Know Your Gods - Hoeth and Asuryan | The Greenskin - Warhammer Online Blog, Videos, Guides, Webcomic & Podcast

Know Your Gods - Hoeth and Asuryan

August 4, 2008 – 11:58 am

Part Seven of Ten - Know Your Gods is an original Warhammer Online lore series by Cicadymn (Sam).

I know what you High Elves are thinking. You’re feeling a little left out of this whole Know Your Gods thing. Sure you got a small mention in Khaine’s article, but that doesn’t really count. Well good news all you posh WARfans; today we’re going to look into the powerful gods of the High Elves. Lets start off by looking into Hoeth. Hoeth is only one of the gods in the Elvish Pantheon, but he plays an important role none-the-less. High Elves are known for their magical prowess and sorcery, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that knowledge and sorcery are Hoeth’s two strong points. Unlike the other gods, Hoeth doesn’t really have an organized set of churches, but rather the White Tower, aka The White Tower of Hoeth or The White Tower of Saphery, is his chosen beacon of holiness. As one would come to expect from the High Elves, it is made out of gleaming white marble and stone and is inlaid with the finest silver and gold the High Elves could create. If one is looking for a career as a Swordmaster or Archmage, then Hoeth is the deity for you. The White Tower is the training ground for the best of the best of both of those classes. Guarded and protected by the lives of the strongest warriors, Hoeth is often pictured as an old elf, clad in the robes of a Loremaster.

However, if you’re looking for a god with a little more firepower then Asuryan is the god for you. Known as the Phoenix King, bearing the same name as the ruler of the High Elves, Asuryan is the greatest and most powerful of all the pantheon of elven gods. If an argument breaks out in heaven, guess who gets the final say? Asuryan. He has influenced the elves so much that High Elves regard themselves as the Asur, while Dark Elves take on the name Druchii, and Wood elves are called Asrai. Asuryan gets the name Phoenix King due to the fact that at any point, he can turn into a great eagle or phoenix. The destiny of the High Elves is in his hands. Asuryan is often pictured as a Elf on a great throne made of Diamond. Draped in a cloak of white feathers, he always wears a mask, half white half black to signify balance and carries with him a mighty scepter. Each Phoenix King of the High Elves is tested by Asuryan himself. They are required to travel to Asuryan’s chief temple on the Isle of Flames in the Inner Sea, North of Lorthern. If the potential Phoenix King isn’t worthy when he steps into the flames of Asuryan he will emerge scarred and mutilated. Those deemed worthy will emerge powerful and glorious having just bathed in the light and power of Asuryan. A well known failure of Asuryan’s test is Malekith. He stepped into Asuryan’s flame even when he was warned against it. He was horrendously scarred and as he was brought back to health by his mother, a few of the first Dark Elves forged him a suit of armor that would give his crippled form new and amazing strength. While it was still hot from the furnace, it was place on Malekith, searing into him and fusing with his flesh. Such agony and pain is all that awaits those that Asuryan deems unworthy of the Throne.

For the High Elv,es Khaine isn’t a major influence. In fact he is seen as brutal and warlike. However, in times of war, High Elves will often look to him, seeing him not as someone to be eternally worshiped, but rather, a part of themselves that they must control. To High Elves, Khaine is a huge angry warrior elf, clad in stunning bronze plate armor which is stained with blood. His long black hair is caked with the blood of anyone who stood in his path. He is pictured as carrying two long serrated blades that will drip blood for all eternity. Khaine isn’t so much worshiped as he is used for power. The only time High Elves deem it proper to openly worship Khaine is right before the start of a battle. Any other time, it is not only unnecessary, but forbidden; fearing that their great city of Ulthuan could become another Naggaroth.

So, if you are looking for a more refined and less brutal god - if you are looking for one who can see into the very depths of your soul and judge your cleanliness - or if you seek a god to grant you untold power on the battlefield or through your spells and swordsmanship, then these gods are your best bet. We’re getting close to the end, so I hope you’ve chosen! If not, you can always wait a little bit longer until the series concludes. Next time we’re going to go over my personal favorite god of the Warhammer Fantasy universe. I hope you’re ready!