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Åžtiri de pe front: Invazia Dark Elfilor continuă! De pe frontul WAR, primim noi ÅŸtiri, învazia fulgerătoare a Dark Elfilor continuă să facă ravagii în defensiva High Elfilor, lupta pentru supremaÅ£ia insulei Ulthuan a ajuns la apogeu!
The massive Black Ark cast a long, dark shadow over the northern cliffs of the Blighted Isle. Legions of Dark Elf warriors poured from the great maw of the Black Ark, accompanied by fell beasts of war. Manticores, Cold Ones, and Hydras were led by black-visaged Beastmasters, while rank upon rank of grim-faced Dark Elf warriors stormed the ancient High Elf village of Calumel.
Udaen Mournfire stood bravely against the invaders, just as the Mournfire lineage had for millennia, but the weight of this tide was too great to turn back. The Dark Elves invaded in numbers the likes of which had not been seen since the Day of Blood. The sound of a hundred cries echoed between the surrounding spires as
Mournfire, the beloved prince of Calumel, fell before the Dark Elf Matriarch, Lady Arkaneth.
Calumel lay in ruins. The few remaining survivors fled to Moonrise Forest. The cruel Lady Arkaneth dispatched scouts to pursue the refugees while she led the brunt of her House's army further south, into the heart of the Blighted Isle. All hope seemed lost until the clarion call of a silver High Elf trumpet carried on the wind.
High Elf warriors, clad in livery of Asuryan, emerged from an Undersea cave. They were the Shining Guard. Led by Prince Eldrion, this regiment quickly fortified their position and surveyed what was left of Calumel.
"Prince!" cried Eldrion's most trusted advisor, Captain Talorith. "Witch Elves close in on us from the east!"
The Prince turned to see several of the Dark Elf witches racing toward his formation. They had approached stealthily, sneaking between foliage and rock using the chaos of Calumel's ruins as a diversion.
"Take up arms and prepare for attack!" Prince Eldrion barked.
The Witch Elves were swift, closing the distance to the Undersea cave with great speed. Their eyes were ablaze with eagerness to spill the blood of their kin.
Prince Eldrion drew his sword. "Do not succumb to fear or hatred," he warned his men. "Calm your minds, and remember your training."
The Witch Elves were everywhere now. They had closed in on the Shining Guard from all angles.
"Attack!" cried the Prince, and the High Elves charged toward the enemy.
The ensuing battle was brief, but savage. The Witch Elves' eagerness for blood proved their undoing, and none survived. "You fought with honor and courage, but do not think all battles will be so easily won," the Prince addressed his regiment as he cleaned the gore from his blade.
At that moment, the Shadow Warrior Sariel Keenbow rode into the village center, dismounting gracefully. She bowed before the Prince and delivered her report. "Prince Eldrion," she began, "the Black Ark has landed on the eastern side of Calumel. They have fortified their position. The dark army marches southward."
Eldrion knew that he had not the numbers to face the brunt of this force directly. He quickly made up his mind and ordered Sariel and a regiment of Shadow Warriors to form up. "Venture into Azurewood," he told them. "Use the magic of the forest to conceal your positions. Make calculated strikes, then wait. When their nobles are drunk with celebration, and their confidence grows to betray them, we will cut their proud legs out from under them. It is then that we will attack the Black Ark."
The conflict on the Blighted Isle is more than a battle between good and evil; it’s the story of brother fighting brother. Can the High Elves maintain their dominion and push the Dark Elves back into the sea, or will the forces of Malekith be able to seize control of their homeland?
Testers experienced this tension firsthand during this focus round as they explored the Blighted Isle, where the struggle between High Elf and Dark Elf ensued. Quests, Public Quests (PQs), scenarios, objectives, keeps, and open field RvR set the scene for a glorious conflict. Each side had a full complement of classes to work with, including reinforcements from Chaos (Marauder) and Empire (Witch Hunter) to ensure that classes were properly balanced on each side.
Aside from the High Elves and Dark Elves, testers experienced even more exciting upgrades and changes including:
- A number of improvements to the UI system.
- Reknown advancements that provide either passive or active abilities to characters to make them tougher, better against certain enemies or even better with siege weapons.
- Introduction to the basic parts of our crafting system.
- Eight careers open, with Career Mastery
Upcoming Newsletters will feature in-depth details of career masteries for the following Careers and others, but for now, here’s a sneak-peek of some of the careers that players were able to test during this focus round.
High Elf Careers
Archmage
The High Elves are known far and wide to be amongst the most powerful mages in the world, and the Archmages are the best even among their own kin. Capable of weaving all of the Winds of Magic together in complex and subtle ways, the Archmages can easily turn the tide of battle in their favor.
The High Elves are the only living beings who can grasp the depth and subtlety of true High Magic. By understanding the true natures of all of the Winds of Magic, the Archmage can transfer the power of his destructive spells directly into his beneficial magic, using this balanced power to make his healing abilities less expensive.
Shadow Warrior
When civil war tore the Elf land of Nagarythe apart, the majority of the Elves there chose to follow Malekith into foulness and chaos, becoming Dark Elves. However, there were still those who remained faithful to the true Phoenix King, and those few remaining loyalists swore an oath to fight the traitorous Witch King until the Dark Elves were dead to the last. These High Elves were vastly outnumbered by their Dark Elf enemies, and were forced into bloody guerrilla warfare; their ruthless attacks from the darkness led to them being known as Shadow Warriors.
The Shadow Warriors have fought against overwhelming odds for generations, and the grim conflict has taught them numerous strategies for striking down their enemies in surprise attacks. While a Shadow Warrior always favors attacking from a distance, they are capable of swiftly altering their strategy to deal with foes in nearly any situation.
Dark Elf Careers
Disciple of Khaine
Dark priests of the Bloody Handed god, The Disciples of Khaine can be found on the frontline of any Druchii assault. In combat, the Disciple is a master of shifting the balance of a fight, for what they reap from their enemies they give to their allies - what was once your strength will soon become their own. Disciples must be watched carefully and their fell magic countered in short order or you will find your very essence trapped in servitude to Khaine.
Using wicked ritual blades, a Disciple harvests the essence of their enemy and offers it to Khaine in exchange for blessings and dark powers. These dark gifts allow the Disciple to tend to the needs of the Dark Elf host, mending bones, suppressing pain, and even raising critically injured warriors to fight again.
Witch Elf Summary
The Witch Elves are the sanctified brides of Khaine, the Lord of Murder, and they serve their patron deity with savage pleasure. Wielding long daggers and prowling across the battlefield, the Witch Elves will sacrifice anyone and anything in their path as an offering to please the Bloody-Handed Lord.
With each strike of their weapons, the Witch Elves drive themselves deeper into a furious bloodlust, until they finally sate themselves in a horrific frenzy. Using their Khaine-blessed weapons, a Witch Elf can slice into her enemy and then corrupt their very blood upon her blades, briefly granting even more power to her attacks.
The following letters and writings, bloodied and torn, have been intercepted by various factions throughout the fields of battle.
Esteemed Kyleth,
I do hope that this letter reaches you in good health. I would be surprised if it did not since none of the pathetic whelps of the pretender king can even stand against us, let alone break through our lines and attack our Black Ark. It is a shame that you offended the Hag of the Convent and have been since been charged with the sacred duty of defending the Ark. History does not remember the custodians, Kyleth. History remembers the victorious, and those who were key in that victory.
This will never be you.
We are making History. Never before have any of our armies swept through Ulthuan with the deadly speed and grace as our House has. Lord Uthorin is extremely pleased with our progress, as I am sure Lord Malekith no doubt is.
I am honestly surprised that our weak and treacherous kin have withstood our invasions for this long. They are hardly fit to bear the name of Elves, the First Born. I shall give you an example of how low they have sunk. We have swept through the Blighted Isle and into the Northern reaches of Chrace and found a town that still had not readied itself for our assault. Their citizens were milling about, no doubt writing poetry or some other wasteful pastime. As we ever need slaves, we decided to capture the fools and drag them back for the slavemasters. Instead of fighting like a true Elf, they instead give themselves up if only to spare their lives! Ha! They throw their martial honour away as though it is worth nothing, Khaine blight their souls. Even when the pathetic Barbarian White Lions attempted to free them, they founder like a newborn in the Cauldron of Blood. They fight and cry out 'Asuryan has forsaken you' and other nonsense, but when they see the fight turn against them, and Asuryan turn his face from them, they run! Cowards!
Malekith is right. The weak suffer so that the strong prevail.
Remember that while you stand about watching others win our lustrous homeland back.
Blood and Regret
Our arrogant kindred made one withdrawal after another and still their blood flowed like a river down our blades. We fought them throughout the thick forests of the Shadowlands. The Shadow Warriors used their homeland’s terrain well, but they didn’t have the stomach to stand and fight us. They continued to fall back until eventually they hid like frightened pups in their keep.
It was atop the keep in Shadowlands that I first saw my favorite unwilling participant in this celebration of Khaine. There were two shadow warriors perched atop the keep walls and shooting our forces as we tried to beat down the doors. They had a similar look, as though they might be close kin.
There was something about the way they haughtily loosed their arrows and spoke to one another that infuriated me. Hidden safely out of reach atop their keep they would shout things like “We will never let them take our homeland,” and “For the Phoenix King!” As though they or their false king could ever stop us!
As I looked at them I silently promised that I would spill their blood first for Khaine. It was almost as though the elder one heard my silent promise, because for a moment he turned his bow towards me before returning to fire upon those running the battering ram.
When the ram finally crashed through the doors I let a few of the brutish but useful chaos followers move through first. They occupied the Swordmasters and I agilely leapt through the doorway and around the corner before any of our arrogant kin could react. I moved quickly up the stairs to where my first victims were.
The foolish pair of Shadow Warriors were still firing on those of us who had not yet made their way into the keep. They had their backs to me. I approached the younger one and swiftly brought both my sweet blades inside his lungs. He couldn’t even cry for help. I let his body fall to the ground at the edge of the keep walls. I slit his throat and let his blood bathe those of us still trying to enter the keep in the glory of Khaine.
Perhaps in my ecstasy filled celebration of Khaine’s first victim I lost focus for a moment. It allowed what should have been an easily dodged shot to strike my shoulder. The second Shadow Warrior was already notching his second arrow as his first hit me. The pain sent me into a rage worthy of Khaine himself.
I sprung at the elder Shadow Warrior and was closing the distance to spill his blood for Khaine when some of those blundering human chaos worshippers engaging the Swordmasters got in my way. The Shadow Warrior used the opportunity to slip away. Much later, I saw him in the distance with the younger shadow warrior’s corpse over his shoulder. I would have pursued him, but still had blood to spill in the keep. There were many wonderful sacrifices to Khaine today, but none as sweet as the first.
Blood and Regret
Beautiful Adurlean,
The war does not go well. It is with a solemn heart that I inform you that the Asuryans have lost our keep in the Shadowlands. It is with a great shame and regret that I inform you that you and I have lost our son, Ithsonith.
Their numbers were tremendous, and their fury overwhelming. We had already lost many battles across the Shadowlands before our enemy forced those of us who remained to retreat into our fortress.
Ithsonith and I took positions atop the keep walls with our bows in hand, he at the northwestern corner, I at the northeastern corner. Our attackers beat on the keep door below. With the swift precision known only by our people we let arrow after arrow fly, and each one struck its mark.
I concentrated my fire on those operating the battering ram. If only I knew then what I know now, it might have been different. I noticed a witch elf look towards Ithsonith and I standing on the walls with a look of particular malice in her eye. If only I had let my notched arrow fly towards her then…but I did not. I turned and killed another of those chaos-warped humans operating the ram for our dark brethren. At the time they were the more immediate threat, but now I wish for nothing more than to have slain the wretched hag before she ever entered the keep.
There was a crash and a great cheer from our enemies. The doors had fallen. Only a moment later I heard the clash of swords as the Swordmasters of Hoeth and our other allies downstairs engaged the invaders. Ithsonith and I continued to thin their ranks from above, trusting our allies to hold the invaders to the lowest level of the keep. Shortly after the doors fell I saw the first arrow miss its mark and fall harmlessly to the ground. Ithsonith had missed his first shot of the day.
I looked over to him and immediately saw why he had missed. That venomous bride of Khaine that I had seen in front of the keep had two daggers plunged into Ithsonith’s back. Horrorstruck I watched as she slit his throat in another fraction of a second. Were it not for my distraught state, my bow draw may have been faster. Instead, what should have been a fatal blow allowed her just enough time to dodge slightly, and the arrow pierced her shoulder.
The Witch Elf charged me as I drew my second arrow. She would never have reached me before my second arrow pierced her heart, but suddenly her path, and my shot, was blocked. The melee downstairs had flowed up the stairs and now several of our Swordmasters and their combatants blocked my view of the murderer. I did not find her again in the remaining battle. It was all I could do to rescue Ithsonith’s corpse and escape to give him a proper burial.
Regretfully,
Indasin
Defending the Altar
The entire time we guarded that horrible clifftop, Taeryn sat with his back to the Altar of Khaine. I never had much talent for magic, and yet even I could feel hatred radiating from the Altar. I can only imagine how my Mage friend felt being so near to that foul Altar, and yet he never once looked in its direction.
It was nearly twilight when Taeryn spotted a trio of Druchii, known to Men as Dark Elves. A Witch, a Disciple of Khaine, and a Sorceress jogged toward us, drawn to the evil that dwelled within the Altar. I drew my Greatsword and prepared to dance blades. My mind cleared, and my surroundings faded away. I shifted my weight on the loose rocks, preparing to leap forward to meet their charge.
The Disciple was first up the hill, but as soon as his head appeared over the crest, he exploded in a colossal burst of magic. After that I was vaguely aware of Taeryn and the Sorceress flinging spells at one another. My conscious mind saw only my blade and the beautiful Witch’s twin daggers. I flowed easily from strike to parry to counter-strike. Perfectly balanced, one with my surroundings, I methodically tested the Witch’s defenses. Soon she tired from the struggle and strained to keep my blade from her neck.
Suddenly, the waves of hatred flowing from the Altar became blindingly intense! I fought to maintain my focus, but could not. I stumbled. Unfazed, the Witch dodged my sword and shoved her wicked daggers into my chest. She licked my blood from her blades as I fell.
I lay helplessly in a pool of my own blood, watching as the Druchii beset Taeryn with a flurry of blades and a hail of destructive energy. Taeryn fell back, staff whirling and counter-spells streaking from his fingers. Taeryn could barely defend himself, and he no longer even attempted to strike back. With every passing second, the Altar’s hatred seemed to incite the Dark Elves into an even more furious rage.
The Witch raised her blades to strike again, but Taeryn turned away from her and brought his staff to point at me. Her dagger slashed his undefended side, and his incantation became a howl of pain. Even as Taeryn died, I could feel his last spell flowing into me, returning strength to my body.
Almost on their own, my arms seized my Greatsword and cleaved the Sorceress in two. The bloody Witch whipped around to face me. Snickering, she charged, but even in my weakened state she was no match for the focus of my mind and my steel.
As I wept that night over Taeryn’s body, it was impossible to ignore the palpable hatred streaming from the blighted Altar. I almost wished the Druchii would capture it, so I would never feel its presence again. But still it rests atop that cliff, at least for tonight.
The epic struggle between the forces of Order and Destruction come to a front on the battlefields of Norsca and Nordland. The defenses of the Empire are pushed to breaking as Chaos reaches the gates of Altdorf. Will the walls of this great city crumble under the thumb of Destruction, or will Order hold its stand? Only time will tell; make sure to check here for more News from the Front, coming soon!
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