Naaru



The Naaru (pronounced ['na:ru]) are a race of sapient energy beings. They are the most powerful servants of the main divinity of the Great Dark Beyond, the Light.

History
The Naaru are the main enemy of the Burning Crusade of the demons and their race is the main devoted to the Light. They first appeared in known history when a Naaru battleship rescued the uncursed Eredars and their leader, Velen the Prophet, from their homeland, Argus (plagued by the Titan Sargeras, lord of demons). The Naaru battleship landed upon a new planet, Draenor, where the Eredar began a new life and changed their name, calling themselves the Draenei. The Naaru would reappear during the war against the demon legion on Draenor. The group of Naaru paladins, The Sha'tar, led by A'dal, have their base in Shattrath City (and in the Naaru fortress, Tempest Keep, before conquered by the Blood Elves of Illidan Stormrage's army) and have as main objectives to eradicate the demonic presence from Draenor and prevent the invasion of Azeroth by the corrupted Eredar lord Kil'jaeden and his burning legion. In the last battle at the blood elf fortress, Sunwell Plateau, the Sha'tar Naaru M'uru fought as well, but he fell and was cursed by the demons and transformed in a void energy being, Entropius. When the Azerothian army destroyed Kil'Jaeden (albeit temporarily), they used M'uru's heart to remove the curse from the Sunwell and terminate the war.

In the new Draenor timeline created during World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, the naaru again rescued the homeworld of orcs and draenei from the legion.

Years after, during the Forth Burning Legion Invasion of Azeroth, the Naaru played a major role. A powerful Naaru commander named Xe'ra, in charge to command the Army of the Light, is rebuilt. In that occasion, the naaru tried to purify the demon hunter Illidan Stormrage from demonic fel energy (energy used by demon hunter to understand and hunt down demons) against his will through "lightbinding", action that brought her to death.

After the legion invasion, in the new Draenor timeline, the victorious naaru started to free their fanatism, fanatism that grew in their draenei followers. the "Lightbound" Draenei and the Naaru began to attack their orc allies, indoctrinating those who surrended and slaying the rebels. The Mag'har orcs found shelter in the main timeline Horde faction and closed the portal they used to escape.

In the events told in "Before the Storm" novel, the former princess of the human kingdom of Lordaeron, Calia Menethil, is killed by Sylvanas Windrunner, the undead elf warchief of the Horde and current queen of Lordaeron, during an attempt of defection of a group of Lordaeron undead citizens, the Desolate Council. The body of Calia Menethil was transported to the Netherlight Temple, one of the most important center of priesthood of the light and seat of the Naaru Saa'ra. There, Saa'ra used the light to practice necromancy on Calia. Now Calia Menethil is the first known "lightforged" undead.

Culture
The Naaru are based on a simple hierarchical structure where a group of naaru is led by a more powerful/ancient/wise one and they are apolitical, with the only interest to serve the Light. Their main enemies are the Void Lords and the Void they serve; the Demons of the Burning Legion; and most generally, death itself (they see the natural death as an imperfection. Many mortals, like those who serve in the army of the light, under direct influence of a naaru, can't die naturally and can't age). They are amoral. The naaru turn their weapons even against allies and civilians in the name of the light, when a major enemy do not menace their power. They are also likely to use prohibited arts against their enemies.

Behind their cold but generous behaviors, the Naaru hide a deep religious fanatism. After helping mortals against a common enemy, a Naaru starts to indoctrinate the population, then those unconvinced are attacked, forcefully indoctrinated via magic and torture. Those who still rebel against the will of the light are executed.

The naaru are the users of the "lightbinding", a magic that purge any type of energy from a mortal, making him a vessel for pure light. A lightbound mortal is gifted with great power in exchange of his freewill. Probably Saa'ra used a necromantic version of the spell to rise Calia Menethil from the grave.

Naarus have also a powerful and evolved technology. Their battleships are capable of lightspeed travel.

Biology
The Naaru have an abstract body, formed by symbols and geometrical forms made of some sort of stone, empowered by the Light, suspended on the floor, generally  blue, green, white or purple colored. Their average height is 2.5 meters. Their leaders are five times bigger the normal naaru and are made by a bright golden light. The Naaru also have telepathic powers that they use for communicate, magical powers and a certain capability of time travel.

Seem that dismemberment is not effective on them. A Naaru whose heart has been separated from the rest of the body lies in a state of unconsciousness. Complete disintegration kills them and any type of corruption transform them in their exact opposites: Void beings.

Appearances
In Game:
 * World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
 * World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor

Books:
 * World of Warcraft: Legion
 * World of Warcraft: Before the Storm