Ulthuan

Is Alith Anar still alive? The 7th edition army book says that he is more of a legendary figure who disaperred. Some years ago in a March issue of White Dwarf there was a story about Eltharion and a DE assasin that had Alith Anar as a living breathing elf. Seeing as the 7th edition army book doesn't mention Eltharion becoming a Swordmaster after he is blinded maybe this story is not considered offical or canon? I was just wondering wheter Alith was Alive in the current fantasy setting.

Possibilities:

1. He's alive, and has been for the past five millenia

2. He's not actually alive, but has been transformed into a spirit of vengeance

3. His name gets passed on like a title to a succession of capable elves (rather like Zorro)

4. He's the Fantasy equivalent to a Phoenix Lord

Musashi pretty much got them all...

I, personally, think he's still alive - and will be till Malekiths dead

Thanks for the replies. So GW does not definately confirm or deny wheter he is alive/spirit/succesors/dead but has left it rather vague.

cidracin wrote:Thanks for the replies. So GW does not definately confirm or deny wheter he is alive/spirit/succesors/dead but has left it rather vague.

It's confirmed that "Alith Anar" is 1) alive during the Sundering and 2) is alive now.

What isn't confirmed is the exact how and why of it.

I'm pretty sure the fact that he's still alive is basically that he's just too damn stubborn to die before Malekith does.

Musashi wrote:Possibilities:

4. He's the Fantasy equivalent to a Phoenix Lord

Goddamn I want this one to be true, I really really really want leaders for each of the "aspects". I love it in the Eldar force and a champ for the elite forces, weither you need to build it like a greater daemon or herald or it gets given to you would be amazing!

Ahem, I seem to have gone off the subject.

Either way I'd say he's alive, he's pretty strong and still carries the moonbow, most of the time the armour or weapons arnt directly handed down in elf culture, seems like they skip a lot of generations and land in the hands of a lucky individual. Being less of a warrior than Tyrion only by a hair seems about right too. That and having an amazing eye that can hit a druchii between the eyes from a couple miles away ;p

Im really inclined to say he's alive and the one in the book is him.

Hopefully, yes. Alith Anar is (fluffwise) one of the badassest figures in Warhammer Fantasy. He is the ultimate assassin, striking without fear or remorse; I mean he danced with frakking Morathi before LOL-stealing her prized gem! To top it off, he tricked his pursuers into drinking poison-laced-blood, presumably while revving a chainsaw labeled "Juice Dispenser."

I wish his in-game rules had been more powerful, though. I don't understand this whole stigma that GW has against "good guys" being obscenely powerful. Seriously, Alith Anar's rules should be so ridiculously awesome that simply fielding him would result in your victory.

That'd be getting the best of both worlds. No, the good guys get ridiculous background and the bad guys get ridiculous rules =D

Oh, I don't know... I think he's pretty damn good as he is, he's just not meant to stand up to Chaos Lords directly. Being able to set up a bolt thrower that scouts and can't be caught easily when it flees is pretty great to me.

I don't see a lot of lists for him, but I think that has more to do with the conception people have that it's always supremely dangerous to make a Lord scout, even though you don't even need to field him like that.

I think Alith Anar still live because the Stone of Midnight he stole from Morathi. The stone probably an enchanted magical stone artifact considering it's originally belong Aenarion the original Phoenix King. Considering how much Morathi desiring it back from the offering she shall give to everyone who's returning it to her, the gift of eternal youth and night off debauchery with her finest and beautiful witch elf. The stone mean more than those offering to her it's is impossible that stone precious to her because it's just remainder her about Aenarion love to her. Aenarion can't be the only man she's in love with nor the best.

Consider this:
the stone even give Alith Anar 4+ Ward Save in the game. The stone give protection to whoever possessed it. It's maybe the key to wield Flame of Asuryan freely.

Aenarion is a stranger even for an Elf in the beginning. He maybe come from even the Old one special stock. He maybe bought some special artifacts with him one of the is Stone of Midnight.

The other guess is this:
Alith Anar is around Nagaroth for sometime and steal a lot of thing maybe also some elixir of life.

My assumption has always been that elves are physiologically immortal, as far as age is concerned. They simply die when they grow tired of all the horrors, violence, or they simply are content enough to pass away at a certain point in life. I think that people like Alith Anar and Malekith who are driven with such a terrible rage don't ever get tired of those things. They're too focused to notice them. Insubstantiated, but it is my theory.

lathian wrote:My assumption has always been that elves are physiologically immortal, as far as age is concerned. They simply die when they grow tired of all the horrors, violence, or they simply are content enough to pass away at a certain point in life. I think that people like Alith Anar and Malekith who are driven with such a terrible rage don't ever get tired of those things. They're too focused to notice them. Insubstantiated, but it is my theory.

If you say is correct and if I was an elf, i won't tired and will live forever

Human and Elven psychology apparently differ -age isn't that apparent where most fatalities are by mishap, and GW would certainly want to differentiate themselves from Tolkien, but apparently haven't, since Elven souls can be summoned back from the Halls of the Dead, though it requires both a strong willed individual and a pressing need.

I always thought of it as the pirate from princess bride. The name just gets passed on, but they have to be worthy of the title.

I believe he is alive because his badassery seems too awesome to be multiple elves. It takes a certain amount of gusto to be Alith Anar. In fluff that is.

I think it's likely he is alive - it's just that GW have made it clear that he is a maverick - he doesn't answer to anyone, not even the Phoenix Kings can get hold of him.

Ben.

lathian wrote:My assumption has always been that elves are physiologically immortal, as far as age is concerned. They simply die when they grow tired of all the horrors, violence, or they simply are content enough to pass away at a certain point in life. I think that people like Alith Anar and Malekith who are driven with such a terrible rage don't ever get tired of those things. They're too focused to notice them. Insubstantiated, but it is my theory.

I tend to share the same assumption.

Those few Elves we know to have lived far longer than what would be considered normal (for Elves ) tend to be those that are excessively, obsessively driven. Malekith, Morathi, Alith Anar - these seem to be Elves who have a great ambition to accomplish something and just refuse to let go until they achieve satisfaction.

Those few Elves that we know to have died of "Old Age" seem to be those who are ready to die. Caradryal, Bel-Hathor - these seem to be generally quiet, practical, unassuming Elves not known for possessing a significant driving ambition. They both seem to have accomplished what they felt they needed to do in the role of Phoenix King and then passed from the world peacefully at a convenient time.

kourosh wrote:If you say is correct and if I was an elf, i won't tired and will live forever

Easy to say, but I imagine after a couple of thousand years (20-30 entire lifetimes for us) it would be hard to maintain enthusiasm for life. You've seen everything you wanted to see, done everything you wanted to do, seen family and friends live out their lifetimes and been around long enough to see them then each pass from the world in turn. Throw in a very stagnant lifestyle where very little ever changes (even Druchii raids/invasions seem to be centuries to millenia apart), and you really have to wonder what keeps Elves going after the first 500 years (let alone the 2-2.5k avergae lifespan that was worked out once upon a time here).

Just a thought...

EDIT - Didn't realise this thread had been ressurrected from many months ago.

Dargon wrote:EDIT - Didn't realise this thread had been ressurrected from many months ago.

You made some good points though

Dargon wrote:EDIT - Didn't realise this thread had been ressurrected from many months ago.

Resurrection is permissible in this particular forum, provided that it inspires new discussion and the like.

this is a very interesting topic- someone even suggested that Alith Anar has something in him of the old Elves, something of the power of Caledor and Aenarion and the first that were created by the old ones. It is certain that he is a very special character...his moonbow was given to him by the goddess Lileath they say...

Dargon wrote:

lathian wrote:My assumption has always been that elves are physiologically immortal, as far as age is concerned. They simply die when they grow tired of all the horrors, violence, or they simply are content enough to pass away at a certain point in life. I think that people like Alith Anar and Malekith who are driven with such a terrible rage don't ever get tired of those things. They're too focused to notice them. Insubstantiated, but it is my theory.

I tend to share the same assumption.

Those few Elves we know to have lived far longer than what would be considered normal (for Elves ) tend to be those that are excessively, obsessively driven. Malekith, Morathi, Alith Anar - these seem to be Elves who have a great ambition to accomplish something and just refuse to let go until they achieve satisfaction.

Those few Elves that we know to have died of "Old Age" seem to be those who are ready to die. Caradryal, Bel-Hathor - these seem to be generally quiet, practical, unassuming Elves not known for possessing a significant driving ambition. They both seem to have accomplished what they felt they needed to do in the role of Phoenix King and then passed from the world peacefully at a convenient time.

I've come across that theory myself - in fact, I have a vague memory of there being something official that suggests it (something about Isha being told that the Elves would eventually grow tired of the world and die - could be interpreted as a poetic way of describing dying of old age, but it may well be something different).

Mind you, this does present the amusing idea of Malekith finally achieving his ambition of conquering Ulthuan...only to die within the year (okay, decade) because the driving force is gone.

Don't Malekith, Morathi and thatoneelfwhosenameescapesme live forever 'cause they ate some shiny apple or some such?

Outdated/fanon/bad source on that one. Can't remember which.

lathian wrote:Outdated/fanon/bad source on that one. Can't remember which.

I know Eldacar has referenced it at some point, so I would assume it's still valid.

Luna Guardian wrote:Don't Malekith, Morathi and thatoneelfwhosenameescapesme live forever 'cause they ate some shiny apple or some such?

Calarions tale iirc.

Prince_Asuryan wrote:

lathian wrote:Outdated/fanon/bad source on that one. Can't remember which.

I know Eldacar has referenced it at some point, so I would assume it's still valid.

It's from 6th edition, written from the perspective of Furion. Whether it's literally true or not is more vague - GW seems to have moved away from the idea and more into it being metaphorical, since we already knew that magic can extend your lifespan. It isn't straight fanon, though, and there aren't many references elsewhere dealing with why Malekith has the lifespan that he does.

I guess being Bad ass is giving more thrill in life so live seem a little more interesting ^^

I'm pretty sure he's alive and he's the one who saved Tyrion at the battle of Tor Dranial. I mean lone and regal fit, the glimmer of silver sounds like the shadow crown and the singing bow has got to be the Moonbow.

I like the Zorro theory best.

I also tend to think Elven Longevity has more to do with the individual at hand rather than any racial capability. Some of these guys are just too magical / gifted to die easy.