Draenai History
Long before the fallen titan, Sargeras, unleashed his demonic Legion on Azeroth, he turned his baleful gaze upon the world of Argus and its highly intelligent inhabitants, the eredar. Believing that this heroic race would be a crucial component in his dark quest to undo all of creation, Sargeras contacted the eredar’s three leaders – Kil’jaeden, Archimonde, and Velen. He offered them knowledge and power in exchange for their loyalty.
Only Velen abstained, for he had seen a vision. In it, his people were transformed into hideous demons, and they joined the ranks of Sargeras’ Burning Legion: an army of unspeakable evil that would grow vast and decimate life on countless worlds. With the aid of the naaru, (a benevolent energy-based beings) who had resolved to combat the fallen titan’s nihilistic crusade, Velen gathered other like-minded eredar and narrowly escaped Argus by use of naaru spell jammer vessals. Forever after, these renegades would call themselves the draenei, or “exiled ones.”
Kil’jaeden, who was once a beloved brother of Velen, was infuriated by the draenei’s escape from Argus and their ungrateful refusal of Sargeras’ offer. In retaliation, Kil’jaeden led the Legion’s armies on a relentless pursuit of the draenei throughout the spell jamming travel fair lanes. Eventually, Velen and his beleaguered people eluded their hunters and found sanctuary on a remote world that they would name Draenor, or “Exiles’ Refuge.” Having been instructed by the naaru in the ways of the Light, the draenei developed an extraordinary society on their new home.
Yet the draenei’s peaceful existence did not last. Upon discovering the renegades’ home, Kil’jaeden corrupted the noble orcs into a single, bloodthirsty force of destruction. The orcs were forever change at the genetic level into a race of violent beings. Blinded by rage, the orcs wreaked havoc upon the draenei, slaughtering over 50% of the exiles and forcing Velen and other survivors into hiding. To escape the mounting chaos, Velen and a number of his followers commandeered the Exodar, a stunning naaru spell jammer of enormous size. Using this craft to search for new allies, the draenei left Draenor, and later crash-landed upon the world of Azeroth.
Only Velen abstained, for he had seen a vision. In it, his people were transformed into hideous demons, and they joined the ranks of Sargeras’ Burning Legion: an army of unspeakable evil that would grow vast and decimate life on countless worlds. With the aid of the naaru, (a benevolent energy-based beings) who had resolved to combat the fallen titan’s nihilistic crusade, Velen gathered other like-minded eredar and narrowly escaped Argus by use of naaru spell jammer vessals. Forever after, these renegades would call themselves the draenei, or “exiled ones.”
Kil’jaeden, who was once a beloved brother of Velen, was infuriated by the draenei’s escape from Argus and their ungrateful refusal of Sargeras’ offer. In retaliation, Kil’jaeden led the Legion’s armies on a relentless pursuit of the draenei throughout the spell jamming travel fair lanes. Eventually, Velen and his beleaguered people eluded their hunters and found sanctuary on a remote world that they would name Draenor, or “Exiles’ Refuge.” Having been instructed by the naaru in the ways of the Light, the draenei developed an extraordinary society on their new home.
Yet the draenei’s peaceful existence did not last. Upon discovering the renegades’ home, Kil’jaeden corrupted the noble orcs into a single, bloodthirsty force of destruction. The orcs were forever change at the genetic level into a race of violent beings. Blinded by rage, the orcs wreaked havoc upon the draenei, slaughtering over 50% of the exiles and forcing Velen and other survivors into hiding. To escape the mounting chaos, Velen and a number of his followers commandeered the Exodar, a stunning naaru spell jammer of enormous size. Using this craft to search for new allies, the draenei left Draenor, and later crash-landed upon the world of Azeroth.