#night elf lore

[shetolae]

Gift of the Fang, Silabivn and Helaea by @/yuutayo on Twitter!

#warcraft #night elf #kaldorei #world of warcraft #wow #shetolae #moonguard rp #night elf lore #warcraft rp #night elf rp #warcraft art #roleplay #moon guard #wyrmrest rp #wyrmrest accord #warcraft fanart #night elf fanart #Helaea #Silabivn

[druidonity2]

Anduin and Sylvanas (2004)

#world of warcraft #anduin wrynn #warcraft #sylvanas windrunner #fan art #my art #sylvanas's first model was a night elf model and when i was little i didnt follow lore so i thought she was a goth NF who abandoned the all #ance to make zombies with the horde

[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

#my art #au lore #maiev shadowsong #night elf #kaldorei #warcraft #world of warcraft

[ashtarels-archives]

Cathedral of Eternal Night: Lost Sanctum of the Sisterhood of Elune

Cathedral of Eternal Night, perhaps called "Azshal'adora" in Darnassian.

These were the uppermost chambers of the Temple of Elune, now known as the Tomb of Sargeras. The corrupting emerald fires of fel magic slowly creep through the entrance of these once hallowed halls, but remnants of the Sisterhood's formery glory still endure further into the Cathedral.

Hall of the Moon:

When traversing the dungeon, there are rooms to the side of the main path that may be opened and fully explored. These circular spaces contain what could be old moonwells, outlined with pillows and embraced by floating flowers overhead. These were likely places of meditation or communion with Elune, but I could also imagine these pools being used for healing, cleansing, scrying, stargazing, etc.

Perhaps a coincidence, but when inspected closer, these flowers have eight main petals; similar to how there are eight notable phases of the moon. (I wonder if eight is considered a lucky or holy number in Kaldorei society?)

Windows of stained glass adorn the walls and the ceilings here, filigree and diamond-shaped motifs (like the Tears of Elune) being repeated in the lower levels of the temple as well. Despite this being an indoor place of worship, it's clear that keeping moonlight visible/sensed was important in the Cathedral. In some rooms, it appears that the moonlight from outside shines directly into the pools, perhaps imbuing them with lunar blessings. This could have also just been a way for priests of Elune to feel closer to Her even when inside.

Countless scrolls and bookshelves can be found in all rooms, many of them housing a plethora of desks. Eerily, some still have an open scroll or book laying atop their surface with bookmarks in place, untouched by the sands of time.

I'm curious as to what texts are hidden here, but I suppose there's a few obvious things that come to mind. They could be prayers the Sisters were trying to commit to memory, songs of the Elunarian faith, stories/legends about the Well of Eternity, sacred texts of the Goddess, students' notes/textbooks, and more; as this could have also been a place of learning for newer inductions into the Sisterhood as well.

Perhaps the writings in this repository could make for interesting RP adventures in retrieving old texts, relics, lore about ancient Kalimdor, or attempts at discerning old Elunarian spellwork, prayers, stories, etc!

The small tabletop game on the right also caught my eye. Pieces of arcane crystal float above the board, maybe an old version of Kaldorei/Highborne chess.

Another detail in some of these areas are the looms resting to the side of the moon-pools: this could have been a place where mooncloth or holy vestments were created or blessed, as evidenced by one of the sub-zones here being called "Sacristy of Elune." A sacristy is a place where "a priest prepares for a service, and where vestments and other things of worship are kept."

Chapel of Tranquil Song:

An easily missed side-room leading up the first set of stairs is the Chapel of Tranquil Song. It is a small church with two sets of pews, and a fallen crescent-harp. This room further reinforces the idea that music and song have been a prominent aspect of Elune worship, and I think this could be an interesting take on healing in RP as well. Calming singing and instruments like the harp could possibly help heal wounds alongside the lunar magic of the Goddess, akin to an Elunarian bard.

The Twilight Grove:

The next level of the Cathedral is called "Twilight Grove," a large platform housing ethereal flowers that glow like stars with a font of moonlight (almost like a silver lake) pouring in through the ceiling. Agronox's dungeon journal entry describes these as the "Hanging Gardens," which he once tended to before his fall to corruption. I find it interesting that these plants seem to flourish hanging upside down, rather than growing on the ground level. Some petals and leaves also seem to be translucent, reminiscent of a spirit or the like.

I am unsure what these herbs are exactly, but perhaps they are specifically nourished by moonlight. Maybe priests of Elune utilize celestial herbs of some kind that bolster the magic granted by the Goddess, grant visions/spiritual boons, or emanate a calming aura in places of worship. It could also be that mundane herbs may be grown near a moonwell or a font like this one, and with time are imbued by Elune's blessings.

Chapel of the Sentinels:

This chapel is yet another Legion reference to a group called the Sentinels existing before the War of the Ancients. The others mentioned are in Tel'anor (resting place of WotA heroes) upon the plaques of the Windstrikers and Latara Feathersong.

Windstrikers: "Marksmen without peer, their skill with a bow was an inspiration to generations of archers. Their family developed the gauntlets the Sentinels wear, carefully articulated mail links that empower our archers to this day."

Latara: "Here lies Latara Feathersong. A huntress of the Sentinels, she led the vanguard in many campaigns. Her bravery and compassion were endless."

Maybe this order existed before the Sundering, with special places reserved for them like this chapel, and was simply revived in name by Tyrande Whisperwind a few centuries later.

The Emerald Archives:

A grand library containing innumerable books of all categories, it seems that these archives contained Highborne enchantments as well. Before the Sundering, there may have been an emphasis on Priestesses being educated/learned in many different areas of study, including knowledge of the arcane. These are the books we see from Thrashbite's dungeon journal entry:

Satirical Animated Book: an animated tome overflowing with stifingly satirical writing. As the tomes open, all sound is magically absorbed into the ancient pages, silencing all players for 5 seconds.

Fictional Animated Book: An ancient work of fiction springs to life, the magical runes leaping from the page to fetter would-be readers. Slows all players.

Biographical Animated Book: Account of a long-forgotten sorcerer's life can prove to be dangerously beguiling. Entrancing narrative charms a random player, but breaks if their health goes below 30%.

All of these fire arcane bolts at the party. Books as weapons in mage RP is something I'd never thought about, but makes so much sense!

There is an achievement for this boss fight called "Steamy Romance Saga," implying that even erotica could have also been kept in the library.

A mural to the left of the Emerald Archives depicts a Kaldorei woman bearing a shield (likely the Aegis of Aggramar that was kept here prior to the Sundering) and a spherical protection spell against green flames from what appears to be a dragon.

The way leading to the next area is called "Path of Illumination."

Chapel of Tears:

Another side-room on the way up the winding staircase is named the Chapel of Tears. This could have been a place of safekeeping for the Pillar of Creation: Tears of Elune, or a chapel of mourning. Somehow, a fel-infused Fal'dorei (nightborne spider) has made a nest here.

Other references to Elune's tears:

Tearstone of Elune

The Sisters' Tear

Mu'sha's Tears

Tears of the Goddess

Elune's Tear

Tears of the Moon

In any case, references to tears of Elune crop up all over Azeroth, most of which possess some kind of restorative/cleansing/life-giving powers. I believe that while the tears could certainly represent sadness of the Goddess, they could also represent tears of happiness, as the Pillar of Creation is described to "embody the dream of what Azeroth could be," and maybe the strong healing magic imparted by them is rooted in hope. I feel that Elune's connection to water could also be another avenue for RP, perhaps harnessing rejuvenating aquatic magic alongside the lunar blessings of Elune.

Sacristy of Elune:

The pinnacle of the Cathedral is known as the Sacristy of Elune, with areas of now-empty shelves and pillaged chests. The stained glass has been turned a fel-green, broken open and shattered onto the floor. The name suggests that this was once a place where sacred items were kept, such as vestments, furnishings, sacred vessels, and Elunarian records.

Given the ancient origin of the Cathedral, this could have been a prominent place that mooncloth was created: "Tailors tell that the first recipe for mooncloth was scribed by Elune herself." It is unknown if a tailor must use felcloth and purify it in a moonwell to eventually create mooncloth, or if any cloth can be used with the proper rituals/spells/blessings.

Hope you found this interesting, thanks for reading!

"Andu’lun-adala-ande’nar." (May the moon light your way.)

#night elf #elune #kaldorei #nightelf #wow #world of warcraft #roleplay #rp #highborne #cathedral #long post #writing #headcanon #lore #priestess

[deathbydarkelves]

🪶☀️Elor'belo -- The Long Sun festival☀️🪶

In a moment of autistic genius, I came up with a whole new kaldorei holiday, centered around a long-distance hippogryph race. Big ol' info dump incoming.

Throughout the year, as the nights and days lengthen and shorten, Elune and the sun (or An'she, as I'll call it/him from now on. I know that's the tauren name but I think it works for the kaldorei to call him that too) are constantly in a race against each other. As An'she tires in winter, the days shorten and Elune overtakes him. Then as she tires in summer, the nights shorten and An'she overtakes her.

So, every year on the summer solstice, the day Elune is most tired from racing An'she, kaldorei hippogryph riders race him in her stead. They race from dawn to noon, traveling east to west and ending at the peak of Mt. Hyjal, the highest point on Kalimdor, to intimidate him with their racing prowess even when he is highest in the sky. Then as he falls, exhausted, Elune can continue the race again. In 7-8 hours, the racers cover almost 350 miles/~560 km. They start in eastern Hyjal the moment dawn breaks, then fly down to Ashenvale, then weave back up through the mountains to the peak of Mt. Hyjal.

Now, since the in-game world is TINY, I've decided to approximate Kalimdor's "real" north-south length to be ABOUT 4,000 mi/6,400 km. That makes it a bit smaller than South America. Or, because this is how my brain processes distance: Sam and Frodo would have to walk their path from the Shire to Mordor 2-3 times (depending on who you ask) to cover the same distance.

With that in mind, here's a rough approximation of the route, using the wonky proportions of the in-game map because I haven't made my own yet (</3):

The race has changed over time. Historically, it went from dawn to dusk, starting in Azshara, going through Ashenvale, some years going as far west as Darkshore, then ending on Mt. Hyjal. But over time and as circumstances on Kalimdor changed, the race was shortened both in time and in length. Lots of riders and hippogryphs alike would become dangerously exhausted during the historic 14-16 hour long race, Azshara is mostly Horde territory now, Darkshore is... not doing so hot right now, and so on.

Here's a, again, very rough approximation of the historical route:

And that's the "official" race, which is often initiated and attended by the High Priestess and Archdruid themselves. There are multiple smaller festivals/races across Kalimdor, but they all follow the same concept: race An'she east to west from dawn to noon, and end at the highest point possible. Some places even still run from dawn to dusk, as some believe the health risks are just something one has to deal with when racing a god, and that they're worth it to race on Elune's behalf.

Besides the race itself, the night prior there's always a huge festival with food and song and dance to hype up the racers. And the night after the race there's even more, this time with additional ceremonies, prayers, and offerings to Elune to help her get her "second wind" as it were.

Importantly, the overall spirit of the race and festival is one of friendly competition. The kaldorei aren't, like, ideologically opposed to the sun lol. It's vital for most life, and they know that. They race An'she to keep things fair between him and Elune.

And, of course, Elor'belo exists as a way for people to get together and enjoy good food and music, and cheer for their favorite racer(s). Here's some of the sorts of characters you might see competing because I need practice drawing hippogryphs anyway:

Miscellaneous notes:

The race distance is meant to be almost the maximum distance someone could ride in the time given. Only about 20% of racers can even do so with minutes to spare, with the remaining 80% finishing in the early-to-mid afternoon. But in the event someone does reach Mt. Hyjal well before noon, there's a second leg that takes them through Nordrassil's branches up to its very top. Very few people have ever completed that second leg before noon, and it's a very good omen for the rest of the year when someone does.

Different species of hippogryphs have different top speeds and stamina levels. Each has its own pros and cons when it comes to a race like this, which relies on both speed and endurance, and you'll always see a wide variety in the competitors.

On a related note: In the days of Queen Azshara, hippogryphs were selectively bred for different appearances and endurance levels, etc., like horses. That practice ended after the Sundering because in the new, more druidic culture of the kaldorei, it became a bit of a controversial topic to breed creatures as intelligent as hippogryphs. As a result most of those breeds are extinct now, but a handful of them are still kicking around with their own self-sustaining populations. That piebald one pictured above is an example.

The quel'- and sin'dorei have their own version of Elor'belo where they race Elune on the winter solstice. Since there aren't very many Thalassian words (with translations), and no fanmade dictionary I'm aware of, I'm thinking of just calling it Elor'elun ("Long Moon").

Baldur by Faun is the song that gave me the idea for this entire thing. I highly recommend giving it a listen, it's a bop.

#my art #au lore #night elf #kaldorei

[ketunhanska]

vestige and sharp-as-night husbands confirmed

#maybe now that this is out of my head i can go back to being normal (unlikely but hey we can hope) #elder scrolls online #eso #sharp-as-night #sharp as night #altmer #argonian #high elf #elder scrolls #tes #my altmer who doesnt yet have a lore-compliant name oops is a 2h wielder. but you couldnt fuckin tell by looking at his lack of muscles lol

[morelorethenthereseem]

“some says she’s a demon of a Swordswoman.

But it’s more fair to say she’s a swordswoman of a Demon…”

#fantasy #lore #art #fantasy art #worldbuilding #swords #elf #elf art #elf oc #night #demon oc #demon girl #character art #small artist #artists on tumblr #mediaeval fantasy art #mediaeval fantasy #oc artist #oc art #oc artwork #queer artist #traditional art #traditional drawing #traditional illustration #traditional artist #Artist

[moonlitnightandsea]

Moonwell in Ashenvale

A moonwell (also spelled moon well) is an upwelling of magical waters created by the night elves to maintain and restore their magical powers. They are stone pools filled with silvery glowing water. Moonwells are bound to the magic of nature and the moonlight of Elune and are known as places of healing for both the land around them and those who drink of their waters, possessing extraordinary restorative properties. Magi and other spellcasters can refresh their mana in these pools — a gift from Elune to Azeroth's other defenders.

Little is known about the first moon well or how the moon wells proliferated through Azeroth, despite the taboo on overt magical practice among the night elves.

#night elf #games #world of warcraft #moonwell #wow lore #fantasy #elves

[eorzeashan]

Headcanon that some Echani have folded/floppy ears; these ears saw a rise in popularity among their population because folded ears in potential mates are seen as cute and youthful, which also means sharp ears are a trait in general. (folded ears are a genetic mutation of this due to softening of cartilage). ancient Echani ears resembled the triangle-shaped ears of predators but over the course of evolution, became smaller and now rest on the sides of an Echani's head; some theorize ears became folded over time to filter out noise, which can be seen in the design of Echani clothing that greatly emphasizes hoods and headwear to protect the species' sensitive hearing.

Often, human hybrids of Echani gain the ears of their human parentage instead.

#star wars #echani #borderline ooc post more late night worldbuilding #the truth is I dislike human ears for non-human races given how specific they are to our biology #but the sharp elf ears everyone else gets isn't much of a better solution. #i think that's enough alien physical characteristics and traits don't you think #this is also why eight's ears stay covered #seeing him with human ears is really jarring (to me) but you know design limitations #and lore for his earphones PFFT

[loreliaod]

A wip that I have no idea when I will finish

---

Read My Comic! My Site:https://exitrealitystudios.com/badinfluence/ Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/c/bad-influence/chapters/en/1/1/1 Webtoon:https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/bad-influence/list?title_no=814990

Other places to find me

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#art #my art #loreliaod art #warcraft art #world of warcraft #night elf #lore art #lorelli

[kissfortheelves]

Alaraën Swiftleaf was one of the few dragon riders of Loreth’aran and (to her knowledge) the only survivor.

I imagine the bond between dragon and rider must have been especially deep, so after the death of not only her dragon companion, but the rest of the riders and dragons, she was plunged into the deepest sadness.

She ended up enlisting in the ranks of the Silverwing sentinels in order to be useful to her people, after all, she is a great warrior and she could still put her weapons at the service of the kaldorei.

Alaraën has been through many battles and much pain, even after finding family again among the sentinels, her heart has never stopped bleeding.

After the battle of the War of the Thorns , Alaraën laid down her weapons after a life of war, deciding to make a pilgrimage to Winterspring to isolate herself from the world. She hasn't been heard from in these last 5 years of timeskip, but her name may resurface once more when her bond with dragons calls her again.

#World of Warcraft #warcraft #night elf #kaldorei #warcraft oc #my artwork #my oc #swiftleaf #warcraft art #kissfortheelves #waë #I'm never sure what to do with her lore as dragon rider but this will do I guess xD #also she's old as fuck boi

[moonleafart]

Okay I have a thing about teldrassil rn

On the wiki page quoted from Broll Bearmantle "Teldrassil was linked to the very health of Azeroth, affecting not merely its immediate surroudings, but those lands beyond the island, and a Teldrassil that was not well could not properly maintain the balance between nature and decay."

So shouldn't azeroth be struggling with the balance of nature and decay right now? Like its burnt and gone you'd think that decay would be a bigger issue now.

Reee I just feel like they burnt teldrassil and left it at that without much other thought about how teldrassil being destroyed would affect azeroth. We should be having huge issues with decay rn and nature maybe going wild. (Just how I'd imagine it)

Like imagine an expansion where we fix some of that shit blizz forgot about lol. Work with the druids of azeroth to try to find a new way to balance the decay and nature. All races unlock druidism through that questlinr or something. That would be so so cool. And fixing some other places that were destroyed way back in cataclysm. Each class helping and thats how all races unlock the classes. Wow this rant really went a different direction

#teldrassil #warcraft #world of warcraft #night elf #warcraft lore #world of warcraft lore #lore #druids #decay #nature #cataclysm #rant #warcraft rant #classes

[rosykims]

ive had her for 3 days and shes already confirmed my sexiest cuntiest girlbossiest oc to date. oh my god

#oc: xaesara #the x is pronounced sh btw. so its said like shay-sera #obsessed w having her warcraft name finalized when i still dont have a clue what her more canonical dnd surname is lol #but whatever most importantly theres not one detail on her board rn that isnt making me categorically insane #tall. ancient. gay. evil. 'crimes against god' priest subclass. literally having the surname darkdawn. need i go on #listen. she was originally a night elf and um. technically still is until i unlock void elves but. shh. #her being a void elf makes so much more sense especially keeping within the Spirit of her and lilithira's dnd lore #idk. the idea of her originally being a horde girly and then seeking power within the alliance after the alleria windrunner thing #lilithira and anakira still being horde.... lmao. rip lilith #SUDDENLY VERY AWARE THAT IVE NEVER TALKED ABOUT LITERALLY ANY OF THESE OCS UNTIL RIGHT NOW SO. IGNORE ME <3

[deathbypixelz]

Six or seven years after the burning of Teldrassil, Tyrande and Maiev have yet to return from their hunt for the Banshee Queen. So Cathala, Tarinne, and a few other like-minded individuals decide to take matters into their own hands. They follow what little remains of Sylvanas' trail, investigating abandoned Horde outposts, interrogating Horde separatists, and not-quite-legally digging through old military documents. Ultimately, they discover her trail leads to Northrend, and so they follow. The hunt will be long, harrowing, and neither their quarry nor the endless icy wastes will show mercy. Not all will live to touch warm soil again.

#my art #cathala #tarinne #kolga #(she's the orc in the middle) (she's a druid) #night elf #kaldorei #warcraft #world of warcraft #au lore #this is of course the version of the au where my ocs are part of the hunt #and yes this will be a fic someday #this is yet another deathbypixelz drawing brought to you by Heilung. specifically their song Othan.

[ashtarels-archives]

Traversing Tel'anor: Traditions of the Ancient Kaldorei

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

A resting place of Kaldorei heroes who fell during the War of the Ancients, Tel'anor is now a memorial site overrun by spirits and harpies nestled in the mountains just beyond Suramar's borders. Although, some Shal'dorei still pay their respects to the sacrifices of their ancestors, as we see in [Thaedris Feathersong's] tragic story.

During my travels here, I noticed some interesting details that could have some significance in Kaldorei lore/roleplay.

Lunar Headstones:

The graves and ornate coffins may reinforce the idea that Kaldorei prefer to bury their dead, or at least used to in ancient times. During the quest [Tools of the Trade], we learn that the deceased were preserved through sacred oils, preserving incense, and burial shrouds. A recurring motif I see throughout the Tel'anor monuments are the headstones that bear lunar symbolism, no doubt the Elunarian faith being an influence at play here. What I find most intriguing about the stones in particular 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 meanings could be: maybe this marks the moon phase they died upon, when they were interred, the moon phase of their birth, their favorite moon phase, simple imagery in homage to Elune, social status, or something else? What do you think?

Spirit Fonts:

Another interesting detail are the spirit fonts found in the area. These 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 Nightborne model.

Lore-wise, perhaps these are used for spirit communion, or to aid in ancestral offerings in some way. In roleplay, I could see Kaldorei utilizing something similar to pay homage their ancestors; whether they receive a blessing like this in return or not would be up to interpretation though.

These fonts remind me of the basins in the stylizations of Haidene, the very first High Priestess of Elune, like the grand statue of her in the temple of Darnassus. Perhaps these are filled with blessed water, the liquid fire of Elune, or remnants of a moonwell to sustain a spirit's energy, or to thin the veil between mortal and spirit.

Headcanon time: but perhaps a ritual could be performed in which someone gives an offering and imbibes the liquid from a font like this, and is able to more easily commune with their ancestors/souls of the dead for a short period.

The Chimes of the Moon:

All throughout Tel'anor, chimes can be seen hanging in various locations, as well as playing through the audio of the game. Near the back portion lies a larger set of these celestial 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. According to novel The Demon Soul, Elune has "the ability to calm races engaged in battle by singing a song of peace at night, until sunrise." During the Burning of Teldrassil, Priestess Astarii begins to sing to the refugees in the temple, and Elune answers in kind by granting them a peaceful slumber so they would not feel a painful death in the flames.

Purely headcanon, but I speculate that these chimes may have been crafted in such a way that Elune responds through them (or so the Kaldorei think). Considering chimes are typically used before or after a prayer in the real world, it seems possible that Elune may use these a conduit of acknowledgement in the physical plane on Azeroth. Perhaps from strong prayers, significant offerings, welcoming a new soul amongst the stars, some other spiritually powerful event, or even in warning, She harkens through the chimes.

Smaller, more personal chimes could be something Kaldorei carry with them, hang in their homes, or build in places of worship: the ones in Tel'anor could conversely be the last of their kind, their likenesses and ancient craftsmanship now unable to be reproduced.

Braziers of Silver Flame:

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, it would stand to reason that there are no groundskeepers tending to the flames here. The quest [The Liquid Fire of Elune] implies that a flame can be born of the energies from a moonwell, holy pools whose waters marry nature and moonlight together, and can cleanse scourge-blighted creatures. Unless a wayward devotee keeps these braziers lit, the fact that these fires are still active speaks to just how powerful the magic of Elune and the moonwells really are.

There are tales of old that say Elune once dwelled within the Well of Eternity, and that some moonwells still carry traces of this ancient lake. I'm unsure if the vestiges of the Well of Eternity keep these silver flames burning or they simply thrive off of Elune's energy. Do you believe something else keeps them kindled?

It is said in the Stormrage novel that, "magi and other spellcasters can refresh their mana in these pools — a gift from Elune to Azeroth's other defenders." I believe this is partially why the Withered are so drawn to this place, given that these braziers still hold some semblance of the moonwell's restorative cleansing properties, both on one's lifeforce, and on their mana. In Elegy, Astarii Starseeker purports that bathing in a moonwell "eases feelings of pain, weariness, and grief," an experience the mana-starved Withered likely long for. I would guess that they are also feeding upon the energy of offerings left to the deceased here, scrounging for any motes of magic that yet remain.

Ancestral Offerings:

A myriad of offerings litter the grounds of Tel'anor, such as water-basins, candles, vases/urns, flowers, and statues. Alongside the worship of Elune, revering one's ancestors seems to be an important part of Kaldorei culture - as we also see during the Lunar Festival event.

Thaedris Feathersong has us gather some scattered mementos 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." This line was an especially heartwarming gesture to me, that the Kaldorei select items unique to their fallen to remain with them and serve as anchors of memories made in life. Some items the dead might keep could be: weapons, armor pieces, prized possessions, professional tools, or meaningful effects.

The flavor text of the mementos in specific say: "These urns contain offerings, tokens, and other objects for the deceased." Descendants of the fallen might also leave items that could be considered useful in the next life.

I also think it's sweet that there are seating areas with benches and fountains - clearly this was a place where people spent quality time in the resting place of their ancestors; perhaps yet another way the Kaldorei pay their respects.

On nearly every epithet in Tel’anor, the final words echo the same message:

"Anu dorah. We remember."

#kaldorei #night elf #nightelf #wow #world of warcraft #lore #nightborne #tel'anor #elune #priestess #roleplay #shal'dorei #withered #rp #headcanon

[deathbydarkelves]

After watching Puss in Boots: The Last Wish I was overcome with a need to design what I think the personification of death looks like in kaldorei folklore. Whether this being actually exists is unclear, but it's real enough to those who believe it does.

This is still a pretty rough draft, but the exact look of this spirit varies from region to region anyway. What matters is it has the same general traits you’ll see no matter where you go on Kalimdor. And those are the eyes, the tusks, and the antlers.

When a night elf dies, their eyes stop glowing, so black pupils and death have a very strong, subconscious connection in their minds. It’s not that, say, humans look dead to them because our eyes don’t glow, but black pupils still trip a little thing in night elf brains that says “something is missing”, and for some of them, it’s actually very hard to maintain eye contact with other races that don’t have glowing eyes, or even animals. So obviously their personification of death has black pupils.

The tusks are there for two reasons: one meta, one in-universe. The meta reason is that it makes it look like an oni and oni masks are some of the coolest-looking shit humanity has ever come up with if you ask me. And the in-universe reason is that, well, the kaldorei came from dark trolls, and the dark trolls certainly must have had their fair share of interactions with and folklore about Mueh’zala, the loa of death at the time. As time passed, that cultural image of a tusked, horned loa of death became a tusked, antlered spirit of death.

Lastly, the antlers. They’re asymmetrical like that to evoke a waning crescent, the final phase of the moon before the new moon. Like the waning crescent, death is the end of one cycle and the start of a new one. Similarly, the mushrooms are there because mushrooms decompose things and therefore are directly involved in keeping that cycle moving. In future versions of this spirit/being/thing I’ll probably add more mushrooms and stuff, but for now this is what I’ve got. I think it would be good to keep its design fairly simple anyway.

[Transcription of the notes in the image are below the cut]

-Not necessarily feared or seen to be evil — death is a part of nature’s cycle — but it is very respected. -Depictions vary from region to region, but they all have the black pupils, tusks, and waning crescent antlers. -Seeing a deer/elk/etc. with asymmetrical antlers is believed to be an omen of death. -Not uncommon for those who had near-death experiences to remember seeing this being in the corners of their vision [during the experience], or in later dreams and nightmares. -Stories of its origin vary as well, some saying it’s one of Elune’s first children, the deceased’s own ancestor, or an aspect/extension of Elune herself.

#my art #kaldorei death spirit #idk what exactly to call it yet #au lore #night elf #kaldorei