Saphery (faction) is a High Elves faction
in Total War: Warhammer II.
Saphery is one of the Inner Kingdoms of
Ulthuan, located to the southeast of the Sea of Dreams. The Kingdom of Saphery
is an enchanted land, with skies that shine with all the colours of the
rainbow, hills that move by night and warm rivers that glow with gentle light.
Magic courses through the blood of Sapherian Elves, and all of the realm's
princes are also mages of awesome power. They are reclusive and idiosyncratic,
dwelling in exquisite mansions far from other outposts of civilisation. Each
noble's home has its own character that reflects the interests and magical
research of its patron.
The palace of Anurion the Green is
surrounded by terraced gardens containing many strange and exotic plants, with
some carnivorous, some sentient, some both. Much of his collection is not even
of this world. By contrast, the mansion of Hothar the Fey drifts gently across
the sky, never greeting the dawn twice in the same location. Though Sapherian
princes are thought eccentric even by other High Elves, their independence and
intellect have ever been highly valued by the Phoenix Kings. Predictability,
after all, can sometimes be a weakness.
The heart of Saphery is the Tower of Hoeth,
the Elven god of wisdom. This is the greatest repository of magical knowledge
in the world, complied down the centuries by High Elf Mages and scholars who
dedicated their lives to the accumulation of magical lore. This bone white
structure is almost half a mile high, a feat of engineering made possible only
by magic. Its approaches are guarded by rings of illusion, and mazes of spells
ensure that only those selected by the Loremasters of Hoeth ever find the true
path. Those who seek wisdom here will find it. Those who seek power for power's
sake are never seen again.
Saphery is a sparsely populated land. The
nobility study the arts of magic and many choose to fight in battle as wizards.
From all over Ulthuan determined young Elves also come to Saphery in the hope
of being accepted in the Order of Swordmasters. These elite warriors are
trained by the Loremasters in the most ancient and arcane of martial arts.
Their distinctive weapon is the double-handed broadsword, a massive weapon they
wield as easily as an ordinary Elf might brandish a knife or dagger.
Trivia
In Defenders of Ulthuan, Saphery is shown
as having rivers so clear that the water seems almost invisible. Even when the
sun is high in the sky, casting a pleasant warmth over the land, shining mists
occasionally rise from the ground, gathering into miniature tornadoes that
sweep across the landscape. They leave no damage in their wake, instead a
glistening trail of moisture and 'crystal laughter'.
Saphery is the native home of Uleishi.
Herds of magical beasts can be seen on the
horizon with every turn of the head.
As one crosses one of the wide, shallow
rivers that wind sedately from the Annulii Mountains to the Inner Sea, one
might catch the sound of commotion upstream and spot a host of translucent,
blue skinned nymphs with hair of foaming spume cavorting through the water,
splashing and teasing one another. Said-nymphs will disappear beneath the water
if they sense being watched, racing downstream towards observers to reveal
giggling features alive with amorous mischief.
In addition to what's already been noted,
one may see any number of incredible sights: a flying castle in the sky,
swirling troupes of wind-borne dancers, spectral dragons riding on streamers of
light. If one walks along the lines of power in Saphery, one might even see
ghostly processions of the dead, their spirits fading from view as they seem
oblivious to the living. Yet the Asur believe that were Saphery attacked, these
spirits would fight against any threat to Ulthuan and its waystones as surely
as they had in life.
Official Name: Kingdom of Saphery
Ruler: High Loremaster Teclis
Government: Oligarchic Council
Capital: Tor Hoeth
Chartered Towns: Tor Finu, Port Elistor
Major Exports: Agriculture, Wine, Jewelry,
Ores, Timber
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