Post by Adamsm
Time for yet another comparing of older legends against Warcraft(
For the original one, look here).Today's old legends are about those ancient and powerful spirits known as the Fae(or faeries for you non-historical types). I was thinking of the races within Warcraft and comparing them to the two Courts of the Fae; the Light Court, lead by Tatiana the Queen of Summer, and the Dark Court, lead by Mab of Air and Darkness. As most people know, there are many names for the Fae; Sildhe/Seelie/Light Elves and the like, with the 'darker' races normally called Unsildhe/Unseelie/Dark elves and so and so forth. What brought this on though, was that I was reading something about Mab and Tatiana, and I got to thinking of their versions in Warcraft, and I've actually come up with something.
Queen Mab: Beautiful, deadly, vicious and incredibly intelligent, the Queen of the Dark Court is one of the most frightening things on the planet. She could make you live for thousands of years while slowly torturing you and driving you mad. She leads the dark races of the Fae; the trolls, the orcs, goblins and the like(see where I'm going with this?). But Mab isn't completely evil, she's merely one side of the scales, designed to be at eternal balance with the Light court.
To me, there is only one analog in Warcraft: Sylvanas, the Dark Lady(look, she even has one of Mab's titles!). The two are similar, and more then just both of them being 'elves'. Sylvanas has an incredible hatred for the living races, seeing most of them as the reason she is what she is, while Mab hates the mortal races for driving the Fae out of the 'real' world, and into the other realms. Sylvanas has near complete control of her people(though of course, there are bad apples) and uses them to further her own grand scheme: To destroy the Lich King (and possibly all living things on the planet). Mab also rules her court with an iron fist... yet most of her nobles and more intelligent Dark Fae love her for it.
Both Dark Ladies are constantly watched (well, Sylvanas post-Wrathgate) by those who are more powerful then themselves: Sylvanas is watched by Thrall and the Horde, while Mab has Oberon/Elking/what have you depending on the Legends. They are two frighteningly powerful beings, but at least Sylvanas cannot 'unmake' someone as Mab is rumoured to be able to do.
Queen Tatiana: Like her counterpart in the Dark court, the Queen of the Light is incredibly breath takingly beautiful, is intelligent, kind and 'Good'... to a point. The Lady of Summer(one of her titles), rules her court through loyalty and gentle strength, but that doesn't make her weak, no, there are legends and tales of Tatiana riding at the head of the Fae host during wars and battles. She is willingly to do what she can for her Court, making sure they live in relative peace with the Wyldfae and to make sure her people toe the line with the accords of the Dark Court.
Now, I know some would expect me to place Jaina Proudmoore here as her opposite.... but I can't do that. There is only one "Summer Queen" in Warcraft, and that is High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind. The Leader of the Night Elves(for as long her husband is gone anyways) is a woman of great courage, strength and character... but she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. Tyrande is a reflection of the more war-like half of the Queen Tatiana, but she does care deeply for her people, willingly to ride out and fight back demon and undead Hordes to keep them safe. She, like Tatiana, draws her magic from the World around her; Tatiana from the other realm she is in, Tyrande from the Moon and the Goddess Elune. They are both stubborn women, though, with enough evidence, they can be convinced of something.
Now, for their higher up, both have powerful husbands: Oberon for Tatiana(in fact, He left Mab for Tatiana), and Malfurion Stormrage for Tyrande.
So, that's the start of this one, I intend to expand on the first post here so keep watching it, and if anyone can think of anything assist me with (say, helping me find a Puck version of Warcraft), I'd greatly appreciate it.