RazorOutlaw wrote:
My sympathy mainly lines in the fact that as of Warcraft 2, humans were still pretty much a noble race getting reamed by the Horde. Even more so when as of Warcraft 3 I'd read that the Orcs pushed as far as Lordaeron. I might also point out that the humans had their lands forcibly invaded more than once, and it was shit on by zombies AND demons to boot.
I'm not up to snuff on all of the lore brought in by WoW, and what evil factions the Alliance now holds, but it still bothers me to run around the Plaguelands and realize it used to be populated by something other than slavering beasts.
I'll give you that having your entire planet pulled apart by a member of your own faction is pretty horrible, but a lot of my sympathy lies with what happened in the first three games.
Well, so far I know, from personal gameplay, that you have the nastiness of the Scarlet Crusade (fanatical Humans esconded away in Lordaeron dedicated to purging the Undead and who have gotten so paranoid and mad that they believe everyone else is tainted and will attack on sight, usually torturing any prisoners they take) though I've read that later on you find out that their leader is a demon in disguise. Another quest outcome seems to indicate at corruption even in the Argent Dawn or its offshoot organization the Brotherhood.
Stormwind has problems with corrupt nobility that has ties with the violent Defias Brotherhood - a gang of thieves and thugs that have driven out farmers from Stormwind's valuable Westfall farm region and who were founded by the leader of the Stonemasons Guild that rebuilt Stormwind after the First War (depending on source, they were either unrightfully cheated of recompensation by the nobility or they were made up of corrupt masons who offered their work for free and then demanded exhorbitant recompense when the work was finished), and which has abandoned Westfall, Redridge, and Darkshire to face the threats to their survival (Defias, Blackrock Orcs, and seperate armies of Undead and Worgen respectively). Of course, it later turns out that both the nobility and the Defias have been manipulated and used to extents by Onyxia, the daughter of Deathwing, who is masquerading as Lady Katrana Prestor, a counselor to Stormwind's court; she even arranged the kidnapping of King Varian Wrynn when he traveled to see Jaina Proudmoore at Theramore so she'd have a child-king to manipulate.
I haven't seen any really bad similar corruption by the Ironforge Dwarves, just them having to deal with Dark Irons. But my most advanced character is only Level 42 (or 43, can't remember ATM), so I can't be certain that there's nothing later on.
As for the Night Elves, their worst problem seems to be Malfurion Stormrage's successor as Archdruid; Fandrel Staghelm is arrogant and hot-tempered, clashing with Tyrande regularly, grew Teldrassil when Malfurion disappeared in the Emerald Dream, is researching a grain with disturbing properties, and I've been told some quests later in the game hint to him being responsible for Malfurion's absence - which I find certainly possible given his attitude.
And then there are the Draenei, who seem pure enough. I've not seen any sign of corruption, at all, from them.
