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"So it was that I found myself in the employ of the Prince of Remas and at my side stood the Elf Lord Asarnil and his Dragon mount, Deathfang. Asarnil told me that ‘Deathfang’ was but a crude translation of the Dragon’s real name. Maybe so, but it was certainly an apt description. I’ve lost track of the number of foes I’ve seen him rout or destroy with his fiery breath, to say nothing of his fangs and talons. Deathfang is larger than a townhouse, more solid than a fortress. I once saw a cannonball glance off his hide. But what surprised me the most about him was that he had a sense of humour. In a battle with some black and yellow-clad Greenskins that the lads call ‘Night Goblins’ one of their ball and chain wielding maniacs almost slammed into our lines. Just before he reached us, Deathfang swept by, grabbed the little shrieking runt by the scruff of his neck, and lobbed him back into his own lines. The resulting anarchy sent Goblins running screaming in all directions. From the air I heard this giant repeating ‘hruff-hruff’ sound and I realised Deathfang was laughing as he watched them scatter. So did the Goblins. A Dragon’s amused contempt pretty much broke them and they all fled."

—Sergeant Uhler Carroburg, War Dog.[2a]

Asarnil the Dragonlord is a famous High Elven mercenary who hailed from the mist-shrouded lands of far-off Ulthuan. A former prince of the Kingdom of Caledor, Asarnil is now famous throughout the Old World as a powerful and mighty warrior riding atop his terrifying Dragon.[1a]

Alongside his Dragon Deathfang, Asarnil would eventually lose his inheritance and domain after disobeying the orders of the Phoenix King. Following his exile, he left Ulthuan and travelled towards the lands of Tilea, where he served as a mercenary-for-hire to the Merchant Princes of Remas.[1a]

Ever since, Asarnil has carved a new domain for himself as a powerful warrior with an expensive fee, even if he despises mere money, an unfortunate affliction for a mercenary. With his mighty skills in combat and the strength and courage of his loyal companion, Asarnil has won victory after victory, and soon he hopes to return to the lands of his birth and start life anew.[1a]

History[]

"Victory was finally within our grasp. Then, without warning, a vast green Dragon fell from the skies to bar our way. Its teeth were like scythes, bilious green fumes leaked from its nostrils, and on its back rode a proud warrior. This was the first we saw of Asarnil..."

—Extract from "The Glorious adventures of Gunter Friesheim".[1a]

The legend of Asarnil the Dragonlord is known throughout his homeland of Ulthuan. Asarnil was the son of Aserion, a High Elven hero who is said to have fought a thousand battles. From his earliest years, Asarnil was brought up in the martial traditions of Caledor. He became a great warrior and one of the few Elves still able to rouse the Dragons who slept beneath the Dragonspine Mountains of northern Caledor. His companion, Deathfang, was one of the greatest Dragons that the princes of Caledor could still wake from their deep slumber. Together they were all but invincible, and their fame reached far beyond the boundaries of Caledor. During the Great War Against Chaos, Asarnil fought with distinction alongside his fellow Dragon Princes. Asarnil commanded them in battle, and it was because of him that Caledor was not overrun during those dark times.[1a]

After the Battle of Finuval Plain, Asarnil was ordered to link up with the High Elven forces marching from the Lothern. Once the Dragon Princes arrived, the combined forces of Lothern and Caledor was able to destroy the last major Dark Elven invasion force still left within Ulthuan. But before Asarnil could fly to the Phoenix King's aid, word came that Caledor itself was under attack. Under the command of Asarnil, an entire flight of Dragonriders sped back through the skies to protect their homeland. In a brilliant assault, the Dragonriders of Caledor swept the Dark Elves to the sea, and Caledor was saved from conquest.[1a][3a]

Triumphant, Asarnil headed back towards the rendezvous with the Phoenix King, confident that great rewards and honour awaited him upon his arrival. Yet, upon hearing that his orders had been disobeyed, Phoenix King Finubar became enraged. If his troops had come under attack without the support of the Dragon Princes, they would have faced total destruction. When Asarnil and his fellow Dragonriders arrived at the Phoenix King's camp, no parade awaited them. Instead, Asarnil was summoned before the Phoenix King to account for his actions. Enraged that the Phoenix King would accuse him of betrayal after saving his homeland from destruction, Asarnil swore that he was no longer a subject of the crown of Ulthuan. The response from Finubar the Seafarer was quick and harsh. Asarnil was to be stripped of his title and lands and banished from Ulthuan, unless he would face the Phoenix King's justice and accept his punishment.[1a]

Prideful to the last, Asarnil declined. Asarnil was now a prince without a domain, a High Elven lord in exile. He gathered his weapons and armour, mounted Deathfang, and left the blessed island of Ulthuan behind. Asarnil headed towards the old ruins of an Elf city in the south of the Old World, where he found that Men now inhabited the land. His Dragon descended upon the city-state of Remas in the lands of Tilea, much to the dismay of the citizenry.[1a]

However, the Prince of Remas soon realised that such a mighty ally would give Remas the advantage it needed in its war against the other principalities of Tilea, and he immediately hired the services of Asarnil for the war the city of Remas was waging against its rival city-state of Miragliano. With the help of Asarnil and the awesome might of Deathfang, Remas decisively defeated their rivals and brought the war to a successful conclusion. Indeed, such was the terror inspired by Deathfang that most of the soldiers of Miragliano threw down their arms and fled from the field without a battle.[1a]

In the naval battle of the Siren's Rocks, Asarnil and Deathfang destroyed Miragliano's entire fleet, and ended the city's supremacy at sea. Since those days, the proud banner of Asarnil has flown over countless battlefields throughout the Old World. Only the greatest princes can afford the exorbitant fee of the Dragonlord, but a general calling upon Asarnil is almost guaranteed to be victorious. In his heart of hearts, Asarnil still dreams of returning to Caledor in triumph with the riches he has won, but for now his lance and sword are still up for hire.[1a]

The Dragonlords[]

Such is Asarnil's fame that other exiled Dragon Princes, known as the "Dragonlords," now fight alongside him. The demand for their services and their prowess in battle is such that an employer will usually only hire a single member of the company to fight with their army. Often simply the rumour of one of these deadly warriors serving amongst the enemy's ranks is enough to secure the surrender of the foe.[3a]

Wargear[]

Attired in all the splendour of the High Elven Dragon Princes of old, Asarnil and his Dragon are a truly magnificent sight on the battlefield. Glittering ithilmar armour and shining gems combined with the sheer presence of the Great Dragon Deathfang are unforgettable -- if one survives to tell the tale.[1a]

  • Amulet of Dragonheart - This amulet was one of the potent artefacts made by Caledor Dragontamer for the Elven Dragon Princes. It is said that the gleaming gem hanging from Asarnil's neck is a stone found in the heart of a mountain, blessed by Caledor Dragontamer himself. The dazzling light of the Amulet of Dragonheart can make the shape of Asarnil and his Dragon appear blurry and disorientated, as if glancing through a haze, making both far harder to accurately target.[1a]
  • Deathfang (Thalui-Sethai) - Deathfang is the great Green Dragon ridden by Asarnil, also known as Thalui-Sethai ("Vengeance from the Sky") in Eltharin.[1a][5a]

Miniatures[]

Canon Conflict[]

The German edition of Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition) reports the Elven name of Deathfang as Thalui-Sethai, while other editions don't specify that and refer to the Dragon just with the Human translation of his name.[1a][5a]

Sources[]

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