Darnassus

Because Teldrassil is an island isolated off Kalimdor's northwest coast, travelers must reach Rut'theran Village at the foot of the tree by boat or flight. From the village docks, a glowing magical portal takes travelers directly up into the city boughs.

High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind rules Darnassus and the kaldorei from the grand Temple of the Moon. Archdruid Fandral Staghelm leads the druids of the Cenarion Circle from the Cenarion Enclave, acting as the de facto druidic authority while Malfurion Stormrage remains lost in the Emerald Dream.

Darnassus was founded shortly after the Third War. When the night elves sacrificed their immortality to defeat Archimonde at Mount Hyjal, Fandral Staghelm pushed to grow the new World Tree, Teldrassil, to reclaim their former state. Darnassus was carved into the boughs as their new refuge.

Malfurion Stormrage is missing, his spirit trapped within the Emerald Dream. In his absence, Archdruid Fandral Staghelm governs the druids of Teldrassil, while Tyrande Whisperwind continually seeks a way to awaken and recover her beloved mate.

The city is divided into specialized terraces. The Craftsmen's Terrace hosts gathering and tailoring disciplines along with an inn, while the Tradesmen's Terrace houses trade stalls and the Auction House. Blacksmithing and martial trainers reside on the Warrior's Terrace, and the city bank rests upon the central island of the Temple Gardens.

After the devastation of the Third War, the night elves faced mounting pressure from the Horde, particularly orcish logging expeditions into Ashenvale. Recognizing the need for allies against these incursions and other rising threats across Kalimdor, Darnassus opened diplomatic ties and joined the Grand Alliance.