Queen Azshara Queen Azshara was the beloved ruler of the elven people of Kalimdor over ten thousand years ago and is the current ruler of the naga . Beautiful , charismatic , and persuasive in every way , she controlled most of the Night Elf society . After her defeat at the hands of Malfurion Stormrage , and the Great Sundering that sent her and much of the Highborne into the depths , Azshara was transformed by the Old Gods into the Empress of Nazjatar — dominant progenitor of the serpentine naga . Lady Vashj , a key player and ally of Illidan Stormrage , was once her right hand maiden . Biography . The Well of Eternity had always been the central part of the night elves ' life and culture , but the obsessive Highborne , spurred on by Azshara , began to delve into the magics of the well more deeply - too deeply . One day the queen was met by her most trusted adviser , Counselor Xavius , who approached her with the idea of using the power of the Well of Eternity to cleanse the world and make it perfect in her eyes . Their meddling with immense magic , however , drew the eye of an interested observer : Sargeras . Seeking to unleash his Burning Legion upon Azeroth , the Dark Titan entranced Xavius , pulling the counselor under his power , followed quickly by most of the Highborne and eventually Azshara herself . Xavius helped the queen communicate with Sargeras , whom she told of her desire to cleanse the world of the lesser races . Sargeras tricked the queen into making a portal from which was launched the first invasion of Azeroth by the Burning Legion , an event which is now known as the War of the Ancients . Eventually a resistance was formed , but Azshara paid no attention to their efforts . Sargeras dispatched three of his most dangerous minions to do his bidding : Hakkar the Houndmaster , Mannoroth the Destructor and finally Archimonde the Defiler . All three commanded and watched over the Legion and would have prevailed had it not been for the efforts of three night elves : Malfurion Stormrage , the druid ; Illidan Stormrage , the sorcerer and twin to Malfurion ; and Tyrande Whisperwind , the priestess ; as well as three heroes from far into the future : a dragonmage in elf form , a skilled human wizard , and a seasoned orc warrior . When the portal to the other realm was almost open , the combined force of the night elves and their allies from the future ( see War of the Ancients ) charged in to destroy it . Irritated by the lack of order , Azshara approached Mannoroth and demanded an explanation . Enraged by both his own failure and the questions asked by the Queen , he nearly attacked Azshara , but quickly realized the folly of such an attempt when he realized that Azshara kept inside her a power to which only Sargeras , Kil ' jaeden or Archimonde would prove superior . Azshara forgave him of his minor transgression and urged him on to allow Sargeras entrance to Kalimdor . Their efforts came too late , however , and the portal was destroyed . The Sundering was upon Kalimdor as well . Realizing that Sargeras would not be coming , Azshara decided not to tell her handmaidens and most loyal followers they had failed . When the black waters of the Well of Eternity poured into the palace , she created a magical shield that would protect her and the remaining Highborne from drowning . It was at that time that a voice echoed in her head , whispering plans for an escape : " There is a way . . . you will become more than you ever were . . . we can help . . . You will be more than you have ever been . . . and when the time comes , for what we grant you . . . you will serve us well . . . " Her spell collapsed but as the Well filled her lungs she did not drown . She instead expanded with hate and rage , becoming a horrific yet beautiful monstrosity , reflecting the wickedness and malice that had always hidden within her core . History . Queen Azshara , her handmaidens , and many Highborne sunk into the sea . The Old Gods chose Azshara as another useful tool and transformed her , her Highborne , and her Handmaidens into Naga . The mighty Queen Azshara still lives and rules the naga . Once she awoke at the bottom of the sea , she ordered a palace built to rival her home in Azshara . After the sundering of the world , however , and for the thousands of years since , Queen Azshara lives still , in the vast city of Nazjatar at the bottom of a deep ocean trench . She has embraced the power of the naga , grown in size , and possesses many tentacles bedecked in jewels and items of power . She plots her revenge on the treacherous Night Elves , biding her time until the growing might of the naga can be brought to bear . Living under the sea , she has become queen of the naga . In her new form , Azshara stands over twenty feet in height and moves her scale covered body on five slithering , octopus - like tentacles . Four arms now extend from the torso , with two hands holding javelins of dark polished wood and gold - leafed tips . Like her Sea Witches , Azshara ' s head is crowned by writhing serpents . Despite her monstrosity , her face still possesses the same elven beauty she always had . When Azshara finally decided to make the naga ' s existence known , she sent Lady Vasj to establish contact with the surface dwellers . She yet seeks revenge against the night elves who defeated her , slowly readying her naga subjects in Nazjatar to show their might to all of Azeroth . The world grows wary of what the changed Azshara may attempt in the coming future . It remains to be seen if Queen Azshara might still be found among the naga . " The Warcraft Encyclopedia leaves Azshara ' s fate unknown ; referencing the fact that some think she might not have survived , and the naga merely worship her memory , see flavor lore . Dark factions confirms that she is alive , mutated into a terrible demigod . " The progress text of cites that at least some night elves believe that she is in fact dead . " The Queen has long since passed . " However , Veehja claims that Azshara imprisoned Leviroth a mere five hundred years ago , indicating that the night elves might be misinformed . Personality and powers . Prior to her corruption , Azshara was extremely charismatic . Her physical and mental appeal were such that virtually no one noticed her more negative qualities . The vast majority of her servitors were willing to go to any means to elevate themselves in her eyes , even at the cost of their own lives . When Sargeras was contacted Azshara was elated , thinking she had finally found a mate worthy of her . Azshara is known to have used sorcery to increase her appeal , as proved when Illidan detected her spell shortly after receiving his new eyes . Xavius , who considered himself above her charms , was , in fact , completely enamored . Azshara was certainly powerful enough to do so . Mannoroth discovered , to his chagrin , that Azshara was far more powerful than him , and that only Archimonde , Kil ' jaeden and Sargeras could have matched her . Javelins of Suramar . Javelins of Suramar were wielded by Azshara in the Eternal Palace , and she wields them still in Nazjatar as the naga ' s immortal monarch . Each Javelin of Suramar is a 2 - foot shaft of dark , polished wood with one end tapering to a point and clad in gold - leafed steel . Titles and epithets . " ( Several of these are specific to night elven civilization , so any names referencing the moon are probably no longer used . ) "