Wood elves (Warhammer)
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For more general description of Wood Elves, see Wood-elves, and for other meanings, see Wood Elves (disambiguation).
In the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe the Wood Elves are the Elves who dwell within the enchanted forest realms of Athel Loren, although small forest enclaves also exist elsewhere in the warhammer world. Also known as the 'Asrai' in their elven tongue, their ancestors were once High Elves who chose to stay in the forest when other High Elves chose to return to their island home of Ulthuan after the great War of the Beard which severely weakened elven dominance in the Old World. As such, the Asrai no longer hold any fealty toward distant Ulthuan and their High Elven cousins.
The Wood Elves are reclusive masters of their sylvan home, and when the hunting horns call them to war, the forest itself rises to battle alongside them. Fey spirits of the forest such as the ancient Treemen and vicious Dryads awaken to fight alongside the elven kin. In strategic terms, the wood elves prefer ambush and guerilla tactics, using the dense terrain as a weapon against foreign raiders. Because of their sparse population, all Asrai are trained in the art of the bow from a young age in order to protect their sacred homeland. Their skill with the elven longbow is rightly feared, and such is their skill that most invaders never see the arrow which snipes them from the shadowed boughs of the woods.
The Asrai consider themselves one with nature, and their very existence is dependent on the forest. Athel Loren is ruled over by two god-possessed avatars, Ariel and Orion, embodiments of nature and the hunter. Considered savage and wild by their High Elven cousins, the Asrai are a neutral yet fickle race, focused only on survival and the protection of their forest and culture. Humans of Brettonia, as well as the Empire understand even less of the Asrai, viewing their forests as haunted places where trespassers simply disappear. They are very seldomly glimpsed by outsiders, and in the rare occasions where contact occurs, they are regarded as a ghostly and mysterious presence, almost an innate force of nature.
The Wood Elven Army
The Wood Elven army is comprised of the following units:
Lords
Highborn are the lords and ladies of Athel Loren that have lead the Asrai in peace in war since the elves first came to the forest. In battle, This powerful Lord Choice has greater skill with the longbow than normal Elven lords, but stands lesser chances of surviving with the aid of mundane armour. Other than the mandatory longbow, this Elf lord is no different from regular Elven lords in terms of statistics. May buy 'Kindreds' of many types including Waywatcher, Eternal, Alter, Wardancer and Wild Rider. These confer various abilities. He may be mounted on a variety of sylvan creatures, including a Dragon, Elven Steed, Great Eagle or a Great Stag.
The Lord-level Mage. Has the customary aptitude with spell casting, especially from the Lore of Life, and the lore of Athel Loren. Comes with the mandatory longbow, and has the allowance to mount Unicorns, Elven Steeds, and Great Eagles.
A Wood Elf army may include a Treeman Ancient as a Lord Choice. By upgrading a normal Treeman, he gets improved abilities and wider choice of
Spites, spirit creatures conferring helpful effects on the Treeman Ancient.
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Heroes
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The basic Wood Elf Hero Choice. He is similar to a Highborn, but with lower statistics. He can also choose a Kindred for an additional cost, but he cannot be mounted on a dragon, and can't take as many magical items or spites as the Highborn. One Noble can be assigned as the army's Battle Standard Bearer for a small additional cost. However, he is still a valuable addition to an army.
The basic mage of the Wood Elf army. Can only use spells from the lore of Athel Loren.
The leaders of the dryads, this Hero Choice is arguably the weakest without any additions due to its average strength in combat. However it can also be given some magical abilities, and has access to some spites that are restricted to the other heroes, which make it a respectable choice.
Core Units
Swift horsemasters that ride their graceful elven steeds without peer. Most Gladeriders come from the Eqous glades, which border the edge of Athel Loren, where there is plenty of space for the elves to practise their horsemanship. In gaming terms, Glade riders are the fastest and most agile choice in the wood elf army, bar Warhawk Riders. However glade riders come in greater numbers than their flying cousins and therefore are more reliable. Their main role in the Wood elf army is to utilise their mobility to : Set up a flank or a rear charge, take out enemy war machines, pick off lone characters (especially mages) and just generally annoy the enemy. In games with an objective, Glade riders are great at grabbing the objective last turn. They have the Fast Cavalry rule which makes them excellent at hit and run tactics. Their main downside is their lack of armour and relatively high points cost.
Glade Guard are the main troops in a Wood Elf force. Not to be confused with earlier versions of Glade Guard who are armed with spears, the new Glade Guard are the basic archers of a Wood Elf force. Basic however is probably not the best word, as these archers are amongst the best in the game. Elven stats combined with several beneficial rules make them amongst the best archers in the world. They suffer no penalty for moving and shooting and have Str 4 arrows at short range, as well as the normal Wood Elf rules.
Eternal guard is comprised of sons and daughters of the nobles. When winter arrives, Athel Loren remians dormant. The lithe dryads become sluggish, and the whole forest sleeps. The Eternal guard guards the sacred place of the forest in winter, while other times protects their lord unto death.
Dryads are spirits of the forest which are hateful and spiteful. They lure the outsiders into the forest by shifting themselves into beautiful elf maidens, then shred them to pieces when they step foot into the forest. When the wood elves first inhabited the forest, they became more in tune with nature. Eventually, the wood elves could harness the power of nature and use the forest spirits with deadly efficiency. Dryads function as one of the basic close combat units for the wood elves, and are the embodiment of Athel Loren's neutrality and ability to defend itself.
Special Units
Wardancers are the elven equivelent of beserkers- they have no armor, move fluidly, weave 'dances of death' around their opponents, and they are immune to psychological effects such as fear and terror.
Warhawk riders are light flying units mostly to block marching and for hit-and-run tactics. They are highly skilled elves riding enormous and agile eagles, and resemble a sort of 'flying cavalry'
Tree kin is the name given to the spirits of Athel Loren that bond themselves with trees to create an abominable, moving tree monster. They are, in essense, lesser forms of treemen. Tree kin tactics closely resemble that of other monsters its size, like a troll. They are great monsters that induce fear.
As the personal guard of Orion, Wild Riders are aggresive and impulsive cavalry that are much more tough than Glade Riders. They have transcended the status of elf and, through Orion have become like forest spirits. They, like all forest spirits become dormant during the winter.
Rare Units
A great eagle is just that- an eagle of epic proportions. They in the Grey Mountains near Athel Loren and have a special connection with elves. Wood elves use eagles as deadly flying monsters.
Treemen are the most powerful spirits in Athel Loren. They, unlike Tree Kin, are permanently bonded to a tree, making a connection that only death can sever. Also, Treemen are ancient beings (Some are old beyond mortal reckoning) of gigantic size and have many abilities that Tree Kin do not, such as the mystical ability of tree-singing.
Waywatchers are elite scouts- rangers that have honed their skills to a point where they can remain concealed and unmoving for days on end then let loose a volley of arrows instantly and with deadly precision. They are the best non-hero archers in the game, and use similar tactics as scouts.
Character
The Wood Elves of Athel Loren are mysterious and secretive beings, rarely seen beyond their forest borders. Those foolish enough to set foot within their woodland realm invite the fury of the Wood Elves and their Forest Spirit allies, whether in open combat or through sudden ambush.
Dark forms move through the twisting branches and dense undergrowth. Tiny darting shapes flit between the trees on the very edge of vision. Athel Loren sees and feels everything within its boundaries and is watchful and secretive, perfectly willing to destroy those that seek to enter. Only the insanely brave, mad, or foolish dare to cross into Athel Loren, for the forest is a haunted place, filled with unquiet, malicious spirits. Furthermore, Beastman lord Morghur has not yet established settlements inside it, but is seeking to corrupt the forest in the name of Chaos.
External links
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