Ulthwé
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Ulthwé (full name Ulthanesh Shelwé or Ulthanash Shelwé, meaning the Song of Ulthanash)[4a][14] is one of the largest and most populous Eldar craftworlds remaining since the Fall of the Eldar.
Contents
History
Well over five million years before M41, Farseer Lsathranil of Ulthwé created Lsathranil's Shield to contain the Necrons on the planet Rahe's Paradise, along with the prophecy Ishandruir that foresaw their return.[13]
Ulthwé was caught in the gravitational pull of the Eye of Terror when it formed during the birth of Slaanesh and now orbits it, perilously close to ultimate absorption and under regular attack from the denizens of the Eye of Terror. Being so near the Eye, the Craftworld has fought long and bitterly against Chaos forces. Areas within the Craftworld lie in ruins from battles fought within Ulthwé itself between Eldar and Chaos raiders.[2] The location of Ulthwé is the reason given by Ulthwé for maintaining such a large number of Warlocks, while others believe it more due to be their location causing exaggerated psychic powers in the Ulthwé population that causes the emergence of more Warlocks. Whatever the reason, many Warlocks and other psychic warriors follow the Ulthwé armies to battle and their skills are even more advanced than other Craftworlds, being able to see further ahead in time and with greater precision.[Needs Citation]
Ulthwe Forces under Eldrad Ulthran attempted to stem the tides of Chaos shortly before the 13th Black Crusade by launching an ambitious plan at the Battle of Port Demesnus in order to resurrect Ynnead. The plan failed, and during the Crusade itself Ulthwe aided Imperial forces against the forces of Abaddon.[18] Shortly after the formation of the Great Rift, Ulthwe itself came under assault by Daemons.[20a]
Though victorious over the Daemons, Ulthwe was left reeling after the attack and now is in the midst of civil strife. Three factions have emerged dominant on the Craftworld. The first and largest of these are the Seer Council, which continues to dispatch forces to stem the tides of Chaos along the Great Rift. The second group known as The Exiles is led by Eldrad Ulthran and is heavily involved with the growing cult of Ynnead. The third and final group are the Ulthwe Eldar who have joined the Ynnari.[21a]
Notable Campaigns and Battles
- Intervention on the Imperium planet Taro[10]
- The Webway War
- The Battle of Exhubris II
- The Battle of Hollonan
- The Battle for T'krahn
- The Battle of Maedrax
- The Defence of Dimmamar
- The Battle of Delugen
- The Thirteenth Black Crusade
- The Battle of Port Demesnus
- The Campaigns of the Ynnari
- The Invasion of the Stygius Sector
- The Battle of Ulthwe - Ulthwe itself is invaded by Daemons
- The Battle on Varaktus against the Blood Angels
- First and Second Aurelian Crusade
- Acheron Crusade
- Nachmund Rift War[22]
- Arks of Omen Campaign[23]
- Ulthwe falls under attack by the majority of the scattered Night Lords Legion during the War of Beasts[30]
Overview
The symbol of Ulthwé is the Eye of Isha, symbolizing the sorrow of their goddess ancestor after Asuryan ordered her separated from her Eldar children. It is said that Vaul forged the tears into spirit stones, making her grief beneficial to the Eldar today. Ulthwé has since taken the tear as their symbol to remind themselves of the godhood they lost long ago.[9a]
Because of Ulthwé's enormous reliance on seers and warlocks, the Craftworld has found itself lacking in Aspect Warriors. To compensate, it maintains a highly trained standing army known as the Black Guardians because of the colour of their armour, dedicated to rapidly responding to the many attacks from the Eye of Terror. Thanks to this force, Ulthwé has survived years of constant attacks.[Needs Citation]
One of the more famous and integral aspects of the Ulthwé Craftworld is that of the Seer Council. Formerly led by the now deceased Eldrad Ulthran, the council both overtly and secretly interferes with other races in an attempt to steer fate in their favour. This has no doubt allowed Ulthwé to survive so long in such a perilous position. Part of this method means that attacks carried out by the Ulthwé may seem purposeless or as serving no immediate reason. They are instead often meant to influence events far in the future, which has given the Eldar the reputation of being capricious and random. According to Inquisitorial records based on Eldar intelligence reports, Ulthwé interferes in the affairs of other races more than any other Craftworld, and is said to be responsible for several devastating events in the Imperium, including the Second War for Armageddon, the Sanapan Scouring, the Mortis Annihilation and the Third Coming of Orian.[15][16a]
They are the only Craftworld known to grow Dreamstones to protect their minds from Slaanesh during sleep.[24]
Ulthwé Strike Force
The Ulthwé Strike Force consists of forces adept at using the Webway to mount sudden and perfectly co-ordinated attacks. Forces are comprised primarily of Storm and Guardian Defender squads, supported by vehicles crewed by Black Guardians (Support weapons, War Walkers,Vypers and Jetbikes).[1]
Locations
- Calmainoc - This is the name given to a great space dock that is not strictly located within the Craftworld but rather to a Warp portal that was hardwired into the structure of Ulthwé itself. The portal is indistinguishable from the main doors though the actual harbour could be located anywhere in the galaxy or even beyond it. The only certainty is the fact that the way in and out of Calmainoc is through Craftworld Ulthwé.[3]
- Ghreivan's Gate - A circular frame that is decorated with several runes that stretched across several dimensions. This gate is actually a Warp Portal and one among hundreds that existed in the Craftworld and served as access points to Warp routes that were designed by the original architects of Ulthwe in order to allow its inhabitants access to distant locations in a matter of moments.[3]
Notable Elements
Notable Characters
- Eldrad Ulthran — once the Chief Farseer of the Ulthwé Craftworld. Exiled by the Seer Council of Ulthwe for his involvement in the cult of Ynnead, now operates The Exiles.[21a] Created and carries into battle the Staff of Ulthamar.[9b]
- Farseer Auric Stormcloud of the line of Manan — on a quest to stop Daemon Prince Shaha Gaathon[8]
- Farseer Bethaneal[26b]
- Farseer Bilgaedrin[26c]
- Farseer Caerys — leader of the Eldar forces in the Kaurava system.[6]
- Farseer Faeruithir[27]
- Farseer Idranel — led the Eldar forces in sub-sector Aurelia.[7]
- Farseer Illandra[26b]
- Farseer Lsathranil — lived over five million years ago.[13]
- Farseer Illiyanne Natasé[12]
- Farseer Taldeer — known as "Taldeer the Dreamer", sent to Lorn V and again to Kronus to stop the Necron threats on those planets.[5][17]
- Autarch Lathriel Swiftblade[21c]
- Warlock Arquellia[26a]
- Warlock Birliel[6]
- Warlock Enimiah[5]
- Warlock Karhaedron[26b]
- Warlock Fachean Ullamar[20b]
- Seer Q'sandria[4c]
- Exarch Athenys of the line of Manan[8]
- Gabrielle Ulthran[28]
- Irolac Dawnslayer[25]
- Theuria[21b]
- Trekhulir of the Glittering Dark[16b]
Previous Editions
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It was previously established that Eldrad Ulthran died aboard a Blackstone Fortress during the Thirteenth Black Crusade.[4b] However, as of 6th Edition, Eldrad is now described as being in his last days, crystallising, but very much alive.[6b]
Sources
- 1: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pgs. 46-48
- 2: Inquisition War Trilogy (Novel Series), Harlequin[Needs Citation]
- 3: Warrior Coven (Novel) (pg 34, pg 38), [Needs Citation]
- 4: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
- 5: Dawn of War: Winter Assault and Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
- 6: Dawn of War: Soulstorm
- 7: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
- 8: Farseer, [Needs Citation]
- 9: Codex: Eldar (6th Edition) (Ebook)
- 10: Imperial Armour II - Ork, Eldar and Dark Eldar Vehicles for Warhammer 40,000, pg. 42
- 11: Warhammer 40,000.com Map (last accessed 8/10/2020)
- 12: The Gate of Bones (Novel), Chapter 7
- 13: Dawn of War: Ascension (Novel), Chapter Six
- 14: Gathering Storm: Fracture of Biel-Tan, pg. 48
- 15: Games Workshop: Inquisitor Czevak's Notes on Ulthwé (saved archive page, dated 22 March 2007, last accessed 27 May 2021)
- 16: Warrior Coven (Novel) - Kill Squad: A Deathwatch Omnibus
- 17: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III
- 18: Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia - Chapter 3
- 19: Warhammer 40,000: Death Masque Rulebook, pgs. 3-5
- 20: Codex: Craftworlds (8th Edition)
- 21: Codex: Aeldari (9th Edition)
- 22: War Zone Nachmund: Rift War, pg. 33
- 23: Arks of Omen: Abaddon, pgs. 18-23
- 24: Farseer (Novel), Chapters Five & Eleven
- 25: Dataslate: Tau Firebase Support Cadre, pg. 7
- 26: Dark Millennium (game system)
- 27: Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game (game system): Battle for Pandora Prime — Faeruithir
- 28: Old Games Workshop Website: The Dark Crusade is upon us - Agents of Xenos: Eldar: Gabrielle Ulthran (Saved archive page, dated 26 June 2024, last accessed 9 July 2024)
- 29: www.eyeofterror.com/uk/armies/eldar.htm (08/08/2003) (saved archive, last accessed 19/06/23)
- 30: Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze, pg. 15
Uncited
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- Games Workshop Eldar website (accessed 2007.02.21)
- Inquisitor Czevak's notes on the Eldar (accessed 2007.02.21)
