Summary
AWorld of Warcraftplayer recently discovered dialogue that states Earthen inThe War Withincan freely change their gender, hair-like wires, and other physical traits via different processes. This clever lore not only explains how Earthen first got their appearance, but gives an in-universe reason for how the Barber shop feature works for them inWorld of Warcraft.
The Earthen are a race of stone Dwarves that fans unlock as an Allied Race inWorld of Warcraft: The War Within. Denizens of Khaz Algar, these Earthen aredifferent from their Dwarven cousins inWoW, featuring unique accents and cultures on top of their physical traits.
However, oneWorld of Warcraftplayer discovered some new lore that explains why Earthen look the way they do. While exploring thealpha forWorld of Warcraft: The War Within,WoWfan and streamer Haughty Chicken found Wireweaver Grelka, a new Earthen Barber NPC. According to the screenshots Haughy Chicken shared on Twitter, Grelka explains some interesting lore about how she does her job; Earthen wire – their equivalent of hair – does not grow naturally, but can be modified by consuming certain minerals. Likewise, most Earthen physical traits, including their gender, can be freely modified by various processes.
Earthen Appearance is Malleable in WoW: The War Within
This new lore answered a lot of questions fans had about theplayable Earthen inWoW: The War Within. Other Earthen have appeared inWorld of Warcraft’s history, but these individuals often had stone beards, rather than hairy ones. That said, the discovery that their hair is actually wire, and that everything about their physical appearance is a purely cosmetic detail, was a fascinating piece of worldbuilding for the new race.
Beyond being unique and creative, these new details about the Earthen are a clever way of explaining how the Barber can change things about characters who visit them. Other places inWorld of Warcrafthave given similar facts as well, such as the draconic visage-themed Barber shopsin theWoW: Dragonflightcapital of Valdrakken, and the Appearance Agitator in Oribos duringShadowlands. While this lore is hardly required for these game mechanics, fans will always appreciate these minute details, as they help to flesh out the game world and make it feel more alive.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
WHERE TO PLAY
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight was developed by Blizzard Entertainment and is the ninth expansion pack for the iconic massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft.Dragonflight features an overhauled user interface, raises the level cap to 70, and introduces a new race and class.
