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Friday, December 01, 2006

Night Elf in Wikipedia


Night Elves (or "Kal'dorei" in their native tongue) have a skin color that ranges from deep lavender to marble white, extremely long (almost lagomorphic) ears, and hair in various cool-toned shades including blue, purple, green, white and black. The eyes of the males glow with a bright amber light, while those of the females glow a bright blue-white. The race is tall, with the men standing approximately 2.15 meters (7 feet) and females 2.0 meters (6.6 feet). The men are always of a slim-waisted yet rock-like, extremely muscular build including gigantic bear-like arms and hands. The women are much different, having a slim, athletic build. Unlike most other Elves, Night Elf men often have thick beards and bushy eyebrows. In Warcraft III, the Night Elves lived on the continent known as Kalimdor and were never seen by, and only known of by a few Orcs or Humans until they were introduced to the Warcraft Universe in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. In World of Warcraft, they live on the tree-island of Teldrassil, which is north and slightly west of Kalimdor.The greatest population of Night Elves reside in their capital city, Darnasses.

Many male elves are druids while many females become warriors in a group known as the "Sentinels." In World of Warcraft, however, both males and females can take on the role of druid, warrior, hunter, rogue or priest indiscriminately. In Warcraft III, the Night Elves were neutral but in World of Warcraft they have become a part of the Alliance. The night elf racial mounts are the Frostsaber (white tiger with either spots or stripes) and the Nightsaber (dark tiger available with stripes only). There is also another breed of rideable saber cats called a stormsaber; however, these epic mounts are only available at level 60. They can be purchased in Darnasses at 90 gold for an Apprentice and 900 gold for a Journeyman status. The other races of the Alliance can also learn how to ride a saber cat if they are exalted with Darnassus. In Warcraft III they also had a strange form of Hippogryph as well, it being raven and deer instead of the usual eagle and horse combination..
Before the end of Warcraft III all Night Elf druids were male, and slept for thousands of years in the Emerald Dream while the women were left to protect their slumber. This caused the females to become hardened. They were described by Grom Hellscream in Warcraft III as too savage to be High Elves.

In World of Warcraft, they seem to be the most populated race out of all races.

History
Night Elves were immortal until the destruction of the World Tree at the end of WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos. The forces of the Burning Legion had fought their way to the World Tree, which their commander, Archimonde, had set his sights upon. When Archimonde reached the tree, however, he discovered that he had walked into a trap set by Malfurion Stormrage. Thousands of wisps surrounded the Eredar and exploded all at once destroying him and damaging the World Tree. While this prevented Archimonde from destroying the world, it also deprived the Night Elves of the immortality that the tree had granted them. Not all of them adjusted to mortality well and many were terrified by the prospects of illness, ageing, and eventual death.
It wasn't long before some of the druids decided to make a new World Tree and thus regain their immortality; an idea that achieved popularity with many of the Kal'dorei. Malfurion warned them that such a selfish act would never be blessed by nature and forbade the creation of a new tree. After making this proclamation, Malfurion became trapped within the Emerald Dream and not even the green dragons who lived within the Emerald Dream could find him. With Malfurion incapacitated, leadership of the druids fell to Fandral Staghelm who was one of the Night Elves in favor of creating a new World Tree. Under Staghelm, a second tree was brought into existence and named Teldrassil. Unfortunately, Malfurion's prediction was correct; the new tree was not blessed by nature and the Night Elves did not gain new immortality from its creation as intended. The new World Tree radiated corruption that drove creatures and people inhabiting the area mad and filled them with mindless aggression. This is just one example of the negative effects Teldrassil has had on the world around it. Teldrassil's one positive effect is the wonderous city of Darnassus that was built upon it.
After the wars played in Warcraft III and Frozen Throne, which caused the destruction of most of the High Elves, the Night Elves are the most numerous Elven race in the world of Azeroth.

Highborne
The Highborne (Quel'dorei in elven tongue) were the personal servants of Queen Azshara in Kalimdor. Upon discovery of the Well of Eternity, they began to probe the well for secrets to discover the nature of its power. However the Highborne began to spend large amounts of time around it and it began to adversely affect them. Many began to shy away from speaking with the other Night Elves outside of the Highborne circle and increasingly delved into work concerning the Well. After much study, Queen Azshara encountered and made a pact with Sargeras, leader of the Burning Legion. In return for untold power, Azshara and the Highborne would open a portal into Azeroth for Sargeras and his minions. Sargeras rewarded several Highborne with a new more powerful form: the Satyr. However Malfurion Stormrage, with the help of Tyrande Whisperwind, Cenarius, and fellow Night Elves were able to drive the Burning Legion back. But because the summoning was interrupted the spell went awry and resulted in a terrible explosion that destroyed part of the land of Kalimdor, giving away to the Maelstrom. After the terrible destruction Malfurion and his followers reached the mainland with a few remnants of the Highborne. Malfurion did not punish them; he was content that the surviving Highborne could do no more damage without the Well's power. The ones that survived eventually left, under the leadership of Dath'Remar, to look for a new home. However Queen Azshara and some of her followers survived the explosion and sank to the bottom of the sea eventually mutating into the Naga. And there they remained until contacted centuries later by the Betrayer, Illidan.
Highborne ruins dot the lands of Kalimdor from Darkshore all the way to Azshara (the land named after the Highborne queen). Bashal'Aran and Ameth'Aran in Darkshore are the ruins of two large Highborne settlements that are occupied now only by demons and the tormented spirits of the Highborne. The Ruins of Eldareth in Azshara are all that remains of the Highborne Night Elves' ancient capital city. It is now overrun with a tribe of the vile Naga known as the Spitelash. Perhaps the most intriguing Highborne ruin in Kalimdor is Dire Maul. At the height of Highborne power, Dire Maul was known as the city of Eldre'Thalas, inside whose high walls were guarded many of Queen Azshara's most prized and powerful arcane secrets. Though it was ravaged by the Great Sundering of the world, much of the ancient city still stands. The three distinct districts of the city are overrun with a variety of dangerous creatures including Highborne spectres, demonic satyrs, and the Gordok Ogre tribe.