WoW RaceNotes: Night Elves

The WoW RaceNotes Series are for helping roleplayers learn more about the player races to help create a backstory and roleplay characters in World of Warcraft.

Use these as tools and guides for information. Updates will happen as new information/lore is available to add “life” to your characters.

Introduction: The reclusive Night Elves were the first race to awaken in the Azeroth. These shadowy, immortal beings were the first to study magic and let it loose throughout the world nearly ten thousand years before the First War.

The Night Elves’ reckless use of magic drew the Burning Legion into the world and led to a catastrophic war between the two titanic races. The Night Elves barely managed to banish the Legion from the world, but their wondrous homeland was shattered and drowned by the sea.

Until recently, the Night Elves closed themselves off from the rest of the world and remained hidden atop their holy mountain of Hyjal for many thousands of years. The Legion’s invasion brought the Night Elves out of their long period of slumber. They now have renewed interest in shaping the world, and for the first time are allying themselves with other races to insure the continued survival of Azeroth.

As a race, Night Elves are typically honorable and just, but they are very distrusting of the ‘lesser races’ of the world. They are nocturnal by nature and their shadowy powers often elicit the same distrust that they have for their mortal neighbors.

Night Elf (Kal’dorei) Information

Affiliation: Alliance
http://www.wowwiki.com/Alliance

Additional Intro: Ten thousand years ago, the Night Elves founded a vast empire, but their reckless use of primal magic brought them to ruin. In grief, they withdrew to the forests and remained isolated there until the return of their ancient enemy, the Burning Legion. With no other choice, the Night Elves emerged at last from their seclusion to fight for their place in the new world.

Leader: Tyrande Whisperwind
http://www.wowwiki.com/Tyrande_Whisperwind

Capitol: Darnassus
http://www.wowwiki.com/Darnassus

Main Language: Darnassian
http://www.wowwiki.com/Darnassian
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/361.xml

IC RP “Speak”: “English”, from crude to (mostly) proper – some variable asian influence.

Main Groups: The Sisters of Elune, Cenarion Circle, Sentinels
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/554.xml
http://www.wowwiki.com/Sisters_of_Elune
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/349.xml
http://www.wowwiki.com/Cenarion_Circle
http://www.wowwiki.com/Sentinel

Main Faith/Philosophy: Elune (Goddess), Druidism (via Elune or Cenarius)
http://www.wowwiki.com/Elune
http://www.wowwiki.com/Cenarius

Allies: Humans, Dwarves*, Draenei, Gnomes
*some conflict/predjudice possibly

Racial Enemy: Burning Legion (Also shaky truce – enemies with Horde forces)

Male Height: 6′8″-7′6″
Female Height: 6′4″-7′2″

Male Weight: 184-324 lb.
Female Weight: 174-314 lb.

Adulthood: 300 years.
Middle Age: 500 years.
Old: 650 years.
Venerable: 700 years.
Life Expectancy: 705-1200 years.

NOTE: Until recently, night elves were immortal, ageless by the magics of Nordrassil. The sacrifice they made in the Third War ended this enchantment, but the night elves did not accelerate to their natural age, but rather have begun to age normally. Thus, many night elves thousands of years old are still, physically, in their 300s yet.

OOC Culture Reference: Some reference to Asian, Nordic and a nod from Drow (Dark Elf) cultures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Elves_in_fiction

Additional RP Links:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Night_elf
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/races/nightelves.html
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/508.xml
http://lore.dramatis-personae.com/worldofwarcraft/wowrace/nightelf.php
http://www.blizzplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=462
http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/09/28/all-the-worlds-a-stage-so-you-want-to-be-a-night-elf/
http://www.answers.com/topic/night-elf
http://www.wowwiki.com/Emerald_Dream
http://www.wowwiki.com/Great_Sundering
http://www.wowwiki.com/Fandral_Staghelm
http://www.wowwiki.com/Malfurion_Stormrage
http://www.wowwiki.com/Illidan

=====

Note: Please note that the only official sources of lore information are the ones coming directly from Blizzard, or officially endorsed by the company. Everything else for the most is player created and not 100% accurate.