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"They came in their silvery vessels. Impossibly powerful. Mysterious. Then our world was frozen, huge and empty. Life was simple, barbaric, without language, knowledge or civilisation. They changed us. They changed everything. We only know them as the Old Ones.
They had the power to move worlds, to bring them closer or to move them away from the eternal heat of the sun. That's what they did, bringing our cold globe back to life. But this unbalanced the other worlds, because everything is connected. Then they moved them too, forming an impossible harmony among the spheres, a perfection that can still be seen today by observing the heavens.
See the five children of Asuryan: Charyb, the closest to the sun, only takes 80 days to go around; while Deiamol takes 133 and a third of days; Tigris, 200; our world, 400; and Verdra, 800. Compare this to the five Councilors: Lokratia takes 1,600 days, four of our years; Isharna, 10 years; Loekia, 30 years; Voelia, 150 years; and blessed by the Old Ones - is an impressive sight even after so many millennia.
"

—The Book of Days, Finreir of Saphery[10a]
High Elves Northstar

The Book of Days is the great history of the Elven people on which all future histories were based. It was inscribed during the time of Bel-Korhadris by a cadre of Loremasters, including Finreir of Saphery in the Library of Hoeth.[1a][7a] It contains information regarding astronomy and the known universe.[8]

The Ages of Rule[]

Elves reckon time differently to Men and Dwarfs. They are so long-lived that their history is divided not into centuries or millennia but 'reigns', with each Phoenix King's reign considered to be a separate historical epoch.[3a]

The Elven Calendar[]

The Elven Calendar, like that of Men, has four seasons (Frost, Rain, Sun, and Storm IC), and it is by this calendar that they measure time. In Elf records, the reign of the Phoenix King comes first, then their year, then season and lastly the day (though the latter two are seldom used in the chronicling of significant events IC). Thus V, 140, 3, 90 would equate to the ninetieth day of the season of the Sun, in the one hundred and fortieth year of the reign of Caradryel the Peacemaker. Because a new Phoenix King is not elected until the previous ruler has been dead for a full year, the 'missing year' is always considered to be the last year of the dead King's reign.[3a]

No record exists concerning the dating system prior to Aenarion's reign (the day he stepped through the Fire of Asuryan being the first day of his reign IC), except that the Everqueens ruled alone, and the system revolved in some way around them.[3a]

Timeline[]

The Golden Time[]

Also known as the Reign of the Single Throne. These years are not dealt in the Chronicle of the Phoenix Kings. During this time the Everqueen ruled Ulthuan from Avelorn and many realms were founded by adventurers departing from that primeval land. Little records survive from this time period.[1a] The time ends with the coming of Chaos and the years of violence that then ensued.[2a]

I: Aenarion, the Defender (Imperial Calender -4500 to -4420 IC)[]

  • I, 3 (-4497 IC) - The war against Chaos begins in earnest as the Elf Dragonriders from Caledor take the fight to the enemy.[2a]
  • I, 21 (-4479 IC) - The forces of Chaos are driven back for a time and a fragile peace descends on Ulthuan. Aenarion marries the Everqueen Astarielle and two children, Yvraine and Morelion, are born to them.[2a]
  • I, 30 (-4470 IC) - The forces of Chaos attack Avelorn. The Everqueen is slain and her children believed lost. In fact they are in the care of the Treeman Oakheart. Wracked with grief, Aenarion flies to the Blighted Isle and draws the Sword of Khaine. Armed with this terrible weapon he is all but invincible for a time.[2a]
  • I, 40 (-4460 IC) - Caledor Dragontamer concludes that the only way to stop Chaos is to drain the Winds of Magic from the world. He starts repairing and expanding the ancient network of standing stones which has stood upon Ulthuan since the dawn of time.[2a]
  • I, 79 (-4421 IC) - In the Battle of the Isle of the Dead, Caledor Dragontamer creates the Great Vortex, and the Daemons are banished from the world. Aenarion the Defender suffers a mortal wound, and as his last act flies to the Blighted Isle to drive the Sword of Khaine back into its Altar. His body is never found.[2a][3a]

II: Bel Shanaar, the Explorer (Imperial Calendar -4419 to -2750 IC)[]

  • II, 1 (-4419 IC) - The coronation of Bel Shanaar marks the end of the war with Chaos and the start of the great period of rebuilding that sees the rise of Tiranoc to pre-eminence among the Elf realms.[2b]
  • II, 300 (-4119 IC) - The Elves land in the Old World. Malekith befriends the Dwarf King Snorri Whitebeard and together the armies of Dwarfs and Elves begin to drive the remnants of Chaos from the lands. As the colonies prosper, wealth begins to flow back to Ulthuan.[2b][9a]
  • II, 1000 (-3419 IC) - The Cult of Pleasure begins its slow spread through Nagarythe and across all Ulthuan.[2b]
  • II, 1580 (-2839 IC) - Bel Shanaar himself visits the newly founded Dwarf city of Karaz-a-Karak and signs the pledge of eternal friendship between Dwarfs and the Elves. Malekith stays on as ambassador and remains on friendly terms with the Dwarf kings.[2b]
  • II, 1630 (-2789 IC) - Malekith begins his great period of wandering around the world in search of artefacts of elder times.[2b]
  • II, 1645 (-2774 IC) - Malekith returns to Ulthuan and denounces his own mother as a worshipper of the Cult of Pleasure.[2b]
  • II, 1669 (-2750 IC) - The massacre at the Shrine of Asuryan. Bel Shanaar is assassinated. Malekith is burned by the sacred flame and horribly mutilated. Later that year his assassins try to kill the future Phoenix King Caledor I who is rescued by a band of Chracian hunters, the ancestors of the White Lions.[2b][3a]

III: Caledor, the Conqueror (Imperial Calendar -2749 to -2199 IC)[]

  • III, 1 (-2749 IC) - Coronation of Caledor, Malekith flees to Nagarythe. Civil war erupts across all Ulthuan. Brother turns against brother as the Cult of Pleasure stirs up trouble in every city and town.[2c]
  • III, 13 (-2736 IC) - Malekith is sealed within his great black armour and is hailed as the Witch King. The intensity of the war increases.[2c]
  • III, 25 (-2724 IC) - Caledor defeats the Witch King at the Battle of Maledor. The Witch King flees and decides to implement his master plan.[2c]
  • III, 26 (-2723 IC) - The Sundering. As a result of the Witch King's interference with the Vortex much of northern Ulthuan is sunk. The renegade wizards raise the Black Arks and depart to the north to found the Dark Elf kingdom of Naggaroth. There is little the High Elves can do to stop them at this point. Tiranoc is lost beneath the waves and the cataclysmic unleashing of energies devastates the land. The Elves begin to rebuild their shattered land. Contact is lost with the Old World colonies.[2c]
  • III, 119 (-2630 IC) - A Dark Elf expedition returns to Ulthuan and hostilities resume. Caledor reorganizes the High Elf army for defence and begins the building of the Gateway fortresses in the northern passes.[2c]
  • III, 150 (-2599 IC) - Griffon Gate, the Unconquered Fortress, is finally completed. It is the first of a series of massive strongholds that will eventually guard the approaches to the Inner Lands. The war rages on as the Dark Elves seek to gain access to the Inner Lands and conquer the Holy Shrines. The High Elves resist them.[2c]

IV: Caledor II, the Warrior (Imperial Calendar -2198 to -1600 IC)[]

  • IV, 1 (-2198 IC) - An uneasy peace settles over Ulthuan. The survivors from Tiranoc and what was once Nagarythe start rebuilding their lands. The remaining Elves of Nagarythe, which has become known as the Shadowlands, take up a wandering, nomadic life shunning the trappings of civilisation.[2c]
  • IV, 10 (-2188 IC) - Contact is re-established with Dwarfs. Trade returns.[2c]
  • IV, 193 (-2005 IC) - Dark Elf raids begin against Dwarf trading caravans.[2c]
  • IV, 198 (-2000 IC) - Dwarf protests are ignored by Caledor II. Increased acrimony enters relations between the two races.[2c]
  • IV, 201 (-1997 IC) - The War of the Beard begins. This will eventually exhaust the strength of both empires and lead to ages of bitter feuding. There are many periods of peace where both sides claim victory.[2c]
  • IV, 224 (-1974 IC) - Caledor II personally kills Snorri Halfhand, King Gotrek's son, before returning to Ulthuan in time for the hunting season.[2c]
  • IV, 596 (-1602 IC) - Caledor II comes to the Old World to supervise the defeat of the Dwarf kings.[2c]
  • IV, 597 (-1601 IC) - Caledor II is killed by Gotrek Starbreaker. The Phoenix Crown is lost. Announcing their victory the Dwarfs retreat to the mountains and refuse to fight any more. As the Elf host is assembled for a suicidal attack on Karaz-a-Karak, news reaches them that the Witch King has once again invaded Ulthuan.[2c]

V: Caradryel, the Peacemaker (Imperial Calendar -1599 to -997 IC)[]

  • V, 1 (-1599 IC) - The Black Arks Citadel of Ecstatic Damnation and Jade Palace of Pain are beached to become the core of the fortress of Anlec in the Shadowlands. This will provide the Dark Elves with a base from which to launch many massive attacks.[2d]
  • V, 10 (-1589 IC) - Caradryel orders the recall of the Elf armies from the Old World to combat this new threat. Demoralised by the long war against the Dwarfs, the Elves are in no position to deal with the resurgent Naggarothi.[2d]
  • V, 17 (-1582 IC) - Aevin Thornchanter turns himself into a narinocha plant while attempting to harness the Wind of Ghyran.[2d]
  • V, 98 (-1501 IC) - The last Elf army departs from the Old World, leaving behind a few hardy colonists who refuse to go. What will become the Wood Elf realm of Athel Loren is founded.[2d]
  • V, 102 (-1497 IC) - Caradryel introduces the system of rotating units to the Gateway fortresses so that the garrisons are always at full strength. Intermittent war rages across Ulthuan once more as the Dark Elves consolidate their hold on the northern realm.[2d]
  • V, 602 (-997 IC) - Caradryel becomes the first Phoenix King to die peacefully in their sleep.[2d]

VI: Tethlis, the Slayer (Imperial Calendar -996 to -692 IC)[]

  • VI, 3 (-993 IC) - The first Dragons begin their long sleep.[2d]
  • VI, 5 (-991 IC) - Formal military training for Elf regiments begin.[2d]
  • VI, 10 (-986 IC) - Tethlis launches the Scouring, a great drive north that will culminate in the slaying of every Dark Elf in Ulthuan.[2d]
  • VI, 50 (-946 IC) - Naggarothi counter-offensive reaches Griffon Gate and is caught in a carefully prepared trap.[2d]
  • VI, 74 (-922 IC) - The Battle of Grey Canyon. A massive army of Dark Elves is caught by surprise and destroyed while camped in a hidden valley in the Shadowlands.[2d]
  • VI, 167 (-829 IC) - Alaesir Greydawn finally unravels the magic binding Aevin Thornchanter into plant form. The pair then use their combined learning to produce a wine fermented from juiced narinocha pods, that proves highly popular in the courts of Ulthuan.[2d]
  • VI, 264 (-732 IC) - In a last ditch attempt to win the war, the Witch King launches a desperate winter offensive across the Shadowlands. Protected by spells against the cold, his army advances. They take several Elf fortresses and precipitate the most bitter fighting ever seen between the Elves, including the infamous Siege of Tor Lehan. After this battle there are no survivors on either side.[2d]
  • VI, 300 (-696 IC) - Anlec is destroyed. No stone is unscoured. The Altar of Khaine is toppled into the sea.[2d]
  • VI, 303 (-693 IC) - A great armada sails for the Blighted Isle and Naggaroth. The Battle of the Waves is fought on the Blighted Isle. Tethlis dies afterwards under mysterious circumstances. The armada turns back.[2d]

VII: Bel-Korhadris, the Scholar King (Imperial Calendar -690 to 498 IC)[]

  • VII, 11 (-679 IC) - The foundations of the White Tower of Hoeth are laid down and the longest period of continued peace in Elf history begins.[2e]
  • VII, 400 (-290 IC) - The first Loremasters assemble round the half-completed tower. An entire town of mages and scholars springs up within its shadow.[2e]

VIII: Aethis, the Poet (Imperial Calendar 499 to 1120 IC)[]

  • VIII, 16 (515 IC) - Artists, poets and the like begin to congregate in Aethis' court in Saphery.[2e]
  • VIII, 107 (606 IC) - The great statue at Griffon Gate is completed. Its fearsome appearance strikes terror into the hearts of the Elves' enemies, but it is also a memorial to the countless Elf warriors who have died defending it.[2e]
  • VIII, 182 (681 IC) - Murders and abductions in the cities of Ulthuan increase to almost epidemic levels. Aethis instructs his agents to commence investigations.[2e]
  • VIII, 200 (699 IC) - Representatives of the Phoenix King arrive in Cathay. They return laden with silk, jade and spices. Trade between east and west begins to flourish.[2e]
  • VIII, 203 (702 IC) - Explosive growth of the seaport of Lothern begins. The Cult of Pleasure makes a secretive reappearance. The Swordmasters of Hoeth begin their long secret war against the Cult.[2e]
  • VIII, 255 (754 IC) - Dark Elf slave-ships begin roaming the globe and bring entire tribes to Naggaroth in chains.[2e]
  • VIII, 498 (997 IC) - Sword Master Celedrin exposes a Cult of Pleasure in Lothern. Fifteen cultists are killed in the fighting before the remainder surrender. The survivors are put to death.[2e]
  • VIII, 621 (1120 IC) - Aethis is assassinated by his own chancellor, a secret follower of the Cults of Excess.[2e]

IX: Morvael, the Impetuous (Imperial Calendar 1121 to 1502 IC)[]

  • IX, 2 (1122 IC) - The High Elf expedition to Naggaroth is massacred by the Dark Elves, aided by a screaming horde of drugged slave warriors.[2e]
  • IX, 10 (1131 IC) - The Dark Elves rebuild the citadel of Anlec in the Shadowlands.[2e]
  • IX, 12 (1133 IC) - The Griffon Gate is besieged. Morvael appoints Mentheus of Caledor as his general and introduces the levy system of mandatory universal military service that will eventually produce the great citizen-soldier armies of Ulthuan.[2e]
  • IX, 20 (1141 IC) - The siege of Griffon Gate drags on. The great keep is completely encircle by triple rings of ditches and war machines.[2e]
  • IX, 25 (1146 IC) - Siege of Griffon Gate finally lifted by Mentheus leading an army mainly composed of spearmen and archers from Cothique and Chrace.[2e]
  • IX, 380 (1501 IC) - Mentheus is slain assaulting Anlec. His Dragon, Nightfang, goes berserk and routs the Dark Elves. Wracked with grief Morvael re-enters the sacred flame, committing ritual suicide.[2e]

X: Bel-Hathor, the Sage (Imperial Calendar 1503 to 2162 IC)[]

  • X, 400 (1903 IC) - Facing ever increasing numbers of Norse raids, the Mages of Saphery draw a shroud of mists over the eastern sea approaches to Ulthuan. Bel-Hathor issues his interdict forbidding Humans to set foot on Ulthuan.[1f]
  • X, 498 (2001 IC) - Finubar departs for the Old World, landing at the Bretonnian port of L'Anguille. He travels extensively over the Old World, opening relations with the Empire, Bretonnia and even, tentatively, with the Dwarfs.[1f]
  • X, 530 (2033 IC) - Finubar reaches Athel Loren and rediscovers the Wood Elves.[1f]
  • X, 548 (2051 IC) - Finubar returns to Lothern and persuades Bel-Hathor to raise the Interdict. Trade starts to flow into Ulthuan as never before.[1f]

XI: Finubar, the Seafarer (Imperial Calendar 2163 to present IC)[]

  • XI, 10 (2173 IC) - N'Kari runs amok across Ulthuan. Loremasters of the White Tower speculate that he is attempting to eliminate the lineage of Aenarion. N'Kari is eventually slain at the Shrine of Asuryan. Survivors of the battle there tell of the bravery of a pair of young Elven twins.[1f]
  • XI, 118 (2281 IC) - Sea Lord Aislinn aids King Grundadrakk of Barak Varr in scouring the Greenskins of Waaagh! Gutrippa from the shores of the Black Gulf. Aislinn's Lothern Sea Guard and the Dwarfs of Barak Varr form a nigh-undefeatable force. However, too many unintended insults are exchanged for the alliance to be anything but brief. Ere long, the two armies separate, the Dwarfs nurturing fresh grudges and the Elves recounting anecdotes of appalling Dwarfish habits.[3b]
  • XI, 138 (2301 IC) - The Everqueen is poisoned with Dragonspike by Urian Poisonblade.[5a] Also in this year, mages across Ulthuan sense the Winds of Magic blowing stronger, whilst a taint lays upon them outside areas already warded by magic. Princes Tyrion and Teclis also return from Lustria with the fabled Sunfang.[5b]
  • XI, 138 (2301 IC) - The Great Chaos Incursion. Dark Elves invade Ulthuan with many Chaos allies. The new Everqueen Alarielle is saved by Tyrion. Teclis forges his sword and departs the White Tower.[1f]
  • XI, 140 (2303 IC) - The Dark Elves are driven out of Ulthuan after two years of relentless warfare.[1f]
  • XI, 141 (2304 IC) - Victory at Kislev's Gate. After a long and terrible battle, Magnus the Pious drives the Chaos horde from the walls of Kislev.[3b]
  • XI, 144 (2307 IC) - The Dark Elf Assassin coterie led by Gloreir attempts to kill the Phoenix King. Finubar is successfully protected by the White Lions, Korhil and his warriors then pursuing the Dark Elves throughout Lothern. The remaining assassins are butchered in a swirling battle that rages across the rooftops of the city.[1f]
  • XI, 163 (2326 IC) - Teclis returns to Ulthuan and takes up the position of High Loremaster in the Tower of Hoeth.[1f]
  • XI, 172 (2335 IC) - Following a warning from the Elven Mages that protect Lothern, a Tilean vessel is stopped and boarded. The search by the Sea Guard turns into a battle. Rumours persist that several ratmen escaped the ship, leaping overboard and disappearing into the city.[6b]
  • XI, 188 (2358 IC) - Imrik of Caledor calls together the Great Council of Caledor to assemble the Dragon Princes and awaken the Dragons of old, swearing that the kingdom would lead the way for Ulthuan as it had in ages past, even if it takes every one of its sons and daughters to do so. In the weeks and months that follow, smoke belches from the forges of Vaul's Anvil, and the Dragon Spine rings once more as smiths ply their trade. Dragons are woken. Great hosts of spearmen and archers file from the mountains. Some go to the great gates in the north, others to the Outer Kingdoms; yet more take ship to outposts along the southern ocean. Whatever betides in the years of growing darkness, Caledor is prepared, and will face it without fear.[3d]
  • XI, 192 (2362 IC) - A High Elf fleet, under the command of Ethelis the White, sink a Norscan fleet before it can blockade Marienburg. Soon thereafter, trade between Ulthuan and Marienburg resumes.[3d]
  • XI, 203 (2366 IC) - The ancient Chimera Blackfang awakens from his slumbers amidst the Annulii Mountains and rampages through Avelorn. Hundreds of Harpies, Manticores and other beasts are drawn to the destruction. For every monster slain by the incandescent arrows of the Avelorn Rangers and the ithilmar spears of the Everqueen's Handmaidens, two more come snarling to the fray. The threat is only ended when the Everqueen herself confronts Blackfang, burning the creature to ash with a column of brilliant white flame.[3d]
  • XI, 221 (2384 IC) - Caradryan of Eataine is named as the new Captain of the Phoenix Guard, Moraelir the previous Captain willingly standing aside in accordance with Asuryan's Will.[1f]
  • XI, 254 (2417 IC) - Sea Lord Aislinn washes up on the shores of Eataine. Six months prior, he had been mortally wounded and left for dead by the Dark Elf reaver Lokhir Fellheart, but now bears not even a scar, and claimes no memory of the missing months. From that moment on, Aislinn is hailed as the Herald of Mathlann - for surely only the god of the seas could have delivered the admiral from his watery grave.[3e]
  • XI, 260-262 (2423-2425 IC) - Eltharion of Yvresse, son of Moranion, leads a highly successful raid against Naggarond itself.[1f] Many garrisons are taken by surprise and razed to the ground. Thousands of Dark Elf warriors are cut down. Patrols of Ellyrian Reavers work in concert with Shadow Warrior bands to ambush enemy messengers and sow terror deep into Naggaroth. When at last Eltharion's army reaches Nggarond, the boldest Elves clad themselves in captured garb and enter the city, opening the gates from within. The waiting High Elves pour into the city and run riot, burning buildings and slaying all they find. Alas, in the hour of victory, disaster strikes - Eltharion is wounded by a Witch Elf's poisoned blade. It seemed that Eltharion would pay the same price as all others who had chanced their arm against the Witch King's citadel - that his death would follow glory, rather than defeat, was little consolation.[3e]
  • XI, 339 (2502 IC) - Erik Redaxe raids Cothique at the head of a great fleet of Norse reavers. An Elf war fleet led by Tyrion defeats the Norse in a huge sea battle and drives them away from the coast.[1f]

Sources[]

  • 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
    • 1a: pg. 14
    • 1b: pg. 26
  • 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
    • 2a: pg. 36
    • 2b: pg. 37
    • 2c: pg. 38
    • 2d: pg. 39
    • 2e: pg. 40
    • 2f: pg. 41
    • 2g: pg. 63
  • 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
    • 3a: pg. 15
    • 3b: pg. 28-29
    • 3c: pg. 30
    • 3d: pg. 31
    • 3e: pg. 32
    • 3f: pg. 33
  • 4: Warhammer: Tears of Isha (supplement)
  • 5: Sword of Caledor (Novel) by William King
    • 5a: Prologue
    • 5b: Ch. 10
  • 6: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
    • 6a: pg. 42
    • 6b: pg. 85
  • 7: White Dwarf 206
    • 7a: pg. 59
  • 8: The Burning Shore by Robert Earl
  • 9: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs(8th Edition)
    • 9a: pg. 20-21
  • 10:Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Salvation (RPG)
    • 10a: Andrew Law's unpublished map of the Warhammer World's solar system
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