High elf

The high elves, or quel'dorei ("children of noble birth" in Darnassian and ThalassianThe Warcraft Encyclopedia/Darnassian), are a race descended from the night elf Highborne who left Kalimdor and settled in the Eastern Kingdoms, founding Quel'Thalas. The high elves were once a significant force on the continent, but in recent times their numbers have been dramatically reduced: approximately 90%Sean Copeland on Twitter of their population was slaughtered during the Third War.Races of World of Warcraft - Blood Elf Following this, 90% of the surviving high elves changed their name to "blood elves" or sin'dorei (children of the blood in Thalassian) in remembrance of their fallen brethren, and no longer consider themselves high elves.
The high elves as a whole were relatively secluded from the younger races for several millennia, though both the Troll Wars and the Second War saw relations established with them: with King Thoradin of the Kingdom of Arathor, and the Alliance of Lordaeron respectively. The high elves' reluctant allegiance to the latter proved short-lived, as the high elven king Anasterian Sunstrider quickly grew apathetic to the plight of his allies, and officially seceded his nation.Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 69 Subsequently, the high elven kingdom was brought to the brink of annihilation when Prince Arthas Menethil launched the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas and decimated the high elves. Rallied by Lor'themar Theron, second-in-command of the fallen Sylvanas Windrunner, the high elves rejoined with Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, and renamed themselves "blood elves", in honor of their perished brethren.The Warcraft Encyclopedia/Blood Elves The blood elves then sought to unite and restore their people to the glory they enjoyed at the height of high elf civilization,Blood of the Highborne and have retaken much of their land from the Scourge.
However, a few high elves did not rename themselves blood elves. High elves and blood elves are physiologically the same race, and the difference between high and blood elves is only political. When Quel'Thalas left the Alliance, some high elves chose to remain with their allies over their kingdom, and to this day still support the Alliance. Some high elves were exiled from Quel'Thalas after the Third War. Other high elf remnants have chosen to rejoin the Alliance in recent years, arriving to a cold reception. Modern high elves are a rare sight, and are commonly mistaken for blood elves.Iridi and Vereesa, Night of the DragonTaela Everstride's gossip text In consequence, there are very few high elves left on Azeroth today. High elves did not gather in any significant numbers and are a very small group of individuals. Indeed, modern high elves cannot even truly be said to have a culture—only a past filled with glory and regret.
As a people, the high elves are all but extinct: the remnants of the remnants of a fallen race.Night of the Dragon, pg. 7 Though without any official leader, Vereesa Windrunner leads one of the few organized high elf collaborations, the Silver Covenant, as its self-styled Ranger General. Auric Sunchaser, a captain of the remnants of Alleria's ranger cadre found in Terokkar Forest, serves as the high elven representative at the restored Sunwell in modern Quel'Thalas.
==History==
===Exile of the Highborne===
When the night elves adopted druidism, they outlawed the practice of arcane magic. The use of its dangerous powers was punishable by death. However, many Highborne loyalists of Queen Azshara survived the Sundering and grew restless. They suffered from magical withdrawal, and 7,300 years before the invasion of the Horde through the Dark Portal, they spoke against Malfurion Stormrage and the druids. Dath'Remar Sunstrider, the leader of this movement, declared the druids cowards for refusing to wield the arcane. Malfurion and the druids warned the Highborne that any use of magic would be punished. Yet, in an attempt to protest the druid's law, Dath'Remar and his followers unleashed a terrible magical storm upon Ashenvale.
The druids could not bring themselves to put so many of their kin to death, so they decided to exile the reckless Highborne from their lands. Sunstrider and his followers boarded a number of specially crafted ships and set sail upon the seas. By now the Highborne were glad to be rid of their conservative cousins and free to practice the arcane with impunity. None knew what lay beyond the Maelstrom, but they eventually found the Eastern Kingdoms and formed their own magical realm. They abandoned the concepts of Elune and nocturnal activity, embracing the sun instead.Exile of the High Elves: "Forever after, they would embrace the sun and be known only as the high elves." They would soon become known as the high elves.
===Rise of Quel'Thalas===
Sunstrider led the high elven fleets across the world for many long years. Their goal was to find places of considerable ley power for them to build their new homeland. After landing on the Lordaeron continent, they moved inland and formed a settlement in the Tirisfal Glades. After a few years, however, many were driven insane. The belief at the time was that something evil slept beneath the Glades, so the high elves abandoned the region and moved northwards. They wandered the land for years.A Good War, pg. 50
Around this time, they had become completely severed from the life-giving energy of the Well of Eternity. This meant that they were vulnerable to the elements and had not received immortality from Nozdormu and the World Tree. They had shrunk in height and their skin had become a peach hue similar to most dwarves and humans. The high elves soon discovered primitive humans, but associated little with them. The forest trolls of Zul'Aman, under the Amani Empire, posed a greater threat to their society. The elves soon grew to hate the forest trolls and they fought each other whenever they met. When the high elves went to war with the Amani trolls, the elves could not understand how the trolls' weapon enchantments were more powerful than their own. The elves then stole ancient knowledge from troll spellcasters, including the famous Zanza, and used stolen idols to craft their own versions of the troll enchantments.Eerie Smolderthorn Idol
After many more years, the high elves discovered a land in the northern forests which suited them, and founded the kingdom of Quel'Thalas. Unfortunately, they would learn that Quel'Thalas was founded on a sacred and ancient troll city. The trolls began to attack the elven settlements en masse in retaliation. Although the Amani outnumbered them ten to one, the elves utilized magic to its fullest effect and defeated the trolls.
Some elves, wary of the kaldorei's warnings, created a protective barrier around Quel'Thalas which allowed them to continue their magic without attracting the Burning Legion's attention. To do this, they employed a series of monolithic Runestones. Soon, Quel'Thalas became a shining monument to high elven prowess. It was crafted in the same style as the halls of Kalimdor,The Founding of Quel'Thalas with the addition of integrated magic and a brighter color scheme. Although they did not worship it, a great respect was maintained for nature. The high elves were careful to interweave their cities and architecture with their natural surroundings, creating a truly beautiful and tranquil land.
To sate their hunger for great magical power, the high elves created the Sunwell. It became the source of their power as the Well of Eternity had been in Kalimdor, although the Sunwell was much weaker, and the elves were forewarned of the dangers. As the high elves became more powerful, they cast an enchantment on the forests that bathed Quel'Thalas in eternal springtime, in defiance of the kingdom's location on the extreme north of the continent. From that point on, all high elves had access to the Sunwell's powers from anywhere on Azeroth. Over time, the high elves came to regard the Sunwell's waters as holy. Magic became part of their genes centuries before, but the Sunwell's unique energies became part of them acutely.
===Troll Wars===
For nearly four thousand years, the high elves remained relatively at peace. But while the elves established their nation, the Amani plotted their next assault. 2,800 years before the First War, the Troll Wars began. With aid from the Zandalari, small Amani warbands began attacking Quel'Thalas' borders while hiding their true numbers in order to test the high elves' strength. After several successful skirmishes, they launched an all-out campaign to wipe out the elves. The elves were hopelessly outnumbered and quickly lost ground while their casualties climbed.The Troll Compendium: Early Troll Civilization - Defeat of the Amani EmpireThe Warcraft Encyclopedia: Anasterian Sunstrider To help defend Quel'Thalas, the elves founded the order of rangers, the greatest of whom was Talanas Windrunner, the first ranger-general of Silvermoon.Tales of the Hunt: Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners
Suffering loss after loss, the high elf king Anasterian Sunstrider sent ambassadors to Strom to ask for support from the humans of Arathor, in the hopes that there were humans who could become useful in combat if given magical training. The elven ambassadors told Thoradin that the troll armies were vast and would move to attack Arathor once they had destroyed Quel'Thalas. After some further negotiations, Thoradin and Anasterian reached an agreement, and elven magi traveled to Strom to teach exactly one hundred humans the ways of magic in exchange for the humans' military aid.Arathor and the Troll Wars
Once the elves had finished tutoring the human magi, many months later, Arathor began its offensive into the Amani's southern flank on the outskirts of Quel'Thalas. In coordination, the high elves launched a counterattack on the trolls' front lines from the north. Thoradin's army later began a slow retreat back to Alterac. Weeks of brutal fighting ensued as the Amani chased the humans toward the mountains, while the elves marched out of Quel'Thalas to harry the Amani's rear flank. Even though the Arathi were outnumbered, neither side gave ground. The high elves soon caught up and smashed into the Amani's rearguard.Saga of the Valarjar: Strom'kar, the Warbreaker When the humans and elves were confident that they had worn down the Amani ranks, they unleashed their secret weapon. The one hundred human magi emerged from the fortress and, alongside the elven sorcerers, did something unprecedented. Instead of attacking individually, they pooled their power and unleashed a single devastating spell, creating a massive column of fire that tore down from the sky and engulfed the Amani army. The magical flames prevented the trolls from regenerating their wounds and burned loa and troll alike from the inside out. Without their leader, the surviving trolls broke ranks and fled north. The human and elven armies ran them down and killed everyone they could find. The Troll Wars thus ended with the humans and elves triumphant.
For Quel'Thalas and Arathor, the Troll Wars marked the beginning of a prosperous new era. For months after the war's end, celebrations filled the streets of Strom and Silvermoon. In gratitude, the high elves made a pledge of undying loyalty and friendship to Arathor and to Thoradin's bloodline.Tides of Darkness, chapter 7 Humans and high elves went on to nurture peaceful relations for over two thousand years. With the absence of trolls in the northlands, the elves focused on rebuilding Quel'Thalas.
===New world diplomacy===
Despite the enmity that led to their exile, the high elves still kept some contacts with their faraway brethren. Talanas Windrunner fought alongside the kaldorei Emmarel Shadewarden,Rendezvous with the Courier and Ranger Captain Areiel collaborated with Shandris Feathermoon several thousand years before current times.Ending Areiel
A group of high elf engineers helped build Dalaran's original defenses.The Crossing (WC3 BloodElf)
Over 3,000 years ago Whispers, pg. 5 the Council of Silvermoon, which had long ago sworn to forestall any full return by the Burning Legion, met with the most powerful Magocrat lords of Dalaran and formed the Council of Tirisfal, whose quest was to hunt those demons who had already arrived, and to prevent others from entering Azeroth.The Guardians of Tirisfal
One hundred years before the events of the First War, a group of high elves left Quel'Thalas and traveled to Winterspring in order to obtain the Crystal of Zin-Malor.Legacy of the High Elves
===Second War===
Peace in Quel'Thalas continued for almost three thousand years until the Second War. After the orcish Horde came through a portal from the world of Draenor, and defeated the Kingdom of Stormwind during the First War, they allied with the goblins and forest trolls, turning their sights on the north.
When the humans proposed an Alliance of their seven nations, the Wildhammer and Ironforge dwarves, and the gnomes also agreed to join the coalition. The Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar also contacted the high elven nation of Quel'Thalas. As a descendant of the famed king Thoradin, Lothar was able to make use of an ancient oath sworn to the ancient king by the high elves in times past, during the Troll Wars. Despite this, the high elves proved reluctant, not viewing the Horde as a serious threat. King Anasterian Sunstrider only subsequently sent a small, token, fleet to aid the Alliance. Some high elves, however, disobeyed the king's orders, choosing instead to join in the fight against the orcs, and answering Lothar's call to war. Chief among these was the renowned ranger captain Alleria Windrunner, who led a handful of her kin south with her. Though disappointed with the generally poor response from Quel'Thalas, Lothar nonetheless welcomed those elves who arrived, particularly Windrunner and her skilled rangers.
However, the orcs' northern campaign, in which the trolls were meant to take back their ancestral homes from the high elves, managed to burn down the borderlands of Quel'Thalas, slaughtering many high elves in the process, and corrupting the Runestone at Caer Darrow. This enraged Silvermoon, which promptly pledged its full support to the war. The elves provided many archers, rangers and destroyers to the conflict, and even craftsmen for the lumber mills of the Alliance. The Horde eventually splintered under internal political pressure, and the Alliance charged southwards to crush it. The Second War was won, but in its aftermath, relations between the humans and the elves began to sour.Beyond the Dark Portal, pg. 60 The elves, who had been reluctant members of the Alliance in the first place, retained little interest or investment in its affairs, such as upkeeping the internment camps and defending Nethergarde Keep, but that was as much from their fascination with all magic as from any desire to help humans.Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 5 Despite this, Alleria Windrunner and her rangers accompanied the Alliance Expedition through the Dark Portal, to avenge Quel'Thalas and keep it safe from future attacks.Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 14
Following the war, some high elves blamed the humans' poor leadership for the burning of their forests. King Terenas of Lordaeron reminded them that nothing of Quel'Thalas would have remained if not for the hundreds of humans that gave their lives to defend it, but nevertheless, the high elves largely abandoned the Alliance and retreated to their kingdom.
===Third War===
thumb|Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner battling the undead Scourge as they march for Silvermoon.
Although the high elves retreated from the Alliance, a number of them remained in Dalaran and were loyal to the Alliance through the Kirin Tor, as most contemporary human and high elven mages bowed to the sovereignty of Dalaran and the Kirin Tor at this time,Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, pg. 85 with Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider among them. Despite the high elves' official departure from the Alliance of Lordaeron, some elves still remain true to their former human and dwarven allies. Some high elves were also paladins in the ranks of the Knights of the Silver Hand, such as Mehlar Dawnblade, a paladin pupil of Uther the Lightbringer.Blood of the Highborne The altruistic priests of Quel'Thalas refused to abandon their roles as healers and agreed to remain in Lordaeron despite the edicts from their reclusive masters in Silvermoon City. The high elven priests use their Light-given powers to heal the wounded and bolster the spirits of Lordaeron's fighting elite.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos - manual, 10 These high elven priests joined with Prince Arthas Menethil in investigating the plague with the goal of healing the land of its strange curse.Ravages of the Plague
At the time, the high elves had remained at peace since the Second War, with even their ever-present Amani enemies having grown less bold. Yet while the elves were safe within their enchanted kingdom from the woes befalling Lordaeron, they were also secluded and left unprepared for what was to come. Following the Scourging of Lordaeron, the recently corrupted Arthas Menethil turned his sight on Quel'Thalas, as told by his master the Lich King. Their goal was to revive a human man named Kel'Thuzad, who could summon the demon-lord Archimonde into Azeroth. To do this, they required a source of considerable ley magic and chose the Sunwell. Rumors of Arthas's patricide were beginning to spread, but the elves did not connect this to the plagued grain epidemic, and only shortly after did the undead Scourge arrive at Quel'Thalas. The high elves faced the Scourge in battle regardless. The high elven army, led by the Ranger General Sylvanas Windrunner, made counterattacks every time the scourge advanced. Despite their tactics and magic, the elves were pushed back from the outer, to inner elf gates. During the invasion, Arthas raised the fallen members of Sylvanas's army either as incorporeal banshee or as intact bodies. These fallen high elves would become known as Darkfallen, prowling the lands as either dark rangers or blood mages for the Scourge.World of Warcraft: Sylvanas, pg. 184 Finally, Arthas and his army, as well as new banshees, including Sylvanas, advanced on Silvermoon and crushed the defenders. Anasterian himself was killed along with his ruling council, High Priest Vandellor, and Grand Magister Belo'vir.
The Sunwell was used to resurrect Kel'Thuzad and fouled with evil in the process. Only about ten percent of the entire race survived the genocide. Several defenders were raised into zombies while some deceased magisters were raised into spectres and left at the defiled Sunwell. Some of them were lucky enough to be away from Quel'Thalas at the time (housed in Dalaran or had traveled to Kalimdor with Jaina),High elf priests in the Human Expedition but the majority of those who survived only did so by defending themselves or hiding. Soon, Dalaran, with the second greatest concentration of high elves, was destroyed as well. Dalaran's defeat was swift and complete, and most of the high elves there died under Archimonde's attacks. Other elves died afterward from bandits that came to sift through the wreckage. The death knight's brutal conquest of the elven kingdom resulted in the utter destruction of Silvermoon City, the defiling of much of the high elven forests, and the total slaughter of around 90% of the high elven race.
Among the survivors, some high elf priests who survived the genocide joined the Human Expedition and the Kalimdor alliance to fight the Burning Legion.
===Splintering of the elves===
The surviving elves were somewhat scattered, until Kael'thas Sunstrider, son of the deceased Anasterian, began to organize them by reclaiming every elf he could find and joining with Lor'themar Theron, who had done the same in Quel'Thalas. Under Kael's leadership, they took the name blood elves, to remember the death of their king and brethren. About 90% of all surviving high elves became blood elves.
The blood elves fought to reclaim a small portion of Silvermoon, but most of the city and their land, in general, was haunted and overrun by lingering undead, while their buildings remained in ruins and vengeful Amani trolls began striking out again. Around 15% of the newly-named sin'dorei, led by Kael'thas himself, started traveling throughout the land in order to find more surviving elves and to find a source of magic to replace the Sunwell. The elves were suffering from great withdrawals after being cut off the Sunwell because of its destruction. Due to the unreasonable orders of the Alliance leader Garithos, Kael's people were forced to ally themselves with the Naga and fled to Outland. They soon joined Illidan there, and he, in turn, taught them how to sate their hunger for magic by feeding on alternative sources (having himself suffered the same withdrawal for thousands of years). Kael's blood elves began to hunt and use demons in order to steal their powers, although Kael's alliance with Illidan (and worse, his new reliance on fel magic) was kept a secret from most of his brethren back home.
Most of the remaining "high" elves had chosen to remain with the Alliance following the Second War and did not return to their kingdom following the Third. When Grand Magister Rommath returned to Quel'Thalas to teach them Kael's magic siphoning ways, some elves were disgusted by the practice. Unable to lead a divided nation, Regent Lord Lor'themar exiled the dissenters from the kingdom, the exiles finding residence in Quel'Lithien.In the Shadow of the Sun
A few high elves rejoined the Alliance in recent years, but the Alliance as a whole remains somewhat suspicious of high elves to this day, as their secession after Second War left bitter memories. Furthermore, the night elves, who became part of the Alliance during the Third War, saw it as their duty to warn their new allies against the high elves. The Highborne's part in bringing about the War of the Ancients figured heavily in the night elves' retelling of high elf history.
===World of Warcraft===
Years after the Third War, the high elves were in a state of diaspora. Most resided in human cities like Stormwind City and Dalaran. Others live in seclusion in the wild forests, often in hunting lodges such as Farstrider Lodge. Several high elves have also integrated into Theramore under the leadership of Lady Jaina Proudmoore.
Deep within the Hinterlands, the high elves of the Quel'Danil Lodge used their outpost as a center of communication, while their ambassadors were working to establish diplomatic relationships with other races of the Alliance, with whom they shared their knowledge of the Witherbark trolls that inhabit the area in the southern Hinterlands.Lines of Communication (Horde) At some point they made an alliance with the Wildhammer dwarves, much to the ire of their common enemy, the Revantusk trolls. Otho Moji'ko of the Revantusk Tribe instructed Horde adventurers to slaughter as many Highvale elves as possible,Message to the Wildhammer while Oran Snakewrithe enlisted the same adventurers to burn documents that recorded the Highvale elves' communications with the other races and other information. However, their actions were unsuccessful, as the Highvale elves still retained the documents, which also included deaths, births, and seasons.The Highvale Documents
In the Plaguelands, High Priestess Aurora Skycaller, originally found in Northpass Tower helped the Alliance adventurers to recreate the :Crystal of Zin-Malor. Later she moved to below Quel'Lithien Lodge as the tower became a battlefield. Later, Nathanos Blightcaller sent Horde adventurers to ransack the Quel'Lithien Lodge in order to recover the :Quel'Thalas Registry, which contained his true identity before he became undead.The Ranger Lord's Behest
A small unit of high elven rangers under the command of Ranger Captain Fellari Swiftarrow fought together with the zealous Scarlet Crusade against the undead for a while, though they were lost in battle. A large statue in honor of the capable elven leader was erected in the Scarlet Monastery.
Several high elves became assassins of the Cult of the Dark Strand, while some joined the Scholomance, the school of necromancy.
===The Burning Crusade===
With the reopening of the dark portal, the remnants of the Alliance Expedition's high elven ranger cadre were reconnected with Azeroth. After learning of the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas and their brethren's allegiance to Kael'thas Sunstrider, many of them chose to remain in Outland.Theloria Shadecloak High elves are currently stationed at Allerian Stronghold and they have also taken up refuge in Shattrath City.
===In the Shadow of the Sun===
Sometime before the war against the Lich King, Ranger Lord Renthar Hawkspear, leader of the Quel'Lithien Lodge high elves, and High Priestess Aurora Skycaller were approached by the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas, Lor'themar Theron. Though initially under the impression that Lor'themar had come to apologize on behalf of Prince Kael'thas, Hawkspear is taken aback to learn of the Prince's demise. He asked who would take the crown, and Lor'themar replied that none remained with a right to it.
Lor'themar referenced the slightly better state of the Ghostlands and offered the quel'dorei aid and supplies. Renthar, however, angrily declined his assistance -- and revealed that Lor'themar had banished the quel'dorei of the lodge from Quel'Thalas, as he could not afford to lead a people divided. In addition, Hawkspear spoke of Horde agents who had ransacked the lodge and killed several rangers, in the name of the Banshee Queen's champion, Nathanos Blightcaller. He stated that by rights he should send Lor'themar's head to Sylvanas, though ordered him to leave instead.
===Wrath of the Lich King===
After the defeat of Kil'jaeden, the blood elves took the Sunwell back with the help of the Shattered Sun Offensive, and the high elves were allowed to share the Sunwell. Captain Auric Sunchaser from the Alliance Expedition rangers represents the high elves at the well itself. A number of high elves have been permitted to make pilgrimages to the restored fount of power.
Once Kael'thas Sunstrider was defeated, the blood elves began seeking representation in Dalaran. When the Kirin Tor proclaimed themselves neutral in the conflict between the Horde and the Alliance, and instead sought to help bridge the gaps between the two factions, they started by reaching out to Quel'Thalas for magical support against Malygos. Consequently, the elven population of Dalaran underwent something of a split: the portion of the elves who converted to the blood elven philosophy took up the name "the Sunreavers", named for their leader, Aethas Sunreaver, the only non-human on the Council of Six at the time who ensured the Horde a sanctuary within the city. Conversely, the high elven members who opposed the notion of allowing the sin'dorei back into the Kirin Tor's ranks formed the Silver Covenant as a precaution against possible treachery from the Sunreavers.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 68 Consequently, the Silver Enclave became the base of operations of the Covenant, and later of the Alliance in Dalaran. However, their leader Vereesa Windrunner held no political sway within the city, thus the blood elves were officially readmitted as members of the Kirin Tor.Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 22
As the Silver Covenant wasn't delighted having the Horde in Dalaran, with Garrosh Hellscream leading the charge in Northrend, many high elves aligned themselves with the Alliance, and joined the Alliance Vanguard during the Alliance's war against the Scourge. Some of their members joined the ranks of the 7th Legion as battle mages, now stationed at Wintergarde Keep in the Dragonblight, with Vas the Unstable as their representative. They later represented the Alliance from the Silver Covenant Pavilion in the Argent Tournament.
While some high elf communities, like the one at Quel'Danil Lodge, have managed to maintain their stocks of dragonhawks,Legends Volume 2, Warrior: Divided their exile from Silvermoon has made these animals much harder to come by. Fortunately, the Silver Covenant seem to have won the trust of the companions of their ancient ancestors: the hippogryphs. The intelligent creatures have apparently decided that the high elves are worthy of a partnership, serving as mounts and flight path conveyance from their outposts.
Vereesa and her husband Rhonin were later present at the wedding of Malfurion Stormrage and Tyrande Whisperwind, along with their half-elf sons.Stormrage, pg. 396
===Cataclysm===
Since the fall of the Lich King, the Wintergrasp battlemasters no longer have a presence in the Alliance cities, having likely returned to Dalaran. With the removal of the portals in the Silver Enclave, class trainers, mostly high elven, have taken their place.
At some point, a group of young draenei moved into the Hinterlands under the leadership of Ambassador Rualeth and joined the Highvale high elves. As part of the Forsaken offensive throughout the continent, Quel'Danil lodge came under attack. With the help of adventurers, the Highvale high elves and the draenei settlers were able to repel the invaders.In Defense of Quel'Danil The Highvale documents were also retrieved from the chaos by Alliance adventurers and safely delivered to Anchorite Traska.The Highvale Documents
The elves at Quel'Lithien Lodge have taken a turn for the worse, after Ranger Lord Hawkspear discovered a source of seductive energy that mysteriously turned the elves at the lodge into Wretched. However, the Quel'Danil Lodge elves have fared considerably better, having solidified relations with the draenei and the Wildhammer dwarves.
Word of a new threat from Zul'Aman has prompted Halduron Brightwing, Vereesa Windrunner and Vol'jin to co-operate, against the wishes of Silvermoon's Regent-Lord Lor'themar Theron. Vereesa brought with her an entourage of Silver Covenant rangers. While this event may have showcased the cooperation between high and blood elves, their future reunification appears to remain elusive.
A retelling of elven history concerning the :Crystal of Zin-Malor could be undertaken in Winterspring, addressing the intertwining plights of the Highborne, their fallen quel'dorei descendants, and the recent venture of a blood elf Farstrider regiment, all of whom met their end on the icy shores of Lake Kel'Theril. Their stories were told through three lingering spirits: the Kaldorei Spirit, the Quel'dorei Spirit, and the Sin'dorei Spirit.
===Tides of War===
A number of high elves of the Silver Covenant was present during the attack on Theramore Isle. After Thalen Songweaver escaped from Theramore, Vereesa led her soldiers to the western part of Dustwallow Marsh.Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 18
===Mists of Pandaria===
After Jaina Proudmoore discovered that Sunreavers helped Garrosh Hellscream steal the Divine Bell by using Dalaran portals to infiltrate Darnassus, Jaina mobilized the Kirin Tor, Alliance forces, and the Silver Covenant to purge the Horde from Dalaran; after Aethas Sunreaver refused to order his people to leave peacefully, Jaina chose to incarcerate him and the other blood elves. Various high-ranking high elves were slain by Horde agents who sought to free the imprisoned Sunreavers and their leader, including Sorin Magehand, Arcanist Rathaella, and Mage-Commander Zuros. During the chaos, Grand Magister Rommath noted that, "It unsettles me to have to fight directly with the high elves of the Silver Covenant...but I never tire of slaying Alliance." The Sunreavers that surrendered were imprisoned in the Violet Hold, while those who resisted were put to the sword, thereby leaving the high elves the sole elven population living freely in the city.
Shortly afterward, the Kirin Tor Offensive, comprising of Silver Covenant high elves and Kirin Tor war mages, was formed by Jaina Proudmoore, intending to seize Thunder Isle and prevent the Sunreaver Onslaught from claiming powerful artifacts from Lei Shen.The Storm Gathers (Alliance)
===Legion===
During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Vereesa Windrunner led the Silver Covenant to Trueshot Lodge, pledging their aid to the new leader of the Unseen Path following their inauguration.The Unseen Path
During the Nightfallen rebellion, along with Tyrande Whisperwind and her Sentinels, Vereesa led a group of Silver Covenant war mages to Suramar to support the Nightfallen rebels in their attempt to reclaim the city from the Burning Legion. A formal, if tense, truce was later made between the Alliance troops and the Horde forces led by Lady Liadrin and Grand Magister Rommath.Take Me To Your Leader In time, the combined elven army fought its way to the foot of the Nighthold itself, where the kaldorei, sin'dorei, quel'dorei and shal'dorei rebels were confronted and defeated by Grand Magistrix Elisande.Gates of the Nighthold
Some high elves were also present in the ranks of the reformed Knights of the Silver Hand as Silver Hand Shieldbearers.
After the ren'dorei led by Alleria Windrunner made Telogrus Rift their new base of operations, and pledged their loyalty to the Alliance, a few High Elf Wayfarers have traveled to the broken world in order to better study the Void.
===Battle for Azeroth===
During the events of the Fourth War, some high elves could be seen during the Island Expeditions, such as Frostfencer Seraphi, to either be helped by adventurers or to engage the Horde.
A few high elf forces participated in the Battle for Stromgarde, and Yvera Dawnwing helped teleport Alliance forces from Boralus to Stromgarde Keep.
During the battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar, Vereesa and Alleria Windrunner were both present along with high elven ballistae.
==Appearance==
In World of Warcraft, the high elves resemble blood elves appearance-wise, as biologically and physiologically they are the same race. Lore-wise, it is not uncommon for high elves to be mistaken for blood elves. Taela Everstride at Allerian Stronghold even says, somewhat bemusedly, "No, don't feel bad. I get that a lot... I'm a high elf, not a blood elf. Don't worry, I won't suck the magic out of you." Other than greeting voices, both high and blood elves appear to share similar voice emotes in-game, particularly during combat. Before World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, in-game high and blood elves used modified night elf models.
Elves do have several characteristics in common. All groups have unusually acute senses and are able to see clearly even in low-light conditions with their keen sight. As a general rule, elves are also slim, athletic, and graceful.The Warcraft Encyclopedia: High Elves and Blood Elves They are taller than most humans. On average, high elven women are 5'9" tall while high elven men usually stand around 6'3" in height,Height#Playable races with males typically having slender, muscular, and athletic bodies. Like all elves, high elves are considered highly attractive by the standards of most mortal races.Tides of Darkness They typically have fairly long hair, and generally do not grow their facial hair to gigantic proportions until old age. They also possess long pointy ears, and while night elves have long, slanted ears while high elves' ears are shorter and tend to point upwards. Furthermore, their pointed ears have been greeted with admiration or mockery by other races. Their hearing is so sharp that they can pick up the sound of a butterfly landing on a nearby flower. Humans and dwarves often make fun of high elf ears by comparing them to those of donkeys, swine, or—worst of all—goblins.Day of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 37
One similarity between various elves only came about recently: since the night elves sacrificed their immortality and much of their power at the end of the Third War, all elves are now mortal and have comparable lifespans that can extend as long as several thousand years.
High elves typically have light-colored eyes that vary from light grey to blue to green, and occasionally brown,Tides of Darkness, pg. 229 and grey.Tides of Darkness, chapter 14 In Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the "Ranger Scouting" upgrade for the Elven Ranger shows an eye with a green pupil. In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, high elven eyes were depicted as white and pupil-less, both in-game and in official artwork.
In patch 9.0.1, Vereesa Windrunner and all high elves had purple eyes. But it was a bug and was reverted for patch 9.0.2. In the process of tracking the bug down, it was decided to give purple eyes to playable blood elves and void elves, but these were a different set of eyes than the ones removed.:File:Vereesa purple eyes.jpgSteve Danuser on Twitter: "Having purple-eyed female high elves everywhere was indeed a bug. And in the process of tracking that down, we decided that it would be a nice bonus to throw in the purple eyes for players. So the NPCs' loss is your gain!"New Customizations for Shadowlands Build 36401 - Void Elf and Blood Elf Eye Color
==Population==
Surviving high elves comprise a mere 1% of the original high elven population, with the blood elves accounting for the remaining 9% of it.The Warcraft Encyclopedia: High Elves Since Kael'thas took 15% of the blood elves to Outland (i.e. 1.35% of the original high elf population), and since Kael'thas' army numbered at least 2,000Excerpts from the Journal of Archmage Vargoth - "thousands of them" it follows that the total high elf population is currently at least 1,481 (and at least ~148,000 prior to the Third War).
In relation to the playable races, Blizzard has stated that the high elves have a considerably smaller population than even the Gnomeregan Exiles.Blizzard lore posts High elves are a rare sight even in Alliance lands,Night of the Dragon, pg. 105 and are considered a fallen, all-but-extinct race.Night of the Dragon, pg. 7 With the destruction of both Theramore and Quel'Lithien, the bulk of the remaining high elf population appears to be bound to the Silver Covenant in Dalaran, the Allerian Stronghold in Outland, and the Quel'Danil Lodge in the Hinterlands.
According to Vereesa Windrunner, high elves seldom give birth and very rarely give birth to twins.The Well of Eternity, chapter 2, pg. 30
==Culture==
High elven society in Quel'Thalas was highly regimented, and it was difficult for individuals to move beyond their caste.Night of the Dragon, chapter 12, pg. 155
Once, Quel'Thalas used to host bright, pompous ceremonies with mock battles and pageantry. However, in the wake of the various tragedies suffered by their race, the high elves who renamed themselves blood elves have become embittered and now view such excessive displays as distasteful.Before the Storm, chapter 3 One high elven celebration was the Remembrance, which commemorated the anniversary of the final battle of the Troll Wars.Sylvanas, chapter 4
High elven architecture is of the same illustrious and elegant design as it was when Dath'Remar Sunstrider founded Quel'Thalas. It involves pendulous creations of wondrous curves and columns, their designs involving natural, floral, flowing, and animal motifs. Their fountains seem to defy physical boundaries, creating or warping water in impossible ways.
Like dwarves, high elves can be far more patient than humans and are able to remain alert and ready to act even after hours of waiting.Night of the Dragon, pg. 209 However, younger ones do dislike waiting as much as humans, and although most outgrow their tendencies toward impatience early on, some retain the trait for the rest of their lives. The latter generally ended up living away from Quel'Thalas or taking on tasks that let them travel extensively.Day of the Dragon, chapter 16, pg. 279 - 280
High elves have sensitive taste buds and dislike the taste of heartier dwarven food. However, during his time in Dalaran, Prince Kael'thas noted that he appreciated the heartiness of human food and that while elven food is delicious and attractively presented, it sometimes leaves one hungry for a more substantial meal.Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 6, pg. 86 (paperback)
During the Scourge invasion, Arthas mocked the quel'dorei for having a tendency to exaggerate, saying that "the elves are very fond of putting paper manes on cats and calling them lions".Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 18, pg. 277 (paperback)
According to the High Elf Wayfarers in Telogrus Rift, the study of the Void is as frowned upon in high elf society as it is among the blood elves.
Most young high elves have a "I wanna be a Farstrider" phase which they outgrow by the time they're taken as apprentices, at which point they enter the "I'm going to be a magister" phase instead.Ros'eleth
High elven children would play a game called "Captive" - each turn a child would be tied up by the others. The one who would release himself in the least amount of time won.
===Language===
High elves speak Thalassian, the language of their ancient race. They originally spoke Darnassian, leading to some overlap and linguistic similarities between the two languages, but with time their language evolved into the modern one. By the time of the Second War, their elder tongue had been almost forgotten.Day of the Dragon, chapter 9
Several of the common quel'dorei sayings spoken in-game have been translated by the Warcraft Encyclopedia's entry on Thalassian, and can be found here.
===Combat and technology===
According to The Old Wizard's Almanac, the magic of the high elves is extremely powerful, as high elves possess a magical acumen that rivals that of any - even the humans. Some of the greatest heroes in the Battle of Mount Hyjal were the high elf priests. High elves are proficient in archery, divine and arcane magic, as well as swordsmanship. 
In Quel'Thalas, they used guard towers for defense, and seemingly developed the Arcane golems, as they were created during the reign of King Anasterian Sunstrider, though the quel'dorei had never been seen to make use of them prior to their conversion to sin'dorei.Major Malfunction
The elven destroyers were powerful warships from the fleets of Quel'Thalas. Crewed with highly-skilled elven seafarers, these swift-sailing vessels were prepared to engage the enemy wherever they might be found. Elven destroyers constituted a critical part of the Alliance of Lordaeron naval defense force as they could unleash their firepower upon dreaded aerial forces of the Old Horde.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Alliance Naval Units, Elven Destroyer
===Mounts and companions===
The high elves had a special affinity with dragonhawks before the Scourge attacked Quel'Thalas. The dragonhawks would often serve as flying mounts for the elves, though after the Third War they seem to have developed a preference for hippogryphs instead.
Some high elves ride a special breed of horses. According to the elves, generations of breeding have created an animal far superior to its mundane cousins. Members of the Silver Covenant are shown riding horned Quel'dorei Steeds, which also appeared on the sails of the Thalassian warships and on the shields of the ballistae during the Second War, indicating a proximity with the animal. They descended from a fine line of horses that once grazed near the shores of the Well of Eternity.Mount Journal entry for Quel'dorei Steed
===Beliefs and practices===
While high elves revere the sun, they don't see it as a god.
Founded centuries ago in Lordaeron, the Church of the Holy Light spread its faith through the Seven Kingdoms, while its philosophy and sacred teachings also managed to spread through the high elf society.Priest (Warcraft III)
The Silver Covenant also uses the symbol of the phoenix on its banners (a golden phoenix on a blue background), but given their architecture is simply recolored from existing blood elf designs, it is unclear what, if any, meaning this has to them.
===Magical addiction===
Like blood elves, high elves can use arcane magic. Whether or not they are spellcasters, all high elves suffer acute pangs of withdrawal in the absence of the Sunwell's energies. Some have realized the cause of their distress; others have not. A crucial difference between high elves and blood elves is that no high elves have decided to feed their hunger for arcane magic by draining that magic from alternative sources (during the time when the Sunwell was useless). Without the Sunwell, a high elf might still succumb to that addiction and become one of the blood elves.
On several occasions after the Sunwell's defilement, Kael'thas publicly asserted that his people would die unless they found a new source of magic. Technically the prince was mistaken. According to Azeroth's top priests and medics, the only high elves to perish due to magical withdrawal have been the very old, the very young, and elves who were already in poor health. Such a low rate of attrition might be considered an argument in favor of simply forgoing magic and suffering through the consequences. Indeed, a few high elves are said to have succeeded in taking this route through sheer willpower: they survived the process, however unpleasant. Apparently, certain magical artifacts also ameliorate the symptoms of withdrawal and might, if sufficiently powerful, be able to suppress them altogether. This is not to say, however, that withdrawal from magic would leave the high elves unharmed. On the contrary, permanent mental or physical damage is possible.
The high elves in Allerian Stronghold used draenei artifacts containing raw, magical energy to resist the lure of demonic magic.Vessels of Power The high elves at Quel'Lithien Lodge found an item of magical energy and succumbed to their addiction, becoming wretched.Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy
With the reigniting of the Sunwell, the pangs of their magic addiction are being eased and more high elves are no longer tempted to succumb to it.In the Shadow of the Sun. Aurora: "I had wondered why the pangs of the addiction felt so eased lately. I have not needed... help... to cope."
==Relations==
===Diplomacy with the Alliance===
Humans and high elves have a long history. They fought the overwhelming Amani Empire together in the Troll Wars, the monstrous Orcish Horde in the Second War, and horrifying nightmares of the Burning Legion and Scourge in the Third War. The high elven nation's conduct at the end of the Second War led to bitterness and resentment toward the elves, but humans are also amongst the few races to accept the high elves into their cities; they can currently be seen occupying the human city of Stormwind, and Theramore before its fall, where many high elves once joined the Theramore military. Of the human kingdoms, the high elves have the closest relationship with the magocrats of the Kirin Tor, as elves have been allies and productive members of the Kirin Tor for over 2,000 years.What's in the Box? The high elf prince Kael'thas Sunstrider even served on its ruling council, and it was not uncommon for high elf mages to study, serve, and even live in Dalaran in addition to Quel'Thalas. Grand Magister Rommath spent much of his life in Dalaran as a high elf, and Vereesa Windrunner was married to its leader. Dalaran serves as a home for the Silver Covenant, the most prominent group of modern high elves.
The high elves were, at best, reluctant members of the original human-centric Alliance of Lordaeron, and their partnership was a cold and distant one. The high elven king and council were particularly unenthusiastic allies, caring little for the world outside Quel'Thalas and only agreeing to join the Alliance because of a pact made long ago to the line of King Thoradin; and even so, the high elves seceded soon after that pact was fulfilled. After officially departing from the Alliance, the high elves shut themselves off in their enchanted kingdom, and the few who remained with the Alliance did so against the orders of their reclusive masters in Silvermoon.Priest (Warcraft III) - WC3 manual description
Although no high elves were present in the ritual which created Umbric's void elves, there are those among the quel'dorei who interact with the ren'dorei. They can be seen both in Telogrus Rift and in Stormwind City, walking side by side. Additionally, Alleria Windrunner is a void-infused high elf, being able to alternate between the two different forms, and possibly acting as a link between the two groups within the Alliance.
It is implied that the high elves had a positive relationship with the Wildhammer dwarves. During the Scourge invasion, the high elves planned to send their children to seek refuge with the dwarves in the Hinterlands even though the elves had already left the Alliance.
Although physically and culturally disparate, gnomes share the elves' natural affinity to magic,The Old Wizard's Almanac: The Alliance and it is known that gnomes and high elves worked together in Dalaran before its fall, particularly within the Council of Tirisfal.
It seems that the high elves and draenei have developed a bond, as there are draenei present at Quel'Danil Lodge.
====Night elves====
The high elves and the night elves collaborated at least once in the millennia between the Great Sundering and the modern age. Emmarel Shadewarden of the neutral Unseen Path notably fought during the Troll Wars alongside high elves,Rendezvous with the Courier and Ranger Captain Areiel met Shandris Feathermoon two or three thousand years ago.Ending Areiel
High elves have traditionally gotten along quite poorly with night elves due to their complicated and turbulent past. As the night elves hold disdain for the arcane-using blood elves, so they hold disdain for their high elf cousins. This argument is questioned, though, by the fact that Tyrande Whisperwind had no problem whatsoever working with the blood elves and Kael'thas Sunstrider when she hunted Illidan Stormrage in the Plaguelands. Kael'thas seemed to feel honored by the night elves' presence. This one instance of smooth cooperation between the races might be an exception caused by each party's need for survival in Silverpine and Dalaran.
Following the high elves' banishment from Quel'Thalas, some of them chose to rejoin the Alliance, and the night elves were among their greatest critics. While the traditional allies of the Alliance treated the high elves to a cold reception and suspicion due to their secession after the Second War, the night elves took it upon themselves to warn the Alliance (which they, too, were now a part of) against the high elves.
However, since Wrath of the Lich King relations may be thawing. The presence of night elves in the Silver Covenant settlements suggests this, and high elves are even allowed inside Darnassus. Arcanist Dulial has a permanent residence there, and a night elf, Moonbell, has been accepted in the ranks of the Silver Covenant. Vereesa Windrunner attended the wedding of Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage with her husband and half-elf sons; suggesting improved night elf- high elf relations. Vereesa and her quel'dorei elves also shared a camp with Tyrande and her kaldorei with no significant tension during the events of Suramar, and Alleria Windrunner also teleported to An'daroth when seeking to recruit the void elves.
===Diplomacy with the Horde===
Apart from the tauren, with whom the Highborne had had some ancient historical contact, high elves loathe the majority of the Horde's races, having fought against trolls, orcs, and undead in recent wars.
====Blood elves====
While high elves and blood elves are physiologically the same race, high elves generally do not get along with their blood elf brethren. This is owed in part to differing allegiances, as most modern high elves remained loyal to the Alliance following the Second War, disobeying royal edicts from their reclusive masters to return home.Warcraft III manual - Priests & Sorceresses biography The blood elves are primarily loyal to their own, and remained in Quel'Thalas, later forming an alliance with the Horde. Other high elves are exiles, having been banished from Quel'Thalas after the return of Grand Magister Rommath from Outland. The practice of draining arcane magic was considered immoral by these elves, who opposed its use. Unwilling to lead a nation divided, the newly-named regent of Quel'Thalas, Lor'themar Theron, chose to exile the dissenters.
Kael'thas's teachings caused some moral contention between the two peoples. By embracing them, the blood elves prioritized their survival, health, and well-being; they believed this strength was needed to see Quel'Thalas restored, as the kingdom had remained a wasteland while the elves were weakened by their addiction.Sunwell Trilogy - part 3, return of Quel'Thalas By refusing, the high elves prioritized their pride and personal ethics, even to their own detriment; they believe this was the moral choice. This schism, exacerbated by the faction war, would at times divide entire families, such as Talithar Swiftwind and his wife, Vyrin Swiftwind, with Talithar mentioning how he chose his well-being and Vyrin her integrity, although they still cared deeply for each other, with Talithar ending his life and destroying a Horde warship out of conflicted feelings for Vyrin.Quest for Pandaria - Part 4
With the betrayal of Prince Kael'thas and the restoration of the Sunwell, Lor'themar has taken steps to re-establish cordial relations between the blood and high elves. However, these efforts have had mixed results. Aethas Sunreaver, Halduron Brightwing and Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher have also expressed an interest in mending relations between the children of Silvermoon, though to what extent appears to vary depending on the individual. The high elves, or at least Alleria's high elves, have been granted a representative at the Sunwell in the form of Auric Sunchaser. While he does not consider himself a blood elf, he seems to have little quarrel with the sin'dorei, whom he calls the "children of Silvermoon".The Purification of Quel'Delar (Horde) - Blood Elf version
The feud between high elves and blood elves is most visible in the conflict between the elven factions of the Kirin Tor, the Silver Covenant and the Sunreavers.The Sunreaver Plan, The Silver Covenant's Scheme The tensions later reignited after the destruction of Theramore at the hands of a mana bomb created by the Sunreaver Thalen Songweaver, which cost the lives of the high elves that had settled in the port city, and Rhonin, Vereesa's husband. As such, the Silver Covenant aided the Kirin Tor and the Alliance in purging the Sunreavers from Dalaran, enforcing Jaina Proudmoore's orders.
Fel magic played no apparent role in the elves' splintering; in fact, its use was hidden from most of the blood elves. Glowing green eyes is the high elven body's natural reaction to spending time around fel magic,Ask CDev Answers - Round 3 which was used in the Magisters' rebuilding efforts in lieu of the destroyed Sunwell's power.4:30 Burning Crusade Behind the Scenes DVD Like the orcs, any high elf who spends enough time around fel magic will acquire glowing green eyes.
===Other races===
The high elves have some history with the dragons of the red dragonflight, most of whom prefer to transform into elvesThrall: Twilight of the Aspects, pg. 73 when assuming a mortal form. It was the red dragons who gifted Quel'Delar to the high elves, as Alexstrasza personally handed it to Anasterian. Her consort Korialstrasz maintained an interest in the elves' affairs, arriving only narrowly too late to save the Sunwell from Arthas.
==Notable==
Name	Role 	Affiliation 	Status	Location
 	Leader of the exiled Highborne, founder and first king of Quel'Thalas, creator of the Sunwell. 	Kingdom of Quel'Thalas 	 	Unknown
 	Last king of Quel'Thalas, slain by Arthas Menethil during the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas. 	Kingdom of Quel'Thalas (formerly Alliance of Lordaeron)	 	Cremated in Silvermoon City
 	Leader of the void elves, member of the Army of the Light, formerly lead scout of the Alliance Expedition.	Ren'dorei, Army of the Light, Sons of Lothar, Alliance 	 	Various Locations
 	Former Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, former Ranger-General of Silvermoon. 	Independent 	 	Various Locations
 	Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant, Alliance Assault Leader. 	Silver Covenant, Kirin Tor Offensive, Alliance 	 	Various Locations
 	Traitor of Quel'Thalas, leader of the Scourge forces in the Ghostlands. 	Scourge, Cult of the Damned 	 	Tower of the Damned, Ghostlands
 	Grand Magister of Quel'Thalas until the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas. 	Magisters, Kingdom of Quel'Thalas 	 	Unknown
 	High Priest of Quel'Thalas, adoptive father of Liadrin. 	Kingdom of Quel'Thalas 	 	Unknown
 	Veteran of the Second War, adventurer and foster mother of Loania. 	Highvale 	 	Quel'Danil Lodge, Hinterlands
 	Commander of Allerian Stronghold, high elf representative at the Sunwell Plateau. 	Alliance 	 	Allerian Stronghold, Terokkar Forest
 	Formerly leader of Quel'Lithien Lodge 	Independent 	 	Eastern Plaguelands
 	Former wielder of Quel'Delar, killed by the death knight Morlen Coldgrip. 	Kingdom of Quel'Thalas 	 	Dead Scar, Isle of Quel'Danas
 	Priest who fought in the Third War, older brother of Solanar Bloodwrath. 	Kingdom of Quel'Thalas 	 	Unknown
 	Lieutenant of Alleria Windrunner and the Sons of Lothar. 	Alliance Expedition 	 	Unknown
 	Scribe who recorded the events of the Second War. 	Alliance of Lordaeron 	 	Unknown
 	Former member of the Council of Tirisfal and member of the Tirisgarde. 	Tirisgarde, Kirin Tor 	 	Hall of the Guardian
 	Leader of a small group of high elven survivors during the Plaguelands civil war. 	Human Refugees 	 	Unknown
==Organizations==
*Silver Covenant
*Highvale
;Formerly
*Farstriders
*Magisters
;Historical
*Convocation of Silvermoon
*Royal Guard
*Elven Defenders
*Elven Ranger Corps
==In the RPG==
===Description===
The ancient origin of the high elves is a legacy of tragedy and conflict, a series of events that has profoundly affected the development of the quel'dorei. The high elves are a stark contrast to their nocturnal cousins, the night elves (or kaldorei). Forsaking the night, the high elves are the descendants of the very elves who served Queen Azshara in the time of the Well of Eternity. The kaldorei regard the high elven penchant for using arcane magic as careless, akin to a foolish child playing with fire. The schism that separates the Highborne elves and the night elves is rather ancient, one so ancient that no amount of diplomacy or offerings of peace can soothe the scars of history. The high elves, however, have had generations separating them from the night elves, and no longer care for the past. Problems between the two races are usually clashes of personality, as neither tries overly hard to interact. The arrogance of the high elves led to the War of the Ancients and ultimately to the downfall of the golden age of elven civilization. Through the reckless use of arcane magic, the high elves allowed darkness to seep into the world and corrupt Azeroth. They use the genetic phenomenon that modern elves face as a testament to their views.
Some bands of high elven survivors fled south to the Hinterlands and to the forests of Zul'Aman. Those who stay one step ahead of the trolls survive; those who do not are dead (and probably eaten by the cannibalistic trolls). Scourge patrols, hunting the elven refugees, also stalk through the land.Lands of Conflict, pg. 98 - 99, 115
===History===
The high elves only helped out on a small level in the First War. After the humans were defeated and fled north through Khaz Modan, the dwarves sent emissaries to meet with the high elves and humans to discuss the threat of the Horde.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 129
===Population===
Non-canonical sourcesWorld of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 9 state that the high elven population just a few years prior was approximately 24,810 and the half-elven population was approximately 9,550, not including Theramore, Dalaran, and several less significant cities. Stormwind (pop. 200,000)World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 13Lands of Conflict, pg. 52 alone has the most, with a total of 20,000 high elves, and 8,000 half-elves.
===Appearance===
High elves stand slightly taller than humans do. A high elf is usually a little over 6 feet in height and weighs between 100 to 175 pounds, depending on gender. The elves are slim, with sharp symmetrical features, often an exaggeration of perfect beauty. The high elves are uniformly fair in complexion, with white to flaxen-colored hair. Their eyes are incredibly intense in color, seeming to glow with an inner light. While many high elves have blue or green eyes, violet and red are not unheard of. The structure of high elven eyes (based on artwork) shows that they are generally like humans with a pupil and iris surrounded by "white" but tend to be able to see much farther than humans are capable. The life span of high elves is several hundred years. They reach adulthood at 110 years, a "venerable" age at roughly 350 years, and most dying of old age at approximately 363 years. A few may reach "venerable" age at roughly 350 years with a maximum lifespan between 354 and 390 years,World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 174 and even fewer may live as long as two thousand years.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 42 Most high elves (especially those of the Alliance) do not wear red or black for fear of being mistaken as blood elves.Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 68 They have shorter ears and much smaller, lighter bodies than night elves. As well, their ears usually point upwards whereas those of the night elves do not.
Blood elves have glowing green eyes and their hair and skin are much paler or otherwise unnaturally colored,Monster Guide, pg. 64 due to the absorption of fel energies during the period the Sunwell was lost. They are considered separate due to cultural differences more so than because of physical ones.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 12, 123 - 131
===Culture===
The destruction of the Sunwell has forced the high elves into decline, causing them to doubt the future of their once-proud race and drawing animosity toward them from other races who feel that the high elves have betrayed the Alliance. Most of the high elves have placed themselves under a self-imposed exile, ashamed of the damage that they have wrought upon the world of Lordaeron with their abuse of arcane magic.
While humans still accept the high elves because of the aid that both races provided each other during the most recent attacks of the Burning Legion, reinforcing the same bond that they had in both the Troll Wars and the Second War, many of the other races will only deal with the high elves if absolutely necessary. This is especially true after the acts of Kael'thas Sunstrider. The night elves, in particular, do not care for the company of high elves (as they have personal memories of the war that spawned them) and in some cases can be openly hostile toward their sun-blessed brethren. The passing of time may heal these wounds, but the use of arcane magic will always draw a rift between these two breeds of elf.
High elves in Stormwind copy the humans' style of long-sleeved tunics, billowy trousers, and leather boots. Many High elves avoid wearing red clothing, as to dissociate themselves from blood elves. They have also set aside a day of mourning for high elves to remember the destruction of Dalaran with their human friends.
Some high elves turned to the path of the warlock after their glorious home of Quel'Thalas was destroyed in the Third War. The new breed of warlock seeks to control the powers that ravaged their homeland and use them for vengeance.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game page 95
====Names====
The past is a burden to the high elves, yet they maintain naming rituals that are millennia old. Many of the names of elven priests and heroes have become the names used for elves in modern times. The high elves share a connection with the sun that is quite prevalent in their choice of family names.
*Male names: Mariel, Athaniar, Anandor, Tharama, Viridiel, Malanior.
*Female names: Anarial, Freja, Driana, Coria, Alanassori, Melanion, Azshara.
*Family names: Boughstrider, Dawnblade, Lightbringer, Morningray, Suntreader.
====Faith====
High elves were once strong worshipers of the Holy Light, but this has died down as many have rejected it in favor of arcane magic. Although after the invasion of the Scourge and the break off from the blood elves, many have looked to the Light, they do so loosely and are much less devout than humanity. High elven Priests are common. The high elves have made significant contributions to this evolving religion, which originated from human cults. Even a few high elves have become paladins, without the help of magic like the blood elves.World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 77 High elves have also developed advanced destroyer ships, and used them in the Second War. High elves who embrace the path of religion take on the mantle of the Holy Light, sharing in the same faith as dwarves and humans. While this philosophy does not penetrate deeply into high elven society, those who do follow the path of the Holy Light are much more approachable than most.World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 37
===Magic===
====Magical addiction====
Arcane magic is a powerful drug to the high elves, and it can be a lure to a dark and perilous path. Yet too many wield it as if they were doing no harm, and few but the oldest and most sage can recall the true reasons why the use of such magic is a dangerous and potentially damning practice. Regardless of the risks, some high elves press onwards to revel in the euphoria and power that the use of magic brings them. The high elves are a tragic example of a race in decline. Their centuries of arcane practice have led them into an ever-tightening downward spiral. Now there are few true Quel'dorei left. Most have gone with Kael'thas Sunstrider to become the blood elves, and in doing so have allied with the sworn enemies of elvenkind, the naga. Now the scant remaining Quel'dorei are typically those who have embraced the Light and seen past the powers of arcane magic and darkness. Distrusted by almost all of the races, the remaining high elves are pariahs in an age when there is little left for them but a life of mistrust and woe.World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 36
All high elves, regardless of class, status, or upbringing are addicted to magic, and all have some small proficiency in it. Unlike blood elves who succumb to it, high elves actively fight their addiction and are required to meditate for at least an hour every day to maintain personal control. The high elves are not proud of this addiction and take pains to keep it a secret. Their exposure to the night elves has caused them to develop a great interest in moon wells, which they seek to find an alternative solution to their addiction. Even the presence of a hidden moon well 50 feet away is enough to replenish their mystical energies and makes meditation unnecessary.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 42 - 43 Some have found a way to block the symptoms of withdrawal by the use of Sunwell Rings.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 93 - 94
===RPG relations===
High elves are often prejudiced towards half-elves, though this is starting to change as their presence is becoming more common.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 132
The path by which Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider has chosen to lead the avenging blood elves is one the high elves view with utter disgust and resentment. They strive for a disassociation with the blood elves, such as by hiding their magical addictions and avoiding wearing black and red.Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 68
It would not quite be correct to say that the high elves rejoined the Alliance. To many high elves, they never left. Nevertheless, they are often aloof and distant from their allies. They keep to themselves and enjoy wandering forests alone or in small groups. They also maintain the Quel'Danil Lodge, an outpost in the Hinterlands that pursues their diplomatic interests and Quel'Lithien in the Eastern Plaguelands near the gateway to the ruined Quel'Thalas.
The years of conflict between the night elves and the high elves number so many that they make the Alliance and Horde conflict look like children arguing over a toy. When the high elves lost their immortality, they eventually forgot their brethren as generations lived and died, creating legends of histories. The night elves remembered the damage the highborne brought to the world, and view their descendants as time bombs. When the high elves encountered the night elves, they realized the legends were true and began to resent the fact that the night elves had access to so much power that they refused to use — not to mention the whole matter of exile. Many plot to retake the magically imbued forests for themselves, regardless of the fact that both races belong to the Alliance.World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 12 Auberdine was one of the few night elf settlements that would tolerate a high elf's presence.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 193
230 years before the First War, the dwarven race split into three factions. The Wildhammers desired to open up trade with the high elves, considered taboo at the time and would serve as one of the catalysts for their war.Lands of Conflict, pg. 67 When it ended, the clan became close allies to the high elves. The two races were united through a mutual appreciation for nature and other cultural similarities.Lands of Conflict, pg. 99 With the Quel'Danil Lodge nearby the dwarven keep of Wildhammer in the Hinterlands, it can be assumed that the high elves have maintained their alliance with the gryphon riding dwarves since the Second War. Wildhammer share the high elves respect for the wilds and nature, and carry a long history of good relations and trust.Alliance & Horde Compendium, pg. 14Lands of Conflict, pg. 99Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 170
The high elves of Theramore are perhaps the most isolated. Having left mostly before the destruction of Dalaran and Quel'Thalas, they have formed a significant community in the city. They spend a great deal of time hunting the few undead forces in Kalimdor. Theramore's high elves also have another interest in the continent. They have discussed privately the creation of their own realm on Kalimdor. The northern forests, full of moonwells and lush greenery are most attractive, but their control by the night elves is overly frustrating. High elven expeditions, claiming to be tracking undead, often search for suitable sites.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 178 Their exposure to the night elves has caused them to develop a great interest in Moonwells, which they seek to find an alternative solution to their addiction. Even the presence of a hidden Moonwell 50 feet away is enough to replenish their mystical energies and makes meditation unnecessary.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 42 - 43
==Notes and trivia==
*Demi-human is a term used to describe some humanoid races, including high elves.The Alliance of Lordaeron: "... Lothar was able to convince Lordaeron's demi-human races of the impending threat as well. The Alliance succeeded in gaining the support of the stoic dwarves of Ironforge and a small number of high elves of Quel'Thalas."
*Several dragons have used high elves as their visage form thousands of years before high elves even existed, such as Malygos, Alexstrasza, Nozdormu, and Sindragosa.
*Undead high elves who died before the blood elves split from the high elves seem to generally go to the Horde, as seen with Sylvanas Windrunner, the dark rangers, and Koltira Deathweaver.
*High Elves only had a minor appearance in the original World of Warcraft. A small faction - Silvermoon Remnant, was planned to be implemented but never made it into the Live Servers. It is most likely this faction that inspired the Silver Covenant.
*The Warcraft Encyclopedia states that high elves are scattered all over the world and don't act as a coordinated whole. As such, they do not have common opinions or goals.
**High elves were initially portrayed as being conglomerated in Theramore, Stormwind City, Quel'Lithien, and Quel'Danil, and no connection or cooperation among them was ever seen. Over the course of the expansions, high elves in Outland and in Dalaran were introduced and given importance, such as Auric Sunchaser becoming a high elven representative at the Sunwell. Similarly, the Silver Covenant was created by Vereesa Windrunner as a precaution against possible treachery from the blood elven Sunreavers,Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 22 and have appeared quite often in Northrend, Pandaria, and the Broken Isles, working with the Kirin Tor, Alliance, and the Unseen Path respectively.
*The non-canon roleplaying sourcebooks (see below) gave solid population numbers for most races, and put the total high elf population at around 24,810. This was contested, however, given the disproportionate amount of blood elves this would create (more than the entire Alliance and Horde combined), and further complicated by an errata which, among other tweaks, greatly reduced the total high elf number.
**Ultimately, the RPG books as a whole were denounced as non-canonical, leaving only the Warcraft Encyclopedia's official percentages, the Excerpts from the Journal of Archmage Vargoth, and Blizzard's own statements as an indication of canonical high elf numbers.Ask CDev Answers - Round 2
*There are a few NPCs in the game that still use the original high elf models from before the Burning Crusade expansion, the Quel'dorei Ghosts, Quel'dorei Magewraiths, Quel'dorei Wraiths and some of the Shadowsworn Ritualist‎.
*High elves were widely speculated to have been a playable race choice for World of Warcraft, though Caydiem mentioned in a Blizzard lore post why this never occurred - the total high elf population being incredibly low. The Horde would receive their biological equivalent, the blood elves, around this time. More recently, Blizzard has acknowledged player interest in high elves as a "sub race" of sorts, along with Mag'har orcs, Dark Iron dwarves, and other minor races,Ian Hazzikostas on Sub Races (~7 minute mark) although high elves were not added in Battle for Azeroth as an Allied race. When asked about this, Ion Hazzikostas stated that high elves are essentially already playable as the blood elves on the Horde and that the void elves are also another flavor of high elves that are playable on the Alliance.Ion Hazzikostas, RE: Mag'har Orcs and High Elves (1:14:44)
**With World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, the visuals typically ascribed to high elves (being that of their blue eyes) were added as options for the blood elf and void elf races. In the case of the latter, normal-looking skin tones and natural hair color were also added. This was done after an interview with developer Ion Hazzikostas caused himself and the team to revisit the issue.Ion Hazzikostas on Twitter: "Honestly that was the plan at the time, but the game is vast, so specific questions often go unexamined while attention is elsewhere. After that interview, the team spun up a fresh conversation about BElf/VElf customization options, and the recent blog lays out where we ended up." However, high elven skin tones are still not available to players.
*In many ways, high elves are comparable to Mag'har orcs. The vast majority of their people–orcs and blood elves–have been exposed to some degree of fel magic, whose effect has altered the skin of the orcs and the eyes of the elves. Ironically, both the Mag'har and the quel'dorei represent the minority of their races.
*The high elves were originally depicted as much closer to nature, with Warcraft II mentioning elven druidsWarcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Places of Mystery, The Runestone at Caer Darrow as well as the elves joining the Alliance of Lordaeron partly because the Old Horde intended to defile the very lands of Lordaeron.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, A Brief History of the Fall of Azeroth, The Alliance of Lordaeron
*In early builds of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos the high elves were much more involved in the military of the Alliance of Lordaeron, deploying rangers as hero units, as well as dragonhawk riders and mage-priests.
==Gallery==
;World of Warcraft
File:Vyrin Swiftwind old.jpg|Original pre-The Burning Crusade female model.
File:Adon Classic.jpg|Original pre-The Burning Crusade male model.
File:Highelfeyes.jpg|The Burning Crusade model
File:Anasterian Sunstrider.jpg|Anasterian Sunstrider
File:Echo of the Past - Alleria.jpg|Young Alleria
File:Alleria Windrunner.jpg|Alleria Windrunner
File:Echo of the Past - Sylvanas.jpg|Young Sylvanas
File:Sylvanas Windrunner in the Ghostlands.jpg|A memory of Sylvanas the Ranger-General.
File:Echo of the Past - Vereesa.jpg|Young Vereesa
File:Vereesa Windrunner WoD.jpg|Vereesa Windrunner
File:Echo of the Past - Lirath.jpg|Lirath Windrunner
File:Alexstrasza the Life-Binder.jpg|Alexstrasza in her high elf form (old model).
File:Alexstrasza at the Ruby Lifepools.png|Alexstrasza in her high elf form (new model).
File:Nozdormu Elf.jpg|Nozdormu in his high elf form (old model).
File:Malygos's Soul Cinematic.png|Malygos in his high elf form.
File:Sindragosa Simulacrum Cinematic.png|Sindragosa in her high elf form.
File:Vereesa purple eyes.jpg|Female high elves appeared with purple eyes in patch 9.0.1 as a bug, they were reverted to blue eyes in patch 9.0.2.
File:Scholomance Occultist.jpg|Scholomance Occultist, a high elf member of the Cult of the Damned.
File:Highelf buildings.jpg|High elven buildings use a blue color scheme.
File:High Elven Tent.jpg|High elven tent
File:The Wavecrest.jpg|High elven destroyer
File:The First to Fall Silvermoon Ballista.jpg|High elven ballista
;Art
File:Sylvanas timewalkers.jpg|Sylvanas Windrunner
File:Alleria 7.3 Cropped.jpg|Alleria Windrunner in the patch 7.3 key art.
File:Vereesa windrunner.jpg|Vereesa Windrunner in Day of the Dragon.
File:Vereesa.jpg|Vereesa Windrunner in Night of the Dragon.
File:Oldhighelfs.jpg|Elder high elves in The Sunwell Trilogy.
File:Drathir.jpg|Dar'Khan Drathir in The Sunwell Trilogy.
File:Voldana.jpg|Voldana in Legends.
File:WindrunnerSistersVSghouls.jpg|Windrunner sisters fighting ghouls in Windrunner: Three Sisters.
File:Anduin in Three Sisters.png|Vereesa and Anduin in Windrunner: Three Sisters.
File:Blood of the Highborne.jpg|Dar'Khan, Galell, Liadrin and Lor'themar in Blood of the Highborne.
File:Dragonflight Leader Alexstrasza.png|Dragon Aspect Alexstrasza in her high elf form.
File:Dragonflight Nozdormu Bayard Wu alt.jpg|Dragon Aspect Nozdormu in his high elf form.
File:Warbringers - Sylvanas Mother & Child concept.jpg|Warbringers concept art.
File:Alleria2.jpg|Alleria in Shadows & Light.
File:Alleria Adventures.png|Alleria's portrait in the canceled Warcraft Adventures.
;Hearthstone
File:Alleria Cropped.jpg|Alleria Windrunner in her character trailer.
File:Vereesa Windrunner HS.jpg|Vereesa Windrunner wielding Thori'dal.
File:Sylvanas, Ranger General HS.png|Sylvanas Windrunner as Ranger General.
File:Valdera Highborne HS.jpg|
File:Archivist Elysiana HS.jpg|
File:Halus Sunwatcher HS.jpg|
File:Heroic Innkeeper.jpg|
File:Soulciologist Malicia HS.jpg|
File:Spymistress HS.jpg|
File:Bold Charge HS.jpg|
File:Drakefire Amulet HS.jpg|
File:Sand Breath HS.jpg|
File:School Spirits HS.jpg|
;RTS series
File:ElfArcher.gif|Elven Archer in Warcraft II.
File:Wc2ranger.gif|Elven Ranger portrait in Warcraft II.
File:WC2HumanDestroyer.gif|Elven Destroyer in Warcraft II.
File:Highelfarcher&ranger.jpg|High elf archer and ranger art in Warcraft II.
File:Highelvenarcher.JPG|Elven archer in Warcraft II.
File:Rangerwc2.JPG|An elven ranger from the Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual.
File:Warcraft III Ranger concept art.jpg|Elven Ranger concept art.
File:Alleria in Beyond the Dark Portal manual.jpg|Alleria in the Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal manual.
File:AllianceVSHordeWC3.jpg|Art with a high elf priest supporting Alliance troops.
File:High elf archmage.png|High elf Archmage
File:High elf runner.png|High elf runner
File:High elf engineer.png|High elf engineer
File:High elf worker.png|High elf worker
File:Jennalla Deemspring wcr.png|Jennalla Deemspring
File:High elf villager reforged.png|High elf villager
File:BTNSorceressV0.png|High elf Sorceress unit portrait.
File:BTNHighElfArchMage.png|High elf archmage unit portrait.
File:BTNHighElfRunner.png|High elf runner unit portrait.
File:BTNSwordsman.png|High elf swordsman unit portrait.
File:BTNPriestV0.png|High elf priest unit portrait.
File:BTNHighElvenArcher-Reforged.png|High elf archer unit portrait.
File:BTNEmissary.png|High elf emissary unit portrait.
File:BTNDragonHawkRiderV0.png|High elf Dragonhawk rider unit portrait.
File:BTNFemaleElfVillager-Reforged.png|High elf villager unit portrait.
File:BTNElfVillager-Reforged.png|High elf villager unit portrait.
File:BTNJennallaDeemspring.png|Jennalla Deemspring unit portrait.
File:BTNSylvanusWindRunner-Reforged.png|Sylvanas Windrunner unit portrait.
File:BTNThalorienDawnseeker.png|Thalorien Dawnseeker unit portrait.
File:Reforged - Thalorien concept.jpg|Thalorien Dawnseeker Reforged model art. 
File:Warcraft III Ranger.gif|High elven Ranger
File:HighElfDragonHawk.png|High elven Dragonhawk rider
File:Sorceress.gif|High elven Sorceress
File:Priest.gif|High elven Priest
;Movie
File:Warcraft Film High Elves screencap.jpg|High elves in the Warcraft movie.
File:Elven banner Warcraft film prop.jpg|Banners were created to represent the High Elves, but were cut from the final film.
File:Warcraft Film High Elf 1.jpg|Concept art
File:Warcraft Film High Elf 2.jpg
File:Warcraft Film High Elf 3.jpg
;Heroes of the Storm
File:Sylvanas HotS Ranger-General.jpg|Ranger-General Sylvanas skin
File:Tyrande HotS High Elf.jpg|High Elf Tyrande skin
File:HotS - Ranger-General Sylvanas.jpg|Ranger General Sylvanas in her Heroes of the Storm trailer.
==See also==
*Origin of the races
*Former high elf models
*The Burning Crusade Townhall/History of the Blood Elves
*Priest (Warcraft III)
*Sorceress (Warcraft III)
==References==
 
Category:Alliance races
es:Elfo noble
fr:Haut-elfe
pl:High Elf