Blood Elf History

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A (brief) history of the Blood Elves

The Founding of Quel’Thalas

6,800 years before the First War, the exiled High Elves landed on the shores of Lordaeron to seek out a new life and a new home. These outcasts were led by the Highborne Prince, Dath'Remar Sunstrider ("he who walks by day").

Cut off from the powerful energies of the Well of Eternity and no longer immortal, many of the high elves died from exposure or starvation during their long journey. In addition to these woes, the elves fled the site of their first settlement, Tirisfal Glades, due to what some believed was an ancient evil that drove many of their number mad.

As they pressed further inland the high elves developed a blood feud with the cunning, barbaric trolls of Zul'Aman who controlled most of the northern reaches of Lordaeron. After many gruelling years, Sunstrider's exiles finally reached the far northern region whose forested glades hearkened back to their distant homeland in Kalimdor. They drove out the resident Amani trolls and founded the kingdom of Quel'thalas.

Within the heart of this new land the elves created a fount of mystical power atop a convergence of powerful ley energies. Using vials of sacred waters stolen from the Well of Eternity, the Sunwell was created - and its potent, arcane magic fed and strengthened all who lived within its sphere of influence. Thus the city of Silvermoon was established; the power of the elves grew, and soon they cast an enchantment on the forest that would keep them bathed in eternal springtime...

But the budding serenity of Quel'thalas would not last long.

Arathor and the Troll Wars

Thirsty for revenge, the Amani trolls gathered together and staged a vicious campaign to destroy the elven civilization forever. Hopelessly outnumbered, Anasterian Sunstrider, now King of Quel'thalas, desperately sought allies to aid him in the war, and so it was that Quel'thalas struck a partnership with the human empire of Arathor.

The elves taught humans how to wield magic - and with their aid, destroyed the trolls' power base, ensuring that they would never again threaten Quel'thalas. Elven and human mages crafted monolithic Runestones that marked the borders of Quel'thalas – and the Runestones themselves powered a massive magical shield that would protect the land from future invasions.

As a result of the alliance between the two great powers, the wizard-nation of Dalaran was formed, where men and elves would study magic for years to come.

The Second War (Warcraft 2)

The isolationist elves took little interest in the events of the Second War - that is, until the Horde recruited Amani trolls into its ranks who subsequently besieged Quel'thalas, razing its structures and slaughtering its citizens. Once again the elves sought aid from what was now known as the Alliance of Lordaeron - and once again the human nations answered the call.

By the time the Horde was driven back, however, the orcs and trolls had already achieved their true goal: to desecrate and steal many of the Runestones which powered the elves' defensive shield. The warlock Gul'dan then used the pilfered stones to power his devious Altars of Storms.

At the war's end, the elves fell back to their reclusive ways - closing their borders and alienating their human and dwarven allies once again...

The Third War (Warcraft 3)

Lured by the power of the Sunwell, the evil prince Arthas laid waste to Quel’thalas during the Third War— decimating ninety percent of its population and reducing the once-mighty kingdom to ashes in his quest to reach the mystical fount. However, not all who fell before Arthas stayed dead: his arch-enemy, the courageous Ranger General - Sylvanas Windrunner - was raised to serve the merciless prince as a powerful, tormented banshee.

As the undead armies closed on the Sunwell, a betrayer among the high elves named Dar'khan Drathir (who hoped to gain the favour of the Lich King) aided Arthas by lowering the shields surrounding the Sunwell. Dar'khan's treachery resulted in an explosion that knocked him unconscious and scattered most of the Sunwell's powers...

The wizard Borel (who is also known as Krasus and the dragon Korialstrazs) sensed the unleashing of energy and succeeded in trapping a portion of the Sunwell's energies inside an avatar disguised as a young human girl, Anveena.

Arthas then used the remaining energies of the Sunwell to reanimate the spirit of Kel’thuzad in the form a nightmarish lich.

In the aftermath of the battle, High King Anasterian lay dead along with the members of the Convocation of Silvermoon (the high elves' ruling body). And so Lor'themar Theron, Sylvanas Windrunner’s second in command, stepped in to fill the void (the true heir to the throne, Prince Kael'thas, was in Dalaran during these events). The few remaining survivors, now denied the powerful magic of the Sunwell, quickly grew weak, ill and apathetic.

It became clear that the high elves had become dependent upon the Sunwell’s arcane energies to exist. The magic had fundamentally changed their race – and now that the source of their magic was gone – they were crashing on a racial level.

Rise of the Blood Elves

Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider was the last of the royal line and a member of Dalaran's Kirin Tor, as well. When the destruction of the Sunwell took place, he was studying magic in Dalaran. He returned to find his homeland in ruins and most of his people dead. He found those that were left were all suffering from the same lethargy – brought on by their loss of magic. Determined to salvage what little was left, Kael'thas rallied the survivors and renamed them Sin'dorei — or Blood Elves, in honour of those who had fallen to the Scourge.

Thirsting for vengeance, Prince Kael'thas and the healthiest of his warriors immediately joined the campaign against the Scourge in Lordaeron while Lor'themar and a ranger named Halduron Brightwing remained behind to safeguard the land and seek a cure for their people.

Alongside the Alliance Resistance forces, Kael'thas and his people were met with loathing and subjugation, particularly from the prejudiced human, Grand Marshal Garithos. Desperate to find a cure and snubbed by the humans, Kael accepted the solicitations of Lady Vashj, who promised demonic energies for the Blood Elves to feed upon to cure their lethargy.

Horrified at the Blood Elves' actions, the humans condemned Kael's people and imprisoned them within the arcane dungeons of Dalaran. Lady Vashj, however, broke the prisoners free and led them to the portal used by Kel'thuzad to make way for the coming of Archimonde in the Third War. Once there, the witch led Kael and his people through the portal and into the shattered realm of Outland. There, they met the one being capable of "saving" them and curing their insatiable hunger - the renegade demon, Illidan Stormrage.

Kael and his surviving royal guard chose to stay in Outland under Illidan's tutelage, while a lone agent – Rommath - was sent back to carry a message of hope to those Blood Elves remaining in Quel'thalas. Rommath accomplished his mission— relaying tales of a glorious "promised land", spreading the teachings of Illidan, and planting the seed that Kael may one day return to lead his people to paradise. Rommath remained in Quel'thalas to help rebuild and await the prince's return.

Reconstruction

Months later, Dar'khan the betrayer — now a powerful agent of the Scourge under the Lich King Arthas — returned to Quel'thalas. There he battled the avatar of the Sunwell, Anveena, and a band of heroes aided by blue dragons. Dar'khan was finally destroyed, while Anveena chose to remain in the ruined city—under the watchful protection of Lor'themar and Halduron — to begin the process of renewal.

Only a handful of elves and blue dragons know that Anveena is actually the avatar of the Sunwell's power. Lor'themar and his people keep this secret tightly guarded.

Meanwhile, Rommath and the new order of elven Magisters made great progress in tutoring their brethren in the manipulation of otherworldly/demonic energies. Many Blood Elf sorcerers learned well, and soon the spires of Silvermoon rose skyward once again – powered by volatile magics. Recently the Blood Elves began retaking portions of Eversong Forest. Emboldened by the promise of Kael's return, the prince’s weary people now focus on growing strong once again and forging a new path into an uncertain future.

Hierarchy:

• Kael'thas Sunstrider King of the Blood Elves – currently in Outland
• Lor'themar Theron Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas (he's in charge)
• Halduron Brightwing Ranger General (military commander)
• Grand Magister Rommath Leader of all wizards – true loyalties with Kael