Alith Anar-is he dead?

Lodark · Post by **Lodark** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:27 am

Exactly what the title says. Is there any fluff in the older editions claiming that he died and if so how? Its just that at points in the new book they refer to him as if he's dead.

Mostlyharmless · Post by **Mostlyharmless** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:44 pm

It seems like half of the special characters featured in the army books are dead. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was among them.

Eldacar · Post by **Eldacar** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:35 am

There was a 6th edition piece detailing the opening stages of the invasion of Naggaroth he and Eltharion put together, and it was set in "current" WHFB time (as in, it was during Malekith's ongoing invasion of Ulthuan).

So he's alive and kicking.

Post by **Dalamar** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:26 am

I have a vague recollection of Alith Anar showing up during Sundering, and as we know not many elves are immortal.

Personally I believe Alith Anar is a name each succeeding king of the Shadowlands takes on as a tradition. The original Alith Anar being long dead but the current Alith Anar being much like him (with all the gear passed down)

Sorceress · Post by **Sorceress** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:20 am

I once had a theory that Alith Anar had made a special oath to the intertwine his fate with that of Malekith. For as long as the Witch King lives he will not age a day and live a charmed existence that will see him always aware of Malekith's presence as if he were his actual shadow.

However, when the Witch King dies so too shall he fade from the world.

Drasanil · Post by **Drasanil** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:51 am

Well if you read the book Invasion from BL, the first and last stories are both about Eltharion and Alith Anar's "invasion" of Naggaroth, making him or at least who ever claims to be him still alive.

On an interesting side note the stories make it quite clear that he believes himself to be the true king of the druchii. It also makes it more than clear that Eltharion's "success" in Naggaroth was little more than a ploy by Malekith (the true king of all elves *spits at Alith Anar*) to draw the Asur in to a bloody war of attrition.

Javert · Post by **Javert** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:07 am

Sorceress wrote:I once had a theory that Alith Anar had made a special oath to the intertwine his fate with that of Malekith. For as long as the Witch King lives he will not age a day and live a charmed existence that will see him always aware of Malekith's presence as if he were his actual shadow.

However, when the Witch King dies so too shall he fade from the world.

This would not only be awesome, but make alot of sense as well. Though, knowing GW they've probably made it so each succesive Shadow King is renamed Alith Anar, because they lack ingenuity like this.

It would certainly explain his immortality in a real and awesome way - though there are numerous ways why could be immortal. There are too many people to count in the Warhammer World who are Immortal. While I think that the Malekith's Shadow thing is an awesome idea, I don't know how the magic of it would work, and who would perform such a spell - I believe that Alith Anar has died, but like Sigmar, he is venerated as a kind of God among the Shadow Warriors and thus lives on.

EDIT: Besides, does anyone know what exactly not quite immortal means with Elves? We have no idea how old they can actually live to. Malekith lived to about 2600 or so without any outside interference, and he was still a fierce warrior. Unless there's something that actually says how old Elves live to, Alith Anar could have actually survived normally all this time.

Fingol darkwater · Post by **Fingol darkwater** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:21 pm

We have no idea how old they can actually live to.

Warhammer elves tend to live for about two thousand years. Beyond that they'd need some sort of magical assistance to keep going.

Lodark · Post by **Lodark** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:35 pm

Just found something on the matter in the HE book p.23. It says know one knows what happened to him, but that his heirs now rule the shadow warriors. It also says that he's still talked of as a living spirit, so maybe that's where the confusion comes in.

@Sorceress: I like that idea, but it says on p.23 again that no one would take Alith Anar's throne as a mark or respect or something like that.

Why does all the fluff on him collide and not ake any sense?

Sorceress · Post by **Sorceress** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:19 pm

Well I had my idea back in late 6th edition when I had designs upon making a “Shadow Elves” as a separate/alternate army list.

Anyway, glad some people actually like my idea.

The_vicar · Post by **The_vicar** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:26 am

I like alith anar much to much, love the fluff and think he adds some depth to the dark elves and high elves in equal measure, is he alive, well he follows the same route that the brets wood elf mage follows, i'll be damned bt i can't remember what here name is but yeah that one.

Son of khaine · Post by **Son of khaine** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:03 pm

I'd say he is alive but if he is then I'll kill him!

Vect · Post by **Vect** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:06 am

alith anar was around before the sundering
his father and grandfather fought with malekith against morathi
after that, he got pissed when malekith turned against his grandfather and father so he holds a grudge against malekith for that and also for sinking nagarythe to this day