Want to talk in real time with other Warhammer Players? Give our chatroom a try!
W:AoS has 5 elf factions?
Quote from: GamesPoet on January 30, 2020, 10:26:24 PMW:AoS has 5 elf factions? The Darklings CovenDaughters of Kaine Idoneth DeepkinThe WandererersThe Kurnoth (kind of tree thingy wood elvish)Cities of Sigmar aelfsTeclis’s new elf (above)Tyrion’s ealfs on the horizonThat’s all I can think of at the moment
If you saw our detailed coverage of the mind-blowing Warhammer Preview from the LVO last weekend (you have seen it, right?), then you’ll know that a new aelf faction is on its way for Warhammer Age of Sigmar – the Lumineth Realm-lords! What’s more, we’re going to be guiding you through their lore and development all the way up until their launch so that you can learn all about them. Speaking of which, in the first instalment of the Lumineth Lowdown, we’re looking at their origins…Out With the Old, In With the NewThe old aelven pantheon is dead,* having perished long ago with the world-that-was. Yet when the Mortal Realms were formed and Sigmar travelled the fantastical new lands, he discovered that, like himself, some of his former allies had not only survived, but had been reborn anew as divine beings. Two among them were the twin aelven gods, Tyrion and Teclis.
After working with Malerion to entrap Slaanesh in the Hidden Gloaming, Tyrion and Teclis began to siphon the souls of their former kin who had been swallowed by the Dark Prince during the destruction of the Old World. Of all the spirits drawn forth from the slumbering Chaos God, the most stable and pure became known as the Lumineth. They settled within Hysh, the Realm of Light, a paradisal land of geometric perfection. There, the Lumineth grew both wise and powerful from the teachings of the twin gods.From Darkness to LightDespite their nobility of spirit, the history of Lumineth Realm-lords is far from without incident, for no aelf could suffer an age of torment after having been consumed by Slaanesh and emerge unscathed. As is ever the way with the corrupting influence of the Dark Prince of Chaos, it was their own emotions that saw the Lumineth fall from the light. Yet before unchecked hubris and jealousy tore them apart, the Lumineth found salvation by returning to Teclis’ path of wisdom, knowledge and self-betterment, which ultimately brought their civilisation back from the brink of self-destruction. This period of enlightenment became known as the Reinvention, and it inspired every aspect of the lives they now lead.Following the teachings of Teclis, the Lumineth also learned to communicate with, and even channel, the geomantic spirits of Hysh – specifically those of the mountains, rivers, wind and zenith (or sky). This affected every aspect of their existence, from the knowledge they accumulated to the way they fought and the magic they employed. Lumineth warriors who bonded with the spirit of the mountain would be all but immovable in battle, stoically weathering the tide of enemies crashing against them, while their mages would bombard their foes with stones and crush them beneath rocks. This led the Lumineth to develop four distinct sub-cultures within their wider civilisation, each with its own orders of mages and warriors. By dedicating themselves, mind and soul, to the pursuit of furtherance in their chosen path, the Lumineth could better avoid the lure of Slaanesh.
AetherquartzGreater enlightenment for the Lumineth came through harnessing the unique properties of aetherquartz, the Hyshian realmstone, in specially designed jewellery. They discovered that they could endlessly reflect the power of Hysh within this realmstone to empower the mind, body and soul. This did not come without a cost, for even as it offered illumination, the aetherquartz crystal eventually grew dim, and so drained the emotions of its bearer to restore its inner light. To the Lumineth, who sought perfection in all things, such a sacrifice was well worth paying, for emotion was a path to corruption… to Slaanesh.
Once the energy bound within an aetherquartz diminishes, it is left blackened by drained emotions. The Lumineth discard these spent stones, replacing them with freshly prepared aetherquartz to revitalise them once more. So, with each gem discarded, the Lumineth become more mentally, physically and spiritually gifted, yet grow colder and more aloof.The Peerless Armies of the LuminethAs one might expect from warriors and mages whose aetherquartz-enhanced skills have far transcended their natural capabilities, the armies of the Lumineth Realm-lords are among the deadliest in the Mortal Realms. They wage war with peerless coordination, their phalanxes of spearmen and formations of swift cavalry seamlessly working together to overcome even many times their own number in foes. Meanwhile, mages of incredible power rain down destructive, elemental magic to the utter ruin of their enemies. With the peerless martial prowess of Tyrion and the enlightened teachings of Teclis driving their every action on the battlefield, the Lumineth Realm-lords are the art of war made manifest.Now that you know a bit more about the Lumineth Realm-lords, next time, we’ll be taking a closer look at their miniatures – starting with their spearmen, the Vanari Auralan Wardens – and investigating the significance of their runes. In the meantime, head on over to the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Facebook page and let us know what excites you most about with the Lumineth Realm-lords. If you haven’t done so already, sign up to our newsletter to be the among the first to know what’s going on with all the latest news and articles.
I hate people who don't paint their armies, hate them with all my guts. Beats me how they value other things over painting, like eating or brushing teeth.
Dwarves already got their turn with the skylords.What is with all the lore making all the armies emotionless drones?
Quote from: Warlord on February 01, 2020, 01:40:58 PMDwarves already got their turn with the skylords.What is with all the lore making all the armies emotionless drones?Rest assured the dwarves won’t be cleansed of there merciless, ageless, grudge bearing, money loving, xenophobic, beer loving, judgemental, contractual behaviours that make them the warm fuzzies that they are and we love 😸That would be inexcusable.
What is with all the lore making all the armies emotionless drones?
We’re back with another detailed look at the upcoming range of Hyshian aelves known as the Lumineth Realm-lords. In the inaugural instalment of the series, we revealed the lore behind their origins, but today we’re taking our first proper look at one of the new units – the Vanari Auralan Wardens – and the significance to their wider culture of the runes worn so proudly on their shields.Who Are They?The spear phalanxes of the Vanari Auralan Wardens are the mainstay of the Lumineth battleline. They fight with a synergy and grace that lesser races couldn’t even begin to fathom. While the arrows of the Auralan Sentinels and magical bombardments of their mages rain down upon their enemies, the Wardens stoically hold their ground, awaiting the desperate charge of their embattled foes. Heartbeats before combat is joined, the sunmetal tips of the Wardens’ spears flare into life with the solar energies they have absorbed, tearing through armour, flesh and bone as their Wardens skewer their would-be attackers with thrusts of lethal precision. They are led by High Wardens, imperious Lumineth officers who stand at the rear of each phalanx. Easily identified by their decorative back-banners, the High Wardens direct the warriors under their command and channel the magic of Hysh into their enchanted weapons to the utter ruin of their enemies.
The MiniaturesAs the Auralan Wardens fight as a phalanx, they have been designed in a variety of defensive poses, with leaf-shaped shields to the fore and long spears thrust forwards to face the enemy. Their shields each have a crescent-shaped nook, enabling the warriors to support the weight of their spear shafts and thrust their weapons forwards even when their shields are interlocked. The shields themselves are interchangeable and feature intricate woven lattice work on their unarmoured side, hinting at the incredible craftsmanship that is synonymous with everything the Lumineth create.
With the exception of triangular tabards of scale mail, the lower halves of the Wardens remain unarmoured – these areas of the body are protected by the interlocking shields of the phalanx. Meanwhile, the upper halves feature a mix of male and female torsos, each clad in layers of scale and plate armour with elegant, curved pauldrons. Their armour is bedecked with sun and moon icons, symbolising the twin gods of Hysh, for their warriors are neither Tyrionic nor Teclian exclusively. The interchangeable heads of the Auralan Wardens are protected by full helms and crowned with exotic plumes.Each of the Auralan Wardens carries a short sword strapped to their backs. Though not designed to be their primary weapons, these blades would be drawn for self-defence should an enemy get inside their reach – or to extricate their spears should an enemy become kebabed on the shaft!The RunesTo the Lumineth, runes are more than just a form of symbolism – they represent their way of life and are a fundamental part of their civilisation. In addition to serving as a type of language,* runes represent the higher forms of learning and enlightenment embodied by the Hyshian aelves. That the Vanari Auralan Wardens display runes so overtly on their shields only serves to reinforce that they are students of far more than just war.Integral to this is the Runic Mandala, the Lumineth evolution of the Pantheonic Mandala which once depicted the aelven gods from the world-that-was. In addition to representing an amalgam of the runes of the four Hyshian geomantic spirits, the more elaborate versions incorporate the twin aspects of sun and moon, both separate yet intrinsically linked, just as with the godly twins that embody them.
I really do like the look of them myself as well.