Celestial

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This article or section contains lore taken from the Warcraft RPG books.

Celestials are mythical angels and kind spirits who once roamed the orc and human lands, teaching peace and cooperation and offering gifts to those who chose to follow that path.

Few modern tales discuss Celestials in Azeroth, and no one has openly claimed to see one in nearly one thousand years. They are now merely legend; some even say they have been destroyed, or subjugated by evil spirits and so exist no more. Yet secret cults throughout most nations still worship these beings--some say, in vain.

Celestials are said to take many faces, depending on which race is telling the story. Usually, they resemble the individual with whom they are speaking, idealized into perfect feature and form. They do not "live" within the lands of Azeroth per se, but instead exist on some higher plane, called into being only when necessity demands it.^{MoM 191} It is unclear if they have any connection to the giantkin known as celestians or the unicorns known as celestial chargers, but if the names are indication they might be.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore!

Celestials may have been seen in Warcraft III appearing during the Paladin's Resurrection Spell.

Similarities

Celestials seem to share some similarity to angels, hopes, and naaru. They are described as enemies of demons. They might be the Resurrection Angels.

Religion

It is possible that this race was inspired in part by some of the descriptions of God and angels which were included in both Warcraft I manual & Warcraft II manual. That manuals describes the Clerics of Northshire & holy men of Azeroth as followers of a theistic belief system including God and angels, which conflicts with the more current descriptions of the Holy Light as a non-theistic religious philosophy.

It might be possible to reconcile their stated beliefs with the beings called Celestials, Naaru and Hope. Celestials and Hope are described in the Manual of Monsters, as being angelic creatures who act as emissaries for a higher power. According to the Manual, there are still secret cults in every nation who still worship the Celestials, perhaps in vain. A way to reconcile this apparent Retcon, is to assume that there was Celestial worship amongst the Northshire Clerics. Another example Duncan Senturus shared similar beliefs according to Day of the Dragon.

It is possible that Celestial Ridge is named after these beings.

Source

Manual of Monsters, for controversy, see Appendix III notes.