Post by Cenarion Guardians on Dec 7, 2008 17:57:47 GMT 1
For those too lazy to read the links, the short history of the main events in Night Elf history. Note, Blizzard has minorly altered it's timelines several times, this is an approximation at best. More on this in WoWwiki:
Blizzard's official 2004 timeline
Blizzard's official 2007 timeline
Origins. A humanoid species settled near the Well of Eternity and evolved into Night Elves. They built a great, caste-divided civilisation -- Queen Azshara and her amber-eyed Highbourne (Quel'dorei) aristocracy who were all users of Arcane magic, and the priestesses of Elune and the druidic diciples of Cenarius, who were not.
10000 years ago -- The War of the Ancients. The Highbourne used the Well's magic with reckless abandon, drawing the attention of Sargeras and his demons. War errupted between the Highbourne, who in their arrogance believed the demons promises of power, and the non-magic using factions of Kaldorei.
10000 years ago -- Deathwing. Neltharion Earthwarder, the Black Dragon Aspect with domain over earth and deep places, was driven insane by the Old Gods. Neltharion became Deathwing, and tried to turn the world into a lava wasteland. Deathwing was eventually defeated by the other three Dragonflights and the Kaldorei, already allied of the Green Flight -- but he had already all but annihilated the Blue Flight. Both Deathwing and Malygos of the Blue Flight vanished, to sleep off defeat or grief respectively.
10000 years ago -- The Sundering. The Highbourne's use of magic accidentally drew demons into the world and cracked the one continent into three (creating the Maelstrom in between). Azshara and her court drowned but didn't die - instead they became naga, and would remain hidden for thousands of years to come. This effectively ended the War of the Ancients.
9000 years ago -- The Birth of Nordrassil. The remaining three Dragonflights grew the world tree, Nordrassil, over the Well of Eternity to protect it, and named Night Elves it's guardians. The dragons' blessing on Nordrassil gave the Night Elves immortality and immunity to disease.
7300 years ago -- Exile of the Highbourne. The Highbourne are driven from Kalimdor after refusing to give up their dangerous magics. In exile on the new continent they change physically, becoming High Elves. Because they had become addicted to the Well's magical energies, they stole a vial of water from it and used it to create the Sunwell in their new kingdom Quel'thalas. There is hate and distrust between Night Elves and Highbourne descendants (Quel'dorei and Sin'dorei) because of this.
7000 years ago -- The Long Vigil. The druids, led by Malfurion Stormrage, go into hibernation to renew their link with Nature and help the Green Dragon Aspect, Ysera, protect the Emerald Dream. Priestess Tyrande Windwhisper, leader of the Sisterhood of Elune reforms remaining Night Elf armies into the Sentinels, who protect the Night Elves and the Barrow Dens where the druids sleep.
1000 years ago -- War of the Shifting Sands. C'Thun and the Quiraji hordes try to take over Kalimdor, but are fought by Night Elf armies under the very succesful command of Druid of the Wild Fandral Staghelm. The Quiraji capture and murder Staghelm's son and almost succeed in breaking the Night Elves' resistance. However, as the Cavern of Time falls under threat, the Bronze Dragons calls the Dragonflights (Red, Green and Bronze) to battle and the Quiraji are driven behind the Scarab Wall. Rumor has it Staghelm still blames the dragons for the loss of his son.
5 - 8 years ago (WarCraft 3, exact timing inconclusive) -- Rise of the Orcs. Orcs of the Warsong clan begin harvesting lumber in Ashenvale, near the Druid's resting place. Hostilities escalate and lead to the death of the demigod Cenarius at the hands of orcs, which few Night Elves are ever likely to forgive.
5- 8 years ago (WarCraft 3, exact timing inconclusive) -- The Druids Return, Battle of Mount Hyjal. The Burning Legion attacks Night Elf lands, forcing them to reveal themselves to the younger races and join the Alliance. The druids are called out of the Emerald Dream to fight in a final battle. On mount Hyjal, the Night Elves sacrifice Nordrassil and their immortality to defeat the Burning Legion captain Archimonde.
~5 years ago (Before WoW, timing inconclusive) -- The Creation of Teldrassil. Shortly after the battle of Mount Hyjal, Arch Druid Malfurion Stormrage went missing. In his absence Fandral Staghelm took over as Arch Druid, and led the creation of a new World Tree -- Teldrassil, where the city of Darnassus was soon built. Without the Dragons' blessing, however, Teldrassil is growing crooked and corrupt. It has not restored immortality to the Night Elves, as Staghelm hoped.
1-2 years ago (TBC, timing inconclusive) -- The Dark portal and old scores settled. War in Outland with the Burning Legion and it's lackeys, Kael'thas Sunstrider and Illidan the Betrayer.
Recent (WotLK) -- Invasion of Northrend, return of the Blue Flight, a new war among Dragons. Invasion by the Lich King's armies is repelled and forces the Alliance to take the war against him to Northrend. At the same time, the Blue Dragonflight's master Malygos, lord of all magic, wakes in an insane rage swearing to destroy all who use magic. All other Dragonflights, including those Black Dragons who are still sane, join forces against Malygos. For the first time since the War of the Ancients, there is war among dragons - many Night Elves feel honourbound to help, as they did against Deathwing.
Blizzard's official 2004 timeline
Blizzard's official 2007 timeline
Origins. A humanoid species settled near the Well of Eternity and evolved into Night Elves. They built a great, caste-divided civilisation -- Queen Azshara and her amber-eyed Highbourne (Quel'dorei) aristocracy who were all users of Arcane magic, and the priestesses of Elune and the druidic diciples of Cenarius, who were not.
10000 years ago -- The War of the Ancients. The Highbourne used the Well's magic with reckless abandon, drawing the attention of Sargeras and his demons. War errupted between the Highbourne, who in their arrogance believed the demons promises of power, and the non-magic using factions of Kaldorei.
10000 years ago -- Deathwing. Neltharion Earthwarder, the Black Dragon Aspect with domain over earth and deep places, was driven insane by the Old Gods. Neltharion became Deathwing, and tried to turn the world into a lava wasteland. Deathwing was eventually defeated by the other three Dragonflights and the Kaldorei, already allied of the Green Flight -- but he had already all but annihilated the Blue Flight. Both Deathwing and Malygos of the Blue Flight vanished, to sleep off defeat or grief respectively.
10000 years ago -- The Sundering. The Highbourne's use of magic accidentally drew demons into the world and cracked the one continent into three (creating the Maelstrom in between). Azshara and her court drowned but didn't die - instead they became naga, and would remain hidden for thousands of years to come. This effectively ended the War of the Ancients.
9000 years ago -- The Birth of Nordrassil. The remaining three Dragonflights grew the world tree, Nordrassil, over the Well of Eternity to protect it, and named Night Elves it's guardians. The dragons' blessing on Nordrassil gave the Night Elves immortality and immunity to disease.
7300 years ago -- Exile of the Highbourne. The Highbourne are driven from Kalimdor after refusing to give up their dangerous magics. In exile on the new continent they change physically, becoming High Elves. Because they had become addicted to the Well's magical energies, they stole a vial of water from it and used it to create the Sunwell in their new kingdom Quel'thalas. There is hate and distrust between Night Elves and Highbourne descendants (Quel'dorei and Sin'dorei) because of this.
7000 years ago -- The Long Vigil. The druids, led by Malfurion Stormrage, go into hibernation to renew their link with Nature and help the Green Dragon Aspect, Ysera, protect the Emerald Dream. Priestess Tyrande Windwhisper, leader of the Sisterhood of Elune reforms remaining Night Elf armies into the Sentinels, who protect the Night Elves and the Barrow Dens where the druids sleep.
1000 years ago -- War of the Shifting Sands. C'Thun and the Quiraji hordes try to take over Kalimdor, but are fought by Night Elf armies under the very succesful command of Druid of the Wild Fandral Staghelm. The Quiraji capture and murder Staghelm's son and almost succeed in breaking the Night Elves' resistance. However, as the Cavern of Time falls under threat, the Bronze Dragons calls the Dragonflights (Red, Green and Bronze) to battle and the Quiraji are driven behind the Scarab Wall. Rumor has it Staghelm still blames the dragons for the loss of his son.
5 - 8 years ago (WarCraft 3, exact timing inconclusive) -- Rise of the Orcs. Orcs of the Warsong clan begin harvesting lumber in Ashenvale, near the Druid's resting place. Hostilities escalate and lead to the death of the demigod Cenarius at the hands of orcs, which few Night Elves are ever likely to forgive.
5- 8 years ago (WarCraft 3, exact timing inconclusive) -- The Druids Return, Battle of Mount Hyjal. The Burning Legion attacks Night Elf lands, forcing them to reveal themselves to the younger races and join the Alliance. The druids are called out of the Emerald Dream to fight in a final battle. On mount Hyjal, the Night Elves sacrifice Nordrassil and their immortality to defeat the Burning Legion captain Archimonde.
~5 years ago (Before WoW, timing inconclusive) -- The Creation of Teldrassil. Shortly after the battle of Mount Hyjal, Arch Druid Malfurion Stormrage went missing. In his absence Fandral Staghelm took over as Arch Druid, and led the creation of a new World Tree -- Teldrassil, where the city of Darnassus was soon built. Without the Dragons' blessing, however, Teldrassil is growing crooked and corrupt. It has not restored immortality to the Night Elves, as Staghelm hoped.
1-2 years ago (TBC, timing inconclusive) -- The Dark portal and old scores settled. War in Outland with the Burning Legion and it's lackeys, Kael'thas Sunstrider and Illidan the Betrayer.
Recent (WotLK) -- Invasion of Northrend, return of the Blue Flight, a new war among Dragons. Invasion by the Lich King's armies is repelled and forces the Alliance to take the war against him to Northrend. At the same time, the Blue Dragonflight's master Malygos, lord of all magic, wakes in an insane rage swearing to destroy all who use magic. All other Dragonflights, including those Black Dragons who are still sane, join forces against Malygos. For the first time since the War of the Ancients, there is war among dragons - many Night Elves feel honourbound to help, as they did against Deathwing.