Malekith

All hail the Eternity King

Malekith (pronounced either as "Mah-leh-kith" or "May-leh-kith") is the supreme ruler of the Druchii (or Dark Elves) of Naggaroth. He is also Known as 'The Witch King of Naggaroth', or just simply The Witch King. He used to live and lie with his mom, until the End times.

Biography

He was the son of the first Phoenix King Aenarion (Who was by all accounts an incredibly violent and vengeful hothead) and the Sorceress Morathi (who is secretly a worshipper of Slaanesh). When Aenarion died after defeating the Forces of Chaos who had invaded Ulthuan, The Princes of Ulthuan were deciding who would be the new Phoenix King. Though Malekith was the likely choice, they instead chose a Prince named Bel Shanaar. Malekith appeared to take this easily.

He then opted to seek fame and glory outside of Ulthuan, and made an expedition to the Old World. His first spark of fame came when he defended a High Elf colony from Orcs. He also made friendships with the Dwarves, and established a trading agreement with them. Over the course of a few years, he became very popular with the Old World colonies.Though of course, this was just not enough. So he decided to explore further north where he found a magic circlet from ancient ruins (which boosted his power).

When he heard that the Cult of Pleasure was resurfacing in Ulthuan, he found this as a chance to increase his influence. He was then given command of Ulthuans armies and decimated many of the Cultists. Though in one of his assaults, he discovered that (surprise surprise) his own mother was the leader of the Cult. When he took his mother into custody, the Princes demanded her death. Malekith (who struck a bargain with Morathi) convinced the Princes to keep her imprisoned instead (which was a huge mistake).

When the time was right, he poisoned Bel Shanaar and massacred the majority of the princes gathered in the Shrine of Asuryan. Wanting to prove himself as the rightful ruler of Ulthuan, he stepped into the Flames of Asuryan. Malekith realised too late that stepping into the flames wasn't such a good idea when it horrifically burned his flesh. His followers quickly escaped with his charred body and brought him to his mother, who saved him from death. Morathi commissioned a renegade priest of Vaul to make his iconic armor, The Armor of Midnight which was fused into his flesh.

Civil war then erupted between Malekith and the newly crowned Phoenix King Caledor. When Malekith was losing, he ordered his Sorcerers to recreate the spell that Caledor Dragontamer conjured years ago. It backfired. Instead, it nearly sank the province of Nagarythe. malekith raised the city sized ships known as the Black Arks and fled to the New World with his followers (the newly named Dark Elves). He then founded a new kingdom, which he called Naggaroth, where he rules with an Iron Fist.

Recent History

He is constantly invading Ulthuan in hopes of reclaiming what he thinks is his Birthright as Phoenix king. Though he has not succeeded yet. He had forbidden males into becoming sorcerers out of fear of a prophecy which stated that he will be killed by a male sorcerer. His Mother is secretly plotting to overthrow him - he, in turn, wants to kill her when he thinks he can get away with it.

Despite it being several millennia after he was horribly burned, he still feels the pain of Asuryan's Flame. Although this doesn't bother him much, he still spends much time in his freezing throne room where the chilled atmosphere gives him some relief of the pain.

During a sorcerous fight with Teclis, Teclis threw him into the Chaos Wastes (aka the Warp)but he was able to walk out of it after some time. This changed his personality into a calmer and more sinister one.

• His title is apparently a rip-off of the Witch King from the Lord of the Rings.
• Sports the name of Thor villain Malekith the Accursed, who too is a Dark Elf king, and they both seen light in the same year, few months apart. (the questions like "who stole from whom?" and "whether they are the same person and the universes are connected?" are better left unasked)
• Yet another charred villain who needs an armoured suit to survive, what's next? Darth Malekith?
• He is an equal prick like Asdrubael Vect. The War of the Beard? He started it. He also tricked a group of rebel Druchii Lords into drinking poison and poured the last bottle of antidote on his dick. Go figure the rest yourself.
• He dismisses that he actually appeared on the horrible Warhammer Online game.

The End Times AKA Present

A large number of things happened in The End Times, but the most notable is that he left for Ulthuan in a last-effort ditch to conquer it... and he did it. All hail Phoenix Eternity King Malekith I. This effectively means that he no longer lives with his mom.

Of note, apparently Asuryan always intended for him to be Phoenix King in the first place. Had he stayed in the fire for just a second longer, he would have made it. This also had the added effect of Asuryan slowly driving the successive line of Phoenix Kings (who were protected from the flames by other mages) insane in due time. All the crap that happened as a result (the Sundering, Naggaroth and everything else) was just an overly elaborate test on the part of the gods to determine if he was worthy. They're assholes like that.

During the final battle between Malekith and Tyrion (who had drawn the Sword of Khaine, and became his avatar), Teclis destroyed the vortex that kept Ulthuan from sinking, and was to give his allies each the power of one of the Winds of Magic. Malekith was accidentally given the Wind of Ulgu (Shadow). Malekith emerges victorious, leaving Tyrion killed, and throws the Sword to the bottom of the ocean. Afterwards, The Druchii and Asur migrate to Athel Loren and Malekith becomes king of all Elf kind. He also marries Alarielle, Everqueen of the High Elves, or Wood Elves. How they will consummate the marriage with his armour though is tbd. This is also doubly ironic considering his past history with her and the fact that both she and Tyrion were lovers. Apart from losing Naggaroth and Ulthuan, Alith Anar being ready to kill him at the first sign of trouble and the knowledge he's getting Tyrion's sloppy seconds with Alarielle, Malekith wins and now goes about saying "LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL I WIN SUCKERS !"

On The Tabletop

With The End Times: Khaine now out, Malekith has three sets of rules for 8e; his original self from the Dark Elves army book, his incarnation as the Phoenix King, and his ultimate incarnation as the Eternity King.

Malekith the Witch King

This is the original Malekith, for which you pay 510 points.

His statline is quite impressive; Movement 5, Weapon Skill 8, Ballistic Skill 7, Strength 5, Toughness 4, Wounds 3, Initiative 8, Attacks 4 and Leadership 10. He's also a level 4 caster who uses the Lore of Dark Magic.

He sports the rules Always Strikes First, Eternal Hatred, Fear, Hekarti's Blessing, Immune to Psychology, Murderous Prowess, and a unique rule of his own: Absolute Power means he must be the army's general and his Inspiring Presence is 18" (24" if he's riding Seraphon).

He wields:

• The Destroyer - Magic Weapon that forces enemy models to reveal what magical stuff they are carrying, and forces a D6 to be rolled each time a model with magic takes a hit; on a 4+, they lose a random magic item or a random spell (if a Wizard).
• The Armor of Midnight - Magic Armor that gives a 5+ armor save, a 2+ ward save against any non-magical attacks, and which negates the Killing Blow and Multiple Wound effects.
• Supreme Spellshield - Magic Shield that grants Magic Resistance 2 and inflicts D6 Strength 6 hits on the caster (and their unit, if any) of any spell that is dispelled by Malekith's Magic Resistance.
• Circlet of Iron - Arcane Item that lets Malekith add a single bonus dice to any of his failed casting or dispel attempts once per Magic phase.

Malekith can also be mounted on a Cold One for +25 points, a Cold One Chariot (replacing both crew) for +110 points, or on Seraphon (Black Dragon with +1 WS and +1 Attack) for +300 points.

Malekith the Phoenix King

This version of Malekith rides Seraphon and has a combined profile; Movement 6, Weapon Skill 8, Ballistic Skill 7, Strength 6, Toughness 6, Wounds 9, Initiative 8, Attacks 10 and Leadership 10. He's also a level 4 caster who uses the Lores of Fire and Dark Magic.

He trades Murderous Prowess for Martial Prowess and acquires a new special rule, The Phoenix King, which lets all friendly units within 12" make supporting attacks with one extra rank than normal (stacks with any other special rules that let them do the same).

He also trades the Destroyer and the Supreme Spellshield for Asuryath (Multiple Wounds D3 and Flaming Attacks).

This version of Malekith costs 825 points.

Malekith the Eternity King

For a whopping 1000 points, this ultimate version of Malekith makes the following changes to the Phoenix King version:

• +1 Wound.
• Has both Murderous Prowess and Martial Prowess.
• Is a level 5 Wizard who knows every spell in the Lore of Shadow.
• Trades The Phoenix King for The Eternity King (as Phoenix King, but Murderous Prowess units within 12", and Malekith himself, reroll all failed To Wound rolls in close combat).
• Gains the Shadow Sorcerer (may re-roll the result of miscasts but second result stands) rule.
• Gains the Incarnate of Shadow special rule (Malekith or a friendly unit within 12" can, at the start of the Remaining Moves subphase, gain Ethereal until the end of that sub-phase and can immediately move up to 20").
• Upgrades Asuryath to Asuryath Reforged (Multiple Wounds D3+1).