Urian Poisonblade
Urian Poisonblade was the personal champion of Malekith, the Witch King of Naggaroth, during the latter's invasion of Ulthuan.[1a]
Urian Poisonblade was one of the most infamous of all Dark Elven warriors, a mighty fighter of awesome ability, skill and cunning. [1a]
History
It was rumoured that he had been bred for battle by the Witch King himself to be the destroyer and relentless slayer of his enemies. Urian's cruelty was as legendary as his skill. His foes said that he had the heart of a daemon, and that if you were captured by him it was better to swallow your own tongue and choke to death than survive and face the horrors the following hours or days would bring. When Urian learnt of this he made sure that in future his prisoners had no tongue to choke on.[1a]
Tasked by the Witch King himself, Urian Poisonblade infiltrated the high society of the High Elves, disguising himself as Prince Iltharis, a noble of the Kingdom of Eataine. How he came upon such a position or how he managed to keep it hidden was never known, yet despite the odds stacked against him, Urian managed to gain the trust of many noble families, such as the Captain of the White Lions Korhain Ironglaive and even a young Prince Tyrion. Despite himself, Urian grew fondly accustomed to the society of the High Elves, where one does not need to always look behind his back by potential rivals. Soon, he grew to be fond of his new life and those he came to love, yet despite everything he knew it would have to end, and with his final task given to him, Urian killed the beloved Everqueen in cold blood. With that act, he knew it was over and so the once proud and noble Prince Itharis became Urian Poisonblade once more.
It may be that the Bloody Handed God heard this and decided to pay Urian back, in which case his hubris cost him dear, for it was Urian's fate to meet the only warrior who was greater than himself. It was at the battle of Finuval Plain that Urian met his nemesis. The Witch King's forces were poised, expectant of final victory over their hated High Elf enemies. Urian, as proud and arrogant as ever, strode forward and called out a challenge to single combat.
First the hero Arhalien of Yvresse and then Korhian Ironglaive, captain of the White Lions, accepted the challenge. Urian cut them down as if they were children. Then Tyrion stepped forth. The struggle between these two masters of the warriors' craft, so alike in skill and yet so deeply different in character, was awesome to behold. For fully an hour the two mighty heroes fought in grim silence, first one gaining an advantage, then the other, but neither able to land the final telling blow before their opponent evened the odds. Then Tyrion slipped, and fell heavily to the ground. Urian leaped forward, his blade held high, but before he could land his death blow, Tyrion struck. A quick thrust of his blade found Urian's heart and the fight was over, its end so sudden and abrupt that watchers could hardly believe it was finished. Urian slid slowly to the ground. "The simplest of tricks", he gasped to Tyrion as he fell. "You killed me with the simplest of tricks...“ And with that he died, receiving no answer from Tyrion other than a cold, pitiless stare. Prince Tyrion would win great renown for slaying Urian at this, the Battle of Finuval Plain.[1a][2][5]
Skills
In battle he was all but unstoppable. He had been taught by the greatest masters of the fighting arts in Naggaroth. He let his teachers know that he would slay them once he had learnt all he could from them, unless they could kill him first. This he did, slaying each of his teachers in turn as he outgrew them in skill and ability. The techniques he learnt made him the most deadly of fighters. It was said he knew more than 10,000 ways to kill an opponent, and 10,000 more ways to cripple them and leave them at his mercy. He could kill a bull with one blow of his bare hands, and deflect an arrow in flight with a sweep of his blade. He was death incarnate.[1a]
With such ability went pride and vanity. Urian was even heard to boast that he could slay famine himself in single combat.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition)
- 1a: Dark Elf War Machines, pg. 16
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition),
- 2: Blood of Aenarion (Novel) by William King
- 3: Sword of Caledor (Novel) by William King
- 4: Bane of Malekith (Novel) by William King
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (5th Edition)
