#kaldorei lore

[fromtheempress]

Fish Fridays feature: Naga of Cataclysm: The Sira'kess and Spitescale tribes

In Vashj'ir, in the zones known as the Shimmering Expanse and the Abyssal Depths, the Sira'kess naga, led by Lady Sira'kess, await the heroes in two very different types of encounters. In the quest "By Her Ladys' Word", the hero, assuming the role of the Naz'jar Battlemaiden in a vision of the past conjured by Wavespeaker Valoren (Alliance) or Wavespeaker Tulra (Horde), meet the Sira'kess naga for the first time. According to Wowpedia, "They appear to be one of the three castes in  Vashj'ir, likely focusing on spellcasting and/or the priesthood." The Lady Sira'kess herself leads them, being one of the questgivers in "By Her Ladys' Word", speaking to the Naz'jar battlemaiden Nar'jira about obtaining the "Crucible of Nazsharin" from the Kvaldir.

Lady Sira'kess. (Image source: Wowpedia, Hearthstone)

The crucible is successfully obtained for the Lady Sira'kess in the vision of Vashj'ir past; much later, however, she appears as one of the killable objectives in the quest "Defending the Rift", in which the player is to kill 15 naga attacking the Throne of the Tides, Neptulon's realm beneath the waves. As Lady Sira'kess and her naga are defeated in this encounter in the Abyssal Breach, neither she nor her naga are seen in the game again.

The Sira'kess Tribe are as follows:

Lady Sira'kess- Leader, Mistress of the Tides

Fathom-Caller Azrajar- Ritualist

Unnamed:

 Sira'kess Guardian

 Sira'kess Tide Priestess

Sira'kess Sea Witch

Sira'kess Zealot

(source: Wowpedia)

For more information on the Naz'jar Battlemaiden, Nar'jira, please see my previous post:

Led by the Sea Witch Zar'jira and her consort Naj'tess, the Spitescale naga appear on the Echo Isles in Durotar. They are the killable objectives in the quests "No More Mercy" and "An Ancient Enemy", as the hero must aid the Darkspear trolls in retaking the Echo Isles, their former home. According to Morakki, the questgiver for "No More Mercy", "Da naga have committed great atrocities on our people" (Wowpedia). The Spitescale, therefore, are shown the same ruthless treatment and slain.

Zar'jira, the Sea Witch. (Image source: Wowpedia, Hearthstone) It is revealed, during the quest "An Ancient Enemy", that Zar'jira was the one who had slain the Darkspear leader Vol'jin's father and taken the Isles, driving the trolls out of their home. Once the hero helps the trolls take vengeance on Zar'jira, the trolls are free to live on the Echo Isles once more.

The Spitescale are as follows:

Naj'tess- Consort of the Sea Witch.

Zar'jira- Sea Witch and leader of the Spitescale.

Unnamed

 Manifestation of the Sea Witch

 Spitescale Siren

 Spitescale Wavethrasher

 Captive Spitescale Scout

Fun Facts and Speculation:

In the quest "An Occupation of time", the hero finds a statue In Vashj'ir, in the Quel'Dormir gardens, of a woman named "High Priestess Sira'len". There is a plaque stating the following:

"Let this statue stand as an everlasting testament to High Priestess Siralen in the name of all she has done to nurture Quel'Dormir Temple into a glowing beacon of faith. May her newfound service under Queen Azshara herself shine as a testament to the potential of the noble birth nurtured in our beloved, Vashj'ir". (Wowpedia).

The quest-giver, Levia Dreamwalker, acknowledges that this and several other statues are "...some of the first definitive proof of other members of the Vashj family." (Wowpedia). It was also speculated, at one point, that Lady Sira'len may have become Lady Sira'kess, (also a priestess in the drowned city of Vashj'ir), as a naga. There is no longer any definitive proof of this, however.

On the Darkspear Islands in Warcraft III, the murlocs on the island have an altar dedicated to their goddess, none other than the sorceress and Sea Witch Zar'jira, who after a brief conflict issues a dire warning to the departing trolls. As the trolls end up leaving these islands in Warcraft III, they are not in World of Warcraft. It is speculated however that the Spitescale naga "may have previously operated in (the Darkspear Islands) as well." (Wowpedia)

“Fish Fridays” is a look into the various Naga personalities that populate the waters of  Azeroth and Draenor,to give our worthy readers a greater sense of the Naga world and the creatures Vashj often interacts with.

Lore sources, photos and links are all from Wowwiki, Wowpedia, and Wikipedia.

[deathbypixelz]

In my AU, one of the major aesthetic tweaks I make to the kaldorei is remove a lot of the metal in their armor and replace it with leather, fur, and cloth. They still use metal of course, but for a people who cares so much about and is presumably very knowledgeable about the environment, they'd know mining all that metal is super unsustainable and damaging. Also leather and fur and cloth is easier to move and sneak around in.

With that said, I wanted to do a bit of a redesign for Maiev Shadowsong my beloved. I didn't want to touch her overall silhouette, because that shit is Iconic As Hell, but I replaced the heavy plate with more flexible samurai-type armor. There's already some Japanese/Korean/general SE Asian aesthetic influence in canon, so I wanted to draw on that. Not so much the (fantastical) Viking aesthetic I usually lean into, but I threw some of that in as well (e.g. the winnigas wrapping on her legs).

This isn't a "final draft" of her redesign, moreso a proof-of-concept for myself. So there'll be changes, as with all character designs lol

[deathbydarkelves]

I realized I completely overlooked where the kaldorei get their eggs from, so I decided they domesticated a species of pheasant and one or two species of geese for that :)

(the wild type is based off the irl Mikado pheasant)

Many, many households outside of city centers have their own little flocks. You get eggs, meat, they function as waste disposal, and produce fertilizer for your garden. Win-win.

By the way I just roughly and quickly sketched out these ideas. I'm not familiar enough with domestication and genetics to really get into the weeds of what breeds would arise (and in fact I mostly just copied irl chicken breeds), this is just a proof of concept.

[ashtarels-archives]

Delving into Blackfathom Deeps

An excerpt from Glory to the Queen Born of Stars:

"Of the wonders our queen brought to this world, perhaps none was so great as Lathar'Lazal. As masons constructed the temple, Azshara shaped the waters around it with the Scepter of Tides. She spoke the names of the rivers and the seas, and they moved at her command. Salt water from the roaring ocean and fresh water from the mountain streams trickled to Azshara's side. With the flick of her wrist, the queen partitioned them into great lakes that hugged Lathar'Lazal's sturdy foundation."

Architecture:

Blackfathom Deeps, as we know it today, was once called "Lathar'Lazal," or "Seat of the Sky" in Darnassian. Long ago, this was a temple to Elune built by Queen Azshara with the aid of Sharas'dal (her tide-scepter) in the ages before the Sundering. Pelagic imagery still endures in the architecture of these sunken ruins, described at one point to have contained "gem-encrusted bridges and effervescent lakes." Motifs of fish-head fountains, wave-inspired stonework, scale-like patterns, and ionic columns are repeated in the masonry and pottery of the forlorn halls. It is unclear what the seafoam-colored stone the temple is made of, though it is interesting to note that it almost bears a resemblance to a body of water's surface: like the way a pool shifts and shimmers with the light. Some kind of material borne of the sea, melded together with the queen's Sharas'dal, or a common mineral of the region? They could also simply bear cracks and signs of weathering considering the age of the temple, but watery stone would be fitting symbolically.

Azshara's Influence:

"Whenever she [Azshara] walked the bridges of Lathar'Lazal, nearby schools of exotic fish would array themselves in colorful patterns. She even kept a colossal sea giant bound to one of the lakes. She used her scepter to make him perform tricks and feats of strength, much to the delight of the watching Highborne. Curious night elves from the far corners of the empire journeyed to Lathar'Lazal to study the mythical creature and his habits."

Perhaps Lathar'Lazal was a bustling tourist attraction then in the days of the empire, both for education and entertainment. With such tourism drawn to the temple, I wonder if the nearby land/city of Zoram benefited from this economically.

The passage above seems to imply that the Highborne rather enjoyed the spectacle of the imprisoned sea giant, and this poses an interesting dichotomy to the original purpose of the temple: a house of Elune, simultaneously hosting a creature trapped against its will. Such an exhibition created by Azshara here speaks to her penchant for show and amusement, and possible disregard for the faith. If only a historical record existed of a priestess's personal journal or the like; and whether she would be disappointed with such behavior, or complacent in the suffering of other races/creatures as night elves often were during this era.

Tideweaver:

Queen Azshara, even before her naga transformation, always had a fascinating dominion over water, both with her scepter Sharas'dal and the Well of Eternity. Supposedly Xavius was the one who actually gifted the queen with this ornate weapon that later shaped the temple:

"A night elf named Lord Xavius presented the queen with a jeweled scepter, etched with delicate magical sigils. He promised Azshara that so long as she kept it close, it would bring her prosperity and great power. Azshara held the scepter aloft, and the jewels shimmered in the light of the moons like brilliant stars. The sight of the queen and her gift was so beautiful that it brought many of the attendant Highborne to tears."

An enigmatic man of terrifying skill and power, I do wonder where Xavius procured this weapon in the first place; as its design does not appear to be of Kaldorei craftsmanship. Perhaps it hails from the ancient jinyu culture, the primordial titans, or some other past world power. Examining its details, what do you think of Sharas'dal's origins?

"Queen Azshara's enchanted scepter afforded her great power. Imbued with the Well of Eternity's potent waters, it held sway over the rivers and the seas, aquatic creatures of all kinds, and the life energies that stirred within Azshara herself."

In the Tablet of Balancing Tides, it is stated that:

"The whispers of Elune and Neptulon play on the tides, their words etched in stone are a tribute to the balance of their power."

I find it interesting that Azshara utilized a form of magic half-intrinsic to the moon goddess. Did she derive some of her aquatic power from Elune, or use a different magick entirely? The descriptions of Azshara wielding the scepter use language that speaks to a command over water, rather than a unity with the elementals, spirits, and goddess.

This item's flavor text also mentions Neptulon--Elemental Lord of Waters--interestingly now a sworn enemy of Queen Azshara and her naga forces in the present day.

The Moonshrine Ruins:

This place supposedly once hosted a moonwell, with an area known as the Moonshrine. The foundations here might suggest that before the Sundering, Lathar'Lazal could have been built just upon the shores, or expanded out into the sea itself with the tides embracing the temple all around. Swimming beneath the waters of the Moonshrine, there appear to be large pillars supporting the walkways here; much like a pier.

The Inner Sanctum:

Crescent imagery is prevalent inside of the sanctum, as well as sets of 3 seats, perhaps symbolism of the triple moon (waxing, full, and waning or the maiden, mother, and crone archetypes) holding some importance in the rituals carried out here. These could also represent a large meeting space, high-ranking priestesses for ritual, a council of leadership, divisions of the temple, seating for observers, or something else entirely. They face partitioned rooms with crescent moon symbols.

If we look at the central dais of the sanctum, (Azshari statue and cultist altar notwithstanding) there is a raised platform with a pyramid-like structure carved into the ceiling. Perhaps a skylight once existed here to let in moonlight for lunar rites, or this area hosted something of great importance to be kept safe inside the sanctum.

The Moondoors:

The moondoors are an especially interesting piece, and the last apparent threshold of the Seat of the Sky. Upon passing through, there are only a handful of pillars flanking the sides of the cavern. They seem to accompany each other in pairs on each side - marking a possible entrance, exit, or some other pathway to the temple. While I am unsure of their true purpose or the mechanism to unlock them, the various square pieces are almost akin to a puzzle. This model is used in other Kaldorei architecture and I've long been intrigued by their possible uses. These moondoors are typically used as entrances to the tall, thin ivory towers of Kaldorei ruins. Perhaps Elunarian priests or arcanists weave (or wove) intricate spellwork rooted in the arcane, or the moon cycle in order to lock these types of barriers. What was intended to lie beyond them is anyone's guess: powerful artifacts, sacred relics, enshrined lore, or even concealed secrets.

"The Great Sundering shattered the glorious temple, sinking it beneath the waves of the Veiled Sea."

I hope you enjoyed these musings! There's something equally fascinating and solemn looking back at the remnants of the Kaldorei Empire - in the shadows of glory that once eclipsed the continent.

[frutavel]

Fun OC fact of the day:

These four are technically related.

The three night elves are siblings, but if you go far back enough in the family tree it turns out they all share a common ancestor with Tau - and oddly enough the nelves are actually closer to that ancestor than Tau is. Their parents are very, very old elves, and all in all only a few generations removed from the dark trolls that bore them.

Kaharau is a dark troll who, according to legend, wanted to cheat death by becoming a loa. He sought to achieve this by having his friends and family pay him tributes in life, something that most saw as foolish or a joking manner.

The young ones took that to heart though, and a few too many eager younglings was more than enough to fulfill the old man's wish. It's said that ol' Kaharau became a trickster spirit in The Other Side, and while few know of his story, he is kept alive in legend and song and the occasional offering made by those who find some joy in his tale.

Kaharau's descendants would eventually split in two lines. One line was changed by the Well of Eternity into something entirely new, becoming the night elves that Adagio, Andryza and Rex were born from. The other line continued as they always had, and Urutau is now one of the few living grandchildren of a trickster loa.

[wowlorecraft]

On the evolution of High Elves

"High Elf" as a category no longer applies to the elves of Azeroth. Those who retain the monicker are actively raciating, becoming what we would call Highvale and Light Elves, respectively. These Bel'dorei and Al'dorei practise different arts, eat different foods, adorn their bodies and houses differently, and are beginning to physiologically look different, too. As such, I posit that the term "High Elf" has finally and officially been eclipsed by distinct elven identities and the high elven category has gone entirely dormant as of this writing.

~ Lorekeeper Kalith

No more are the High Elves: In their place stand the Sin'dorei, Blood Elves of the Horde; banished from their ranks are the Ren'dorei, Alliance Void Elves. The Highborn have since become the Night Elves: Alliance Kaldorei, including the Eldorei or Shen'dralar, those who hid in Eldre'Thalas; in Suramar, they have become Nightborne, Shal'dorei, allies with the Horde and cousins of the Nightfallen and Fal'dorei.

Those Kaldorei who were exiled took to the sun and Sunwell instead. The story is well-worn; it is the small, yet fruitful, remnants who maintain their ties with the Alliance that we discuss here:

Quel'dorei, "Children of Noble (lit. high) Birth," made their home in Quel'Thalas at Silvermoon, with their spiritual centre at Quel'Danas, the Sunwell. After the destruction and splintering of their nation, three major splits happened: One sought refuge in their Lodges, the other stayed amongst the Humans and other magi, particularly at Dalaran, and the last went to Draenor.

(Those who made their home in Quel'Lithien have succumbed and become Wretched. Discussion and analysis of the various Wretched and Withered is to come.)

Dalaran, Quel'Danil, and the Allerian Stronghold became centres of High Elven activity within the Alliance. Those of the Kirin Tor and Silver Covenant both distanced themselves from their Blood Elven kin and warmly welcomed back those of the Alliance Expedition. Danassian Elves practise light and arcane magic and are led by Vareesa Windrunner

These Elves have come together and, holding true to their roots when first exiled from the Druidic, moon-worshipping Kaldorei, forged a new name for themselves, one in direct opposition to the Sin'dorei Sunreavers . They have found community in the Human, Gnomish, and other magi of Dalaran and other Alliance cities. Within their ranks are numerous Half-Elven communities, whom they publicly call Shan’are "honoured ones" but privately label Vor'dorei "Children of the Broken."

Danillian Elves, on the other hand, have found community with the Wildhammer Dwarves most especially. In addition, some Draenei have made Quel'Danil their home, and these Highvale Draenei follow the shamanic path first laid by Nobundo, learning to become druids. With Seradane so close, the Wildhammers, Danai,* and Highvale Elves commune with the Kaldorei and Worgen. Thus the Highvale Elves begin to consider themselves a distinct elven nation. In their concordance with the Wildhammers, their bodies (adorned with tattoos) become thicker and more stout, becoming the shortest and widest of elves. Similarly, these Highvale Draenei, or (*) Danai, come to intermix with their neighbours resulting in browner and greener, tattoo'd, and more nature-y space goats

Thus:

Kaldorei - Children of the Stars - Night Elves

Eldorei - Children of Eldre'Thalas - Shan'dralar

Shal'dorei - Children of the Night - Nightborne

Fal'dorei - Children of Falanaar / followers of Aranasi

Sin'dorei - Children of Blood / of the Bloodline - Blood Elves

Quel'dorei - Children of Noble (lit. High) Birth

Some useful Thalassian words:

Quel - High, Noble

Belore - Sun

Alah - Light

Thas - Forest

Danil - ? Peak

(*)For the goats:

-nai = "with / person of a place" e.g., Kurenai, Auchenai)

-dor = settlement (e.g., Talador, Telredor)

Quel'Danil > Danidor (in Draenic, a borrowing) > Danai

(There is no word for mountain in-game in the language, so I did my best with "Danai")

For the Elves...

Highvale Elves: Either keep Quel'dorei for its literal use of "high"/"quel," or transition to Thas'dorei (ew), or Bel'dorei, a shortening of Belore'dorei "Children of the Sun" as both a way to stay true to Sun-worshipping heritage, keep in allied complementary opposition to Kaldorei's Elune worship, and a nod to the new Night Elven home of Bel'Ameth. I convinced myself writing this: Bel'dorei for Highvale Elves

Danassian Elves: These are the elves that still 'shun' nature worship, maintain an arcane practice, and follow the Light. They are spread around, but their capital is Dalaran now. They oppose the Blood Elves but still need to sate their needs and thus still utilize the Sunwell as the font of power it is. They are Children of the Light, or Light Elves, and Alah'dorei or, for short, Al'dorei in Thalassian (now Danassian)

Danai - Those from Danidor (Quel'Danil) - Highvale Draenei

Bel'dorei - Children of the Sun - Highvale Elves

Al'dorei - Children of the Light - Dalarani (&c.) High Elves

[lendasdeazeroth]

Os Kaldorei começam a usar Magia arcana

O Renascimento da Magia Arcana entre os Kaldorei O Alvorecer de uma Nova Era Ano 133.500 - Apesar da catástrofe que foi a invasão da Legião Ardente e a subsequente quebra do mundo conhecida como a Grande Divisão, os Kaldorei experimentaram um período de reconstrução e reflexão. Entre as cinzas do antigo mundo, cerca de 13.500 anos antes da Primeira Guerra, as sementes de um renascimento cul...

https://lendasdeazeroth.com.br/a-era-dos-elfos/os-kaldorei-comecam-a-usar-magia-arcana/

[birmit]

Emmy-Lee ceremonial armor design for #OCLunarFestival2025

We tried to make a mix of kaldorei/dragon styles, lore explanation in the second image

[witchlightdesigns]

I've got a lovely kaldorei mage hunter that I think I've yet to share here! Her name is Eille'nar Kal'rhok, or Starbow, and she's aaaaancient. Born in Elune'dris before it became Zin-Azshari. She's been through a lot. She was amongst the first Sentinels, and I've kinda made her a custom class of a mix between hunter and warden and mage. We're working on her partner too, an afflicted kaldorei monk who has a blessing similar to an Anubisath and he's all jackal-like instead of your normal worgen. He wound up in Uldum after the War of the Shifting Sands and we've got some good plausible lore stuff for him I think. Bending a little, but not breaking.

[thependragonarchives]

KuroWoW Brainworms

race + class combos!!!

Ciel - Gilnean (not afflicted, aka no werewolf) Warlock. He is twelve years old and has a demon butler, not much change there but Gilneas is kinda filled with plague (pretend its pre Dragonflight) so he lost his estate. Sebastian - Sayaad, former member of the Burning Legion. There's very few demons that fit Sebastian in the WoW universe, so Sayaad it is. He uses a human glamour though, and acts as Ciel's butler/guardian. Lizzie - Kul'Tiran Warrior! Kul'Tiras is a land that is bound to the sea, and I think the Midfords would do great there. Plus she could've gone to the Eastern Kingdoms to visit Ciel b4 the fall of Gilneas. Mage portals exist at least! Baldroy - Westfall Farmer to Stormwind Soldier to Chef of Lord Phantomhive. Human warrior. The war against the Lich King and the Cataclysm ruined Westfall, leaving most of its denizens struggling. Baldo took the chance Ciel gave as a second try at life. Finnian - Lordaeronian descent, survivor of the Arugal's experiments. He's also a worgen!! Aka werewolf :D. When the Scourge was rampaging towards Gilneas, Finnian was but a boy when he was taken by the mage and turned into a worgen. Might make him a druid tbh!!

Mey-Rin - Marksmanship Hunter, but I can't decide if she'd be a half elf of Kaldorei descent or Quel'dorei!! Kaldorei are much more attuned to nature, while Quel'dorei (renamed Sin'dorei) are reliant on mana + eventually fel (demonic) magics.

Tanaka- Pandaren Warrior. Did I furryfy grandpa? Yeah. Does the life of Pandaren fit grandpa? Absolutely, especially with the Sha in lore. I plan on drawing them when i get the chance <3

[kottkrig]

Is there a good way to catch up with all the Warcraft-Lore aside WoWpedia? I haven't been playing WoW on an official Server since 2011/12 or so, for multiple reasons and I don't plan to return. But I'm currently obsessed with Kaldorei Dark Rangers and I want to rewrite/continue the backstory of my little (6'5" smol) kaldorei huntress, that it fits my new headcanon about her becoming a Dark Ranger.

I think WoWhead has some summaries of quests detailing most recent lore

Re. Nelf Dark Rangers; quest chapters from the Darkshore patch in BfA, Lordaeron reclamation story, heritage quests, and some of them show up in Amirdrassil from recently.. WoWhead in general for shorter summaries, including relevant cinematics

Other than that, the books taking place around BfA-Shadowlands-Dragonflight I suppose! (I haven't read more than summaries)

Edit: and fanmade video essays on YouTube! Such as PlatinumWoW etc, I think Blizz actually hired them to make some vids recently

[fromtheempress]

Fish Fridays feature: The Darkscale Naga, the Nazj'vel digsite, and the two battles for Darkshore

(The Darkscale appear in two battlefronts in Darkshore: one is the battle against the Twilights' hammer "Masters' Glaive" cult during the Cataclysm expansion, and the other is the Alliances' battle versus the Horde for control of Darkshore in Battle for Azeroth expansion. I will be covering both here.)

The Darkscale naga first appear at the site of a Night Elven archaeological digsite near the Twilight Shore in Darkshore, the Nazj'vel digsite. In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the hero is sent to slay the naga guarding the digsite and obtain the "Horn of the Ancients", an ancient artifact the naga are trying to give to their queen, Azshara. The questline starts with Malfurion Stormrage giving you the "Mounting the Offensive" quest and ends with the druid Balren of the Claw giving you the quest "Ashes in Ashenvale". If the hero slays all four Darkscale naga Priestesses surrounding the Horn of the Ancients, Queen Azshara herself will appear.

A Hearthstone illustration depicting the "Horn of the Ancients", an artifact Malfurion Stormrage and the hero use to defeat the Avatar of Soggoth in the battle for Darkshore in the Cataclysm expansion. (image source: Wowpedia).

The questline culminates in the killing of the Avatar of Soggoth and, having thwarted the Darkscale nagas' schemes, the hero is sent to deal with Garrosh Hellscreams' invasion into Ashenvale.

During the Battle for Azeroth expansion, however, the Darkscale re-appear. During the climactic battle for Darkshore between the Horde and the Alliance, the Darkscale themselves invade the Twilight Shore, ending up in Ameth'Aran and taking prisoners in both sides of the Alliance/Horde conflict. Finally, led by the Lady Janira, they overtake the Ruins of Lornesta, depending on which faction takes control of the area--when the Horde take control, the Darkscale keep the ruins, but when the Alliance takes control, the Allied soldiers keep the ruins.

The Darkscale naga hold the ruins of Lornesta. This was not always the case during Battle for Azeroth--the Alliance sometimes take control, ousting the Naga from the area. (Source: Wowpedia)

It should be noted that around the time of Battle for Azeroth a cave opens up in the area containing Azerite, namely the Lornesta Mine. It would stand to reason, therefore, that the naga were looking to farm the precious metal for their own nefarious ends.

The Darkscale Naga are listed as follows:

Named

 Asithra Diresong

 Warlord Wrathspine

 Lady Janira

 Commander Ral'esh

 Stonebinder Ssra'vess

 Scalefiend

Unnamed

 Darkscale Assassin

 Darkscale Brute

 Darkscale Dig-Slave

 Darkscale Looter

 Darkscale Myrmidon

 Darkscale Priestess

 Darkscale Raider

 Darkscale Scout

 Darkscale Siren

 Darkscale Taskmaster

 Darkscale Tidecaller

 Darkscale Healer (Source:Wowpedia)

Fun Facts and Speculation:

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Darkscale naga also appear in the Tomb of Sargeras with a Naga Brute named Harjatan, of whom it is said Queen Azshara is quite fond.

Three Darkscale naga who were not present after the PTR were:

Darkscale Spear-Slave

Darkscale Ritualist

Darkscale Supplicant

Lady Darkscale and the naga who attacked Kul'Tiras forces after the Third War (in Warcraft 3) may also be part of this tribe.

“Fish Fridays” is a look into the various Naga personalities that populate the waters of  Azeroth and Draenor,to give our worthy readers a greater sense of the Naga world and the creatures Vashj often interacts with.

Lore sources, photos and links are all from Wowwiki, Wowpedia, and Wikipedia.

[deathbypixelz]

I've kept it under pretty heavy wraps for long enough, so I think it's time for me to actually talk about my fic The Smoke Still Lingers so people know what's coming. The finished thing is still probably a year off at least, but the end is in sight. And I'm sharing the first chapter now as a preview ;)

Taking place within my AU of course, it starts three years after the end of the Fourth War and five years after Teldrassil. Cathala and Tarinne have been living in Stormwind since then, making money where they can, unable to return to Kalimdor. And for those five long years it's been nothing but radio silence on Maiev and the High Priestess on their hunt for the Banshee Queen.

While on a trip to survey ruins in Hillsbrad, Cathala and Tarinne are blown off course by a bandit attack. Nothing too out of the ordinary for them, but it's what they find at the bandits' camp that turns this trip into a journey; they were hired by a sect of Sylvanas loyalists, somewhere on the continent, to collect materials for an unknown (but certainly sinister) purpose.

Vengeance, of some small kind, is finally within reach.

The trail goes a lot farther than they or the other two mercenaries who join them, Sairann the human mage and Nora the half-elf bounty hunter, expect. And it'll test them both as some of the worst moments in their lives come back like risen corpses to tear the wounds open again.

The dust of the war has settled, but the smoke still lingers.

...

If that piques your interest at all, well... here's the first chapter :)

((Logistics and content warnings below the cut))

It's definitely gonna break 100k words but not by too much. Probably in the 120-140k range if I had to guess. 35-40 chapters for sure, with alternating 3rd person POVs. Action-adventure type deal balanced with lots of emotion and a little established relationship F/F romance here and there.

Your major content warnings are: graphic violence, PTSD, a little fantasy racism, and drug and alcohol use. The violence is a given, trauma and grief are huge driving forces for both Cathala and Tarinne at this point in their lives, they both receive racial comments at a couple points (never more than that), and Cathala smokes fantasy weed and Tarinne drinks but it's only in an "atmospheric" sense. There will also be at least two fade-to-blacks during the body of the story and one full/mostly full sex scene towards the end.

Also, I will NOT be posting chapter-by-chapter, just the first one and maybe the second if I feel chapter 2 stands alone well enough. When the whole thing's done, I'll drop it all at once.

I am MORE THAN HAPPY to answer questions about this fic (well, I've actually started calling it a "book" at this point), of any sort, so please don't hesitate to send them in. It's my largest creative project ever, period, and I'm unbelievably excited for when it's done.

[deathbydarkelves]

🍜 for the night elves :>

Let’s take a look at something which originated in Darkshore specifically. Or, actually, the mountains east of it:

These are the Shalla’lune Anilar, or Moonshadow Mountains, so called because their long shadows block the rising sun, thus “lengthening the night” and giving Darkshore (or Shalla’sar, “Shadow(ed) Shore”) its name. I picture them similarly to the Cascades and Rockies of North America.

((I used this awesome dictionary to make those names))

Naturally, some people decided they wanted to live up there. There are large wild animals up there, from mule deer, to bears, to the rare chimera, and occasional troll villages, the residents of which may or may not be tolerant of wanderers. (In fact there are MANY stories and legends of mountain trolls, often told by Darkshore parents to their children to keep them from wandering too far from home. Even when they’re living down by the ocean and there aren’t any trolls for miles.)

But by and large, the main difficulties kaldorei face up there are the inorganic truths of nature: altitude and climate. The truly high altitude settlements are built on the southern faces of the mountains to catch the most sun for their crops, which are limited to things like potatoes and other resilient plants.

Your agriculture options change depending on where you are on the mountain, so there are many, many roads up and down them. In the harvest season these are PACKED with people from lower elevations on their way to trade with higher settlements, and vice versa. The main food traveling up the mountains is usually wild rice, their staple grain, and the main export back down is goat dairy in the form of yogurt and cheeses.

The kaldorei have a good number of goat breeds in the present day, all originating from the mountain goats native to the range. Those breeds are unnamed for now, but here you can see a young kaldorei kid from a mountain village with two of their goats. On the left is one bred for its wool and meat, the other for its milk. Other sources of meat here are domestic pheasants, geese, and wild game like mule deer and rabbits.

You can do with goat milk what you can with cow milk, so I needn’t list all the possibilities here. But one particular, simple side dish that originated from this region is something I’m heavily basing off the Nepalese dish chukauni. The base ingredients are the same (goat yogurt, boiled potatoes, and copious spices), and it’s a real good way to fill you up without having to break the bank on ingredients from lower altitudes. There's a lot of fun, unique spices you can only find in the Shalla'lune mountains, ranging from delightfully tangy to "you're gonna feel it the next day".

I'd like to come up with a name for this but at the moment it's also nameless.

I’m thinking it may also be commonly served as street food at Elor’belo festivals. The ingredients come from the mountains, the whole theme of the festival is flight… I can see one merchant making a connection and it quickly taking off from there.

((Ask game here))

[ashtarels-archives]

Traversing Tel'anor: Insights into Kaldorei Funeral Traditions

Tel'anor, perhaps translated to: Holy Earth from Darnassian.

“This is a city for the dead… It is beautiful, and it is tragic. It is–was–a sacred place for my people. Or what my people once were.” -Thaedris Feathersong, the redeemed

Nestled in the mountains just beyond Suramar city's borders, the resting place of Tel'anor once commemorated the Kaldorei fallen. Today, it is overrun by disturbed spirits, harpies, and withered scavengers. Traversing through the burial site and taking a closer look at the architecture, offerings, and placards has offered some insights into the funeral traditions of the Kaldorei people. It appears that some shal'dorei still pay respects to their forebears and loved ones here, as we see in Thaedris Feathersong's story. Valtrois also echoes this sentiment in the quest [Honoring the Past]: “We nightborne owe our unmatched grace and intellect to a noble heritage. The ancestors at rest in Tel'anor deserve proper tribute.”

Architecture and History

Thaedris Feathersong explains that he used to visit this place often “before the barrier was raised,” implying that it was likely first established prior to the events of the War of the Ancients. Additionally, the fact that some plaques here give honorifics to the heroes of this war could indicate that it was actually the surviving Kaldorei of the Broken Isles, perhaps the Sisterhood of neighboring Val’sharah as an example, who created these memorials in addendum to those of the Pre-Sundering era. As the shal’dorei were confined within the barrier around Suramar city, some other group was likely responsible for these specific placards, and the subsequent upkeep of Tel’anor until the incursion of the harpies and withered. This city of graves is a wonderfully preserved window into the architecture of the ancient world. The marbled stone so iconic among the Highborne ruins that we see strewn about the world is also the primary choice of masonry here. The layout of this memorial site speaks to a highly manicured aesthetic, with deliberate and controlled inclusion of natural flora within shaped stone confines; notably in circular, ocular, and teardrop (almost comet-like) varieties. Pale pink and ivory flowers seem to be the ornamentation of choice for gravestones; while more richly pigmented purple flowers decorate the vases. As the rest of the area speaks to a lack of groundskeepers in recent times, much of Suramar’s native wildlife has begun to adorn the structures by way of vines and tree growth. In the central fountain area, there is a depiction of three women holding up a pillar, similar to the statues of Haidene. These maiden figures are each adorned with a green garland of flowers around the waist: one purple, one orange, and one blue. A grand statue of Elune, or perhaps a past elder of the Elunarian faith, is situated before the spire at the back of the grounds. Inside of this building is another statue in the center of an offering pool, this time of a man. He holds out an open tome, and wears a gleaming diadem on his brow. Who this depicts and what occupation he holds is uncertain, though he may signify an Elunarian faithful, a ritualist of Tel'anor, a sorcerer, or a star augur of old. Purple cloth banners and runners also adorn many of the open-air gazebos, though some are completely barren. Certain sites bear the symbol of the Highborne, while others are decorated with nondescript cloth. Flags are flown atop many of the buildings here as well; some with purple and gold trim, and some with blue and gold trim. These could have been another layer of marking one's status or even a building's purpose, as we know that the Highborne caste had a "penchant for all things purple." Blue and gold were the primary architectural colors in Zin-Azshari, as seen in the Azshara Warbringers cinematic.

Lunar Headstones:

A recurring motif throughout Tel'anor are the headstones that bear lunar symbolism, likely from the prevalent influence of the Elunarian faith. An intriguing detail of the headstones is that they are reminiscent of different moon phases: some appearing to be waxing, waning, or even the new/full moon. I do wonder what their symbolism could mean: maybe this marks the moon phase they died upon, when they were interred, the moon phase of their birth, their favorite moon phase, social status, combat ranking, generic imagery in homage to Elune, or something else entirely? The graves and ornate coffins accompanying them reinforce the idea that Kaldorei prefer to bury their dead, and in the past, even entomb them. There are headstones and sarcophagi both outdoors and indoors, interestingly enough. Some also bear a small glowing orb in the center that others lack, perhaps another indicator of one’s accolades in life.

During the quest Tools of the Trade, we learn that the deceased are anointed with sacred oils, preserving incense, and burial shrouds before their interment. The sacred oils are housed in a heavy skin that bears a strong fragrance, likely to help mask any scent from the deceased. What exactly makes them sacred is unclear, though they might derive from ingredients considered sacred; such as specific herbs, remains from honored animals, or have been blessed by a member of the Elunarian faith. The bundles of preserving incense are said to be surprisingly dry and undamaged, perhaps owing to a highly effective storage method, or especially resilient reagents. These could have included anything in the realm of leaf, bark, and wood powders; gums and resins; herbs, fruits, seeds, and flowers; as well as wines and honey mixtures. The chest of burial shrouds is described as being sealed tightly shut and feels lightweight to hold. It is not specified what material these shrouds are made of, though protection and preservation of the body seem to have been of great importance.

Spirit Fonts:

From a gameplay perspective, spirit fonts are usable objects that, when given an offering of Ancient Mana, buff the player character with 10% haste and movement speed (called Spiritual Infusion), and transform them into a spectral model. Their flavor text describes them as being “unused for some time,” though they still possess a radiant magical aura and full basin. Perhaps they are filled with blessed water, the liquid fire of Elune, or some other remnants of a moonwell. It is said in the Stormrage novel that, "magi and other spellcasters can refresh their mana in these pools.” This could be why the Withered are so drawn to this place, given that these fonts may still hold some semblance of the moonwell's restorative cleansing properties, both on one's lifeforce, and on their mana. In Elegy, Astarii Starseeker describes that bathing in a moonwell "eases feelings of pain, weariness, and grief," an experience the mana-starved Withered likely long for. They may also be feeding upon the energy of offerings left for the deceased here, scrounging for any motes of magic that still remain. These fonts may be, or once were, used for spirit communion; or to facilitate offerings to spirits. The crux of using these fonts indicates a sort of exchange between the living and the dead; as offering up the crystallized mana gives us, in turn, a boon. Thaedris Feathersong recalls that Tel’anor had a sect of caretakers who performed rituals and venerated the dead, so it may be that the rites of the spirit fonts were relegated to them specifically. The fact that these bestow a spectral form for a short time has some interesting implications as well. For one, it is possible that an offering ritual shifts someone partway into the spirit realm, perhaps to better communicate with the souls of the dead. Secondly, it could be that a spirit is imparting some of their energies to the offeror, and thus briefly strengthens them in the physical plane. Lastly, this boon could quite literally infuse the offeror with the essence of a particular spirit, which causes them to take on their guise or characteristics.

The Chimes of the Moon:

Across Tel'anor, chimes can be seen hanging in various locations and sounding throughout the environment. Near the southeastern portion lies a larger set of these instruments, reading: "The Sisters say that Elune sings a song, notes pure and beautiful. The Chime does not ring often, but when it does, it is the same note as the one She is singing." Singing seems to be a prominent aspect of Elune worship, perhaps in emulation of the Goddess as described here. According to the novel The Demon Soul, priestesses impart peace and comfort through chanted spellwork. During the Burning of Teldrassil, Priestess Astarii begins to sing to the refugees in the temple, and Elune responds in kind by granting them a peaceful slumber so they would not feel a painful death in the overwhelming flames. These chimes may have been crafted in such a way that Elune responds through them, or so the Kaldorei once believed. Considering chimes are typically used before or after a prayer, it seems possible that Elune could have used these as a conduit of communication with her faithful. Perhaps from fervent prayers, significant offerings, a new soul passing over, or even in warning, She was thought to harken through the chimes. Smaller, more personal chimes could be something Kaldorei carry with them, hang in their homes, or store in places of worship, similar to the windchime item discoverable through archaeology. Perhaps an old practice of the Kaldorei involved using chimes to contact or call out to spirits. This large chime monument in Tel'anor could also be the last of their kind - their likenesses and ancient craftsmanship no longer reproduced.

Silver Braziers:

Countless braziers glowing with silver fire still burn to this very day in Tel'anor. Given that this place is overrun by all manner of aggressive beings, there are likely no groundskeepers continually tending to the flames here. The quest The Liquid Fire of Elune implies that a flame can be born from the energies of a moonwell, and can cleanse scourge-blighted creatures. Unless a wayward devotee keeps all of these braziers lit, the fact that these fires are still active speaks to just how enduring the magic of Elune and Her moonwells really are. It could be that the vestiges of the Well of Eternity keep these flames everburning, or that they have thrived off of Elune’s energies each night without physical kindling.

Ancestral Offerings:

Alongside the worship of Elune, revering one's ancestors has endured as an integral part of Kaldorei culture, for a myriad of offerings adorn the grounds of Tel'anor. Many graves and headstones are beset with candles, vases, flowers, urns, water basins, and statues.

Thaedris Feathersong has us gather some scattered memento urns in his stead during the quest Fragments of Memory. He tells us that "these relics are tokens and mementos of the former lives of those interred here. They like to be remembered and these offerings keep them in their eternal peace." The Kaldorei seem to carefully select items unique to each of the dead that then remain with them, and serve as anchors of the memories they made in life. The abandoned state of Tel’anor could explain why there are so many disturbed spirits wandering aimlessly through its paths, because there has been no one to leave mementos and remind the spirits that their memory lives on; thus shattering their ‘eternal peace.’

There are countless seating areas with benches and fountains in Tel’anor, and clearly this was a place where people spent quality time, either alone or communally, in the resting place of their ancestors.

On nearly every epithet in Tel’anor, the same message echoes in the last words.

"Anu dorah. We remember."

[eluviannaa]

I had an idea weeks ago to post a letter in a few places that was a sort of call for correspondence RP. People can be shy about engaging and thought it might be an interesting idea for getting to know other characters that align with Elu's path.

I was inspired by the letters and journals authors like Lovecraft and Stoker explore in their own works. We even see this influence in Umbral with the cryptic narrative exchanges and Hespera's letters.

While I wasn't expecting so many replies, it's been an amazing experience. Tying into the lore developing in The War Within and inspiring my own work.

Somewhat unexpectedly, it has helped in developing both her current story, interests, and motivations as well as connecting everything to Azeroth's larger story.

While much is yet to be seen in Umbral, a recent reply I wrote ended up being a great example of how this "project" has connected everything.

While not perfect, and it certainly pushes existing lore (The Council of Relics is my own invention), this recent reply is probably the most exciting one as it hits on all the notes above. And it's my longest reply yet, apart from RP that's been ongoing here.

📜 A reply arrives by unseen courier, a heavy scroll announcing itself with a slight shimmer among the Kaldorei's belongings.

Your words reach me at a most opportune time. The headaches you speak of have been more than just a common affliction to those of us attuned to that which lies beyond mortal understanding. I, too, have felt the dissonance of these visions—the pull of something unfamiliar, yet... not altogether unknown. It is often in the convergence of such disturbances that one must tread carefully—knowledge can be as dangerous as the enemies we face, if not more so.

I am intrigued by your observations, especially your comparison to the Illidari's rite of ascension. You speak of this as something distinct from Fel, Void, and Light, and I must agree. Whatever this force is, its call cannot be ignored.

My own time in Dalaran during the third invasion was a similarly harrowing experience. Having only just arrived at Netherlight, I had my own battles to tend to. My time with the Conclave also found me on Argus, under the arm of the Kirin Tor—specifically the Council of Relics—perhaps you know it. Though my attentions were focused on understanding Eredar relics, a means to aid in the war efforts.

From my research, both within the Broken Isles and at the enemy’s doorstep, the implications became truly disturbing. Something of anomalies tangled with forces darker still. Though I would be remiss not to share that I learned many harsh lessons through my own transformation. And have since dedicated myself to understanding, taming, and even strengthening my Void abilities.

Though I now call Boralus home, I have recently spent much time in Azj-Kahet. I follow whispers, rumors, of a unique bazaar with dark relics and trading in secrets. A guarded labyrinth that suggests more than the mere discovery of lost things. To say nothing of terrible implications in the very environment and flora, suggesting that these objects are tied to a corruption burrowing even deeper below the surface.

It is my belief that the nature of these visions is tied to something older. I suspect there are more, scattered beneath Azj-Kahet, still waiting to be uncovered. These things predate our current understanding of the cosmos and its powers. The echoes, the migraines—they suggest a resonance from a plane we have yet to fully comprehend, even among the Ren'dorei that walk with Magister Umbric. Those of an entity now awakened.

Indeed we may be witnessing the emergence of this long-dormant influence, one that seeks to assert itself as Azeroth trembles under the weight of so many converging threats. Though its role still remains unclear.

I would welcome your continued correspondence on this matter, as your perspective from the shadows of the Illidari may reveal further insights. Your letter has rekindled my desire to return to the past. There is much to be gained from our combined efforts, and perhaps more to be lost should we dismiss opportunity.

Should you find yourself in need of more practical counsel, I may be of service. The balance guides us, after all.

To the unknowable,

Eluvianna Umbralstar