Night Elves
Known as the kaldorei (Children of the Stars in Darnassian). Nocturnal and reclusive elves that live mostly in Northern Kalimdor and are lead by the Sisterhood of Elune. In ancient times, before the Sundering, they ruled over most of Old Kalimdor.
Biology
Like other elves, kaldorei naturally live up to about 750 years, reaching physical maturity around the age of 18. Culturally a kaldorei is not considered truly an adult until they reached their hundredth year, and in peace time there is the expectation that the teens up until that time use it for an extended period of learning and finding themselves. Until recently, the blessing of Nordrassil granted immortality to the night elves. Since the blessing has wained in recent years due to demonic tampering they have started to die of old age.
Average heights for kaldorei are 7 feet for males, and 6 ft and 8 inches for females. Heights below 6 feet as an adult is considered exceptionally short.
Darnassian Calendar and Holidays
The kaldorei use a lunar calendar where each month starts on a new moon and ends right before the next one. The calendar is organized based on the movement of the moons and their relation to the solstices, meaning occasionally there is an extra cycle in a year.
Lunar Calendar
Aviana's Moon or the Bird Moon
Aviana's moon heralds the return of life to the world, as well as the return of the birds. While this month contains the First Full Moon of Spring, Spring instead might occur under Losna's Moon. The festival of Eranah'Astras (Raising of the Moon) occurs during this month- a time for weddings, fertility rituals, and first rites for newborns.
Prior to the Sundering, in the Kaldorei Imperial age, this month was known as Latharim's Moon but was still considered the Bird Moon. Latharim was an androgynous god of the sky, winds, and birds, with wings for their arms and ears, and said to be the child of the goddess Floraeza. They were also known as the Messenger of Elune, Herald of Spring, and Bringer of Storms.
Ashamane's Moon or the Saber Moon
The Second Moon of Spring.
In ancient times, this was considered the best season for sabers to be mated and have their cubs. As the Kaldorei were always aware of Ashamane and considered her as one of their gods, the name of this month has been the same even before the Sundering.
Ysera's Moon, or the Green Moon
The Final Moon of Spring.
Prior to the Sundering, this was Floreza's Moon. Floreza was called the Green Lady and the Goddess of Love, Agriculture, and Nature Magic. She was considered the patron of farmers, rangers and huntresses, and those that worked with beasts. She was also sister and rival to Junera, the Goddess of Arcane magic who's moon fell in the Waning Autumn.
Cenarius's Moon, or the Druid Moon
The First Moon of Summer.
G'hanir's Moon, or the Tree Moon
The Second Moon of Summer.
Tortolla's Moon, or the Turtle Moon
The Final Moon of Summer and the season when sturgeon and salmon spawn.
This moon has always been strongly associated with the water. Before the Sundering, this was Mazu's Moon or the Sea Moon. Mazu was the goddess of the seas born of Elune’s sorrows, and while teaming with life is fickle and cruel.
Ursoc and Ursol's Moon, or the Bear Moon
The First Moon of Autumn.
Aessina's Moon, or the Wisp Moon
Second Moon of Autumn, and the season where the wisps have their mass migration. This is also the season where the veil is the thinnest, and when it is easiest to connect with the past.
Prior to the Sundering, this was Aestella's Moon or the Star Moon. Aestella was said to be the very first Kaldorei to be plucked from the stars, and her name literally translates to the “First One”. She was the Goddess of Death, Mystery, Shepherds, and the Stars who shepherds kaldorei that have died back to the stars to be with Elune.
Sathrah's Moon, or the Spider Moon
The Final Moon of Autumn where her silvery, frosty webs start to weave their way across the forest.
Prior to the Sundering, this was Junera's Moon. Junera was the Goddess of Arcane Magic, Knowledge, Medicine, and Art. This month was refereed to as the Weaver Moon, though in Darnassian Weaver and Spider are the same word- Teloth.
Malorne's Moon, or the Deer Moon
The First Moon of Winter.
Goldrinn's Moon, or the Wolf Moon
The Second Moon of Winter.
During the Imperial Age, this month was called Martyris's Moon. Martyris was the God of War, Justice, and Wisdom. He served as Advisor to Elune.
Lorthalium's Moon, or the Hippogryph Moon
The Final Moon of Winter.
Losna's Moon, or the Lost Moon
Always referred to as the Lost Moon, or Los'Asta, as Losna's name is avoided. About every other year the calendar may contain an extra moon cycle, and this month is named after the Blue Child. This month is said to "steal" the spring, which occurs after the Full Moon of this month. Superstition says it's bad luck to plan for a child to be born on a year of a Lost Moon, as there is a good chance the child could be born during this moon cycle rather then the three spring moons. Children born under a Lost Moon are said to live interesting but harrowing lives.
Festivals
During the closest lunar cycle to a seasonal change, a festival is hosted for the time between the new and full moon (Roughly 15 days). Equinox festivals, Spring and Fall, start on the new moon. Solstice festivals, Summer and Winter, start on the full moon.
Spring - Eranah'Astras (Raising of the Moon/Cycle)
- Lunar New Year
- A festival season starting on the New Moon following the Spring Solstice
- The forest is covered in lanterns, as each one symbolizes a star renewing the cycle of the seasons once again.
- This is when first rites are performed for newborns, and new parents are celebrated. Since fertility rates of kaldorei are traditionally lower, the fertility rites often make it so that most children are conceived in the spring months, then born the next spring.
- Also a festival to celebrate love of all kinds. Weddings and fertility rites are performed during this time.
- It is considered good luck to start a new relationship, or a new stage in a relationship, so the festival is marked by many love confessions, proposals and marriages.
- Gifts are often exchanged during this time. It is best thought to give something practical.
- Calendars for the upcoming year and bottles of kalpeito (star candies) are gifted to each kaldorei at the closest temple or moonwell, which have been made over the long winter. The bottle contains the same number of candies as days the next year will have.
- Bakers also make soft rice cakes shaped like spring flowers and migratory birds returning for the spring.
- On the last day of the festival, the full moon cleansing is followed by a flower viewing.
Summer - Shalas'Dorenar (The Wild Nights) - Festival of the Present
- Occurs on the first Full Moon following the Summer Solstice until the next new moon
- On the first night the Coming of Age Ceremony is celebrated by all Night Elves that have reached the age of 100
- During the festival there is much merriment and normally strict rules are relaxed in this time of plenty.
- Children are excused from their lessons and can take the nights to play instead.
- Sentinels set up games for both children and adults.
Shal'Mushah (The Hunting Night)
- In addition to the Wild Nights is the Hunting night, which occurs on the new moon of the shortest night. It either occurs on the new moon before the Wild Nights or the last night of the festival. The festivities are more intense on the years where the Hunting Night falls on the Last Night of the Wild Nights
- On this night, the Kaldorei don masks of predator and prey and chase each other through the woods
- This is the night that is both the darkest and the shortest, so Elune is not watching as intensely as she usually does. She can let a few things slide, and let her beloved children run wild like beasts for just one night. As such, this is the one night of the year where female druids need not abide the transformation taboo.
Autumn - Mai'Myrinan (Dance of the Wisps) - Festival of Remembrance
- Occurs the New Moon of the cycle Following the Autumn Solstice, usually the Bears' or Aessina's Moon.
- It is named after the time where Aessina leading mass Wisp migrations are observed before she and many of them disappear during the winter.
- This is the time when the lost are remembered and celebrated. Family graves and memorials are visited and offerings left.
- Memorials are set up near moonwells in remembrance of the War of the Ancients, Satyr and Shifting Sands.
- The fallen Wild Gods are also remembered during this time, as are the lessons and stories they left behind.
- This is also a time when families and friends gather to feast and celebrate their history and bonds as the autumnal bounty is collected.
- The standard tradition is for a family to gather to visit the graves of the lost during the festival or later autumn months, to then reconvene in a home for a feast
Winter - Kalar'Bindel (The Stars Rest) - Festival of Reflection
- Occurs the first Full Moon following the Winter Solstice
- Elune keeps her closest watch over the harshest time of the year.
- It is less a festival and more a period of rest and quiet reflection.
- Kaldorei send messages to Elune, whether through writing, prayer, song, or whatever feels right.
- In these messages Elune is thanked and praised for her guidance. The Kaldorei reflects upon the past year and on their hopes for the next one.
Territory
Night elves live spread out, tending to various parts of the forest. It is understood that too many people living in one area can put a strain on the environment, so doing so is avoided.
They also can share a territory with multiple peoples peacefully, provided the other peoples both respect the elves and the forest. Should their neighbors cross the line, the kaldorei will attempt to deal with them swiftly and decisively.
Houses are built to be occupied by anyone, often up and in trees, and do not explicitly “belong” to the family living in them. As Night elves live long lives and might relocate, houses can sometimes go unoccupied for long periods of time. It is generally expected that if a house is unoccupied, travelers can stay in them. If one stays in a house, especially when the main occupants aren’t there, it is expected that travelers take good care of the house. It is not expected to leave a gift, but it is seen as good practice.
Because this leaves a risk for satyrs to squat in unoccupied houses, part of an important duty of Sentinels is to check in on houses. Local temples and forts have maps that mark locations of homes and keep track of which ones can potentially be occupied short or long term.
Hyjal
- Mountainous Woodland
- Would be considered the capital of Darnassus, if the night elves believed in such things anymore
- Not as populated as other regions, mainly due to it not being a place where many civilians live. It is mainly reserved for the priesthood and the military, being the base of operations for the Sisterhood of the Moon, the Sentinels and the Watchers. Some druids also work here, but their main base of operations is in Moonglade
- There are places for pilgrims to stay, as Hyjal is also a place of pilgrimage.
Ashenvale (Melna'Sharah)
- Temperate Woodland and Marshlands
- Most of the forest have been cultivated into a massive edible food forest around the roads
- Rice patties are cultivated in wetlands, as are freshwater fish to harvest, near population centers to help sustainably feed areas with larger populations.
- Towns in Ashenvale are the largest as they can feed larger populations, and thus boasts the largest schools in Kaldorei territory.
- Farmers, gathers, cultivators and herbalists are typically male.
- Sake and wine production is centered around these towns.
Darkshore (Shalasar)
- Temperate Coastal Woodland and Marshland
- Second most populated region in Darnassus. Boasts bigger towns as ports tend to need more infrastructure to function.
- Sea fish and seaweed are harvested and pickled, and sent to villages for stock food. Salt is also gathered here.
Winterspring (Alsela'Naia)
- Mountainous Woodland, high altitude and presence of glaciers lend it to be snowy year round
- Harsher climates make Winterspring less populated.
- Cold climates mean wooly creatures. This wool is harvested in the spring and early summer and distributed through other kaldorei territories for materials
- Very few night elves live here, as most chose to live in the temperate regions
Feralas
- Tropical Jungle
- Spices are sustainably harvested from the jungle and sent north. Though generally night elven food doesn’t overuse spice, especially spices that aren’t native to one’s own habitat.
- Largest distant population center, so taboos are often more relaxed than up north. The rest of the kaldorei tend to see Feralas elves as backwater.
Small Population Centers
Moonglade
- Mainly Druids live here
Val'sharah
- Mainly Druids and Priestesses live here, though some have their extended families have permanent homesteads in the area.
- Populations are kept small as to not overtax the land, plus the great distance to other kaldorei lands
- Also have small presences in Suramar, Highmountain and Azsuna
Felwood
- Given the deep corruption of this place, no one lives here permanently, and those on duty are frequently swapped out. The main corrupted areas are given a wide berth.
Silvergale Isles
- Azuremyst
- Bloodmyst
- Kalidar (where Teldrassil is in the MU)
Eastern Kingdoms (Duskwood,Hinterlands)
Silithus
Notable Night Elves
| Warcraft Creature Types |
|---|
| Aberration • Beast • Celestial • Construct • Demon • Dragonkin • Elemental • Fey • Giant • Humanoid • Monstrosity • Ooze • Plant • Undead |
| Humanoid Creatures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Azerothian | Native | Elf (High Elf (Waned) • Night Elf • Nightborne (Nightfallen)) • Troll (Dark • Forest • Ice • Jungle • Sand • Zandalari) |
| Wildborn | Gnoll • Hozen • Jalgar (Furbolg) • Pandaren • Quilboar • Tuskarr • Wolvar | |
| Titanic Creations | Dwarf • Gnome • Human • Trogg (Grummle • Kobold) | |
| Alien to Azeroth | Draenei • Orc | |
