| The Ethereals | |
|---|---|
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Racial leader(s) |
Nexus-King Salhadaar †
Nether-Prince Durzaan † (Void Ethereals)
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Homeworld |
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Classes |
Smuggler, Trader, Thief, Rogue, Raider, Arcanist, Warden, Wind Trader, Nether-Stalker, Priest, Sorcerer, Spellbinder, Engineer, Other |
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Affiliations |
Consortium, Protectorate, Ethereum (Shadowguard), Twisting Nether, Outland, Azeroth |
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Status |
Active |
Etherals are beings of pure energy originally hailing from the planet known as K'aresh. The ethereals once had a physical form, however this changed when Dimensius the All-Devouring assaulted their homeworld with dark and arcanic magics that ripped apart their corporeal bodies.
A thousand years ago, Dimensius opened gateways into the Void and the Twisting Nether around K'aresh which caused one of the sentient races of the planet to construct magical barriers around its cities. Though this was only partially successful; the dark energies were blocked from bathing the planet, yet the destructive flood of arcane energy was not. This infused the souls of K'aresh with enough power to barely subsist without a body as masses of irregular power.
Through this unforeseen change, the ethereals were able to battle Dimensius to a standstill in the following years. Their minds were enhanced alongside their magical abilities. They were also gifted with the capacity of traveling through the Twisting Nether on their own to find refuge.
At some point, possibly soon after the change, ethereals took to binding themselves with enchanted strips of cloth to provide their souls with a supportive structure.
Further Infusions[]
Ethereals can also become infused with Holy Light or Void magics.
Void ethereals may become mad with whispers that sway them towards a dark will. They mainly exist within the Ethereum yet there were also alone individuals such as Locus-Walker who trained Alleria Windrunner in the ways of the Void. Holy ethereals are mainly found within the Grand Army of the Light but might also work on their own.
Culture[]
The ethereals are astral travelers who dwell within the Twisting Nether but they're also seen in many places such as Azeroth, Outland and even the remnants of Argus (Void Ethereals). While rare, some even remain on major Azerothian settlements, namely Stormwind City and Orgrimmar to conduct business. Often transmogrification magics and storage services.
While most ethereals seem completely neutral, the Consortium later allies with the Sha'tar and other ethereals who stay on Azeroth like Thaumaturge Rafir, Voidbinder Sturzah, Warpweaver Dushar have become friendly with the respective cities they stay in. More unusual ethereals have even loosely allied themselves with other Azerothian factions.
Similar to goblins, ethereals hold a strong connection to trading and economics by being collectors and traders of artifacts and items of great monetary value. Their political structures also primarily center around trade princes and "companies". Once more like goblins, they have a propensity for other alien technology despite their own appearing far more powerful and otherworldly. Items such as eco-domes and transporters as seen in Outland.
The Burning Crusade[]
During the Burning Crusade they were described as untrustworthy, scoundrels, and liars, who would stop at nothing to pursue their mysterious goals. Having had no care at all for the Burning Crusade, they would even play with both sides of the conflict if it benefited their own aims.
The faction known as the Ethereum had a goal is to "become Void", which they successfully did by manipulating Void energy from the manaforges before bonding it to their own to transform themselves into nexus-stalkers.
Legion[]
During the Third Invasion of the Burning Legion, the the Ethereum forces led by Nexus-Prince Bilaal consume Void energy coming from a rift linking to the Twisting Nether to the Nexus. Saprish the Ethereum-Lord and his Shadowguard forces investigate a great force of Void, which later turned out to be dark naaru L'ura. In hopes of turning Magister Umbric and his followers into void ethereals, the Netherguard under Nether-Prince Durzaan attack the Telogrus Rift. Alleria Windrunner interups this process leaving Umbric and his students in a in-between state, later they dub themselves void elves.
Notes[]
- Information taken from: https://wow.gamepedia.com/Ethereal
- Despite having no in-game models, a few Shadowguard ethereals in Mac'Aree have female voices.
- The ethereals might have a connection to the draenei due to their space-faring nature, this was speculated by Ion Hazzikostas.