Race origins

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.

Not all sentient races are covered in this article, only those whom the community has suggested alternative origins beyond what is explicitly stated in the official lore.

Elf and Troll Origins

There is some controversy that the separate origin of elves and trolls may be intertwined, but each race has their own story according to their own history. In Uldaman from the statues it can be seen that Trolls, Tauren, Mountain Giants and Sea Giants were the first creatures of Azeroth or at least the first that were civilized. From there on it is possible that Trolls mated with Dryads or Centaurs to make Night Elves. Trolls share traits with night elves, such as their body form and their ears.

Elves

According to their own history, the night elves were the first race to "awaken" in Azeroth more than 10,000 years ago (possibly more than 20,000 years ago) as a nocturnal tribe of humanoids near the Well of Eternity. One can only assume they meant sentience of some sort, but due to their early discovery of magic and the Well of Eternity, they may have judged other races to be slumbering in ignorance even though they had near equivalent awareness and civilization. There is no doubt, however that the elves are an ancient race with a long history that includes a few schisms and internal conflicts. However, except for the divergence of the Night Elves (darker skin and hair) and High Elves (lighter skin and hair; later further branched off politically as Blood Elves) in appearance they remain relatively similar to their ancestors.

The first night elves to form a small civilization remained mostly isolated around the Well of Eternity in central region of the super-continent of they named Kalimdor before the Sundering, but as their population grew they eventually encountered the trolls who had spread through out most of the continent. With their superior strength in magic they managed to beat back the larger population of trolls and the two groups settled into an uneasy truce when the elven expansion reached its height. The conflicts were largely a result of elven exploration as they created smaller towns and outposts rather than larger cities. About the time of the truce, the elves inner turmoil caused them to concentrate inward until the catastrophe of the War of the Ancients that forever weakened them and stole their immortality.

Subsequently the night elves and their day-loving brethren the high elves went their separate ways until they began to encounter the newer races of dwarves, gnomes, goblins, humans, and orcs.

Trolls

The trolls' history is as long as that of the elves (reaching back at least 16,000 years), but their internal conflicts have twisted and fractured their recall so that most of the trolls that may relate their history, the Darkspear tribe of trolls, only know the more recent details of their encounter and alignment with the Horde. They came into early conflict with the elves who both conjured awe and intense hatred. Some say their hatred caused them to re-tell the origins of the elves as being a primordial splinter of the troll lineage, but the possibility of troll descending from elf could also be possible. Appearance-wise, trolls have not changed significantly, but politically and culturally they have broken into many sub-groups.

While the night elves were concentrating on learning the secrets of the Well of Eternity, the trolls were spreading throughout the world from their initial location in the southern part as the Zandalar tribe. Early on they split into two empires, the Gurubashi in the south and the Amani up the eastern and north-central coasts. What kept these two empires from constantly warring with each other was the insidious insectoid empire of Azj'Aqir who they focused on to prevent further expansion. Eventually the might of the two troll empires over thousands of years managed to split and isolate the insectoids to the far north and south areas of the continent, but then before the trolls could attempt to resume any expansion in territories not controlled by elves or insectoids, the coming of the Burning Legion shattered the continent and threw the trolls into disarray.

The calamity that broke the world also shattered the unity of the remaining trolls that struggled to survive. Internal conflicts and civil wars scattered what remained. The Gurubashi empire was undone by civil war among the followers of the blood god Hakkar and their opponents. The Amani empire was destroyed by the ascendant high elves with their newly found human allies and finally the spread of the plague of undeath.

Trolls still hold many outposts throughout Azeroth, but only the Darkspear have prospered since, due to their place in the ranks of the Horde.

Troll/Elf Lineage Speculation

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The lineage of the trolls

[Blizzard]'s history of Azeroth does not clearly state that night elves descended from trolls, but some evidence does suggest the possibility. Alternatively night elves may be descended from Elune herself as some legends state. Which would explain the exact physical features and appearance that they they share according to the official blizzard artistic representations of Elune. Cenarius, dryads, night elves, and keepers of the grove share the same physical features at least from the torso up. In fact dryads and keepers are often described as having the upper body of night elvesTemplate:Cite, and night elves are sometimes described as "Cenarius' favored children" due to their connection to dryads and keepersTemplate:Cite. It is also possible that primitive race that lived near the well merely changed into Elune's image by the magic they were exposed to. Lands of Conflict discusses yet another primitive race that lived before the sundering, the Azotha (early humans) which could also be candidates for the race that lived near the well.Template:Cite

It should be said that the a few shared physical "similarities" is very general and should not be viewed as concrete evidence that trolls are related to night elves. For instance, pointed ears: elves, trolls, dryads, Cenarius, goblins (one could reason pointy ears are a trait among those native to Azeroth). According to Blizzard's representation of Elune (noting it is a Blizzard artist's official representation of what Elune's appearance is, as opposed to just one of the in-game night elf carved representations)Template:Cite, the night elves look exactly like her.

According to Blizzard's recent troll compendium, it's up in the air as to if night elves are related to trolls or not, as there is simply not enough evidence to prove either way.

There is much speculation about this theory, however. It is known as fact that first there was only the Zandalar tribe of trolls, which further evolved into the Ice, Sand, Dark, Forest and Jungle trolls as they spread across the Kalimdor supercontinent. It is said that from one of these variants night elves evolved, who then evolved further into the sub-races of high elves (from which came the blood elf faction) and through outside influences, satyrs, harpies, and naga.

The satyr are the descendants of Kaldorei who allied directly with the Burning Legion during the first invasion. These former elves were taken by the demons and twisted into shapes that more accurately reflected their nature.

Harpies are descended from female elves who betrayed Queen Azshara, Sorceress-Queen of Kalimdor, and were transformed into hideous bird-creatures as punishment, although there is some reference in the War of the Ancients books by Richard A. Knakk that implies that harpies descended from the demi-goddess Aviana.

The high elves are a race descended from the Highborne night elves who left Kalimdor and settled in the Eastern Kingdoms, founding Quel'Thalas. When Quel'Thalas and at least 90% of the high elven race was destroyed by the Scourge, they split into two factions.

Many changed their name to "blood elves" in remembrance of their fallen brethren, and would soon become close allies to the Naga. Others remained as high elves, disgusted by blood elven values. These stayed true to their old allies, the Alliance, and are scattered among various cities where they are a clear minority.

When the Well of Eternity imploded, sundering the world many Highborne were trapped in the blast, however as their bodies were so infused with magic they did not die but were twisted by the powers they had released, influenced through the limited though still quite powerful will of the Old Gods, Azshara and her followers were dragged down beneath the raging sea, cursed – transformed – they took on new shapes and became the hateful serpentine Naga.

Not all Highborne who were trapped and infused by magic became Naga, others were turned into Blood Maidens.

See also:

• Night Elves on the Races page
• Night Elves in the Warcraft Encyclopedia
• Early Troll Civilization
• Trolls and night elves?

The creations of the Titans

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The creations of the Titans and their descendants.

The Mountain Giants and the Sea Giants were crafted by the Titans when the world was young to protect Azeroth.

When the Titans were shaping Azeroth, they created the Earthen. These beings of magical rock were meant to continue to shape Azeroth after the Titans left. After the Well of Eternity erupted the Earthen sealed themselves off in their cities. Centuries later, some of the Earthen of Uldaman awoke to find that they had changed. Their skin was soft and pink. They decided to leave to the surface, eventually finding the mountain of Khaz Modan which they claimed as their new home. Within Ironforge they made a great altar to their creator Titan Khaz'goroth. There are three known cities where the Titans made the Earthen: Uldum in Tanaris, Ulduar in the Storm Peaks, and Uldaman in the Badlands.

Troggs and Dwarves

The troggs, like the dwarves, are a mutation from the original earthen design, referenced by the disks of Norgannon. Although the troggs keep the physical toughness of their earthen heritage, they lose nearly all thought capacity and become dumb, short tempered and violent. The titans sealed these mutations away after realizing their uselessness to their cause.

The dwarves of Ironforge were originally of three clans: The Wildhammer Clan, the Bronzebeard Clan and the Dark Iron Clan, with the Ruling High King Modimus Anvilmar as the supreme leader. However, when the High King died with no heir, the dwarves plunged into a civil war - the War of the Three Hammers. Eventually, the Bronzebeard Clan won and banished the other two clans from Ironforge. The Wildhammers accepted their fate and built the city of Grim Batol in the South Wetlands, eventually re-establishing their friendship with the Bronzebeards. The Dark Iron Clan, however, were less forgiving and retreated to Blackrock Spire to plan their revenge. Lead by the sorcerer-thane 'Emperor' Thaurissan and his wife Modgud, the Dark Iron Clan led a two-pronged attack against Ironforge, the Bronzebeard Clan, Grim Batol and the Wildhammer Clan. The battle at Ironforge was unsuccessful and the battle at Grim Batol had some margin of success but Modgud fell in the battle, so the Dark Iron Clan retreated to Blackrock Spire with Ironforge and Grim Batol following close after them. At Blackrock Spire Thaurissan attempted to summon a powerful fire elemental to smite the other dwarves but instead freed Ragnaros the Firelord. Upon the Firelord's rebirth the area around the mountain exploded in an apocalyptic fire, devastating the surrounding land and making the Searing Gorge and the Burning Steppes. The Firelord took the Dark Iron Clan and made them his. The other dwarves stopped before the explosion and fled, sealing the only entrance into the Searing Gorge from Loch Modan.

There is speculation that the Flamewaker were once Dark Iron dwarves transformed by the power of Ragnaros. The only evidence in support of this is the similar serpentine Naga, who were once night elves transformed by the power of an old god (or perhaps Neptulon).

Gnomes

It is not known exactly how the gnomes came into being, but it is said that they may be related to DwarvesTemplate:Cite. One theory of the gnomes heritage is that they were descended from the Titan's giants as the dwarves are descended from the Earthen. This theory is based on the similarity between the form of the Mountain Giants, Sea Giants, and gnomes. Though the giants are many times larger, they have a similarly stocky build to gnomes, with proportionally larger heads and only four fingers per hand. However there is no explanation of how such a drastic change in size would take place, nor a gain in intelligence, where as the dwarves are nearly the same size as earthen, and are also said to carry the same thought capacity (referenced from the Discs of Norgannon).

Humans

Humans are descendants of the primitive human race known as the "azotha", and existed before the sundering of the world. Humans may have descended from some dwarf or earthen faction. It is speculated that a faction of earthen left the mountains and grew taller in the open. This is possibly implied (though could be hyperbole) in one of the War of the Ancients books where Rhonin is described as a tall dwarf, and categorized by Night Elven scholars (who apparently never encountered Azotha) as a larger variation of dwarf. It is highly possible that Azotha descended from earthen at some distant point in history before the War of the Ancients, but it is unknown.

Another bit of lore that hints at a connection between humans, gnomes and dwarves through a titan heritage, is that Sisters of Steel an organization and warrior class of females of human, dwarven, and gnomish descent are capable of activating an ability called "Skin of Steel". An ability which gives their skin the appearance of rock or steel, and gives them rocky or metallic flesh. It is very similar to stone skin and avatar ability displayed by mountain kings and other dwarves. It is believed to be blessings from the Titan, Khaz'goroth. This ability proves false the idea that their abilities stem from a dwarf-only phenomena.Template:Cite

There is also some speculation that Humans may be the descendants of the Troggs, as the name "Trogg" is derived from the word "troglodyte," which describes members of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes. Prehistoric humans, in real life, are referred to as troglodytes. However, by extension, "troglodyte" also describes anything that lives underground, and as such would describe Troggs, Dwarves, Earthen and Gnomes.

Humans and Gnomes

There is also a third theory regarding both humans and gnomes. This is that both races are native inhabitants of Azeroth, who came to be not by direct creation of the titans, but as a bi-product of their work, such as trolls and tauren. There is evidence to support this, whereas both races are adept at controlling the innate magical energies of Azeroth, suggesting some kind of link between them and the primordial magic that Azeroth holds.

Humans have also been stated to have had early tribal societies much like those of the early troll civilizations. Also the innate human ideology is much different from the Dwarves, furthering the difference between the two.

Much of the gnomes physiology suggests that they are natural inhabitants of Azeroth's craggy peaks. Their short stature might allow them to seek shelter in caves and crevasses too small for other creatures. Also their stocky torsos, large noses, and shorter thinner limbs might indicate an adaption toward saving body heat to combat the cold climate of the mountains. The large brain could be attributed to the fact that many creatures who are smaller in size and lack natural defenses, must rely on planning and wit to survive.

Cenarius' Lineage

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The lineage of Cenarius

Richard A. Knaak's novel The Sundering stated that Ysera, the Dragon Aspect, was Malorne's lover and mother of Cenarius. Later, the author Richard A. Knaak clarified that Elune is Cenarius' biological mother, and Ysera is his adopted mother.

Cenarius has many descendants, the Keepers of the Grove, the dryads, and the centaur.

The origin of five centaur tribes(Gelkis, Maraudine, Kolkar, Magram, and Galak) is told by the spirit of Keeper Celebras at Maraudon in Desolace. Keeper Remulos, one of the sons of Cenarius, fathered Celebras and several dryads. Jealous of his brother's offspring, Zaetar mated with an Earth Elemental named Princess Theradras. From that unholy love were born the chaotic, misshapen centaurs.

Another legend passed down by night elves, claims that centaurs are the children of one of Cenarius' first three children. According to this legend, Cenarius first three children were, "the centaur", "the dryad", and "the keeper of the grove"(likely Zaetar). His bastard son, the centaur, turned on him out of jealousy of his siblings beauty, and was forever punished by his father. The centaur left and his children formed tribes of centaur of their own, which may include the race centaur found in the Eastern Kingdoms and the tribe Krenka.

While some contend that Cenarius had only two sons, others argue that is not the case. See: Keepers of the Grove: Parentage, Son of Cenarius, Daughter of Cenarius, Krenka, and Centaur (Eastern Kingdoms).

The Evolution of the Aqir

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The Evolution of the Aqir

The Aqir were intelligent insectoids. C'Thun created the avatars (later known as Qiraji) in his own image from the Silithid, that ruled the lands of western Kalimdor during the time of the Amani and Gurubashi Empires. They were greatly expansionistic and incredibly evil. They fought against the trolls for thousands of years but were eventually defeated and split into two city-states: Azjol-Nerub and Ahn'Qiraj.

The Nerubians are the descendants of the Aqir that fled to Azjol-Nerub. These spider-like humanoids reigned on the continent of Northrend until the War of the Spider, when they were tragically defeated by the Scourge and many were turned into undead Crypt Fiends. However, the Lich King was so impressed by their tenacity that he adopted their architecture for the Scourge, a silent tribute of sorts to the mighty warrior-race. There are still a few Nerubians on Northrend, waging guerrilla warfare on the Scourge, but it is unknown whether this resistance has any kind of centralized command.

The Qiraji are the descendants that fled to Ahn'Qiraj. The Qiraji evolved in many different ways, resulting in a caste system in their society. The Qiraji waged the War of the Shifting Sands against the Night Elves for many years before the elves, with the aid of the Bronze Dragonflight, trapped the Qiraji behind the Scarab Wall. Now, 1,000 years later, the Alliance and the Horde have reopened the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj to make sure the Qiraji don't rise up again.

One theory is that the avatars C'Thun created from the Silithid were the Aqir, with the Qiraji and Nerubians later splitting off and evolving differently. Another is that the Silithid and Aqir are in fact one in the same, but its often dismissed due to the an argument of intelligence, despite evidence to support it. Neither have yet to be confirmed by Blizzard and are both merely speculative history for the races.

Corrupted species

Some corrupted species

Strong demons - the heroes of their kind - can corrupt individuals, tribes, or even whole species.

While not all the corrupted species were created in this way, the majority were created by demons or the use of demonic magics.

Night Elves were turned into Satyr by the Burning Legion, and then by Xavius, first Satyr. They are transformed by will, unlike other corrupt races, by giving themselves over to the Legion for power.

Fel Orcs are created in much the same manner as Satyr, by a willful obedience or being tricked into service to the Legion. They, however, are not transformed, only given a bloodrage unnatural to their race. This happens from the drinking of a Pit Lord's blood, or perhaps any demons blood.

The Scourge is a corruption of Humans by the Plague of Undeath, created by the Lich King. The Forsaken broke away from the Scourge through the intervention of Sylvanas Windrunner.

The two-headed ogres were originally the elite guards of Gul'dan. He turned these ogres into ogre-magi using the High Elves runes at Caer Darrow by re-forming them into the Altar of Storms. He then used the altars to infuse the two-headed ogres (them being inherently slightly smarter than their one-headed brethren) with demonic energies enabling them to wield magics.

The Mur'gul are a tribe of Murloc from deep in the Maelstrom. Unlike their cousins, however, they were taken over by the empire of Nazjatar, the Naga. Either corrupted from their slavery, or their proximity to an Old God, they are now no longer the Murlocs they once were.

Corrupted Treants and Ancients are caused by the corruption in the land, created by the Burning Legion in their invasion. This changed not only the land, but nearly all inhabitants in it, as well.

Eredar Lineage

Draenei become Broken and then Lost Ones under demonic influence.

Eredar physiology has been shaped by demonic influences over the course of the many eons since Sargeras first encountered their race. When the Dark Titan approached the Eredar, the majority chose to develop their already-substantial magical gifts by joining the Burning Crusade. The demonic eredar, called the man'ari (eredun for "wrong" or "twisted"), have since developed into powerful warlocks and wrathguards.

Only those who followed the Prophet Velen and the naaru refused to join the Burning Legion, escaping from their homeworld Argus in an interdimensional transport made of a single huge diamond (now Osha'gun, in Nagrand). The transport crashed into a planet inhabited by primitive orcs, ogres, and arakkoa. These eredar named themselves the draenei ("exiles") and their new home, Draenor.

After generations of peace, Kil'jaeden and Burning Legion rediscovered the draenei. The Burning Legion used corrupted orcs to all but wipe out the draenei race. While those who survived the attacks on Karabor and Shattrath were in hiding, it was discovered that some of the draenei had been corrupted by their contact with the demonic energies of the fel orcs, causing them to mutate physically and mentally. Unable to feel the touch of the Light, the krokul ("broken") draenei were initially shunned by the unaffected draenei. Some of the Broken continued to devolve - these pitiful beings are known as the Lost Ones, and are now barely sentient.

Draenei player characters are unaffected draenei, who escaped from Draenor with Velen after taking back one wing of Tempest Keep, the Exodar, from Prince Kael'thas and his blood elves.

Evolution of Ogres

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Evolution of Ogres

Supposedly, the Ogre race started as an offspring of the Seven Gronn, the giant Ogre Gods. The early Ogres looked like Ogre Lords, giant, cyclopean creatures with bony, calcified protrusions, smart and powerful. From these came regular Ogres, more humanoid in shape, two-eyed, smaller, not as smart, generally inferior to Ogre Lords.

As the Ogres lived on the same world as the Orcs, a new race would appear that was the result of a union between the two races: the Mok'Nathal. The Mok'Nathal were powerful warriors and are revered amongst the Orcs, but shunned by the Ogres. The Gronn are angered by any Ogre half-breed, finding them an impurity in their bloodline.

Another branch of the Ogres are the two-headed variety. These were created by the orc warlock Gul'dan. Two-headed ogres were held in high regard by their single-headed brethren, and often held positions of great importance, such as the tribe's Shaman. Also, due to the added intelligence of having two heads, the two-headed ogres have an easier time grasping and controlling magic.