Witch Elves
The Witch Elves (in their own tongue: Maihd[2]) are the brides and priestesses of Khaine, Lord of Murder. They seek nothing more than to offer mighty sacrifices to their merciless deity, preferably by spilling their victim's blood amidst deadly combat. [1]
Contents
Culture
Each of the cities of the Druchii has a great temple to Khaine which require a tithe from its rulers and raiders that the city sends out across the world, from the haul of the corsairs is taken one slave in ten as a sacrifice to the brides. These dangerous maidens often have a forbidden allure for others of their race who endeavour to gain their favour, and often die to do so for their god is a jealous husband and does not share. [2a]
Death Night
One night each year is set aside for the cult, the Witch Elves roam their cites, dragging out citizens and slaves alike from homes - they then sacrifice hundreds of them in a great holy feast drinking blood and wine and the raw flesh of their victims. [1a]) Households that survive unscathed often sacrifice a slave or elderly relative to the god of murder in thanks. [1b]
History
During the Sundering, in the city of Athel Toralien, the personal guard of Hellebron were known as the Brides of Khaine and they were the fiercest of her followers. By the time they razed their city and set sail for Ulthuan, they were three hundred strong and fell upon the people of Cothique like a bloody storm. [7])
Organisation
Witch Elves live in the Temples to Khaine, monitored by the Hag Queens. [1b]
They are organized in a warrior sisterhood. [3])
- Young priestesses form warbands, each led by a Hag. [3])
- The Hags are responsible to more experienced Death Hags. [3])
- The Death Hags answer only to the Hag Queens. [3])
The overall leadership of the Cult of Khaine belongs to Hellebron, the second-oldest of the Hag Queens. However many Witch Elves support her powerful rival Morathi.
Many of the younger Witch Elves form their own cults/warbands, renting their deadly services to ambitious Dreadlords intent on gathering armies.
Cults
- Brides of Burning Blood: A cult with no fixed home that prefers to worship Khaine on the battlefield. [3])
War
Before a battle begins, the daughters of Khaine drink blood which has been laced with drugs to boost their ferocity and bloodlust. Their razor sharp blades are then often coated with poison. [2]) Following the battle, they choose those captives who will be sacrificed to their god, renewing their pact. [1b])
Weapons and Equipment
The Brides of Khaine that followed Hellebron during the Sundering eschewed armour in favour of speed, seeking to kill before they were killed, branding and tattooing themselves with runes of Khaine as well as painting their battle scars to draw attention to them. They took drugs to drive themselves into a frenzy and coated their blades with poison. [7])
- 2nd Edition: Chainmail, Two Hand Weapons. May have one or both Poisoned Swords. [6a]
- 3rd Edition: Hand Weapon and Light Armour, may have additional Hand Weapon and Poisoned Weapons. One regiment in a army may have Crossbows. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. [5a]
- 4th Edition: Two Hand Weapons, may have Light Armour and Magical Standard. [1c])
- 6th Edition: Two Poisoned Hand Weapons, may have a Magic Standard. May have a Hag, Musician and Standard Bearer. [2b]
- 7th Edition: Two Poisoned Hand Weapons, may have a Magic Standard. May have a Hag, Musician and Standard Bearer, The Hag may have Gifts of Khaine. [3a]
Quotes
| For fighting we use daggers, the most intimate of weapons, the most courageous instrument of death. We must get close to our enemies, smell the fear on their breath, see the desire in their eyes. You must yearn for this closeness, desire their heat upon you. For in this final dance with them you will touch Khaine. When the lifeblood spays your skin you will feel a true heat, a true passion, that no mortal can provide. This is our legacy sisters. This is our birth right. |
Gallery
Witch Elves
A Witch Elf
A Witch Elf
A Witch Elf
A Witch Elf
A Witch Elf
Witch Elves
Witch Elves
Witch Elf
Witch Elves
Witch Elves
Witch Elf
Witch Elf
Witch Elf blades
Army banner depicting a Hag Queen sacrificing on Death Night
Miniatures
4th Edition Witch Elf
4th Edition Witch Elf
A 4th Edition Witch Elf Regiment
6th Edition Witch Elf Regiment
6th Ed Witch Elf Command
6th Ed Witch Elves
Witch Elf
Witch Elf Command
Notes
- White Dwarf 108 (1988), in its article Witch Elves! p.30 translates 'Witch Elves' with Tulluch.
In the 2nd Edition, Dark Elf Assassins were the children of Witch Elves who if they survived being immersed in a cauldron of Khaine would become an adept of the Temple, trained in the arts of disguise and murder. [6a]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition),
- 2:Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)
- 3:Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition), pg. 50
- 3a: Dark Elf Army List, pg. 96
- 4: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Official Guide, pg. 228
- 5: Warhammer Armies (3rd Edition)
- 5a: Dark Elf Army List, pg. 35
- 6: Ravening Hordes (2nd Edition)
- 6a: Dark Elves, pg. 26-27
- 7: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe: Fourteen: Rivers of Blood, pg. 893
