Ysera

Ysera
Title	The Awakened,; Mother of Dreams,; Aspect of Dreams (former),; Emerald Queen,; She of the Dreaming,; Awakened Dreamer,; The Dreamer (former),; Mistress of Dreams,; Lady of Dreams,; Queen of Dreams,[citation needed] ; Green Aspect (former)
Gender	Female
Race(s)	Green dragon / Wyrm (Dragonkin)
Affiliation(s)	Green dragonflight, Wyrmrest Accord, Guardians of Hyjal, Dreamweavers
Former affiliation(s)	Dragon Aspects (formerly), Nightmare dragonflight
Occupation	Leader of the green dragonflight, former Dragon Aspect, ruler and guardian of the Emerald Dream
Location	Various
Status	Deceased, spirit lives on within the Dream ; Killable
Relative(s)	Eranikus (consort), Merithra (daughter), Alexstrasza (sister), Dralad (brother), Caelestrasz, Vaelastrasz (nephews), Cenarius (adopted son)
Student(s)	Cenarius
Companion(s)	Aessina

"The Dreamer has awoken."

Ysera is the former Dragon Aspect of the green dragonflight, charged with keeping watch over the flowering wilds of Azeroth from within the Emerald Dream. Bound to this ethereal realm, she descended into an endless trance and became known thereafter as the Dreamer.^[10] She would later fight off the Emerald Nightmare and the corruption of her children.

Ysera, now nicknamed the Awakened, recently awoke from her slumber within the Emerald Dream during the events of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, though she was not yet able to consistently tell the difference between dream and reality; while she was still sane, she was not yet entirely coherent.^[11] Ysera aided the Guardians of Hyjal when the Twilight's Hammer and other forces of Ragnaros attacked Mount Hyjal. She, along with her fellow Aspects, eventually gave up their titan-given power to stop their mad brother Deathwing during his last stand.

She continued to provide guidance and wisdom to all who revere nature, acting as mentor to the druids of Azeroth.^[12] Ysera was ultimately corrupted by the satyr Xavius and the Emerald Nightmare, and was, with much sadness, slain by Tyrande Whisperwind and the Cenarion Circle.

Ysera is also the foster mother of the demigod Cenarius.^[13]

Background

Dawn of the Aspects (past)

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Dawn of the Aspects art — The Dragon Aspects, before they were Aspects, facing Galakrond.

Ysera was one of the more intelligent of proto-dragons, capable of broken speech unlike most of the other, more animal-like of her kind. Born smaller than the average proto-drake, Ysera was sick and a yellowish color. She and her two siblings, Alexstrasza and Dralad, where the only survivors of their clutch. While someone as small as Ysera would normally be killed soon after hatching, Alexstrasza kept care of her little sister.

On a day when dozens of proto-dragons gathered to hunt caribou, Ysera approached a blue-white proto-dragon named Malygos to ask him about her brother's corpse, which Malygos had found alongside Alexstrasza. She said that there was another corpse she and Alexstrasza had found, though Alexstrasza reprimanded her, saying they had agreed not to speak of that. The two argued, but they were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Galakrond. After the gigantic terror had flown away, a confident grey proto-dragon named Neltharion taunted them all for being afraid.

Ysera and Alexstrasza would later come across the shriveled up corpses of two proto-dragons, including Malygos's old companion Tarys. A small and terrified purple proto-dragon insisted that Galakrond had devoured the dead dragons, which matched theories Malygos had expressed to the two sisters. They went to fetch Malygos so he could meet the purple dragon. After his arrival, the corpses stirred and attacked as undead. Alexstrasza, Malygos, and Ysera tore them apart.

Like the other proto-dragons Ysera would gather under the command of Talonixa. However unlike the alpha Ysera would be opposed to violence and preached her belief that peace could be made with Galakrond and the not-living, to the dismay of her friends. Ysera's dream of peace was supported by Coros who used his sway to help Talonixa give Ysera a chance to talk of her plan with everyone else. While seemingly supporting her Malygos later learned that Coros used the meeting as a distraction so that he could join up Galakrond unnoticed following it's conclusion in which Talonixa swayed the other proto-dragons to her side on fighting Galakrond.

Witnessing Coros's betrayal and subsequent devouring by Galakrond, Malygos would return to the others only to find Ysera and Talonixa in conflict over the fate of the bitten proto-dragons who had began to act as Galakrond. Seemingly subjecting to Ysera's desire for them to still live, Talonixa decreed that the bitten would have to be quarantined for the safety of everyone else. Agreeing to this condition Ysera watch the bitten dragons be herded into a canyon and then watched in shock as Talonixa collapsed it, eventually killing all those trapped inside. It after this event that Ysera would notice that Malygos had been bitten on his leg and would keep silent about it.

Vehemently opposed to fighting Ysera become somewhat fanatical in her quest for peace to the point where heedless to the consequences she approached Galakrond, even as Talonixa and the others were fighting his undead minions. Even as the proto-dragon army put a dent in Galakrond's not-living forces, Ysera was only saved from certain by the timely intervention by her sister. As Galakrond began to fight the Proto-dragon army, the Watcher Tyr used one of the not-living to catch the sisters attention.

Some time after, Malygos found his way to the three of them and Ysera attacked him when he tried to kill the bound undead proto-dragon. As Tyr spoke with Malygos Ysera freed the undead proto-dragon in order to make it see reason, an action which could of killed her if not for Malygos's timely intervention. After destroying the undead Malygos briefly succumbed to the hunger for flesh, but Ysera was able to recall him to his senses and Malygos was then cured by Tyr. Tyr then proposed hunting Galakrond, and decided to stand by the proto-dragons this time, revealing a war hammer from beneath his cloak. Lastly he pulled out an octagonal artifact, moving it to the three proto-dragons as it glowed, with the promise that he was "trying to ensure some future."

Ysera would witness Galakrond returning outside the cavern, chasing Neltharion and Nozdormu. Malygos and Tyr moved to the entrance to witness their battle, and Tyr was overjoyed at the proto-dragons' coordination. Alexstrasza, Malygos and a now full-sized Tyr joined in the battle. Temporarily stunning Galakrond with his hammer, Tyr ordered the proto-dragons to flee as he stayed to battle the monster.

An unknown time later, Tyr met with the five proto-dragons, informing them that Galakrond was sleeping in a mountain range to the north and that it was the perfect time to attack. He told them to eat before doing so, and just before they left Tyr held the octagonal artifact before Nozdormu and Neltharion as he had to the others before. After doing so, Tyr vanished in the blink of an eye.

Tyr and the proto-dragons met up near Galakrond's slumbering place, which Kalecgos would later note in his visions was nowhere near Galakrond's Rest. Save for Ysera, they all began the battle against Galakrond, who had grown larger and even more mutated than before. Throughout the battle, the octagonal object on Tyr's belt glowed ever brighter. When Galakrond suddenly expanded in size without warning, Tyr's hammer could no longer harm him. With a flap of wings, Galakrond called up a massive wind that scattered the fighters. Ysera suddenly appeared and Galakrond attempted to devour her, but Tyr silenced his laughter with a mighty blow from his hammer. Tyr pulled Galakrond to the ground and began to mercilessly beat him even as Galakrond began mutating further - as he began to resemble a true dragon.

In the battle, Tyr's hammer and the strange artifact were knocked free from his person. Tyr reached to grab the artifact, just as Galakrond's massive maw came within range and the monster clamped down on Tyr's hand. Malygos moved to save Tyr, examining the bloody stump as Galakrond roared in triumph and grew ever larger. An unconscious Tyr was brought to a frozen lake by the proto-dragons, only to vanish from the shore. After being attacked by two not-living Ysera and the others found they could not find Tyr where they left him, concluding that some beast must have taken him for food.

After recuperating Ysera and the others decide to hunt down Galakrond in order to kill him once and for all or die trying. Ysera, along with the others would be stunned to learn that Galakrond had began to devour the not-living in order to feed his hunger and shortly after would engage in battle with the behemoth. During the battle Ysera would work closely with Nozdormu and Galakrond would ultimately be killed after Malygos and Neltharion forced a boulder down his throat.

After killing Galakrond Ysera and the others were approached by two other watchers, who revealed that they had taken Tyr to help him. Agreeing to protect Azeroth with her friends the two watchers were joined by two thers and the titans acted through the keepers to transform Ysera and the others into the Dragon Aspects, where one of their first acts was to encourage the rumor that Titans created them from Galakrond. This was done to prevent the truth about Galakrond from leaking to ensure no one would follow in the behemoth's footsteps.^[14]

Eonar the titan blessed Alexstrasza's younger sister, the lithe green dragon Ysera, with a portion of nature's influence. Ysera fell into an eternal trance, bound to the waking Dream of Creation. Known as the Dreamer, she would watch over the growing wilds of the world from her verdant realm, the Emerald Dream.^[15]

The Winterskorn War

When fallen Keeper Loken instigated the Winterskorn War, fought between the Winterskorn vrykul and the earthen, Tyr and his allies fought on the earthen's side. However when Tyr realized that they could not win against the Winterskorn clan alone he called upon the Dragon Aspects for aid. The noble Aspects grew enraged upon seeing so many dead titan-forged. Their fury only deepened when they learned that proto-dragons had been enslaved. Without hesitation, the Aspects took wing and unleashed their powers on the Winterskorn's iron ranks.

Much as they had done in the fight against Galakrond, the aspects worked in unison to overwhelm and the vrykul army. Alexstrasza held the Winterskorn at bay with towering walls of enchanted fire. Malygos drained the magical essence that fueled the constructs and golems, rendering them useless. He also shattered the enchanted snares that bound the proto-dragons and set the beasts free. Neltharion raised mountains from the earth to corral and contain the vrykul and their giant masters. Lastly, Ysera and Nozdormu combined their powers to create a spell that would bring a decisive end to the conflict.

Ysera and Nozdormu enveloped the Winterskorn in a cloying mist that caused them the titan-forged to fall asleep. These incapacitated creatures were then locked away in tombs cities across northern Kalimdor. They would not know the peaceful slumber of the Emerald Dream. Rather, they would languish in a timeless, unconscious slumber for thousands upon thousands of years.^[16]

War of the Ancients

Chronicle Nordrassil blessing — Alexstrasza, Ysera, and Nozdormu blessing Nordrassil.

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

According to War of the Ancients, Ysera was said to be the mother of Cenarius, and close friends of Malorne. It was later revealed that Ysera was only the adoptive mother. Ysera taught Cenarius the secrets of the Emerald Dream, forming a close bond with him.

Ysera was one of the Dragon Aspects that gave some of her power to the Demon Soul, not knowing Neltharion would betray the Aspects.

After the War of the Ancients, Alexstrasza planted a magical acorn from the Mother Tree G'Hanir within the second Well of Eternity, created by Illidan. The Tree grew large till it reached the heavens and was crowned Nordrassil. Ysera enchanted the tree so that it would be bound to the Emerald Dream.

Day of the Dragon

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Chronicle3 Alexstrasza — The Aspects battling Deathwing as Alexstrasza breaks free from the Dragonmaw.

At the behest of Krasus, Ysera, Malygos and Nozdormu grudgingly agreed to come out of their lairs and fight Deathwing. Due to the power they had given to the Demon Soul, they were no match for the Black Aspect - until the mage Rhonin was able to take the Demon Soul from Nekros and destroy it, releasing the powers the dragons had given to it ten thousand years earlier. With their powers restored, and the newly-freed Alexstrasza joining the fight, Deathwing was forced to retreat.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Some time before the events of World of Warcraft, Ysera learned about the plans of Atal'ai and Hakkari, to summon Hakkar into Azeroth in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar, and destroyed the temple sending him beneath the water.

Ysera fell silent when the Emerald Nightmare began, and some of her most trusted lieutenants (Lethon, Emeriss, Taerar and Ysondre) were warped by a dark power within the Emerald Dream.

Wrath of the Lich King

New Ysera (Emerald Dragonshrine) — Ysera in the Dragonblight.

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Ysera appears at the Emerald Dragonshrine in Dragonblight. Recently, Nishera the Garden Keeper asked Ysera for help against the Scourge — who were raising frost wyrms at the other dragonshrines. Instead, Ysera, believed by Nishera to be affected by the Nightmare, commanded the defenders of the Emerald Dragonshrine to attack anyone not of the green dragonflight.^[17]

Ulduar

During the battle against Yogg-Saron in Ulduar, Ysera appears in night-elf form, along with the other Aspects, during a flashback of the creation of the Dragon Soul, ten thousand years earlier. Oddly enough, Ysera's eyes are open in the vision, the reverse of her usual habit; they are also blue, a change from both Ysera's green and the night elf norm of silver or gold.

Against the Nightmare Lord

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following the defeat of the Lich King, the situation in the Emerald Dream became even more dire, as the insidious Nightmare Lord unfolded his master plan to enslave Azeroth. Though Lethon tried to kidnap her, Ysera defended herself and she led the green dragons, ancients and druids against the Nightmare. Later when Thura was about to release Malfurion, Ysera led her dragons to a tree where Malfurion was trapped. When the archdruid was free, Ysera saw her consort, Eranikus, trapped with the Nightmare and she rushed off to help him. However, the trapped consort was in fact Lethon in Eranikus' disguise and Ysera got trapped within the Nightmare. The Emerald Dream's nightmare worsened and thus the Nightmare was able to completely swallow both, the Emerald Dream and Azeroth.

The Aspect remained imprisoned within the Eye of Ysera for most of the remainder of the crisis, working with Lucan Foxblood to assist Malfurion in stopping the Nightmare. Ysera was freed again by her consort Eranikus, who sacrificed himself to free her. Ysera was forced to leave the remainder of the battle to Malfurion, who was ultimately successful in stopping Xavius and largely halting the Nightmare. Ysera with Alexstrasza, later presided over the long-awaited wedding of Malfurion and Tyrande, and gave her blessing to Teldrassil, which she had withheld when the tree was first made.^[18]^[19]

Twilight of the Aspects

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Chronicle3 Hour of Twilight — Ysera's vision of the Hour of Twilight, with Deathwing impaled on Wyrmrest Temple.

During a meeting at Wyrmrest Temple, Ysera arrived unannounced, her eyes open. Now known as Ysera the Awakened, she revealed that she had seen a vision of the Hour of Twilight, and the end of all life on Azeroth. In order to prevent this terrible future, she called upon the aid of Thrall, setting him on a quest to find Nozdormu within the timeways.

Ysera later joined Thrall and the other Aspects in battle against the Twilight dragonflight in the skies above the Dragonblight, and helped defeat the chromatic monstrosity, Chromatus.

The Cataclysm era

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Ysera helped Malfurion Stormrage and Hamuul Runetotem to protect Mount Hyjal and Nordrassil. She later aided in the restoration of the world tree and the war against Ragnaros.

Ysera was present at both, the meeting of restoring Nordrassil and the wedding of Thrall and Aggra.

Charge of the Aspects

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following his Elemental Bonds ordeal, Ysera realized that Thrall had established a connection with the earth that went far beyond mere communication with the elements. She helped the shaman understand and test his new abilities.

While meditating, Ysera had a flashback to the creation of the Dragon Soul. Realizing that it might be the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Deathwing, Ysera conferred with the other Aspects. Kalecgos suggested that the artifact could be modified to harm Deathwing, while Nozdormu proposed a plan to retrieve it from the past when it was in its purest form - during the War of the Ancients.^[20]

Hour of Twilight

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Well of Eternity - Ysera — Ysera in the Well of Eternity instance.

Ysera's past self appears in the Well of Eternity instance.

Ysera also appears in the Dragon Soul raid. Like the other Aspects, she bestows her power upon the Dragon Soul so Thrall can use it to vanquish Deathwing once and for all.

The battle for Azeroth ended when a final attack from the Dragon Soul, infused with the essence of each Aspect, completely obliterated Deathwing. Alexstrasza stated that by averting the Hour of Twilight, the Aspects had fulfilled their great purpose. With their ancient powers expended, Ysera and the other remaining Aspects became mortal.

The Aspects fighting Deathwing.
Ysera during the final battle against Deathwing.
Ysera in her humanoid form with the other Aspects after Deathwing is defeated.

Dawn of the Aspects (present)

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Adhering to their tradition to meet when the two moons of Azeroth were at particular cycle Ysera and the other former aspects gathered together. With the lost of her aspect powers Ysera informed Merithra that the fight against the Emerald Nightmare would be fought by the druids, such as Naralex. At the end of the brief meeting Ysera, along with Alexstrasza and Nozdormu, decided that they would officially end the Accord one month from now, to the shock of Kalecgos.^[21]

Later on Ysera and the others responded Kalecgos's request for a meeting, where using an artifact from Watcher Tyr reminded them about their past battle against Galakrond and that they didn't need to be aspects to help safeguard the world. Agreeing with him, the other three decided to continue their affairs in protecting Azeroth and that the Accord would continue. They also swore Kalecgos to secrecy about the nature of Galakrond, as they did not want anyone to follow in his dark path.^[22]

War Crimes

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Ysera was present at the trial of Garrosh Hellscream.^[23]

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

Nightmare Ysera — Ysera corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare.

Ysera Purified — Elune lifting Ysera's spirit.

Ghost of Ysera — Ysera's ghost in the restored Dream.

When Cenarius begins to succumb to the Emerald Nightmare, Malfurion, Elothir, Koda Steelclaw, and an adventurer in place of Thaon Moonclaw summon Ysera to ask for her aid.^[2] Ysera believes that the only way to save the Forest Lord is with the Tears of Elune, and sends an adventurer to a nearby temple of Elune to retrieve them.^[24]

However, Xavius attacks the temple and steals the Tears of Elune before Malfurion can use them to save Cenarius.^[25] Without the Tears, Cenarius succumbs to corruption, and Malfurion pursues Xavius in his rage at the loss of his shan'do.^[26] Unfortunately, Xavius is not done taking from Malfurion: when Ysera and an adventurer locate Xavius, he is able to use the Tears to corrupt the former Aspect herself, turning her into a dragon of Nightmare. Xavius and Ysera retreat with Malfurion held captive, followed by the adventurer and Tyrande Whisperwind.^[27]

A reunion with Tyrande is something Xavius has longed for for many years. With Malfurion held captive, Xavius gives the High Priestess an ultimatum: she can pursue him and spend her husband's last moments at his side, or she can return to the Temple of Elune and protect it from Xavius's forces which will be led by Ysera.^[28] Mournful and distraught, Tyrande chooses her goddess and the oath to her order over her love, though the decision hurts her. At the temple Ysera is put to rest, and with her last breath she states that the nightmare felt so real.

Upon her death, Elune reached down and cleansed Ysera's spirit and body as well as the Tears of Elune. Ysera's spirit was seen lifted and disappeared in a dragon-shaped constellation, leaving the outline of her body in new plant growth.^[29]

In the final battle against Xavius, the Dream of Ysera helps players fight off the Nightmare.^[9] After the Emerald Dream is cleansed following Xavius' defeat, the ghost of Ysera can be seen walking towards a Void-touched flower in a cave.

Appearance and abilities

Ysera is green, and her skin glitters with countless emeralds for scales. Her physical form is ghostly, ethereal, like watching a living dream or vision. The Emerald Dream is a place where all living beings dream when sleeping. It is a place of where sentient beings have dreams of hope, and faith for a better tomorrow. From the Emerald Dream, Ysera can observe all lesser races. Her eyes are always closed, although you can see her pupils move constantly below her eyelids as if watching many dreams at once.

There are only a few recorded moments in history where Ysera has opened her eyes. When she does, a person can see eyes of many colors, like a rainbow. The eyes of every sentient creature can be seen at once through her eyes. Ysera opened her eyes during the War of the Ancients after seeing Malorne dead, and again when addressing Malfurion Stormrage on his druidic prowess. She opened them another time during the Second War, before Krasus, when he tried to convince her to help free Alexstrasza. Ysera also opened her eyes after she regained her powers during the fight against Deathwing. Ysera fought alongside the other Dragon Aspects against the evil of Deathwing while Rhonin destroyed the Demon Soul. She regained her full powers once the Demon Soul was destroyed. (This story is told in the novel Day of the Dragon.)

Ysera can assume the form of a female from any race, which she chooses depending on whom she is talking to. Often she wears a dress of emerald green, emerald jewellery, and has emerald-green hair.

Ysera avoids and dislikes combat, especially in her realm. When angered, she is terrible, paranoid and impulsive. She keeps herself isolated in the Eye of Ysera within the Emerald Dream, and is rarely seen in the real world. When she does visit the living plane, she shapeshifts into a humanoid form, covered by a green hood, and her eyes are always closed.

When in combat, she attacks with a greenish breath (which Malygos recalled as a breath weapon akin to that of Galakrond's, if not so debilitating),^[30] to put her opponents to sleep, and rarely strikes to kill. She prefers to neutralize her enemies and banish them away from her realm.

Ysera can travel from mind to mind to travel anywhere she wishes by entering the dreams of any living being sleeping. She may enter the dreams of a target to communicate with or warn the sleeping creature. Ysera has the ability to planeshift between the real world and the Emerald Dream.

Locations

Notable appearances
Location	Level range	Health range
Dragonblight	??	438,700
The Mind's Eye	83	7,096
Mount Hyjal	??	2,590,500
Elemental Bonds	??	5,087,000
Dragon Soul	??	467,900
Madness of Deathwing	??	5,181,000
Val'sharah	110	1,039,267
[10-45] The Fate of Val'sharah	??	12,471,204

Quests

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

This section concerns content related to Legion.