Moon Guard

The Moon Guard (also spelled the Moonguard or simply the Guard) were an elite group of night elf sorcerers who served as protectors and peace-keepers in the ancient Kaldorei Empire, which dominated much of Ancient Kalimdor. The order was established long before even the War of the Ancients and its members included talented spell-casters who dedicated themselves to upholding the peace and security of the Kaldorei nation. Owing allegiance to no noble or lord, save for Queen Azshara herself, the Moon Guard played an active role in the War of the Ancients, operating from the city of Suramar. Night elves born with golden eyes were recruited into the Moon Guard.

In more recent times, the Moon Guard has once more become active and is currently involved in a brutal conflict with the Nightborne, on the Broken Isles.

Foundation
In ancient times, the rise of magic in night elf society brought with it a variety of new abilities and concerns. Given the power of the Well, it seemed obvious that combat skill alone would not suffice to counteract magical attack. Only a few scattered soldiers were found to possess magical skills, and such abilities were minor at best.

Thus, a number of magic-based fighting organizations sprang up, each of them meant to defend a critical population center. Spellcasters of sufficient strength and ambition sought out the capital city of the night elf civilization, hoping to earn favor with some heroic deed. Eventually this particular group gained the monarchy's official sanction, and they were named the Moon Guard. Loyal only to the ruler of the night elves, the Moon Guard soon regarded other spellcasters with disdain and expected them by default to possess inferior magical ability.

War of the Ancients
Nevertheless, they believed that Lord Counsellor Xavius was the influence behind the Highborne's envy and not Queen Azshara — whom they worshipped. Before the outbreak of the War of the Ancients, the Moon Guard served Queen Azshara, but when the demons of the Burning Legion came, it joined the Kaldorei Resistance along with the noble class against the Highborne. The Kaldorei Resistance, including the Moon Guard, were commanded by Lord Ravencrest. After the assassination of Lord Ravencrest, Lord Stareye took up the leadership of the resistance until he too was killed by the doomguard. The Kaldorei Resistance, however, regrouped under the famous Jarod Shadowsong and became victorious against the demons.

Illidan Stormrage was once the personal sorcerer of Ravencrest, and later led the sorcerers of the Moon Guard when they fought against the Burning Legion. After Illidan's supposed defection, Rhonin took over. Despite being a foreigner, the Moon Guard treated him with respect for his power and leadership. When the Well of Eternity imploded, the Moon Guard lost the greatest part of its power. In addition, the war and its catastrophic consequences led to widespread condemnation of arcane magic. Thus, the organization was disbanded, and its surviving members renounced the sorcery that had once been their primary purpose.

Dissolved
Some of them turned instead to druidism, seeking to redress the imbalance their magic had caused. These former sorcerers consequently became some of the first students of Malfurion Stormrage. As a result, the druidic arts were long viewed as a man's purview. After the Great Sundering, the night elves dissolved all organizations that made use of such magic, including the Moon Guard.

Legion
Despite being dissolved in mainstream night elf society, some of the Moon Guard remains active on the Broken Isles, at the Moon Guard Stronghold near the city of Suramar. However, they have come under attack from the Nightborne. They were slaughtered hours after the shield over Suramar fell. The betrayal was not instantaneous, and books were lent to old friends. The hippogryphs who make it their home continue to defend it, unable to accept that the Moon Guard is no more. The final three survivors of the Moon Guard - Thalrenus Rivertree, Syrana Starweaver, and Lothrius Mooncaller - travel to Shal'Aran to join the Nightfallen rebellion based there.

Insurrection
Lothrius Mooncaller joins the united nightborne, night elf, blood elf, and high elf army, wanting to pay the Nightborne of the city back tenfold for what they did to the stronghold. He is notably a part of the Nightborne camp, separate from the night elves from Darnassus.

Following the downfall of Elisande, the remaining survivors believe it will be possible to revive the Moon Guard.

It's unknown what became of the Moon Guard after the nightborne joined the Horde.

Members
Tradition dictated that only night elf men be permitted into the Moon Guard's ranks. Moreover, sorcerers who sought to join the Moon Guard were required to demonstrate considerable talent in wielding arcane magic.

Unnamed

 * Wounded Moonfall Defender
 * Moonfall Acolyte
 * Moon Guard Acolyte

In the RPG
Moonguard crafted Frostfathom.

Notes and trivia

 * The Moon Guard have a long tradition of training hippogryphs for battle.
 * Aspirants for the rank captain patrol the Arcway for three weeks without rest, the vast labyrinth putting their skills as a Guard to the test.
 * In their role as guardians, many of the spells most proficiently used by the Moon Guard were those that could non-violently incapacitate an opponent, often by rendering them unconscious.
 * The server Moon Guard US is named after the organization.