High Elf Spearman
High Elf Spearmen, along with High Elf Archers are the citizen-militia within Ulthuan's armies, acting as a disciplined line of warriors. [1a]
It is only after a decade or more of fighting as an Archer and once his worth is proven, does a High Elf become a spearman. After years of training a regiment of High Elf Spears becomes a finely honed killing machine. [4a]
Contents
History
During the reign of the Phoenix King Morvael, he introduced a system that the various provinces would train large bodies of soldiers to defend against the power of the Druchii. [1a]
Waaagh! Grom
At the Siege of Tor Yvresse, a lone regiment of Spearmen from the Tor Yvresse militia held the narrow procession to the Warden's tower against overwhelming odds. When Eltharion and his warriors finally battled their way through the press to relieve them, they found the last dozen Elf Spearmen grimly standing their ground, amid scores of their fallen comrades and hundreds of slain Goblins. [4a]
Organisation
Each city or large settlement must train a force of Archers and Spearmen in proportion to their size. [1a]
The commander of a Spear regiment is called a Sentinel, and their duty is to oversee the training of the recruits in their regiments. The Sentinel's are the veterans of many bloody battles and have faced countless horrors and prevailed. This hard-won experience in battle, greatly benefits the regiment, instilling confidence as well as providing the regiment with a hardened warrior to take on the worst the enemy has to throw at them. [4a]
On the field of battle the Spears regiments form spear walls. These walls of deadly spear tips that impales any brave enough to charge at it, are meant to hold lines and put up a steadfast defense for the High Elf Army. As a result of their expert training over many years, the High Elf Spearmen become so proficient that they make spearmen of other races look like rabble. [4a]
Training
In their training each spearmen is trained to instinctively know the mind of his comrades in the unit, fighting as one body when in battle. In battle this translates to each warrior moving as if it was apart of a carefully choreographed plan, such as overlapping one another and providing protection, or opening the defenses of the enemy without so much as a spoken word or nod. The fierce discipline of High Elf Spearmen is famed all across the Warhammer World, earning them a reputation that rightly puts fear into the hearts of their foes. [4a]
Uniforms and Shield Designs
Like High Elf Archer regiments, the High Elf Spear regiments are garbed in white, often with a coloured border design that represents their realm or city of origin. To the High Elves white is the colour and symbol of purity and death, and their robes symbolize their determination to fight and die if necessary.[1a]
Eataine veteran regiments often have the image of a Frostheart Phoenix painted onto their shields. [6a] In contrast Chracian Spearmen have coloured ribbons of valour hanging from their spears - red for those who have been wounded saving others, white for those who have defeated a mighty opponent on their own. [6b] Only those regiments that have been assigned to guard a Mage are allowed to have the image of the goddess Lileath or a star of Hoeth on their shields. [6c]
Weapons, Armour and Equipment
The Elf Spearmen are very well equipped with fine hauberks of scale armour, strong sturdy shields, tall decorated helms, and deadly spears reaching 10 feet in length. [1a]
- 3rd Edition: Guard: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Spear. May have Heavy Armour, Shield. May swap Spear for Halberd. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magical Instrument, Magical Standard. [8a]
- 4th Edition: Light Armour, Shield, Spear, Sword. [1b]
- 5th Edition: Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Heavy Armour, Magic Standard. [2a]
- 6th Edition: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Champion, Musician and Standard Bearer. [3a]
- 7th Edition: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Sentinel, Musician and Standard Bearer. [4b]
- 8th Edition: Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Sentinel, Musician and Standard Bearer. [5a]
- W:TOW: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield, Thrusting Spears. May have Sentinel, Musician and Standard Bearer. May have Magical Standard. [9]
Notable
- Dragonspine Tall Spears: A renowned regiment raised from settlements around the foot of the Dragonspine Mountains. Each warrior in the regiment paints a unique Dragon design onto their shield, always in blue upon a white field. [7a]
- Rythian’s Waveriders They were led by Rythian Seasong, a famous Sea Master who was killed fighting Dark Elf Corsairs on the shores of the Turtle Isles. The regiment adopted his personal heraldry as their own, adding Saurir, the rune of unbending vengeance. [7a]
- The Silver Stars of Yvresse: The famed Silver Stars were one of the spear regiments that joined Eltharion and helped rout the army of Grom the Paunch. [7a]
- Tor Elyr Redmanes: The regiment from Tor Elyr are named after Aelin Redmane, the Reaver Princess and whose household boasts three such regiments, each defined by the colour painted on the field of their kite shields. [7a]
- Revenants of Khaine: Defenders of the Blighted Isle. [6d]
- Scions of Mathlann: Cothique spearmen blessed by Mathlann. [6e]
Gallery
The Eataine Guard
Guard
Spearman of the Kingdom of Caledor
Sentinel of Caledor
Spearman of the Kingdom of Cothique
Spearman of the Kingdom of Ellyrion
High Elf Spearman
High Elf Spearmen
High Elf Speaman
Miniatures
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (4th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
- 2a: High Elf Army List, pg. 77
- 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (6th Edition)
- 3a: Defenders of Ulthuan, pg. 26
- 4: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
- 5: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 5a: High Elf Army List, pg. 92
- 6: Uniforms & Heraldry of the High Elves
- 7: White Dwarf 370 (UK)
- 7a: Colours of Ulthuan, pg. 23
- 8: Warhammer Armies (3rd Edition)
- 8a: High Elf Army List, pg. 49
- 9: Forces of Fantasy (TOW): The High Elf Realms, pg. 161
