The Wretched were once blood elves, but they failed to control their magical addiction. The Wretched are thin elves with a large, bony forehead, claw-like fingers and toes, blue eyes and strange growths on their backs that glow with an eerie blue light. Recently, with the events of the Sunwell and Kael'thas summoning the Burning Legion, a new type of Wretched has appeared. After the events of the War against the Lich King, some high elves became Wretched.
Background[]
The Wretched are currently scattered throughout Eversong Woods and lack any general leadership, but a few notable Wretched have stepped up and organized raids. The Wretched have infiltrated the Ruins of Silvermoon, Sunsail Anchorage and even Falthrien Academy on Sunstrider Isle. This "kind" of blood elf is believed to be relatively new, considering the fact that they can only have existed since after the corruption of the Sunwell.
Gershala Nightwhisper feared this transformation might occur before the events of the Burning Crusade. He even sent adventurers in Blackfathom Deeps to get corrupted brain stems from naga and satyr. The Wretched can be compared to both naga and satyr because their magical dependence caused them to undergo physiological changes. Unlike those two races, this transformation can occur in an instant as soon as the blood elf succumbs to his or her thirst for magic (as Magistrix Elosai's transformation into the Wretched shows). Some people might think of them as Broken counterparts, both are shunned by their original species, both were changed by magic, the difference being that the Wretched had a choice, while the Broken did not. However, the fact that she only stayed a Wretched for a short period might imply that the mutation is reversible or even curable. On the other hand, this may have been a game play mechanic.
New Wretched[]
With the events of the Sunwell being used to summon the Legion, a new type of Wretched has been created. These Wretched have worse physical changes. While some of them have mild symptoms of this advanced mutation, they are still pretty bad. Symptoms they have are bulging green eyes, black rot-like mouths with what looks like black drool coming from them, less hair, green growths, feet and hands that are more claw-like and are an almost demon-like brown color, and small holes where growths should be from their Wretched transformation.
Others, however, are more monstrous, having all of the already mentioned symptoms including, deep sucked-in chests, more holes that look like they appeared from popped growths, markings near their eyes, and more of a monster-like appearance, barely resembling their former selves. These more serious mutations have appeared from tapping into the energies granted by the Burning Legion; in fact, some blood elves trying to become felbloods have become Wretched due to absorbing too much fel energy. These Wretched serve Kael'thas fiercely, and he rewards them by supplying them with mass amounts of fel energy for them to feed on. So far, these Wretched have only appeared on Quel'Danas and the throne of Kil'jaeden, likely because this mutation is fairly new still and can only exist after a blood elf or Wretched has absorbed mass amounts of fel energy— which is mainly located in those two areas.
With the Legion's defeat at the Sunwell and Kael'thas' death, it seems that this new breed of Wretched won't be spreading anytime soon.
Cataclysm[]
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The High Elves of the Quel'Lithien Lodge have become Wretched; revealing that both High and Blood Elves can become Wretched.
Wretched Speculation[]
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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The Sunwell has been restored providing a constant supply of magical energy to Blood Elves and High Elves sating their magic addiction, which brings up many questions regarding how this impacts the Wretched.
Regarding the current population of Wretched, the question is raised whether they also have access to the energies of the Sunwell or has their transformation turned them into a new species cut off from this supply.
The nature of the Wretched’s transformation, which is possibly the result of using corrupting Fel energy to feed their addiction, might mean they cannot access the Sunwell as stated in the Sunwell article:
“The Sunwell's new energies are derived from both the arcane and from M'uru's powers of the Light”
Considering Fel and Light energy are opposing forces, the Wretched might not be able to tap into the Sunwell’s power.
If all or some of the Wretched are able to use the Sunwell’s energies, is their transformation reversible, or is it like Night Elves, who, upon using magic, are irreversibly turned into Highborne in the space of a week? If the Wretched can access the Sunwell’s power and cannot turn back, is it possible for there to be “good Wretched” seeking redemption especially considering the Light infused power of the Sunwell.
Regarding the future of the Wretched it can be assumed no more Blood Elves will give into their magical addiction, as they are now supplied by the Sunwell, so no more Wretched will be created. One could argue this mean that the Wretched are heading towards extinction not being able to replace their numbers.
Another question is have any Wretched procreated giving birth to Wretched or Half Wretched children. To further this question on Blood Elf lands there are areas infested with Wretched, have they been able to form breeding populations in these areas.
Trivia[]
- All of the Wretched NPCs in the game have a mana bar, as fitting to their characteristics.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. According to Monster Guide (2007), it is said that blood elves are evolving from their high elven cousins due to use of fel magic (the first sign of evolutionary change are "glowing green eyes"). It is said in time they may become as distant to high elves as satyrs are to night elves.[1] The Wretched may be examples of the further evolution.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. They were called "the winnowed" in early Burning Crusade expansion development.
- The data file for Wretched blood elves is simply called "crackelf", a bit of a joke on Blizzard's part; it is not a viable lore term, though entirely accurate.
- Interestingly, their basic character skeleton is that of the undead/Forsaken, not the blood elves.
- When Magistrix Elosai temporarily turns into a Wretched, she takes the form of a male one, as female models for Wretched don't exist.
- The Wretched are the only Elf species in World of Warcraft not to feature a Female Model.
Named[]
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Factiongfx/faction_tip_link.json' not found. Aldaron the Reckless
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Factiongfx/faction_tip_link.json' not found. Felendren the Banished
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Factiongfx/faction_tip_link.json' not found. Thaelis the Hungerer
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Factiongfx/faction_tip_link.json' not found. Magistrix Elosai (temporarily)
Wretched gallery[]
References[]
- ^ Monster Guide, pg. 54
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