The history of the High Elves can be divided into several distinct periods: the Ancient Times, the Glorious Period, the Civil War Period, and the New Period. The Glorious Period began after the first Phoenix King, Aenarion, perished but succeeded in driving out the Chaos Daemons and establishing the Great Vortex. During the Glorious Period, under the reign of the second Phoenix King, Bel-Shanaar, the Elven Empire formed an alliance with the Dwarfs and dominated the world, with colonies spanning the globe.
The transition from the Glorious Period to the Civil War Period was marked by the division of the Elves into three factions: the High Elves, Dark Elves, and Wood Elves. This story has been told before, so we won't repeat it here.
The Civil War Period transitioned into the New Period when the current Phoenix King, Finubar the Seafarer, traveled through the Old World and adjusted Ulthuan's policies to re-establish diplomatic relations and trade with humans.
"The story of the Reckless King Morvael begins with the Poet King Aethis, and Aethis's story begins with the Brave King Caledor II," Teclis began calmly. "I'm sure you know this history—how Caledor II, in his foolishness and recklessness, was decapitated by Dwarf King Gotrek Starbreaker. The Phoenix Crown was then locked away in Everpeak."
"Now, let me tell you some history. When Caledor II died, all the Elven princes of the Phoenix Court knew that Ulthuan was in grave danger. They needed a strong Phoenix King, so they chose Tyrion, a prince from the Kingdom of Caledor. He established a standing army and, with the help of the largest army ever seen and Caledor's dragons, Tyrion spent over a hundred years exterminating all the remaining Dark Elves in Ulthuan. Tyrion was ruthless and decisive, ordering the destruction of every Dark Elf city he captured, a level of brutality that even the Asur found excessive. Thus, he earned the nickname 'The Butcher King.'"
Ryan remained silent, but Olica, standing behind him, scoffed quietly, though she did not voice her disdain.
"Afterward, Tyrion annihilated the Dark Elves' main forces on the Blighted Isles. This could have been a perfect opportunity to invade Naggaroth and completely eradicate the Dark Elves, but Tyrion instead ordered his army to the Shrine of Khaine, where he unearthed the dragon armor of the first Phoenix King, Aenarion, and returned it to Aenarion's descendants. He then ordered the army to disperse, wishing to be alone at the Shrine of Khaine."
"Tyrion died soon after. There are two accounts of his death: one claims he dismissed all his White Lion guards and was killed by a Dark Elf assassin while trying to get a closer look at the Sword of Khaine. The other claims he attempted to draw the Sword of Khaine, and the White Lions, not permitting such an act, killed him. In any case, he died, and with his death, the leaderless army returned home, allowing the Dark Elves to escape annihilation."
"After Tyrion's death, the Electorate chose Bel-Korhadris, a great mage from Saphery, as the next Phoenix King. By then, Ulthuan was ravaged by constant war, its population greatly diminished. Bel-Korhadris chose to forgo attacking Naggaroth, and the Dark Elves, for their part, lacked the strength to invade Ulthuan. Instead, he focused on restoring order and rebuilding cities. Over centuries of effort, the Asur population recovered, and the economy flourished again. Bel-Korhadris did not neglect military readiness either, regularly hosting monster hunts and tournaments to maintain the fighting prowess of the Elven nobility. His greatest achievement was exhausting all his energy and wealth to construct the White Tower of Hoeth. He passed away peacefully once the tower was completed, earning the title of 'The Scholar King.'"
Teclis spoke with a tone of deep nostalgia and sorrow as he recounted the tales of the previous Phoenix Kings, but his voice grew contemptuous as he continued. "Then came Aethis, the Poet King."
"Aethis was also a prince of Saphery. Unusually, he inherited a peaceful and prosperous Ulthuan. Aethis was not a ruler interested in war or expansion. On the contrary, this Phoenix King had an immense passion for poetry, painting, sculpture, and theater. During his reign, the Phoenix Court gradually became a large gathering place for artists. Centuries ago, an Asur noble might have needed to prove himself through his sword, intellect, or magic. But now, a few sweet words or well-timed flattery to please the Phoenix King were enough to secure a place in the court."
"With hedonism on the rise, Aethis decided that the Asur no longer needed such a large army. He ordered a massive reduction in both the land and naval forces, diverting military funds to build more gardens, theaters, and to support more artisans, poets, and painters. The Cult of Pleasure began spreading among the nobility again, and the Asur gradually became lazy and indulgent, losing their drive and ambition."
Ryan couldn't help but laugh. It seemed that the history of the Elves, much like that of humans, was a cycle of rise and fall. "I can understand that. In comfortable environments, people tend to become complacent."
"Indeed," Teclis agreed. "Worse still, due to extreme isolation and self-seclusion, Ulthuan's economy, which had flourished for nearly a thousand years, began to stagnate. Birth rates declined, and many towns and estates were abandoned. Even once densely populated cities became ghostly echoes of their former selves. Aethis's rule alarmed many nobles. The Swordmasters of Hoeth discovered that the Phoenix King's chancellor was a Dark Elf infiltrator. When the lie was exposed, the chancellor stabbed Aethis in the heart with a poisoned dagger."
"How about that? The Supreme Archmage of the White Tower—did you enjoy the gift the Druchii gave you?" Olica spoke up, practically purring in satisfaction as she recalled this part of history. "Did you like it?"
Teclis glanced at the Dark Elf with his usual deadpan expression. He showed no emotion. "And that brings us to Morvael the Reckless, who lost the Amulet of Solar Fire."
"Morvael was chosen as the next Phoenix King amid the chaos. He wasn't selected for his administrative or leadership skills but because he was the Swordmaster who uncovered the Dark Elf infiltrator. In the turmoil of the time, as the Cult of Pleasure's corruption spread, Morvael was considered one of the few pure figures, leading the Electorate to choose him."
"Upon taking office, Morvael immediately sought to assert his authority by launching a war against the Dark Elves. An Asur fleet sailed to Naggaroth, only to be massacred by the encircling Druchii forces. After over a thousand years of recovery, the Dark Elves had grown stronger than ever."
"Meanwhile, the High Elves, weakened by the Poet King's reign, had their military power at an all-time low. Their forces were ill-prepared for war, and the Dark Elves seized the opportunity, launching a massive invasion of Ulthuan. The Asur were repeatedly defeated, and the Dark Elf advance was only halted at the Gryphon Gate. Ulthuan was on the brink of disaster."
"Morvael, however, was not a competent commander. His failures in the war with the Dark Elves were numerous. Even the Gryphon Gate was nearly lost under Druchii assaults. Tormented by the nightmares of defeat, the curse of Asuryan, and his frayed nerves, Morvael enacted a new policy: conscription. He demanded that every Elf on the island of Ulthuan spend a portion of each year serving in the military, supplying their own weapons."
"With this conscription policy, the Asur finally raised a massive army. Under the command of Morvael's most trusted friend and advisor, Prince Menothis of Caledor, they managed to defeat the Dark Elf forces. But Menothis died in battle, and the loss of his closest friend and advisor shattered Morvael's spirit. Despondent, nihilistic, and deeply depressed, the Reckless King finally lost the will to live. He walked into the sacred fire of Asuryan and was reduced to ashes."
Ryan nodded silently.
The decline of the High Elves wasn't surprising. The Butcher King Tyrion had focused solely on war, depleting the population. The Scholar King Bel-Korhadris had focused on rebuilding, creating jobs and reviving the economy. By the time the Poet King Aethis ascended, society had already stagnated, with not enough work to go around. Aethis then concentrated the nation's resources on arts and construction, leading to structural unemployment as there were far fewer jobs than there were people seeking them. With excellent social welfare and comfortable living conditions, the birth rate naturally plummeted.
In many situations, the rulers would prevent societal decline by either expanding their territory or importing new populations to keep society vibrant. But the High Elves, arrogant to the core, would rather let their civilization slowly decay or even march toward extinction than allow any lesser races to join their ranks.
As for why Morvael was called the "Reckless King," the reason was simple: his conscription policy harmed the interests of all High Elves, from nobility to
commoners. As a result, no one liked him, and he was given a derogatory nickname.
Today, the resurgence and renewed prosperity of the High Elves were due to Finubar the Seafarer opening trade with the Old World. The current prosperity of Ulthuan's economy and population is largely sustained by trade. Naturally, humanity's fascination with High Elven luxury goods, power, and elegance had revived Ulthuan, with Lothern becoming the world's premier trading port.
"The Amulet of Solar Fire was lost during Morvael's reign. He gave it to his son, Alarviel, but Alarviel's ship encountered a storm—or something else—and sank after leaving Lothern, taking the amulet to the bottom of the sea."
After this lengthy recounting of history, Teclis paused briefly before continuing. "That's all I can tell you. Because of Morvael's earlier life as a Swordmaster, he was depressive and plagued by nightmares. He didn't tell anyone where Alarviel was going. After Morvael entered the sacred fire of Asuryan for the second time and was reduced to ashes, perhaps no one will ever know where the Amulet of Solar Fire ended up."
"Can't you use divination or prophecy to find it?" Ryan asked, frowning.
"If divination and prophecy worked, we wouldn't have lost the Amulet of Solar Fire for a thousand years," Teclis replied, his tone calm. "But if this is Lilith's will—if you must recover the Amulet of Solar Fire—there is another way."
"What way?" Ryan leaned back in his chair. He had to find the amulet as Angron had told him, but for now, he could only tell Teclis it was Lilith's will.
Ultimately, Ryan knew that he wasn't strong enough. Moreover, all of Bretonnia's resources were currently focused on the expedition to Eight Peaks Mountain. Massive amounts of supplies were being gathered in Bordeleaux, and the kingdom's knights were eagerly awaiting the start of this grand chivalric expedition. Ryan himself would soon depart for Bordeleaux, and he didn't have the time to focus on the Amulet of Solar Fire.
"If Lilith insists, we could try divination again, but we would need a large number of prophecy stones," Teclis nodded. "The prophecy stones of the Old Ones."
"And how do we obtain those?" Ryan asked.
"There are almost no prophecy stones left in Ulthuan. Even if there were, they would be in Caledor's Dragonfire Mountain or in the Vaults of Val Anvil, and Prince Imrik of Caledor wouldn't allow me to touch them. Currently, there are only two places where we might find a large number of prophecy stones: the Isle of Albion or Lustria," Teclis explained his plan. "Although this wouldn't guarantee we could find the Amulet of Solar Fire, it at least offers a glimmer of hope. If necessary, wiping out all life on the Isle of Albion is not out of the question. As long as Lilith requires it—or if you find prophecy stones elsewhere in the Old World but cannot act due to chivalric constraints—leave it to me. A grand spell can solve the problem."
"Hmph, you Asur live such a beautiful life—playing flutes, enjoying a warm, comfortable climate, gazing at scenic views from your finely crafted towers—and then, when necessary, you destroy your targets without a shred of guilt. How do you manage it?" Ryan felt some irritation at Teclis's detached response. Compared to the emotionally intense Wood Elves or the truly savage Dark Elves, the High Elves' facade of civilization and order concealed a similar level of ruthlessness and cruelty.
"What difference does it make? Do humans feel guilty when they slaughter beasts, destroy forests, or wipe out Beastmen and Greenskins? You humans have had your fair share of civil wars," Teclis retorted, his tone indifferent. "In essence, it's all the same. Everyone believes their race and their civilization are the best, and everything else is trash, that's all. The only difference is whether we can communicate. If we can, like the Asur and humans, we can at least agree to disagree. If not, like with Greenskins and Chaos, there's only eternal war."
"At least we're steadfast allies with the Dwarfs," Ryan countered.
"In some ways, yes. Humans and Dwarfs are very similar in body structure and organ distribution," Teclis replied calmly. "But that doesn't mean the Dwarfs will always stand with you. The Sacred Alliance between the Empire and the Dwarfs seems more like an accident that happened to work out. You were just lucky, that's all. After all, the alliance between the Elves and the Dwarfs also collapsed due to a misunderstanding."
"I see. For now, we won't rush into anything regarding the Amulet of Solar Fire." Ryan nodded. "I'll wait for further instructions. Lord Teclis, do you have any plans in the Old World?"
"I originally came to be the witness for your wedding to Lilith," Teclis replied with a strange tone. "So, can I leave tomorrow?"
Ryan heard Olica mutter "Bitch" under her breath from behind him.
"Alright, then please stay a few more days to further instruct my two ladies-in-waiting in magic," Ryan said awkwardly. "As for the Eight Peaks Mountain expedition, do you have any tasks for me?"
"Of course," Teclis's deadpan eyes finally showed a hint of emotion. "There's something very important to the High Elves, long buried beneath Eight Peaks Mountain."
"I need you to bring it back."
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