Recent History

The Third War

The night elves had no part in the First or Second War, and they were never in the Alliance of Lordaeron. The Third War was their first contact with anyone from the Eastern Kingdoms. It started badly.

When Thrall's orcs started logging in Ashenvale, the night elves attacked them. The Warsong clan under Grom Hellscream fought back, and the demigod Cenarius was drawn in. Mannoroth then corrupted a pool of water, and Grom drank from it to defeat Cenarius. It was the same curse that had corrupted the orcs, and it was soon lifted [WCIII].

Then the Legion arrived. Archimonde confronted Tyrande, and she knew this was no ordinary invasion. She woke Malfurion with the Horn of Cenarius, the druids woke from their sleep in the Barrow Deeps, and Illidan was freed from his prison. He took the skull of Gul'dan, and Malfurion banished him for it [WCIII].

The Battle of Mount Hyjal

Humans under Jaina, orcs under Thrall, and the night elves held Mount Hyjal together. Archimonde destroyed the human and orc bases, and he reached Nordrassil... then the forest spirits turned on him. Nordrassil was destroyed, and Archimonde with it [WCIII].

The price was high. Without Nordrassil, the night elves lost their immortality. They are mortal now, just like the orcs and humans they fought beside [WCIII].

Teldrassil

The night elves wanted what they had lost. So a great tree, Teldrassil, was planted to restore their immortality. Its work is not finished, and the night elves are still mortal [Game · Quest: Teldrassil]. Sickness has begun to taint the forests of Teldrassil and the rivers of Darkshore [Game · Quest: Destiny Calls].

The Alliance Today

The night elves stand with the Alliance now. In Ashenvale and Stonetalon, their Sentinels are still fighting the Horde [Game · Quest: Reception from Tyrande].