So, About Night Warriors

Argent Dawn
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We don’t know much about what they are, but we do have enough content to at least understand a good deal of it. There is the Night Warrior (the moon phase), the Night Warrior (Tyrande), and the night warrior (the new black-eyed elves). We know that night warriors are widespread. In the warfront, all generic NPCs are night warriors - established characters such as Thisalee Crow (who unfortunately survived Legion) and Jarod Stormsong still have normal eyes. This could either be an overlook, or more likely, a sign that this is a widespread thing now.

But what do we know about the other Night Warriors? First we will look at an archaeology find, and then (reluctantly) turn to the wiki.

Necklace with Elune Pendant

Elune is the primary goddess of the night elves. She is associated with the larger of the two moons, the White Lady. While she is a goddess of peace, she is not a pacifist. One of her aspects is the Night Warrior, who takes the valiant among the dead and sets them riding across the sky as stars.

So, the Night Warrior is just an aspect of the moon and, naturally, Tyrande comes to embrace this side.

But let us now turn to the gamepedia, which will give us all the information possible to compile on these elves! Perhaps there will be something of note.

Night Warrior

Strongly associated with healing, tranquility and harmony, Elune is a goddess of peace, but she is not always a pacifist, as she does not advocate peace at all costs. One of her aspects is the Night Warrior, who takes the valiant among the dead and sets them riding across the sky as stars. The Night Warrior is the incarnation of Elune’s wrath. The ritual to become the avatar of the Night Warrior is extremely dangerous, and even witnessing it puts you in danger. Legend says that long ago, the Night Warrior was used by the night elves to carve out their empire. None who have attempted the ritual since then have survived, for Elune’s raw power tears them apart.

During the Blood War, Tyrande Whisperwind survived the ascension to become the Night Warrior. Not only was she empowered but many other night elves were as well, forming the Army of the Black Moon, Elune’s power in an unnatural, seemingly eternal, night.

The description of the Night Warrior taking spirits of the departed into the sky as stars resembles what happened to Ysera upon her death.

Unsurprisingly, really nothing new. This brings me to the conclusion that Night Warriors only really served one new purpose in the plot - to try and make Night Elves more Warcraft 3 again. Tyrande is back to doing what she likes and defying orders (though that never really changed), Malfurion is coming back to save the day, the Horde is the sole enemy, elf against Forsaken. They’re just a bad plot device that look cool to return to the past.

At least, that’s my thoughts on the entire thing. I might have dragged that out longer than I needed to, but that’s really everything I could find on the Night Warriors.

What do you think?

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I agree, more or less. I find it very… odd, that you go through the entire quest-line, and it is set up like this “Night Warrior” is a one-person thing, only 1 person can become the Avatar of Elune’s Wrath, and those who have tried it in the past have died, because it is such a difficult ritual to undertake. Only Tyrande could possibly survive it!

And then right after the ritual, literally everyone and their grandmother’s dog got these dark eyes. Are they -also- a Night Warrior, like Tyrande? Did Tyrande and Elune give everyone else a buff, but not a Night Warrior buff, more like a… Night Warrior Junior?

You go through the entire questline, which asserts there is only one, then the in-game shows everyone getting them, and there is no explanation. Honestly, I don’t know what to think.

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If you want to know more, you could try following the references on the wowpedia site.

These gamepedias are excellent resources for knowledge, but always check their sources and quote them directly, if you want to play academic.

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Seeing as the ‘item’ that unlocks it is called ‘Blessing of the Night Warrior’, it’s pretty obvious that it’s a buff and not anything more than that.

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That would make sense, actually.

In game terms, think of it as Tyrande being the Avatar, giving all nelves within her vicinity the buff “Aspect of the Night Warrior”, giving a portion of Elune’s wrath.

At least the way it reads. She’s the only Night Warrior, but the Army of the Black Moon is whoever she empowers alongside.

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That’s the only logical reasoning, but I find it very stupid it is not at all explained in-game, or even out of the game for that matter, other than the name of the “Quest-item” that Tehya mention, which unlocks the new cosmetic options upon completion of the story-line.

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Actually.

During the questing it was stated there were always -more- then one Night Warrior, but that the strongest among them was chosen as THE Night Warrior-aspect of Elune, which probably included her getting more power from Elune herself.

Thanks for the laugh.

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I wish we had an in-game representation of this, a short cutscene just before the Darkshore Warfront or maybe even during the Night Warrior questline.

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From what I could gather from the in game scenario and the way I understand it is that there is one chosen night elf who attempts to undergo the ritual, this time it was Tyrande and she became the Aspect of Elune’s wrath - The Night Warrior.

After the ritual is concluded and should the chosen one survive the rest of the elves who choose to follow on the path of Elune’s wrath and vengeance then get empowered by the newly created Moonwell - the black one at Bashal Aran.

What we do not see in game but what seems likely is that all the elves who have black eyes now had willingly given themselves to follow the path of vengeance and instead of regular Moonwell to replenish their powers and gain blessings and empowerment use the new one created by Tyrande during the ritual.

After all the regular Moonwells have the same color as elven eyes so I find it only logical this too is connected. This could also explain why some characters do not have the black eyes despite being in Tyrande’s vicinity and participating in the Warfront. They simply did not choose to fully follow the path of Vengeance and Wrath and did not use the new Moonwell, yet.

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That is indeed the most sensible and logical theory.

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https://gyazo.com/cde7f358c9946e781ce329f12f186180

Not quite, I’m afraid. While a good explanation, the transformation is not tied to the moonwell which appears to swap hands as frequently as Bashal’Aran itself.

I believe that we don’t/shouldn’t ask for a detailed explanation, as that will slowly and surely ruin the last bit of mystery about Elune. She is a deity, and her vengeance manifests as her dark side. Those who ask for her blessing in that state become infused with those powers. Keep it simple!

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I understand people want an explanation on stuff, but I’d say craft some theories yourself, I like the one with the Moonwell.

But as Faceslinger said, I don’t think we should wish for detailed information. Let there remain some mystery in WoW, still. I even wish there was more mystery on WoW’s magic, and it wasn’t all so textbook.

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I just think this is some scene-kid tier tomfoolery.
Oke gurls! we are angry now! throws fake head into pond
It is time! Tyrande takes out her case of black eye contacts and applies them
We are now night warrior of elune! rawr :3 <3 xoxoxo

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I am all for mystery, but this is not really a great application in this specific case. Players have been given the option to give themselves night warrior eyes, yet no explanation as to how that even happens, or why. Just like we don’t know why suddenly everyone else, and not only Tyrande who actually did the ritual, suddenly got black eyes, and why some didn’t.

It would be very nice with some clarification from Blizzard’s side as to what is actually going on. I think they’ve left a lot of players confused, since it seems to pretty much contradict the entire Tyrande story-line, and could have used some explanation if it is simply a smaller buff The Night Warrior might give to her followers, for example. Would have been nice to see that in-game.

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Ah yes, that’s all well and good. Personally, I just don’t want EVERYTHING spoonfed and completely clarified. Leave some things in the dark. Leaving everything in the dark isn’t a good idea.

Just leave some guess work for the players. Let people have some fun with their theories.

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Am I the only one who thinks the honour of the first proper Night Warrior (or the whole story arc for that matter) should’ve gone to Maiev? If anyone has experience and knowledge with the dark side of Elune, it’s gotta be the Wardens and the Watchers as a whole (Avatar of Vengeance anyone?). The Watchers themselves were priestesses and belonged to Sisters of Elune before willingly taking the task of being jailors. It’s the beginning of WotA déjà vu.

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No. What did Maiev do for the faction of Darnassus? She upped and left. Then dissappeared. Then returned to slaughter some innocent Highborne’s. Then tried to kill off the two leaders of the Kaldorei. Then vanished again. Then re-appeared as a neutral “hero” in Legion for a small cameo, then suddenly returned to work for the Kaldorei again.

You could argue she always had the best interest of the Kaldorei at heart, but thats not entirely true either, since it was her own, personal, vendetta against Illidan that drove her and not the wellbeing of her people.

I would argue even Jarod and Shandris deserve it more then Maiev. Just as the former two deserve it more to lead the Kaldorei troops then Maiev ever did.

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Tyrande is Elune’s high priestess and her champion. It would be very strange if someone took her place in one aspect of Mummy :crescent_moon:

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After her entire order has been killed by Tyrande herself to rescue Illidan who had been sentenced by Malfurion. Both Tyrande and Maiev have done considerable damage to kaldorei well-being, the latter at least being honest with her actions.

Gotta concede there, poor writing can ruin a character.

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I wouldn’t be surprised if that were to happen. Tyrande did say she doesn’t come as priestess, follower or mother.