- For the Warcraft III structure, see Moon Well (Warcraft III).
In World of Warcraft, a moonwell (aka moon well) has both a historical and in-game meaning:
- An upwelling of magical waters created by the night elves to maintain and restore their magical powers. Little is known about the first moon well or how the moon wells proliferated through Azeroth, despite the taboo on overt magical practice among the night elves.
- An in-game phenomenon that looks like a stone pool filled with silvery glowing water, sometimes used as a resource for quests and a catalyst for making [Mooncloth] and primal mooncloth. These wells appear almost exclusively in night elf lands.
It is sometimes referred to as a moon well, but referred to in-game as a moonwell.
History of moonwells
Moon wells are hallowed repositories of the sacred waters of the Well of Eternity, the pool of energy that gives life to the mystical World Tree. When additional water is added, these wells nourish the night elf troops with their life sustaining waters. Additional moon wells become necessary as the night elf forces grow in number.[1] The first step to establishing a moonwell is to gain the blessings of the local wildlife. It is their good will that enables night elves to peacefully coexist, and a moonwell thrives on such energies. After receiving the blessings they are combined into a ritual bundle and imbue the moonwell, followed by water added from a preexisting purified moonwell. Combined with Elune's light, a moonwell can purify its surroundings for years.[2][3]
It is said that Illidan Stormrage contributed through the creation of the Moonwells.[4] likely referring to his creation of the second Well of Eternity.
Moonwells are bound to the magic of nature and the light of Elune, and are known as places of healing for both the land around them and those who drink of their waters. Magi and other spellcasters can refresh their mana in these pools — a gift from Elune to Azeroth's other defenders.[5]
Moonwells are used to bless food, and offers protection against fire,[6] and are used to bless [Warden's Arrow].[7]
The night elven druids take advantage of its properties, and the Sentinels revere the wells as shrines to Elune.[8]
Moonwells are also one of the few things that can sate a high elf's magical addiction.[citation needed] It should be noted however, that night elves do not like high elves in their lands, let alone near the Moonwells.[citation needed]
Corrupted moonwells seem to have the ability to transform people into satyrs.[9]
The waters of the moonwell that rests under the boughs of the Oracle Tree are said to possess the very essence of Elune's Powers[10] while the Moonwell of Purity is protected by Elune's power.[11]
In-game uses of a Moonwell
- Tailors can purify [Felcloth] into [Mooncloth] and create [Primal Mooncloth] only when standing at or in a moonwell.
- Various quests such as Quest:As Water Cascades and Quest:The Sacred Flame involves tapping water from moonwells.
Moonwell locations
Kalimdor
- Ashenvale: Various places:
- Azshara: Talrendis Point [10, 74]
- Southern moonwell, east of Mystral Lake [60, 72]
- Darkshore: Various places, Ruins of Auberdine [37, 44], Lor'danel
- Desolace: Nijel's Point
- Felwood: Various places (The first two are corrupted, but can still be used to purify [Felcloth] into [Mooncloth]):
- Jaedenar [35, 60]
- Ruins of Constellas [32, 66]
- Whisperwind Grove (uncorrupted)
- Feralas: Feathermoon Stronghold, Dire Maul
- Moonglade: Nighthaven [48, 33][46, 45]
- Silithus: Cenarion Hold [48, 37]
- Stonetalon Mountains: Stonetalon Peak
- Teldrassil: Various settlements, including Dolanaar
- Darnassus: Temple of the Moon (cannot be used in tailoring)
- Thousand Needles: Thalanaar
- Tanaris: Caverns of Time (near the entrance for the Battle of Mount Hyjal, can be used to create Primal Mooncloth as of Feb 14, 2008).
Eastern Kingdoms
- Duskwood: In the Twilight Grove[49, 33]
- Ghostlands: On Shalandis Isle [13, 25]
- Wetlands: Greenwarden's Grove
- Stormwind City: In the Park. Destroyed by Deathwing along with the rest of the Park.
Outland
- Blade's Edge Mountains: Evergrove [62, 39], Sylvanaar [37, 63]
- Terokkar Forest: Cenarion Thicket [45, 24]
- Zangarmarsh: Cenarion Refuge [80, 64]
Northrend
Firelands
- Molten Front: Malfurion's Breach (phased, based on character completion of quests)
Draenor
- Shadowmoon Valley: Starfall Outpost (cannot be used in tailoring)
- Ashran: Stormshield, night elf camp behind the auction house (cannot be used in tailoring)
Broken Isles
None of the moonwells on the Broken Isles can be used in tailoring.
- Val'sharah: Lightsong, Dreamgrove, road to the Dreamgrove
- Suramar: Irongrove Retreat (after completing Quest:Eminent Grow-main)
In the RPG
Moonwells were/are created by the night elves to harness the energy of the moon, very much like a solar panel except in this case from the moon. In WarCraft 3, the Moon Well was the night elven farm structure that also had the ability to heal friendly units, and it had mana that only recovered at night. In World of Warcraft, moon wells are typically only cosmetic or quest related. Some newer players used to sometimes be seen standing in a moon well after combat, with the uninformed belief that it is healing them faster (As was similar in Warcraft 3). Tenaron Stormgrip in Aldrassil says that the water of the moonwell is brought from the Well of Eternity, and that sentinels keep them as shrines of Elune.
Enchanted pools throughout the Moonglade give the night elves their spiritual power and feed the World Tree that stands atop Hyjal Summit. The shimmering waters within give off a blue light, causing the moon wells to glow slightly in the night. They are scattered throughout the forest, often near giant standing stones covered in ancient runes.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Warcraft III manual, pg. 60
- ^ Quest:Homeward Bounding
- ^ Quest:Eminent Grow-main
- ^ World of Warcraft Battle Chest Guide, pg. 153
- ^ World of Warcraft: Stormrage, pg. 149
- ^ Quest:Filling the Moonwell
- ^ Quest:Hyjal Recycling Program
- ^ Quest:Crown of the Earth
- ^ Well of Corruption: "...now corrupted, and used to bring forth more satyrs"
- ^ Quest:Teldrassil: The Burden of the Kaldorei
- ^ Quest:A Trip to the Moonwell
- ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 204-205