"The weak Elves of Ulthuan fear us, for our ways are the true ways. They fear what they cannot understand and instead cower behind the lies of their false history. Fools and cowards, it is but a matter of time before we wipe them from Ulthuan and regain our rightful place as masters of that isle. And from there, we shall take the world."
- —Keress, Witch Elf[3a]
The Witch Elves of Khaine in combat.
Witch Elves, also known as the "Brides of Khaine," are the female Dark Elf warrior-cultists who serve Khaine, the god of war and murder in the Elven Pantheon.[1a]
The Witch Elves are the cruellest of all the Dark Elves, for they are the female cultists who live only to serve Khaine's malevolent demands for bloody, agonising sacrifice. Their observances to the Lord of Murder are blood-slicked affairs. Still-beating hearts are ripped from victims' chests and hurled into fires, writhing flesh is daubed with gore-red runes and altars are decorated with the entrails of dying captives. Yet ceremonies are but a part of the Witch Elves' worship -- their truest observances take place upon the field of battle.[1a]
Role
The Dark Elves worship many dark and forbidden gods, but by far the most prominent is Khaine, the Lord of Murder. The Cult of Khaine is the largest religious organisation in Dark Elf society, with every Dark Elf city having at least one temple dedicated to him, and a shrine to the god of war and murder within every Black Ark. By far the largest temple is found in Har Ganeth where, day and night, constant sacrifices are made to the Bloody-handed God.
The Cult of Khaine is ruled over by high priestesses known as Hag Queenss the mistresses of the Brides of Khaine -- the Witch Elves. Khaine demands bloody, agonising sacrifice, for he is a god of death and suffering. The Witch Elves drive themselves into an ecstatic fervour during their brutal ceremonies as they rip hearts from chests and fling them into iron braziers, daub runes of Khaine onto their bodies with their victims' blood and decorate the altars of their bloodthirsty master with bones and entrails.[2a]
Warfare
Witch Elves are the most bloodthirsty of the Dark Elves, and are no less vicious in battle than they are elsewhere. They do not carry shields, caring nothing for their own protection, and are armed with sharp swords and long knives whose edges are dipped in venom. On the eve of war, Witch Elves drink blood laced with poisonous herbs, driving them into a divine frenzy. Whilst in this god-touched state, the Witch Elves (already foregoing shields) give no thought to their own defence, and seek only to hack foes apart in a blood-drenched orgy of slaughter.[1a][2a]
Once battle begins, the Witch Elves hurl themselves at their foes, ripping apart their enemies with a storm of poisoned blades.[2a] There is little grace to such an assault, merely a whirling flurry of venom-coated blades that slash at the foe with maddened fury.[1a] Those enemies unfortunate enough to survive their wounds are rounded up by the Witch Elves at the battle's end. These poor souls are torn apart in wild victory celebrations as gruesome sacrifices to Khaine, their blood offered in libation to the ever-thirsting Lord of Murder.[1a][2a]
Notable Witch Elves
Miniatures
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 46
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 50
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Rokleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 161
Gallery
