Sisterhood of Elune

For more background information on this organization, see The Warcraft Encyclopedia/Sisterhood of Elune.

Sisterhood of Elune
High Priestess Haidene statue in Darnassus
Main leader	High Priestess Tyrande
Formerly	See below
Race(s)	Night elf
Capital	Unknown
Formerly	Temple of the Moon † Temple of Elune
Theater of operations	Kalimdor; Broken Isles
Formerly	Ancient Kalimdor
Language(s)	Darnassian, Common, Sisterhood liturgical language
Affiliation	Darnassus, Alliance, Conclave
Formerly	Kaldorei Resistance, Kaldorei Empire
Status	Active

“By the moons' glow, listen. Beside the river, listen. Holding those you love, listen. To the cries of the dying, to the whisper of the wind over the silent dead...”

— Astarii Starseeker and other two other priestesses' last elegy and prayer to Elune before their deaths

The Sisterhood of Elune (aka Sisters of Elune or simply the Sisters) could be the oldest night elf religious and magical order, predating the quel'dorei by some 2,000 years.^{[citation needed]}  As the name implies, they are an order of priestesses dedicated to the worship and servitude of the moon goddess, Elune. The Sisterhood is led by the High Priestess of Elune, Tyrande Whisperwind, while the priestesses of Elune are the elite of the organization. As followers of the mother moon, they can be found throughout the world, ready to heal the war-weary Azeroth with her holy moonlight.

While unknown for how long, as an organization they have existed long before the Great Sundering, and worship of Elune among the night elves dates back about 15,000 years.

History

War of the Ancients

The headquarters of the Sisterhood was originally the Temple of Elune in the city of Suramar, but the Sisters staffed temples and chapterhouses on the whole length and breath of Ancient Kalimdor. The temple was lost when Suramar was overrun by the nathrezim, but the Sisterhood, under the leadership of high priestess Dejahna, escaped and flocked to the banner of Lord Ravencrest in the Kaldorei Resistance. A few weeks after the abandoning of Suramar, Tyrande Whisperwind was made high priestess following the death of her predecessor at the hands of Hakkar the Houndmaster. The Sisterhood continued to fight in the War of the Ancients after Tyrande's capture by Xavius — under the leadership of first Marinda, and then Maiev Shadowsong.

The first members of the Watchers and the Sentinels were from the Sisterhood of Elune.

The Long Vigil and current times

Following the conclusion of the war and the creation of Nordrassil, the Sisterhood continued in a less formal role (many of the Sisters became Sentinels), particularly during the Long Vigil.

Some of the priestesses, along with other units, rallied under Fandral Staghelm in Silithus in the War of the Shifting Sands. Though they suffered heavy casualties in pushing the qiraji and silithid back, the night elves were successful in temporarily ending this threat to Kalimdor.

After the defeat of Archimonde at Mount Hyjal and the night elves freedom from the Long Vigil, Tyrande led a much more formal and religious Sisterhood of Elune from the Temple of the Moon in Darnassus.

The Sisterhood helped the troubled citizens of Auberdine.

During the War Against the Nightmare, Shandris Feathermoon commanded the Sentinels and the Sisters of Elune to help the inhabitants of the ruined Darnassus. Tyrande would later send some of the Sisters into Alliance-held lands in order to help their people recover from the terrible ordeals of the Nightmare. The priestesses of Elune were also the ones responsible for preserving Malfurion's slumbering body and keeping him alive even as unbeknownst to them, Fandral Staghelm sought to slowly poison him to death.

Intrigued by its moon-worship rituals, the Church of the Holy Light sent some of its members to the allied Sisterhood, hoping to someday lead the night elves to the Light as well.

A branch of the Sisterhood of Elune, implied to be an ancient offshoot of the Suramar priesthood in Val'sharah, was apparently given the Tears of Elune after Elisande and her Highborne used the Pillars of Creation to seal the Legion's portal, and shortly before the Great Sundering and the isolation of Suramar. Lyanis Moonfall stated that her "order" has protected the sacred artifact at the Temple of Elune for thousands of years. Tyrande Whisperwind reunited with these priestesses ten millennia later and together, they successfully defended the Temple and slew the corrupted Ysera, whereupon Elune directly intervened to purify the fallen Aspect as well as her Tears.

Battle for Azeroth and aftermath

After Sargeras destroyed Silithus, Tyrande sent several priestesses there. Together with the druids of the Cenarion Circle, they built moonwells there.

The Sisterhood of Elune attempted to aid Malfurion Stormrage and their kin in Darkshore during the War of the Thorns, with some priestesses rallied to the region to bolster the other kaldorei forces. Most of the Sisterhood of Elune, including Astarii Starseeker, apparently perished in the Burning of Teldrassil after refusing to abandon the remaining night elves in Darnassus. However, those who survived fought in Darkshore against the Horde forces immediately after Teldrassil's destruction, many having apparently lost their families, and enchanted Lunar Wards to assist their defenders, only to be slain by the Horde. Moon Priestess Maestra was targeted by the Horde in Ashenvale at Maestra's Post, controlling the pass between Ashenvale and Darkshore. Several Devout Priestesses were slain in Nazmir during the Faction Assaults when the Horde blighted their ancients.

Despite their heavy losses and the destruction of Darnassus and their Temple of the Moon, some members of the Sisterhood, including Moon Priestess Lasara and several Nightwreathed Priestesses would join the Battle for Darkshore in revenge for the Burning of Teldrassil, being infused with Elune and Tyrande Whisperwind's power, and ultimately survived the Fourth War, witnessing Tyrande's victory speech at Bashal'Aran after the Alliance successfully reclaimed Darkshore.

After the war, a group of priestesses of Elune tended to the Shrine of Mel'Thandris, singing prayers for the worgen.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

A group of the Sentinels was sent with Kaylessa Duskwhisper to Felwood to deal with a demonic resurgence in Jaedenar. They were overwhelmed and killed, leaving the Watchers taking over the mission.

Priestesses of the moon later followed Tyrande Whisperwind into the Emerald Dream to fight against Fyrakk's forces. After his death and the blooming of Amirdrassil on the Dragon Isles, many priestesses could be found in Bel'ameth's Terrace of the Moon.

Culture

Role in the night elven society

The Sisters are a major and active night elven political faction, and fulfill the role of magistrates, officials, and others for the night elven government. The highest-ranking of the Sisters are privy to the government's most important secrets, such as the original condition of Malfurion Stormrage and the power struggle that erupted between Tyrande Whisperwind and Fandral Staghelm.

The Sisterhood of Elune is the highest echelon of the priesthood that serves the goddess of the moon, Elune. The Sisterhood has remained exclusively female up until recent times. This is largely because of a common belief that the deepest mysteries of Elune can only be comprehended by women. Although the vast majority of Elune's priesthood is still comprised of night elven women, the order has come to accept Kaldorei males into its ranks as well.

The Sisterhood has maintained its role since the days of the ancient Kaldorei Empire, over 10,000 years prior; although this role was significantly less political before the Great Sundering. Owing to their military capabilities, the Sisterhood also played an active role in the War of the Ancients, where they joined with the Kaldorei Resistance to curb the invasion of the Burning Legion. They ultimately played a decisive role in numerous battles with the demons, acting as both, elite shock troops, and adept healers.

As part of night elf culture, priestesses are part of the rituals for their dead. A priestess ritualistically cleanses the body of the deceased individual in pools of moonlit water, combining arcane and nature magic to mend the dead body for a final viewing. Then, they sing arias that highlight the life and sacrifices of the fallen as a burial shroud is draped around the deceased.

Membership

All priests who served Elune were night elf women. However, after the devastation of the Third War, they thought that the organization had drifted too far away from night elf society and decided to open up their group more to the world. As a result, although a majority of Elune's priests are still women, the order now welcomes men into its ranks.

Elune expected dedication from her priests, but she did not demand that they give her every waking moment — the Mother Moon was a kind, loving mistress. One of these dedications was called the Ritual of the High Moon.

The center of her worship was the Temple of the Moon in Darnassus. Tyrande Whisperwind is her high priestess, but many priests, are found throughout the world, ready to heal the war-weary Azeroth with her light.

Training

The sisterhood trained its priestesses in war training and to learn to survive at times with minimal sustenance. There were even four periods of ritual fasting each year, done as a sign of dedication to the goddess.

Members

Name	Role	Status	Location
Alinya	Priestess	Alive	Ruins of Auberdine, Darkshore
A'moora	Priestess	Unknown	Temple of the Moon, Darnassus
Alathea	Priestess, priest trainer	Active	Temple of the Moon, Darnassus
Astarii Starseeker	Priestess, priest trainer	Active	Temple of the Moon, Darnassus
Amara	Moon Priestess	Unknown	Dolanaar, Teldrassil
Aquinne	Sister, novice priestess	Active	Temple Gardens, Darnassus
Belysra Starbreeze	Priestess of the Moon	Alive	Howling Oak, Darnassus
Dejahna	High Priestess of Elune (penultimate)	Deceased
Dentaria Silverglade	Priestess of the Moon	Alive	Teldrassil and Darkshore
High Priestess Siralen	High Priestess of Vashj'ir	Unknown
Haidene	High Priestess of Elune (first)	Deceased
Hel'jara		Deceased
Jia		Deceased
Kyleen Il'dinare	Priestess	Alive	Odesyus' Landing, Azuremyst Isle
Kalo'thera	High Priestess of Elune	Unknown	Unknown
Lasara	Moon Priestess	Alive	Temple Gardens, Darnassus
Laurna Morninglight	Priest trainer	Active	Dolanaar, Teldrassil
Maestra	Moon Priestess	Alive	Maestra's Post, Ashenvale
Maiev Shadowsong	Former member and senior priestess, High Priestess of Elune (interim), founder of the Watchers	Alive	Unknown
Marinda	High Priestess of Elune (interim)	Deceased
Merende		Unknown	Unknown
Nici	Moon Priestess	Alive	Dalaran, Northrend
Serendia Oakwhisper	Priestess of the Moon	Alive	Lor'danel, Darkshore
Shalasyr	Former Priestess	Deceased
Shandris Feathermoon	Former member	Alive	Feathermoon Stronghold, Feralas
Shiromar	Priestess	Alive	Unknown
Tharill	Moon Priestess	Alive	Darkshore
Tyrande Whisperwind	High Priestess of Elune (current)	Alive	Temple of the Moon, Darnassus

Unnamed

•  Priestess of Elune
•  Priestess of the Moon

Notable leaders

•  High Priestess Haidene ^†
•  High Priestess Kalo'thera
•  High Priestess Dejahna ^†
•  High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind
•  Interim High Priestess Marinda ^†
•  Interim High Priestess Maiev Shadowsong

History	Ancient times					Burning Legion Invasion					Recent history
Ruler	Haidene	Unknown	Kalo'thera	Unknown	Dejahna		Tyrande Whisperwind	Marinda	Maiev Shadowsong	Tyrande Whisperwind

Notes and trivia

• In her role as cleric prior and during the War of the Ancients, Tyrande often obtained information that even Lord Ravencrest's strategists never picked up.
• The Warcraft Encyclopedia says that since the night elves emerged from their societal isolation, the priests of Elune have also extended membership to a few priests, male and female, of other races. No priests of the moon from other races have been seen.
• The Sisterhood have a special language to commune with the lunar deity.
• The server Sisters of Elune US is named after the organization.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

• Judging by the appearances of Priest Ellandras, Priest Iridil, and Priest Sal'shanan, they may be one of the first known male members of the organization.
• The Disciples of Elune in Sargeron were likely priestesses of the Sisterhood.

See also

• Sisters of the Moon
• Temples of Elune

References

es:Hermandad de Elune fr:Sœurs d'Elune pl:Sisterhood of Elune