The wondrous City in the Tree was constructed shortly after the fall of the Burning Legion at the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Forced to sacrifice their cherished immortality, the night elves attempted to adjust to a finite life. Tyrande and Malfurion Stormrage helped their people rebuild their shattered villages. However, the adjustment to a mortal existence was too much to take for many of the night elves. Seeking to regain their immortality, several wayward druids conspired to plant a special tree that would reestablish the link between their spirits and the eternal world. Upon hearing of this plan, Malfurion warned that nature would never bless such a selfish act. Shortly thereafter, Malfurion’s spirit was somehow lost within the depths of the Emerald Dream.

With Malfurion missing, Fandral Staghelm — the leader of those who wished to plant the new World Tree — became the new Arch-Druid. In no time at all, he and his fellow druids had forged ahead and planted the great tree, Teldrassil, off the stormy coasts of northern Kalimdor. Under their care, the tree soon sprouted up above the clouds. Among the twilight boughs of the colossal tree, the wondrous city of Darnassus took root. However, the tree was not consecrated with nature’s blessing and soon fell prey to the corruption of the Burning Legion. Now the wildlife and even the limbs of Teldrassil itself are tainted by a growing darkness.