Alandrian
Alandrian was an elf of Nagarythe who, like Yeasir served as Malekith's lieutenant in the wars of conquest during the reign of Bel-Shanaar.[1a]
Contents
Family
Alandrian was married to Mirieth[6d] and had two daughters, Hellebron who would become one of the greatest Hag Queens of Naggaroth [3b] and Lirieth.[6a]
History
The Old World
He traveled with Malekith on his push into the east of Elthin Arvan where they encountered the Dwarfs.[1a] Alandrian swiftly displayed a talent for language and was quickly able to pick up the dwarven tongue and act as Malekith's interpreter. [1b] He accompanied Malekith to Karak Kadrin to meet initially with King Gazarund[1c] and then on to Karaz-a-Karak where they were granted an audience with Snorri Whitebeard.[1d]
Both Alandrian and Malekith were angered by Admiral Aernuis who had found a place at the High Kings court and who in turn saw them as a threat. Once Malekith had become friends with Snorri and a great treaty had been signed, he had Alandrian lure Aernius away and kill him as well as his companion, Sutherai, avenging their previous insults. [1e]
Deeply saddened by the death of Snorri and seeing little glory in his life, Malekith decided to head into the north with 500 volunteers, not knowing if he would return. Before Malekith journeyed to the north (ca. -2790 IC)[2], he made Alandrian a prince of Nagarythe and the regent of Athel Toralien in his absence.[1f]
His split from his wife made him unpopular in many cities as her family were a powerful force in Nagarythe and beyond. [6d]
When Hellebron told him she wished to join the Cult of Khaine and travel with the army, Alandrian was delighted and imposed only two conditions - her sister would accompany her and they would seek no special treatment. [6b] Twenty years later, the sisters sent word to their father that they were being lauded throughout the army and he should recognise this with a great celebration for when they returned to their home. [6c] However the people of Athel Toralien were more interested in the harvest and a trade convoy setting off to Galthyr but he promised the sisters a different reception at evening gala to be held in their honour. [6d]
The event was held in the gardens and courtyards of the princes palace with all the food provided from the local area. Lirieth and Hellebron arrived arm in arm, clad in skimpy crimson silk dresses with red hair, lips and their exposed flesh whitened with jewelry proclaiming their allegiance to Khaine. To the shock of many, they were armed, each having pair of curved daggers in their belts. The gathered priests and priestesses challenged them about the death of Lethruis but the sisters were unimpressed and when threatened by Khelthion, high priest of Ereth Khial, Hellebron slit his throat and pushed him to her sister who plunged a dagger into his heart. [6d]
Many called for Alandrian to act but he retorted with: Khaine will take what is his. The is a religious matter, it is no concern of mine. Hellebron then announced that the body would be cremated in a Khainite ceremony at midnight and all were invited. Huge numbers attended, and although many were aghast at the bloody ceremony, many others were enraptured by the theatrics and masterful oration by the sisters. In the aftermath Alandrian warned them to keep control but also that he would support them as much as he could. [6d]
However when Hellebron and Lirieth led their followers to attack the temple of Atharti and sacrificed Ilintalia the High Priestess outright war began between the Cult of Khaine and the other cults. Alandrian ordered them all to cease the disorder and arrested his daughters. [6e] He visited them frequently, asking them to renounce their devotion to Khaine but they did not and in the meantime he reopened the temples for all the cults. [6f]
However when news came of civil war between Malekith and Morathi in Nagarythe he sought their aid and unleashed them against the cults once more but with his full support. Their mother gathered her own supporters and marched on her estranged husbands villa with several thousand supporters, demanding an end to the purge and that he turn over the rule of the city to her. The two sisters approached their mother and she appealed to them to turn away from Khaine whilst their father watched from a balcony. Hellebron kissed her and whispered to her, It is too late for peace. If I do not do this, another will. Better to rule with Khaine's blessing, than serve without it. She then cut her throat. [6f]
Sundering
During the elven civil war know as the Sundering, Alandrian sided with Malekith and Morathi securing Athel Toralien for them and once this was achieved, emptying the colonies of warriors with 500,000 setting sail for Ulthuan to reinforce the army of Nagarythe. He traveled in advance of them as Morathi wanted him to track down and slay the so-called Shadow King who was disrupting her plans. She offered to fix the scars of the newly arrived Prince, which he refused, stating that it reminded him of the price of overconfidence, but she did not allow him to see the still recovering Malekith - yet. [7a]
He laid a trap for Alith Anar on the headland near Galthyr and although he escaped, he killed a number of his Shadow Warriors. [7b] Reporting to Morathi, Alandrian showed that Alith was acting like a wolf with Nagarythe as his territory and he knew where he would be - he also brought his two daughters to kill the Shadow King. To aid him in the task, Morathi gave him Ashniel Moranin to scry for his quarry. [7c]
Alandrian determined that Alith would strike at the counting house of Athel Yranuir and went there with his daughters and Ashniel who confirmed the location. The sisters slaughtered most of the Shadow Warriors but then Lirieth was killed by a arrow to the throat, Hellebron swiftly avenging her and taking the life of what appeared to be the Shadow King. They allowed a couple of warriors to flee to spread the world and took the Moonbow as a prize back to Morathi. [7d]
He fought in the Battle of Maledor with a force of knights from Athel Toralien.[3a]
When the Sundering swallowed Nagarythe, Alandrian had been in Annulii Mountains hunting for Alith Anar near the Caerasin Vale. Here Alandrian was captured by Alith Anar and bound to a tree that he might be kept alive and tormented for years by the elves whom his people had oppressed.[4]
Kouran Darkhand
During the End Times, Malekith would sometimes absentmindedly call Kouran Darkhand by the name "Alandrian", confusing Kouran with his former lieutenant.[5]
Quotes
| If you are to learn the way of Khaine, as I and many others did, you must seek not only the ceremony and sacrifice, you must embrace all of Khaine's gifts and learn to wage war. It is this that is Aenarion's legacy to the Naggarothi, do not forget it.
~ Alandrian to Hellebron.[6b] |
Sources
- 1: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Malekith (Novel) by Gav Thorpe,
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition), pg. 37
- 3: Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 4: Never Forgive (Novella) by Gav Thorpe
- 5: The Curse of Khaine (Novel), pgs. 41-44, 262, 326 of 631 (ebook)
- 6: The Sundering (Omnibus): The Bloody Handed (Novella)
- 7: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Shadow King (Novel) by Gav Thorpe,
Uncited
