Caledor
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This article is about the kingdom. For other uses of Caledor, see Caledor (disambiguation). |
Caledor is a High Elf realm bearing a proud martial tradition.
Named after its founder Caledor Dragontamer[1a][6], the realm is located between Ellyrion, Tiranoc and Eataine in Ulthuan.
Contents
History
Before the elves came to Caledor, the area was the home to many dragons, lairing amongst the volcanic caves and tunnels, lining their nests with the gems and metals easily found nearby. The dragons here grew quickly and became larger than those of other lands whilst the population increased until they could darken the skies with their numbers. [3a][6]
Caledor Dragontamer claimed this area and managed to obtain their loyalty through powerful sorcery, gaining great power over the other elves of Ulthuan. [3a] The most powerful mage of his era, he went up into the mountains and a week later returned with a vast Dragon - Indraugnir who he had either bound with his magic or a metallic harness had been given to him by Vaul himself. Modern scholars believe that the sorcerer won a mighty battle of wills and that the Dragon was impressed by his will and they formed a bond of mutual respect. [6]
The Dragon Princes built on this initial link with the great beasts of the mountains, continuing to fight together or merely ride the hot thermals of the volcano's. None of the other realms could match them for power or ferocity and those that dared to do faced lance, magic and fire in deadly combination. [6] Caledor and his followers created the city of Tor Caled - a massive edifice of towers and walls also protected by a moat of molten lava. [7b]
As the continent was attacked by Daemons, only Caledor and its dragons were able to hold strong against them, and when Aenarion traveled to the region to gain support, Caledor recognised him as chosen by Asuryan and presented him with Indraugnir, the greatest and oldest of the dragons of Caledor. [3a]
Aenarion fought against Chaos with the Sword of Khaine which caused a rift between him and Caledor but even this weapon was not enough to defeat the enemy. Caledor gathered the most powerful mages on Ulthuan to enact a ritual that would create the Great Vortex and save the Elves. [6][7a] Following the success of the ritual and the death of Aenarion, Bel Shanaar was elected by the First Council which was accepted by the Caledorians. [7a]
During the reign of Caledrian, grandson to the Dragontamer, his younger brother Imrik was the kingdom's general in the lands to the east of the Great Ocean, Elthin Arvan. There they established colonies in competition with Nagarythe around the city of Tor Arlieth, the Grey City, fighting against the Greenskins of that land including at the Battle of the Laithenn River. [7a]
As the power of the Cults of Pleasure grew across Ulthuan, Caledrain called a council to discuss what to do and it was agreed that Imrik would seek to convince the King to broker an agreement between all the ruling princes that their kingdoms be purged, to which all present agreed. [7b] At Tor Anroc, Imrik again refused to be made general of the army that would purge the cults and did not object to the newly arrived Malekith taking that role. Returning to Caledor, he and his brothers also agreed that Dragons would not be flown to aid him but they would send enchanted weapons from Vaul's Anvil instead. [7c]
As Malekith moved to besiege Anlec, Imrik took his son for his first visit to the Dragon caves above Anul Caled but only Maedrethnir roused himself, stating that the dragons may never rise again in numbers, Dorien and and Imrik worried that he was in fact the only Dragon still awake. [7d]
Many of the early Phoenix Kings came from Caledor and so the realm had great influence and power for thousands of years. [6]
The current Prince of the realm, Imrik is a direct descendant of the original Dragontamer and deeply mourns the decline of his heritage. [6]
Home of Dragons
Later the many lairs of the Dragons began to cool and the dragons themselves became more and more sleepy, harder to awaken to ride to battle. Even when they can be awakened, now they often tire quickly so the Dragon lords only rouse them when absolutely necessary. [3a] Some speculate that this languor is related to the Great Vortex and that the sleep patterns of the Dragons is directly linked to the increasingly cooler land of Caledor. [6]
Locations
Much of the land is mountainous, with fertile valleys rich with life, enough to feed hungry dragons. [1a]
- Avethir: A city. [4a]
- Caethrin Gorge [4a]
- Caledors Repose: A city. [4a]
- Dragon Spine Mountains: A volcanic region inhabited by Dragons. [1a]
- Dragonette Cove. [4a]
- Vaul's Anvil: The greatest volanco where a temple of Vaul is situated, here the truesteel harnesess were forged that allowed Caledor Dragontamer to bind the dragons to his will. [1a]
- Shimmersung: A city. [4a]
- Shimmersward: A city. [4a]
- Shrine of Addiaoth: [4a]
- Stonesung Plateau. [4a]
- Tor Caled: Capital city. [7b]
- Tor Sethai: A city [4a]
Inhabitants
The Elves of this kingdom and in particular the nobles are fiercely proud of their history, that they have always been the backbone of the armies of Ulthuan. [2a]
Notable
Military
Many of the warriors of Caledor have dragons on their shields, helms and swords. [2a] Unusually they also favour black for crests and plumes, whilst armour is often crafted to resemble the scales of dragons and coloured red or green. [1b]
- Dragon Mages. [2a]
- Dragon Princes who ride to battle in armour that evokes the style and colour of the dragons for which their kingdom are rightly known. [2a]
Dragon of Caledor
A Dragon Prince
Spearman of the Kingdom
Standard Bearer of a High Elf Archer regiment from the Kingdom
A Dragon Mage
The Fireborn.
Caledor is located in the South-West (lower left corner)
Map of Caledor
Miniatures
Warriors of Caledor
Quotes
| Our brethren from the oldest times, the purest and truest expression of the power of life that this world has to offer. Once the skies were filled with their graceful forms and they danced about the thermals that flow over the mountains in intricate mating rituals that were a joy to behold. They sat at the feet of Vaul and set their fiery breath to heating his forges. When we went to war against the forces of Chaos, they carried the greatest of our heroes upon their backs and they were ever the first to engage the enemy and the last to withdraw from the field. Now they dwindle, as do we all, and their song is fading to memory. When they perish entirely so I think shall we and perhaps that is only proper.
~ Sithafbron, Dragon Lord of Caledor. [5] |
| The realms, colonies & outposts of the High Elves | |
| Realms of Ulthuan | Eataine - Caledor - Tiranoc - Shadowlands - Chrace - Cothique - Yvresse - Ellyrion - Avelorn - Saphery |
| Nearby Isles | The Isles - Isle of the Dead - Island of the Flame - Shifting Isles |
| High Elf Outposts & Colonies | Arnheim - Citadel of Dusk - Fortress of Dawn - Gates of Calith - Tor Elasor - Tor Elithis - Tower of Stars - Tower of the Sun |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (4th Edition)
- 2: Uniforms & Heraldry of the High Elves
- 2a: Caledor, pg. 44-51
- 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
- 3a: Dragons of Caledor, pg. 57
- 4: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 4a: The High Elves, pg. 8
- 5: Old World Bestiary: Dragons, pg. 53
- 6: White Dwarf 266 (UK): The Dragons Princes, pg. 8-11
- 7: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
