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Warriors
of Ulthuan
Heroes of
the Asur
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Prince
The High Elf Princes are the rulers of small parts of the 10 kingdoms. Second to
none but the High Princes and the Phoenix King, they are among the highest ranks
of nobility in Ulthuan. The title of Prince is not granted by the Phoenix King
or any other of the Asur race. Instead, you must be in possesion of one of the
ancient swords forged back in the time of Aenarion the Defender. These Swords
are sacred heirlooms of those families who posess one, and are often enchanted
with very powerful spells. Many Princes lead their army mounted on one of the
finest elvensteeds, but some provinces hold other traditions. for example, the
lords of Tiranoc will ride a chariot, Sapherian Princes are often exeptionally
skilled in the arts of the Swordmasters and will usually fight on foot while
wileding a fine elven greatsword, while Caledorian Princes sometimes even fight
from dragonback!
Commander
A Prince will not command his army alone. Instead, he often has one or more
commanders to aid him. Usually these Commanders are the sons of nobles who,
after they served in the silverhelms, are being prepared for their duty as
prince themselves. Commanders will usually ride a steed barded with Ithilmar
Barding, commanding an entire flank of the army. In smaller battles, Commanders
will sometimes even command the entire army themselves. Often one Elf is chosen
to carry the standard of his lord into battle, inspiring the troops and creating
a rally point on the battlefield. This is a great honour, and the standard is
beared with much pride. The High Elves favor standards with mythical beasts such
as dragons, unicorns or phoenixes. Also, many delicate elven runes will tell the
history of the army and stories of the fictories of the commander. Many of these
designs have full backgrounds and the more ancient the banner the becomes the
more the background or image become complicated.
High Elf Mages
Most larger armies and many small ones are aided by one or more of our skilled
mages, who are said to be the greatest mages in the world, spending there long
lives studying and practicing the art of magic, and it was the great High Elf
mage Teclis who taught basics of it to the race of humans. Still many secrets
are only known to the elves anf many of our mages wield a far purer, delicate
form of magic which is some of the powerful of all the known lores in the world.
Their spells and fiery blasts have turned the tides of battle and have won many
victories where sword and shield would have prevailed. High Elf mages are
trained in the White tower of Hoeth, which is situated in Saphery. This is the
world's largest centre of wisdom and magic and it is said that the Libary of
Hoeth contains all texts ever written.
Core Units
Silver Helm Knights
The silverhelms are formed by the sons of nobles, who can afford a fully barded
steed and all the equipment used bu the mounted knight. the silverhelms form a
small but powerful unit in the armies of Ulthuan, riding fast and hitting hard.
The elvish word for Knight is Ithiltaen which means Silver Helm, and they are
called this because of their tall shining helms that they wear. Much of
Ulthuan's survival depends on these well trained knights in battle, many
invading armies have been broken to the charge of the silver helms.
High Elf Spearmen
All the Regiments of Elven Spearmen are made up of the citizen levy of Ulthuan.
Though they may be artists or craftsmen or poets in times of peace, every Elf is
a deadly fighter in times of war. In times of great danger, the citisen levy
will be mobilised and this will increase the forces of each realm many times. At
other times the regiments may guard one of the Annullii passes like the Dragon
or Griffon gate or trains to fight as one efficient body so that if war comes to
our isle again, we will be prepared!
Archers
The Elven archer regiments are made up of the young elves who have not
experienced war yet. From a relative save spot they can experience the horrors
of battle. Once hardened and experienced, the elf will don the armour of a
spearmen, or will become leader of a new unit. Even though the archers are
younger and less experienced, they are exeptionally skilled compared to humans
and can sometimes turn the tide of the battle.
Lothern Sea Guard
Unlike the citisen levy, the Sea guard of Lothern are the warriors and sailors
of the Phoenix Kings fleet of warships. Lothern Sea Guard are always kept in
full strength and remains the core unit of full-time warriors. Their task is to
defend Lothern and the waters that surround Ulthuan, experienced in both the
spear and bow enabling them to both shower where enemies with arrows and engage
in hand to hand combat. This is useful at sea in the cramped decks of the elven
warships the use of two weapons doubles there combat effectiveness.
Special Units
Ellyrion Reaver Knights
Ellyrion is famed for its skilled riders and in war these form the Ellerion
Reavers. Ever scince the days of Caledor I the reavers form an important asset
to all elven armies, scouting the lands for the enemy and harassing them with
quick attacks, withdrawing before the enemy can counter. The Reavers learn to
ride and fight from horse back at an early age because of this they are able to
shoot with uncanny accuracy. Spending months or even years at a time patrolling
the coast lines for the sign of trouble, Reaver knights learn how to live off
the land often forging for food and getting items of necessary from the land or
even from the enemy.
Dragon Princes of Caledor
Once the mighty Dragon Princes could arouse enough Dragons to turn the skies
black with wings, and rode to battle mounted on one of these awesome cvreatures.
many a battle has been won by the fire breath of dragions and the lance of their
rider. however, these creatures are few and those that are left slumber deeply.
Only very few elves can possibly rouse a dragon, and the dragon princes cannot
fight in the traditional way of their kingdom any longer. Now the Dragon Princes
gallop into battle upon mighty Elven steeds caparisoned in burnished armor
forged in the form of a Dragon, an echo of a bygone age.
Swordmasters of Hoeth
The The mighty order of the Swordmasters are the guardians of the White Tower
of Hoeth, in the mysterious land of Saphery. The Swordmasters are
warrior-ascetics who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of wisdom and learning
carefully controlled violence. They study meditation and martial arts until they
are capable of super-human feats of arms. They favor the Elven greatsword above
all other blades: a wicked weapon a full six feet in length, double-edged and
razor sharp. The Sword Masters are so superlatively trained that they can wield
these mighty swords as fast as an ordinary warrior can use a normal sword. It is
said that the Swordmasters can fight in complete darkness, guided by the sound
of their opponent's breath, that they can cut a candle in half without
disturbing the flame or even deflect arrows in mid air, and many a foe barely
registered their sword leaving his scabbard.
Tiranoc Charioteers
Once the lands of Tiranoc where full of beautiful chariots racing the white
beaches of the great ocean. Then the sundering came, And foul dark elf magic
sunk large parts of the once right lands. Few of the charioteers survived, but
the scattered peoples of the sundered realm that did survive still keep alive
the art of fighting from a fast-moving chariot. Charging in, striking at the foe
and wheeling away, driving back their enemies with their deadly skills, the
Charioteers of Tiranoc are breathtaking sight that none in the other lands can
match for speed and grace.
Shadow Warriors
Shadow Warriors:
When the Black Prince Malekith roused Nagarythe in his war against Ulthuan, some of the Nagarothi threw their lot in with King Caledor I instead. Remaining in Nagarythe, they fought the dark elves in the long struggle called the "Shadow War."
When the Sundering struck, many of these brave soldiers sank and drowned with much of their homeland. However, enough survived to carry on the memory of their beloved Nagarythe.
The Shadow Warriors are the active military organization in present day Nagarythe. They are never at truly at peace, as they constantly patrol the shores and hills of their beloved homeland for the druchii. They are of the exception to the stoic elven behavior towards their fallen bretheren, as they openly admit their hatred for the dark ones. Also, because of their hatred, their view on the usage poisons and drugs are especially harsh, as both are dark elven specialties.
They are a proud and warlike folk, some even compare their cruelty to that of Aenarion's during his madness. Though they are never truly welcomed by other High Elves, "touched by the witch king" as the saying goes, there are not many that have not heard of their valor. Because of their outcast like status amonge their own kind, many of them are driven to seek adventure in lands beyond Ulthuan and beloved Nagarythe. And it is also because of this status, the Shadow Warriors are amongst some of the most tolerant of elves, so it is not entirely uncommon for them to work with other "lesser beings."
The Shadow Warriors are more of scattered bands rather then one unified force. The troops in each warband have a fixed chain of command, the number of troop classifications found in each group is variable, the smallest being two and the largest being seven.
Shadow Master- Every warband is led by a captain known as the Shadow Master. This is a very highly honored title among the Shadow Warriors as it is given to those who have fought in the "Shadow War" for so long, he now commands the very darkness he fights from. Also notable is that many of the former nobility of Nagarythe are Shadow Masters.
Shadow Walker- One step down from Shadow Master, these are the most trusted lieutenants of the captain. These are grizzled and hardened veterans of war, and while he does not command the shadows like the captain, he is its friend and can call for its aid when he needs it.
Shadow Weaver- The Shadow Weavers are the mages of Nagarythe. Their name comes from their craft, as they "weave" the winds into various shapes and forms much like how a weaver fashions clothing from threads. Because of the nature of their warfare against their dark cousins, the Shadow Weavers focus their studies and specialize in spells that uses shadows and trickery.
Shadow Warrior- The backbone of every warband is the Shadow Warrior. Many are veterans of at least one battle, and all have lost some loved one to the dark elves. Compounded with their natural hatred, the struggles between Shadow Warriors and Dark Elves are always bloody, with neither side asking or giving quarter.
Shadow Warrior Novice- The lowest of the troops. These are the untested new recruits to any warband. However, because of the harsh conditions, many quickly earn either the status of full warrior or dead.
There are also two very special classifications that cannot be earned:
Shadow King- Only one elf was ever strong enough to hold the title of Shadow King, and he was Alith Anar. As the story goes, tradition had the Nagarythe choose a new ruler after Malekith and Morathi fled to the west. Of the remaining great families, there was only one that remained untainted despite all the years of persecution at court. Alith Anar was the heir to this line: his father Eothlir died on the battlefield, and his grandfather Eolaran the Proud was murdered in the cold dungeons of Anlec. Beneath the shattered groves of Dragon Pass, the Nagarythe swore pacts to Alith Anar and pledged blood oaths to the destruction of the Malekith and his followers.
Alith Anar led the Nagarythe on their greatest moments in their history. During those days, there were still bands of Druchii still scattered about, and the Shadow Warriors busied themselves cleansing the lands, a task which Alith Anar undertook with a vengeance. Entire encampments were torched, none were spared, and those few that had managed to survive were crucified on the trees as grisly testaments to the fate of the dark ones for any wanderers to witness.
After the battle of Griffon Pass, Altih Anar captured seven hundred Druchii prisoners and promptly had them nailed high on the white cliffs. There they hung until they died, leaving corpses in place for years until the flesh rotted and the bones tumbled beside the road. Those bones and the red marks from the nails can still be seen to the present day.
After that, the Shadow Warriors began to become thorns in the Witch King's side. Their valor bordered on suicide and, with the Shadow King leading them, there was nothing they would not dare. They ambushed the his troops, harassed his ships, plundered his convoys, and were even led against his newly raised fortresses in Naggaroth. It is said that Alith Anar disguised himself and danced with Morathi in court before stealing the Stone of Midnight. He eluded his witch elf pursuers by tricking them into drinking poison mixed with blood.
Much later, he simply vanished. But, despite his disappearance, no one dared to claim the title of Shadow King, which remains his alone.
Afterwards he became rather a recluse, for tales of his deeds end here. There had been campfire stories, but nothing solid enough to support his continued existence. When Eltharion raised swords to strike at the Naggaroth and the Witch King, Nagarythe warriors poured forth to aid him. Among them was the Shadow King himself, ready to continue his war of vengeance.
Aesanar- These are the sons of Alith Anar, the Shadow King. Each son carries great authority among the Shadow Warriors not merely due to the name they bear, but by their own skill and cunning, for the Nagarythe do not have the luxury of following names.
Rare Units
Phoenix Guards
The Phoenix Guards protect the Shrine of Asuryan. They are a silent order,
pledged not to allow a single word to pass their lips ever again for they have
also guard the chamber of days, on which walls the stories of all phoenix kings,
those of the past, the present and the future, is written. the chamber predicts
the death of each of them and their successor. the knowledge of their fate
whipes the joy of their face, which will bear a grim expression of doom. when a
phoenix king dies, the phoenix guard are there immediately to bear the body
away, for they knew in advance it would happen. In battle, they fight where they
are most needed, knowing in advance who will be victorious and who will fall.
White Lions of Chrace
White Lions hold the passes in the broken Northlands of Chrace against against
the constant incursions of the Dark Elves. The white lions are hunters, able to
move through forest with ease and the strongest of elves. with their woodmans
axe, they are said to be able to fell a tree in a single stroke. Before anyone
may consider himself one he must first slay one of the ferocious white lions in
hand to hand combat. when he did that, he may wear the lion's pelt which is a
great honour. Traditionally, a company of White Lions acts as the personal
bodyguard of the Phoenix King ever scince Caledor the first. When he was
attacked by a band of dark elf assasins, these brave hunters came to his aide
and together they fought off the enemy.
Great Eagles of the Anullii
The great eagles of the Anullii mountains are a proud noble race , that has
lived in the high mountain peaks scince long before the rise of men. Ever scince,
the eagles have been allies of the High Elves and they have fought together on
many occasions and do so still. it is said the Loremasters of the White Towercan
speak with the eagles, who constanly watch the annulli. this way, the foul
forces of chaos can never pass through the mountains without finding the fine
forces of Ulthuan waiting for them. because of the tight bond between our people
and the eagles, they are considered a portent of good fortune. and an eagle
soaring high above the battlefield still is a sign of victory.
Repeater Bolt Throwers
Bolt Throwers are one of the few war machines that the high elves use. High
elves choose to rely more of skilled fighters than on their archers and war
machines, still there will not be many High Elf Princes that will not take at
least one bolt thrower into battle with him. They are effective in piercing
through even the thickest of armor with ease, taking down ranks of enemies at a
time with each shot. Bolt throwers are usually mounted on the mighty elven
warships but many are also available to the seaguard, the fortresses in the
Anullii and the other high elf armies. | |
