[3] while High Botanist Freywinn is an arcanist close to plants.
All of these classes can be seen in modern World of Warcraft to some degree; however, during Kael'thas's assault on the Isle of Quel'Danas, the formidable Spellbreakers' ranks were thinned drastically when their headquarters was overwhelmed by Kael'thas and his Burning Legion forces. The lone squad that remains now exists as a relic of a bygone era, as the Spellbreakers have refrained from training any new recruits since Kael'thas' betrayal.[62] That said, sometime later, Lor'themar Theron himself ordered a revitalization of Spellbreaker training, leading to a resurgence of Spellbreakers among the blood elves' ranks.[149] Blood elves are also one of the two races to successfully complete demon hunter training, along the night elves.
Inventions and weaponry
The blood elves keep and control a large number of magically-imbued guardians to supplement their own guard force, named the Arcane Guardians. These hulking, robotic constructs serve as Silvermoon City's elite patrol force, with the ability to seek out enemies regardless of where they hide. They are also employed by the Blood Knight order, as seen with Gatewatcher Aendor and his ilk. The Scryers have also created their own guardians. After the reclamation of the Sunwell, the Arcane Guardians have also been stationed around the holy font of power to assist the blood elven guard force there. It appears that these guardians were created during the reign of King Anasterian, though the quel'dorei had never been seen to make use of them prior to their conversion to sin'dorei.[150]
The Arcane Guardians have also been used as a propagandistic tool by the magisters, and will periodically remind citizens that the laws of Silvermoon must be obeyed, that Lor'themar Theron will lead them to power and glory, that Quel'Thalas will remain strong in the wake of Kael'thas' betrayal, and will openly encourage the citizens of Silvermoon to live their lives in happiness.[151]
In addition to the standard golems, the blood elves under Prince Kael'thas and Kil'jaeden created powerful alterations of the standard arcane guardian, dubbed the fel golems, towering constructs surging with fel power. The Sunreaver Onslaught further elaborated upon the fel golem design, creating new constructs[152] capable of more diverse and powerful abilities, sans the demonic input. Furthermore, the blood elves have acquired the use of blood golems, formidable mechanical constructs forged in the Throne of Thunder, formerly under Lei Shen's command.[153]
On Outland, the Sunfury blood elves created the mana bomb, an arcane-based weapon capable of great destruction. Both Kirin'Var Village and the Cenarion Thicket were wholly annihilated by the mana bombs' force, while another was procured for an attack on Theramore Isle; further empowered by the Focusing Iris, the bomb destroyed the entire isle. Tactical mana bombs have also been produced, albeit their volatile nature makes them ill-suited for use by rank-and-file soldiers.[154]
Floating crystals adorn several blood elven cities and outposts. These come in two flavors: the fel crystals (also referred to as Burning Crystals on Sunstrider Isle), and the more standard mana crystals. The former is a device created by the Magisters to store demonic energy; in this state, several magi were seen to drain power from the crystals directly. They were once found around Quel'Thalas, though Rommath stated that they were removed after the Sunwell was restored.[155] The mana crystals are a more conventional creation (and implicitly the original form of the fel crystals), which can be used to scry, power defenses, strike at aerial enemies, and create magical shields over towns and outposts.[156]
An Orb of Translocation is a swirling red orb of blood elven manufacture, a device used to teleport oneself either short or far distances within the world. The one in the courtyard of the Ruins of Lordaeron is a gift from the blood elves to the Forsaken.[157]
Mounts and companions
The blood elves' most common mount is the hawkstrider, a cockatrice-like creature that appears to be native to the forests of Quel'Thalas, found no-where else in Azeroth aside from in the blood elves' care. When Kael'thas led his followers to the ruined world of Outland, the vibrant hawkstriders that were brought with them proved to be welcome reminders of the blood elves' beauteous home in Quel'Thalas. Valued for their trustworthiness and speed, these colorful avian creatures embody the inherent splendor of the forests within the blood elven kingdom. While tragedy has befallen Quel'Thalas in recent years, the hawkstriders remain an integral part of the elves' day-to-day lives.[5]
The sin'dorei once had a natural affinity with the creatures of Eversong. The mana wyrms once served as guardians to the various crystals and arcane structures around the elven kingdom. However, they have since become maddened by the Scourge invasion, and the blood elves have even been seen to feed upon them. The lynxes and treants were also once allies of the elves, though without the ability to control the recalcitrant former and formerly cooperative latter, they have also become hostile in the wake of the Scourge attack.[158] More recently, mana wyrms have been deployed by the blood elves on the Isle of Thunder, as a countermeasure against hostile magic-users.[159]
Dragonhawks are another creature the blood elves have a positive relationship with. They have been used as flying mounts, and have battled alongside their elven masters in several conflicts.[160] The Farstriders mounted them for an aerial assault against the Scourge, and the blood elves would also employ this tactic against Arthas in Northrend - during both of their visits.[161]
Blood elves have been shown to keep cats around their cities and settlements, the proud and independent creature perhaps reflective of the blood elves' own attitude. In addition, blood elves have employed all manners of arcane-empowered indulgences, such as magical brooms to sweep the streets, crystals found all around Silvermoon, and flower ornaments found in magical levitation.
Symbolism
The blood elves use a phoenix as their main motif. The phoenix is found on their banners, their racial crest (the Icon of Blood), weaponry, buildings, tents, and many other sightings. Metaphorically, the nature of the phoenix represents their "rebirth" from the ashes of their sundered brethren — the blood elves metaphorically 'died' as high elves and were reborn as blood elves, and as a more formidable people from the experience.[162] A sentiment also reflected by the blood elves' moniker. Generally, the phoenix is portrayed as gold and emblazoned upon a red background, though it has several alterations and variations:
- In the Third War, blood mages had the ability to call phoenixes from the Firelands.
- The Blood Knight order uses the phoenix of Quel'Thalas emblazoned on their tabard, though recolored a deep crimson and contrasted with a black background.
- The Sunfury forces expand on this design, portraying the phoenix with two heads instead of one.
- The tabard of the Sunreavers appears to depict a more abstract phoenix, though its avian design could also be based on a dragonhawk.
- A blue variation is seen decorating the upper portions of many sin'dorei tents.
- The Silver Covenant also uses the phoenix on its banners (a golden phoenix on a blue background), but given their architecture is simply recolored from existing blood elf designs, it is unclear what, if any, meaning this has to them.
Beliefs and practices
The blood elves venerate the metaphorical idea of the "sun" in their culture, and even incorporated it into their social greetings and farewells.[163] This reverence is the polar opposite belief of their night elven cousins, who hold the moon in a similarly high regard. This stems from elven society centering on the age-old Sunwell, which had empowered and protected Quel'Thalas and its citizens for a strong 7,000 years prior to its destruction.[5] Following the loss of the Sunwell, they came to incorporate the notion of "remembrance" in honor of their fallen fount - "Remember the Sunwell."
The blood elven crest, seen on many banners, tabards, and buildings in and outside of Quel'Thalas, depicts a phoenix. Metaphorically, this represents the blood elves' "rebirth" from the ashes of their destroyed kingdom and brethren, sundered in the Third War, and as a more formidable people for having done so.[164]
As high elves, many blood elves were once followers of the Light and members of the priesthood of Quel'Thalas.[165] They were taught to revere the Light when they were young.[166] The technique of channeling the positive energies into healing energy waves was notably developed first by the high elves, and later taught to humans.[167] At the time of the Third War, Vandellor was known as the High priest of Quel'Thalas, and some high elves were even part of the original Order of the Silver Hand.[168]
However, following the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas, most of the elves became disillusioned with the Light, holding it in contempt for failing their homeland in its hour of greatest need.[169] One of the most prominent followers of this mindset was the High priestess Liadrin, who renounced her vows to the Light due to this supposed abandonment. A disillusioned Liadrin and many of her followers would later use the Light as a tool, as they came to incorporate the notion of "bending" the Light to their will, forcibly taking it rather than relying on faith to wield it,[4] though some blood elven priests outside of the ruined kingdom remained faithful in the Light's guidance and continued to wield it. As the Blood Knights, they came to incorporate the notion of "bending" the Light to their will, and seeing themselves as its true masters as a result of this dominion: the other paladins of the world are forced to live by a strict moral doctrine when wielding the Light and its blessings, yet the Blood Knights had efficiently circumvented this by using Prince Kael'thas's teachings on the captured naaru, M'uru, siphoning his Light-given energy to fuel their paladin-esque abilities.
By the time of the invasion of Outland, the priest trainers of Quel'Thalas said that the path of a priest was often misconstrued as a path of pacifism; and for the blood elves, this couldn't be further from the truth. Not only do they mend bone and spirit, but they also act as a fist of vengeance for those who would transgress against the sin'dorei.[170] The trainers also refer to giving "sermons,"[171] a phrasing largely associated with holy blessings and, by extension, Light worship. Note that blood elven priests are separated from the Magisters.[172]
Following the restoration of the Sunwell, now a mixture of both holy and arcane power, the Blood Knights abandoned wielding holy energies by force and returned to their old ways. Through the Sunwell they would ask for the Light's blessing to wield their powers.[8] It is a harmonious relationship, free of the pain and discord of their previous method,[53] they no longer suffer from its associated negative effects.[173] To wield the Light through the Sunwell, a typical Blood Knight must have strong willpower and faith in their own ability.[174] Although possible to "steal" the Light from the Sunwell in the same way they did from M'uru, Lady Liadrin has moved the blood knights away from that type of abuse.[175]
There are many other beliefs and practices found within blood elf society, a number of which have clashing ideals - such as the beliefs and policies of the Blood Knights and the Farstriders.
Every year, a champion of the blood elves is asked to perform an act of remembrance in honor of those who fell to the Scourge. That champion then carries a lantern containing flames of remembrance taken from the Sunwell itself.[176]
Magical addiction
- Main article: Magical addiction
“Control your thirst for magic... It is a thirst unending.”
For several millennia, the elves of Quel'Thalas were sustained by the Sunwell and became dependent upon its power. Following the destruction of the Sunwell at the hands of Arthas Menethil and the Scourge, the blood elves were forced to deal with the sudden relapse of their addiction to arcane energy. A constant curse since the original Well of Eternity was destroyed, the addiction became more powerful than even and the sin'dorei spent their waking days struggling with their weakness. Through Illidan Stormrage in Outland, Kael'thas acquired the teachings of stripping arcane magic from other sources, be it mana-bearing items or creatures. The prince instructed Grand Magister Rommath to spread these teachings back home in Quel'Thalas, as a way to sate—but not cure—the elves' addiction to magic. The knowledge was passed down until all blood elves had learned the techniques necessary to draw arcane energies from crystals, artifacts, creatures, or even mortals who commanded such power. It eventually became an important and increasingly essential part of the elves' lives.[4] While they did not abstain from draining arcane power directly, they were careful to keep their addictions under control, keeping the power their new abilities offer while maintaining self-discipline. Those who lost control over their addiction were changed into wretched, and invariably fell into insanity and corruption.
On several occasions after the Sunwell's defilement, Kael'thas publicly asserted that his people would die unless they found a new source of magic. While there can be no doubt that withdrawal from prolonged exposure to arcane magic was a very unpleasant process, technically, though, the prince was mistaken. According to the top priests and medics on Azeroth, the only high elves who perished due to the Sunwell's loss were the very old, the very young, and those already in poor health. This is not to say, however, that withdrawal from magic would leave the elves unharmed. On the contrary, permanent mental or physical damage is possible. Even so, the prince's relatively quick acceptance of dire measures (e.g., draining magic from demons) was by no means characteristic of blood elves in general. The blood elves of Outland who knew of Kael'thas' agreement with Illidan were for the most part convinced of its necessity. Those on Azeroth only drained magic from small mana-bearing vermin, which was a far cry from draining magic from demons. Yet, as their hunger grew, blood elves were becoming increasingly inured to the things they must do in order to obtain more magic.[7]
In his report on Silvermoon City, Mathias Shaw reported that blood elves were addicted to both, arcane and fel magic.[178] However, this is nothing but a misconception. The demonic nature of the crystals within Quel'Thalas was not disclosed to the blood elf public, as the Magisters were aware that its citizens would not embrace fel magic as their desperate brethren on Outland had.[7] Notably, fel was dismissed as an alternative to arcane magic by Magister Duskwither, whose attempts to purify it for consumption ended in failure.[179] In the end, Kael'thas Sunstrider's addiction to fel magic was the very reason his brethren in Silvermoon turned against him.[180]
Since Prophet Velen used the essence of the naaru M'uru to purify the Sunwell, now a fount of both arcane and holy energy[8] the blood elves have entered into a shining new era in their ancient race's history. With this inspiring turn of events, the elven addiction has - for the most part - begun to come back under control, as it was before the well's loss. With Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron's encouragement, the ability to sate their addiction conveniently via the Sunwell, and the plight of the Reliquary to free the elves of what remains of their addiction for good, the blood elves are on a far more efficient (and less dangerous) path to be free of their bane. Although some elves remain hesitant to abandon their dependence on arcane magic, others have embraced change for the betterment of Quel'Thalas.[5] The blood elves no longer required draining magic to keep in good health, and their crippling addiction is sated once more, if not conquered completely. Reinvigorated, they fight to protect Quel'Thalas, conquer their magical addiction, and help redeem the soul of their ancient people.[10]
Political structure
Leadership
Prior to the Third War, Quel'Thalas was ruled as a monarchy, with High King Anasterian Sunstrider as the last high elven monarch. Anasterian's long rule, which lasted at least roughly 2,800 years, was complemented by the Convocation of Silvermoon, a high council of elven lords who had vowed to assist the Sunstriders in keeping Quel'Thalas safe. However, during the Scourge onslaught, Anasterian was killed and the entire Convocation was eradicated.[4]
In the wake of the utter destruction of Quel'Thalas' leadership, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider went on to become the sole leader of the newly named blood elves. Though still essentially a monarch, Kael'thas did not appear to officially take the elven crown, instead styling himself as the "Lord of the blood elves" and "The Sun King." Kael'thas decided not to revitalize the Convocation, and instead commanded Lor'themar Theron, the former second in command to Ranger General Sylvanas Windrunner, to act as Quel'Thalas' regent during the prince's absence.
Ultimately, with the betrayal and death of Prince Kael'thas, Lor'themar has become the sole leader of the blood elven people. With the Sunstrider dynasty completely finished, the crown is unclaimed, and even Lor'themar himself has opted not to take it - or restore the Convocation - instead retaining his role as the "Regent Lord." Lor'themar finds ruling Quel'Thalas to be a difficult balancing act between practical necessities and higher ideals for his people; and as such, has no intention of starting his own dynasty.[181] Furthermore, he believes that no one remains with a right to the crown of Quel'Thalas, and has respected Kael'thas's decree that Anasterian would be its last king.[33]
The blood elves have a number of other leaders. Halduron Brightwing, the Ranger-general of Silvermoon, serves as the leader of the Farstriders and the blood elven military commander. Grand Magister Rommath presides over the magisters, the most magically-inclined and powerful spellcasters in sin'dorei society, while Lady Liadrin rules the Blood Knight order as its supreme leader and Matriarch. In Dalaran, the Sunreavers are led by Archmage Aethas Sunreaver.
Organizations
The sin'dorei have a number of organizations, mostly affiliated directly with Quel'Thalas. Those affiliated elsewhere (with Kael'thas, Illidan or the Burning Legion) include the Eclipsion, the Sunseekers, the Shadowsword, the Sunhawks, the Sunblade, the Dawnblade, the Crimson Hand, and the Firewing.
Farstriders
- Main article: Farstriders
This elite organization of blood elf rangers can trace its roots back to the Troll Wars when a loosely affiliated band of high elf warriors occasionally worked together to defend Quel'Thalas. Led by Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing, they are perhaps the group most in touch with their high elven roots. Masters of the wilderness and many knowing their homeland inside and out, the Farstriders operate mostly in and around Quel'Thalas. Peerless marksmen and women, they are the masters of surgical strikes and ambushes. Though part of the blood elven government, they are not a formal military.[182] The Farstriders have long been considered valiant and honorable elves who regarded the law with deep respect and faith. Indeed, they have long been considered the epitome of selfless dedication.[182]
A small organization named the Blood Hawks serves Quel'Thalas from Eversong, and its leadership reports directly to Ranger General Halduron.[183]
Blood Knights
- Main article: Blood Knights
After the blood elves began to use more dubious methods of sating their addiction, a number of the elves felt the Light abandon them. Prince Kael'thas later subdue da being of pure light - a naaru named M'uru - and had it sent back to Quel'Thalas. Rather than feed upon its energy, the magisters devised a better use of its power - and after experimentation, they succeeded in allowing the blood elves to forcibly take their holy power from the supposedly unwilling being. Thus, the Blood Knights were born under Lady Liadrin's personal leadership. The will of the order would be tested when M'uru was stolen from Silvermoon, and the Blood Knights were left bereft of a power source. However, with the revitalization of the Sunwell, reborn as a fount of holy and arcane power, the Blood Knights of Silvermoon now channel their power directly from it - a far less damaging and more harmonious relationship than their previous method of wielding the light.[53]
The Blood Knights quickly gained popular support within Quel'Thalas, and their membership has since expanded. The Blood Knights serve as the iron protectors of Quel'Thalas, faithful servants of Silvermoon, and occasionally as state enforcers.[184]
Magisters
- Main article: Magisters
One of the most prominent groups within Quel'Thalas, and a group whose magical formidability is considered fearsome by even Dalaran's standards,[33] are the magisters. Led by Rommath, the Grand Magister of Quel'Thalas, the magisters are among the most respected and politically powerful groups in all of Quel'Thalas and serves as Silvermoon's primary order of magi. They are directly responsible for the reclamation of the elven homeland from the Scourge, and it was their mastery over magic that enabled them to rebuild Silvermoon City "almost overnight." The magisters were able to twist even the energies of a naaru for the blood elves' use, leading to the creation of the Blood Knights. The various arcane structures around the city itself are empowered by their volatile magics, and the thought of what one of the most powerful magi organizations in Azeroth could bring to the Horde was a key component in the blood elves being accepted by it.[185]
Sunreavers
- Main articles: Sunreavers, Sunreaver Onslaught
Led by Archmage Aethas Sunreaver, the Sunreavers are a group of blood elves who desire to see the sin'dorei admitted as members of the Kirin Tor. Traditionally barred from Dalaran, the Horde was granted sanctuary in the city due to their efforts. Due to recent betrayals of the Kirin Tor from within the group, Jaina Proudmoore ordered them purged from Dalaran. This event led to the incarceration of Sunreaver civilians and those who were willing to surrender, and the demise of those who were not.
Backed by Silvermoon and championed by regent lord Lor'themar himself, the Sunreavers who escaped the purge took up arms against Lei Shen and the Kirin Tor on the Isle of Thunder, with the goal of acquiring powerful leverage to secure the blood elves' future should Garrosh Hellscream's Horde fall to anarchy.
Sunfury
- Main article: Sunfury
The Sunfury were among the most powerful blood elves that Prince Kael'thas led into Outland. They numbered in the thousands.[186] They were situated mainly in the magic-rich area of the Netherstorm, while other blood elves dispersed between the armies of the Scryers and Illidan Stormrage. Led by numerous generals such as Daellis Dawnstrike, a group attacked and slaughtered the local Kirin'Var Village and its residents, and other members of the Sunfury saw to the dismantling of the manaforges in the area for their master's gain. They were one of the more ruthless sects of blood elves found in Outland.
Following the betrayal of Kael'thas, however, a number of the Sunfury returned home to serve their people rather than follow Kael's increasingly damning path, thus affiliating themselves with Quel'Thalas and the Horde.[33] Though now an official part of Silvermoon's military, the Sunfury have made only a minor appearance in World of Warcraft in such an incarnation.
Reliquary
- Main article: Reliquary
The Reliquary is an organization led by High Examiner Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher and operates as a Horde counter to the Explorer's League. They seek to acquire artifacts of great power to free completely the elven race of their magical addiction.[187] They conducted operations during the Cataclysm, Alliance-Horde war on Pandaria, war in Draenor, third invasion of the Burning Legion on the Broken Isles, the Fourth War on Zandalar, and notably they joined forces with the Explorers' League for the Dragonscale Expedition on the Dragon Isles.
Scryers
- Main article: Scryers
The Scryers were once high-ranking blood elves in Prince Kael'thas's army, their ranks including some of the most gifted scholars and magisters that Kael had led into Outland. They are led by Voren'thal the Seer, a magus of considerable prowess and age.[188] Voren'thal grew increasingly troubled by the dark path his prince was treading and was granted visions of the naaru, A'dal. Believing that the Sin'dorei's only chance for survival rested with the naaru, Voren'thal, and his followers chose to abandon Kael's cause.
The Scryers sought to save their people from Kael's downfall and uncovered concrete evidence that the prince had begun consorting with the Burning Legion.[189] Though sponsored by the city's naaru hosts, the Scryers' draenei counterparts, the Aldor, did not take kindly to the Scryers' presence in the city; a factional divide quickly broke out between the two. Following Kael's defeat in Tempest Keep, Scryer forces returned home to Quel'Thalas under the banner of the Shattered Sun Offensive (a coalition of Aldor and Scryers banding together) to end Kael's ambitions for good.
What became of the Scryers following the demise of Kael'thas, the defeat of Kil'jaeden, and the restoration of the Sunwell is unclear, although they still answer to the naaru first and foremost.[190]
Relations
The blood elves are a proud people, and as history has shown, they prefer to keep to their own company. Quel'Thalas enjoyed seclusion from the younger races for a long while, until both the Troll Wars and the Second War forced them into alliances with humanity. Despite this, Quel'Thalas was quick to retreat back into independent seclusion until the Scourge invasion.
The blood elves have a somewhat divided opinion on what remains of their high elven brethren. Some, such as Halduron Brightwing and Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher, have expressed no particular grudge or strong feelings towards the quel'dorei remnants; the former has referred to the elven race collectively as the "children of Silvermoon," while the latter has outright stated his intention to free the elves from their addiction, and unite them as the proud race they once were. Lor'themar Theron and Halduron have allowed them access to the Sunwell, though Lor'themar himself has also displayed some hostility towards some high elves such as Vereesa Windrunner, who had opposed the blood elves' inclusion into the Kirin Tor.
Many blood elves once had strong ties to Dalaran and the Kirin Tor, having produced productive members of the Kirin Tor for over 2,000 years, Prince Kael'thas himself having studied there and Grand Magister Rommath having once lived there. However, the Kirin Tor did not intervene when Grand Marshal Garithos sentenced the blood elves to an unjust death, leaving Rommath and his magisters to hold a strong hatred towards them for it. With the blood elven Archmage Aethas Sunreaver on the Council of Six, and existing members of the Six expressing a desire to reestablish good relations with the blood elves,[33] some sin'dorei have welcomed the ability to rejoin the Kirin Tor, though Rommath's disdain for this notion still persists. Archmage Athas holds a strong position in the Kirin Tor, whose followers (who bear his namesake, the Sunreavers) have secured a large portion of the city of Dalaran for the blood elves and their allies' use at the Sunreaver's Sanctuary.
The high/blood elves have some history with the red dragonflight, most of whom prefer to transform into elves (specifically sin'dorei)[128] when assuming a mortal form. It was Alexstrasza who personally gifted Quel'Delar to Anasterian Sunstrider. Her consort Korialstrasz also maintained an interest in the elves' affairs, arriving only narrowly too late to save the Sunwell from Arthas.[4]
Diplomacy with the Horde
The vast majority of blood elves are now members of the Horde, this alliance conveying a strong clash of culture. The blood elves are a major part of the eastern Horde, along with their former Ranger-general Sylvanas Windrunner and the Forsaken. As relatively new members, the blood elves have sent several diplomats to various cities and leaders of the Horde (such as Ambassador Sunsorrow and Ambassador Dawnsinger), and diplomats of each Horde nation are found within Silvermoon City. Though the wider Horde was initially reluctant to forge allegiances with the sin'dorei, the vouching of Sylvanas, and the general consensus that the blood elves could bring to the table what the Horde had previously lacked,[185] would ultimately pave way to Quel'Thalas being accepted as an equal independent nation of the Horde.
Several blood elves prefer to keep with their own company, viewing their deployment outside of Quel'Thalas as something of a nuisance, though others have been seen to integrate fairly well into the wider Horde, even coming to appreciate its vastly different culture that still permits theirs to exist in its own right.[191] An alliance out of convenience and survival has grown much warmer with time, enough that the blood elves have turned down offers to rejoin the Alliance on multiple occasions. Modern blood elves are largely proud to be a part of the Horde after the struggles the faction supported them through, with Silvermoon now having a lucrative place as a voice at the Horde Council table. The blood elves were a major driving force in the Horde's Northrend campaign, Aethas Sunreaver ensuring them a vital sanctuary within the former Alliance city of Dalaran. A number of the sin'dorei have risen in the Horde's ranks, serving as generals [192] and as spy leaders.[193]
After the Cataclysm, Ashra Valandril was chosen by the blood elven leadership to represent the blood elves in the new Horde militia, the Garad'kra.[194] Some powerful blood elves have also been inducted into the Kor'kron Guard,[195] the most elite fighting force in the Horde's arsenal. The blood elven Reliquary is dedicated to giving the Horde a monopoly on artifacts of great power.
The blood elves remaining on Azeroth have developed a relationship with the Forsaken due to Sylvanas Windrunner, the former Ranger-general of Silvermoon until she was raised into undeath by Arthas Menethil. The queen claims that she still considers herself one of the foremost protectors of Quel'Thalas. She has repeatedly offered assistance in the form of supplies and troops. The sin'dorei initially feared a trick, though ultimately relented and allowed Sylvanas to station Forsaken troops in the Ghostlands to help supplement the overstretched blood elven military fighting to secure it. Following this, Quel'Thalas and Undercity have developed something of a camaraderie, and an orb was constructed to allow quick travel between the two nations. The people of Quel'Thalas itself have seemingly come to view their former Ranger General as something of a hero, who gave her life to protect Silvermoon and continues to assist it in undeath.[196] Ironically, Sylvanas' relationship with Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron (her former second in command) and his Grand Magister does not appear to be particularly positive, and Sylvanas had to twist his arm with threats to see him dedicate troops to the Northrend war effort.[33] With the war behind them, Lor'themar and Sylvanas became even more distant, the regent lord unsympathetic to her outlook around the other Horde leaders.
The relationship between the Darkspear tribe and the sin'dorei is a complicated one. Some blood elves (such as Paelarin) appear openly hostile to the trolls, going as far as to refuse them service despite their shared allegiance. On the other hand, Chieftain Vol'jin himself has a fairly amiable and respectful relationship with both Lor'themar Theron and Halduron Brightwing, perhaps born of their more moderate outlooks. As time has gone on, relations with both trolls as well as the other Horde races have improved. In the aftermath of the failed Broken Shore excursion, various blood elves expressed concern for the well-being of Horde soldiers and Vol'jin. Numerous blood elves attended the funeral for the latter and answered the call to arms to avenge him, their Regent Lord additionally serving as one of the slain Warchief's pallbearers.[197]
The blood elves have found a kinship with the nightborne, both due to their shared history of magical withdrawal issues and being descended from fellow Highborne elves. A blood elf expedition force joining the resistance to liberate Suramar City led to increased comradery between the two groups. Contrary to the very cold and distrustful reception they received from the night elves, blood elf representatives led by Lady Liadrin endorsed the Horde as a means of preserving cultural autonomy and as a reliable force to help ensure the safety of both of their people's against the outside world; something that could be a great benefit to the nightborne as it had come to be for the blood elves. This contributed greatly to the nightborne choosing to join the Horde as well.
Diplomacy with the Alliance
Following the actions of Grand Marshal Garithos, the blood elves became more opposed to the notion of working with the Alliance than ever. Despite this, Quel'Thalas did engage in diplomatic relations with an Ironforge ambassador, though this did not end too well.[183] Certainly, the Alliance has shown no interest in helping the Azerothian blood elves either reach Outland or drive the Scourge out of Quel'Thalas. Already suspicious of the few scattered high elves who still exist, the Alliance considers the blood elves even less trustworthy, notably at the time of the War Against the Nightmare when King Varian Wrynn noted that he had no reason to believe in the honor of blood elves, as they had turned to absorbing demonic magic after the loss of their vaunted power source, the Sunwell, and had subsequently become addicted to the fel energies.[198] However, relationship with humans, in general, seems to have improved since the acceptance of blood elves in Dalaran. In the Kirin Tor, Rhonin and Jaina Proudmoore have defended the blood elves from their Alliance counter-parts and their high elven allies, until their neutrality was abused, which led to the Purge of Dalaran. During the Alliance-Horde war, the actions of Garrosh Hellscream led Lor'themar Theron to improve relations with the other faction, even entering into negotiations with King Varian Wrynn and Stormwind to rejoin the Alliance. However the purge led by Jaina put a definitive end to the negotiations, and the blood elves remained in the ranks of the Horde.[199]
The sin'dorei appear to hold little opinion on the dwarves. A number have raised their voices against Ironforge, even going so far as to state how the dwarves have "never been a friend" to Quel'Thalas, but this sentiment is sparse. Their rivalry with the dwarves regarding ancient artifacts has recently emerged, the Reliquary rising to counter the dwarven Explorer's League.
A particularly bitter grudge lies between the blood elves and the night elves. Indeed, night elves regard blood elves with suspicion, disgust, or outright hostility,[14] while the blood elves, in turn, view their kaldorei cousins as savages.[200] To night elves, the sin'dorei stink of desperation and arcane magic.[7] Shortly after the magisters' return and the reclamation of Silvermoon, a night elven cadre entered Quel'Thalas to spy on the blood elves' activities, though were forcibly expelled. More recently, the blood elves have expressed an outrage at the return of the Highborne into the night elves' ranks, and are eager to see the trouble the new kaldorei magi will no doubt get themselves into. The sin'dorei have also assisted in removing the night elves from Azshara, eager to learn more of their Highborne heritage with the kaldorei out of the picture.
The blood elves have a convoluted history with the draenei. Kael'thas's blood elven forces were responsible for the bewildered draenei fleeing Outland in the Exodar, and furthermore responsible for its crash landing into Azeroth. They later attempted to summon reinforcements from Tempest Keep in order to conquer the Exodar completely and slaughter the remaining draenei. Prophet Velen, however, had seen a vision of what was to come - including the fate of M'uru, Lady Liadrin's plight, and Silvermoon City's future in the wake of Kael'thas' betrayal. Despite the grievances perpetrated by Kael'thas' blood elves against the draenei, Velen himself would be the one to reignite the Sunwell for the sin'dorei with M'uru's final spark. Despite their misgivings, the Shattered Sun Offensive showcased what the coalition of the Aldor and the Scryers can do when of a like mind. The two races fought together once again during the war in Draenor.
Notable
Ancestry and offshoots
The blood elves of today descended from the night elves. Though the sin'dorei style themselves as having been "reborn" from the ashes of the shattered quel'dorei, in biological essence the two groups belong to the same race.[7] Blood elves are the hosts of several other newly-emerged races, each stemming from sin'dorei roots as the sin'dorei did from the kaldorei - though not by conventional means:
- Darkfallen - The raised undead elves originally created by Arthas Menethil to serve the Scourge, including the dark rangers of the Forsaken and the vampiric San'layn.
- Wretched - If a blood elf fails to control their addiction, they will often succumb to the thralls of it and gorge themselves excessively on power without thought for constraint. Physically warped from their elven appearance, this savage blood elf offshoot represents itself via a primal form of "society" and serves as a warning to the blood elves - if their magical addiction is not controlled, then this pitiful fate may await them.
- Felblood elves - The demonic offshoot who, like the orcs before them, have been corrupted by the Burning Legion. After returning to Azeroth with the corrupted Prince Kael'thas, these loyal remnants of his army were allowed to gorge themselves on colossal amounts of demon blood. The felblood elves have taken on various demonic traits, among them black wings, a demonic skin colors, and horns.
- Void elves - The blood elves who were transformed through the power of the Void. They were recruited into the Alliance thanks to Alleria Windrunner.
In the RPG
Blood elves between the Third War and World of Warcraft were physically identical to high elves, save that they dressed primarily in blacks and reds to remind themselves of their terrible losses. Many painted runes or mysterious tattoos on their faces, arms, and shoulders for warding off demons or celebrating significant kills or simply to look intimidating — something high elves would never do. As well, they adopted hairstyles that went against the norms of high elf society.[201] Nevertheless when approaching Alliance towns blood elves would often disguise themselves as high elves to avoid harm.[202]
Separated more by cultural differences than physiological ones, it has since been determined that they are, in fact, beginning to evolve into a separate race, due largely to their consumption of mana from primarily fel sources.[203][204] This reliance on fel magic causes the eyes of blood elves to glow green with demonic fire.[205] This readily available source of energy also tends to give blood elves a ruddier or paler look compared to their quel'dorei cousins. A blood elf can appear like a high elf bearing odd red tattoos across his or her face and arms. However, his or her hair and skin is much paler than that of a high elf, their eyes glint with a green light, and they wear blood-red robes.[205]
These represent signs of evolution from their high elven cousins, and it is believed that, with time, they may become as physically distant to high elves as satyrs are to night elves.[205]
Blood elves have no permanent settlements on Azeroth; the only blood elf communities are located in Outland, the extradimensional wasteland of Illidan's exile.[206] Despite this, a number of them can be found at Quel'Danas under the leadership of Aquel'Luer'Thala.[207]
Languages
Blood elves speak Thalassian, the age-old language of their ancient race, and have learned the languages of their allies and enemies.[208][209]
Names
As seen with most blood elves who survived the Third War, the sin'dorei have (for the most part) retained their quel'dorei names. As such, the same naming rules are typical of their high elven cousins. The high and blood elves share a connection with the sun that is quite prevalent in their choice of family names.[210]
- Male Names: Mariel, Athaniar, Anandor, Tharama, Viridiel, Malanior.[210]
- Female Names: Anarial, Freja, Driana, Coria, Alanassori, Melanion, Azshara.[210]
- Family Names: Boughstrider, Dawnblade, Lightbringer, Morningray, Suntreader.[210]
Classes
Many blood elves are warlocks or mages, though some become hunters, scouts, or warriors — especially those seeking to be spellbreakers, demon hunters, and rangers.[208] A few continue to draw power from the Light and remain priests. Some blood elves take their demonic obsession one step further and become felsworn,[208] while others choose to draw on the magic of the Legion and become blood mages.
Alignment
Most blood elves are not insane or evil—they just choose to fight fire with fire. They are suffering due to the loss of their precious Sunwell; they all needed—and still need—to feed on arcane energies, even though most of them aren't spellcasters. The most powerful blood elf spellcasters are insane, as the magic they wield is corrupting.[211] Farstriders is one of the few groups that still have any of these virtues.[212] Blood elves as a whole are classified as the "neutral" alignment.[205]
Other relationships
While they hate most races, they have come to accept the Forsaken, as they share the same goals.[205] The western Horde recognizes the blood elves as dangerous, volatile and ultimately destructive.[201] The Horde orcs, Darkspear trolls and tauren distrust the blood elves, as their addiction to magic makes the high elves look like amateurs. In particular, the orcs revile the blood elves because they see them as descending down the same path toward damnation that so corrupted the orcish people — the orcs can smell the demon taint on the blood elves and know how badly it will twist them. The blood elves consider the Horde to be barbarians who refuse to grasp power in front of them. They especially dislike the orcs, who should have been strong enough to control the power the demons gave them instead of falling under their command.[213] Blood elves reek of fel power, offending the spiritual senses of night elves and tauren.[208]
Blood elves feel betrayed by the Alliance and are enemies of both humanity and the night elves. The blood elves try to draw the remaining high elves into their fold — a concept the goodly high elves view with horror and revulsion. Indeed, the existence of the blood elves demonstrates the depth of the corruption possible for this once mighty race, and the high elves see them as a dire warning. Many high elves seek to make amends for evils wrought by their demented kin. Blood elves get along well with the naga — with whom they share Highborne ancestry — and other independent factions. They are not welcome in Alliance lands.[201] The Alliance represents all that the blood elves hate in the world. The humans led the Exodus from Lordaeron, abandoning the blood elves to the Scourge, taking many high elves with them. The high elves are weak; they have the potential to reach blood elf status, but they will not embrace the power and therefore are of little use. The night elves are remembered as the elves who banished them from their homes so very long ago, and those grudges still run deep. The other races are disliked merely for their representation in the Alliance — the friend of my enemy is my enemy, so to speak. The Alliance views them as dangerous (and mad, in some cases). The arcane spellcasters in the Alliance agree that the blood elves have gone too far in their quest for power — even the high elves are sickened and frightened by their former brethren's loss of compassion and self-control. The blood elves have little use for the Alliance, and the downfall of this faction is next on their list after they have purged the Scourge from Lordaeron.[202]
The blood elves consider the naga their allies and friends. The other neutral races that interest them are the goblins and some of dark trolls. The goblins are the only merchants who will sell to the blood elves without prejudice; if an Alliance or Horde merchant would even allow a blood elf to look at her goods, she would most certainly raise the prices astronomically. The troll tribes often have items or information of use to the blood elves, and they hate the night elves with almost the same passion. The blood elves have few opinions on the other independent races — those that worship a divine power are weaklings, and those that remain neutral are of little consequence.[202]
Many blood elves have insinuated their way back into the world and seek out places rich in magical power — such as Ashenvale Forest. Some blood elves, steeped so thick in pain and anger, have joined the Shadow Council in Felwood.[201]
In the TCG
Blood elven priests are more of a quandary, however, as comparatively little is known about their own outlooks on the Light. Some viewed the Blood Knights' opinion on the Light's abandonment as "folly," and continued to embrace it as priests and priestesses as the Light regardless of the new direction their society was heading in.[214]
Blood elves have green eyes, but a blood elf warlock in the TCG has purple eyes.[215] Mages, paladins and others have been seen with golden eyes.[216][217][218][219][220][221]
Furthermore, a blood elf mage is seen with glowing red eyes while casting an invisibility spell. Whether the eye color has any correlation with arcane, or the specific spell being used, is unknown.[222]
Notes and trivia
- "Silvermoon" Harry appears to be one of the biggest blood elf fans on Azeroth.
- The official The Burning Crusade webpage mentioned blood elves having a "dark destiny."[223] This likely referred to the fact that blood elves under Kael'thas had joined with the Burning Legion.
- The RPG seeded the idea of blood elves bearing runic tattoos to ward off demons, and early blood elf artwork depicted them with such. The idea seemed to have been dropped by the time they were made playable in World of Warcraft; neither the playable faction in Silvermoon nor Kael's elves on Outland are seen sporting any tattoos. The sole exception seems to be Grand Magister Rommath, whose unique model appears to depict him with runic tattoos on his arms, though it's unclear as to whether it's a tattoo or a part of his clothing.
- Samwise Didier describes the blood elves as the "rock stars" of World of Warcraft: both male and female elves are slender, regal and beautiful, with rich and elaborate clothing; they are also intensely proud, inclining to a little egotism; and most of all, they were addicts for the longest time. Since then, "They cleaned up their act, and now they're doing well!"[224]
- When working on concepts for a blood elf racial mount, the designers "debated everything from unicorns to nether sea horses."[142]
- In Warlords of Draenor, it was said that the Blood Knights' role in the expansion would bring their understanding of the Light and the origin of paladins full circle from The Burning Crusade,[225] but this plot thread was ultimately not touched upon.
Inspirations
Blood elves appear inspired by a blend of other fictional settings such as Middle Earth and of real-life cultural elements such as Orientalism, Islamic culture, motifs invoking the Eastern Roman Empire, Germanic mythology, and French historical elements.
- Game developers described blood elves as "Legolas as if he went down a pretty heavy path".[226]
- The "Elves living in a magic forest"-theme inherited from Tolkien is ultimately based on Seelie Elves from Scottish folklore. Some place names are Celtic-derived (like Caer Darrow).
- The reforging of Felo'melorn by Kael'thas is comparable to the reforging of Anduril for Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
- Blood elves might also echo Hyperboreans, as described by the ancient Greek poet Pindar: People with an extremely long lifespan, living in the far north in eternal spring, and favored by the sun god Apollo.
- Blood elf aesthetics resemble Art Nouveau while other architectural elements resemble Byzantine and Ottoman period architecture.
- There are hookahs in most blood elf inns and other locations, similar to many Middle Eastern cultures.
- Blood elven ships resemble Byzantine dromon, Chinese Junk ships, Arab dhow and baghlah.
- The phoenix motif is rooted in Greek and Egyptian/North African myth.
- Various names of the blood elves derive from either mythology, such as Sylvanas (Silvanus the Roman god), Alleria (an ancient variation of the Roman name Aurelian) and Halduron (Haldir from Lord of the Rings)
- The description of Kael'thas as the "Sun King" could be a reference to Louis XIV of France, nicknamed "the Sun King".
- The garden layouts in both Quel'Thalas and Quel'Danas resemble French formal gardens.
Gallery
- World of Warcraft
Heritage of the Sin'dorei armor set.
Blood elf male child.
The Blood elf banner.
The Sunfury banner.
The Reliquary banner.
The Sunreaver Onslaught banner.
Red-colored tent
Blood elf ballista
Blood elven destroyer
Blood elf Arcane golem
- Art
Lor'themar Theron concept art for patch 8.1.
Spellbreaker concept art.
Battle mage by Glenn Rane.
The blood elf-ability Mana Tap by Glenn Rane.
Valeera Sanguinar concept art.
Valeera Sanguinar in battle with a draenei paladin by Wei Wang.
Concept arts, among them a Royal Guard.
- Warcraft III
A blood elf caravan through Silverpine Forest.
Prince Kael'thas hero portrait.
Engineer unit portrait.
Kael'thas in his Heroes of the Storm trailer.
See also
- Blood elf (playable)
- [Rise of the Blood Elves], from the History of Warcraft
- The Burning Crusade Townhall/History of the Blood Elves
- Blood elf units in Warcraft III
- Blood elf controversy, documenting the controversy preceding the introduction of the blood elves with The Burning Crusade expansion
References
- ^ Sunseeker Geomancer
- ^ Elementalist Starion
- ^ a b Boneweaver
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Blood of the Highborne
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Races of World of Warcraft: Blood Elves
- ^ a b Micky Neilson on Twitter What does it mean by "we will take the name of our royal lineage" "Sin'dorei" as the new representation of BE's royal lineage? ""blood elf" - blood as in those who died, blood also as in lineage, bloodline."
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l The Warcraft Encyclopedia: Blood Elves
- ^ a b c d e f World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 159
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, Updated and Expanded, pg. 125
- ^ a b c Blood Elf intro post-Cataclysm
- ^ The Warcraft Encyclopedia/Dath'Remar Sunstrider
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 117 - 118
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 120
- ^ a b c d e The Warcraft Encyclopedia: High Elves and Blood Elves
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 88
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 89
- ^ Blizzard lore posts
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 93
- ^ Illidan's Task (WC3 BloodElf)
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 94
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 98
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 24
- ^ [25-30] Return To Caladis Brightspear
- ^ The Sunwell Trilogy Ultimate Edition
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 104
- ^ 5:02 Burning Crusade Behind the Scenes DVD
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 137
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 146
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 141
- ^ The Burning Crusade Townhall/The Isle of Quel'Danas
- ^ Excerpts from the Journal of Archmage Vargoth
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 144 - 145
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j In the Shadow of the Sun
- ^ Meeting the Warchief (blood elf)
- ^ World of Warcraft: Ashbringer: Naxxramas
- ^ [56] Betrayed
- ^ [15-30D] Lethtendris's Web
- ^ [60D] Elven Legends
- ^ [57] Petty Squabbles
- ^ [24D] Researching the Corruption
- ^ [1-10] Thirst Unending
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 150
- ^ [1-30] Hero of the Sin'dorei
- ^ [1-30] The Dwarven Spy
- ^ [1-30] Deactivate An'owyn
- ^ [1-30] Allegiance to the Horde
- ^ a b c The Story So Far (Wrath of the Lich King)
- ^ [Letter from Lor'themar Theron]
- ^ [30R] Kael'thas and the Verdant Sphere
- ^ Lady Liadrin#Meeting with A'dal
- ^ Sunwell Plateau epilogue
- ^ Chris Metzen & Micky Neilson Pocket Star Books Lore Q&A Video Interview
- ^ a b c Ask CDev Answers - Round 1
- ^ Foreman Sundown
- ^ [25-30 Daily] Crush the Dawnblade
- ^ [25-30] Thalorien Dawnseeker
- ^ Underdev/Quel'Delar: The Sister Blade
- ^ [25-30] The Purification of Quel'Delar
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 168
- ^ Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher gossip text
- ^ Lady Liadrin#The Path to Redemption
- ^ a b c Ask CDev Answers - Round 2
- ^ Seek Out Master Pyreanor
- ^ [7-30] Security!
- ^ [10-30] Kobold Fury!
- ^ [10-30] Avenge Furien!
- ^ [5-30] Amberwind's Journal
- ^ [15-30] Pride of the Highborne
- ^ [15-30] Legacy of the High Elves
- ^ [15-30] Pain of the Blood Elves
- ^ Leaders' meeting at the Amani Pass
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 2
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 7
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 23
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 13
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 17
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 22
- ^ [10-35] Family Tree
- ^ [15-35] He Won't Even Miss It
- ^ [15-35] To Mogujia
- ^ [15-35] What Had To Be Done
- ^ [15-35] The Situation In Dalaran
- ^ [15-35] It Starts in the Sewers
- ^ [15-35] The Remaining Sunreavers
- ^ a b [15-35] One Last Grasp
- ^ Archived page
- ^ [32-35] The Assault on Zeb'tula
- ^ [32-35] Tear Down This Wall!
- ^ [32-35] To the Skies!
- ^ [32-35] The Fall of Shan Bu
- ^ [32-35] The Storm Gathers
- ^ Bloodied Crossing
- ^ Depleted Animus Golem
- ^ [35R] Life Blood
- ^ Garrosh Hellscream (tactics)
- ^ Examiner Remy Starminder#Dialogue
- ^ [10-45] Keep Your Friends Close
- ^ [10-45] Demons Among Us
- ^ [10-45] The Unseen Path
- ^ [10-45] A United Force
- ^ a b Esara Verrinde#Gossip
- ^ [45] Take Me To Your Leader
- ^ [45] Gates of the Nighthold
- ^ [40-80] The Ghostlands
- ^ [40-80] Telogrus Rift
- ^ [40-80] Silvermoon City
- ^ [40-80] The Nightborne
- ^ Battle for Azeroth Warfronts - Faction Transmog Rewards, Stromgarde, Gameplay
- ^ [10-60] The Bloodwatcher Legacy
- ^ [10-60] The Bones of Xibala
- ^ [10-60] Archaeological Efficiency
- ^ Heritage of the Sin'dorei
- ^ [The Reckoning]
- ^ [60] Old Soldier
- ^ [50] Warchief of the Horde
- ^ [60] Briefing
- ^ [60] Justice Long Overdue
- ^ [60] Victory for the Sin'dorei
- ^ 2022-04-20, WORLD OF WARCRAFT: DRAGONFLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH JACKIE WILEY AND TINA WANG. Blizzplanet, retrieved on 2022-04-22
- ^ [68-70] Breach
- ^ [68-70] Slay the Saboteurs
- ^ [80] The Fleet Arrives
- ^ Height#Playable races
- ^ a b Tides of Darkness, chapter 8
- ^ a b Day of the Dragon, chapter 13
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 6
- ^ Day of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 37
- ^ a b Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, pg. 73
- ^ Ask CDev Answers - Round 3
- ^ Expedition Guarantor
- ^ Millenium Interview with Anne Stickney and Katherine Bankson - Narrative and Lore Questions in Patch 10.2
- ^ TradeChat 2018-04-05. Developer Interview BFA Press Event. YouTube. Retrieved on 2018-04-09.
- ^ In the Shadow of the Sun, pg. 2: "... eyes still blue and untainted..."
- ^ New Customizations for Shadowlands Build 36401 - Void Elf and Blood Elf Eye Color
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 7: Revelations
- ^ Sons of the Storm - Red Knuckle
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 229
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 167 (ebook)
- ^ [15-35] The Fate of Dalaran
- ^ A Good War
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, pg. 346
- ^ a b Green, Jeff (December 2005). Computer Gaming World Issue 257 p. 62–66. Retrieved on 2020-12-09.
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 146
- ^ Before the Storm, chapter 3
- ^ Silvermoon Scholar#Quotes
- ^ [40-80] Remember the Sunwell
- ^ [25-30] To Catch A Thistlehead
- ^ Day of the Dragon, chapter 9
- ^ Sean Copeland on Twitter, RE: Spellbreakers
- ^ [1-30] Major Malfunction
- ^ Arcane Guardian
- ^ Pyrestar Demolisher and the Haywire Sunreaver Construct
- ^ Depleted Animus Golem, Blood Golem & Bloodfused Crusher
- ^ [32-35P Daily] Tactical Mana Bombs
- ^ [15-35] What's in the Box? Rommath's gossip text
- ^ [70 Daily] The Sanctum Wards
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 113
- ^ [1-30] A Somber Task
- ^ [32-35P Daily] Mana Scavengers
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 19
- ^ Orgrim's Hammer Scout
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, pg. 364
- ^ "Forever after, they would embrace the sun and be known only as the high elves. " - [Exile of the High Elves]
- ^ Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, pg. 364
- ^ Priest (Warcraft III)
- ^ Alleria: Light and Shadow
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual#Priest
- ^ Blood of the Highborne, chapter 4
- ^ Burning Crusade Behind The Scenes - Blood Elves. YouTube (2008-03-19).
- ^ [2] Priest Training
- ^ Tyelis#Quotes
- ^ Micky Neilson on Twitter: Blood Elf priest Lore Q: Do they operate under Rommath and the Magisters, or have they got their own organization? "I had them separate."
- ^ Micky Neilson on Twitter: "Confirmed. Blood Knights no longer suffer the negative effects."
- ^ Micky Neilson on Twitter: "The official answer I got was: a mixture of willpower and faith in one's own ability."
- ^ Alex Afrasiabi on Twitter: "technically they can take it but Liadrin has moved the blood knights away from that type of abuse of the Light."
- ^ [50-80] Walk Among Ghosts
- ^ GameSpy - World of Warcraft: The Blood Elves
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 88
- ^ [Magister Duskwither's Journal]
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 156
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 145
- ^ a b The Warcraft Encyclopedia: Farstriders
- ^ a b [1-30] The Dwarven Spy
- ^ Gatewatcher Aendor
- ^ a b Horde Emissaries
- ^ Excerpts from the Journal of Archmage Vargoth
- ^ Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher gossip text
- ^ [25-30] Bound for Glory
- ^ [25-30] Damning Evidence
- ^ WarcraftDevs on Twitter: "Both the Aldor & the Scryers still answer to the Naaru first & foremost. (1/2)"
- ^ Lorrin Foxfire
- ^ General Salaman
- ^ Spy-Mistress Anara
- ^ Bloodsworn
- ^ Kor'kron Vanquisher
- ^ Vaeron Kormar
- ^ [10-45] Fate of the Horde
- ^ Stormrage, chapter 10
- ^ [15-35] What Had To Be Done
- ^ Melaya Tassier
- ^ a b c d Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 15
- ^ a b c Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 68
- ^ Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 6 - 7, 14 - 15, 67 - 69
- ^ Monster Guide, pg. 54 - 55
- ^ a b c d e Monster Guide, pg. 64
- ^ Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 15
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 113
- ^ a b c d Monster Guide, pg. 65
- ^ Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 16
- ^ a b c d World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 37
- ^ Monster Guide, pg. 64 - 65
- ^ Dark Factions, pg. 152
- ^ Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 68 - 69
- ^ Raesa Morningstar "The light sustains us, and it will ease even the heaviest of burdens. To think it has abandoned us is pure folly."
- ^ Ritual of Souls, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Apostle of Argus, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Thoros the Savior, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Magistrix Larynna, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Meltdown, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Firewarden Wyland Kaslinth, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Fingers of Frost, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ Invisibility, Official TCG Artwork.
- ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/index.html
- ^ The Art of Warcraft
- ^ BlizzCon 2013 - The Adventure Continues panel (44:10-46:02)
- ^ Green, Jeff (December 2005). Computer Gaming World Issue 257, pg. 65. Retrieved on 2021-07-24.
External links
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