Cothique
Cothique is one of the ten High Elf kingdoms or realms of Ulthuan and one of the Outer Kingdoms. It is a located in the northeast of the continent.[2a]
It is cold coastal but relatively densely populated realm of rocky coasts and hardy sailors.[2b][3a][4a][9]
Contents
Geography
The land is well known by the High Elves for its grey shale beaches and towering sheer cliffs whilst the wild seas that surround them have many fierce predators such as Sea Serpents and Megaladons.[1][4a]
The land is cold due northeastern winds.[2b]
History
In ancient days Cothique and its neigbouring Chrace were mostly empty lands, only occupied by those who wanted to return to nature.[3a][9]
Sundering
Towards the end of the Sundering, Cothique was invaded and conquered by Hellebron, her Brides of Khaine and a army from Athel Toralien.[7a] Those who were not immediately sacrificed to Khaine were enslaved and used to produce food for Nagarythe with any resistance resulting in sacrifice. Some, seeing no other hope turned to the worship of the Lord of Murder. Phoenix King Caledor I and the other Princes gathered an army and moved to liberate Cothique but found the land full of the sacrificed dead, from newborn to elder, the few survivors telling of orgies of bloodletting.[7b]
The ruling Prince Tithrain fought at the climatic Battle of Maledor at the head of a company of Cothique knights. He saved the stunned Caledor I from the Witch King with a cavalry charge, leaping over the Phoenix King to attack Malekith personally. Half of his knights were swiftly slain and Tithran himself, still raining blows on the face of the Black Dragon, was bitten in half.[7c]
The finest halls of the kingdom were lost during the Sundering, when the coastal palaces were flooded by the Eastern Ocean. Most of the waters eventually retreated, but the places remain untouched for stories tell that the places are haunted by the drowned spirits.[2b]
Later Events
The ships used by Finubar the Seafarer on his later journeys used ships from Cothique.[2b]
Erik Redaxe raided the kingdom in 2502 IC with a huge war fleet; it was later engaged and driven from the shores of Ulthuan by a fleet under the command of Tyrion.[3b]
In 2518 IC the Dark Elf Assassin, Shadowblade lead a small group of Assassins to Cothique where he poisoned the rivers causing a crippling plague.[10]
End Times
At the beginning of the End Times, magic flowed down from the Annulii mountains and the emissaries of Nurgle brewed contagions that turned the inland rivers into festering slime.[5a]
Inhabitants
Most of Cothique's citizens live along the coast, and it is from here that most of the accomplished High Elf mariners hail from. They are hardy and shrew seafolk. [3a][4a][9][2b]
While most High Elves are reserved, only the nobles of Cothique are interested in the wider world. Many of the locals are filled with wanderlust and they are never happier when aboard a ship sailing as a trader or warship, sometimes even as raiders. It has been said that the people of Cothique spend as little time as possible in their own kingdom.[1][3a][4a][2b]
The northern sea is dangerous, filled with monsters such as Krakens, Behemoths and even Black Leviathans. Sailors from Cothique actively hunt these great monsters in sea-hunts. Yet the sea is also a source of fish and used for trade with distant lands. [3a][9][2b]
Majority of Norscan raids have attacked Cothique and the inhabitants have been toughened by centuries of warfare with the Northeners, Dark Elves and sea monsters.[3a][9][2b]
Locations
The cities and fortresses of the kingdom are sturdy and practical, focusing on surviving the weather primarily rather than for aesthetic. Many palaces and other places of beauty are instead located underground in a network of caves the locals have retreated to numerous times during the various invasions of their lands. These are lit by a magical glow from the rocks itself.[2b] There are many small stone harbours along the coastline.[3a]
- Analdar's Shrine: Ruined temple to Drakira, Goddess of Vengeance.[11]
- Anirain: Capital before and during the Sundering.[7b]
- Analdar's Shrine.[8]
- The Burned Glades.[2a]
- Chasm of Sorrows:[2a]
- Elisia: Northern town on border with Chrace.[2a]
- Eselli: A River.[11]
- Mistnar: Eastern Fortress on the Shifting Isles [2a][8]
- Tor Alin: Coastal southern city.[8]
- Tor Andar: Eastern city on the Shifting Isles [2a][8]
- Tor Dynal: Coastal city on northern tip of the kingdom. [2a][8]
- Tor Koruali: City on a peninsula near Tor Alin. [2a][8]
- Whitereach Bay.[2a]
Military
Nowdays the Cothique exists in a state of permanent war with Dark Elves and Norscans. They excel in naval combat with nimble warships.[3a][9][2b]
Warriors of Cothique often helms styled as the heads of sea serpents and cloaks made from the hides of sea monsters, whilst armour is coloured blue or green.[4a] At any one time, roughly half of the warriors of Cothique will be at sea whilst the rest guard the coastline.[4a][6]
Sky ships and war-catamarans patrol the coast, archipelagos and reefs whilst messengers are dispatched on giant flying fish. [2b] Many of their fishing and trading vessels are also able to act as warships when needed.[3a][2b]
The Silver Helms of the kingdom are renowned for being able to fight mounted aboard their warships.[1]
The Scions of Mathlann are a High Elf Spearmen brotherhood that claim to be blessed by the god Mathlann.[1]
Religion
Elves from Cothique are considered more superstitious and often devout worshipers of Mathlann and his children, with warriors bearing images of them on their shields. [1]
Trade
They are seafarers. Main industries are fishing, shipbuilding and trade, whose routes extend to the Old World.[3a][2b][9]
Gallery
| 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 - City of Spires - Dragon's Maw - Fortress of Dawn - Gates of Calith - Ithel Oriour - Ocean’s Gate - Shrouded Isle - Silent Isle - Talshunar - Tor Anrok - Tor Elasor - Tor Elithis - Tor Martel - Tor Soleil - Tower of Stars - Tower of the Rising Sun - Tower of the Sun | |
Sources
- 1: Uniforms & Heraldry of the High Elves: Cothique, pg. 26-28
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (4th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
- 4a: The Kingdoms of Ulthuan, pg. 36
- 5: Warhammer: Nagash
- 5a: Book 1, The Beginning of the End, pg. 18
- 6: White Dwarf 210 (UK): The Kingdoms of Ulthuan, pg. 14
- 7: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Caledor (novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 8: Warhammer: Khaine: Map of Ulthuan, pg. 5
- 9: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition): Cothique, pgs. 12-13
- 10: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition): Age of Vengeance, pg. 31
- 11: Warhammer: Khaine, Book I: The Traitor's Due, pg. 106-107
