Night Elves have been a part of the Warcraft universe since Warcraft 3, they usually’re the supply of all elf-kind. They’re some of the widespread factions in World of Warcraft, they usually have a wealthy historical past and tons of lore for followers to peruse and discover. But the faction has additionally been dealt a tough hand in previous years, because the civilization has struggled to keep up a house within the turbulent world of Azeroth.

With the Dragonflight growth at the moment in alpha, followers are looking forward to a greater final result for the Night Elves. But lately data-mined textual content from the Dragonflight alpha has despatched ripples by way of the fandom, because it suggests there is perhaps extra tragedy forward. Namely, that Malfurion Stormrage could also be placed on a metaphysical bus to the Shadowlands, separating him — once more! — from his love, Tyrande Whisperwind. The two haven’t had a lot peace or precise character growth collectively — and they won’t, if the story at the moment on take a look at realms involves move.

The story is, after all, topic to vary; as a result of it’s in alpha, nothing is ready in stone. And a bunch of passionate followers have taken to social media to share their love for the Night Elves in hopes that they might help mild a brighter path for his or her beloved characters.

Ammatice, a Russian artist, began #MightofNightElves on Twitter in an try and rally assist for the faction. And followers have been utilizing the hashtag to share fan artwork and spectacular cosplay. “I started to play back in 2008 when my brother set the Burning Crusade expansion,” Ammatice instructed Polygon through Twitter messages. “I still remember that moment when I saw Teldrassil with the music playing in the background.”

Ammatice was drawn to the attractive elves and their magic forest creatures, and it impressed her to create fan artwork of the faction. “It’s amazing how Night Elves consist of different ideas,” she stated. “The architecture and lifestyle that combines both ancient Greece and Asian styles, cult of Goddess and Nature, an Amazon-like army of Sentinels, special detachments of Wardens, aristocrats obsessed with magic and power. So many amazing ideas, sometimes opposite, that combine perfectly with one another.”

Drekky, a Russian artist and Night Elf fan, additionally shared their appreciation with Polygon. “Meeting the Night Elves in Warcraft 3 made me fall in love with them instantly!” they stated by way of Twitter messages. “They incorporated everything I love about fantasy races, with their whimsical forests, a mix of arcane and druidic magic, and an interesting matriarchal society, something I was never expecting to see back then. I spent hours and hours playing Night Elves back in those days, playing out my own RP scenarios of glorious Kaldorei and their animal friends.”

For these followers, watching the Night Elves’ story advance by way of World of Warcraft has had highs and lows. The Burning of Teldrassil was a disastrous low; the story occasion included the genocide of the Night Elf folks and the torching of their World Tree house, and it was largely depicted by way of the eyes of the perpetrators. There has been no actual justice for Teldrassil, and up to date knowledge mine means that the Night Elves is perhaps seeing extra losses sooner or later. While all alpha content material is topic to vary, some gamers are pessimistic.

“Shadowlands left off on the note of renewal, and it’s where I expected the story to go — a time of peace and restoration for the night elf kind,” says Lemongrace, an artist and participant within the World of Warcraft neighborhood. “Instead we are almost taunted with more losses. Legion was when the night elf content hit its peak for me, and while some decisions made back then were discussed at length in the night elf communities, I still think it was a treat to play through it as a nelf [Night Elf] player. To say it’s been downhill from there is putting it kindly.”

“I want Blizzard to appreciate this whimsical race of magical and feral matriarchal elves, full of different cultures and love for nature, something that drew together so many queers, women and POC!” writes Drekky. “I want Blizzard to love and cherish them, sharing some of that love in the game for once since Warcraft III.”

Lemongrass, and others who’re sharing art work by way of #MightofNightElves, agrees. As she places it, “Many of the night elf players I’ve met throughout my journey in WoW have been some of the most passionate people with deep connection to their characters and the story, and that the race they created has inspired so much creative works and enchanted people for years — this I love about the night elves and the nelf community. I only wish that they would share this passion with us and listen to feedback regarding the story’s direction.”