World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade/Races/Blood Elves: Difference between revisions

''The '''Blood Elves''' race are a faction of former [[high elf|High Elves]] that embraced demonic magic.  They will join the [[Horde]] in the [[Burning Crusade]] expansion.  Their capital will be [[Silvermoon]].''

Ten thousand years ago, during the reign of the [[Night Elf]] [[Queen Azshara]], there was an elite magic-using sect known as the [[Highborne]], who dabbled in magics that many other [[Elves]] considered heretical by drawing upon the power of the [[Well of Eternity]]. Several centuries after the [[Sundering]], which destroyed the Well of Eternity, the Highborne left [[Kalimdor]] and settled on the [[Eastern Kingdoms|Eastern Continent]], founding the kingdom of [[Quel'Thalas]].  They became known as the [[High Elves]]. During this time, they created the [[Sunwell]], and switched to a diurnal waking cycle, instead of the nocturnal cycle they had kept when they were Night Elves. Their purple skin eventually faded to a pale peach color, like that of the [[Human]]s and [[Dwarf|dwarves]].   

The High Elves assisted the [[Alliance of Lordaeron]] in the [[Second War]] against the [[Old Horde|Horde]] and in the war against the [[Burning Legion]].  During the [[Third War]], however, [[Prince Arthas]] led his army of the [[Undead]] against them, ravaging Quel'Thalas and corrupting the Sunwell.  The High Elves were nearly wiped out in the conflict. In rememberance of their fallen brethren, most of them renamed themselves the Blood Elves, or '''Sin'Dorei''', and swore to avenge their fallen race.

Cut off from their source of power once again, the Elves went into magic withdrawal.  Desperate for aid following the [[Third War]], the Blood Elves accepted help from the [[naga]].  This was seen as treachery by the Alliance and they were sentenced to death.  Prince [[Kael'thas Sunstrider]] led his followers to freedom, to the extra dimensional wastes of [[Outland]], the remnants of Draenor, to pledge allegience to [[Illidan]] who promised to grant them a new source of magic by siphoning the chaotic energies of demons. Together with their allies the naga, Illidan led the blood elves to conquer Outland, gaining in the process the friendship of the nearly extinct [[draenei]].  

The Blood Elves then followed Illidan to the [[Icecrown]] Glacier in an attempt to destroy the [[Lich King]], however, their plans were foiled by Arthas who wounded Illidan forcing the allied Blood Elves and naga to retreat, allowing Arthas to ascend the glacier and merge with the Lich King.

According to the [[Alliance Player's Guide]], [[Alliance & Horde Compendium]], and [[World of Warcraft RPG]], High Elves and Blood Elves look similar in nature, usually having blue, green or white eyes (though High Elven eyes do not always glow). In World of Warcraft, High elves tend to have blue eyes, white to light blond hair, and appear more pale and sickly in nature compared to the models of the Blood Elves. Blood Elves tend to have more reddish-tinged skin, and crimson or violet-colored eyes, as well as usually having more elaborate haircuts.  

In the time between the Third War and World of Warcraft, Blood elves began to take up wearing red and black in memorial of their lost empire and brethren. They also adopted hair styles against the norms of their previous [[High Elf]] society and painted runes on their bodies to ward off demons or to simply look threatening.  Nevertheless when approaching Alliance towns Blood Elves would often disguise themselves as High Elves to avoid harm.{{Cite|A&HC|68}}

This appears to have changed by the time of World of Warcraft as Blood Elves have begun to show up in Alliance Lands undisguised, sometimes as ambassadors, other times asking for help to collect reagents that they need for spells. Still others attack alliance on sight such as those from the [[Thalassian Base Camp]], and those that have joined the Horde.

*In the Road to Damnation short story, taking place before the destruction of [[Quel'thalas]], Prince Kael'thas is seen in a screenshot using a new blood elf model. This may mean that the blood elves have had no physical alteration since the loss of the Sunwell. The changes in physical appearance, such as the green eyes that were rumored to be caused by fel energies, actually have no lore explanation and are simply the new look blizzard has come up with. Some think that if Kael'thas (who is known as a High Elf at the time) is using the new model, that maybe all the other High Elves will use it also in the coming expansion.

*However, it is also possible that both the High and Blood Elves will use a similar model, but will have different skin colors, and eye colors, much like the current in-game models. The High Elven skin and eye colors will not available to the Blood Elves during the character creation screen (similar to how the [[Sand Trolls]] use the similar model as the [[Jungle Trolls]], but have a reddish-pinkish skin color which Jungle Trolls do not).

*It is also possible that the video just uses the unique Kael'thas boss model that will be used in a later dungeon ([[Tempest Keep]]) for the scenes, and may not apply to any other current high elves at all. The new model may apply to current Blood Elves in the game, however, which are seen in Aszhara and a few other places. (While Kael'thas is shown to have green eyes in the video, in the other appearances of the character he is shown to have white eyes (e.g in Frozen Throne and other artwork)).

Not all blood elves currenty reside in [[Outland]], some have remained in [[Azeroth]]. Flushed with their new found power born from their ability to tap into demonic energies from the [[Twisting Nether]], the Blood Elves have managed to retake their beloved land of [[Quel'Thalas]]. [[Silvermoon]] has been rebuilt and the resident blood elves there plot to return to Outland, where they can reunite with Kael'thas and achieve the golden destiny he promised them.  

Unfortunately, the blood elves' practice of embracing demonic energies resulted in them being shunned by their former comrades in the [[Alliance]]. Thus, the remaining blood elves on Azeroth look desperately to the Horde to help them reach Outland. The [[orc]]s are wary of accepting them, but the tactical advantage the of Blood Knights is a huge buff for the horde forces.  It is unknown what relation Sylvanas Windrunner, leader of the Forsaken, will have to the blood elves. At E3 the blood elves had no [[Undercity]] reputation bar on their reputation tab, so blood elves may only tolerate the forsaken and not be able to raise reputation with them.  A lot of the forsaken would have been involved in the siege on [[Quel'thalas]], which could explain a possible distrust between the two races.

The blood elf [[language]]s will be [[Sindassi]] and [[Orcish]], and they will be able to pick the [[hunter]], [[priest]], [[warlock]], [[rogue]], [[mage]] and [[paladin]] classes, according to an update on the official homepage. This seems to be the final outcome, and it is likely it will not change any more after such an announcement.

'''''[[Lor'themar Theron]]''''', Regent of Quel'Thalas: Leader of the Blood Elves on Azeroth in the Prince's absence

'''''[[Rommath|Grand Magister Rommath]]''''' : Leader of all Blood Elf Magi on Azeroth, and a fiercely loyal servant of Kael'thas

'''''[[Halduron Brightwing]]''''' : Ranger-General of Silvermoon, the blood elves' military commander on Azeroth

Since the destruction of the [[Sunwell]] at the hands of [[Arthas]] and the [[Scourge]], the Blood Elves have been forced to deal with the sudden relapse of their addiction to arcane energy. A constant curse since the original [[Well of Eternity]] was destroyed, the addiction has become more powerful than ever. Blood Elves spend their waking days struggling with their weakness, seeking either to sate it by siphoning magical energy from their surroundings or to resist the urge to feed.

Blood Elves wear crimson-colored robes to suggest their fiery affiliation and the blood of the fallen Elves in [[Quel'thalas]]. Many concentrate on studying arcane and fire magic, as opposed to the traditional frost and water spells of their lost high elf society.

Blood Elves have flags that feature a [[phoenix]]. In the [[Third War]], Blood Mages had the ability to call phoenixes from the [[Elemental Plane]] of fire. These creatures appear to be deeply connected with the Blood Elves, possibly because they share a destructive nature, or perhaps due to their purely magical composition.  This could allow the Blood Elves to have increased control over them. Since the phoenix dies and becomes reborn, it could be a symbol for the Blood Elves - the Blood Elves metaphorically 'died' as High Elves and were reborn as Blood Elves.

*[[Hunter]]

*[[Mage]]

*[[Warlock]]

*[[Rogue]]

*[[Priest]]

*[[Paladin]] (Also referred to as [[Blood Knights]])

* [[History of the Blood Elves]]

*[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/townhall/bloodelves.html Official page] for further information about Blood Elves, which is the new [[Horde]] race in [[The Burning Crusade]]

*[[Rise of the Blood Elves]], from the [[History of Warcraft]]

*[[Blood Elf (Warcraft III)|Blood elf units in Warcraft III]]