High Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)

The High Elves.

The High Elves are a species that features in Warhammer Fantasy.

History

The High Elves (Asur) were a race of elves that inhabited the World-that-Was.

After the powers of Chaos entered the world with the disappearance of the Old Ones and the destruction of their interstellar gates at the roof of the world, all seemed lost. As hordes of daemons and men corrupted by Chaos sallied forth to destroy everything in the name of their masters, a hero rose from among the ranks of the Elves to fight back. His name was Aenarion, a warrior and adventurer who had travelled the world and returned home in his people's time of need. Knowing his people had no chance of holding off the Chaotic hordes, Aenarion travelled to the Shrine of Asuryan and implored the god to save his people. After countless sacrifices and libations failed, Aenarion hurled himself into the sacred flames of the shrine as a sacrifice. But to the amazement of all present, he did not die. Instead he emerged from the fire, unharmed and blessed by the power of the Creator God of the Elves. Armed with that power, he led his people to victory after victory on the battlefield and finally succeeded in driving the daemon hordes from Ulthuan. In this brief time of respite, Aenarion found peace for a while. He befriended Caledor Dragontamer, greatest of all the realm's mages and lord of the realm of Dragons, and added the power of that land to his armies, taking Indraugnir, greatest of all dragons as his steed. He married Astarielle, the Everqueen, and she bore him twin children: a daughter, Yvraine, and a son, Morelion. But the daemon hordes came again, in far greater numbers and with much more ferocity. The war dragged on for a century, and faced with a numberless, relentless foe, even Aenarion began to lose hope of victory. Caledor presented a desperate scheme that might present a chance of victory: to create a great magical vortex that would drain the powers of Chaos from the world, thus saving its inhabitants. But Aenarion didn't want to risk the repercussions of such a plan. However, news came of a terrible event that would alter the course of his life: word reached him that the daemons had attacked his wife's realm of Averlorn. Astarielle was dead, and his children by her could not be found.

Believing his family dead, a vengeful Aenarion travelled to the Blighted Isle and drew the Sword of Khaine from its resting place in the Shrine of Khaine there, ignoring the knowledge that to do so not only damned oneself but their descendants as well. It is said that on his journey, all four of the Chaos Gods urged him to reconsider and that the ghost of his wife appeared at the entrance of the Shrine, begging him not to go through with it, but Aenarion did not turn away.[1] Blessed by the power of the Creator God and armed with the very weapon of the God of War, Aenarion became an Avatar of death and destruction: none could stand against him. Off the battlefield, though he never stopped mourning Astarielle, Aenarion took a new wife: the beautiful seeress, Morathi, who he had rescued from a Slaaneshi Chaos warband, and she bore him another son: Malekith. Aenarion made court in his bride's homeland of Nagarythe, at the castle of Anlec, where the most bloodthirsty and vicious of Elves flocked to his banner, and the castle and the kingdom became synonymous with misery, suffering and death. Eventually, Aenarion and Caledor fell out over the new age of cruelty and violence Aenarion had ushered in and Caledor stormed out of court. But before Aenarion could take action against his old friend, disaster struck. The daemons came again, this time in such great numbers there was no hope of victory. With little other choice, Caledor assembled the greatest mages in Ulthuan and began to create the vortex. Realising he had no choice, Aenarion assembled his armies to defend Caledor on the Isle of the Dead. The battle that followed was long, bloody and savage and thousands of Elves were slain, but the ritual worked: the vortex was created, draining away the power of Chaos and without it, the daemons faded out of existence. Victory had been won, but the cost was high: thousands were dead, Ulthuan lay in ruins, Caledor and his mages were trapped inside the vortex, doomed to keep it open forever, and Aenarion was wounded unto death. Though dying, Aenarion travelled back to the Shrine of Khaine and returned the Sword of Khaine to its resting place. He died on the island and his body was never found, leaving only a kingdom in ruins.

Overview

The majority of warriors in the armies of the Asur were citizen militia rather than professional soldiers, but are quicker, braver, and better trained than the average human soldier. This militia is a form of part-time army in which all take their turn to serve, every Elf providing his own wargear in defence of Ulthuan. When young elves first join the militia, they will begin as archers, fighting with longbows. This allows them to gain war experience from a relatively safe distance. After a decade or so, they will become spearman, fighting with a spear and shield. This is the senior arm of the militia, and are expected to fight bravely in the main line of battle. Spearmen wear light armour and shields and archers may have light armour. Spearmen train to get as many in the fight as possible without getting in each other's way. In game terms, this means they are able to get more ranks attacking than other races in the Warhammer world.

Notable military units among the High Elves included:

• Lothern Sea Guard : The province of Eataine does not field a citizen militia as all the other provinces do, instead contributing the Lothern Seaguard to the army. Unlike the normal levy, they are not only called up in times of need, but remain at arms at all times. They form a corps of marines to crew ships that patrol the seas around Ulthuan and its colonies, but also fight on land, and like spearmen can fight with more people when using spears. As space is a premium on board a ship, the Seaguard are armed with both a bow and spear, allowing them to maximise their numbers. They wear light armour and carry shields. The sea guard also protect the Ulthuan capital city Lothern, and crew the repeater bolt throwers and the elegant Lothern Skycutters.
• Silver Helm Knights : Silver Helms were the sons of High Elven nobles. They are called silver helms for their ilthilmar helmets, which they decorate with medals showing what monsters they've slain and deeds they've done. They are normally equipped with heavy armour, shields, and lances on barded elven steeds.
• Ellyrian Reavers :
• Dragon Princes of Caledor : Long ago dragon princes fought on the backs of great dragons, but now the dragons sleep and they ride to battle on horses instead. Proud, arrogant, but extremely skilled, able to impale two people with one lance thrust, they are the elite heavy cavalry from the province of Caledor. They refuse to dip their banners in honour of the Phoenix King before battle, and the phrase 'Prince of Caledor' is often used as an insult in Ulthuan to describe an arrogant and egotistical individual. They wear suits of Dragon Armour which are resilient against heat.
• Maiden Guard :
• Sword Masters of Hoeth :
• Shadow Warriors :
• Phoenix Guard :
• White Lions of Chrace :
• Lion Chariots of Chrace :
• Tiranoc Chariots :
• Repeater Bolt Throwers :
• Lothern Skycutter :
• Great Eagles :
• Griffons :
• Dragons :
• Phoenixes :
• Princes :
• Archmages :
• Loremasters of Hoeth :
• Lothern Seahelms :

Whilst lesser races must study magic in its corrupted, broken form, High Elf Mages harness its power as pure, mystical energy. The minor spells of the Asur, those Lores of Magic taught to Men by the legendary High Elf Mage Teclis, are but a pale reflection of the power that can be wielded by an Asur fully trained in the magical arts at the White Tower. The ebb and flow of the winds of magic are the Asur's to command, summoning great energy into themselves or denying it to the enemy. The tumultuous eddies of magic can be smoothed, and used to alter the High Elf's material realm, while the most accomplished Mages can enter the realm of magic and leave behind their physical shell. Before a promising youngster is taught the dangerous path of a True Mage, he will be shown some simple prayers and enchantments to bring down the blessings of the divine Isha. These are far less dangerous for the caster and can be safely employed by even the most untutored talent. These blessings are of no real use on the battlefield, intended as they are to help the apprentice in his daily tasks and to relieve the simple Elven folk of some of the drudgery of their daily chores. However, they allow the Mage tutors to easily assess the potential of their charges and show which of their number is favoured by the High Elven gods. So it is that Mages can perform all manner of tricks and illusions when in a lighter mood, and never need the help of mundane servants. It is even said that the Elven farmers and labourers who live near the majestic White Tower of Hoeth never plough their own fields as every year there is another crop of novices eager to test and demonstrate their skills. The High Elves may use any of the normal eight lores of Magic, but also have their own list of High Magic which only they can access. In addition, Teclis may choose to use any lore during battle and has knowledge of all the spells in it.

Members

• Aenarion the Defender :
• Bel-Shanaar the Explorer :
• Caledor I the Conqueror :
• Caledor II the Warrior :
• Caradryel the Peacemaker :
• Tethlis the Slayer :
• Bel-Korhandis the Scholar King :
• Aethis the Poet :
• Morvael the Impetuous :
• Bel-Hathor the Sage :
• Finubar the Seafarer : Bel-Hathor’s successor, Finubar, is the current Phoenix King. Under his rule, trade has flourished, and Ulthuan survived the last Great War against Chaos, with help from the twins Tyrion and Teclis. At present, Finubar leads the Asur against Malekith's latest invasion.
• Tyrion :
• Teclis :

Notes

• The High Elves were created by Games Workshop where they featured in the setting of Warhammer Fantasy.

In other media

Video games

• In Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the High Elves were a playable race in the setting of the MMORPG video game. Players could choose to play the Shining Guard that were an Order faction who were an elite force charged with the defence of Ulthuan with them operating alongside the citizens militia. It was led by the famous Prince Tyrion who was the Defender of Ulthuan with it being a small unit but highly trained. The Prince was responsible for personally selecting the High Elves that joined the ranks of the Shining Guard with these consisting of the best and bravest of warriors. They stood as examples of the highest honour that could be attained in the military for a High Elf in the militia. The Shining Guard were deployed to fight against the Dark Elves invasion of the island home of the High Elves. Players could choose to play either as an Swordsmaster, White Lion, Archmage or Shadow Warrior.
• In Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, the High Elves were a playable faction within the real-time strategy video game. Within the campaign mode, they featured in a supporting role in the Empire's storyline. Players could also choose of the three playable sub-factions in the Empire that included; Ellyrian, Shadowlands and Saphery kingdom.
• In Total Warhammer II, the High Elves appeared as a playable faction in the setting of the real-time strategy video game.

Appearances

• Warhammer Armies: High Elves:

External Links

• Lexicanum Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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