It wasn't only the openly hostile troll nations that drew the full attention of the Highborne elves. Small, sporadic skirmishes broke out between both sides. In every encounter, the trolls fell before the destructive magic unleashed by the night elves. Yet Azshara was not interested in conquest alone. In her eyes, the trolls were nothing more than minor nuisances—their lust for battle a symptom of primitive and unenlightened minds. She saw them as creatures yet to evolve, spiritually or intellectually.
Eventually, the queen reached a diplomatic agreement with the Zandalar tribe, which held considerable influence over all other trolls. In exchange for ending troll raids into night elf territory, Azshara allowed the Zandalar to guard the sacred Zandalar Mountains south of the Well of Eternity. The trolls accepted the deal reluctantly, fully aware they were powerless against the mysterious force of their enemies. This humiliating accord sowed a deep hatred toward the night elves—a hatred passed down through generations, becoming an ember of vengeance that would never die.
With the troll threat suppressed, Azshara resumed her territorial expansion without significant resistance.
But in southern Kalimdor, Azshara encountered two previously unknown races. One dwelled in the lonely mountains of Barazdûm, near Wesfall. The other was a race of elves whose skin tone differed greatly from the night elves and Highborne—they appeared like shadows from a distant world, carrying an alien aura that stirred the queen's curiosity.
Azshara was deeply intrigued by the mechanical technology developed by the dwemer. Their machines resembled magic forged from metal and steam. Without hesitation, Azshara and her forces attempted to subjugate the dwemer. But to the queen's surprise, the dwemer mounted fierce and organized resistance. King Dumac led his forces alongside terrifying automatons. Dwarven Spiders, Dwarven Spheres, Dwarven Centurions, and even colossal constructs created by Kagrenac—the dwemer's engineering leader—marched against the Highborne. Though the dwemer disliked magic, their mechanical technology possessed precision and power that rivaled magic itself.
Azshara was enraged. She could not accept that beings like the dwemer refused to bow to her. She launched an open war against them, deploying Highborne forces to the mountains of Barazdûm.
But the dwemer were not alone. King Eärendil, now leading the elven cities after Fëanor's return to Valinor, did not stand idly by. Witnessing Azshara's aggression toward the dwemer, Eärendil led his forces to strike at Highborne territory. He was accompanied by elven warriors, giant eagles, ents, and entwives who began marching toward the heart of Azshara's empire.
Azshara's fury intensified. She had never faced elves from beyond Kalimdor directly, but they had struck her lands first. She split her forces in two: one army sent to crush the dwemer in Barazdûm, and another to subdue the elves near Uldum.
Both borders quickly turned into war zones. The Highborne unleashed deadly arcane magic, while the elves from beyond Kalimdor wielded the Song of Ilúvatar—a primordial force flowing from the will of their creator. Two vastly different powers clashed with earth-shaking intensity.
But the conflict did not end there. The Dúnedain—a mixed race of elves and dwemer—living in the north beneath Mount Hyjal, also refused to remain passive. Isildur, alongside the Armies of Gondor, declared war on the Highborne. He was not alone. He called upon the Rohirrim, the legendary horse-riders of Éothéod.
Under the leadership of Isildur and the Rohirrim generals, the combined forces began marching toward Highborne territory to aid the dwemer led by Dumac and the elves led by Eärendil.
Azshara, seeing this alliance form, grew even more furious. She could not comprehend why other races united to protect the dwemer. She divided her forces into three: two in the south and one in the north, preparing to face attacks from every direction.
Fierce battles erupted. The thunderous march of armies from all three races made the mountains tremble. No one knows exactly when the war began, but according to historical records, the conflict lasted a full fifty years.
The three races gathered near Uldum to face Azshara. The dwemer dwarves from Barazdûm joined forces with the elves and the Dúnedain. This united army was led by two Valar: Geraint and Velskud, who descended directly from the highlands to command the battle.
It was said that Azshara's full strength had been assembled at the height of her glory. The queen's army consisted of Highborne Spellcasters, the Royal Guard of Azshara, and various terrifying units never before seen. The mountains rumbled beneath the marching feet of the three races and the countless forces of Kalimdor.
This battle became the second-largest recorded in the history of Azeroth during the First Age. Even the night elves and trolls watching from afar shuddered at the sight of so many troops arrayed against Queen Azshara.
Though the war raged for more than fifty years, not a single side retreated. Tactic after tactic was deployed, magic and technology clashed, yet no one could determine who was winning or losing. As a result of the conflict, lightning storms descended from the skies, flames devoured forests and valleys, and both sides began to lose clarity. Battle after battle continued without pause. Lives were lost on both fronts, but the will to fight never faded.
Eventually, Azshara realized that this war would not end in absolute victory. She chose to initiate a ceasefire with the elves, Dúnedain, and dwemer. A Non-Aggression Pact was signed, along with agreements on trade, peace, and borders. The three races accepted the treaty with relief—they too were weary of war, and too many lives had already been lost.
This war would be remembered as the War of Wrath, a conflict that shook the foundations of the world and proved that even a force as great as Azshara was not invincible.
After the great battle, Queen Azshara established a policy of student exchange between the Dwemer, Elves, and Highborne. The goal was clear: to study each race's systems of power and knowledge. Though hatred still smoldered in their hearts, the hunger for learning proved stronger than inherited grudges. Many opposed the decision, but Azshara remained resolute.
In the spirit of diplomacy and exploration, Azshara and her loyal guards journeyed to the continent of Valinor and the central regions of Kalimondor. It was the first time the queen sailed aboard a Dwemer-built vessel—a technological masterpiece forged from heavy metals and guided by an aetherium-based navigation system. The ship was not only sturdy, but capable of traversing the magical currents that connected the ancient continents.
Upon arriving in Middle-earth, Azshara visited legendary cities such as Gondor, Gondolin, and Annúminas. She even explored the underground corridors of Dwemer cities, where Automatons patrolled tirelessly. From there, Azshara brought back a vast supply of aetherium ore—magical stones that served as the core power source for Automatons and the primary energy behind Dwemer technology. She also documented countless other cities, each holding unique cultural legacies and distinct forms of power.
During the visit, Azshara studied Dwemer geothermal and mechanical technology with intense dedication. Of course, such knowledge was not given freely. In exchange, Azshara offered magical artifacts, arcane technologies, and ancient manuscripts from the Highborne libraries. This exchange marked the beginning of a cross-disciplinary collaboration between magic and mechanics.
The Arcanists, Highborne Scholars, and Priestesses who accompanied Azshara were thrilled. To them, Dwemer technology was an alien yet alluring realm. Unlike the Highborne, who relied on pure magic, the Dwemer rejected direct magical use. They preferred magical stones like aetherium ore to power Automatons and harnessed geothermal energy for mechanical force. This philosophical divide created intellectual tension that ultimately enriched both sides' understanding.
Meanwhile, the elves of Valinor—so similar to the Night Elves—displayed a profound love for nature. This disgusted Azshara, though she masked her expression behind a diplomatic smile. To her, reverence for nature was a form of weakness, a nostalgia that hindered progress.
Years passed, though no one knew exactly how long Azshara remained in Valinor and Middle-earth. Eventually, she and her entourage returned to Kalimondor, bringing with them a trove of data, artifacts, and inspiration for new experiments. They were determined to merge magic and technology to create a civilization that transcended old boundaries.
Yet upon returning to her homeland, Azshara spent more and more time within her palace. She became obsessed with the Well of Eternity and the secrets it held. In her view, the Night Elves had only ever skimmed the surface of the spring's power. She urged the Highborne to delve deeper into its depths, to expand their knowledge and achieve cultural and technological advancement that could rival the races of the distant continents.
Their reckless experiments triggered magical surges that pierced the Twisting Nether. Like moths drawn to flame, the demons of the Nether began to feel the pull of that irresistible source of power.
It was only a matter of time before Sargeras and the Burning Legion took notice.
Eventually, Sargeras discovered the location of Azeroth—the legendary soul of the world. Without hesitation, he gathered all his fury, summoned his terrifying demonic legions, and fixed his hateful gaze upon the distant world. All that remained was to find a way to breach the boundaries and reach Azeroth.
10,000 YEARS BEFORE THE DARK PORTAL
While the Highborne continued their experiments at the Well of Eternity, a young Night Elf named Malfurion Stormrage began to deepen his bond with nature. Under the wise guidance of Cenarius, he became the first mortal druid in Azeroth. Malfurion excelled in his studies and often spent his days wandering the forests of Hyjal, merging with the spirits of the wild.
Cenarius was delighted by his pupil's progress. He had sensed something special from the moment Malfurion first entered the Emerald Dream. He hoped Malfurion would spread druidism among his people and help them return to the roots of harmony they had long abandoned.
But this transformation did not reach Azshara and her followers. Unbeknownst to the wider Night Elf society, the Highborne had begun communicating with Sargeras. The fallen titan saw immense potential in their grand magic and hoped to harness it to accelerate the Legion's journey to Azeroth. Without a proper gateway, he knew the journey would take time.
As he had done with the Eredar of Argus, Sargeras began to exploit the pride of the Highborne. Lord Xavius was the first to hear the dark call—a whisper promising limitless power and eternal dominion.