Worgen
| Worgen | |
|---|---|
| {{#if:Worgen.PNG|[[File:Worgen.PNG{{#ifeq:{{{resizing}}}|no|||200px}}]]}} | |
| Faction/Affiliation | Independent, Sons of Arugal, Lupine Coven |
| Racial leader(s) |
{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:worgen
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=Worgen}}{{#if:|_{{{2}}}}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Father Lycan |
| Homeworld | Vorgendor |
| Area(s) | Ashenvale, Silverpine Forest, Duskwood, Gilneas |
| Language(s) | Unknown |
| {{#if:|Sources: }} | |
Worgen are large, wolf-like creatures that inhabit and hunt in darkened forests throughout the Eastern Kingdoms, such as Duskwood and Silverpine Forest. Nightmarish beings of legend, worgen originate from a world nestled far within the Dark Beyond, Vorgendor, and much of their nature is shrouded in mystery.
History
Early history
Originally, the worgen were Elune's favored children, created to serve as guardians against the encroaching darkness. Their blood was said to be as pure as the water of the night elves' moonwells and they were deeply connected to Elune. However, use of blood magic rose amongst their ranks in a desperate attempt to fend off the demonic forces of the Burning Legion that sought to consume their world, corrupting their noble heritage. Despite turning to the use of dark magic, the worgen have been fighting a losing battle against the lords of the Emerald Flame.<ref name="Vorgendor">Vorgendor: Myths from the Blood Dimension</ref> The masters of blood magic, pricoliches, rose to power and sealed away the Scythe of Elune to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.<ref name="Wolfblood">{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] .png){kind=small}
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[60] Wisdom of Ur</ref>
During the reign of the Kaldorei Empire, Queen Azshara and the highborne delved into forbidden arts, opening portals to realms such as the worgen's home-world of Vorgendor.<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [60R] Scythe of the Goddess (6)</ref>
Ur's research
The wizard Ur of Dalaran studied the worgen sometime before the fall of Dalaran, ascertaining their existence beyond mere myth. Ur maintained that the worgen lived in a different world than Azeroth; a dark, brutal world of nightmare and shadow, where the lupine beings had full domain over the land. Concerningly, Ur discovered that the worgen could be summoned from this plane through dark rituals. He recorded his findings in two volumes of the eponymous "Book of Ur"<ref>The Book of Ur</ref><ref>Book of Ur: Volume Two</ref> and "Vorgendor: Myths from the Blood Dimension", the first volume of the former which would later fall into the possession of the mage Arugal<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [26D] The Book of Ur</ref> and the second volume having been found in the libraries of Gilneas City.<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [45D] Ravencroft's Ambition</ref> A copy of the second fell into the hands of Nefarian, lord of Blackrock and head of the Black dragonflight, but had been damaged beyond use; a second copy of "Vorgendor: Myths from the Blood Dimension" was found within the expansive libraries of Medivh, the Last Guardian of Tirisfal.
Ur's research led to him personally delving into the realm of Vorgendor at the risk of both his life and sanity, beholding their heavens. He discovered that the worgen once held the Moon in reverence akin ao elves of yore, and that they spoke of a blue moon that once "danced across their skies". In Vorgendor, however, he saw not a tranquil blue, but a blood-red moon that cast a crimson pall over their world. Through fortune, he was able to communicate with one of their blood mages, who made him privy to a prophecy about the return of their Moon Goddess heralding their salvation. The prophecy foretold a day where the Blue Moon would return, opening a gateway to a new realm untouched by the Emerald Flame, where the worgen might thrive anew.<ref name="Vorgendor" />
The Third War
During the Third War, Archmage Arugal summoned forth worgen in order to combat the onslaught of Scourge assailing Dalaran. Using the Book of Ur, Arugal succeeded in calling forth the worgen, and initially the plan was a resounding success. It soon became clear, however, that the beasts could not be controlled, and the worgen soon turned on their masters. Having been driven mad with guilt, Arugal retreated to Shadowfang Keep, where he began to see the beasts he summoned as his children. The maddened wizard would go on to curse the inhabitants of nearby Pyrewood Village with enchanted shackles, whereby they would transform into worgen every nightfall.<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [27D] Arugal's Folly</ref><ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:horde|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [15] Arugal's Folly</ref>
Around this time, the kaldorei priestess Velinde Starsong was tasked with cleansing Felwood of the demons who dwelled there. Seeking a means to uproot the Burning Legion remnants without further night elf casualties, she prayed to Elune for an answer. Seemingly guided by the goddess, Velinde discovered an ancient artifact called the Scythe of Elune. With it, the priestess was able to tap into the dimension of the wolf-men and summoned them to Azeroth to combat the Legion.<ref name="VelindeJournal" /> In truth, a pricolich had discovered the world of Azeroth and saw an opportunity to expand his influence, and the Scythe was gifted to Velinde through a grand deception in which she believed it was a gift from Elune herself. With the Scythe in hand, Velinde summoned the worgen to Azeroth - and initially, they fought valiantly against the demonic forces of the Burning Legion, their centuries of combat experience making them formidable allies. However, the pricoliches' influence over the worgen was absolute, turning their servants into mindless and obedient soldiers with no sense of self. Though initially concealed beneath layers of enchantments, the pricoliches began to reassert their dominion over their servants, culminating in the arrival of a pricolich in Azeroth.<ref name="Wolfblood" /> Velinde soon lost control of the pack and realized that the worgen were multiplying rapidly.<ref name="VelindeJournal">Velinde's Journal</ref>
Desperately seeking a way to fix this, Velinde read many tomes from the libraries of Darnassus and even spoke to the Circle of Ancients themselves, who seemed to be unaware of the worgen's existence. Hearing rumors of Arugal's similar feats, Velinde traveled to the Eastern Kingdoms in hopes of consulting with the wizard, but perished in Duskwood before she could complete her mission. The Scythe was lost for a time before being re-discovered by Jitters, who accidentally summoned a pack of worgen to Duskwood. The worgen would go on to populate the haunted forest and harass the citizens of Darkshire.<ref name="VelindeJournal" /><ref>Jitters' Completed Journal</ref>
World of Warcraft
With the return of the Blue Child in the skies of Azeroth, the prophecy as told to Ur of the coming of the worgen was heralded. Two pricoliches, Keeper Gnarlmoon and Father Lycan, infiltrated Azeroth to advance their plans and open a portal to Vorgendor. Keeper Gnarlmoon was summoned to Azeroth by his minions and took refuge within the Tower of Karazhan, whereas Father Lycan crossed the bridge to Azeroth in Silverpine Forest and then crawled over the Greymane Wall into the human nation of Gilneas, which had fallen under the control of the black dragonspawn under the guise of the human nobles Celia and Mortimer Harlow. After they lost contact with Deathwing, their regime as Regent-Lords of Gilneas had gone to a crawl until Father Lycan introduced himself to them in the middle of the night, offering them power and purpose in exchange for an alliance.<ref>Celia's Journal</ref>
By the events of the Gilnean civil war, the Bloodclaw and Nighthowl worgen packs had infested Gilneas through Oldrock Pass, and the Darkpelt pack led by Packmaster Ragetooth had even breached the capital city of Gilneas City.
Moranna Rosenberg, an erstwhile apprentice of Arugal, has since established a small cult in Hollow Web Cemetary, where she and her followers have willingly infected themselves with the worgen curse in an attempt to "…seek power and healthiness beyond what the human body is capable of."<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] Vilest of Men</ref> They had yet to test the curse on races other than humans and dwarves, but unlike Arugal they were not so depraved as to force it upon those unwilling.<ref>Moranna Rosenberg#Quotes</ref>
References
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