A WoW Thread!

[Ivan]

Ding.

[Atra Culpa]

I love how the Axe matches your complexion

[Ivan]

Swinging the Light, with a bit of Shadow this time.

[Atra Culpa]

SAFFO REVERSO!

And the boss was dead.

[Jinx]

The Worgen, a treatise.

Spoiler

By Suzaku on WoW.com comments:

A night elf druid sect, the Druids of the Pack, had a wolf form and worshipped Goldrinn. This is long, long ago. Their form was dangerous and they left night elf society because it was forbidden. They settled in Tal'doren, the Wild Home, around a dead tree, in what is now the Blackwald of Gilneas. They became savagekin and killed their leader for trying to steal one of Goldrinn's fang from their little shrine. A new leader emerged and taught the Druids of the Pack to control their forms, presumably creating the Scythe, and renaming the sect the Druids of the Scythe.

The Druids of the Scythe eventually ended up fighting a losing battle against some demonic forces and gave up their humanity for power, becoming the first of the cursed worgen. They spread their curse to others, but were soon captured and trapped in the Emerald Dream by the night elves. They were supposed to slumber for eternity beneath the dreamform of Tal'doren.

In time, Ur did research on the worgen, as some of them still remained in the wild, and they became a sort of folklore creature. In his research, he confirms that they exist, and that they dwell in a "world of nightmare", which we now know is the Emerald Dream. Based on his descriptions, it is clear that the Emerald Nightmare may be involved. Ur determines that there are ways to reach this world and to summon them, but warns against it.

Arugal finds Ur's research and begins conducting his own, believing that the worgen can be used to combat the Scourge. He carries out this research on behalf of Genn Greymane, and eventually summons them, but things go terribly wrong, as we all know.

Elsewhere, Velinde obtains the Scythe after praying to Elune for help in clearing Ashenvale of demons. Whether or not Elune was actually involved is unknown, and some new quests hint that the Scythe was previously used by Arugal in his research. At any rate, using the Scythe allows her to see into the worgen's home, where they fight the Lords of Emerald Flame; another referance to the Emerald Dream/Nightmare. She summons them, they go wild. She hears about Arugal's research and tries to track him down, but loses the Scythe in Duskwood and goes missing.

Adventurers eventually slay Arugal, but he is raised by the San'layn on behalf of the Lich King, to create soldiers for the Scourge. Through unspecified circumstance, the Scythe also seems to have made its way to Grizzly Hills. Arugal's attempts to create the wolfcult are foiled, however, and the Scythe is apparantly recovered by the night elves.

Elsewhere, in Gilneas, the Gilneans deal with the rampaging worgen summoned by Arugal, many becoming cursed themselves. As the curse spreads through the country, the Cataclysm occurs and the Forsaken attack. Admist these attacks, the night elves arrive with the Scythe to lend their aid.

The night elves lose the Scythe to the Forsaken, who wish to use it to control the worgen, but they are able to recover it. The night elves use the Scythe, and moonwells in Tal'doren, to bless the worgen and help them gain control over their new forms.

The Gilneans escape the ruins of Gilneas with the night elves, traveling to Darnassus where they make a new home for themselves. The Gilnean harvest witches (primitive, pagan druids with basic skills in nature magic) are taken in by the night elf druids and taught their ways. The Gilneans join the Alliance.

That's that. Nothing confusing, no retcons. Some more details won't be revealed until the Curse of the Worgen comics are released, however. They said at Comic Con that it would include the creation of the Scythe of Elune.

I found it very helpful to put everything in perspective.

And one last thing:

Spoiler

A speculated means for the Scythe of Elune to get to Grizzly Hills is the Dark Riders of Duskwood. They may have been agents of the Lich King searching for the Scythe. After all, Arugal is resurrected by the San'layn to make an army of Worgen for the LK.