 The Farstriders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Main leader | Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing |
| Race(s) | Blood elves |
| Capital | Silvermoon City, Sunfury Spire |
| Other major settlements | Farstrider Enclave, Farstrider Retreat |
| Theater of operations | Eversong Woods, Ghostlands |
| Language(s) | Thalassian, Common, Orcish |
| Affiliation | Quel'Thalas |
| Status | Active |
- "We are rangers sworn to defend our people from enemies both near and far."
- — Lieutenant Dawnrunner
The Farstriders are a blood elven group primarily based around Quel'Thalas, the bulk of its membership of ranger origins.[1] They are led by the Ranger-general of Silvermoon, Halduron Brightwing.
Once a group comprised solely of high elves, many of the Farstriders who survived the Scourge's invasion of Quel'Thalas have become blood elves. Based in Silvermoon City, the organization is considered part of the blood elf government, but its members have never been a formal military. The army that currently defends Quel'Thalas is a separate entity from the Farstriders, whose small numbers would in any case make it impossible for them to wage war. The Farstriders have several lodges scattered across Quel'Thalas.
History and organization
The blood elf Farstriders are an elite group of rangers. Although every member is a ranger, a rare few do take on roguish pursuits. The organization can trace its roots back to the Troll Wars, when a loosely affiliated band of high elf warriors occasionally worked together to defend Quel'Thalas. Roughly five hundred years ago, a group of similarly dedicated fighters formed and officially took on the name "Farstriders". Their mandate was to protect Quel'Thalas far beyond its actual borders and look after high elf interests all over Azeroth. The commander of the Farstriders was given a unique title: Ranger-general of Silvermoon.
Over time the Farstriders' focus has evolved. Today the Farstriders do not usually range far from home. Instead, they are trying to reclaim the southern section of Quel'Thalas, which has been heavily afflicted by the plague: the southernmost areas have fallen into Scourge possession. The Farstriders are also fighting to hold onto Eversong Woods, which is being threatened by the Amani trolls of Zul'Aman, to the east of Quel'Thalas.
Farstrider beliefs and practices
The Farstriders have long been considered valiant and honorable elves who regarded the law with deep respect and faith. Indeed, they have long been considered the epitome of selfless dedication.
Since the Scourge's bloody rampage through Quel'Thalas, the Farstriders have lost some of their optimism. Even so, they are nobly maintaining their role as protectors of blood elf society. Perhaps due to their ties to the land, these rangers tend to be spiritually, mentally, and physically healthier than many other blood elves.
They see their mission as a broad one: to seek out and eradicate evil. Their primary focus is on Quel'Thalas itself, but they also occasionally venture abroad, carrying out surgical strikes where they feel their efforts will have the greatest effect.[2]
The Farstriders strongly disapprove of the actions of the Blood Knights. While many applauded the ascension of Silvermoon's own sect of paladins, it is known that several Farstriders view the Blood Knights with disdain. Friction between the two groups has been seen within Silvermoon City, with each group tending to look down upon the other.
A statue depicting a female Farstrider.
Blood elves are known for their grudges. Of all the blood elves, Farstriders carried a deep resentment towards the Horde. They went out of their way to slay trolls, even those of the Horde. They hate the undead as well, they didn't like the fact that the Horde let the Forsaken into their ranks. They have had little experience with tauren, and don't have much quarrel with them but see them as bestial brutes. Despite the fact that blood elves and undead do not get well together, Sylvanas offered assistance to the blood elves despite the feelings of the Farstriders, leading to the blood elves joining the Horde.[3]
Farstrider military tactics
Farstriders use similar tactics to other elven regiments, preferring bows. A good Farstrider is never seen in battle. The blood elf rangers prefer to hide among camouflage and in trees, sniping with their longbows.
Farstriders are independent of Silvermoon’s military forces. Rather, Farstriders are structured more like a mercenary group. While individual Farstriders bear military designations, the bands are independent. Most Farstrider bands include from 3 to 5 members, and answer only to the ranger-general.
Farstriders prefer guerilla tactics to frontal assaults. They always attack from cover, using trees and rocks to cover their traces while sniping at enemies. A Farstrider band splits up just before the attack, surrounding the enemy forces. Once in position, the lead ranger gives a birdcall to ready the others. Then all rangers bombard their enemies with arrows. They hamper fleeing targets with spells such as entangle. When discovered, a ranger retreats to a more strategic location and renews his assault. The Farstriders hunt and exterminate any enemies that escape the spells and arrows. Farstriders are quick, expert and ruthless.[4]
Burning Crusade
The Farstriders were introduced via their numerous holdings throughout Eversong Woods, primarily concerned with dealing with the Amani trolls still holding out within Quel'Thalas from the Farstrider Retreat. They would also take the fight into the Ghostlands, from their main base in the Farstrider Enclave.
Cataclysm
The Farstriders form an unlikely alliance with the Darkspear tribe against the new troll empire brewing in Zul'Aman, and a regiment of Farstrider Troll hunters are found on its outskirts. With most of the Farstriders away on duty, Halduron calls upon support from another unlikely source -- Vereesa Windrunner and her own rangers, who eagerly travel to Quel'Thalas to assist their homeland.
Farstrider relations
Though initially icy in relation to their prospective alliance with the Horde, the Farstriders seem capable of putting racial prejudice aside when needed -- gladly working with the Darkspear tride, and Halduron Brightwing himself seems highly respectful to his Horde allies. Their feud with the Blood Knights is well known, though the Farstriders also seem at odds with several of the Magisters. This is perhaps fueled by the various allusions given to Grand Magister Rommath and Halduron Brightwing not seeing eye-to-eye on many matters.[5] With the Sunwell restored and the Blood Knights now taking their power directly from it, the rifts between Silvermoon's military organizations may yet improve.
Uniform and equipment
Unsurprisingly, the Farstriders tend to use mostly blood elven crafted designs for their outfits, and usually wield bows, crossbows, swords or polearms. Unlike the Blood Knights, they do not usually display any particular preference for their colour code, and are typically seen in varying attire. Halduron himself sports a mostly blue outfit.
Other Farstriders
Though the term 'Farstrider' refers to the blood elven organization, remnants of the original ranger corps that did not become sin'dorei can be found outside of Quel'Thalas.
High elf Farstriders
While many have converted to blood elves, several packs of original high elven Farstriders still exist, Farstrider Lodge in the Loch Modan houses a ranger, Vyrin Swiftwind, and a few dwarven hunters.[6] Ranger Lord Hawkspear controlled another pocket in the Eastern Plaguelands before the elves succumbed to magical addiction and turning into Wretched. A lodge containing a larger population exists in the Hinterlands while the largest high elven Farstrider community was found in Terokkar Forest based within Allerian Stronghold, who had joined the Alliance Expedition.
The few high elves who join the Farstriders often succumb to blood elf ways and declare themselves sin’dorei. Thus, all Farstriders are blood elf rangers.[7] These high elves may be part of the same organization as the blood elf Farstriders, but have not yet succumbed to blood elf ways.
Night elf Farstriders
Farstriders were the only unified night elf presence dwelling in Ashenvale, before the Third War, as a reclusive group of rangers. The Farstriders use the terrain and other inhabitants to train in their specialized skills. They hold a difference of opinion regarding strangers in Ashenvale. Some believe that their duty is to welcome and protect travelers, as long as they show no threat to the forest. Others see any strangers as unwelcome interlopers who must be “escorted” to the southern border. Still, whatever their opinion on Ashenvale, the Farstriders bow to the wishes of the ancients and the sentinels. They lived in the Farstrider Camp. Outraged Farstriders prevented orcs that mined Goldcrease Mine from taking the gold.[8]
Known members
See also
References
- ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/402.xml
- ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/402.xml
- ^ Johnson, Luke. Dark Factions, 153. ISBN 9781588464460.
- ^ Johnson, Luke. Dark Factions, 178. ISBN 9781588464460.
- ^ http://www.wowpedia.org/In_the_Shadow_of_the_Sun
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg 78
- ^ Johnson, Luke. Dark Factions, 154. ISBN 9781588464460.
- ^ Arthaus. Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 186-187. ISBN 9781588460714.