In the Warcraft universe, a fictional universe in which the Warcraft series of computer games is set, the High Elves, also known alternatively either as the Highborne or Quel’dorei, are one of the races that inhabit Azeroth. The Blood Elves, a militant faction of the High Elves, are now a playable Horde race with release of the expansion The Burning Crusade for World of Warcraft, and have a campaign in “The Frozen Throne” expansion of Warcraft III “Reign of Chaos”.

The High Elves soon learned that their new capital had been founded on a site that the Forest Trolls found sacred, and the trolls immediately began assaulting the Elves. Using their hard-won magic, the Elves drove the Trolls back. Consequently, some Elves, wary of the return of the Burning Legion, erected Runestones around the borders of their new Kingdom.

These not only shielded the High Elves’ use of magic from the agents of the Legion but also helped keep the superstitious trolls away. With their new realm secure, the High Elves crafted a wondrous kingdom with buildings constructed in the style of the ancient Kaldorei empire yet in harmony with the land. Within the shielded land, the Elves used magic in nearly every aspect of their lives.

However, after centuries of peace the Forest Trolls attacked again; the war raged for decades until the Elves began to be slowly beaten back. In desperation the High Elves sought out the newly formed Human Empire of Arathor and in exchange for the Humans’ help, the Elves promised to teach the ways of Arcane magic to the Humans.

Elven sorcerers arrived and began teaching magic to one hundred humans (selected for their nobility and selflessness), and together the Human and Elven armies met the Troll force at the base of the Alterac mountains. For days the Trolls battered the Humans’ lines, but the Arathorian army held up.

At the appointed time the Humans and Elven Mages unleashed a fury of magic onto the Trolls. The searing fire stopped the Trolls’ wounds from regenerating and they were driven back, nothing more than a shadow of their former strength. The Humans and Elves parted ways, but not before the Elven King promised a life debt to the Arathorian King and his descendents.

The Convocation of Silvermoon, the ruling body of the Elves, later entered into a pact with the Human mages of the Kirin Tor after they witnessed Demonic incursions into Azeroth. Together they formed the Order of Tirisfal, a society dedicated to preventing the return of the Burning Legion by waging a secret war using a champion imbued with the formidable powers of the Order.

During the Reign of Chaos, Quel’Thalas was attacked by the Undead Scourge, led by the corrupt Prince Arthas, who needed the energies of the Elves’ Sunwell to revive the slain Necromancer Kel’Thuzad. The Elves, led by the courageous ranger general Sylvanas Windrunner, fought long and hard against the Scourge at every step, but the Scourge were ultimately triumphant and brutally destroyed the Elves’ nation, sacking Silvermoon and killing all within it. Soon after this, the city of Dalaran, which was home to the second-highest population of High Elves on Azeroth, was also destroyed.

The survivors of Quel’Thalas, led by Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider, burned the forests of their kingdom to spite the Scourge. They rejoined the Alliance remnants in Dalaran and renamed themselves the Blood Elves dressing in blood red garments as a reminder of their fallen brethren. The Blood Elves were eventually shunned and left the Alliance to join with the Naga under Illidan Stormrage. In return for their loyalty, Illidan taught the Blood Elves how to master demonic Fel energy to sate their magical addiction and bind demons to their will.

In recent times, the Blood Elves have reclaimed the forests of Quel’thalas and have even sided with the Horde. However, a minority of High Elves, primarily those who fled to Kalimdor with Jaina Proudmoore or lived elsewhere before the fall of Quel’Thalas, refused to court demonic magics and remain loyal to the Alliance.