The Blood Elf in Forsaken Territory: An Experience in WoW

I've had a lot of characters in World of Warcraft over the years. I love the storytelling and arcs in the game, and have played through all of the zones more times than I'll admit. Nowadays I fangirl over the wondrous character that is Vindicator Yrel and how perfect and awesome she is, but I want to bring it back a little bit for this blog. Let me tell you about the time that I really immersed myself in my character.

It was years ago, though I can't remember how many. It was post-Cataclysm for sure, because I really wanted to try the new Forsaken starting storyline after hearing so many positive things about it (and how badass Sylvanas is, because honestly). The problem was that I really didn't want to play as a Forsaken, I'm just not a fan of how they look (for my own characters, at least). I decided to make a blood elf (shadow) priest, Faerin. On my long trek from Eversong Woods to Tirisfal Glades, I had plenty of time to think. And what better to think about than why my blood elf was living among the Forsaken and helping them complete their goals? Why was she spreading the plague?

Faerin's parents were part of the Argent Crusade. Their duties started near the blood elf capital of Silvermoon City, where a stretch of land called the Dead Scar, full of undead, was causing strife for the nearby people. Throughout their travels they fought off many undead monsters, protecting many innocent lives across the land. But at one point they came across the Forsaken, and their lives were changed. These people weren’t trying to destroy the living, they were a free-thinking people following one leader who just wanted to survive. They fought and died for their brothers and sisters, their leader, and for the Horde that protected them. But when they died, there were no young Forsaken who could grow up and take their place. This blood elf couple decided to leave the Argent Crusade, and help these people who needed help so badly. They began to learn alchemy, supporting the Forsaken goal to try to save their people. They settled down in the Forsaken village of Deathknell, and began to help the suffering people come to terms with their lives and existence. When their daughter, my character, was born, she was raised amongst the undead and nurtured a deep connection to their cause. She dabbled in magic and was trained as a shadow priestess. Her goal became that of many Forsaken: the survival of the race. She was accepted as one of their own.

I absolutely adored Faerin. I felt so connected to her and the story and the environment I was in. She became a character with a personality who made her own decisions and turned down quests she didn't agree with. She was going to help lead the Forsaken to a better life, and there was nothing that could stop her.

That is, until level 35.

At this point, I faced a dilemma. To continue questing, I would have to help the Argent Crusade. I knew the Argent Crusade was against the new plague that Faerin was helping the Forsaken develop to save their people, and that the tension between them and Sylvanas could be cut with a knife. I couldn't bring myself to help the people who were working against my character's goals. How could she help eradicate and stop a plague that would save the people she grew up among and loved, a plague that would give them ordinary lives? I thought that maybe I could just level for a while through dungeons, then return to the undead storyline afterward. However, a quick google search told me that there were no more specific undead storylines until level 70. At that point, I became disenchanted and sadly had to retire Faerin.

I realize I should be thankful for being able to follow the Forsaken storyline for 35 whole levels, but I can't say I didn't wish there was more. As a designer I totally understand that WoW is a giant game with a huge kitty of lore to pull from and use, and that having full continuous storylines for even levels 1 - 60 for each starting storyline just isn't realistic, and doesn't really fit with the theme. But Faerin resonated with me more than any character before, and putting her down is still sad after so many years. But she lives on in my heart, and I get to tell the story of my plague-spreading blood elf whenever I discuss World of Warcraft storylines with friends and peers.

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