Cult of Vaul
The Cult of Vaul is the organised worship of the god Vaul the Maker. [1a]
Contents
Council of the High King
By tradition, the High Priest of the Cult had a place at the Council of Princes. [2a]
Crafts
Each of the three Elven cultures revere Vaul as the patron of craftsmanship. [3]
History
The Asur have legends that say when the Daemons first entered the world during the Coming of Chaos, Vaul descended to the mortal world and raised stone Anvils from the ground so that weapons could be crafted for for the Elves. Many of these Anvils of Vaul still exist to this day across the world.[3]
During the first war against the Daemons they served as armourers to the princes of Ulthuan. The high priest of the cult aided Caledor Dragontamer with forging magical artefacts and weapons and because of this Vaul's Anvil was assailed a number of times. [2a]
Although the Dragon Princes declined to fly their Dragons in aid of Malekith's purge of the Cults of Pleasure, at the suggestion of Hotek, they sent magical weapons forged by the cult to aid the cause. [2b]
Later they became crafters of amulets, rings and the study of Dwarfen artefacts. [2a]
Life of a Smith-Priest
High Elf priests are based either at the main volcano-temple of Vaul’s Anvil in Caledor or the Sky Forge but many also spend years visiting the temple-forges of other realms or traveling in search of rare minerals. Some visit Athel Loren on a pilgrimage to learn directly from the potential avatar of Vaul, Daith. On Occasion, they may even seek to understand and learn the techniques of Dwarfs, as Hotek did before and during the Sundering.[3]
Although they are often solitary and see their obsessions and self-sacrifice as necessary devotions to Vaul, most of them remain passionate artists who enjoy discussing the creative process. [3]
Locations
The Asrai, Asur and Druchii each have a primary forge-temple temple called Vaul’s Anvil as well as smaller other forge-temples.[3]
- Anvil of Vaul: Within a volcanic crater at the tail of the Dragon Spine Mountains is a great tower of black adamant - the primary shrine of Vaul on Ulthuan. It can only be reached by crossing a bridge of truesilver. [1a]
- Sky Forge: Located in Cothique, it is one of the two main temples on Ulthuan.[3]
- Vaul's Anvil (Athel Loren): Daith, the high priest is believed to be an avatar of the godsmith himself.[3]
Magic of Vaul
Cult spells are used to improve objects during the crafting process. [3]
Notable
- Hotek: A renegade priest of the cult who stole the sacred hammer of the god and would later forge armour for the Witch King, Malekith. [1b]
Order of Vaul
The priesthood of High Elves that worships the Smith God Vaul on Ulthuan. [1a]
Ritual Blinding
When a elf enters the priesthood of Vaul, they ritually blind themselves being granted an understanding of the suffering their god has endured on behalf of the Elves. They also gain formidable skills in harnessing the Winds of Magic to create enchanted items for the rest of Ulthuan. [1a][2a] Some High Priests of the cult even go so far as to shatter their own bones with forging hammers but remain able to transcend their damaged bodies limitations through meditation. Most Elves consider the Smith-priests eccentric but also respect this self-sacrifice and their contribution to the defence of their particular realm. [3]
Tenets of the Cult
- Creative inspiration should be sought everywhere but in Chaos.[3]
- Producing a masterwork requires sacrifice. Works crafted for enjoyment are nothing but trinkets.[3]
- Strength can be drawn from anger, but is should not guide you as nothing worthy is created out of spite.[3]
- Trust not the eye of the beholder, for it can be pleased by beauty alone. [3]
- Vaul’s fire must burn eternal, defend the forges at all costs.[3]
Quotes
| I’ve heard the mages of Avelorn grow spears and arrows on trees. Upon reaching maturity, the shafts are simply clipped off and sent to the Sky Forge, where smiths attach the pointy bits. |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
- 2: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 3: High Elf Players Guide: Smith-Priest of Vail, pg. 100-102
