The Earthmother and Her Children

Four years ago, for Winter Veil 2013, Erinys created for me a beautiful set of outfits inspired by the Tauren creation myths found on scrolls hanging in the big tent on Elder Rise in Thunder Bluff. Ever since then, I’ve been wanting to actually make those kits in-game for my characters to wear. Although I haven’t created them exactly as Erinys originally designed them, I think that the changes I’ve made are consistent with her vision.

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Before the Age of Memory, the gentle Earthmother breathed upon the golden mists of dawn. Where the amber clouds came to rest, there were endless fields of flowing wheat and barley. This was the basin of her works – the great basket of life and hope.

Endless fields of flowing wheat and barley
Erinys wrote: This is built around one of my favourite items in-game, the conifer cone staff. In my head, the Greatmother is a Shaman so this outfit had to be mail.

Crown of Flame (H), Mantle of the Golden Forest, Khan’s chestpiece, Engraved Girdle, Valorous Earthshatter Kilt, Bloodlust Gauntlets, De’rizu Greaves, Amber Filigreed Doublet, Conifer Cone Staff

Crown of Flame (N), Mantle of the Golden Forest, Khan’s chestpiece, Engraved Girdle, Valorous Earthshatter Kilt, Bloodlust Gauntlets, Amber Filigreed Doublet, Giant Club, Sternhorn’s Shield
Unfortunately, in the current Legion weapon paradigm, Shaman don’t use staves. I’ve made this kit in Resto spec so I could use this club, which seemed like a reasonable substitution, and I’ve picked a quintessentially Tauren shield design to go with it.

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The Earthmother, her heart heavy with her children’s plight, could not bear to watch them fall from grace. In her grief, she tore out her eyes and set them spinning across the endless, starry skies. An’she and Mu’sha, seeking to ease the other’s sorrow, could only chase each other’s faint glow across the sky. The twins still chase one another with every turning of the world.

The Twins: An’she
Erinys wrote: I decided against going for the obvious golds and yellows, choosing to focus more on the dawning and setting sun, those delicate shades which paint the whole sky with just some subtle hints of gold to suggest the sun at its midday peak. The Sun had to be plate, whether I was influenced by those lines from Shakespeare’s Richard III,

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

or perhaps I’ve just pvped too much but it makes me think of arrogant warriors and paladins charging into battle.

Crown of Empowered Fate, Pauldrons of the Souleater, Commander’s Armour, Belt of the Seven Seals, Triton Legplates, Gauntlets of the Righteous Champion, Gothic Sabatons, Amber Filigreed Doublet, Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood

Crown of Empowered Fate, Pauldrons of the Souleater, Commander’s Armour, Belt of the Seven Seals, Triton Legplates, Gothic Plate Gauntlets, Avenger’s Greaves, Amber Filigreed Doublet, Cataclysm’s Edge
The gloves Erinys chose drop from an AQ40 optional boss that is even now very difficult to solo due to its mechanics. So I swapped sets for the gloves and the boots.
Because of Mr Rossi at Blizzard Watch, I think of Ashkandi as a Warrior weapon. So I used this sword instead because it has colors that gorgeously coordinate with the rest of this ensemble and I’ve long wanted to use it for a Ret Paladin kit.

The Twins: Mu’sha
Erinys wrote: This could only be a cloth transmogrification with the Mooncloth Robe at its heart.

Moonsoul Crown, Aurora Mantle, Mooncloth Robe, Relentless Gladiator’s Cord of Salvation, Safeguard Gloves, White Tuxedo Shirt, Redemption

Moonsoul Crown, Aurora Mantle, Mooncloth Robe, Warmongering Gladiator’s Satin Gloves, White Swashbuckler’s Shirt, Staff of the Faithful
At the time that Erinys designed this outfit, the Safeguard Gloves were the closest to all-white gloves that were available. I even farmed them up specifically so that I could later make this kit. In the interim, however, these bright white gloves became available.
This robe has always been difficult to find a good belt for because it really looks better without one. I think Erinys picked a great belt for her original design — but now that belts can be hidden, hiding the belt was definitely what this outfit wanted.

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This tale speaks of how the Earthmother gave the Shu’halo the love of the hunt. The Tauren became great hunters, but one spirit eluded them, Apa’ro, the white stag (called Malorne by the Night Elves.) The Tauren hunted Apa’ro to the ends of Azeroth, and finally the stag fled into the heavens. where his great antlers became tangled in the starts. As the moon, (Mu’sha) chased her brother across the skies, she saw the helpless stag, and immediately fell in love with him.

The White Stag
Erinys wrote: The fact that Malorne’s a Druidic icon, so to speak, meant that this set had to be leather. We know that he is a pure white stag so the Boneshredder set seemed like the perfect starting point for this.

Crown of the Forest Lord, Boneshredder Shoulderguards, Boneshredder Jerkin, Heraldic Belt, Jinxed Hoodoo Kilt, Boneshredder Gloves, Dreamer’s Dragonstaff

Crown of the Forest Lord, Pauldrons of Malorne, Boneshredder Jerkin, Moss Cinch, Jinxed Hoodoo Kilt, Ghostwalker Gloves, Conifer Cone Staff
Because I couldn’t use the Conifer Cone Staff in the Earthmother kit, I decided to use it in the Malorne kit, instead. Then this belt seemed like a good addition, to pull in a little bit more of that orange from the eye in the staff. I felt like this Malorne-themed kit should have something from the Druid tier set named for Malorne, so I’ve put in those shoulders.

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Thank you so very very much again, Erinys! ❤