Xe'ra
 Xe'ra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title | The Light Mother[1] |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Naaru (Uncategorized) |
| Resource | Mana |
| Affiliation(s) | Army of the Light |
| Location | Xenedar, Argus |
| Status | Deceased[2] |
| Relative(s) | O'ros (descendant)[3] |
Xe'ra (/ˈziːɹə/ ZEE-rə),[4] the Light Mother[1] (also spelled Lightmother)[5] or the Mother of Light,[6] was the prime naaru (or the naaru prime),[7] one of the first naaru to be forged during the great ordering of the cosmos. For millennia, she led a crusade against the Burning Legion as leader of the Army of the Light.
She sent her core, known as Light's Heart, to Azeroth during the Legion's third invasion, in an attempt to aid the mortal forces fighting off the invading demons and find the subject of her prophecy, Illidan Stormrage.[3] She was made whole again during the invasion of Argus by Azerothian forces, but Illidan rejected her and destroyed Xe'ra.
History
Xe'ra was one of the first naaru forged during the great ordering of the cosmos,[8] and was allegedly "at the Beginning, when mortal life itself was but a distant dream", when she mentioned that she was among those who failed to stop the Legion's rise.[9] After the fall of Argus, the Genedar split into two separate vessels. The draenei's finest warriors followed the prime naaru Xe'ra aboard the Xenedar as the Army of the Light in an eternal war to bring about the Legion's end. Since then, other survivors of the Burning Crusade have joined the ranks of the Lightforged.[10]
Xe'ra kept from the Army, the knowledge that a naaru could fall to the Void, something they would only learn on Eredath with L'ura.[11]
A Thousand Years of War
Years after the Second War on Azeroth, Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner were hunted by Eradication. After Alleria made short work of the assassin, the naaru Xe'ra appeared before the two and told them that, though the Burning Legion had failed to enter Azeroth during the Second War, they would soon succeed in doing so. Alleria, wishing to see their son Arator once more, pushed Xe'ra to send them to Azeroth to rally the disparate nations to stand against the Legion. Xe'ra told them their aid would not be enough, but that they would be needed to do battle against the Legion elsewhere and were fated to discover the "Emerald Star", which held the means to end the Legion forever. Turalyon and Alleria agreed with the necessity of Xe'ra's request and stepped through a portal to join the Army of Light.[12] Xe'ra helped[13] Alleria see her son Arator in Stormwind City.
Turalyon and Alleria trained aboard the Army's dimensional ship, the Xenedar. After many years, Turalyon was infused with the Light by Xe'ra, granting him immortality. Alleria told Xe'ra of a vision she had seen of herself walking on the Legion stronghold world of Argus, and that in this vision she had seen the Emerald Star. With Argus's defenses diminished by their invasion, Xe'ra recognized that there would be no better chance and sent Alleria and Turalyon to discover the truth of the Emerald Star. En route Alleria privately told Turalyon that her visions were sent not by the Light, but by another force that Xe'ra would object to. Turalyon told her that while he respected Xe'ra's wisdom, he trusted Alleria's instincts more and welcomed any help against the Burning Legion.
Even though Alleria had been advised against it, she started delving into the Void and left the Army of the Light under the tutelage of Locus-Walker. She would eventually return to the Xenedar, and aid the Army against the Burning Legion. Xe'ra tried to convince her to abandon her endeavor and keep to the Light, but Alleria refused. Although X'era was eventually dissuaded by Turalyon from putting Alleria to death, and despite Alleria's arguments that they were not enemies despite their different affiliations, she nevertheless had Alleria imprisoned aboard the Xenedar, at least until she accepted "the path of righteousness" once again.[1][14]
At an unknown point in time, Xe'ra became convinced that another mortal from Azeroth, Illidan Stormrage, was "the child of Light and Shadow": a hero destined to end the age of demons.[8]
Illidan
One month before the invasion of Outland, while sending his spirit into the Nether to scout the location of Nathreza, Illidan briefly thought he sensed something watching him.[15] A month later, when he sent his soul to Argus and began casting a spell that would allow him to open a portal between that world and Outland, he again noticed the presence observing him. However, it was magically shrouded and eluded his attempts at perception. Once inside the palace of Kil'jaeden, Illidan was caught in a magical trap which almost alerted Kil'jaeden to his intrusion. The watching presence intervened by distracting the Deceiver and freeing Illidan from the trap. It then telepathically told him to leave, at which point his spirit was instantly sent back to Outland. Illidan sensed that his savior was a blindingly bright being of Light, but he refused to trust it since he suspected that it could be a deception by Kil'jaeden.[16]
The day before his defeat in the Black Temple, Illidan sent his soul back to Argus to finish linking the planet to Outland. He once again sensed the presence watching his work with curiosity while evading all of his attempts to reveal it, which he took as a sign of great sorcerous ability. The moment he finished the spell, the presence overwhelmed him with such immense power that he was helpless to resist. It transported him to an illusory plain of Light, where it revealed itself to be "an elder naaru", "possibly the eldest now remaining in these universes", who had been waiting for the universe to produce a hero like Illidan. Illidan sensed that the naaru was even stronger than A'dal, but remained suspicious that the meeting was a trap by Kil'jaeden. The naaru told Illidan that he was destined to defeat a foe even greater than the Burning Legion, namely the Void, and then shot a bolt of Light into his eyes in order to grant him a vision of a future in which he had been transformed into a champion of the Light, leading an army against creatures of the Void. The naaru then ended the illusion they stood inside, returning them to Argus, and branded Illidan's forehead with a holy rune before bidding him farewell and disappearing. Illidan wasn't sure what to make of the meeting; he thought that the naaru's vision had felt true, but simultaneously doubted that he could ever find redemption in such a way.[17] Hours later, when Illidan was killed atop the Temple Summit, the last thing he saw before he collapsed was a vision of the naaru's sigil.[18]
Although never expressly identified, the elder naaru's description, behavior, and intentions for Illidan all match those of Xe'ra.
Legion
By the time the Legion launched its third invasion of Azeroth, the Army of the Light was teetering on the brink of destruction on Argus. In desperation, Xe'ra sent her core, known as Light's Heart, to Azeroth in order to aid its inhabitants and find the child of Light and Shadow.[8] This action weakened her.[1] Light's Heart cut a swathe through the Felstorm above the Tomb of Sargeras, and radiated enough power that Silver Hand scouts could feel it coursing through their body. It fell near the coast of Suramar where it was first found by gilgoblins, who brought it to a sea giant, from whom an order champion sent by Khadgar would retrieve it. A message from High General Turalyon revealed that Light's Heart had been sent as the Army of the Light's last resort as they were fighting their final war against the Burning Legion. He then asked for the core to be handed to Prophet Velen.
At the Exodar, Velen recognized Light's Heart and stated that it could only be unlocked by another naaru in Xe'ra's line. O'ros, being the last of Xe'ra's line, was thus targetted and killed during the Battle for the Exodar by Rakeesh, who did not want Velen to obtain the information contained with the core.[3] However, the Tears of Elune somehow managed to open Light's Heart at Khadgar's suggestion.
Upon doing so, the spirit of the order champion was sent to Xe'ra. There, she told them about her prophecy regarding Illidan Stormrage, the "child of Light and Shadow", destined to end the age of demons. Through Light's Heart, she would later continue to communicate with the champion charged to protect her core and try to guide them towards "redemption", as in her eyes the champion's participation (if applicable) in the death of Illidan at the Black Temple was a terrible mistake. Xe'ra claimed that once their work of reuniting Illidan's body with his soul was done, her final task would be complete and she would be lost to the Great Dark Beyond.[19] However, after Illidan was made whole again, Xe'ra was not lost.
Shadows of Argus
Turalyon, Alleria, and a champion from Azeroth later traveled to the Xenedar, which crashed in Krokuun, where they found the gravely injured Xe'ra and teleported her to the Vindicaar.[1] Light's Heart was placed back at her center, and Xe'ra awakened. She asked Illidan to join the Light and fulfill his destiny, but Illidan refused. Xe'ra had seen so many die, so many worlds burn, lost so much over millennia – all to get to this moment. If Illidan was prophesied to destroy the Legion, Xe'ra would see this promised future no matter the cost.[20] She thus forcefully bound Illidan in chains of light and attempted to fulfill her own prophecy by force. The demon hunter however broke free and destroyed Xe'ra. An enraged Turalyon accused Illidan of dooming them all and attempted to strike him down, but Illidan blocked Turalyon's blow and told him that his faith had blinded him. According to Illidan, there was no chosen one, only they could save themselves.[2] Velen would comment that her loss was a blow and condemned Illidan for killing her along with Xe'ra's attempting to force destiny upon them.[5] Artificer Rommul would also say Xe'ra's loss was his most troubling experience in the conflict thus far.
The shards of Xe'ra were collected by Velen, who swore that the Light did not die with her and shone in each of them.[21] Xe'ra's light was then safeguarded within the Netherlight Crucible.[22]
Light's Heart, Xe'ra's sentience core.
Xe'ra injured, without her core, aboard the Xenedar.
Dragonflight
After the war against the Primalists, Xal'atath manifested Alleria Windrunner's memories as projections recounting major events of her life at the Triad's Conservatory in Eredath. One of the memories is that of Xe'ra and Arator Windrunner in front of the Statue of Alleria in Stormwind City.[13] This is a reference to a scene in A Thousand Years of War where Xe'ra helps Alleria project her consciousness to Stormwind, allowing a baby Arator to feel her presence as he looks up to the statue of his mother.
Locations
| Locations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone | Level range | Reaction | Notes |
| Krokuun; Vindicaar | 45 Elite | Alliance Horde | As part of the Argus Campaign. |
| Triad's Conservatory, Eredath | 70 Elite | Alliance Horde | As a projection during  [70] The Path Taken. |
Quotes
Illidan
- "I am an elder naaru. Possibly the eldest now remaining in these universes."[17]
- "You or someone like you was bound to [come]. The universe throws up champions in the face of those who would destroy it."[17]
- "The Void is a more potent foe by far than the Burning Legion. It is the ultimate opponent of the Light. It will take all the peoples of Azeroth and Outland united to oppose it."[17]
- "You will defy death. I have seen this. Whatever you were, whatever you are, a champion of the Light is what you will be. You will be a hero. But there will be a price."[17]
Legion
- Main article: Light's Heart#Quotes
- Main article: In the House of Light and Shadow#Notes
- Main article: Awakenings#Notes
- Main article: An Unclear Path#Notes
- Main article: Ravencrest's Legacy (quest)#Notes
- Main article: In My Father's House#Notes
- Main article: Destiny Unfulfilled#Notes
- Main article: The Child of Light and Shadow#Notes
Notes and trivia
- Archmage Khadgar believed, based on a passage from an ancient cosmology tome he found in Karazhan, that the prime naaru may have been created by Elune.[23]
- Her interaction with the player is different if they are a demon hunter. Instead of blaming them for murdering Illidan and trying to guide them towards salvation, the Illidari leader, having sided with Illidan, is praised, and her goal with them is to make them understand Illidan's true goal and the sacrifices he made.[24]
- Despite having been Xe'ra's subordinates in the Army of the Light,[25] A'dal and the other Sha'tar condoned Illidan's death.[26][27] It's not known if they were unaware of Xe'ra's plans for Illidan, or if they knew but decided to go against her.
- Turalyon would come to agree that Xe'ra had been in the wrong. He later stated to Anduin Wrynn at the Gathering that paladins and priests should let the Light guide them, but never command them, and make use of one's mind and heart as well. Anduin was aware that Turalyon was referring to Xe'ra.[28] Even long before this, Velen (possibly recalling Illidan's arguments that he must forge destiny by his own hands), while acknowledging Xe'ra's nobility and relentless defiance in the face of the Legion,[22] had also mentioned that even the Light Mother could not be allowed to force destiny upon others.[5]
- In one of the visions of a possible future, shown by the Void, Alleria Windrunner saw Xe'ra declaring her a heretic and calling for her death.[29]
- It is unclear why the Lightforged draenei took no action against Illidan after Xe'ra's destruction at his hands, despite having loyally served and revered the Prime Naaru for thousands of years, although it is possible that the majority were just as genuinely surprised by her compulsion of Illidan to embrace the Light, and Velen, who disapproved of her action, was able to persuade the other draenei to leave Illidan alone, especially at the crucial point of their decisive conflict against the Legion.
- Xe'ra is the first confirmed female naaru as evidenced by her bearing the title of "Light Mother" as well as both Velen and Turalyon referring to Xe'ra as "she", rather than "it".[1] She also has a feminine voice.[8]
- Before her, K'ara was referred to as a "she" by alternate Velen, but the written text and voice over didn't match,[30] and World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 referred to K'ara as "it".
- Xe'ra is voiced by Kate Higgins.
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- Prior to receiving a unique model in patch 7.3.0, Xe'ra used an ordinary naaru model during her appearance in [45] In the House of Light and Shadow.
- The character of Xe'ra was created to explore the idea that not all naaru are necessarily good from the player's perspective, with naaru all having their own distinct personalities and goals (such as the aforementioned actions of A'dal). While Xe'ra believed that she was indeed doing good, that good was not necessarily good for everyone.[31]
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.
|
- Xe'ra may be the naaru that appeared to Turalyon in Beyond the Dark Portal.[32]
- The Light Mother behind the Lightbound may be the alternate counterpart to Xe'ra since they share the same title and are related to an Army of the Light.
- As a creature born of one of the six powers who was killed outside of their home plane, Xe'ra likely returned to the Light to be reconstituted and was not truly destroyed.
Videos
Patch changes
- Patch 7.3.0 (2017-08-29): Model updated.
- Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Added.
References
- ^ a b c d e f [45] The Light Mother
- ^ a b [45] The Child of Light and Shadow
- ^ a b c [10-45] Bringer of the Light
- ^ Rejection of the Gift
- ^ a b c [45] The Burning Heart
- ^ Battle for the Exodar
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 12
- ^ a b c d [45] In the House of Light and Shadow
- ^ A Thousand Years of War
- ^ Army of the Light#Reputation
- ^ [45] Shadow of the Triumvirate
- ^ A Thousand Years of War Part One: Two Bright Lights
- ^ a b [70] The Path Taken
- ^ A Thousand Years of War Part Three: Shadow and Light
- ^ Illidan, chapter 14, pg. 197 - 198
- ^ Illidan, chapter 24
- ^ a b c d e Illidan, chapter 27
- ^ Illidan, chapter 31, pg. 399
- ^ [45] Awakenings
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 4, pg. 117
- ^ [45] Essence of the Light Mother
- ^ a b [45] An Offering of Light
- ^ [45] Goddess Watch Over You
- ^ [45] Destiny Unfulfilled
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 140
- ^ [30] Entry Into the Black Temple
- ^ [25-30] Battle of the Crimson Watch
- ^ Before the Storm, chapter 28
- ^ A Thousand Years of War Part Three: Shadow & Light, pg. 37
- ^
[10-40] The Prophet's Final Message
- ^ Blizzblizz - Entrevista com Interview, 27:55
- ^ Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 13
External links
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