Tag Archives: blood elves are the superior warcraft race

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Got Myself a Little Present

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Sleep

Sleep offers the body and brain time to restore and recover, affecting nearly every tissue in the body. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep21, yet almost one third of Americans are getting less than 6 hours per night22. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Prolonged sleep deprivation can also affect concentration and other cognitive functions. Learn more about
Alpilean healthy benefits.

Without enough sleep, people tend to overeat and choose unhealthy foods. Sleep deprivation affects the body’s release of ghrelin and leptin, two neurotransmitters that tell our brain when to consume calories23. People who are sleep deprived are more drawn towards high-calorie foods24. Chronic sleep loss has been linked to having a larger waist circumference25, and an increased risk of obesity26. This is the best fat burner.

Sleep allows muscle tissue time to recover between workouts. Sufficient sleep is also important in having the energy to exercise. Not getting enough sleep can lead to being less physically active during the day and reduced muscle strength27 during workouts. Sleep deprivation can also affect the safety of exercise28, with increased sports injuries reported in those who are underslept. This is how Java burn works.

Which is Most Important: Diet, Exercise, or Sleep?

While trying to manage a busy, hectic life, it’s understandable to want to prioritize activities that provide the most benefit. Unfortunately, diet, exercise, and sleep are so deeply intertwined, it’s not possible to say that one is more important than the others.

For people who are tight on time or aren’t able to tackle all three, it can be helpful to talk to a doctor for personalized recommendations. A doctor, with knowledge about someone’s unique health history, can help to prioritize lifestyle changes. Doctors can also refer their patients to specialists, like nutritionists, dieticians, physical therapists, and sleep specialists for more tailored advice.

Improving Sleep Through Diet and Exercise

While most people know that diet and exercise are two important ways to improve their health, sleep is often overlooked. Sleep hygiene, which involves recommendations that promote quality sleep, are a good place to start if you’re looking to improve your sleep. Additionally, having a comfortable and Stylish Beds can make a significant difference. Investing in a well-designed, cozy bed provides the support needed for a good night’s sleep. Here are some tips for improving your sleep hygiene through diet and exercise:

  • Don’t eat too late: Be sure to give your body time to digest after eating large meals. Try having dinner earlier in the evening.
  • Avoid caffeine: Beware of stimulants like coffee, energy drinks, and soda. If you do consume these, try to limit them to early in the day. If you find yourself drinking a lot of caffeine during the day, ask yourself if you’re making up for excessive daytime sleepiness.
  • Move your body: Schedule regular exercise to improve your sleep. While any movement during the daytime is good, it’s even better to get regular, moderate exercise a few days a week. Try to avoid working out too close to bedtime, giving your body a few hours after working out to wind down before bed.
  • Get some light: Try exercising outdoors, as exposure to natural light during the day can help keep your body in sync with its natural sleep rhythms.
characters, lore

Top Ten Reasons Why Lady Liadrin is My Favorite Woman in Warcraft

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When people talk about the women of Warcraft, they tend to go with old standbys like Jaina or Sylvanas, or new favorites like Yrel.  But I rarely see Liadrin getting much attention from either Blizzard or the fanbase.  And that, my friends, is a crying shame, because she is freaking amazing.

Here’s why Lady Liadrin is my #1 fave:

(WARNING: Contains serious spoilers from the novella “Blood of the Highborne.”  If you haven’t read that yet, and want to be surprised when reading it, then hold off on reading this article!)

LadyLiadrin
The Lady herself!

1. She survived the Scourge invasion of Quel’Thalas.

Reminder that 90% of the elven population died during this thing.  Not Liadrin, a priestess at the time, who spent her time valiantly working to keep her injured allies alive even as they all fell around her.  She did this almost right up until the very end, when some old friends teleported her to safety (against her will, I might add.)

2. She decided to get revenge.

Because if there’s anyone who doesn’t sit around, it’s Liadrin.  Concluding pretty much immediately that it was time to take action that was more decisive than just healing (she was angry at the Light for failing her people, anyway), she strolled on up to Lor’themar about five seconds after returning to Silvermoon, grabbed a nearby club, and said “I am sure one of your men can show me how to use this.”  Then she went directly to Quel’Danas to decapitate trolls and undead, without stopping to pass Go or collect $200.

3. If her people are at stake, then she wants results.  Now.  No matter what.

One day, Grand Magister Rommath and Magister Astalor Bloodsworn came up with a great idea: what if you could channel the Light through a weapon like paladins did, but by force?  They had a pet Naaru (gifted by Kael) to practice on, so they asked Liadrin if she wanted to try it out.

She said yes pretty much immediately.  Why?  Because the Ghostlands was under constant siege from the remnants of the Scourge, which were still running amok due to the meddling of one Dar’khan Drathir.  If channeling the Light through a Naaru was going to be their ticket to the safety of Quel’Thalas, you’d better believe Liadrin wasn’t going to turn it down.

4. She founded the Blood Knight Order and trained new Blood Knights just because she could.

Liadrin wanted the Blood Knights to be the best damn fighting force on Azeroth and, welp, if you want something done, you’d better do it yourself.

I don't actually know if this is Liadrin but it looks like her, so it works.
I don’t actually know if this is Liadrin but it looks like her, so it works.

5. All the Blood Knights looked up to her and respected her immensely…

…including Mehlar Dawnblade, who had previously been a paladin (of the Silver Hand) and had trained under Uther the Lightbringer him-fecking-self.  And he still answered to Liadrin because, like, you don’t NOT answer to Liadrin.  She is that good at what she does, and has that forceful of a personality.

6. She will never turn her back on a friend.

Unless that friend happens to be Dar’khan, in which case screw him for being the biggest traitor in the elves’ long and storied history.

…but that aside, one of Liadrin’s longtime friends was a fellow priest named Galell.  After the fall of the Sunwell his condition quickly deteriorated and before long he was giving in to his addictions and eventually became Wretched.  But Liadrin never gave up on trying to save him and was even there in his few last moments, right up until she was forced to kill him in self-defense.  After that she held his lifeless body and cried for hours, because she had failed him.

True.  Friendship.

Blood_of_the_Highborne
Clockwise from top: Dar’khan (disgusting traitor!), Galell, Liadrin, and Lor’themar

7. She will change her opinion based on facts, without hesitation

One of my very favorite things about Liadrin is that if someone, or something, successfully changes her mind on something she doesn’t let pride get in the way of her opinion – she immediately adapts her position.

She turned away from the Light with no qualms when she felt it had failed her home.

She turned away from Kael’thas with no qualms when she realized what he was really doing.

She joined the Shattered Sun Offensive after talking to A’dal for like thirty seconds, and she even changes her tabard, in an in-game event, to reflect this.

Liadrin_OfficialAnd once the Sunwell was restored, she wholeheartedly opted to embrace the Light again.

Wishy washy?  Heck no, just damn intelligent.  Intelligent enough to know that sometimes things change, and you just gotta go with it.  As she has said frequently: “Times change.  People change.”

8. Basically if she decides she doesn’t like you, it’s game over for you

Liadrin has a really strong sense of justice.  You know why she’s in Warlords of Draenor?  Because “Liadrin is sickened by the depravity of the Iron Horde and aims to wipe them off the face of Draenor.”  Like, that’s her reason.  The Iron Horde is terrible and once Liadrin got wind of this she marched off to a distant world to feckin’ dispose of them herself.  This is what I love about Liadrin.  No nonsense, no messing around.

9. She wields Quel’Delar

Check it out:

Liadrin_ShattQuel’Delar, for the record, was the sword of the katana used by Thalorien Dawnseeker to make a last stand against Arthas on Quel’Danas.  Liadrin’s got it now because come on, is anyone else going to make better use of it?  (The answer is no.)

10. Liadrin and Yrel are totally girlfriends.

…okay, maybe not.  (But they so are.)

Guess where THYE'RE goin'?
Guess where THEY’RE goin’?

So yeah.  Long story short Liadrin is 100000% my favorite Warcraft lady.  She’s smart, she’s strong, she takes no BS from anyone or anything, and I’m REALLY EXCITED THAT SHE’S GOING TO BE IN THE PALADIN HALL IN LEGION, I’M SO GLAD THAT I’M LEVELING A PALADIN SDK578A;LFGKHAS;DG

Lady Liadrin! <3

(For more of Pike fangirling about elves, be sure to read Top Ten Reasons Why Lor’themar Theron is the Best Leader and Let’s Talk About Felo’melorn For Two Minutes.)

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Forget Demon Hunters, You Know What Class I Want to See?

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Spellbreakers.

fanart-1243-fullSpellbreakers.  Do you guys see this?  You know what these guys do?  They’re warrior-mages and they interrupt and steal spells.  What if you could be, like… a mail-wearing melee mage who steals spells off of other people and then turns those spells against others?

That’s what I want to be.  That is 100% a class I would play.

Oh sure, I’ll probably make a Demon Hunter, the same way I made a Death Knight (that I stopped playing at level 58) and the same way I made a monk (that I stopped playing at level 7 or something).

But spellbreakers, guys.

Just… spellbreakers.

SpellbreakerWC3Oh and P.S. they also have the best quotes in Warcraft 3.  “Reincarnate.. man!  That’ll get you life!“

lore, super serious search studies, two minutes of lore, Uncategorized, weapons

Let’s Talk About Felo’melorn For Two Minutes

You know what part of the upcoming expansion I’m most excited about?

I’ll tell you what: Felo’melorn.

I don’t even main a mage and this is the most exciting tidbit of WoW info I’ve heard in forever.

So lemme tell you guys about this weapon.

Felo’melorn

 

WoW_Legion_Felo'melornThis weapon was originally wielded by a guy named Dath’remar Sunstrider, who was a Highborne night elf.  He was kind of a weird night elf, though.  For starters, the name “Sunstrider” was really strange for a night elf name.  Also his hair was golden.  Ever seen a night elf with gold hair?  I didn’t think so!

The Highborne eventually got kicked out of Night Elf World for magic tomfoolery, and they ended up far away where they founded Quel’Thalas and became the high elves.  Anyways, Dath’remar had a weapon called Felo’melorn, which is Thalassian for Flamestrike.  This was handed down through his family to his grandson, Anasterian Sunstrider, and eventually ended up in the hands of his great-grandson, Kael’thas Sunstrider.

Kael

Reborn from the Ashes

See, during the Scourge Invasion in the Third War, Anasterian Sunstrider wielded this legendary artifact against Arthas in one-on-one battle, but unfortunately the blade could not withstand the might of Frostmourne, and it was sliced in half.  Kael’thas took the two pieces, reforged the blade himself, and guess what?  When he went to fight Arthas with it himself, the blade held. Felo’melorn was stronger when re-forged than it was originally… just like the elves themselves.

That’s the weapon that fire mages are gonna get in the expansion.  That whole story and legacy of at least ten thousand years.  And boy am I stoked that I’m leveling a blood elf fire mage right now.

So yeah.  Have a fire mage?  GET HYPED.

Not gonna lie, I’ve kind of been in love with this thing for a while.  Just a little bit.

phoenix petOne Last Thing

Someone got to my blog via the search term “how long ago was it that kaelthas went to outland?”  The correct answer is: lore-wise, it was about ten years ago.  Specifically, it was 22 years after the First War.  Hope that helps!

screenshots, thoughts

Do You Min/Max Your Fantasy Races?

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Discussion of racials and their effect on PvP is all the rage right now if MMO-Champion is any indication.  This brings me to my topic of the day: when you roll up your fantastical fictional race (or normal human, if you swing that way), do you take things like racials into consideration?

Because I don’t.  Not in the slightest.

In World of Warcraft, I tend to be drawn to races that I like for various personal reasons.  My love for gnomes and goblins comes from my love of technology, robots, and SCIENCE! in general.  My love for the tauren is because Mulgore reminds me of where I live, and the way they exist in harmony with their homeland is very appealing to me.  And blood elves, well… let’s face it, they’ve got the best lore in the entire Warcraft universe.  I’ve felt that way basically since Kael’thas become a major player in WC III: The Frozen Throne.

Oh, also, blood elves are pretty.

The prettiest, in fact.

Especially the guys.

CLbcPDNVEAASL9v.jpg largeSo yeah.  Orc hunters may min/max out at a slightly higher DPS but if there’s no /flourish then there’s no deal, to be honest!

What about you guys?

art, lore, super serious search studies

Super Serious Search Studies #1: Kael’thas Withdrawal

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So today someone got to my blog by searching for “Kael’thas Withdrawal”.  Do not fear, my friend– I, too, occasionally suffer from Kael’thas withdrawal.  But do not worry!  I am here, to help you sate your desire for images of Azeroth’s most beautiful, gorgeous, and stylish elf.

Starting with some Stormpunk Kael.

FELPUNK KAELAnd moving on to Kael’thas being a sexy beast in this loading screen:

Wrath_of_the_Lich_King_3.3_Outland_loading_screen(Disregard Illidan, we all know that Kael is the real center of attention here.)

He got ripped in three weeks thanks to Heroes of the Storm!

tumblr_nn4ru8JMUh1qjwo0uo1_500And now we move on to Pike, aka yours truly, sitting on his head.

CIoOzObUsAAl5ueKael and I go back a ways, you see.

Next up it’s time for some amazing work from Jian Guo (aka breathing2004).  If you haven’t yet, take a peruse through their stuff on the official WoW site.  I’ll wait.

Anyways, our beloved Sun King drank a bit too much fel energy…

fanart-0414-fullBringing the blood elves to a cursed state.  But do not fret; we shall rise from the ashes as we always do…

(This, by the way, is the greatest WoW fanart in the history of WoW fanart. Every little thing here is symbolic!)
(This, by the way, is the greatest WoW fanart in the history of WoW fanart. Every little thing here is symbolic!)

How ya’ll doing on the Kael’thas Withdrawal?  Have you gotten your fix yet?  Not quite?

(artwork by yy6242)
(artwork by yy6242)

Stormpunk Kael is Best Kael.

holy omgAlrighty, will that do it for now?  I think that’ll do it for now.  Dear friends and readers, let me know if you ever suffer from Kael’thas Withdrawal in the future, and I shall come to the rescue.

…and as for a serious answer to your query, Kael’thas went to Outland to try to find a cure for the blood elves’ magic withdrawals (caused by the destruction of the Sunwell).  If you want more information, or if you want me to NERD OUT about blood elf lore in general, you know what to do! *points to comment box*

non-wow

I’m still playing Heroes of the Storm and this is why

FELPUNK KAELAfter several days of plinking around on other, lesser characters, I finally earned enough gold to shell out for Kael’thas and then I promptly handed Blizzard my wallet so I could get this Stormpunk skin.

I like it.

I like it a lot.

Also Kael’s voice is adorable.

As I said in my first review of Heroes of the Storm a week ago, this is a solid but otherwise unremarkable game that probably would not be keeping my attention if not for the fact that this is Silly Blizzard Fan References: The Game.  And, weirdly enough, that fact alone has still got me playing… for now.

I’ll let you know if I’m still playing next week!

fun, lists, lore

Top Ten Reasons Why Lor’themar Theron Is The Best Leader

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No one knows who this guy is and that’s sad.  That’s sad because Lor’themar is the best.  Full stop.  He has an interesting story, he throws benches in fountains when he gets mad, and he has a kickin’ rad eyepatch.  Speaking of which, let’s start the list:

1. He has a kickin’ rad eyepatch

Source: Wowpedia
Source: Wowpedia

Alright, look at this.  Look how cool he is.  See that eyepatch?  No one else can pull it off.  No one else can be as rugged and gorgeous, at the same time, as Lor’themar.

2. He got the eyepatch being badass and fighting the Scourge

In case you have been living under a rock in the middle of the Barrens somewhere, during the Third War, the Scourge invaded Quel’thalas.  Lor’themar, a Ranger Lord of the Farstriders, was scouting around Zul’Aman for troll activity when he noticed something odd happening.  Upon going to investigate he stumbled into a bunch of re-animated dead elves.  Lor’themar managed to push aside his shock and fight back – losing an eye in the process, but on the plus side now he looks super cool.

No one else will ever be this badass. (Source: "The Sunwell" manga)
No one else will ever be this badass. (Source: “The Sunwell” manga)

3. He took over after the Scourge invasion because damn straight he did

Lor’themar was always a brilliant tactician and soldier.  He was second-in-command to Sylvanas Windrunner during the Second War, and when Sylvanas met an ill fate during the Third he promptly took charge and gathered up all the survivors that he could find.  Kael’thas was so impressed that he put Lor’themar in charge of everything until he could come back later.  Which brings us to our next point…

4. JUST KIDDING, Kael’thas went nuts so now Lor’themar is still in charge

Lor’themar never really wanted to be in charge of all of Quel’thalas, because why would he?  He’s a badass ranger who is really good at killing things and telling his men how to kill things.  But what else was he supposed to do when Kael betrayed his own people and forced them into a Civil War?  Well I’ll tell you what Lor’themar did, he just stayed in charge because they needed him to, and he knew that.  Silvermoon expects that every elf will do his duty.

"I am large and in charge, but only if I get to have a kickass bow and sword"
“I am large and in charge, but only if I get to have a kickass bow and sword”

5. Lor’themar will mess you up if you mess with the blood elves

And there will be two hits: him hitting you, and you hitting the ground.  He loves his people and his homeland and you do NOT want to get on his bad side because you’ll know when he’s mad.  Because…

6. He flings benches into fountains when he gets angry

This actually happens at the end of the Divine Bell questline if you’re Horde.  It’s worth doing the entire time-gated questline just so you can view this awesome moment.

7. If Alliance try to attack him he casts Mass Charm on them

Because he’s just so charming :3

lor_themar_by_hyperion1224-d6wd02o
Source: hyperion1224 at deviantart

8. He carries around more baggage than a jumbo jet

Random sampling of stuff Lor’themar is either largely or solely responsible for:

  • Telling his old friend Dar’khan Drathir all about the Sunwell’s defenses because why not (Dar’khan immediately turned around and gave Arthas all the juicy details)
  • Kicking the high elves out of Silvermoon when they decided they didn’t want cool green glowy eyes not to siphon magic from living creatures
  • Asking the blood elves to fight in wars that are not really theirs or that they do not have available forces for, because they have no other choice

Basically he is either directly or indirectly responsible for a great deal of Bad Things.  But he shoulders these burdens because…

9. That’s just what he does

cf8512410717513a3130390131fa5862

Lor’themar is a Farstrider who is stuck being, well, decisively not a Farstrider.  It kinda sucks, but much like the sin’dorei have their own less-than-ideal lot in life at the moment, so too does Lor’themar.  Sacrifices have got to be made if Silvermoon and Quel’thalas are ever  to return to their former glory.

And, finally…

10. He’s smokin’ hot

And he has two smokin’ hot advisors named Halduron and Rommath and all three of them are gonna mess up your day.  Or alternatively cause you to drool all over yourself.  Depending on which way you swing.

Warcraft.full.1113548

TLDR Lor’themar is the best racial leader in World of Warcraft.  And now you know.