Changes: Elf

Revision as of 11:44, 12 May 2011

Source

This item is sold by Aspirant Forudir <Triumphant Armor Vendor> at the Argent Tournament Grounds in Icecrown.

Patches and hotfixes

Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04): Added.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{#data:Itemtip
-[[File:Elves.jpg|thumb|450px|Night elves, high elves, blood elves, felblood elves, undead elves, and a wretched elf]]
+|name=Nobundo's Shoulderguards of Conquest
+|quality=epic
+|icon=inv_shoulder_107
+|bind=bop
+|slot=Shoulder
+|type=Mail
+|armor=1294
+|agility=81
+|stamina=134
+|blue-sockets=1
+|sockbonus=+4 Agility
+|durability=100
+|classes=Shaman
+|crit=60
+|hit=52
+|set=Conqueror's Nobundo's Battlegear
+|level=80
+|ilvl=232
+|itemid=48345
+}}
+== Source ==
-An '''elf''' is a member of one of the longest lived species on [[Azeroth (world)|Azeroth]] known for keen perception, grace, and great spellwork. Elves were once believed to be the first race to awaken on Azeroth, but some ancient histories believe that elves were originally [[troll]]s that were transformed by the [[Well of Eternity]].
+This item is sold by {{npc|Alliance|Aspirant Forudir|Triumphant Armor Vendor}} at the [[Argent Tournament Grounds]] in [[Icecrown]].
+== Patches and hotfixes ==
-==Racial history==
+* {{Patch 3.2.0|note=Added.}}
-There are several groups of elves in the [[Warcraft universe]], but all are derived from one group: the [[Kaldorei]], also known as [[night elves]] and its upper caste the [[Highborne]].
+== External links ==
-===Kaldorei, the [[night elves]]===
+<!-- Read http://www.wowpedia.org/Wowpedia:External_links before posting your links here.
-"...a primitive tribe of nocturnal humanoids cautiously made their way to the edges of the mesmerizing, enchanted lake. The feral, nomadic humanoids, drawn by the Well 's strange energies, built crude homes upon its tranquil shores.
+Links that do not conform to the rules will be DELETED.
+Repeat violations may result in a BAN.
-Over time, the Well's cosmic power affected the strange tribe, making them strong, wise, and virtually immortal. The tribe adopted the name Kaldorei, which meant "children of the stars" in their native tongue."{{cite|WC3Man|109}}
+Have a nice day. :) -->
+{{Elinks-item|48345}}
-===Quel'dorei, the [[Highborne]]===
+[[Category:World of Warcraft epic items]]
-The magocratic society that the night elves developed split into two castes: a body of the majority of the [[Kaldorei]] and the elite caste, the [[Highborne]],  known as the [[quel'dorei]] ("noble children", "highborne", or "high elves"). These were the favorites of and most loyal to the beautiful [[Queen Azshara]], queen of the elves. They sought to understand the energies of the [[Well of Eternity]], gaining exhilarating power from the arcane energy siphoned from the Well's depths.
+[[Category:World of Warcraft mail shoulder items]]
+[[Category:World of Warcraft socketed items]]
-The night elves (and in particular the quel'dorei) would go on to expand across ancient [[Kalimdor]], shattering the empires of the [[Gurubashi]] and [[Amani Empire|Amani]] [[troll]]s in the process and inspiring awe in those who witnessed their might. However, the arrogance and carelessness of the quel'dorei would spell doom for their civilization, attracting the attentions of the [[Burning Legion]]. Azshara and some of her Highborne opened a portal from the Well of Eternity into the [[Twisting Nether]], enabling the demons to enter into Azeroth and wreak havoc upon Kalimdor. Some of the Highborne grew terrified of Queen Azshara's undying loyalty to [[Sargeras]] and the demons of the [[Burning Legion]]. Quickly, they escaped to aid the rest of the night elven civilization in banishing the demons back into the Twisting Nether in a catastrophic war now called the [[War of the Ancients]], ending in the implosion of the Well of Eternity and the [[Sundering]] of Kalimdor.
-===Quel'dorei, the [[high elves]]===
-The Highborne were never fully trusted by the rest of the night elves who had abandoned magic to pursue druidism. The surviving night elves would end up banishing the Quel'dorei for the acts leading to the Sundering as well as more wanton waving of arcana. The quel'dorei were forced into exile and eventually settled in Quel'Thalas. Becoming known as "[[high elves]]," they took up a diurnal cycle instead of nocturnal and over time, their skin became a pale color instead of their former blue-green hues.
-===Sin'dorei, the [[blood elves]]===
-After the destruction of Quel'Thalas, the majority of the quel'dorei changed their nation to the sin'dorei, or "blood elves", in memorium of those who had fallen in the siege.
-Some, believing that their culture was eroding and were horrified at the new extreme measures taken by their prince, Kael'Thas, chose to continue calling themselves quel'dorei (high elves) and remained loyal to the [[Alliance]].
-A notable difference between the high elves and blood elves is that, while the high elves combat their addiction to magic, the blood elves sucumb to it. The high elves spend at least one hour a day meditating, trying to restrain their addiction, while the blood elves drain the mana out of many creatures, including demons. This addiction sommetimes has [[Wretched | grave consequences]].
-==Anatomy and physiology==
-[[File:Elf hate.jpg|thumb|[[Night elves]] and [[high elves]] tolerate each other, but just barely.]]
-The Well of Eternity's arcane energies are the primary reason for the existence of the elves, so it makes sense that they would be magical in nature. All elves are exceptionally long lived and, at one point, were immortal, though the main races of elves have lost their immortality. Further, all elves possess glowing eyes, a sign of the use of great spells — a being of any race can exhibit glowing eyes while focusing or casting a particularly powerful spell, but the trait is innate in only a few races, most of which are demons or undead.
-Elves have several characteristics in common. All have unusually acute senses and are able to see clearly even in low-light conditions. As a general rule, elves are also slim, athletic, and graceful. Furthermore, they all have large pointed ears that tend to be greeted with admiration or mockery by other races. [http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/339.xml From the Official Encyclopedia] Typically, night elves have longer ears than high/blood elves, whereas the latter's point upward rather than backward.
-A characteristic of elves on Azeroth are their unusual eyebrows, which extend beyond their faces, resembling either whiskers or antennae. There has been no official coverage of this anatomical oddity, despite it being present in all official artwork. Though it may be speculated that this is due to the elves extreme longevity; the brow's continuing growth over the life of the individual to its extreme length.
-==Races==
-[[File:Night and Blood.jpg|thumb|Night and Blood.]]
-It has been hinted that there are four or five races of elves ([[dark elves]],{{cite|DotD|160-161}} [[night elves]], [[Highborne|Highborne elves]], (caste){{cite|LoC|17}} [[high elves]], and [[blood elves]]), but to date only four have debuted in the games. Those four are the night elves, Highborne elves, high elves, and blood elves. Hybrids between elves and humans such as [[half-elves]], [[half-night elves]], and [[half-blood elves]] are also mentioned in lore. Of these, only one known half-elf has appeared in-game, [[Arator]].
-The blood elves are the survivors of Quel'Thalas who, in mourning for their slain brethren and without the energies of their Sunwell, went to desperate lengths to satisfy their hunger for vengeance and magic. Through their experiments, they have developed the vampiric ability to siphon energy off of others, particularly demons, and physically changed to include glowing green eyes, and pale or ruddy skin. Those who have succumbed to this hunger have degenerated further, becoming violent addicts known as the [[wretched]]. It has been suggested many times that the blood elves are on their way to becoming an entirely separate race, perhaps even becoming demons.
-Such a claim is not new — some of the quel'dorei, prior to the War of the Ancients, aligned themselves with the Burning Legion. They became the demonic, caprine [[satyr]]s, mockeries of the elven form who feast upon magical energies to sustain their otherwise immortal lives.
-Other perversions of the elven species include the [[naga]] and [[harpies]]. The [[naga]] are the remnants of those Highborne who were trapped in the implosion of the Well of Eternity but who survived by mutating into horrific beasts. They retained their immortality and dwelt beneath the great [[Maelstrom]], though they were reawakened by [[Illidan Stormrage]] in the wake of the [[Third War]] and are now bent upon reclaiming the land, attacking any night elves they find. Similarly, the feral harpies attack anyone they see, being brutal cannibals. These bird women are descended from the night elves, though their origins are not clear: some say that they were cursed by Azshara while others say that they "gave themselves over" to Aviana, the bird demigoddess, suggesting that their violence is derived from their lost "mother."
-Other potential cases of night elves giving themselves over to [[demideity|demideities]] include the [[Children of Cenarius]], who could just as easily be the literal children of the [[demigod]] [[Cenarius]]. These "children" are the [[Keeper of the grove|keepers of the grove]] and [[dryad]]s, who bear the upper bodies of night elven men and women (respectively). The related [[centaur]]s are the bastard offspring of Cenarius' eldest son [[Zaetar]] and the [[earth elemental]] princess [[Theradras]], but they do not bear much resemblance to the night elves and look closer to humans.
-Another race of elves has arisen on the face of Azeroth: the half-elves, the hybrid descendants of [[human]]s and high elves. Reports of half-night elves exist, but most of these would be in their infancy, given the recent rediscovery of Kalimdor. There is one half-kaldorei — [[Feulia]] — but her parentage is unknown. It is not certain if there are any half-blood elves, as the high elves (and their blood elven survivors) were prejudiced against half-elves, so there wouldn't be any initiated into blood-elvendom and the chances of a blood elf mating with a human, especially after their removal from the Alliance and joining the Horde, are slim to none.
-While they cannot be said to be separate races, the undead and spectral remnants of the elves — members of the [[Forsaken]] [[undead]] as well as numerous [[ghost]]s, [[wraith]]s, and [[banshee]]s — haunt those lands that they once occupied in life.
-==Trivia==
-* The elves of Warcraft, like almost all elves in modern fantasy, are inspired in some regard by the elves of {{wplink|Tolkien|Tolkien's}} books, who were known as the {{wplink|Sundering_of_the_Elves#Eldar|Eldar}} or the {{wplink|Elf_%28Middle-earth%29#History|Quendi}}.  In Warcraft, like in JRRT's works, the elves are one of the oldest races, and became divided into subraces over time. As a quieter connection, "eldar" means ''starpeople'', and ''kal'dorei'' means "children of the stars".
-*Though the vast majority of night elf lore is original on the part of Blizzard, they draw parallels to the {{wplink|Sidhe}} ("SHEE") of Irish mythology and other beings of Celtic myth (except for the chimaera and the hippogryph, who are Greek). Night elven architecture has also been said to draw upon Nordic and Japanese designs. Blizzard has also said that night elves were based on traditional fantasy dark elves but with a twist.
-* Originally, the race now known as high elves were simply called "elves", and conformed to the stereotypical fantasy elves. Though there were several hints of the night elves in various Warcraft media, the original elves were not referred to as "high elves" until ''[[The Last Guardian]]''.{{cite|LC|34, 36}}
-*Half-elves originate from Norse mythology, and were borrowed by Tolkien, which he called the Peredhil. The most famous half-elf in Tolkien's legendarium, is perhaps Elrond Halfelven. (Unlike in some other fantasy genres, the Half-elven are not a distinct race from Elves and Men, and before they die must ultimately choose which race to belong to.)
-== Notable elves ==
-A number of elves have played a significant role in the lore of Warcraft.
-===Night elves===
-*{{RaceIcon|Naga|Female}} [[Queen Azshara]] - Infamous Queen of the night elves ten thousand years ago, currently the Empress of the naga; one of the most powerful sorceresses ever to exist.
-*{{RaceIconExt|Illidan}} [[Illidan Stormrage]] - Powerful night elf [[sorcerer]]; often called "the Betrayer" due to his role in the War of the Ancients; currently the ruler of [[Outland]].
-*{{RaceIconExt|Malfurion}} [[Malfurion Stormrage]] - The first and most powerful druid ever to walk Azeroth.
-*{{RaceIconExt|Tyrande}} [[Tyrande Whisperwind]] - High priestess of [[Elune]] and current leader of the [[night elven]] people.
-*{{RaceIcon|NightElf|Female}} [[Shandris Feathermoon]] - Tyrande's protege, current general of the Sentinel army.
-*{{RaceIconExt|Maiev}} [[Maiev Shadowsong]] - Warden of Illidan's prison for ten millennia, now imprisoned in Outland.
-*{{RaceIcon|NightElf|Male}} [[Jarod Shadowsong]] - Leader of the night elves after the Sundering.
-*{{RaceIcon|NightElf|Male}} [[Kur'talos Ravencrest]] - Heroic noble and general during the War of the Ancients.
-*{{RaceIconExt|Fandral}} [[Fandral Staghelm]] - Current Archdruid of the night elves.
-*{{RaceIconExt|NagaSeaWitch}} [[Lady Vashj]] - Once a highborne servitor of Azshara, now a powerful naga in service to Illidan.
-*{{RaceIconExt|Satyr}} [[Xavius]] - A powerful [[highborne]] that was turned into a [[satyr]] by the dark titan [[Sargeras]].
-===High elves===
-*{{RaceIconExt|Sylvanas}} [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] - Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, formerly Ranger-General of Quel'Thalas
-*{{RaceIconExt|Alleria}} [[Alleria Windrunner]] - Heroine of the Second War
-*{{RaceIconExt|Vereesa}} [[Vereesa Windrunner]] - Liberator of Grim Batol and Ranger-General of the [[Silver Covenant]]
-*{{RaceIconExt|Dath'Remar}} [[Dath'remar Sunstrider]] - The first leader of the high elves
-*{{RaceIcon|HighElf|Male}} [[Anasterian Sunstrider]] - King of Quel'Thalas during its height
-*{{RaceIconExt|Dar'khan}} [[Dar'khan Drathir]] - Betrayer of Quel'Thalas
-*{{RaceIcon|HighElf|Male}} [[Thalressar]] - Co-founder of [[Allerian Stronghold]], lieutenant of [[Alleria]] and the [[Sons of Lothar]].
-*{{RaceIcon|HighElf|Male}} [[Auric Sunchaser|Captain Auric Sunchaser]] - Originally part of the [[Alliance Expedition]], he leads the high elves in the [[Allerian Stronghold]] while Alleria is away.
-===Blood elves===
-*{{RaceIconExt|Kael'thas}} [[Kael'thas Sunstrider]] - The dark prince of the blood elves
-*{{RaceIconExt|Lor'themar}} [[Lor'themar Theron]] - Regent Lord of Silvermoon
-*{{RaceIconExt|Halduron}} [[Halduron Brightwing]] - Ranger General of the blood elves
-*{{RaceIconExt|Liadrin}} [[Lady Liadrin]] - The first Blood Knight
-*{{RaceIconExt|Rommath}} [[Grand Magister Rommath]] - The leader of the magisters of Silvermoon
-*{{RaceIcon|BloodElf|Male}} [[Voren'thal the Seer]] - The leader of the Scryers in Outland
-*{{RaceIcon|BloodElf|Male}} [[Astalor Bloodsworn|Magister Astalor Bloodsworn]] - Creator of the Blood Knights
-===Half-elves===
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Female}} [[Finnall Goldensword]] (daughter of [[Daelin Proudmoore]] and [[Kilnar Goldensword]])
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Arator the Redeemer]], The half-elven son of [[Turalyon]] and [[Alleria Windrunner]], has been added to the game with the [[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade|Burning Crusade]] expansion. He is currently the only known half-elf in World of Warcraft. Arator uses a high elf model.
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Magistrate Randalvarr]], Magistrate of [[Valgarde]] in [[Northrend]].
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Silverwolf elf]] - A half-elf in legend.
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Starfeller]] - A half-elf in legend.
-*{{RaceIcon|UndeadElf|Female}} [[Apothecary Oni'jus]] -  She is a [[Forsaken]] half-elf and second in command of the [[Royal Apothecary Society]].
-*{{RaceIconExt|Wraith}} [[Borivar]] - He is a half-elf [[wraith]].
-*{{RaceIconExt|Banshee}} [[Ielephia]] - She is a half-elf [[banshee]].
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Galadin]] - Twin brother of [[Giramar]], son of [[Rhonin]] and [[Vereesa Windrunner]].
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfElf|Male}} [[Giramar]] - Twin brother of [[Galadin]], son of [[Rhonin]] and [[Vereesa Windrunner]].
-===Half-night elves===
-*{{RaceIcon|HalfKaldorei|Female}} [[Feulia]] - referred to as [[half-kaldorei]] (which is most likely intended to mean the same thing).
-== See also ==
-* [[Dark elf]]
-* [[Night elf]]
-* [[High elf]]
-* [[Blood elf]]
-* [[Felblood elf]]
-* [[Half-elf]]
-* [[Half-night elf]]
-* [[Half-blood elf]]
-* [[Half-kaldorei]]
-* [[Highborne]] - Arcanely gifted caste of night elves of ancient times.
-* [[Wretched]] - Blood elves who have succumbed to their addiction to magic.
-* [[Darkfallen]] - Undead blood elves
-* [[Banshee]] - A particular type of undead, often formed from elven spirits.
-* [[Dark ranger]] - Another undead elf, this one corporeal and a [[class]].
-* [[Shen'dralar]] - A faction of surviving Highborne living in [[Dire Maul]].
-* [[Troll/Elf Lineage]] - A theory about the origins of the elves.
-* [[Naga]] - Highborne warped into serpentine creatures by the powers of the [[Old Gods]].
-* [[Satyr]] - Highborne corrupted into fel creatures by the [[Burning Legion]].
-* [[Harpy]] - Former elves cursed by the power of Azshara.
-* [[Manual of Monsters/Appendix Three#Blood Maiden|Blood Maiden]] and [[Manual of Monsters/Appendix Three#Dark Womb|Dark Womb]] - Variation of highborne that were described in the [[Manual of Monsters/Appendix Three|Appendix Three]] of ''[[Manual of Monsters]]'', however the validity of the source is disputed.
-{{races}}
-[[Category:Lore]]
-[[Category:Elves| ]]