DISCLAIMER: I ran this all by Cantus, and with a few redactions, I've been given the okay to post this. This is purely MY interpretation and theory based on the information we've seen revealed with the latest releases involving the worgen starting quests, and the pre-existing lore. There are a few things that I still need to hammer down, and a couple points in this that I can't expand on due to the NDA, so please don't ask me to. If you spot any major flaws or have a few ideas that could help the flow, please feel free to speak up. Let's try to keep this thread focused on the relationship Gilneans and druidism share, and keep it respectful.




Generations ago, Gilneas was populated by tribes of more uncivilized humans. Over the course of years, civilization developed, and eventually, it gave rise to the nation known a Gilneas. Around the land were strange trees (the ones we've seen in the various screenshots of Gilneas, the Badlands, and other places). It seems these trees created a link to nature that early Gilneans picked up on. These spellcasters used the nature magic in a way similar to the modern mages and their use of arcane magic.

As it turns out, the trees were a type of seal that kept the cursed Druids of the Scythe locked away in the Emerald Dream. The Druids of the Scythe were a sect of night elven druids that worshiped Goldrinn, the wolf spirit. They would assume the form of a large wolf. This form, however powerful, was unstable. The Druids of the Scythe eventually became more feral, and were trapped in the wolf forms. The other druids took it upon themselves to exile their cursed brethren.

Within the Emerald Dream, the cursed druids fell even deeper into their affliction, and soon the worgen were born. For many centuries, they remained exiled and warred with what are presumed to have been the hideous denizens of the Nightmare. There the remained until Velinde received the Scythe of Elune and Archmage Arugal began summoning the worgen to the world of Azeroth once again.

Velinde employed the worgen against the Burning Legion while Arugal's worgen were used against the Scourge. Arugal, whom may have been from Gilneas originally, began experimenting with the worgen ,and eventually was able to cause humans to become afflicted with the ancient druid curse and assume the worgen form. He sent these special worgen to aid Gilneas in their fights to secure their Wall, and the nature mages of Gilneas quickly adapted to using the worgen as their troops.

All went well, until people began disappearing into the woods, never to be seen again. These people were being infected and turning into worgen themselves. Gilneas escaped the Scourge, but fell to another curse. The worgen were taking over.

And then that's where the Cataclysm takes place and you see the beginning quests. At first, you're an uninfected human fighting off the worgen. If you decided to roll a druid, you're basically playing as the Gilnean "nature mage" at first. After the first 6 levels, you're cursed and that's where they use the potion on you that allows you to regain your mind. You help fight off the Forsaken invaders, and eventually come in contact with night elves that have been sent (and presumably led) by Velinde.

You learn of the Druids of the Scythe and are sent to a grove somewhere in Gilneas to perform a ceremony to bring your worgen side back in line. After this, you're no longer a human cursed with the affliction, you're at balance. You're both worgen, and human. You're a Gilnean.

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