High Elves

From a unit point of view, I really enjoy the militia class of Elven warrior, the Archer and Spearmen. Not entirely sure why, as I really don't like Eldar Guardians. But a glittering wall of silver spears with volleys of arrow fire raining down from behind does something for me.

We've got a couple of High Elf armies in our group and each of them focuses on a different aspect, one is very heavily Caledorian, another Chracian, and the third very generically High Elven with the Island of Blood at its core. Originally my force was heavy on swordmasters, and most of these are painted in my original scheme of dark blue and grey. So perhaps these stay like this and I'll paint up Teclis to match.

For my Cothiqui army, I still can't decide how 'privateer' to go with them. I think I'll keep it very standard and official and leave my Dark Elves as the heavily pirate-y looking army. So what would a standard army of Cothique look like?

I always like a unit of Elite infantry, Sea Guard seems a pretty standard unit to go with. However, I could also turn all of my militia into Sea Guard simply by mixing my archers and spearmen. This would free me up to run one of the more interesting Elites.

The one less favoured in our group is the Phoenix Guard. These are great models, and a simple head swap would do wonders for them. But perhaps they are too 'Phoenix Guard' for my army... Maybe I should find an alternative and run them as Counts As Phoenix Guard? The bare arms of the Wildwood Rangers work really nicely for a more seafaring force, their great weapons could easily count as Halberds, and perhaps they just have the blessing of Mathlann to provide their ward save. It would just need some more mariner-inspired heads to complete the conversion, which also matches the rest of the army. The Vanari Dawnriders have really nice shields, I just need to find a lot of them.

Caladris Windrider, Prince of Cothique

Master of the Starlit Fleet, Guardian of the Northern Shores

A Prince of the Storm

Cothique is a land of shifting tides, where the mountains plunge into the sea and the coast is forever lashed by the great storms of the Northern Ocean. Its people are seafarers, hardy and resolute, their lives entwined with the ebb and flow of the waters that both sustain and endanger them. It is from these shores that Caladris Windrider hails—a prince born not to a palace of marble, but to the salt-sprayed decks of Ulthuan’s northern fleets.

Caladris' bloodline is old, though not the most powerful among the noble houses of Cothique. His family has long maintained the watch over the realm’s northern waters, where Norscan raiders prowl and corsairs seek to test the strength of Ulthuan’s defenses. From a young age, he learned the ways of war at sea, commanding his first vessel before reaching his second century. His reputation was built not upon courtly intrigue, but upon the decks of his ships, in the driving rain, with sword in hand and a gale at his back.

He is no stranger to battle, nor to the delicate dance of politics that entangles even the most warlike of lords. Cothique is ruled by the great admirals and fleetmasters, each with their own ambitions and feuds. The Phoenix King expects his northern princes to protect the shores of Ulthuan, but the lords of Cothique are as often embroiled in rivalries with one another as they are in fending off invaders.

Unlike many of his kin, Caladris has managed to walk the fine line between pragmatism and honor, weaving his way through the politics of his homeland with the same skill he commands upon the sea. He is respected, though not universally liked—admired for his victories, but regarded with suspicion by some for his independence. While he swears fealty to the Phoenix Throne, his first loyalty is to the fleet, to his warriors, and to the waves that have always guided him.

The Intrigues of Cothique

The noble families of Cothique are bound by tradition and blood, but their alliances shift like the tides. There are those who support Caladris, and those who would see him cast into the deep.

Allies and Supporters:

• Lord Althion Starfire – An older admiral, close to retirement, who sees in Caladris the future of Cothique’s fleets. He has maneuvered behind the scenes to ensure that Caladris receives fresh reinforcements and new vessels when he calls for them.

• Lirael Moonsail – A captain of one of Cothique’s great scouting flotillas. She commands a swift and deadly force of cavalry and eagle riders, ranging ahead of Caladris' main fleet. She is fiercely loyal to him, having fought by his side in countless engagements.

• The Delegation of the Realm – A contingent of noble warriors from distant provinces, sworn to the Phoenix King but assigned to Caladris' command. Among them are the White Lions of Chrace, warriors who have earned his respect in battle. Their presence is both a blessing and a political challenge, as they answer first to the throne rather than to him.

Rivals and Detractors:

• Prince Vaedrin of the Broken Isles – A rival fleet commander who believes Caladris wields too much influence and autonomy. He has the ear of certain nobles in Lothern, whispering that Caladris' victories are won at too great a cost, and that he seeks to elevate himself beyond his station.

• House Eltheris – An ancient Cothiquan family, jealous of Caladris' reputation. They have opposed his every request for additional resources, arguing that the navy should remain under strict council rule rather than at the discretion of a single commander.

• The Silent Dissenters – A faction within his own fleet, composed of traditionalists who believe that his close ties with the warriors of other provinces—particularly the Swordmasters and White Lions—are eroding the pure naval identity of Cothique’s forces.

The Warriors of the Starlit Fleet

Caladris commands more than just ships—he leads an army that has been tempered by war, a force forged in both the rolling waves and on the bloodied fields of battle.

• The Seaguard of Cothique – The backbone of his host, these warriors are trained in both shipboard combat and disciplined formations on land. Each is skilled with bow and spear, able to shift seamlessly between roles as the tide of battle demands.

• The Ship’s Crew – Hardened veterans of the sea, these warriors are not as disciplined as the Seaguard, but their experience in brutal boarding actions and coastal raids makes them deadly in close quarters. Many of them are loyal to Caladris personally, having served under his command for decades.

• The Halberdiers of the Azure Guard – His elite bodyguard, armed with long halberds and clad in reinforced armor. They serve as a bastion in battle, their polearms able to cut down cavalry and hold the line against the fiercest of charges.

• The Bolt Throwers of the Stormwatch – Positioned at the rear, these deadly engines of war rain steel-tipped death upon the enemy. Crewed by expert engineers, they ensure that even the mightiest monsters or towering war machines can be brought low.

• The Winged Hunt – A force of eagle riders and swift cavalry, drawn from scouts under Lirael Moonsail’s command. They harry the enemy, striking at weak points and disrupting formations before vanishing like ghosts upon the wind.

• The Swordmasters of Hoeth – Masters of the blade, their presence in Caladris' force is a sign of the respect he has earned from beyond Cothique. While few in number, their skill alone can turn the tide of battle.

• The White Lions of Chrace – Stalwart and unbreakable, these warriors stand as part of the delegation from the Phoenix Court. They are both honor guard and enforcers, ensuring that Caladris' campaigns align with the will of the throne. Their presence is a reminder that while he commands great power, his authority is not absolute.

The Legacy of the Windrider

Caladris is a man caught between many worlds. He is a prince of Cothique, but his reputation extends beyond its shores. He is a servant of the Phoenix King, yet his independence unsettles the nobles of Lothern. He is a warrior of the sea, yet he leads armies on land with the same ruthless efficiency as he commands his ships.

There are whispers that he seeks to become more than a fleet commander—that one day, he may even challenge for the title of High Admiral, or seek a position upon the Phoenix King’s council. Whether he has such ambitions or not, he knows that every victory he wins strengthens his standing—and every setback invites the knives of his rivals.

For now, he does what he has always done: he fights where Ulthuan needs him, he protects the shores of his homeland, and he navigates the treacherous waters of both war and politics with the skill of a true Windrider. His enemies may seek to undermine him, but so long as the sea crashes upon the shores of Cothique, and so long as his fleet remains unconquered, Caladris Windrider will endure.