Wild God

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Various Ancient Guardians. From left to right: Ursol, Aessina, Ursoc, Tortolla, Malorne, Ashamane, Goldrinn, Aviana and Agamaggan.

“From the dawn of its reshaping by the mysterious titans, Azeroth had been guarded by beings who were tied to the world as no other creatures could be. The dragons had been empowered by the titans, but Azeroth itself gave rise to the spirits and demigods, creatures eternal in nature yet capable of ultimate sacrifice.”

— Wolfheart, chapter I

Wild Gods are primal manifestations of life and nature[1] found on both Azeroth and other planets.[2][3][4] Many of them appear in the form of gargantuan animals, such as wolves, bears, tigers, or birds. Wild God, Ancient Guardian, Loa, and August Celestial are interchangeable when referring to great spirits aligned with nature destined to Ardenweald.[5][6]

Overview

This section is a lore stub.

On Azeroth, Wild Gods are described both as primordial creatures who emerged from the early, unchecked abundance of Freya's enclaves[7] and as beings created by Freya.[8] Though this may apply to some of them, more generally, they are spirits of nature found on all worlds—without the need for titanic intervention.[9][10]

On Azeroth, as the titan-forged began shaping the world, Keeper Freya wandered the land, creating enclaves of life and nature in places where the energies of the Well of Eternity had coalesced, such as Un'Goro Crater, Sholazar Basin, and the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. The greatest creatures to emerge from Freya's enclaves were the colossal Wild Gods. Seeing these creatures as her own children, Freya often wandered side by side with the Wild Gods through the primal forests and grasslands of early Azeroth. The area where they spent the most time was the massive forested peak known as Mount Hyjal, and it was upon Hyjal's slopes that Freya bound the spirits of her beloved Wild Gods to the Emerald Dream. Forever after, Hyjal would remain a sacred refuge for the Wild Gods.[11]

The Wild Gods of Azeroth are creatures of two realms: while they inhabit the physical world, their spirits are bound to the ethereal Emerald Dream.[1] It is unclear if the August Celestials or all loa Wild Gods can visit the Emerald Dream as the Ancient Guardians can.[12] However, the loa Gonk, at least, is known to be able to access the Emerald Dream.[13]

Wild Gods are immortal and ageless,[14][15] but they can be killed. When Wild Gods die, they go to Ardenweald and enter a wildseed, to be cared for by the keepers of the groves of one of the celestial trees until they are ready to be reborn through the Grove of Awakening. No matter their moral alignment in life, in death all are under the protection of the Winter Queen.[16] After recovering in Ardenweald, their spirits travel to the Emerald Dream, after which they can be ushered back into the world.[17]

Not all Wild Gods are capable of speech. Some gained this ability as a gift bestowed by Freya upon her chosen Wild Gods. Notable examples include the August Celestials, chosen for their intelligence, and the twin Bear Lords Ursoc and Ursol, chosen for their stubborn bravery.[14]

The August Celestials, and possibly other Wild Gods, have the ability to shift into humanoid forms. During the trial of Garrosh Hellscream, Chi-Ji appeared as a red-haired blood elf, Niuzao as a glowing tauren, and Xuen as a pale blue human.[18] Yu'lon has assumed the form of a pandaren child named Fei on several occasions, including the aforementioned trial, while Chi-Ji has also been known to take the form of Fat Long-Fat, a red-haired pandaren brawler.

Brann Bronzebeard has confirmed that several races originated from the Ancients:[19] Cenarius' descendants are the magnataur, centaur,[20][21] keepers of the grove,[22] and dryads[22] (along with their forest and frost offshoots).[19] Agamaggan created the quilboar, Aviana created the harpies, and Aessina might have created the grell (she told Brann "maybe").

Brann also speculates on the existence of several Ancients and their creation of descendant races:[19] gorloc and a frog Ancient, wolvar and a badger Ancient, tuskarr and a walrus Ancient, gnolls and a hyena Ancient, and makrura and a lobster Ancient.[23]

Known

Ancient Guardians

Main article: Ancient Guardian

The Ancient Guardians are Wild Gods[11] worshiped by the night elves, found in Kalimdor.[24][25] They are greatly revered by druids. Famous Ancients include Cenarius, Malorne, Goldrinn, Aviana, Ursoc and Ursol.[26][27][28]

August Celestials

Main article: August Celestial

The August Celestials — Yu'lon, Xuen, Chi-Ji and Niuzao — are Wild Gods[11] who remained in Pandaria after the Great Sundering.[24] They have helped and guided the pandaren people for thousands of years.[29]

Loa

Main article: Loa

"Loa" is the name given by the trolls to the beings they worship as deities, such as the Wild Gods,[30] including the Ancient Guardians,[31] but also other entities such as C'Thraxxi,[32] wisps[31] and spirits like Bwonsamdi or Zanza. The first, early troll tribes already called Kalimdor's elusive Wild Gods as such and lived among them on the Zandalar Mountains.[30] A few of the more famous Wild God loa include Hakkar, Shadra, Gonk, Akali, Rezan, Jani and Hir'eek.[33][34][35][36]

Other

Draenor
Ardenweald

Speculated

Questionmark-medium.png
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.

The following beings may or may not be Wild Gods based on observed similarities:

  • The Great Bear Spirit and the Great Cat Spirit could have been Wild Gods.
  • Ysildar was speculated to be one of Keeper Freya's animal followers, likely meaning one of the Wild Gods.
  • IconSmall SeaTurtle.gif Ai'twen is a sea turtle in Stormsong Valley that once saved many tortollans from the "great purge of the Inky Grotto." He needs to be enticed back to our world.[54]
  • IconSmall WindSerpent.gif Arikara is a powerful, talking wind serpent from tauren legends. She has been around long enough to feature in tauren legends, and has come back from the dead on at least one occasion.
  • IconSmall SiberianTiger.gif Ban-Lu, a child of Xuen with the ability to speak, fly, and shapeshift.
  • IconSmall RavenGod.gif Blaithe, consort of Aviana, an ancient bird of prey that has been alive for at least ten thousand years.
  • IconSmall Frog.gif Cro'akan is larger than a normal frog. He can instantly kill everyone on his island with Frog Justice.
  • IconSmall Hydra.gif Gahz'rilla, a giant hydra said to be a demigod and worshipped by the Farraki trolls.
  • IconSmall Eel.gif G'nathus is believed by some pandaren to be an ancient Zandalari loa left behind to guard the waters south of Lei Shen's island citadel.[55]
  • IconSmall Mammoth.gif Khu'nok the Behemoth is a wise and ancient mammoth of a much larger size than the average mammoth. He also possesses the ability to speak.
  • IconSmall Devilsaur2.gif Kros is a devilsaur deity fervently worshiped by the Skumblade saurok and who may be a Wild God. The Skumblade saur-priests claim that the saurok were not the result of mogu flesh-shaping but that they instead evolved from the great creator, Kros. While this claim is false, the Echo of Kros and the blessings invoked by the tribe's brutes suggest that the entity very much exists.
  • IconSmall Moose.gif Morashu is described as an "ancient spirit" that has lingered in Highmountain "as long as any tribe", and Maltha Silenthoof states that his presence is required to carry out the cycle of life and death that keeps nature in balance.
  • IconSmall Rhino.gif Nozronn is a large skeletal rhino worshiped by the Oracles. His size and ability to speak suggest that he is a Wild God.
  • IconSmall Penguin.gif The Penguin King encountered by Arthas Menethil and Anub'arak in Northrend was a giant, invulnerable penguin with his own throne room who offered a magical ring to the undead.
  • The tuskarr deities — Tayutka, Issliruk, and Karkut — may be Wild Gods as well. Issliruk, the spirit of war, is depicted as a silver eagle, and tuskarr stories tell of how he fought against a hundred worgs to save his young.[56]
  • The other tuksarr deities, Im'bunata, Otu'rorq, Kraunot, and M'aketik in the Dragon Isles, may also be Wild Gods as they are called "guardian spirits"[57] and "Great Spirits"[58][59], and have control over elementals similar to other Wild Gods.
  • IconSmall Bear.gif Orsonn and Kodian, the son and daughter of Ursoc, may be Wild Gods themselves due to their parentage, size, and ability to speak.
  • IconSmall ThunderLizard.gif Owa'nohe is a thunder lizard spirit of considerable power considered the protector of Thunder Ridge.
  • IconSmall Tarantula.gif Lady Sathrah was a tarantula beloved by Elune. After Sathrah was killed, it was said that the forest would mourn her, and her spirit could be seen in the Temple of the Moon. Priestess A'moora also said Sathrah would be reborn.[60]
  • IconSmall Crocolisk.gif Sa'bak is a legendary crocolisk believed by the Tol'vir to have emerged from the sacred valley of Un'Goro Crater and been blessed by the Titan Keepers to safeguard the vast waterways of Uldum.
  • IconSmall Shen-zin Su.gif Shen-zin Su may be a Wild God given his colossal size, his ability to speak, and his long lifespan.
  • IconSmall Frog.gif Vodyanoi is a giant frog only visible while under the influence of a  [Marshroom] who will impart his wisdom about all creation and offer a  [Rune of the Stars] to druids who wish to converse with him.
  • IconSmall SpiritWolf2.gif Xolotal is an unknown creature that, presumably, manifests itself in the form of a wolf with lightning powers. Its avatar can be found just outside of Xibala, within the Den of Xolotal, surrounded by its sons.
  • IconSmall SkeletalDevilsaur.gif Xibala is said to be the first of the devilsaurs and mother to the loa Rezan. Her remains found in southern Zuldazar are titanic in size.

Notes

  • The term "wild god" first appeared in N [20-30] Strange Mojo and N [20-30] Trouble at the Altar of Sseratus in Zul'Drak. The Adventure Guide entry for Gundrak mentions the term "wild deities". The proper version of the term ("Wild Gods") was first mentioned by Dave Kosak on Twitter in 2014 as a categorization for the Ancient Guardians and the August Celestials.[24] The concept was elaborated and expanded upon with the release of World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, which also established at least some loa as being Wild Gods.
  • While the primal gods of Draenor, including Anzu, Sethe, and Rukhmar, were born from a large amount of spirit as opposed to the coalesced power of the Well of Eternity,[61] they have similarities with Wild Gods such as massive size, age, speech, and even Rukhmar creating the arakkoa like some Wild Gods made races of their own. In 2017, Matt Burns stated that he was hesitant to call them Wild Gods as the term has direct ties to the keepers on Azeroth, but added that he does think they're part of a greater set of similar creatures.[62][63] In Shadowlands, "wild god" (written in lowercase) is used for some non-Azerothian nature spirits,[2][3] making it no longer specific to Azeroth.
  • Hearthstone's Rastakhan's Rumble expansion featured nine Wild Gods: Hakkar, Gonk, Halazzi, Jan'alai, Shirvallah, Gral, Krag'wa, Hir'eek, and Akali.
    • The Into the Emerald Dream expansion featured eleven Wild Gods: Malorne, Cenarius, Goldrinn, Aessina, Ursol, Aviana, Ohn'ara, Ursoc, Omen, Ashamane, Agamaggan, and Tortolla, the latter five becoming corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare.

Gallery

Hearthstone

References

 
  1. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 14
  2. ^ a b  [Swift Gloomhoof]
  3. ^ a b c Ember Court description of Droman Aliothe
  4. ^  [Wild Godrune]
  5. ^ World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 50
  6. ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 54
  7. ^ World of Warcraft: The Dragonflight Codex, pg. 85
  8. ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 26
  9. ^ Ember Court description of Droman Aliothe
  10. ^  [Wild Godrune]
  11. ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 39 - 40
  12. ^ Dave Kosak on Twitter (2013-03-12): "The August Celestials are very much like the ancients (Goldrinn, Tortolla, etc). Unclear if they visit the dream, tho"
  13. ^ Zen'tabra#Gossip text
  14. ^ a b Tome of the Ancients
  15. ^ The Warcraft Encyclopedia: Demigods
  16. ^ a b N [60] Following the Trail
  17. ^ N [30-35] Return to Nordrassil
  18. ^ War Crimes, pg. 16
  19. ^ a b c World of Warcraft: The Magazine Issue 5
  20. ^ N [10-30D] Princess Theradras
  21. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 144 - 145
  22. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 119
  23. ^ World of Warcraft: The Magazine Volume II Issue I
  24. ^ a b c Dave Kosak on Twitter (2014-05-08): "Celestials are Wild Gods, like the Ancients. They just stayed in Pandaria."
  25. ^ Legion: Druid Artifact Reveal
  26. ^ Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment 2015-01-23. Legion: Druid Artifact Reveal. Retrieved on 2018-03-20.
  27. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 89
  28. ^ a b Tales of the Hunt
  29. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 78
  30. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 70
  31. ^ a b Ask CDev#Ask CDev Answers - Round 2
  32. ^ Kith'ix
  33. ^ Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment 2018-04-30. Battle for Azeroth Preview: Zuldazar Visitor’s Guide. Retrieved on 2018-05-02.
  34. ^ Prophet of Sseratus quotes
  35. ^ N [20-30] Trouble at the Altar of Sseratus
  36. ^ N [20-30] Strange Mojo
  37. ^ Drust Stele: Protectors of the Forest
  38. ^ Ulfar#Quotes
  39. ^ Defend the Dream When Guardians of the Dream Arrives the Week of November 7 (2023-10-26). Retrieved on 2023-11-07.
  40. ^ N [70-73] Their Moss, Our Gain
  41. ^ Horns of the Hills
  42. ^  [Feather of the Moonspirit]
  43. ^ N [30-35] ... It Will Come
  44. ^ N [30-35] Unplug L'ghorek
  45. ^ N [30-35] Communing with the Ancient
  46. ^ Wavespeaker Valoren while inside Nespirah
  47. ^ "One Small Tuskarr"
  48. ^ N [15-30] Conversing With the Depths
  49. ^ a b c d See note about the arakkoa gods.
  50. ^ World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 59
  51. ^ N [60] A Rare and Unusual Spirit
  52. ^ N [60] A Rare and Unusual Spirit
  53. ^ N [60] A Rare and Unusual Spirit
  54. ^ N [30-60] Flavorable Offering
  55. ^  [Spawn of G'nathus]
  56. ^ N [10-30] Arming Kamagua
  57. ^ Im'bunata's Blessing
  58. ^ N [30-70] A Wrestle of Wind and Water
  59. ^ Elder Nava
  60. ^ A [12] Tears of the Moon
  61. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 21
  62. ^ Matt Burns on Twitter: "I think they're part of a greater set of similar creatures. I'm hesitant to call them Wild Gods specifically though, just b/c--"
  63. ^ Matt Burns on Twitter: "--the term has direct ties to Keepers on Azeroth."
Nature and Holy sapient species
Wild Gods
Elemental
Nature
Angelic
This is a sub-template of Sapient Species
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