ashtarels-archives - Tumblr blog

ashtarels-archives · 6 months

Text

Cathedral of Eternal Night: Lost Sanctum of the Sisterhood of Elune

Cathedral of Eternal Night, perhaps called "Azshal'adora" in Darnassian.

These were the uppermost chambers of the Temple of Elune, now known as the Tomb of Sargeras. The corrupting emerald fires of fel magic slowly creep through the entrance of these once hallowed halls, but remnants of the Sisterhood's formery glory still endure further into the Cathedral.

Hall of the Moon:

When traversing the dungeon, there are rooms to the side of the main path that may be opened and fully explored. These circular spaces contain what could be old moonwells, outlined with pillows and embraced by floating flowers overhead. These were likely places of meditation or communion with Elune, but I could also imagine these pools being used for healing, cleansing, scrying, stargazing, etc.

Perhaps a coincidence, but when inspected closer, these flowers have eight main petals; similar to how there are eight notable phases of the moon. (I wonder if eight is considered a lucky or holy number in Kaldorei society?)

Windows of stained glass adorn the walls and the ceilings here, filigree and diamond-shaped motifs (like the Tears of Elune) being repeated in the lower levels of the temple as well. Despite this being an indoor place of worship, it's clear that keeping moonlight visible/sensed was important in the Cathedral. In some rooms, it appears that the moonlight from outside shines directly into the pools, perhaps imbuing them with lunar blessings. This could have also just been a way for priests of Elune to feel closer to Her even when inside.

Countless scrolls and bookshelves can be found in all rooms, many of them housing a plethora of desks. Eerily, some still have an open scroll or book laying atop their surface with bookmarks in place, untouched by the sands of time.

I'm curious as to what texts are hidden here, but I suppose there's a few obvious things that come to mind. They could be prayers the Sisters were trying to commit to memory, songs of the Elunarian faith, stories/legends about the Well of Eternity, sacred texts of the Goddess, students' notes/textbooks, and more; as this could have also been a place of learning for newer inductions into the Sisterhood as well.

Perhaps the writings in this repository could make for interesting RP adventures in retrieving old texts, relics, lore about ancient Kalimdor, or attempts at discerning old Elunarian spellwork, prayers, stories, etc!

The small tabletop game on the right also caught my eye. Pieces of arcane crystal float above the board, maybe an old version of Kaldorei/Highborne chess.

Another detail in some of these areas are the looms resting to the side of the moon-pools: this could have been a place where mooncloth or holy vestments were created or blessed, as evidenced by one of the sub-zones here being called "Sacristy of Elune." A sacristy is a place where "a priest prepares for a service, and where vestments and other things of worship are kept."

Chapel of Tranquil Song:

An easily missed side-room leading up the first set of stairs is the Chapel of Tranquil Song. It is a small church with two sets of pews, and a fallen crescent-harp. This room further reinforces the idea that music and song have been a prominent aspect of Elune worship, and I think this could be an interesting take on healing in RP as well. Calming singing and instruments like the harp could possibly help heal wounds alongside the lunar magic of the Goddess, akin to an Elunarian bard.

The Twilight Grove:

The next level of the Cathedral is called "Twilight Grove," a large platform housing ethereal flowers that glow like stars with a font of moonlight (almost like a silver lake) pouring in through the ceiling. Agronox's dungeon journal entry describes these as the "Hanging Gardens," which he once tended to before his fall to corruption. I find it interesting that these plants seem to flourish hanging upside down, rather than growing on the ground level. Some petals and leaves also seem to be translucent, reminiscent of a spirit or the like.

I am unsure what these herbs are exactly, but perhaps they are specifically nourished by moonlight. Maybe priests of Elune utilize celestial herbs of some kind that bolster the magic granted by the Goddess, grant visions/spiritual boons, or emanate a calming aura in places of worship. It could also be that mundane herbs may be grown near a moonwell or a font like this one, and with time are imbued by Elune's blessings.

Chapel of the Sentinels:

This chapel is yet another Legion reference to a group called the Sentinels existing before the War of the Ancients. The others mentioned are in Tel'anor (resting place of WotA heroes) upon the plaques of the Windstrikers and Latara Feathersong.

Windstrikers: "Marksmen without peer, their skill with a bow was an inspiration to generations of archers. Their family developed the gauntlets the Sentinels wear, carefully articulated mail links that empower our archers to this day."

Latara: "Here lies Latara Feathersong. A huntress of the Sentinels, she led the vanguard in many campaigns. Her bravery and compassion were endless."

Maybe this order existed before the Sundering, with special places reserved for them like this chapel, and was simply revived in name by Tyrande Whisperwind a few centuries later.

The Emerald Archives:

A grand library containing innumerable books of all categories, it seems that these archives contained Highborne enchantments as well. Before the Sundering, there may have been an emphasis on Priestesses being educated/learned in many different areas of study, including knowledge of the arcane. These are the books we see from Thrashbite's dungeon journal entry:

Satirical Animated Book: an animated tome overflowing with stifingly satirical writing. As the tomes open, all sound is magically absorbed into the ancient pages, silencing all players for 5 seconds.

Fictional Animated Book: An ancient work of fiction springs to life, the magical runes leaping from the page to fetter would-be readers. Slows all players.

Biographical Animated Book: Account of a long-forgotten sorcerer's life can prove to be dangerously beguiling. Entrancing narrative charms a random player, but breaks if their health goes below 30%.

All of these fire arcane bolts at the party. Books as weapons in mage RP is something I'd never thought about, but makes so much sense!

There is an achievement for this boss fight called "Steamy Romance Saga," implying that even erotica could have also been kept in the library.

A mural to the left of the Emerald Archives depicts a Kaldorei woman bearing a shield (likely the Aegis of Aggramar that was kept here prior to the Sundering) and a spherical protection spell against green flames from what appears to be a dragon.

The way leading to the next area is called "Path of Illumination."

Chapel of Tears:

Another side-room on the way up the winding staircase is named the Chapel of Tears. This could have been a place of safekeeping for the Pillar of Creation: Tears of Elune, or a chapel of mourning. Somehow, a fel-infused Fal'dorei (nightborne spider) has made a nest here.

Other references to Elune's tears:

Tearstone of Elune

The Sisters' Tear

Mu'sha's Tears

Tears of the Goddess

Elune's Tear

Tears of the Moon

In any case, references to tears of Elune crop up all over Azeroth, most of which possess some kind of restorative/cleansing/life-giving powers. I believe that while the tears could certainly represent sadness of the Goddess, they could also represent tears of happiness, as the Pillar of Creation is described to "embody the dream of what Azeroth could be," and maybe the strong healing magic imparted by them is rooted in hope. I feel that Elune's connection to water could also be another avenue for RP, perhaps harnessing rejuvenating aquatic magic alongside the lunar blessings of Elune.

Sacristy of Elune:

The pinnacle of the Cathedral is known as the Sacristy of Elune, with areas of now-empty shelves and pillaged chests. The stained glass has been turned a fel-green, broken open and shattered onto the floor. The name suggests that this was once a place where sacred items were kept, such as vestments, furnishings, sacred vessels, and Elunarian records.

Given the ancient origin of the Cathedral, this could have been a prominent place that mooncloth was created: "Tailors tell that the first recipe for mooncloth was scribed by Elune herself." It is unknown if a tailor must use felcloth and purify it in a moonwell to eventually create mooncloth, or if any cloth can be used with the proper rituals/spells/blessings.

Hope you found this interesting, thanks for reading!

"Andu’lun-adala-ande’nar." (May the moon light your way.)

#night elf #elune #kaldorei #nightelf #wow #world of warcraft #roleplay #rp #highborne #cathedral #long post #writing #headcanon #lore #priestess

31 notes · View notes

ashtarels-archives · 6 months

Text

Traversing Tel'anor: Heroes of Old Kalimdor

Tel'anor, the gravesite of old Kaldorei heroes, still stands as a beacon of ancestral reverence. Many plaques here are illegible, but some have withstood the sands of time and grant us an insight to those who played important roles in the War of the Ancients, or had a lasting impact on Kaldorei culture.

General Startalon:

Thaedris Feathersong tells us that Startalon was commander of the Suramar hippogryph riders during the War of the Ancients, and that Thaedris meditates near his grave for guidance. Startalon's existence implies that companionship with hippogryphs is a long-standing practice in Kaldorei culture, and these aerial units were likely extremely useful in the battle against the demons - especially when facing felbats and the like.

While Startalon possessed a legendary affinity for commanding, the actual seeds of trust sown between Kaldorei and hippogryph are likely owed to Dorendil Wildcaller below.

Dorendil Wildcaller:

His plaque reads: "Nature and society called to him alike, and he was one of the first to speak with the hippogryphs. His legacy lives on in our eternal kinship with them."

The quest [Forces of Nature] speaks of a legend that "they were created by Cenarius himself as a gift for the night elves. They're wary of other races, but they're intelligent enough to recognize a friend of a friend."

Perhaps Dorendil was an ancient Druid or hunter who proved himself a worthy ally of Cenarius and the forests, and gained the trust of these mystical creatures.

Likely not intended, but if we convert his name to Darnassian "Dor" + "endil" it would mean something similar to "wild-killed/killer." This could also be a mixture between "Doren" + "diel" or "wild journey." His name could simply be "Doren" meaning "wild/feral" + a simple Kaldorei suffix like "dil."

Lilyiana Meadowblade:

Her plaque reads: "Her blade was second to none, and flowed through her foes like a blade of grass dances in the wind."

She is situated across from Dorendil Wildcaller's memorial; though whether they are related in some way is unknown.

A legendary warrior, it could be that her surname was given to her in representation of her skills with a blade, rather than one passed down from family. She could have been an armswoman of legend whose blade was compared to a blade of grass poetically, or she could have possessed some mixture between melee prowess and druidic affinity if we see these words in a more literal sense.

Aelynn and Banlorus Truecaller:

Their joint-plaque reads: "Brave Aelynn and noble Banlorus ruled the battlefields and courts alike. They fell as they lived, protecting our people from threats on all sides."

The wording of this plaque leads me to believe that Aelynn was likely a renowned warrior, and Banlorus was perhaps a magus, noble, or other person of high status who held some political sway in the Kaldorei Empire. Their involvement in "the courts" could be more social, Highborne courts of old, or possibly areas of law and justice.

Ultimately, the War of the Ancients claimed both of their lives.

The Windstriker Family:

Their plaque reads: "Marksmen without peer, their skill with a bow was an inspiration to generations of archers. Their family developed the gauntlets the Sentinels wear, carefully articulated mail links that empower our archers to this day."

I'm unsure what these gauntlets really are, as I haven't seen mention of them in regards to the modern-day Sentinel army. Maybe these were protective arm-guards with bracers and finger-tabs that allowed for comfortable and precise shots, or maybe they were more ornamental considering that military status before the Sundering was a mere title often linked to nobility. Another possibility is that some long-forgotten archery enchantment of the Highborne was intrinsically tied to the Windstriker gauntlets, and is now lost to the ages.

They could have been a staple in Pre-Sundering Sentinel regalia, but the method of craftsmanship/spellwork either did not survive the war or was abandoned when the order was revived by Tyrande Whisperwind.

Arnaera:

Perhaps the most peculiar of them all, Arnaera's plaque reads: "In service to a mythical cause, they were a shining gem to our people, giving aid where they could in assisting the populace. Alas, the hammer fell and Arnaera made a journey west. They were reborn in winter's heart, and their grand design continues."

This entry is extremely vague, and this grave lies on the outskirts of Tel'anor, down a hillside. This could be a reference to the Hammer of Khaz'goroth, or it could be a metaphor for something else entirely. The rebirth in winter's heart could be the ancient Highborne settlement of Shandaral, Winterspring, Northrend, or their soul going to Ardenweald.

What do you make of Arnaera's story?

Latara Feathersong:

Latara's plaque reads: "A huntress of the Sentinels, she led the vanguard in many campaigns. Her bravery and compassion were endless."

She is the wife of Thaedris Feathersong, a Nightfallen we meet in Tel'anor who, after 10,000 years of isolation, seeks to free her spirit and reunite with her in the afterlife.

During the quest [The Final Ingredient] we retrieve her bow, which "glows with a faint white light" and "has potent magic in it" according to Thaedris. This could be a lingering blessing from Elune, materializing in a silvery bowstring.

After we kill the harpy matriarch terrorizing the graveyard, Thaedris says, "It is done. Latara, my love. I will continue to fight for you. For us."

Upon completing the questline proper he is given renewed hope, "I thank you for giving me newfound purpose. I will meet you at Shal'Aran. I think I will be needing a source of magic, after all."

#night elf #nightelf #kaldorei #wow #world of warcraft #warcraft #elune #tel'anor #highborne #roleplay #rp #kalimdor

9 notes · View notes

ashtarels-archives · 6 months

Text

Traversing Tel'anor: Traditions of the Ancient Kaldorei

Tel'anor, perhaps translated to: Holy Earth from Darnassian.

A resting place of Kaldorei heroes who fell during the War of the Ancients, Tel'anor is now a memorial site overrun by spirits and harpies nestled in the mountains just beyond Suramar's borders. Although, some Shal'dorei still pay their respects to the sacrifices of their ancestors, as we see in [Thaedris Feathersong's] tragic story.

During my travels here, I noticed some interesting details that could have some significance in Kaldorei lore/roleplay.

Lunar Headstones:

The graves and ornate coffins may reinforce the idea that Kaldorei prefer to bury their dead, or at least used to in ancient times. During the quest [Tools of the Trade], we learn that the deceased were preserved through sacred oils, preserving incense, and burial shrouds. A recurring motif I see throughout the Tel'anor monuments are the headstones that bear lunar symbolism, no doubt the Elunarian faith being an influence at play here. What I find most intriguing about the stones in particular is that they are reminiscent of different moon phases: some appearing to be waxing, waning, or even the new/full moon.

I do wonder what their meanings could be: maybe this marks the moon phase they died upon, when they were interred, the moon phase of their birth, their favorite moon phase, simple imagery in homage to Elune, social status, or something else? What do you think?

Spirit Fonts:

Another interesting detail are the spirit fonts found in the area. These are usable objects that, when given an offering of Ancient Mana, buff the player character with 10% haste and movement speed (called Spiritual Infusion), and transform them into a spectral Nightborne model.

Lore-wise, perhaps these are used for spirit communion, or to aid in ancestral offerings in some way. In roleplay, I could see Kaldorei utilizing something similar to pay homage their ancestors; whether they receive a blessing like this in return or not would be up to interpretation though.

These fonts remind me of the basins in the stylizations of Haidene, the very first High Priestess of Elune, like the grand statue of her in the temple of Darnassus. Perhaps these are filled with blessed water, the liquid fire of Elune, or remnants of a moonwell to sustain a spirit's energy, or to thin the veil between mortal and spirit.

Headcanon time: but perhaps a ritual could be performed in which someone gives an offering and imbibes the liquid from a font like this, and is able to more easily commune with their ancestors/souls of the dead for a short period.

The Chimes of the Moon:

All throughout Tel'anor, chimes can be seen hanging in various locations, as well as playing through the audio of the game. Near the back portion lies a larger set of these celestial instruments, reading:

"The Sisters say that Elune sings a song, notes pure and beautiful. The Chime does not ring often, but when it does it is the same note as the one She is singing."

Singing seems to be a prominent aspect of Elune worship, perhaps in emulation of the Goddess. According to novel The Demon Soul, Elune has "the ability to calm races engaged in battle by singing a song of peace at night, until sunrise." During the Burning of Teldrassil, Priestess Astarii begins to sing to the refugees in the temple, and Elune answers in kind by granting them a peaceful slumber so they would not feel a painful death in the flames.

Purely headcanon, but I speculate that these chimes may have been crafted in such a way that Elune responds through them (or so the Kaldorei think). Considering chimes are typically used before or after a prayer in the real world, it seems possible that Elune may use these a conduit of acknowledgement in the physical plane on Azeroth. Perhaps from strong prayers, significant offerings, welcoming a new soul amongst the stars, some other spiritually powerful event, or even in warning, She harkens through the chimes.

Smaller, more personal chimes could be something Kaldorei carry with them, hang in their homes, or build in places of worship: the ones in Tel'anor could conversely be the last of their kind, their likenesses and ancient craftsmanship now unable to be reproduced.

Braziers of Silver Flame:

Countless braziers glowing with silver fire still burn to this very day in Tel'anor. Given that this place is overrun by all manner of aggressive beings, it would stand to reason that there are no groundskeepers tending to the flames here. The quest [The Liquid Fire of Elune] implies that a flame can be born of the energies from a moonwell, holy pools whose waters marry nature and moonlight together, and can cleanse scourge-blighted creatures. Unless a wayward devotee keeps these braziers lit, the fact that these fires are still active speaks to just how powerful the magic of Elune and the moonwells really are.

There are tales of old that say Elune once dwelled within the Well of Eternity, and that some moonwells still carry traces of this ancient lake. I'm unsure if the vestiges of the Well of Eternity keep these silver flames burning or they simply thrive off of Elune's energy. Do you believe something else keeps them kindled?

It is said in the Stormrage novel that, "magi and other spellcasters can refresh their mana in these pools — a gift from Elune to Azeroth's other defenders." I believe this is partially why the Withered are so drawn to this place, given that these braziers still hold some semblance of the moonwell's restorative cleansing properties, both on one's lifeforce, and on their mana. In Elegy, Astarii Starseeker purports that bathing in a moonwell "eases feelings of pain, weariness, and grief," an experience the mana-starved Withered likely long for. I would guess that they are also feeding upon the energy of offerings left to the deceased here, scrounging for any motes of magic that yet remain.

Ancestral Offerings:

A myriad of offerings litter the grounds of Tel'anor, such as water-basins, candles, vases/urns, flowers, and statues. Alongside the worship of Elune, revering one's ancestors seems to be an important part of Kaldorei culture - as we also see during the Lunar Festival event.

Thaedris Feathersong has us gather some scattered mementos in his stead during the quest [Fragments of Memory.] He tells us that "these relics are tokens and mementos of the former lives of those interred here. They like to be remembered and these offerings keep them in their eternal peace." This line was an especially heartwarming gesture to me, that the Kaldorei select items unique to their fallen to remain with them and serve as anchors of memories made in life. Some items the dead might keep could be: weapons, armor pieces, prized possessions, professional tools, or meaningful effects.

The flavor text of the mementos in specific say: "These urns contain offerings, tokens, and other objects for the deceased." Descendants of the fallen might also leave items that could be considered useful in the next life.

I also think it's sweet that there are seating areas with benches and fountains - clearly this was a place where people spent quality time in the resting place of their ancestors; perhaps yet another way the Kaldorei pay their respects.

On nearly every epithet in Tel’anor, the final words echo the same message:

"Anu dorah. We remember."

#kaldorei #night elf #nightelf #wow #world of warcraft #lore #nightborne #tel'anor #elune #priestess #roleplay #shal'dorei #withered #rp #headcanon

29 notes · View notes