Ancient Guardian

For the demigod-like trees, see ancient. For the collection, see Ancient collection.

Cenarius, patron of the Druids

Ancient Guardians (also known as ancient protectors, Ancients, or ancients) are demigods of Azeroth.

From the dawn of its reshaping by the mysterious titans, Azeroth had been guarded by beings who were tied to the world as no other creatures could be. The dragons had been empowered by the titans, but Azeroth itself gave rise to the spirits and demigods, creatures eternal in nature yet capable of ultimate sacrifice.

Named Ancient Guardians

• Agamaggan
• Aessina
• Aviana
• Cenarius
• Goldrinn "Lo'Gosh"
• Malorne "Apa'ro"
• Omen
• Tortolla
• Ursoc
• Ursol

Unnamed Ancient Guardians

Numerous unnamed Ancients appeared in a few scenes of The Sundering alongside known ancients and other forest races.

• A being resembling a wolverine
• A tiny red fox with a sly yet gnomish visage
• A winged panther with hands almost human (possibly tol'vir-related or a tol'vir ancestor)
• Sword-wielding pixies of a sort
• A reptilian warrior with a shell reminiscent of a turtle's (possibly Tortolla)
• Male figures with hooded faces and whose flesh (what little there was visible) was oak bark. (possibly ancients)
• A humanoid stick bug race (possibly aqir-related or an aqir ancestor)
• A squat warrior

Dark Ancients

The Twilight's Hammer feared that the Ancient Guardians may someday rise up to oppose them. They created twisted versions of the Ancients, summoned to replace them. They were a primal force of nature, but their origins were from a darker place. Those who birthed these beasts reached deep into the blackness, channeling powers never intended for this world. The Twilight's Hammer dreamed of creating their own pantheon of twisted ancients to rule over the land, sea, and air, though only two were summoned before the Twilight's Hammer was stopped.

• Lycanthoth <The Corruptor>, the dark version of the ancient Goldrinn.
• Nemesis <The Usurper>, the dark version of the ancient Tortolla.

Ancients of Vashj'ir

• L'ghorek
• Nespirah

Relationship with the loa

Troll druids visiting the Moonglade have been overheard calling the wisps who reside there loa, just as they refer to Goldrinn, Aviana, and the other returned Ancients as loa. Night elves and tauren have tried to counsel these trolls on "correct" druidic nomenclature, but the trolls thus far have been stuck in their ways. What this actually means for the two groups is unknown.

The August Celestials of Pandaria have a connection to the Ancients, and as such may be connected to the loa as well.

Racial ancestry

Brann Bronzebeard has confirmed that several races originate from the ancients.

• Cenarius' descendants are the keepers of the grove, the magnataur, the centaur, the dryads, and their forest and frost descendants
• Something created the pandaren
• Ursoc created the furbolg
• Agamaggan created the quilboar
• Aviana created the harpies

Brann also speculates on the existence of few ancients and their creation of descendant races:

• Gorloc and a Frog Ancient
• Wolvar and a Badger Ancient
• Tauren and a Cow Bull Ancient
• Tuskarr and a Walrus Ancient
• Aessina might have created the grell (she tells Brann "maybe")
• Gnolls and a Hyena Ancient
• Makrura and a Lobster Ancient

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Although the worgen are actually night elves or humans afflicted with a curse, the curse drew upon Goldrinn's fury. Thus, in a way, it can be said Goldrinn gave rise to the modern worgen.

RPG information

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG and is considered non-canon.

Night elf culture speaks of both ancients and Ancients (note the capital A). Ancients (lower-case) are treelike sages and protectors. Ancients (upper-case) are old demigods, like Cenarius, who assisted the night elves at various points throughout their history.

Perhaps more so than other Eternals, the Ancients of the night elves are treated like deities. Primal spirits of the natural world when it was young, they personify its most distinct and most powerful qualities. Although several of them were effectively destroyed during the War of the Ancients and in later conflicts, they are honored still by races such as centaur, furbolgs, night elves and quilboar. Elune the Moon Goddess, Azeroth's one true deity, remains a focus of worship for the night elves and other races, while the world grows warier of what the changed Queen Azshara may attempt in the coming future.

Most of the inhabitants of northern Kalimdor — namely the night elves, but also the furbolgs and the satyrs — worship or revere the Ancients. The night elves worship Azeroth's only deity, the eternal moon goddess Elune. They revere most of the other Ancients, especially Cenarius, the only Ancient to spend considerable time on the physical plane. They also honor the moon goddess's companions, including Agamaggan, Aviana and Malorne. The furbolgs venerate the bear twins, Ursoc and Ursol; and the evil satyrs revere Lord Xavius. The Ancients rarely interfere with life on Azeroth, but these races hold fast in their fervent beliefs that the Ancients exist and are watching events unfold.

RPG Ancients

The following are characters stated to be Ancients only in the RPG.

• Azshara
• Elune
• Xavius