Island of the Flame

The Island of the Flame is located in the South (lower half, centre), just above the entry Shrine of Asuryan.

The Island of the Flame is located inside the Sea of Dreams of the Inner Sea, relatively close to Lothern, capital of the High Elves. Belonging to no individual realm^[1a][2a], its main feature is the Shrine of Asuryan.

Upon the death of a Phoenix King, the High Elf princes gather in the shrine to choose his successor, who then has to pass through the Eternal Flame of the Phoenix^[1b][2b].

All High Elf nobles are expected to make a pilgrimage towards the shrine at least once in their life^[2c][3b].

History

Both Malekith and Morathi came to witness Bel Shanar passing through the Sacred Flame. ^[4a]

Massacre at the Shrine of Asuryan

The massacre at the Shrine of Asuryan took place in IC -2750, the last year of the reign of Bel-Shanaar, as part of an attempted coup by Malekith.^[3a] Bel-Shanaar had called on the ruling princes to gather in council at the Shrine of Asuryan to decide how to combat the growing threat of the Cult of Pleasure.^[4a] Nearly two dozen princes gathered, but Imrik was not present. ^[4d]

Malekith assassinated Bel-Shanaar before the council could convene with poison provided by the King's own chamberlain Palthrain.^[4c] Malekith sailed to the Isle and came to the council wearing his sword and accompanied by armed knights, even though it was forbidden to carry weapons into the holy shrine. Malekith argued that he should be Phoenix King. When many of the the princes refused, Malekith drew his sword and he and his knights began slaughtering the unarmed princes. Malekith then stepped into the flame of Asuryan and was horribly burned. ^[4d] His retainers carried their near-dead prince away and left the shrine.^[4]

More than half of the ruling princes of Ulthuan were killed in the massacre.^[5c] Those slain included:

• Caledrian of Caledor.^[5a]
• Elodhir of Tiranoc, son of Bel-Shanaar, killed by Bathinair.^[4d]
• Haradrin of Eataine, killed by Malekith.^[4d]

The survivors included:^[5b]

• Bathinair of Yvresse, who sided with Malekith and fled.
• Carathril, Herald of the Phoenix King.
• Finudel of Ellyrion.
• Mianderin, high priest of the Shrine of Asuryan.^[5d][4d]
• Thyriol of Saphery.
• Thyrinor of Caledor.

Assault by N'Kari

In 2273 IC, the Keeper of Secrets N'Kari invaded Ulthuan, hunting the descendants of Aenarion the Defender. He attacked the Shrine of Asuryan with a host of Daemons and forced his way inside but was defeated by by the twins, Tyrion and Teclis.^[3c][6]

Locations

The island has gently shoaling white beaches with long piers for vessels to dock at.^[4b]

• The Shrine of Asuryan is a pyramid temple dedicated to Asuryan^[4a] and zealously protected by the Phoenix Guard.^[4a] The marble building rises up from an open meadow^[4b] and the outer element of the temple consists of open columns which depict different aspects of the god - the Father, a Phoenix, an eagle and others. ^[4d]
  • At the centre of the temple burns the Sacred Flame, noiseless and without heat, standing twice the height of an Elf. The marble floor is inscribed with magical gold runes whilst phoenix shaped braziers hang on the walls. Weapons are not allowed to pass the threshold of the temple. ^[4a]

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (4th Edition)
  • 1a: pg. 6
  • 1b: pg. 7
• 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
  • 2a: pg. 5
  • 2b: pg. 10
  • 2c: pg. 91
• 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
  • 3a: pg. 37
  • 3b: pg. 71
  • 3c: The Book of Days, pg. 41
• 4: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Malekith (Novel) by Gav Thorpe,
  • 4a: One: Broken Legacy, pg. 20-24
  • 4b: Twenty-Three: A Council Convened, pg. 257-258
  • 4c: Twenty-Four: An Act of Infamy, pg. 263-264
  • 4d: Twenty-Five: The Wrath of Asuryan, pg. 269-276
• 5: Caledor (novel) by Gav Thorpe (ebook)
  • 5a: ^{Needs Citation}, pg. 187 of 769
  • 5b: ^{Needs Citation}, pg. 192 of 769
  • 5c: ^{Needs Citation}, pg. 193 of 769
  • 5d: ^{Needs Citation}, pg. 276 of 769
• 6: Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (8th Edition): N'Kari's Revenge, pgs 20-21