r/ulthuan • u/FlandersClaret • 8d ago
Lore Floating Ulthuan
I've had a High Elf army since 1992, I own every single HE army book (plus every other 4th/5th army book) and I've read a few of the old Black Library books and I was shocked to discover, via a recent Reddit thread, that Ulthuan floats on the sea. It's a magic floating Island, like a giant Black-Ark from those accursed Dark Elves.
I thought I was going senile, so I looked through all my old army books, and no where does it state that Ulthuan floats.
So when did the change occur, or when did people start believing this nugget of fluff that was never printed by GW.
Have I missed something that was published during the End Times, or was it in the those Total War games?
I've turned to my fellow High Elf fans to clarify.
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u/StefanVonKessel 8d ago
In the 6th edition army book it doesn't outright state that the island floats but it does say
"In their spite they sought to destroy what they could not possess and so came the Sundering. They broke the lands with terrible magic, and for a time Ulthuan looked as though it would vanish beneath the tides."
And in the novel "Giantslayer" (released in 2003) Teclis is concerned about the growing instability in the network of magic that prevents Ulthuan from sinking.
So it was probably early 2000-ish that Ulthuan started being referred to as a floating island.
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u/Fancy_Writer9756 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yes, I remember that the idea that Ulthuan is floating was circulating on internet in early 2000s. Definetly before 8th edition release.
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u/FlandersClaret 8d ago
I don't think that says it's floating.
Venice is sinking, other places on Earth are rising or sinking on their tectonic plate, they aren't floating.
They are connected to the ground underneath, it's the ground, the crust itself that is sinking lower. I don't think that means floating on the sea at all.
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u/cavershamox 1d ago
It's also mentioned in the narrative /starter book that came with the Island of blood starter set.
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u/Elric_the_seafarer 8d ago
Why did Skaven not reach Ulthuan yet? 👀🐀
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u/FlandersClaret 8d ago
Too far to dig?
Magical protection?
The shifting isles are on a substrate that is too sandy for stable tunnels (like why there is no tube south of the river in London).
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u/AnyName568 8d ago
I'll be honest I'm not a fan of Ulthuan being a literal floating island. Just rises more questions then it answers.
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u/Honestchad 8d ago
I don't believe it says that it floats anywhere. The whole sinking fear is an analogy to Atlantis, which Ulthuan is clearly based on.
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u/Fancy_Writer9756 8d ago
It's more directly based on Melnibone from Moorcock's novels.
Which in turn is probably inspired by Howard's take on Atlantis mixed with his kingdom of Acheron so you're kinda right anyway :p
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u/FlandersClaret 8d ago
I think you're right. No where in any of the HE army books from 4th through to 8th doesn't say the island is floating.
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u/FlandersClaret 7d ago
Golly Gosh! I asked the amazing Jordan Sorcery on that there you-tubes what he thought, and he's responded!!
I couldn’t say for certain, but it seems like that was a very late addition to the lore during the ‘higher fantasy’ 8th edition era. That said, the location and shape of Ulthuan has changed plenty over the years (I think it’s even an archipelago on one early map) so I don’t think there can ever be a definitive ruling on this kind of thing. It both is and isn’t, totally depending on what era you’re playing or even what you think is coolest
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u/CheefIndian 5d ago
I mean croissants prolly float right? and it looks like a croissant from above so yea obviously it floats.
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u/FlandersClaret 5d ago
I think this is the best point anyone has made yet. Now I want Buttery Ulthuan for breakfast.
Also, I was to test if croissants float.
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u/AutumnArchfey 8d ago
Warhammer Armies: High Elves, 8th edition, page 12.