Using History as a Mirror to Understand Rise and Fall

The Night Elves originally called themselves "Kaldorei," meaning "Children of the Stars." As nocturnal creatures living in a region declared forbidden by the Loa, they remained undiscovered by the Zandalari Trolls until they emerged from those lands wielding a power known as the arcane.

The Kaldorei worshipped the moon in the night sky, the White Lady. While the Tauren called this moon Mu'sha, the Kaldorei called her Elune. Because the Kaldorei formed partnerships with powerful Loa and physically resembled trolls, the Zandalari chose to ignore them rather than target them.

Due to this Zandalari indifference, the Kaldorei developed rapidly. Their leader, Azshara, gained the unanimous approval of her people for constructing the city of Zin-Azshari, dedicated to Elune, and became the sole Empress of the Night Elves.

After becoming Empress, Azshara continued to expand her people's reach. Beyond Zin-Azshari, they built the glorious city of Suramar, the fertile city of Zin-Malor, the northern city of Shandara, the hidden mountain city of Eldre'Thalas, and the imperial capital, Elun'dris, located within the forbidden lands.

Seemingly obsessed with construction, the Kaldorei built cities everywhere. Their influence across the continent expanded so rapidly that the Zandalari could no longer ignore them. They organized a massive army to attack the Kaldorei, but the troll forces were routed by the frenzied arcane power and the severing of their supply lines.

The failure of the war caused the Amani and Gurubashi to break away from the Zandalari. Meanwhile, the Kaldorei extended an olive branch to the Pandaren who were resisting the Mogu Empire. The two formed an alliance, and under this coalition, the Mogu Empire nearly collapsed.

Facing the rising Kaldorei Empire, the Mogu and the Zandalari Trolls were forced to join hands. The Mogu Empire offered the Zandalari a share of the land, and the Zandalari accepted. They dispatched Raptor cavalry to help the Mogu Empire suppress the Pandaren, but the army was ultimately defeated by the Pandaren's Cloud Serpent Riders.

Repeated military failures caused the Zandalari to lose their credibility, and their alliance with the Mogu Empire shattered. Simultaneously, the Kaldorei Empire began an even larger expansion, threatening the holy mountain of Zuldazar.

Faced with the Kaldorei threat, the Zandalari Trolls, though at a disadvantage, put up a desperate resistance. The war lasted a long time, eventually ending when the Zandalari Trolls, unable to resist further, sent envoys to the Kaldorei capital of Elun'dris, a place they had never visited before.

Inside the former forbidden land—now the capital of the Kaldorei Empire, Elun'dris—the Zandalari envoys witnessed a miracle they had never seen: a lake known as the Well of Eternity, a massive body of water radiating energy, and a magnificent city built beside it that rivaled Zuldazar.

Kaldorei leader Azshara ultimately accepted the Zandalari's plea for peace, not because of their stubborn resistance, but because she did not want to waste time on the war. She allowed the Zandalari holy mountain to remain, provided all trolls ceased their harassment of the Kaldorei. The Zandalari accepted this humiliating agreement.

Although the agreement was shameful, it at least bought them a chance to breathe. Though defeated, the Zandalari Trolls developed a keen interest in the Kaldorei and conducted research, eventually concluding that the Kaldorei were merely the most primitive and savage of the Dark Trolls.

Because the Dark Trolls were savage, they ignored the words of the Loa, broke into the forbidden lands that other trolls dared not enter, underwent transformation by the energy of the Well of Eternity, changed their faith, and became the Kaldorei—the Night Elves.

Though the Zandalari were adamant, the Night Elves scoffed at this theory, claiming it was nothing more than self-consolation by the Zandalari Trolls. Tian Sang knew that the Night Elves were indeed once Dark Trolls, but the Zandalari's self-consolation was not entirely false, for the Zandalari never rose to prominence again.

After repeated setbacks, the Zandalari began a downward spiral. They no longer sought to return to their peak or reach new heights, instead allowing their caste system to grow rigid until the Kaldorei accidentally summoned the Burning Legion to this world.

To resist the Burning Legion, the Kaldorei detonated the Well of Eternity. The Ancient Kalimdor Continent shattered as a result. The Zandalari Trolls did not appear during this war; instead, warned by the Loa, they used a magical barrier to shroud the land of Zuldazar, preventing it from sinking and turning it into an island instead.

After the catastrophe of The Sundering, the Zandalari Trolls remained dormant but were not entirely inactive. They helped the Gurubashi Empire successfully resist the Blood God Hakkar and assisted the Forest Trolls against the coalition of humans and High Elves—though they failed, that was due to the recklessness of the Forest Trolls themselves.

Beyond maintaining their status among their own kind, the Zandalari discovered Kezan and enslaved the Goblins there to mine ore. However, the Goblins were influenced by the energy of the ore, becoming clever and cunning, developing machines and bombs, and eventually breaking free from Zandalari slavery.

The history recorded by the Zandalari had some gaps and blurred sections, but this cohesive history was enough to serve as a mirror. Combining it with his knowledge of Earth's politics, Tian Sang carefully absorbed the lessons within.

After finishing his general study of history, Lal taught Tian Sang various voodoo and spiritual knowledge, as well as the traditions of the Zandalari Trolls. Of course, this smiling Witch Doctor priest often mixed his own personal biases into the knowledge he imparted—well, perhaps not biases, but rather his own genuine beliefs.

If Tian Sang had been a native troll, he might not have been able to resist the brainwashing that trolls are noble and the Zandalari are great. But unfortunately, he was a transmigrator, and the reality he saw was that noble Forest Trolls went hungry and the great Zandalari still practiced cannibalism.

The history recorded by the Zandalari was magnificent and their culture brilliant. Tian Sang admired these things greatly, but he did not believe he should abandon his own values to fully embrace the troll lifestyle. That was incorrect; he had to live as his true self, and seeking truth from facts was the only standard.

Seven years after the opening of the Dark Portal passed quickly. During this year, Tian Sang cut off all contact with the outside world on the island of Zuldazar, immersing himself completely in various studies, concocting potions and medicinal wines, sensing the power of hexes and shadows, and learning how to communicate with the spirits and apply their power.

In his spare time, Tian Sang did not forget his companions. He frequently met with Malacrass, Haimuxi, and others who were also studying in Zuldazar, visiting their places of study and making friends with locals, such as Talanji, a follower of the Raptor Loa Gonkk and a female troll who hoped to promote Druidic culture.

Talanji was a very independent female troll, which was rare in the male-dominated troll society. Of course, this was also related to the strong personality of the current Zandalari crown prince, Rastakhan, and his only daughter, the high priestess of the Rezan.