The Holes in Draenei Lore
by Elizabeth Harper 
May 12th 2006 at 8:00AM
Some Warcraft purists question the recently released history of the new Draenei race - which is very different from the Draenei in existing Warcraft lore. How did the primitive, shamanistic Draenei of previous Warcraft games turn into the Burning Crusade's Draenei, whom we see are oriented towards arcane magic, and more interestingly, the Light. CM Tseric has chimed in on the discussion, saying that there will be additional clarification after E3. Considering the existing contradictions, I'm quite curious to see what we hear on the matter after E3 wraps up.[Thanks, Silvertusk]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris S. May 12th 2006 11:11AM
Actually, it's my understanding that the Burning Crusade Draenai came first. Only after the invasion of Draenor by the Burning Legion and the enslavement of the Orcs did some of the Draenai mutate into the primative, shamanistic Draenai(funny thing how a world war changes your life, i.e. Mad Max). Some of the "pure" Draenai escaped into the multiverse by use of ships, and remain true Draenai. Just my read on the story...
Peter Chernoff May 12th 2006 12:59PM
By suggesting that some of them mutated into more primitive forms, that goes hand in hand with suggesting the originals were *less* primitive. Not only that but as we all know exposure to allies (think elves teaching man about magic) leads to cultural melding. This leads to the simple observation that yes, the Draenai DO fit in.
Tom May 12th 2006 1:18PM
Both comments miss the point of the inconsistency in the lore. Its not about the looks, or mutations its about the history of the race. Original lore has them eveil pre sargeras and pre burning crusade and lists them as one of the major factors in turning sarg evil. The new lore has them peacefull friendly folk until an already evil sarg corrupts them. Theres other major holes but thats my understanding of the big one.
elizabeth May 12th 2006 3:43PM
Thanks for the clarification, Tom. I'm not fully familiar with the world's lore myself, so I'm pulling this from bits and pieces found on the forums. If any other lore buffs could enlighten us, it would be most welcome! :)
HeartoftheHorde May 12th 2006 7:58PM
The three major problems with the lore are:
1. That the new story says Sargaras corrupted the peaceful Eredar instead of evil Eredar pushing Sargaras over the edge. Not much of a huge change, but still a significant difference.
2. The Naaru, a race blessing the Dranei with the powers of the Light (i.e. Paladins) when the primitive Dranei were supposed to always have been shamanistic, although that too can be explained by somehow clarifiying that these "pure" Dranei were somehow set apart from their primitive versions.
3. Where do dimensional jumping space ships fit into Warcraft and how would the Blood Elves have sabotaged one?
Peter Chernoff May 12th 2006 10:14PM
"Original lore has them eveil pre sargeras and pre burning crusade and lists them as one of the major factors in turning sarg evil. " Incorrect- Blizzard filles in the missing links quite effectively with the extra wisp backstory about how they were originally created.
Tom May 13th 2006 4:13AM
"Incorrect- Blizzard filles in the missing links quite effectively with the extra wisp backstory about how they were originally created." Please reference me to the "extra wisp backstory" I have not run across this as wisps are natives to Azeroth. Checkout http://www.wowwiki.com/Sargeras_and_the_Betrayal for the lore that is inconsistent regarding Sargeras and his first encounter with the Draenor. A rampaging group of demons that corrupt sargeras and a peaceful culturally advanced society corrupted by an already evil sargeras are two totally different things. The WoW general forums also contain some good discussion on the damage done to the lore regarding the Eradar. And the wowwiki page refrenced is true to the Official History published by Blizzard just don't have that link handy.
Dr. Woo May 13th 2006 1:59PM
Okay, here's the deal.
Sargeras was a titan, one of the original creators of the universe in WarCraft lore. He was the leader of the Pantheon, the "brute force" of the Titans that kept order in the cosmos. The Eredar and the Nathrezim were the two malicious races who sought to destroy/enslave all life. Sargeras defeated these races multiple times with ease, but their continued evil weighed heavily on his mind and caused him to enter a depression which eventually consumed him.
The now-corrupted Sargeras released the imprisoned Eredar, enlisting them to a new cause of even greater evil, and chose Archimonde and Kil'jaeden as his champions, who were the most powerful of the Eredar.
This new version has an evil Sargeras coming across the peaceful Eredar and tempting them with power. Kil'jaeden and Archimonde take him up on his offer, and a brand-new leader is the only one who refuses. He takes a bunch of Eredar and leaves, calling them the Draenei.
The point is, they didn't HAVE to change the lore like they did. It could just as easily have been a sect of Eredar who were converted by the good Sargeras, or a group of Eredar who grew upset about their brethren's evil and left before they were enlisted under the evil Sargeras' aid.