Difference between revisions of "Morathi"
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'''-4419 IC''' saw the end of the Demonic Invasion was over after the [[Battle of the Isle of the Dead]] but also the death of victorious Aenarion. The [[High Elf Prince|princes of Ulthuan]] consequently needed to elect a new Phoenix King. Though prince Malekith was a strong choice, at the [[First Council]] the gathered princes instead passed it over to [[Bel Shanaar]] since they needed a ruler who was less warlike in the new time of peace. Morathi protested vigorously against their decision, but Malekith accepted their judgement. Bel Shanaar then married [[Yvraine]] (Aenarion's daughter from his first wife) who had spoken in favour of him, partly as she had no wish to marry her half-brother. Although both Malekith and Morathi attended the ceremony that made Bel Shanaar the new Phoenix King, they did not attend his wedding. {{Fn|3f}}{{Fn|8a}} | '''-4419 IC''' saw the end of the Demonic Invasion was over after the [[Battle of the Isle of the Dead]] but also the death of victorious Aenarion. The [[High Elf Prince|princes of Ulthuan]] consequently needed to elect a new Phoenix King. Though prince Malekith was a strong choice, at the [[First Council]] the gathered princes instead passed it over to [[Bel Shanaar]] since they needed a ruler who was less warlike in the new time of peace. Morathi protested vigorously against their decision, but Malekith accepted their judgement. Bel Shanaar then married [[Yvraine]] (Aenarion's daughter from his first wife) who had spoken in favour of him, partly as she had no wish to marry her half-brother. Although both Malekith and Morathi attended the ceremony that made Bel Shanaar the new Phoenix King, they did not attend his wedding. {{Fn|3f}}{{Fn|8a}} | ||
| − | Malekith sailed to [[Elthin Arvan]] in '''-4169 [[IC]]''' with his mothers blessing who told him to earn glory and that ''One day your name will upon the lips of every elf, and you will usher in a new age for your people.'' {{Fn|8b}} When he saved the city of [[Athel Toralien]] from [[Orcs]] and claimed it for himself, she defended him at the court of Bel Shanaar so that the Phoenix King recognised his deeds and granted him the city. {{Fn|3f}}{{Fn|8c}} | + | Malekith sailed to [[Elthin Arvan]] in '''-4169 [[IC]]''' with his mothers blessing who told him to earn glory and that ''One day your name will upon the lips of every elf, and you will usher in a new age for your people.'' {{Fn|8b}} When he saved the city of [[Athel Toralien]] from [[Orcs]] and claimed it for himself, she defended him at the court of Bel Shanaar so that the Phoenix King recognised his deeds and granted him the city. {{Fn|3f}}{{Fn|8c}} In the absence of her son, she consolidated her power in Nagarythe, isolating the her rival [[Eoloran Anar]] and his House. {{Fn|11a}} |
Malekith gained popularity amongst the Old World colonies by leading successful victories against [[Beastmen]], Orcs and the forces of [[Chaos]] and also made an alliance with the [[dwarf]]s, with him befriending the dwarfs through the then [[High King]] [[Snorri Whitebeard]]. {{Fn|8d}} | Malekith gained popularity amongst the Old World colonies by leading successful victories against [[Beastmen]], Orcs and the forces of [[Chaos]] and also made an alliance with the [[dwarf]]s, with him befriending the dwarfs through the then [[High King]] [[Snorri Whitebeard]]. {{Fn|8d}} | ||
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* {{Endn|9}}: [[Warhammer: Khaine]]: Chapter Two: Khaine Reborn. | * {{Endn|9}}: [[Warhammer: Khaine]]: Chapter Two: Khaine Reborn. | ||
* {{Endn|10}}: [[The Sundering (Omnibus)]] by [[Gav Thorpe]]: [[The Bloody-Handed (Novella)]]: One: A Cruel Slight, pg. 285 | * {{Endn|10}}: [[The Sundering (Omnibus)]] by [[Gav Thorpe]]: [[The Bloody-Handed (Novella)]]: One: A Cruel Slight, pg. 285 | ||
| + | * {{Endn|11}}: [[The Sundering (anthology)]] (Time of Legends edition): [[Shadow King (Novel)]] by '''[[Gav Thorpe]]''': | ||
| + | ** {{Endn|11a}}: One: The Young Hunter, pg. 354 | ||
[[Category: Dark Elves]] | [[Category: Dark Elves]] | ||
Revision as of 08:50, 8 September 2024
Morathi the Hag Sorceress is the mother of and rumoured lover of the Witch King Malekith. [1a]
Morathi remains second in power only to her own son in the land of the Dark Elves. A born schemer with keen intellect, stunning beauty and talented sorceress, the mother is totally dedicated to her son, as he is to her. She has spent 5000 years teaching him about statecraft and magic, working continuously to maintain his grip on the throne of Naggaroth. Although their relationship has been claimed to be unnatural, their rule over the Dark Elves is absolute.[2a] [3c]
Contents
Ambitions
Morathi long ago decided that she would become a goddess, whatever it took to achieve her desire. [7a] Morathi can be seen as partially responsible of The Sundering as it was she who introduced the Cults of Pleasure to Ulthuan.[2a] [3c]
History
When she was eleven years old she began to receive prophetic visions, apocalyptic glimpses of the Demon invasion to come but the other Elves, lulled by their idyllic, peaceful existence did not listen to her warnings. As time passed she tried again and again, seducing princes, prophesying and using her beauty to gain the attention of the great and the good including the Everqueen. No-one listened, and then the Daemons arrived anyway. [7a]
In -4461 IC Morathi became the second wife of Phoenix King Aenarion after he rescued her from a Slaaneshi warband in the days of the first Chaos invasion. They made their court in the fortress of Anlec. [2a] [3c][3f] Other legends claim that she seduced the Phoenix King with magic. [3e]
Their strong and fine son was born in -4458 IC with Aenarion naming him Malekith and as his heir. [3e][3f]
-4419 IC saw the end of the Demonic Invasion was over after the Battle of the Isle of the Dead but also the death of victorious Aenarion. The princes of Ulthuan consequently needed to elect a new Phoenix King. Though prince Malekith was a strong choice, at the First Council the gathered princes instead passed it over to Bel Shanaar since they needed a ruler who was less warlike in the new time of peace. Morathi protested vigorously against their decision, but Malekith accepted their judgement. Bel Shanaar then married Yvraine (Aenarion's daughter from his first wife) who had spoken in favour of him, partly as she had no wish to marry her half-brother. Although both Malekith and Morathi attended the ceremony that made Bel Shanaar the new Phoenix King, they did not attend his wedding. [3f][8a]
Malekith sailed to Elthin Arvan in -4169 IC with his mothers blessing who told him to earn glory and that One day your name will upon the lips of every elf, and you will usher in a new age for your people. [8b] When he saved the city of Athel Toralien from Orcs and claimed it for himself, she defended him at the court of Bel Shanaar so that the Phoenix King recognised his deeds and granted him the city. [3f][8c] In the absence of her son, she consolidated her power in Nagarythe, isolating the her rival Eoloran Anar and his House. [11a]
Malekith gained popularity amongst the Old World colonies by leading successful victories against Beastmen, Orcs and the forces of Chaos and also made an alliance with the dwarfs, with him befriending the dwarfs through the then High King Snorri Whitebeard. [8d]
Following the death of Snorri, Morathi visited her son in the city of Athel Toralien after she heard that he was preparing an expedition to the north, perhaps never to return. She gifted him with the first Dragonship called Indraugnir after Aenarion's dragon mount but persuaded him to return to Ulthuan once he had fulfilled his destiny and that she was preparing his way to become Phoenix King. She had also brought many priests and priestesses of various cults as a gift to the colonies of the new world. [8e] Hellebron visited her, hoping to gain a place in her court in Anlec but Morathi was unimpressed by the young elf, telling her she was weak, spoiled and she would not even remember her name in the morning. [10]
Mother and son sailed back towards Ulthuan but stopped at the Blighted Isle where Malekith ventured inland to where his father had died and where the Sword of Khaine rested. [8f] He fled back to the ship and ordered Morathi put aboard a passing merchant ship to take her home, much to her fury. [8g]
Return of Malekith
Malekith returned to Ulthuan after his expeditionin in -2774 IC, and took charge of purging the cults existence from Ulthuan forever, taking a large army into Nagarythe, the first time he had set foot there in 1300 years.[8h] Morathi's position as leader of the pleasure cults was eventually exposed when Malekith attacked and captured the fortress of Ealith and she confronted him, telling him he was weak and she was forced to rule where he would not. Mother and son fought a magical duel but Morathi was forced to flee using her sorcery but then raised Nagarythe against him, forcing him to retreat to Galthyr and then back to Tiranoc.[8i]
She fled to the city of Anlec where a large number of cultists resided and in the spring Malekith led an army,consisting of both his own army and the supporting armies led by the princes of Chrace, Ellyrion, Yvresse and Saphery. Malekith was successful in breaching the cities defences at the First Siege of Anlec[8j] and confronted his mother in the cities palace. Though Morathi at first overwhelmed with with her great sorcerous powers, she was defeated and about to be slain by her son. Morathi however convincing him that if he choose not to take the crown by force, she would give him her full support of the cults and help him gain the Phoenix throne in time. Malekith swore that he would kill her if she acted against him again to which she replied: That is why I am so proud of you. [8k]
Malekith escorted her to Tor Anroc where she was brought before the court of the Phoenix king where she remained unrepentant claiming that the cults owed their loyalty to the Cytharai and she herself was loyal to Ulthuan. Though Imrik wanted her killed, Malekith said she should not die for vengeance but also that he would accept the kings ruling either way. Bel Shanaar decided to imprison her instead within his own palace which she accepted. [8l]
She remained, still reaching out across Ulthuan and beyond. After twenty years, Malkeith was granted a private audience with her and together they discussed advancement of their plans. Imrik remained an issue but many other princes were allied to him or at least not against him - although House Anar of Nagarythe now sought self-rule. Morathi pledged to prepare the way for him to deal with them, telling him to Trust your mother. I have my ways. [8m]
After years of planning, in -2751 IC Malekith decided to set his plan in to action and unleashed cultists across Ulthuan before calling for a council of Princes to elect a leader, confident he would be chosen. [8m] However, Bel Shanaar told him he would instead be nominating Imrik - once more Malekith turned to his mother who revealed she had planned the death of the Phoenix King, having made his chamberlain, Palthrain her agent. With his help, he poisoned Bel Shanaar and used planted evidence to claim that the dead king had been corrupted by the very cults they had gathered to fight.[8n]
At the council, Malkeith declared himself the new king and killed many of those who resisted - he then confidently marched into the sacred flame of the god Asuryan, a trial that marks each Phoenix King as the chosen of the Elven creator god. Yet without the appropriate warding spells being cast, the flames horribly burned scarred Malekith.[8o] Malekith's followers carried him to his fortress in Nagarythe where Morathi nursed him back to health. But the civil war had started.[2a][3e][3f]
The Sundering of the Elves
Morathi faced the loyal princes of Naggaroth in Battle of Dark Fen in -2747 IC. The loyalists were defeated and exiled under the banner of Alith Anar.[3f]
In -2736 IC She instructed Hotek the renegade priest of Vaul to forge him the Armour of Midnight and his blade the Destroyer. [2a][3e][3f]
In -2723 IC Malekith and his followers attempted to unbind the Great Vortex and unleash the powers of Chaos to destroy Ulthuan. This attempt failed after Urathion's betrayal warned the mages of Saphery, but still devastated much of northern Ulthuan by a vast tidal wave. The Dark Elves depart to Naggaroth with their Black Arks.[3e][3f]
Naggaroth
In -2600 IC by Morathi founded the Dark Convent of Sorceresses in new city of Ghrond the North Tower. [3d]
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Following the defeats of Malekith's armies by Tethlis and concerned about her son withdrawing from the world, Morathi instigated a rebellion in the city of Har Kaldra which, as she had hoped, drew his wrath. A year later she discovered that Allisara was returning to her husband's side, unwilling to allow a rival, she secretly deceived Prince Valedor of Ulthuan and ensured he led an army to confront Allisara and her escorts, slaying them all. Morathi broke the news of his wife’s death to her son.[5a]
When Her son informed her that Hellebron was suspicious that she was reviving the Slaaneshi pleasure cults and calling a council at the Feast of Khaine, Morathi was unconcerned. [2b]
Great Chaos Incursion
In 2301 IC [3b] the Dark Convent of Ghrond noted the rising power in the Chaos Wastes and so Malekith and Morathi travelled to the north to view the growing hordes beyond the borders. However, Morathi, ever resourceful, looked to turn this to her advantage leading a huge expedition out to meet the growing tribes. She plied them gems, gold, slave concubines - creating a great ice palace to greet the emissaries. Tens of thousands of warriors would pledge themselves to fight for her and her son. [3a]
In the fires of the Burning Mountain she forged the lance Heartrender in 2304 IC. [3b]
Storm of Chaos
As her son assaulted Ulthuan in IC 2523, draining Naggaroth of the majority of the Dark Elf warriors, Morathi was concerned that the hordes of Chaos could sweep down from the north. She had already revived the Cults of Pleasure involving the Dark Convent with them to provide a powerful alliance and now she travelled into the north to further boost the cults and her own power. [4a]
Accompanied by a number of Sorceresses, she flew into the lands of the Hung, arriving at a great gathering of warbands where she was recognised as having the favour of Shaarnor. She summoned a great horde of sixty troupes of six Daemonettes which she unleashed upon the enemies of the Hung, the Kurgan, impressing the warlords to name her as an ally and the Consort-Queen of Shaarnor. She then led a great army of the Hung south through Naggaroth to invade Lustria.[4a]
End Times
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Morathi and Caledor Dragontamer were dragged together into the Realm of Chaos by Slaanesh at the Battle for the Isle of the Dead.[9]
Hag Queen of Khaine
She is the first and most powerful Hag Queen of the Cult of Khaine who is said to have been gifted with the first Cauldron of Blood which still restores her youth and beauty and which she has forbidden to Hellebron. [2a]
Magic
Morathi has always had the taint of Chaos with her. It might have been that her soul was tainted by Chaos as she was imprisoned before Aenarion saved her. She founded the Cults of Pleasure and was the first Sorceress of the Dark Magic. Opening gateways to the Realm of Chaos, she has stolen unimaginable magical powers and struck vile demonic pacts. She is capable of the most powerful magic possible and can unleash terrible powers with barely a thought. [3c]
Mount
She often rides the Dark Pegasus Sulephet into battle. [1a][2a]
Weapons and Equipment
- 4th Edition: The Dark Sword, Amber Amulet, Dispel and Power Scroll. [1a]
- 6th Edition: Heartrender, she is protected by the Thousand and One Blessings. [2a]
- 7th Edition: The Dark Sword or Heartrender, Hand Weapon, she is protected by the Thousand and One Blessings. [3c]
- 8th Edition: Heartrender and the Dark Sword. She is protected by the Thousand and One Blessings.[5b]
- Amber Amulet: The wearer slowly regenerates unless killed. [1a]
- Dark Sword: Enchanted with spells of enfeeblement and blinding, foes struck by this blade are weakened. [1a]
- Heartrender: A many bladed lance with which she can pluck out a enemies heart. [2a]
- Thousand and One Blessings: Pacts with a variety of spirits and Daemons that protect her. [2a]
Quotes
| Ah Hellebron! Will she never learn that it is only through my will that her petty coven of Hags still practice their primal arts? I could crush her with a single word. In truth they are my creatures; I do not serve the Witch Elves, they serve me.
~ Morathi to Malekith.[2b] |
| Come my son you must be tired after your little battle, lie with me and tell me how bravely you fought.
~ Morathi to Malekith.[2b] |
Gallery
Morathi (4th edition)
Morathi
Morathi on Sulephet
Morathi in Total War Warhammer II
Morathi in Total War Warhammer II
Morathi in Total War Warhammer II
Miniatures
Morathi on Sulphet
Notes
- Morathi is voiced by Natasha Little in Total War Warhammer II. [6]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition)
- 1a: Dark Elf Army List, pg. 59
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Storm of Chaos (6th Edition)
- 4a: Additional Armies, pg. 80
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 6: Behind the Voices – Total War Warhammer
- 7: Sword of Caledor (Novel)
- 7a: Prologue, pg. 13-14
- 8: The Sundering (Omnibus) by Gav Thorpe: Malekith (novel):
- 8a: One: Broken Legacy, pg. 20-27
- 8b: Two: Voyage to Elthin Arvan, pg. 30
- 8c: Three: Broken Legacy, pg. 42
- 8d: Seven: An Allegiance Forged, pg. 102
- 8e: Nine: A Delayed Departure, pg. 126-132
- 8f: Ten: The Call of Khaine, pg. 133
- 8g: Ten: The Call of Khaine, pg. 136-137
- 8h: Sixteen: A Journey to Darkness, pg. 181-182
- 8i: Eighteen: A Foe Revealed, pg. 203-209
- 8j: Twenty: The Battle of Anlec, pg. 221-233
- 8k: Twenty One: A Destiny Manifested, pg. 235-243
- 8l: Twenty Two: The Wheels of Power turn, pg. 245-247
- 8m: Twenty Two: The Wheels of Power turn, pg. 248-249
- 8n: Twenty Four: An Act of Infamy, pg. 259-264
- 8o: Twenty Five: The Wrath of Asuryan, pg. 273-276
- 9: Warhammer: Khaine: Chapter Two: Khaine Reborn.
- 10: The Sundering (Omnibus) by Gav Thorpe: The Bloody-Handed (Novella): One: A Cruel Slight, pg. 285
- 11: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Shadow King (Novel) by Gav Thorpe:
- 11a: One: The Young Hunter, pg. 354
