High Elves
| Affiliation | High Elves |
| Main Leaders | Phoenix King Finubar the Seafarer & Everqueen Alarielle the Radiant[1b] |
| Secondary Leaders | Princes & Princesses[1e] |
| Capital | Lothern (currently)[1c] |
| Major Races | High Elves[1b] |
| Demonyms | Asur |
| Languages | Tar-Eltharin |
| Status | In Decline[1a] |
| Type | Elective & Matrilinear Monarchy[1e] |
| Governing Body | Twin Thrones[1b] |
| State Religions | Elf pantheon |
| Location | Ulthuan[1b] |
| Lands Ruled | High Elf Outposts Elthin Arvan (formerly) |
| Constituents | Kingdoms of Ulthuan[1b] |
The High Elves, who call themselves Asur, are one of the grandest civilisations of the Warhammer world and major opponents against Chaos. [9a]
Their homeland is the ring-shaped island of Ulthuan, located in the Great Ocean between the Old World and Naggaroth. [8]
| Though our fair homeland is beset on all sides, we shall resist, as our forefathers did before us. In these dark times, as our tainted brethren ravage our shores, we stand defiant and shall emerge victorious. For we are the Asur, the true kin of Aenarion, and Ulthuan shall never fall. |
Overview
The Elves are the first species created by the Old Ones and they raised the island of Ulthuan for them. There they prospered and mastered art and magic even before the Coming of Chaos. Since then, the history of the High Elves has been of almost constant warfare and struggle. These wars have forged a race far more disciplined and prideful. [8]
The High Elves have been both victims and mighty opponents of Chaos ever since it first appeared in the world and they are guardians of the Great Vortex without which the world would be overrun by Daemons and siphons away the Winds of Magic. [9a]
Their most bitter struggle is however against their own kin, the Dark Elves. While not hostile to their parent civilisation, the Wood Elves are the descendants of High Elf colonists who declared their own independence, remaining in the Old World.
The High Elves were the first to explore the seas and shores of the entire world and their achievements are without parallel. They are usually seen as being arrogant, aloof and overly concerned with beauty and art, a reputation which is not completely unfounded. They generally view themselves as being superior to other races.
Despite the glory of the High Elf civilisation their power is slowly fading, only to be replaced by the populous and vigorous race of man. The main reason for this development is a falling birth-rate, the causes of which are unknown.
Twins are very rare in elves, only three hundred and fifteen being recorded with Tyrion and Teclis being perhaps the most famous and of those only twenty-five were identical. [5]
History
To the Asur, their history is that of the world itself with their annals recalling a time when gods still walked the world. [9b]
Time of Gods
The myths of Elves state that Draugnir, Father of Dragons was a member of the court of the creator god Asuryan. But he was despised by Anath Raema, sister of the murder god Khaine. She hunted Draugnir across the world, their battle reverberated throughout the heavens until it disturbed Asuryan himself, but he acted too late to save his friend, only able to banish the goddess to Mirai and from the Dragon’s dying body fashioning an island of magic bounty and splendor as a homeland for both Elves and Dragons alike. Thus was the land of Ulthuan created. [9b]
Yet the truth is that the Old Ones created the race of Elves and raised Ulthuan from the Great Ocean for them. Before then, the continent had only consisted of small volcanic peaks where Dragons lived in caves. [8][11]
Golden Age
The Elves were amongst the first of the mortal races to build great cities, aided by the Old Ones and creating wondrous works of art. [9b] The eleven year old Morathi began to receive prophetic visions, apocalyptic glimpses of the Daemon invasion to come but none would listen to her, lulled by their idyllic, peaceful existence. 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 but no-one would listen. [10]
The Coming of Chaos
When the Polar Gates were destroyed, a tide of Daemons poured out through and across the world, corrupting all they saw. A peaceful people, the Elves were totally unprepared for this onslaught. An Elf prince, Aenarion, by nature an explorer, returned home and begged the heavens for aid offering everything he could think of to the flames of Asuryan’s flames, yet he received only silence. Finally in desperation, he offered himself as a sacrifice, casting himself into the flames.[9b]
Yet he did not perish but emerged radiant with the god's blessing of Asuryan, speaking with divine authority and being proclaimed as the first Phoenix King. Now he led the Elves against Chaos with both Caledor Dragontamer and Eoloran Anar pledged fealty to him, together forging a peerless army. Indraugnir, the most venerable of all living Dragons choose the new king as a suitable rider and also friend. Astarielle, the reigning Everqueen was herself smitten with the gold-armoured hero. [9b]
Peace was fought for and held for a time as the Elven armies repelled the Daemonic hordes and Aenarion wed Astarielle during this interlude. Two children were the result of their union - Morelion and Yvraine. The time of peace did not last and once more the legions poured out through the polar gates in -4470 IC[9d] - each banished Daemon being replaced by another. Caledor devised a desperate plan to the end the conflict, seeking to create a Great Vortex to drain the magical power pouring from the poles. However Aenarion was against the plan but as he argued with his friend, word came that Everqueen had been slain by the Keeper of Secrets N'Kari.[9b]
Enraged, the phoenix king resolved to destroy the infinite rather than attempting to stem it and voyaged to the Blighted Isle to draw forth the Widowmaker despite all those who loved him warning him against such a quest. Combining the fire of Asuryan and the blade of Khaine, he became a warrior without peer and cut a path to Nagarythe where he established the great fortified palace of Anlec. Leading his armies once more he fought across Ulthuan and even took the Morathi, who he rescued from worshipers of Slaanesh in -4461 IC[9d], as his wife, their union producing a son, Malerion, also known as Malekith. [9b]
Concerned by the apparently growing madness of Aenarion’s, Caledor proceeded with his plan and assembled the greatest of Ulthuan’s mages on the Isle of the Dead to create the vortex. The forces of Chaos mustered to prevent the ritual and his hand forced, Aenarion gathered his army to repel them, both Indraugnir and Aenarion being mortally wounded in the conflict. The dying king returned the Widowmaker to its place in the Altar of Khaine and there, it is said, he passed. [9b]
The High Elves are dismissive that any others assisted in ending the Coming of Chaos, such as the Slann or Grimnir. [9f]
Succession
At the First Council, the great the and good of Ulthuan now debated who should become their new ruler with many favouring Malerion, a skilled warrior, powerful wizard and a clever general to become the next Phoenix King. When Prince Bel Shanaar was chosen, Morathi was enraged Morathi, swearing revenge against those she stated were defying the will of Asuryan himself but her son was the first among his peers to bow to the newly crowned king. He decided to leave Ulthuan to avoid inflaming the passions of his ardent supporters, seeking to emulate his father as an explorer and forge his own destiny. [9c]
He travelled to the west coast of the land known to the the Elves as Elthin Arvan or the Fated Place The continent proved dangerous with with Beastmen, Orcs and Goblin and even the remnants of Chaos. This gave him a challenge to which he could rise as he confronting and defeated these forces and in time Malerion encountered the Dawi. They proved stalwart allies and the Elf general earned first the respect and later the friendship of the Dwarf High King, Snorri Whitebeard, together winning many victories. [9c]
Malerion served as ambassador to Karaz-a-Karak with Snorri even inviting Bel Shanaar to his court in -2839 IC[9d] - the Elves and Dwarfs became good friends with Malerion and Snorri closest of all. These close ties brought prosperity to both with mutual inspiration and collaborative endeavours producing great works and revolutionary developments. Ulthuan began a new era of both splendor and indolence where lavish parties took the place of martial drills as the Cults of Pleasure rose across the continent. Some claimed Morathi was an important figure among the cults but her son returned home, vowing to root the decadence and evil from Ulthuan even arresting his own mother. [9c]
As the war against the cults continued, Bel Shanaar convened a council of Elven princes to discuss the matter and plan its swift resolution, but this resulted in the Massacre at the Shrine of Asuryan. Malerion had claimed that the Phoenix King was a cultist himself and had resorted to suicide to escape justice - defying those princes who spoke against him he declared himself phoenix king and stepped into the fire. Moments later, the seriously burned figure staggered out of the sacred flames, his followers bearing him back to Nagarythe as a civil war began - later known as the Sundering. [9c]
The Sundering
Imrik, soon to be known as Caledor I was crowned phoenix king in -2749 IC[9e] as the forces of Malerion fought across Ulthuan and struck at its colonies with Nagarythe as their base of operations. Cities were razed and their populations delivered to the pleasure cults who used them in depraved rituals. Eventually, Malerion’s armies returned to the field of battle himself, clad in magical armour that empowered him despite his terrible burns. [9c]
Now known as the Druchii or Dark Elves, the followers of Malerion despoiled Ulthuan but faced stiff resistance via guerilla warfare conducted by loyalists native to Nagarythe, who assassinated their commanders and harried their supply lines. The new Phoenix King managed to rally his forces, first in defence and later to strike out against the Druchii. Seeing his chances of victory fading Malerion hoped to regain the initiative by destabilising the Great Vortex itself, yet as he attempted to unravel the magic within, the spirits of the mages who had woven the original enchantment repelled him long enough for Caledor’s armies to force back the Druchii. [9c]
Many were drowned as the coastlines of Nagarythe slipped beneath the waves whilst to save what remained of their forces, Druchii sorceresses cast spells that turned their fortresses into great seaborne vessels that carried their armies away to the northwest. [9c]
Malerion and his remaining followers settled in the cold, mountainous lands north of Lustria, a region which he named Naggaroth, the Land of Chill. There he began to plot his revenge. [9c]
Caledor personally reclaimed the Blighted Isle and is said ot have refused the call of the Widowmaker as he stood before the Altar of Khaine. As he was returning home, his ship was separated from the rest of the High Elf Fleet by a freak storm and then attacked by Dark Elf raiders. After fighting hard for many hours and rather than being captured, Caledor jumped into the sea clad in full armour.[9c]
The War of the Beard
Caledor was succeeded by his son Tythanir in -2198 IC[9e] , who took the name Caledor II on his accession - an impetuous and deadly warrior, he had little interest in statecraft. Focusing on beautifying cities and restoring order throughout Ulthuan, he neglected both his own colonies and relations with the Dwarfs.[9c]
Malerion thus ordered a series of raids across Elthin Arvan with his Dark Elves dressed in the livery of the phoenix king slaughtering Dwarf traders, making sure to leave a few survivors to bear witness. Word reached the high king Gotrek Starbreaker who dispatched an embassy to Ulthuan to demand an explanation but Caledor II was in turn insulted by the accusations. He stated whilst he didn’t answer demands, he might humour pleas - worse was to come as he ordered that the envoy’s beard be shorn in a public display before expelling him. Diplomacy collapsed and war between the Dawi and the Elves began in earnest. [9c]
The war was brutal and bitter with acts of brutality committed by both sides and attacks on civilians on both sides becoming commonplace as the war dragged on. Many of the Elf settlements that survived in Elthin Arvan were left to fend for themselves and some Elves withdrew deep into the forests seeking the protection the phoenix king was not providing. Finally Caledor II grew impatient, overextended his army and challenged High King Gotrek Starbreaker to single combat where he was slain and the Phoenix Crown itself taken as payment for grudges in -1600 IC[9c][9d]
Withdrawal and rebuilding
Caradryel was the next Phoenix King and prioritised Ulthuan’s recovery, nursing the battered armies but he had ruled for little more than a year when the Druchii beached two Black Arks at Anlec. Ten years later, Caradryel ordered all Asur home from their overseas colonies not many were not able to willing to return and were written off as casualties of war. The next seven centuries were a stalemate between the Asur and Druchii but Caradryel would become the first phoenix king to die of natural causes. [9c]
Next came Tethlis, crowned in -996 IC[9d] who pursued the Naggarothi with cold hatred pushing north through Nagarythe, slaying every Druchii they could catch. Next the Phoenix King determined he would take the war to Naggaroth, mustering his forces on the Blighted Isle but he never left the island, being killed under mysterious circumstances in -692 IC[9e]. Some claim that he was killed by his own personal guard when he sought to draw the Widowmaker. [9c]
Bel-Korhadris was elected to succeed him in -691 IC[9d] and instead of war, focused his reign on development and securing Ulthuan from monstrous beasts. He instituted the creation of great centres of learning, most notably the White Tower of Hoeth and his long reign was considered a second golden age of the Asur. Like Caradryel he passed away naturally,[9c] the year after the White Tower of Hoeth was completed in 497 IC. [9d]
Aethis took the throne next favouring diplomacy and although his efforts were rebuffed by the Dawi trade with the Empire of Grand Cathay brought fresh riches to Ulthuan and in particular, Lothern. The port grew into one of Ulthuan’s most fabulous cities during this period and High Elves once more slipped into indolence and leisure, allowing many Druchii spies could infiltrate Ulthuan’s high society. Aethis was assassinated by his own chancellor in 1120 IC and in its aftermath, many of the Asur grew wary of foreign trade. [9c]
Morvael was the next Phoenix King and incorrectly surmised that the power of the Druchii must have been greatly diminished ifg thye had to resort to assassination. His punitive forces landed on Naggaroth but they were quickly slaughtered on landfall and the Dark Elves seized Anlec once more. Morvael ordered the raising of citizen levies and turned to the renowned general Mentheus of Caledor who took the fight to the Druchii, lifting the siege of the Griffon Gate in 1146 IC and gradually forcing the Druchii north. In 1502 IC, Mentheus, on his Dragon Nightfang fought his way to Anlec, the last Druchii fortress that stood in Ulthuan. Whilst it was taken, Menthus was killed in the brutal siege and [9d] Morvael devastated by the cost of the war, tortured by nightmares he re-entered the fire at the Shrine of Asuryan once more and was burned to death.[9c]
Bel-Hathor, his successor banned all outsiders from visiting Ulthuan and established magical wards to prevent any from approaching it. Like a number of the Asur, Prince Finubar sought adventure beyond his own lands and was granted permission to explore, sailing to the coasts of Elthin Arvan. He established peaceful contact with the Empire and discovered pockets of his kinsfolk still dwelt in the magical forests of of the continent. [9c]
Finubar made his way to both Laurelorn Forest, inhabited by the Eonir, and Athel Loren, protected by the wary Asrai. Although he was granted an audience, neither was willing to swear fealty to the Phoenix Throne, or even accept formal ambassadors but Finubar returned home with news of prosperous, friendly societies to the east that were eager to do trade. On his return, he was hailed as a hero and Ulthuan began to open up with humanity embraced as a trading partner.[9c]
Modern era
Finubar was named as successor to Bel-Hathor who died peacefully in 2163 IC[9d] in recognition of his importance to the future of the Elves but many had misgivings especially when he resumed his travels after taking the throne. The Everqueen however defended him and the new Phoenix King was able to used his new authority to formally offer peace to the Dawi, acknowledge the independence of both the Asrai and Eonir as well as continuing to build a relationship with Human nations. [9c]
A new Chaos Incursion brought war to both the Old World and Ulthuan with the High Elves being overextended and hard-pressed to survive, never mind lending aid to their hard-pressed Human allies. It was the twins Tyrion and Teclis rather than the Phoenix King that rose to prominence during the conflict with the forces of Chaos and their Druchii allies defeated on both sides of the Great Ocean. Many began to consider Tyrion as a contender for the Phoenix Throne whilst Teclis helped found the Imperial Colleges of Magic, focusing on instructing Humans on how to safely use of the Winds of Magic, granting them a crucial weapon in the ongoing battle against Chaos. [9c]
End Times
Through the year of 2524 IC Ulthuan was assaulted by Daemons with almost all of the ten kingdoms devastated by the fighting, especially Chrace whose Lion March resembled a open grave and their capital Tor Achare turned into a ruin. Ironically it was only Nagarythe that survived relatively intact, the Shadow Warriors dealing with the children of Chaos as they did with any invaders. Although great heroes such as Caradryan of the Flame, Ystranna of Avelorn found new glory, heroes also arose such as Prince Morvai and in the notable absence of both the Everqueen and Phoenix king, Tyrion led the armies - much to the anger of Imrik.[14a]
Society & culture
High Elf society is built around ceremonies and precedents to migate their tendency to become fixated or preoccupied. Their long martial history creates a culture that respects rank, honour and discipline. Others can consider the Asur to be aloof, but their reserved manners and focus on protocol are disciplines adopted lessen the impact of their overwhelming emotions and heightened sences.[9e]
There are a number of layers to High Elf society with each level honouring those above them beginning with the kith that serve the toriour (lesser nobles) who in turn look up to the tariour (the highborn) who trace their bloodlines back to the reign of Phoenix King Aenarion. Faniour (lowborn) was once a term used to describe the working class but now is rarely used except by some highborns describing Elves from Avelorn or Chrace. Wealth can be seen as linked to profiteering and excess, leading to some to consider merchant houses to be tarnished. [1e][9e][9g]
Government
Ulthuan is ruled by the Twin Thrones of the Phoenix King and the Everqueen, who reside in separate courts. [1b][7] The current Phoenix King is Finubar the Seafarer and the current Everqueen is Alarielle the Radiant.[1b][8]
The Phoenix King holds political and military authority, while the Everqueen's influence is usually of a more cultural and spiritual nature.[1e]
Below the Twin Thrones are the noble families of princes and princesses and mages.[1b][1e]
Foreign relations
The High Elves consider other species inferior, for they feel that they alone saved the world from destruction. [9d]
Although the High Elves are allied with the realms of men, chiefly The Empire, Bretonnia, Marienburg and Kislev. High Elf attitudes towards humans are almost always patronising with some dismissing them as mere primitives while others find humans invigorating and curious. Young High Elves who wish to wander often tour the Old World as part of their education. [2][9f]
Tilea and Estalia are treated with "condescending affability". The climate is pleasant to them and the area is popular destination for High Elves who wish to explore ruined Elf settlements. [9d] The Humans of Cathay are considered more civilized than Old Worlders and trade with them has ancient roots but in turn Cathayans dislike the High Elves for they treat their Dragons as no more than equals. In contrast, the majority of Norscans are known as raiders touched by Chaos as they have attempted to raid Ulthuan numerous times.[9f]
An uneasy relationship exists with the Dwarfs. A past conflict, the War of the Beard, ended their initial friendship and the Dwarfs still hold a heavy grudge against the Elf race as a whole. High Elves struggle to see blunt Dwarfs as equals and their pride was wounded by the ancient War. However the two nations cooperate, even if grudgingly, in the eternal struggle against their common enemies; namely the Orcs, the Dark Elves, and the forces of Chaos.[9f]
Of the other elves, the Asur distrust the Asrai, the Wood Elves of Athel Loren and many believe they have adopted primitive and savage behaviours. Yet they are elves and better allies than others. Despite this, ambassadors between them are rare. The Eonir of Laurelorn Forest are dismissed as a stubborn historical footnote but they are far easier to understand than the Asrai. More warlike High Elves would like to conquer the forest. [9f]
Even High Elf scholars do not know much about the Lizardmen of Lustria and underestimate them, assuming them to be near mindless automatons of the Old Ones.[9f]
Domains
The island of Ulthuan is organised into 10 kingdoms, divided into Inner and Outer Kingdoms depending are they inside the Annulii Mountains are outside of them.[1b]
Inner Kingdoms
Outer Kingdoms
External Colonies and outposts:
- Arnheim, located in southern Naggaroth.[1b]
- Tor Elasor[1b]
- Tower of Stars[1b]
- Tower of the Sun[1b]
- Gates of Calith[1b]
- Tor Elithis[1b]
- Citadel of Dusk, located at the southern tip of Lustria. [1b]
- Fortress of Dawn, located at the southern tip of the Southlands. [1b]
The last two seaports enable the High Elf navy to largely control the international sea trade routes.
Magic
The High Elf Mages are considered masters of High Magic and their knowledge is second only to the Slann Mage Priests, who were their original teachers in the ancient past.[1a]
In turn the High Elves taught the art of magic to men, although still their Mages are superior to the Wizards of the Old World. [1a]
Religion
The High Elves have a large pantheon of twenty-two major gods, worshipping and praising the Cadai who they associate with the Heavens and light. They carefully appease the Cytharai but mostly relegated them to society’s fringes if not proscribed them outright although each of them is said to have a light side that can worshiped under specific circumstances. [9i]
Asur legends state that before the Coming of Chaos, their gods walked amongst them in the Golden Age but following the Wars in the Heavens, Asuryan the Creator and ruler of the gods banished all the deities to their divine realms, making it forbidden for them interact directly with the mortals. Despite this divine imposed distance, religion pervades almost every aspect of Asur culture and shrines are scattered across Ulthuan. At these shrines and temples, the authority of various different gods manifest via the Winds of Magic. [9j]
The nature of their worship blurs the difference between what Humans would consider clerics and wizards as worship mainly fulfills their need for mental, physical, mental, and spiritual self-improvement. Prayers are seldom offered for divine intervention but instead they seek personal empowerment to overcome challenges or to strengthen their own mind and spirit against corruption. They believe that their gods are part of them and so each individual action or thought is an act of devotion to a specific deity. In this way, their bodies are living temples and honing their skills is an act of worship. [9j]
Both politics and religion are strictly controlled by the various priesthoods. Priestesses of Isha educate young wizards but also conduct the vital fertility rites that allow Ulthuan to prosper. The Priests of Asuryan administer the accession to the Phoenix Crown and investigate Aenarion’s descendants for corruption by Khaine. Swordmasters of Hoeth seek out and punish the worship of forbidden gods and the Loremasters counsel the nobility and act as diplomatic emissaries.[9j]
Each of the kindreds of the Elves has a different pantheonic mandala, the High Elves placing the Cadai on the inner ring and Cytharai on the outer ring with Asuryan at the centre.[9j] The Druchii worship the Cytharai gods above all and put Khaine at the centre[12] whereas the Asrai show no particular preference for Cadai, Cytharai, or other gods but have Isha and Kurnous. [13]
Yenlui
Yenlui is the philosophy of spiritual balance as an Elf seeks to try to balance the darkness and light in their soul. Whilst too much darkness can lead to depravity, an excess of light leads to world-weariness and this need to harmonise the spirit can result in older High Elves appear dispassionate, aloof, or apathetic. [9h]
Military
The High Elf military is feared by its enemies and respected by its allies. The High Elf Navy is currently the most powerful of all and the High Elf Army is well-trained, well-equipped and (most of the time) ably commanded.[8]
Since the time of the Phoenix King Morvael the Impetuous, all ordinary citizens of Ulthuan must learn to use a weapon from early age, forming the citizen militia. Skills learned during youth forge High Elves into expert warriors by they reach maturity. Years of combat readiness and preparation enable High Elves to attune their skills and react with both agility and speed in battle in tightly honed combat formations. This entire race honed for war is the backbone of the armies of Ulthuan. [6][8]
Both spearmen and archers are traditionally clad in white, the colour of purity and death, with a coloured border that proclaims their city or realm. High Elf warriors are well equipped with even the militia spearmen being clad in scale armour, high helms and seven foot long spears whilst archers have bows crafted with alternating layers of wood to give them both great range and power. [6]
High Elf Infantry
- High Elf Archers - High Elf Archers are disciplined, keen-eyed citizen-militia that serves the armies of Ulthaun as part of their civic duties to protect their kingdom against all threats.
- High Elf Spearmen - High Elf Spearmen are the elite, second-tier citizen-militia within Ulthuan's armies, acting as a disciplined line of warriors that puts even the most battle-hardened Human warrior to shame.
- Lothern Sea Guard - The Lothern Sea Guard are the specialized citizen-militia of the Kingdom of Eataine, fighting as effectively on land as at sea, and are equally resolute when defending the walls and fields of Lothern as they are when battling on the deck of a ship.
- Phoenix Guard - The Phoenix Guard are the guardians of the Shrine of Asuryan, the great pyramid temple in the Sea of Dreams.
- Sisters of Avelorn - The Sisters of Avelorn are the personal guardians and hand-maidens of the Kingdom of Avelorn and the Everqueen herself.
- Swordmasters of Hoeth - The Swordmasters of Hoeth are exemplars of the martial arts. Each has studied warfare and personal combat for decades, or even centuries. Deadly protectors of the Tower of Hoeth and masters of the blade.
- Shadow Warriors - The Shadow Warriors are an elite band of scouts, warriors and assassins.
- White Lions- The White Lions have served as the personal guard of the Phoenix King since the time of Caledor the First.
High Elf Cavalry
- Dragon Princes - The Dragon Princes of Caledor are amongst the greatest and most noble Knights the world has ever known.
- Ellyrian Reavers - The Ellyrian Reavers, or Reaver Knights, are a famous formation of elite Ellyrian horsemen who are famous for their abilities as swift and agile horse archers.
- Silver Helm Knights - The Silver Helms Knights are seen as the perfect exemplars of mounted martial grace and valor to which young Elves should aspire. Dragon Princes are too distant and aloof, Ellyrian Reavers perhaps a touch too wild and uncivilized.
High Elf Warbeasts
- Great Eagle - Great Eagles are the largest birds of prey in the Empire, with a wingspan that measures over thirty feet and having razor-sharp talons.
- Griffons - griffons are noble beasts, as beasts go, though they are far from tame and placid. T
- High Elf Dragons - The High Elf Dragons of Ulthuan are the greatest and most noble of the Dragon species living within the World.
- Flamespyre Phoenix - The Flamespyre Phoenixes of Ulthuan dwell amongst the Flamespyre - great alabaster pillars of rock that stand sentinel about the Shire of Asuryan. The Phoenixes of the Flamespyres have become attuned to fire magic, harnessing it at whim.
- Frostheart Phoenix - Whilst a Frostheart Phoenix may not possess the vigour and fire it commanded in its youth, it is a much hardier mount. The ice that sheathes its form is as hard as glass, and enemies -- not having the benefit of the rider's enchanted armour -- find their own strength and resolve eaten away by its chill presence.
High Elf Leaders
- High Elf Princes and Princesses - The High Elven Princes of Ulthuan are great and most skillful generals, strategist and warriors.
- High Elf Archmage - High Elf Mages are aspirants to the Magical arts, but due to their natural affinity to the Winds of Magic, they are far more powerful then even the most experience Imperial Battle Wizard.
- Anointed of Asuryan - The Anointed of Asuryan are the greatest and most powerful of the Phoenix Guard.
- Loremaster of Hoeth - The High Elf Loremasters of Hoeth are invariably gifted warriors, for their intellects find even the exacting disciplines of the Swordmasters almost childishly easy to master.
- High Elf Noble - High Elf Nobles are the leaders of their own respected armies and companies, warriors whose skill at arms and years of experience far surpass those of any other mortal race.
- High Elf Mage - High Elf Mages are aspirants to the Magical arts, but due to their natural affinity to the Winds of Magic, they are far more powerful then even the most experience Imperial Battle Wizard.
- Dragon Mage - The Dragon Mages are mighty Mages of the Kingdom of Caledor, Elves who have a sensitivity not only to magic, but also to the minds of slumbering Dragons.
- Lothern Sea Helm - Lothern Sea Helms are the greatest heroes of Lothern, an order founded in the time of Bel Shanaar. With both spear and bow they have perfected the quicksilver strike that cheats shields and parries to pierce throats, hearts or skulls.
- Handmaiden of the Everqueen - The Handmaidens of the Everqueen are the bodyguard of Alarielle, the highest rank of all Sisters of Avelorn. The Handmaidens are not mere courtiers and attendants, but a warrior guard whose duty is to serve and protect their mistress.
Quotes
| We are a tall and slender people, sleight of build and graceful of movement. Our armies, too, move with fluid grace as do our warshps and steeds. All that we touch is elegant and finely crafted for we are a long lived people and refuse to surround ourselves with ugliness and discord. During our long lives we are able to perfect many skills and our people are renowned for our highly skilled artisans, fine cratfsmen, the beauty of our art and the melodious grace of our songs. All in all we are a race that loves beauty and treasures skill, but our days are not all spent in idle pursuits.
~ The Elven Warhost.[4] |
Gallery
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Kislev (6th Edition), pg. 10
- 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (6th Edition), pg. 49
- 4: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition): The Elven Warhost, pg. 6
- 5: Blood of Aenarion (Novel): Chapter Ten. pg. 183
- 6: White Dwarf 209 (UK): The Might of the High Elves, pg. 10-11
- 7: White Dwarf 250 (UK): The Realm of the High Elves, pg. 28-29
- 8: Warhammer: The Old World Rulebook, Lords of Ulthuan, pg. 61-63
- 9: High Elf Players Guide
- 9a: The Defenders of Order, pg. 4
- 9b: The Old Ones, Chaos and the Great Vortex, pg. 6-7
- 9c: The Ancient Empire of the Elves, pg. 8-13
- 9d: My Lord von Holzkrug, pg. 14-17
- 9e: Asur Society, pg. 18
- 9f: Attitude to other species, pgs. 28-29
- 9g: So Many Princes, pg. 24
- 9h: Yenlui, pg. 46
- 9i: High Elf Religion, pg. 91
- 9j: High Elf Religion, pg. 98
- 10: Sword of Caledor (Novel): Prologue, pg. 13-14
- 11: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe, pg. 838
- 12: White Dwarf October 2013, pg. 148
- 13: Warhammer Armies: Wood Elves (8th Edition), pg. 36
- 14: Warhammer: Khaine
- 14a: Chapter I: The Widowmaker, pg. 10
Uncited
- Defenders of Ulthuan (Novel)
- Giantslayer (Novel) by William King
- Warhammer Armies: High Elves (4th Edition)