#caliran

I’m going to tackle my 15 dire-avengers update differently : what if I thought of them as three 5-elf squads, which they are?

Now I got one down!

Really a less than stellar job on those but knowing these guys’ paint job initially  looked like this down-here appended image, I’ll consider it a good save.

@jakey-beefed-it

You’ll actually get a duo. Ambassador in greeting pose followed by a civil government guardian carrying the ambassador’s bag and a gift for Farseer Meshadi Siamun Ar-Baharran.

Syviis Kelrandri

Princess-Commander of War Fleet “Reaver” DoB // BP : ca 500.M41 / Orrciryârta Tirishennin

—

(Part I) The announcement.

Anger roused through the noble bachelors present in the Great Hall of the Virtuous when Lady Elasha Vashti Balamaethor (Tetrarch of the One Realm, Archoness of the Kabal of the Bloodied Sea, Princess-Heiress of House Balamaethor) announced her betrothal to a yet unnamed party during a banquet given in the honour of the decadal return of Forager Fleet and its brave warriors.

Standing up, shouting their indignation, denouncing the lack of public consultation and the formal proposals a person of her stature should have put themselves through. When she could utter the name of her love over the ongoing ruckus, the Hall stood silent.

Faelon Dirhaël, who had been sitting beside Elasha the whole evening, was a member of a minor house of Craftworld-nobility. He had been known chiefly for being among the youngest Farseers of the Realm. He had recently been thrown under the light of fame for his century-long mission as the adviser of Prince-Commander Tarron Anastari, the ruthless and feared-among-Eldar autocrat of Forager Fleet.

Already before Faelon’s departure from Caliran at the end of M41, word through the grapevine suggested the young Farseer was being groomed to become the next Archseer. What was but a rumour back then was self evident today, though none would openly speak about it.

Most men who had elected to stand up, regained their seats and held their cup towards Elasha and Faelon, a mark of respect, approval, and an overt wish of good health. A handful of bold young lords however, didn’t see reason and defiantly occupied the court area of the Hall.

“I challenge you, Seer!” The most daring shouted.

“You are out of line, whoever you think you are” said Elasha, coldly, genuinely not knowing what clan the would-be-suitor could stem from. “Regain your senses now or I will turn the remainder of your sad little existence into a living agony of shame and indigence”. She spat the words with furious umbrage.

Faelon stood up calmly. The nobility of his soul shone through his bearing. “It doesn’t need to come to that” he said softly as he touched the small of her back lightly. He smilled down towards the challengers. “Let it be known that I am always willing to indulge anyone’s deathwish”. The amiability of his tone yet managed to convey his cold, unwavering confidence. It sent a chill arcing through the audience.

The leader of the pack of suitors who had reached for the grip of his blade, now hesitated. At this moment, a wheezing mechanical noise made itself heard. All heads would turn towards the entrance of the Hall, opposite to the head table.

Prince-Commander Anastari stepped from behind a pillar and into the light, slowly clapping with his remaining hand onto his prosthetic palm. The Prince’s voice-synthesizer soon hummed to life. “Long live Elasha and Faelon!” the ominous synthetic voice proclaimed. The Prince speaking publicly sent the wave of stupefaction flowing back through the crowd towards the head table.

The Prince walked calmly towards the group of agitated men.

“Young one, although your untimely passing would entertain me greatly, this is not the place nor the occasion to let yourself be shattered apart by one of the most dangerous Seers of the Empire”. He said, amicably. “Besides, having fought alongside the man, let me assure you : even I wouldn’t be foolish enough challenge the Farseer. Even if he agreed to a duel relying solely on one’s bladework”.

Tarron scoffed as he put a cup into the young noble’s hands and told him to drink to the health of the betrotheds. “Take the hit to your pride and live on” he said. The leader, almost shaking, rose his cup, held it high towards the couple for all to see, then drank its contents and sat down.

The others followed without a word.  

The evening went on without any further incident. Prince Anastari even graced the Archseer and the Archoness with a short conversation before leaving at the arm of his wife Nimwë.

The Eldar of Caliran grew in bodily form slower than Men, but in mind more swiftly. They learned to speak before they were one standard year old; and in the same time they learned to walk and to dance, for their wills came soon to the mastery of their bodies.

Nonetheless there was less difference between the two species in early youth, for in their early days Eldar-children delighted still in the world about them, and the fire of their spirit had not consumed them, and the burden of memory was still light upon them.

At the end of the fourth year, humanity’s children began to outstrip the Calirani progeny, hastening on to a full stature while the Eldar lingered in the first spring of childhood. Children of Men might reach their full height while Eldar of the same age were still in body like to mortals of no more than ten years (yet the Eldar-child would have more knowledge and skill). Not until the thirtieth year did the Eldar attain the stature and shape in which their lives would afterwards endure, and for some, sixty years would pass before they were full-grown.