THE ELDAR

There are four types or kindred's of Eldar: Craftworld Eldar, Exodites, Harlequins, Outcasts and Dark Eldar.  If a player encounters a single Eldar he or she will most likely belong to only two of these kindreds.  Some information on weapons and armour is also listed.

We are the Eldar, amongst the oldest of the races and perhaps once counted amongst the wisest. But we are ever reminded of our great Folly and even greater Fall. Now we are but few in number and our time left in this galaxy is short. The Age of the Eldar is over, now is the Time of Man, the upstart, the hairy savage.

Craftworld Eldar                                                                        Most Eldar, with the exception of the Exodites, do not live on planets but on huge gigantic spaceships called Craftworlds. They never come into human contact, unless by chance or when fighting them in battle. Only the Outcasts have frequent dealings with other races.

Craftworld Eldar encompass all of contemporary Eldar society: actors, artists, bonesingers, dancers, healers, poets, and the fearsome Aspect Warriors, to name but a few. These people are the true Eldar and epitomise everything one would expect of them. Many are hedonistic, others are arrogant or are just plain ignorant of other races. 

 

Exodites                                                                                                                                       During 'the Fall', the degeneration of the Eldar did not go wholly without resistance. Some, the more far-sighted, began to openly criticise the laxity of their fellow citizens, and to warn against the effect of Chaos cults. These people were mostly ignored or else treated as narrow-minded fools and fanatics. Soon the general collapse of society convinced even the most resolute amongst them that there would be no end to the reign of death and depravity. Some decided to leave the Eldar worlds, and settle new planets free of the creeping corruption. They were the ones still untainted by the touch of Chaos, and by now they were few. These Eldar are known as the Exodites.

 

Harlequins                                                                                                                                      The Harlequins are followers of the strange Eldar god, the Great Harlequin, one of the only two Eldar gods to survive the Fall. The Harlequins are not tied to any particular Craftworld but wander from world to world through the network of inter-spatial tunnels that bind the Craftworlds together. Only they know the whereabouts of the Black Library, for they are the keepers of its terrible secrets about the Fall and the true nature of Chaos.

Harlequins are warrior troubadours whose carefully constructed masques and impressive displays of mime and acrobatics tell the many strange stories of Eldar mythology. They wear exotic multi-coloured costumes, brightly patterned to represent figures from the Eldar myth cycles.

Harlequins are, like the Inquisition, sworn enemies of Chaos. They guard the Black Library, the place where all the Eldar's knowledge of Chaos lies, and only allow those of the Inquisition and the Illuminati to enter, and even then they are only allowed entrance under guard.

The Outcasts                                                                                                                         Sometimes the rigid constraints of the Eldar path are intolerable even for an Eldar to bear; such individuals leave their Craftworlds and become known as Outcasts. Many Eldar spend years or decades as Outcasts before they return to the Eldar path. Outcasts must bear the terrible burden of their heightened Eldar consciousness without the protection of the Eldar path. Only Eldar of especially strong character can survive for long as Outcasts. After years of adventure and wandering, or sailing the seas of space aboard the pirate fleets, most Eldar eventually return to the sanctuary of the Eldar path.

There are many kinds and degrees of Outcast. They leave their Craftworlds and live elsewhere, often wandering the galaxy and visiting the worlds of men or the Exodites. They are not welcome aboard Craftworlds except briefly, for their minds are dangerously unbounded and attract predators from the psychic realms of the warp. Daemons or other warp entities can home in to the mind of an Outcast and lodge in the psycho-supportive environment of the Craftworld's wraithbone core. Outcasts are also disruptive in another sense, for their presence can distract the young and inexperienced from the Eldar path by their romantic tales of travel and freedom.

These Eldar are the realists and are often very tough, sinister, individuals; a complete opposite to the Craftworld Eldar.

 

Dark Eldar                                                                                                                                  Amoung the Eldar there are those who are bloodthirsty and war-hungry in the extreme.  None can say where they come from, but they strike without warning in the depths of space or suddenly appear in orbit over a planet.  They are utterly ruthless, and appear to take a positive delight in the infliction of pain and misery.  Those not killed by their horrendous weapons are made captive and are taken back to whatever wretched den of iniquity serves these pirates as a home.

 

SPECIFIC ELDAR RULES                                                                                                           Outcast Eldars may take w40k Ranger as a preferred class. All Eldar may take PH Psioncist or Psychic Warrior as a character class in addition to the basic classes listed in the T20 Handbook.   All non-Exarchs are considered Guardians.  Only Exodite and Craftworld Eldars may take anyone one of the following Eldar Prestige Classes once they qualify - Howling Banshee Exarch, Striking Scorpion Exarch, Warp Spider Exarch, Fire Dragoon Exarch.