Well it was only a matter of time before one of these armies turned up, wasn't it?
High Elves
Army Name: Guardians of the Mists
General: One of the following: Archmage Bel-Alnuin master of the Tower of Mists;
Valieth, captain of the north-western Cothique shore guards;
Setheln, standard bearer of the warriors of Ar-Selafren;
Liriella, maiden of the light.
Don't you just love intrigue at court?
Philosophy:
Bel-Alnuin: Our light is fading fast, but while we still shine we shall repel the darkness.
Valieth: The Asur who bewail our doom are but contributing to it. Through action we shall survive, and if others do not see this then I shall prove it by my own hand.
Setheln: Ulthuan is all. I have pledged my life in its defence; that is all that matters.
Liriella: I will do as I am requested. That does not mean I have to know those who ask the requests.
Quotes: "We stand like a candle flame against the smothering night, yet even the smallest light gives hope and if we stand firm we may yet live to see dawn" -Bel-Alnuin at the siege of Ar-Selafren during Malekith's great invasion.
"Place your faith in Asuryan, your strength in your spears and your trust in each other; for today, my brothers, we meet our destiny." - Valieth before the battle of Shadow Ridge.
Background: For as long as anyone can remember Ar-Selafren has stood on the northern coast of Cothique. Rising from the centre of the walled port is the Tower of Mists, standing guard against whatever force should attack from either the sea or spill over from Chrace. For well over a millennia the Tower has known but one master: Archmage Bel-Alnuin. Well into his twenty-first century, Bel-Alnuin has spent the majority of his long life and expended much of his prodigious magical talent in the defence of Ulthuan. From scrying the waters to calling up storms to deflect enemy ships to leading the warriors of Cothique into battle the archmage has proven both a competent and wise leader.
It is a sad truth, however, that not even the best of guidance can prevail when fate itself appears to have turned against you. The centuries have not been kind to Ar-Selafren, in fact given the amount of assaults it has endured in more recant times it is amazing that it still stands. During Malekith's great invasion, where the brothers Tyrion and Teclis first won their great renown, Ar-Selafren was almost brought to its knees by the invading druchii. Although it miraculously withstood the siege it was at a terrible cost, and it still has not fully recovered from the devastation, some doubt it ever truly will.
There is one elf, however, who has firmly resisted this line of thought: Valieth, captain of shore guards. An able commander of just under eight hundred summers, his practically inexhaustible drive and refusal to accept his race's decline as inevitable makes him an inspiring leader, although a fair number of elves, Bel-Alnuin among them, consider him to be something of a self-deluding eccentric. Valieth for his part views most of his detractors as defeatist fools, an opinion he is not hesitant about sharing.
Given the friction between his two superiors, Setheln tends to be reluctant about getting involved in any form of tactical discussion, or any discussion at all really, with them; although he will offer whatever military advice he has should they request it, as is his duty. So far this approach has worked for both trust him implicitly.
Setheln has been the official standard bearer of Ar-Selafren for over nine centuries, having first taken it up from the still hands of his predecessor who was slain during an attack by Norse raiders. Although under three hundred years old at the time, with the standard in his hands he led his unit in a powerful counter-charge, breaking the ranks of the raiders; an act of bravery that earned him the position he now holds. Since then he has continued to lead from the front and has become a figure of great respect among the troops.
A rather different impression is given by Liriella, the semi-reclusive second mage of the Tower of Mists. A relative newcomer, she first arrived after Malekith's great invasion, following a request put to the White Tower by Bel-Alnuin for another mage to be stationed there as a replacement for Fenillan, the previous second mage who perished during the siege. Whatever sort of individual Bel-Alnuin had been expecting, Liriella was most certainly not it. A rather introverted, quiet and highly reserved maiden with an affinity for light magic; while she has proved herself a competent spell-caster, her tendency to distance herself from most people leaves her as something of an outsider.
General opinions: Note: only the opinions of
Bel-Alnuin and
Valieth are shown. Setheln, like the good soldier he is, keeps his opinions to himself while Liriella seldom says anything, and does not appear to have any strong opinions.
The Empire:
Humans are supposedly the world's future, but when I look at them I feel nought but worry: they still have much distance to go. Although they have accepted our guidance before and may do so again, whether it will be of any use I cannot help but doubt.
As valuable allies as non-elves can be against the ruinous powers. Their obsession with black-powder is a little disturbing, however.
Brettonians:
More or less as The Empire
Sometimes useful allies, although how they can claim to espouse honour while treating their own citizens as little more than beasts of labour is beyond me.
High Elves:
The asur, the true children of the light. We were the greatest of races but we are fading now. When our light dies, I fear that the world will, also
The Greatest and most noble race of all; that is what we once were. As of now we seem to have fallen into a defeatist lethargy. Should we break free of it, however, we will rise once again.
Wood Elves:
The former kin, who stubbornly refused to follow sense and abandoned their heritage. They are of little concern to us now; better to let them remain in their isolation.
Our distant cousins. They at least are not a kin we need feel ashamed of, although their obsession with their forest is a rather unnerving at times.
Dark Elves:
The treacherous kin, they who have turned their backs on the true path and embraced the darkness in their irrational bloodlust. If our last act as a people is to remove their taint from the world then we may fade in peace.
Insane rebels; consumed by their own greed and arrogance. They are little higher than monsters now, and deserve no mercy.
Dwarves:
Untrustworthy, greedy thieves. In their vengeful rage they doomed both our race and their own.
Not a species I care for. Still, enemy of my enemy does count for something
Lizardmen:
The ancient ones, powerful if rather inscrutable. They are at least also dedicated to holding back the darkness, although should we fall then even they will be most likely be overwhelmed.
A rather enigmatic race to say the least. However, they have proved themselves a valuable ally in the past, and will presumably do so again/
Vampire Counts:
A proof of the dire consequences that ensue when the power of our dark kin falls into human hands.
Twisted abominations of darkness. If the humans will not deal with them, then it will most likely be a task left to us.
Tomb Kings:
A puzzling anomaly. Perhaps something better left alone.
More undead abominations. These ones at least seem of no threat to us for the time being however, and we have more pressing foes to deal with first.
Orcs and Goblins:
A cruel and savage race. Possibly as far from us as it is possible to be for a species.
The lowest of the lesser races. Little more than wild animals; no, lower, for their is no sport in hunting such brutes, just a necessity.
Ogres Kingdoms:
Neither near enough, nor organised enough to pose a threat to us. Let the humans use them as they see fit.
What of them? They are more concerning foes to be dealt with.
Chaos:
The great destroyer, its mortal servants are truly a force to be wary of. Even with the vortex its power seems to do naught but wax. Should the vortex fall then our world dies.
The true enemy of life. A force that must be struggled against with all our might if we are to survive.
Beastmen:
The twisted mutants of the ruinous powers. Worse in some ways than the other servants of chaos.
As Chaos
Skaven:
A more unnerving breed of mutants. Their fell power is a dark force indeed and their numbers are many. They are not a threat to be underestimated.
That the humans deny their existence is a worry indeed. If they continue to ignore them then the vermin may well prove the death of them.
Chaos Dwarfs:
Yet further evidence of the short ones' untrustworthiness.
Dwarfs allied with the dark; more than enough reason for their extermination.
Mercenaries/Dogs of War/Contingents:
The lesser races are not worth trusting. Especially not to stand beside us when their only motivating force is greed
Allies are all very well, but the lesser races have no place amongst the armies of the Asur.