Tor Alessi

Tor Alessi was a High Elf trading city in what is now called the Old World.^[1a]

The Bretonnian city of L'Anguille is built atop its ruins. ^[1a]

Defences

A port city with a main wall and a secondary wall, three gatehouses (Dragon, Eagle, Phoenix) with a large keep. ^[3a]

History

The city was founded by Princes of Tiranoc. ^[6]

It was the first city to be visited by Bel Shanaar, although Athel Toralien was the seat of Prince Malekith and the capital in all but name. ^[6]

War of Vengeance

The city was repeatedly besieged by the Dwarfs in the War of the Beard. ^[1a] For their part the Dwarfs were shocked by the size and power of the garrison - then numbering some twenty thousand elf warriors, ^[3a] with at least one of the Dwarfs, Kundi Firebeard taking the vow of the Slayer for his underestimation of the High Elves army. ^[2a]

Thousands of Rune marked stones were flung at the walls even as the crews suffered under fire from the elves war machines and archers. Elf cavalry sallied forth from the gates three times and after one Dwarf Thane Dumbrin lost a quarter of his clan after pursuing the retreating elves - the High King changed the Thanes name to Wazzokrik. Mines dug under the walls were destroyed by magic and Prince Arlyr of Eataine although he was captured during his sally. ^[2a]

Although some damage was inflicted on the city during the first siege, the outraged Caledor II sent a vast fleet carrying a mighty army to relieve it and the Dwarfs were forced to retreat before they were trapped between the city and the new forces. ^[1a][2a]

As the war ebbed and flowed, the city was repeatedly besieged with the final, 14th siege taking place 346 years after the first assault (in -1560 IC) and to which the Dwarfs had brought no less than three Anvil of Dooms. ^[2a] At the height of the fourteenth seige, Caledor himself led a third charge into the Dwarf lines where he was confronted and killed by the Dwarf King Gotrek Starbreaker. The War of Vengeance was over. ^{[1a] [2a][4a][5a]}

Following this defeat and with the Dark Elves also attacking Ulthuan, the new Phoenix King Caradryel ordered the withdrawl of the High Elves from the Old World. ^[1a] The Dwarfs cast down the three towers and used the stones to build a new vault for the Phoenix Crown which had been taken as due payment to the many grudges against the Elves. ^[2a]

Notable

• Arlyr: Prince and commander of the cities Silver Helms. ^[3b] He was killed in the first siege. ^[3c]
• Impirilion: Lord and commander of the garrison. ^[3c]

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
  • 1a: The Chronicle of the Phoenix Kings, pg. 24
• 2: Grudgelore
  • 2a: War of Vegeance, pg. 41-47
• 3: The Great Betrayal (Novel)
  • 3a: Chapter Thirty Five: Against the Glittering Host, pg. 411-412
  • 3b: Chapter Thirty Seven: The First Siege of Tor Alessi, pg. 441
  • 3c: Chapter Thirty Eight: The Fleet From Across the Sea, pg. 467
• 4: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (Revised 6th Edition)
  • 4a: Deeds of Ages, pg. 16
• 5: Warhammer: The Old World Rulebook
  • 5a: pg. 25
• 6: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Malekith (Novel) by Gav Thorpe: Eight: The Passing of an Age, pg, 109