Emerald Dream Lore Books in 10.2 - Eonar & Elune, the Very First World Tree, and the Nature of the Dream Itself

PTR Posted 2023/10/05 at 11:28 PM by DiscordianKitty

The Legend of Elun'Ahir

Page 1

As we gather to defend Amirdrassil, we cannot help but recall the tragic fates of world trees past.
Those lost to sacrifice. To corruption. To flame.
Yet there is an ancient tale--some claim it merely a legend--that tells of an earlier world tree that also met a sorrowful fate. Though it lived only a short time. its legacy endures.

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Long before the first dragons drew breath, Azeroth was conquered by writhing horrors that plummeted from the skies and infested our world.
The Old Gods.
How long the reign of their Black Empire lasted, we cannot know. Surely it must have been a time of unimaginable suffering.
But at long last, there came hope.

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The brave titan Aggramar discovered Azeroth, shining like a beacon in the Great Dark.
As he gazed upon the beauty and power of its slumbering soul, he realized it was imperiled. He told the other members of the Pantheon how the world they sought had been corrupted by the Old Gods.
The titans gathered to eradicate this dark influence.

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Seeking to bring hope and healing, our patron titan, Eonar, carried a gift given to her by Elune--a branch of G'Hanir, the mother world tree.
The titan believed that the influence of Life would drive the darkness away.
So she reached down her hand and shaped the soil of Azeroth, planting the branch where it could be fed by river and sky.

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The branch swiftly grew into a tree, its roots extending deep, deep below the surface. Eonar smiled, for everywhere the roots stretched, new life emerged.
She called the tree Elun'Ahir, in honor of her great love.
When Aman'Thul saw what Eonar had done, he chided her. "This is not Order!" he bellowed. "You have infected this world with uncontrolled chaos!"
The Highfather took hold of the world tree's trunk and tore it from the earth.

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Eonar wept bitter tears that rained down upon the resulting crater.
But as she peered down upon the sundered earth, the titan realized a truth she did not share with the Highfather. Though he had destroyed the tree, its winding roots still held firm beneath the soil, hidden from Aman' Thul's gaze.

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As the forces of the titans waged war against the Black Empire, Eonar bid her keeper, Freya, to watch over the crater and nurture the life that blossomed there.
Below ground, the roots fed upon the tears of Eonar and grew strong.
The war was long, but in the end, the titans claimed victory, And Eonar was pleased. knowing Elune's legacy would endure.

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It is said that much later, as the world entered a new age, mysterious guardians arrived who dedicated their lives to protecting the roots.
But that is a tale for another time.
Now let us stand with our allies to defend Amirdrassil, crown of harmony, Together. we will preserve this symbol of hope. This symbol of the future.
On the Nature of the Dreamongoing trend throughout Dragonflight

Page 1

I have spent ages here within the Emerald Dream, exploring its reaches and basking in its tranquility. Yet the more I experience, the more what I perceive seems to be at odds with lessons taught to us by the titan keepers.
Thus I am compelled to share my feelings here. Not to stir discontent. or to claim my theories are immutable truths. but to encourage others to ponder these subjects for themselves.

Page 2

It has been said that the Dream was created by Keeper Freya, acting on behalf of her patron, Eonar. And yet. I have noticed that the titans' acolytes do not speak of something as "finished " until it has been ordered.
So did they truly create the Dream, or merely discover it, seeing its vibrancy as chaos to which they were compelled to bring structure?

Page 3

Seeking an answer, I have spoken to many spirits who inhabit the Dream. Dryads, ancients, grove keepers, and others. None of them tell of a titan creating the Dream.
Instead, they speak of the first spirits awakening long ago within its wilds, in lands as beautiful and free as they are today.
(Though I wonder, since time has so little meaning here, whether those born of the Dream truly think in terms of past or present.)

Page 4

We have also been told that the Dream is a sort of framework for life on Azeroth. And it is true that we can see reflections of our world within the Dream.
Yet while it is clear these realms share a bond, is one a copy of the other? Or might both be reflections, each informing the shape of its counterpart?

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Many times I have shrugged off the call of sleep and taken wing to explore the distant reaches of the Dream. The farther I flew, the greater the wonders I beheld.
Life took forms strange and unfamiliar. Bizarre, impossible plants and trees. Creatures unlike any I beheld before.
Perhaps the Dream is bound not only to Azeroth, but to realms not yet discovered. Is it a reflection of those places, too?

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At these far reaches, I felt the presence of entities whose power seemed vast and unknowable, akin to the titans themselves.
Had I reached the edges of the Dream where it flows into the Realms of Life? Are they one and the same? Truly, I cannot say, for as waves of joy and contentment washed over me, I could no longer resist the call of sleep.
I awoke back at the Eye of Ysera, wondering if I had experienced a dream within the Dream.

Page 7

It seems clear that the servants of the titans wish the Dream to stay unchanging--at least. unchanged by any hand but theirs.
Yet the very nature of life is one of change, is it not? Things are born, live, and die, but life itself goes on.
Perhaps life was never meant to be ordered. To be static and unchanging.

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The titans' servants do not seem to understand that Life and Death are sisters, bound together in a Great Cycle.
Do they not wish to see this truth? Or is it beyond their fundamental nature to perceive it?
If we dragons see it, then it can only mean that we are touched not just by Life and Order, but other forces as well.

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And if dragons are the product of powers great and small being eternally intertwined, then so must all mortals be.
Perhaps Azeroth herself was touched by all these forces. Or could she be their true source?
Some things are beyond knowing. Some things are meant only to be pondered... in dreams.
The Tragedy of Erinethria

Page 1

In the days when the kingdom of dragons was young, brave Erinethria's emerald wings soared above the clouds.
The fastest flier of her day, she feared no enemy. Nor would she back down from any challenge.
Alas, her courage would be her undoing.

Page 2

Erinethria had flown to the far corners of Kalimdor and back. She had witnessed wondrous sights, and loved to share stories of them with her kin.
Yet there came a day when Erinethria felt she had seen all there was to see of the world. She grew bored. Restless.

Page 3

Erinethria sought the wisdom of Keeper Tyr.
"Great keeper, is there any mystery left for me to discover? Any riddle yet to be solved?"
"Everything you need is here, child. What more could you want to see? What else could you seek to know?"

Page 4

As the dragon's brow furrowed, a cool wind blew in from the west.
"The breeze, great keeper. I wish to see the place from whence the winds are born."
Tyr grew solemn. "Beyond the Storming Sea lies only ruin. Stay close to home. Stay close to kin."

Page 5

Tyr's warning hung like a shadow over Erinethria's heart. It clashed again and again with her deep yearning for answers.
One bright morning, the green dragon bid farewell to her clutchmates.
"Fear not," she told them, "for I can fly higher than any storm. Faster than any thunder. And when I know from whence the west winds come. I shall return home and tell you all!"

Page 6

And with that, Erinethria soared into the sky.
Moons passed. And still more. Yet brave Erinethria did not return.
Even Ysera woke from her dreaming to aid in the search. But there was no sign to be found.

Page 7

Most believed that Erinethria was lost to the Storming Sea. That her mighty wings grew tired and torn by the harsh winds, and that she tumbled into the roiling waters.
But some greens claimed that they saw her in their dreams. That she reached a land beyond, where she raised a brood of her own.

Page 8

Surely, after all these ages, we must accept the truth of her loss. While we honor her courage. we must remember the wisdom she failed to heed.
Beyond the Storming Sea lies only ruin. Stay close to home. Stay close to kin.

Page 9

Beware. beware. the wind from the west, Its call holds only doom.
For if you take wing across storm and sea,
You shall share Erinethria's tomb.

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Comment by TehLucarioWell good to know they're setting up more land on Azeroth to explore.Comment by lostsouplooks like Elune and Eonar were roommatesComment by sheutThey physically cannot help themselves now, devaluing places like Nordrassil and it's significance by taking away it's position as the first (which Legion did by accident lmao) World Tree.

They simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. Not -every- magical tree is a world tree. G'hanir wasn't one. If anything, G'hanir is the one to give post-mortem hype to, both because evidence suggests Aviana is trying to remake it & because it's been a thing tied to the world trees as a progenitor since 2004, AND has also always been tied to Dragons since that novel because all winged things, including dragons, seek it in death.

Do literally anything with Malorne, Nordrassil, G'hanir, etc, places or entities already neglected in a world building level. Do -anything- with Elune that helps us understand her actual teachings or values or impact on the world in any way that actually matters. Show a SINGLE moon priestess showing off the religious fervor of wc3 Tyrande in battle when she said "Goddess, If we are to die, let us die with your name on our lips" and understand her impact on the cultural values of an entire race of people... ANY OF THAT is vastly more interesting than 'here's her sisters, here's her second lover, here's a tree tied to her a nebulous amount of years ago that was immediately killed..."

It seems clear that the servants of the titans wish the Dream to stay unchanging--at least. unchanged by any hand but theirs.Comment by bastlerReally enjoy the lore tidbits.Comment by TwoTastyTicTacsThey physically cannot help themselves now, devaluing places like Nordrassil and it's significance by taking away it's position as the first (which Legion did by accident lmao) World Tree.

They simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. Not -every- magical tree is a world tree. G'hanir wasn't one. If anything, G'hanir is the one to give post-mortem hype to, both because evidence suggests Aviana is trying to remake it & because it's been a thing tied to the world trees as a progenitor since 2004, AND has also always been tied to Dragons since that novel because all winged things, including dragons, seek it in death.Comment by SoeroahSeems to confirm a couple things about the Dream and adds a little more mystery to others, which is nice. Always love new ancient lore, so the idea that Un'Goro was originally the site of a world tree is interesting to me - it'd explain the waygate connecting Un'Goro to Sholazar Basin, it'd explain why it's a crater, and could explain why there's a volcano, if you rip up the roots that dug that deep.

I also like the idea that the Dream is more intended to be a blueprint of Azeroth than that it practically is one, and that the further one travels in it the stranger things become. If the Emerald Dream is Azeroth's dream, as seems to be implied, it makes sense it would tickle the edges of more planes than just Life and by extension Death.

Kinda sounds like the Titans may have sectioned off a dimension to use as a blueprint but in their absence it was subtly influenced by the Life and Death realms, as well as Azeroth's physical realm itself.

Someone also pointed out to me this could explain why Un'Goro Crater 'randomly' had a raid boss during the Emerald Nightmare raid.Comment by MiokoWe keep getting more Avaloren hints and I'm all here for it ! 😁Comment by sheutThey physically cannot help themselves now, devaluing places like Nordrassil and it's significance by taking away it's position as the first (which Legion did by accident lmao) World Tree.

They simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. Not -every- magical tree is a world tree. G'hanir wasn't one. If anything, G'hanir is the one to give post-mortem hype to, both because evidence suggests Aviana is trying to remake it & because it's been a thing tied to the world trees as a progenitor since 2004, AND has also always been tied to Dragons since that novel because all winged things, including dragons, seek it in death.Comment by SoeroahThey physically cannot help themselves now, devaluing places like Nordrassil and it's significance by taking away it's position as the first (which Legion did by accident lmao) World Tree.

They simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. Not -every- magical tree is a world tree. G'hanir wasn't one. If anything, G'hanir is the one to give post-mortem hype to, both because evidence suggests Aviana is trying to remake it & because it's been a thing tied to the world trees as a progenitor since 2004, AND has also always been tied to Dragons since that novel because all winged things, including dragons, seek it in death.Comment by ValkyrstudiosEonar - "I named this tree after my girlfriend!"
Aman'thul - "BURN IT!"
Every Other Titan - "Like dude..."Comment by WepstarOMG this is tasty! )

Hope there will be mentioned that Elune have created Night Elves, and they are really her children!Comment by ValkyrstudiosThey simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. .Comment by GoldenDragon1milthe titans are beings of order after all so I guess some of them being control freaks is a little expected.Comment by MaleificNo mention of Draenor when Aggramar found it? Overflowing with unchecked life energy and everything being strangled by the Evergrowth? Aman'thul is just a ^&*!.Comment by sheutThey simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. .Comment by TehLucarioThey simultaneously make World Trees less interesting when they make more 'fluff' ones that served no purposes or value, or exist just to be plot fodder, AND trivialize the existing ones by taking stuff attributed to them. .Comment by SilverDragon234This new continent should be worthy to explore. Hope it's as big as the Dragon Isles. We all know the Dragon Isles are twice the size of Northrend.Comment by RivenbladeI feel like they should clarify the vernacular here, it'd be better to know more plainly what they want to convey. In honor of her great love versus in honor to her true love? The former almost leads us on here, is it Eonar's loving nature for all life, or Elune as her lover? Why so implicit, this is their lore, is it really going to be the player base who always needs decipher their lore? This has been the case since BFA and we keep seeing it now... all these books (snippets) of lore really NEED to actually pay off and NOT answer questions with more questions! I wish the average player wouldn't have to rely on speculation through guides and YouTube theory video essays to get "possible answers". In the future, the majority of Lore needs to be able to stand completely on its own, via the ingame world, not requiring "outside of game" assistance from Loreheads who love going deep or wow books. For example, before the storm explaining Calia's sudden death, which annoys me a lot I might add, like we barely got to meet her and they kill her and do some weird holy undead stuff in a friggin' book! I refuse to pay a bonus lore fee to Bobby everytime I want to have the complete story, and no offense to them, but making us watch Bellular/Taliesin isn't exactly respecting our time either, so I hope this leads to more than just a guessing game this time.Comment by RmewzJUst wondering. How is Blizzard going to announce the next expansion cinematic without actually spoiling the 10.2 raid finale?Comment by Alechs777LMAO people already headcanoning Eonar x Elune while nothing suggests it. JFC.

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