View source for Black Library of Chaos

{{redirect|Black Library|the publishing subsidiary of [[Games Workshop]]|Black Library (BL Publishing)}}
{{HarlequinsPortal}}
[[Image:Endymtorblacklibraryguardians.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Guardian-Scribes]] of the Black Library{{Fn|3}}]]
The '''Black Library of Chaos''' (also known as just the '''Black Library''') is the [[Eldar]]'s repository of forbidden lore.{{Fn|1}} Knowledge of the library's existence is known to few and even fewer are allowed entry.{{Fn|1}} The passages to the Black Library are guarded by [[Harlequin]]s, who come and go as needed from the library{{fn|9}} although their [[Solitaire]]s may come and go as they wish.{{Fn|1}} Entrance to the library{{Fn|11}} is guarded by the [[Guardian-Scribes]]{{Fn|1}} – said to be themselves the most terrible of all perils in the [[Webway]],{{fn|14}} and its records maintained by the [[White Seer]]s.{{Fn|7b}}

==Library Contents==
Within the Black Library of Chaos are collected tomes and writings describing the Eldar's studies of the [[warp]]. These collected tomes, books, and codicies describe all aspects of Chaos: its blandishments, influences, forms, creatures, perils, promises and horrors.{{Fn|1}} Within psychically-locked rooms are countless black tomes of [[Daemon]] summoning, grimoires of magic, and records on countless [[Chaos Cult]]s throughout the galaxy,{{Fn|14}} and thousands of dark and secret volumes of malignant power.{{Fn|18}} The library contains not just Eldar knowledge of Chaos; any knowledge of Chaos is taken and kept within the Library,{{Fn|1}} such as a copy of the [[Book of Magnus]].{{Fn|13}}

Though most often mentioned in relation to its collection of chaotic lore, the Library contains other mysteries as well. It is said that knowledge of the fate of [[Arhra]], the fallen [[Phoenix Lord]], is contained within the vast archives of the Black Library, as is the nature of ancient "[[C'tan|Star Gods]]".{{Fn|5b}} 

Works known to be in the collection include:
*[[Atlas Infernal]]
*[[Book of Mournful Night]]{{fn|15}}
*[[Book of Rhana Dandra]]{{Fn|12}}
*[[Cries of Isha]]{{Fn|9}}
*[[Crystal Tome of Cegorach]]{{Fn|5e}}
*[[Book of Magnus]]{{Fn|13}} (copy){{Fn|8}}
*[[Daemonicus Totalus]] (copy){{Fn|8}}
*[[Stern Codex]]{{Fn|6}}

===Rumoured Contents===
*The [[True Name]] of the [[Emperor of Mankind]]{{Fn|6}} (possible location)

==Location==
[[File:BlackLibraryTheLordOfDamnation.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kyganil]] shows [[Ephrael Stern]] the beginnings of the path through the [[Webway]] to the Black Library{{Fn|19}}]]
While the Black Library exists wholly within the [[Webway]]{{Fn|5a}} within the [[Warp]],{{Fn|11}} echoes of the Black Library persist within the [[materium]]. Some time after the opening of the [[Great Rift]], the last of these traces in realspace were located at the western fringes of the [[Ghoul Stars]], within a triangle formed by the [[Grand Shrine of Asuryan]] and the [[Exodite world]]s of [[Syph]] and [[Quilan]].{{Fn|5a}}

The Black Library may be accessed in several ways, including the labyrinthian paths of [[Webway Gate]]s guarded by the [[Harlequin]]s, such as those detailed within the [[Tome of Karebennian]]{{Fn|10a}}{{Fn|16a}} (which intentionally lead to an ambush on [[Arcadia]]){{Fn|16b}} and through the more flamboyant path known as the [[Endless Stair]] or '''Neverending Stair'''{{Fn|7a}}, a coiling vortex of silver runes through which the [[White Seer]]s and their engines translocate to any [[Webway Portal]] within the [[Webway]].{{Fn|17}} However, every passage to the Black Library is triple-guarded by the [[Harlequin]] [[Solitaire]]s and [[Guardian-Scribe]]s.{{Fn|18}}

==Construction==
The Black Library is often described as a ''"Dark [[Craftworld]]"''.{{Fn|9}} While this is true in the sense that it is an [[Artificial World]] of [[Wraithbone]] construction,{{Fn|11}} it is no mere ship or lost city.{{Fn|11}} Just as the webway is a labyrinth of psychoactive tunnels that shift and change, as if each visit is a visit anew,{{Fn|9}} so does the structure of the Library – it is a labyrinth within a labyrinth.{{Fn|9}} The Library's mind defends itself, barring the weak and corruptible.{{Fn|1}}

==History==
===Ancient History===
The exact origin of the library is unclear, stories within its shelves name the [[Old Ones]],{{Fn|9}} the ancient [[Aeldari]],{{fn|9}} and the [[Eldar Mythology|Eldar Gods]].{{Fn|9}} [[Cegorach]] is closely associated with the library, and may be it's creator, although for what purposes the Laughing God would build such a repository can only be guessed.{{Fn|2}}

===Fall of the Eldar===
Much of the [[Eldar]]'s ancient knowledge was lost during the [[Fall of the Eldar]], with the [[Craftworld]]s being the rare exception and as they have drifted apart, this knowledge has consequently become fragmented – yet more lost each time a Craftworld has been lost over the millennia.{{Fn|1}} 

The Library is the only source of the Eldar's knowledge concerning [[Chaos]] that has remained untouched.{{Fn|1}} Since the fall, the [[Guardian-Scribes]] have begun to collate and transcribe the Black Library's knowledge of [[Chaos]] to disseminate it among the [[Aeldari]].{{Fn|1}}

[[Ahriman]] of the [[Thousand Sons]] has sought entrance to the Library for nearly ten thousand years, in his vain attempt to understand the ever changing [[Tzeentch]], Lord of Change.{{Fn|9}}

===Recent History===
In [[M41]],  Inquisitor Bronislaw Czevak was granted entry once he had proven himself worthy to the Black Council.{{Fn|10}}

[[Inquisitor]] [[Jaq Draco]] followed the [[Emperor's Tarot]] and found a way into the Black Library from which he stole the ''Book of the [[Rhana Dandra]]''.{{Fn|12}}

====Invasion====
In 998.[[M41]], shortly before [[Abaddon the Despoiler]]'s [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]], [[Ahriman]] led his warband of [[Thousand Sons]] into the Webway in an effort to finally claim the Black Library. Engaging in furious battles with the [[Harlequin]]s and the [[Craftworld]]s of [[Ulthwé]] and [[Lugganath]], Ahriman advanced to within sight of the Library itself. However, several major arteries of the Webway were choked with the dead before the Chaos Marines were driven from the secret paths leading to the Library. The breach caused by the rampaging [[Sorcerer]]s was sealed. As a result, a section of the Webway was lost forever.{{Fn|4}}

===Opening of the Great Rift===
Shortly before the [[Dathedian|Great Rift]]{{fn|5e}} the last lock on the [[Crystal Tome of Cegorach|Crystal Tome]],{{Fn|5d}} which has rested upon an obsidian plinth at the heart of the Black Library since the [[Fall of the Eldar]], opened – revealed within were writings said to have been written by [[Cegorach]] itself, telling of a final act that changed utterly the tale of the [[Fall of the Eldar]] telling of Cegorach's ultimate jest which would trick Slaanesh into expending all of her energies to save the Eldar instead of destroying them.{{fn|5c}}

Even hidden in the [[Webway]] the Black Library was not immune to the turmoil caused by the [[Great Rift]], which caused a section of the Library to fall into the [[Warp]] completely. Now in the clutches of [[Slaanesh|She who Thirsts]], that portion of the library is tainted forever and beyond the reach or ability of even the [[White Seer]]s to cleanse.{{Fn|7b}}

==Black Council==
The Black Council serves in an advisory role to the [[Guardian-Scribes]] of the Black Library, the race's greatest [[Farseers]] drawn from several [[Craftworld]]s.{{Fn|10}} 
*[[Eldrad Ulthran]] of [[Ulthwé]],{{Fn|10}} in absentia
*[[Eiladar Ys]] of the [[Lugganath]]{{Fn|10}}
*[[Ffaid Karhedra]] of [[Eyslk-Tan]]{{Fn|10}}
*[[Iqbraesil]] of [[Iyanden]]{{Fn|10}}
*[[Morcan Fiorinintal]] of [[Alaitoc]]{{Fn|10}}

A select few [[Human]]s dedicated to destroying [[Chaos]]{{fn|1}} have been given access to the [[Black Library]] by the Black Council{{fn|10}} and even then only in the company of [[Harlequin]]:{{Fn|14}} a select few [[Inquisitor]]s of the [[Ordo Malleus]]{{Fn|14}} and [[Bronislaw Czevak]],{{Fn|10}} as well as the [[Illuminati]] who have been granted special access to come and go as their needs warrant.{{Fn|1}}

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness]], pg. 215
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Xenology (Background Book)]], {{Cite Marker End}}
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game (game system)]]: Siege of Malogrim Hive
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Eldar (6th Edition)]] (E-Book), ''The Doom of the Eldar''
*5: [[Codex: Harlequins (8th Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|5a}} pgs. 12-13 — ''The Great Stage''
**{{Endn|5b}} pg. 14 — ''The Black Library''
**{{Endn|5c}} pg. 15 — ''The Black Library — The Final Act''
**{{Endn|5d}} pg. 29 — ''The Dance of Ages — The First Sign''
**{{Endn|5e}} pg. 30 — ''The Dance of Ages — The Death of Dúriel''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Pariah (Novel)]], Chapter 41
*7: [[Hand of Darkness (Audio Drama)]]:
**{{Endn|7a}} Part I, ca. 00h:18m:45s
**{{Endn|7b}} Part II, ca. 00h:04m:20s
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 296
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Ahriman: Undying (Novel)]], Prologue
*10: [[Atlas Infernal (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|10a}}: Interregna III
**{{Endn|10b}}: Interregna IV
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition)]], pg. 13
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Harlequin (Novel)]], Chapters 19-20
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned]], pg. 267
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)]], pg. 13
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex: Necrons (5th Edition)]], pg. 6
*16: [[Dawn of War: Tempest (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|16a}}: Chapter Ten
**{{Endn|16b}}: Chapter Twelve
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Rise of the Ynnari: Ghost Warrior (Novel)]], Ch. 5
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Renegades]], pg. 6
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Daemonifuge (Graphic Novel Series)]] – Book Two: the Lord of Damnation

[[Category:Craftworlds]]
[[Category:Eldar]]
[[Category:Harlequins]]
[[Category:Webway]]

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