Tales are told around merchant campfires, in the dead of night when all is still. They sometimes tell of stories of great heroism, and sometimes stories of darkness and destruction. This story is told often by merchants, and it is a tale of woe and treachery.
There was a kindred in the great forest of Athel Loren, that lived close to the Tree of Woe. They therefore took the brunt of many enemy attacks and invasions of Loren. They trained as warriors from an early age and could be counted among the most skilled Elves in Loren.
The leadership of this clan had remained in the hands of one family for the whole of it's existence. One night, the head of the clan had a baby boy, whom he named Kry'el. This was a night that many would wish had never happened.
Kry'el's father died when Kry'el was merely 100 years old. Killed in battle by a marauding horde of Orcs and Goblins. Leaving Kry'el as the head of the kindred.
About fifty years later, an event occurred which was to change the course of Kry'el's life forever. The Dark Elves invaded Loren. The captain of a black ark, Rallyth, sailed his vessel straight up the Grismerie attacking Bretonnian villages and travellers en route. They attacked Gisoreux, but could not capture it, and Rallyth sailed on. An irresistible urge had come over him to continue heading along the river. Some say this desire was planted in his head by Khaela Mensha Khaine himself. He sailed under the bridges surrounding Parravon, before the river became too shallow for the ark to continue, but still Rallyth pressed on, always heading south east. Until finally the Dark Elves arrived at Athel Loren.
Kry'el's kindred was sent to seek and destroy the invaders. He summoned all his clan for the coming battle, as anyone strong enough to carry a sword was trained to use it to deadly effect.
Kry'el's army found the Dark Elves swiftly, and he decided to attack swiftly to gain the element of surprise he therefore did not summon any Dryads or Treemen for the fight. The archers of the kindred were cut down by the massed shots of repeater crossbows. Lacking missile support, Kry'el ordered his troops to charge the Dark Ones. The Wood Elves attacked in a furious melee. Kry'el was caught up in his feelings of hatred towards his dark kindred, and went into a frenzy of death and destruction. The whole kindred were overcome taken by a mad frenzy of killing. They all enjoyed the feeling of fighting, and slaying their foes.
In the centre of the battle Kry'el and Rallyth met face to face. Kry'el screamed his hatred and lunged at the Captain. Rallyth parried and lashed out with his own blade. Kry'el fought back, and disarmed Rallyth with a deft flick of the wrist. There was a lull in the fighting, as both looked into each other's eyes. Then Rallyth said "You fight well; brother!", before the tides of battle swept them apart.
The Dark Elves had taken serious casualties when night fell, and Rallyth signalled the retreat in the darkness. From out of the night something attracted Kry'el's attention, Rallyth's sword gleaming in the shadows. He picked up the sword and was to use it in battle ever after.
Kry'el and his kindred had discovered pleasure in fighting and slaying, and so they took every opportunity to do so. They also abandoned Kurnous and Isha as their primary gods, regarding them as weak. Instead Kry'el discovered Khaine, the Elven god of war and the lord of murder. They killed for the bloody-handed one, and offered sacrifices to his name.
All this activity did not go unnoticed by the loyal Wood Elves. Many a Wood Elf scout found himself on the altar of Khaine, after having seen too much. But eventually the word reached Orion, and he became enraged. Orion then prepared to summon the wild hunt against the kindred of Kry'el.
That night, something told Kry'el that the time had come to leave the forest realm of Athel Loren. Some say this too came from Khaine, others say that he was advised by his sorcereress, Lithar. Whatever the cause, Kry'el and his kindred left the forest that night, and so avoided certain destruction at the wrath of Orion and the wild hunt. It was also that night that they became known as the Arhainii, the Shadow Elves.
After that night, the Shadow Elves wandered around the known world, seeking battle wherever they could. They raided merchant caravans, or lone travellers, and more occasionally they lent their services to the servants of chaos, for the worship of Khaine above all other gods ultimately corrupts the soul.
This lasted for about fifteen years, before Kry'el and his growing clan decided they needed somewhere they could call home to give them somewhere to rest after hard battles. So the search began. Kry'el sent his Night Walkers across the length and breadth of the known world looking for a suitable place to live. Eventually one such place was found, an abandoned fortress in the heart of the Grey Mountains. This fortress had easy access to both sides of the mountains, and yet the trail was hidden from view until you were practically on top of it. Nearby, there was a large forest, that was perfect for hunting, and a river for fishing. The site was perfect, and Kry'el ordered the Arhainii to move in.
Unfortunately, the Arhainii were being watched by a great power from across the World Pond. Lord Mazdamundi had read plaques describing these Elves and decided that they should be stopped from inhabiting the fortress. Using awesome magical powers, Lord Mazdamundi teleported a garrison of Lizardmen into the fortress to hold it against the Arhainii.
A great siege ensued. The Arhainii were tired of their many years of wandering, and were furious to find their fortress occupied by the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen fought valiantly, but the Arhainii fought harder because of their rage towards the usurpers of the fortress. In the end the Lizardmen were beaten, the survivors were placed on the altar of Khaine and sacrificed in his name; their blood consecrating the Shadow Elves' new home.
Kry'el named the Fortress "Shadowkeep", for it is hidden from the world. From here the Arhainii continue their raids on caravans, seeking battle wherever it can be found. The Arhainii have armies all over the Old World fighting for the glory of Khaine and the joy of battle.
All dates are given according to the Imperial calendar.
2140 - Kry'el is born.
2241 - Kry'el's father dies and Kry'el becomes head of his clan.
2288 - Rallyth and his Black Ark invade Loren. Kry'el and his kin defeat them in a pitched battle but are overcome with blood lust and turn to the worship of Khaine.
2299 - The cult of Khaine grows. Several scouts and other Elves are sacrificed to him
after seeing too much.
- Orion discovers the cult and prepares to summon the Wild Hunt but the Shadow Elves as
they became known, leave the forest.
2300 - The Arhainii begin raiding caravans and lone travellers.
2301 - An Arhainii army meets a large Chaos host led by Kaazarr that form part of the Great Chaos incursion. The Chaos army is destroyed after Vanira cuts down the Warlord and takes his Dæmon weapon, Ravager.
2317 - Night Walkers discover a castle in the Grey Mountains and the Arhainii prepare to move in only to discover that the Lizardmen have got there first.
2318 -After a long siege the Arhainii defeat the Lizardmen and capture the castle. It is named Shadowkeep. Raids continue across the length and breadth of the Old World.
2450 -A Brettonian war party fighting as part of the Errantry wars are ambushed and destroyed by the Arhainii - just for the fun of it!
2487 -Shadow Elves raid and loot many High Elf caravans before they are caught in a trap and destroyed.
2506 -An Empire army vanishes without a trace near the Grey Mountains. The Arhainii suddenly and mysteriously renew their supply of gunpowder weapons.
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