Malekith
Malekith is the undisputed lord and master of the Dark Elves. Formerly praised and honoured as the Great, today he is cursed and feared as the Witch King.
History
Malekith is the son of the legendary Aenarion and of his second wife Morathi. He was born and raised in Nagarythe, and many believe that his childhood traumatised him as his father's court was a bitter and savage place.
After the death of his father the High Elf princes gathered to choose their new Phoenix King. Malekith, who was Aenarion's son, an experienced warrior, a mighty wizard and a successful general, was the obvious choice.
However, it was then revealed that the first children of Aenarion who had been believed slain by Chaos warriors were in fact alive. Yvraine would become the new Everqueen. This created a huge problem for Malekith's ambitions as the Everqueen (his own half-sister) and the future Phoenix King would have to conceive a daughter. The Council of Princes believed Malekith was too much like his father (he was short-tempered and preferred to resolve disputes with violence); they also feared the influence Morathi had over both her husband and son, and wished to constrict her power. Disbelieving that such a war-like ruler was unsuitable to rule in a time of peace, the council elected Bel Shanaar, Prince of Tiranoc instead. On the surface, Malekith took the decision well; he even silenced the public outcry from his mother and his homeland.
Malekith travelled far and wide in search of greater power and glory, establishing colonies across the Old World in the lands that would become the Empire and Bretonnia, fighting great battles against Orcs and Goblins, Beastmen and the followers of Choas, as well as establishing friendship and trade links between the High Elves and the Dwarfs; he even led expeditions into the Chaos Wastes itself. After many centuries away from home, Malekith eventually returned to Ulthuan, only to find his homeland on the brink of civil war. The Cult of Pleasure, a dark sect devoted to the Cytharai, the darker Elven gods (in earlier editions, the cult was dedicated to the worship of Slaanesh) had begun to take hold of Ulthan's society. Malekith volunteered to lead investigations into the cult's activities, and many elves lost their lives in the great purges Malekith led (many of whom were his political enemies). In truth, Malekith was in league with the Cult; Morathi was the cult's high priestess, and was using it to destabilise Ulthuan and raise an army for the next stage of his plan.
After many years of plotting, Malekith made his move; he murdered Bel Shanaar in secret, claimed the Phoenix King had been part of the Cult of Pleasure and had committed suicide in shame. Malekith called the ruling Princes to the Shrine of Asuryan and demanded the crown pass to him, but they were sceptical. Realising they wouldn't give it willingly, Malekith tried to take the crown by force; he and his followers slaughtered most of the princes in the temple. However as he tried to walk through the Eternal Flame as his father had done, it began to consume him and he was terribly burned. His followers fled back to Anlec with their master's body, where Morathi nursed him back to health.
Then began a long civil war. In the end he and his followers were driven out of Ulthuan, making their way to the cold wastes of Naggaroth. There they settled and erected their black cities, including the capital Naggarond. The Dark Elves have, to this day, continued to fight, determined to see Malekith restored to his rightful throne and the High Elves exterminated or enslaved for their perfidy.
Until recently Malekith drove a chariot pulled by a pair of Cold Ones into battle. During that time he ordered all other battle chariots in Naggaroth to be destroyed, so that he owned the only remaining exemplar.
Today Malekith rides a mighty black dragon called Seraphon into battle.
