The War of the Ancients: the First Invasion of the Burning Legion
Vanilla WoW Classic 1.12 · x5 realm · wowx5.ru
The War of the Ancients is the earliest great event in the history of Azeroth, taking place roughly 10,000 years before the opening of the Dark Portal. It was then that the Burning Legion first tried to devour the world, and the young civilization of night elves rose to defend it.
Echoes of this war are found all over WoW Classic: Moonglade, Teldrassil and the legends of the druids are all a legacy of the age of the Ancients.
The night elf empire
Back then the whole supercontinent was called Kalimdor, and at its heart shone the Well of Eternity — a fount of pure magic. Around it Queen Azshara and her Highborne courtiers built a dazzling empire. But limitless power corrupted the nobility: drawing greedily from the Well, they attracted the attention of a dark titan.
Sargeras and the opening of the portal
The fallen titan Sargeras, lord of the Burning Legion, heard the call of the Well's magic. Through his servants he seduced Azshara with the promise of godlike power. The Highborne began to open a portal to admit Sargeras into the world. Demons poured through first, led by Archimonde and Mannoroth — and the cities of Kalimdor burned.
Resistance and heroes
Salvation came not from the nobility but from the common peoples. The young druid Malfurion Stormrage, the priestess of Elune Tyrande Whisperwind, and the ambitious mage Illidan raised a rebellion. They were joined by the demigod Cenarius, the dragon Aspects led by Alexstrasza and Nozdormu, and the earthen giants. It was then that the black Aspect Neltharion (the future Deathwing) betrayed his allies with his Dragon Soul.
| Hero | Role in the war |
|---|---|
| Malfurion | First mortal druid, leader of the resistance |
| Tyrande | High Priestess of Elune |
| Illidan | Mage who desperately created a new Well |
| Cenarius | Forest demigod, mentor of the druids |
| Azshara | Traitor queen who let in the Legion |
The price of victory
To stop the invasion, the heroes destroyed the Well of Eternity. The portal collapsed, Archimonde was cast out and the Legion driven off — but the released energy caused the Sundering. Azshara and her court, swallowed by the deep, were reborn as serpentine naga. So ended the first chapter of history and a new age began.
Want to walk the path of those heroes' heirs? Join WowX5 x5 and choose a night elf druid to continue the legend of Malfurion.
FAQ
When did the War of the Ancients happen?
About 10,000 years before the opening of the Dark Portal — the earliest of the great events known in Warcraft lore of the Vanilla era.
Who caused the first Legion invasion?
The night elf queen Azshara and her Highborne opened the way for the demons, seeking to admit the fallen titan Sargeras into the world through the Well of Eternity.
How did the War of the Ancients end?
At the cost of destroying the Well of Eternity the demons were driven out, but the blast of energy caused the Sundering, which shattered the continent of Kalimdor.