Cenarion Circle

The Cenarion Circle (or simply the Circle)Mystery Solved is a harmonious order that guides and keeps watch over the world's druids and their practices. The organization mostly consists of druids, with members of the tauren, jungle troll, night elf, and worgen races. It is named after Cenarius.
The Circle has many posts, but their main home is the town of Nighthaven in the Moonglade. Druids learn to teleport to Nighthaven at level 10, but anyone else will have to wait until they can make it to Felwood and find a way through the Timbermaw Hold tunnels. Other alternatives include receiving a summon from a Warlock and two other players, 2-man flying mount, or waiting for the Lunar Festival, which coincides with Chinese New Year, and complete a simple quest from any pre-BC capital to receive the Lunar Festival Invitation. This is a special occasion that should not be missed!
The Circle's other major presence is in Silithus, where they combat the silithid, the qiraji, and the Twilight's Hammer. Cenarion Hold serves as their base in the hostile land, and offers many opportunities to adventurers seeking to aid the druids. They fight the Burning Legion alongside the other class orders during the demons' third invasion.
The Cenarion Circle operates outside of Tyrande Whisperwind's authority,Seeds of Faith and is apparently currently co-led by Cenarius, along with several Archdruids including Malfurion Stormrage and Hamuul Runetotem.
==History==
===Curse of the Worgen===
Named in honor of the demigod Cenarius, the Cenarion Circle ensures the protection of nature and its creatures. Furthermore, the members of this faction act as keepers of ancient lore and pay particular attention to the traditional ways of the druids. In their role of protectors of nature, the men and women of the Cenarion Circle also strive to maintain the fragile balance within the world.
The faction was founded by Malfurion Stormrage, named after Cenarius. Initially, the Cenarion Circle was created to combat the growing threat of the worgen.Curse of the Worgen Issue 3 Malfurion trained the first druids to join the group, but soon appealed to Remulos, one of the sons of Cenarius, for help. Remulos played a major role in forming the group and he taught young druids all the secrets they would need to master.
===Long Vigil===
Some of the druids, along with other units, rallied under Fandral Staghelm in Silithus in the War of the Shifting Sands. Though they suffered heavy casualties in pushing the qiraji and silithid back, the night elves were successful in temporarily ending this threat to Kalimdor.
After the war, they established Cenarion Hold to guard the imprisoned Old God C'Thun and its forces.
===Third War===
Upon being roused from their sleep, the Druids of the Talon and the Druids of the Claw participated in the defense against the Burning Legion's invasion of Kalimdor. Led by Malfurion, they assisted the Sentinels and tried to find the Wild Gods but were unsuccessful. They ultimately fought in the Battle of Mount Hyjal where they assisted Malfurion with his plan to sacrifice Nordrassil's ancient power in order to defeat the Legion.
===World of Warcraft===
With the passing years, the organization grew to include tauren, who shared similar views, as well as members of other races, until it reached its present form. The Cenarion Circle now includes many more members than it did originally, though its total numbers are still few. Its agents are active throughout Azeroth but are especially present on Kalimdor. Men and women from both the Alliance and the Horde are now welcomed in the Cenarion Circle, but the majority of its members are still night elf men.
The Cenarion Circle is not without conflict. Fandral Staghelm, taking the mantle of archdruid after Malfurion Stormrage entered the Emerald Dream, objected to the introduction of the tauren into the order. He also embarked upon the creation of a new World Tree, Teldrassil, despite the objections of Remulos.
The Cenarion Circle in Darnassus was looking for seasoned adventurers to lend them aid in a vital research project. Arch Druid Staghelm was spearheading this research.Assisting Arch Druid Staghelm Similarly, the same research was also spearheaded in Thunder Bluff by Hamuul Runetotem.Assisting Arch Druid Runetotem
Over the years, many druids of the Circle joined or created various subgroups. After the reopening of the Dark Portal, the Circle sent an expeditionary force called the Cenarion Expedition to Outland. Although it began as a small venture controlled directly by the Cenarion Circle, the Expedition eventually grew into a large and fairly autonomous group,The Cenarion Expedition (quest) although it still relied on its parent organization's support.Warning the Cenarion Circle After learning of the naga's plans to drain the waters of Zangarmarsh, the Expedition asked for aid from the Circle. Although affairs in Moonglade and Silithus had kept the Circle members occupied, the Circle promised to send the necessary resources to the Expedition's forces.Return to the Marsh (Zangarmarsh)
During the war against the Lich King, the Druids for the Ethical and Humane Treatment of Animals—a radical splinter group of the Cenarion Expedition—appeared in Northrend to make war on the famed hunter Hemet Nesingwary and stop his decimation of wildlife.A Mission Statement
Fhyron Shadesong and Rayne also appeared in Northrend.
===The Shattering===
After the defeat of the Lich King, the night elves broke off all trade ties with the Horde due to the events of the Battle of the Wrath Gate. While Garrosh Hellscream advocated aggression as a way to obtain necessary resources for Orgrimmar and Durotar, Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem suggested he use his personal friendships with the kaldorei to find a more peaceable way to resolve their differences, arguing that even the night elves would likely take no pleasure in the suffering of Horde children, which Thrall and Cairne both fully supported. Despite initial reluctance and tension, Hamuul managed to arrange a meeting with his old friend Elerethe Renferal, both accompanied by a group of other Cenarion Circle druids. However, all of the gathered druids, with the sole exception of Hamuul, were ambushed and slain by the Twilight's Hammer disguised as Horde members, destroying their attempted peace process, and further worsening Alliance-Horde relations. This event subsequently led to the death of Cairne Bloodhoof after he challenged Garrosh to mak'gora, believing him responsible for authorizing the unprovoked attack on the Circle members, and his son Baine succeeded him as leader of the tauren.The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
===Cataclysm===
 
After the war against the Lich King, members of the Cenarion Circle partnered with the Argent Crusade to help heal the Plaguelands.The Menders' Stead (quest) When the forces of Ragnaros the Firelord attacked Mount Hyjal, the mountain was defended by an alliance between the Cenarion Circle and the green dragonflight known as the Guardians of Hyjal. Unconcerned with the Guardians' defensive maneuvers, another group called the Avengers of Hyjal was later formed to end the threat of the Firelord once and for all by invading Ragnaros' own realm, the Firelands.
===Traveler===
The tauren druid Galena Stormspear, accompanied by the blue drake Telagos, reported the events of the battle at the Hidden citadel in Outland to the Cenarion Circle in the Moonglade. The druids were impressed that Galena had convinced Telagos to meet with them. The drake spent several days studying the druids, and the druids studied him.Traveler: The Shining Blade
===Legion===
The Cenarion Circle moves the bulk of its forces to the Dreamgrove in Val'sharah, the ancient forest where Malfurion first learned druidism under the tutelage of Cenarius. There they battle the forces of the Burning Legion across the Broken Isles, but most predominately Xavius and the Emerald Nightmare.
The Cenarion Circle lost nearly all its members in Silithus with the destruction of Cenarion Hold. Malfurion Stormrage sent more members of the Circle there and, with the Sisters of Elune, the druids planned to build moonwells in an attempt to heal and stabilize Azeroth's wound. Hamuul Runetotem voiced his hopes of building a new Hold in the region as well as renewing cooperation with the Alliance through the Circle, but the Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner was much less receptive to his suggestions.Before the Storm
===Battle for Azeroth and aftermath===
The Cenarion Circle sent several druids, including Broll and Hamuul, to Silithus, and joined the Earthen Ring and Magni Bronzebeard to help heal the wound left by Sargeras, but initially their efforts seemed to be having little effect.A Dying World
While Malfurion Stormrage and other druids actively participated in the Fourth War, the Cenarion Circle and its sub-groups seemed to have largely remained neutral, with Tholo Whitehoof remaining on Nordrassil and fighting alongside Anren Shadowseeker.Healing Nordrassil
Following the Fourth War, just like the Earthen Ring, the druids in Moonglade noted disturbances in the spirit world. 
Tyrande, Malfurion, the Sentinels and their people returned to Mount Hyjal,The Price of Peace making it their new temporary home in the wake of Teldrassil's destruction. The tauren druid Tiala Whitemane was mentioned as still guarding the World Tree, and with her assistance, Earthen Ring member Yukha was able to temporarily negotiate safe passage to Nordrassil for the Horde Council leaders, leading to a tense meeting between them and the night elves.Shadows Rising, pg. 135
After the war, the Cenarion Circle vowed to repair the damage done to Staghelm Point, and they planted the Sentinel Tree in memoriam of the defenders lost here, including Ralo'shan.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 106
===Shadowlands===
The Cenarion Circle makes its appearance in the druid section of the Training Hall in Stormwind and the Barracks in Orgrimmar, with Amaria Wildthorn, Mithlos Falconbriar, and Telotha Pinegrove as druid trainers.
===Dragonflight===
Several druids of the Cenarion Circle traveled to Shady Sanctuary in the Ohn'ahran Plains on the Dragon Isles, including Hamuul, Zen'tabra, and Celestine.
==Member organizations==
*Cenarion Expedition
**D.E.H.T.A.
*DreamweaversSoul of the Archdruid
*Emerald Circle
*Guardians of Hyjal
**Avengers of Hyjal
==Notable members==
Name	Role 	Status 	Location
 	Archdruid 	 	Various Locations
 	 	 	Stormrage Barrow Dens, Moonglade
 	Archdruid 	 	D.E.H.T.A. Encampment, Borean Tundra
 	Archdruid 	 	Argent Vanguard, Icecrown
 	Cenarion Hold, Leader 	 	Cenarion Hold, Silithus
 	Archdruid 	 	Various Locations
 	Guardian of MoongladeMoonglade (quest) 	 	Various Locations
 	Forest Lord 	 	Various Locations
 	Archdruid 	(lore), (WoW)	Dun Baldar North Bunker, Alterac Valley
 	Archdruid 	 	Various Locations
 	Keeper Remulos' MajordomoRabine Saturna (quest)	 	Nighthaven, Moonglade
 	Majordomo of Ragnaros 	, (WoW) 	Various Locations
 	Archdruid, Leader 	 	Various Locations
 	Leader of the Cenarion Expedition 	 	Cenarion Refuge, Zangarmarsh
 	 	 	Thunk's Abode, Desolace
 	Tender 	 	Gadgetzan, Tanaris
==War of the Shifting Sands==
The Circle's main concern is currently combating the threat of the Silithid and Qiraji. From the official World of Warcraft Cenarion Circle Reputation page:
War is brewing in the distant lands of Silithus. All over the world, men and women are gearing up for one final push into the heart of the Qiraji empire to end the threat which has been lying in wait, barely contained behind the barrier erected by the Night Elven druids and the mighty dragon Anachronos during the climactic battle at the end of the War of the Shifting Sands. Ever since that fateful day, the members of the Cenarion Circle have kept a close watch on the wastes from their base at Cenarion Hold at the center of northern Silithus. There, the Night Elven and Tauren disciples of the magnificent demigod Cenarius have been waiting for the time when a hero would step forward to unleash the might of all the mortal races against the sinister Qiraji and their innumerable legions of Silithid minions. But the druids have not been idle during their long watch; they have crafted formidable weapons, armors and enchanted ornaments to assist all those who will brave the terrors of Ahn'Qiraj. Adventurers who have proven their worth in battle against the Qiraji forces beyond the Scarab Wall will be granted access to the ancient order's arsenal.
At last, the long watch has ended - the hero has risen, to mend that which was broken, to unite those who were divided. But the true test is yet to come. When the gates of Ahn'Qiraj open, will the mortal races stand united once again and face the onrushing terror, or will they fade silently into the darkness that has risen once again in the distant lands of Silithus?
==Culture==
The Cenarion Circle refer to themselves as a brotherhood.The Circle's Future All druids are welcomed to the sacred lands of Moonglade that offer knowledge and solace. Every year the druids of Moonglade hold a celebration of the great triumph over an ancient evil.Lunar Fireworks
===Teachings and power===
The druids of the Circle devote themselves to protecting the wilds and natural balance of Azeroth. The Circle embraces druids regardless of the places they come from, similar to the Earthen Ring. In their eyes, all are connected to the Great Cycle. In the Emerald Dream, druids gain insight and oneness with the Great Cycle.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 95
Cenarion druids rely on the wisdom and power of the Great Bear Spirit to fuel their purpose. 
Animals and plants are the Circle's friends as well as charges. They choose to devote their lives as preservers of balance for their sakes as well as the Circle's own.Heeding the Call Dryads are considered sacred to the Circle.Traveler: The Shining Blade, chapter 6
Cenarion druids have power over poison since Cenarius blessed them with the ability to purge even the most foul of poisons with a mere incantation. Druids are able to enchant and carve branches with glyphs into the bark. With one such branch, the druids in Darnassus and Thunder Bluff obtained valuable information on the extent of the Scourge's plague in the Plaguelands.Glyphed Oaken Branch (quest) Druids can also peer into crystals and unlock their mysteries.In Nightmares
The druids in Darnassus used the water of the moonwells of Teldrassil, and their moonwell had to be replenished from time to time.Crown of the Earth (3)
===Training===
Before entering the Emerald Dream, young students must make preparations. Mentors teach how to interpret not only what the spirits communicate to the druids, but also the complexities and secrets of the Emerald Dream. As they learn and grow in power, they will learn more of the sleeping trance.Verdant Sigil (Classic) / Verdant Sigil (quest) Druids of the Circle in the past were put through pre-planned trials.Lessons Anew Young druids undergo first lessons into the role as a protector of balance.Back to Darnassus / Back to Thunder Bluff One of the first steps is to learn of the ways of the bear, and to learn strength of body and heart. The wise and noble Great Bear Spirit serves as a tutor and mentor into the first true natural understanding of the nature of the bear for all druids.Great Bear Spirit (quest)
As the students grow in power and develop themselves as valued protectors of nature, they learn about the other animal aspects that Cenarius has blessed them with the ability to change into, including the aquatic form that affords the command and mastery of the water. To earn it, one must overcome two trials overseen by Dendrite Starblaze and Tajarri:
*The Trial of the Lake tests the ability to work in water under pressure.
*The Trial of the Sea Lion tests the resolve to understand the aspects of the form itself.A Lesson to Learn
In the first trial, the aspiring druid searches the depths of Lake Elune'ara to locate a Shrine Bauble that decays, and they need to quickly proceed with it to the Shrine of Remulos. It may turn into a competition with other druids, and mental and physical dexterity are critical to success. The shrine serves as a lasting tribute to the preservation of nature and balance. By using the bauble here, it serves as a nod to the importance of this place within the Circle.Trial of the Lake
The second trial consists of creating the :Pendant of the Sea Lion from two halves. One half draws power from the agility of the sea lion aspect, gliding through water; the other draws power from the incredible endurance of the sea lion aspect. Druids draw on both these traits equally to embody the aspect of their aquatic form. Each task in acquiring the pendant shows that both agility and endurance are necessary to act in harmony with what you desire to do underwater. Neither can exist without the other, and both cannot be done without your willingness to embrace the aspect of the sea lion. The student needs to remember these lessons well, and count on them after gaining the aquatic form.Trial of the Sea Lion After completing the trial, the students deliver the pendant to their trainers who then teach the aquatic form.Aquatic Form (quest)
==Reputation and quests==
Members of the Cenarion Circle offer a large number of quests in the game. Moonglade includes three questlines for druids at level 10, 14 and 16, as well as higher-level quests for all characters in Dire Maul and Silithus. Cenarion Hold and Valor's Rest serve as the quest hub for Silithus and both wings of Ahn'Qiraj. Additionally, representatives of the Circle in Desolace offer quests for Maraudon.
==Expedition into Outland==
Upon the reopening of the Dark Portal to Outland, the Cenarion Circle dispatched an expeditionary force - joint night elf/tauren, much like the Circle itself - to explore the uncharted new world. Over time the Cenarion explorers grew more autonomous and became their own faction within Outland, separate and yet connected to the Cenarion Circle. This faction is known as the Cenarion Expedition, which awards its own reputation apart from that granted by the Circle.
==Rewards==
When the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj open on your server, new NPCs give quests for class-specific weapons and armor. These include both Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj Quest Loot and rewards from the Field Duty quest lines.
Nighthaven offers many unique vendors, including a special Dress Master NPC.
There is no one faction quartermaster for the Cenarion Circle. Instead, there are vendors focused on various professions:
*Kania‎
*Mishta
*Vargus
*Aendel Windspear
Additionally, inside the Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj, if Andorov survives the event, he also sells a few limited-quantity recipes:
*Lieutenant General Andorov
==In the RPG==
Its members are dedicated to protecting nature and restoring the damage done to it by malevolent forces.Dark Factions, pg. 129
Most of this faction's members are either night elves or tauren. The Cenarion Circle, however, accepts men and women of any race; druids are members by definition, but other characters must prove themselves to the Cenarion Circle before becoming accepted. Fervently dedicated to protecting the wilderness, the operatives of the Cenarion Circle consider their duties above the petty wars and futile disputes of the Alliance, the Horde, and any other faction, race, family, or group. They are, after all, trying to save the world from those who would unwittingly destroy it; they allow no distractions.
==Notes==
*While tauren myths claim otherwise, the Cenarion Circle declared that Malfurion Stormrage was the first druid.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 30
*Several champions of the Circle fell to the silithid at Hive'Regal in southeastern Silithus.Components of ImportanceMore Components of Importance
*The Cenarion Raiment is a set of armor crafted by druids of Cenarion Circle.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 102
**According to Muradin Bronzebeard, only the Cenarion Circle could have made such armor as the Dreamwalker Raiment, which calls on the healing power of the dream itself.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 88
*In Feralas, a Cenarion Circle acolyte took the tauren Galena Stormspear as an apprentice.Traveler: The Shining Blade, chapter 5
*The neutrality of the Cenarion Circle and its members appears to be a somewhat sensitive topic. When he was still technically part of the Alliance, Fandral seemingly mistrusted the Horde races, even the tauren initially, and was reluctant to admit them into the Circle at all.
**Several night elven druids including Elerethe Renferal nearly broke off their relations with their tauren Circle members after it was alleged that the Horde attacked Sentinels without provocation shortly before the Cataclysm, though the Circle was a means through which they attempted unsuccessfully to restore trade ties between the two factions.
**Not long afterwards, the worgen of Talonbranch Glade apparently broke away from the Circle's ranks because they were disillusioned by the Circle's passivity in the wake of goblin activity in Felwood.
**While many ancients and forest spirits apparently resent the Horde for invading neighboring Ashenvale, they nevertheless cooperate with Horde players against the Twilight's Hammer and Deathwing's forces at Mount Hyjal out of necessity, as the combined Alliance and Cenarion Circle forces are not enough to stop them.Ask CDev
**At the same time, High Chieftain Cliffwalker refused to support the Overlord Krom'gar's aggression against Thal'darah Grove, arguing that the young kaldorei druids there had studied with his brethren for generations, and were not harboring a secret Alliance weapon as he believed; this decision to oppose Krom'gar resulted in the deaths of his wife and son, and the destruction of Cliffwalker Post.
**Shortly before the Bombing of Theramore, a night elf druid Lintharel risked her life saving her tauren friend Nita from her human commander (having stated earlier that the divisions between Alliance and Horde were false ones), even defying him openly despite his direct orders.
**Some night elf druids such as Thisalee Crow and Malfurion himself have openly joined the faction war and helped their kaldorei kin in times of great need, such as in the Battle for Darkshore. Some Horde druids have done likewise, albeit uneasily, and at least originally, Sylvanas urged them to fight the ancients at Darkshore, arguing they were being turned against the purpose, or else their people would be destroyed.Broadcast Text for 26530 - Burning of Teldrassil, Malfurion, Saurfang, Sylvanas (Spoilers) It is further uncertain how the relationships of the Circle members, including Malfurion and the tauren druids, were impacted by the events of the Burning of Teldrassil and the Fourth War (though Malfurion and his night elves have since moved to Nordrassil, where the Circle still apparently operates), and whether any of the allied races have joined the ranks of the Circle.
==Patch changes==
*
*
==See also==
*Cenarion Circle Reputation Guide
*The Wind stone article contains an extensive guide on summoning and defeating elementals.
*Cenarion Expedition
*One of the realms in World of Warcraft is named after the Cenarion Circle, Server:Cenarion Circle.
==References==
==External links==
 
Category:Religions
Category:Factions
Category:Dreamgrove‎
Category:Class Orders
es:Círculo Cenarion