Sslyth

Dark Eldar Portal

Sslyth^[4]

Sslyth (Serpentes vindicum)^[2] are an alien species that inhabit the galaxy as mercenaries and are typically seen within an Archon's Lord's Retinue.^[1]

Overview

Sslyth^[2]

Millennia ago, the race fell before the temptations of unbridled excess and quickly became one of the most favored beings by the Dark Eldar. Their serpentine bodies along with two sets of limbs allow them to carry enough blades along with weapons to quickly dispatch anyone foolish to harm their master. Their scales are hard enough to serve as armor while seemingly being impervious to pain. This along with their skills made them fearsome warrior fiends in combat which is why they are often chosen as a bodyguard detail for an Archon. This is because Dark Eldar make poor bodyguards due to their treacherous nature which is why Sslyth are often recruited from the ranks of the aliens that inhabit the Dark City of Commorragh in order to protect their master from an inevitable coup.^[1]

While savage in appearance, they in fact possess a great intelligence.^[2] These coil-kin are laudably efficient and coldly professional in their business with Druhkari, rarely getting out of hand with slaves as a Dark Eldar might. The Sslyth language is deceptively complex. It consists of a limited vocabulary with innumerable possible inflections. Many Drukhari don't bother learn a working knowledge of this xenos tongue.^[5]

The best way to deal with Sslyth is to take advantage of their poor tolerance for cold. Upon exposure to cold temperatures they will fall into a death-like coma.^[2]

Sslyth are also known to have fought as part of the xenos mercenaries of the Alpha Legion's Sons of the Hydra in their campaign to eradicate the Ultramarines' Successor Chapters guarding the rimward edge of the Maelstrom in late M41.^[3a] They took part in the successful ground assault against the Marines Mordant's Fortress-Monastery the Bas-Silica on Vitrea Mundi.^[3a] Here they fought alongside the Tarellians, Morralians, Galgs, Fra'al, and Eldar Outcasts, and were united with them by a shared seething hatred of humanity.^[3a] The use of different species was chosen to provide maximum strategic flexibility, and their extremely varied combat styles made them very difficult for even the Marines' Veterans to defend against.^[3a][3b]

Images

• 

  Sslyth in the service of a Dark Eldar Archon

• 

  Sslyth Mercenary^[6]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

In Sons of the Hydra, Quetzel Carthach was said to have included xenos in his close circle of advisors.^[3a] While Omizhar Vohk is the only confirmed advisor, Sslyth or members of the other xenos mercenaries Carthach used may have been included among them.

See also

• List of sentient species
• Deathwatch: The Flesh of the Angel (Short Story)

Sources

• 1: Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition), pg. 35
• 2: Liber Xenologis, pgs. 84-85
• 3: Sons of the Hydra (Novel)
  • 3a: Part I, Chapter δ: The Viper's Nest
  • 3b: Part I, Chapter γ: Turning Tail
• 4: Codex: Drukhari (8th Edition), pg. 51
• 5: Lukas the Trickster (Novel), Chapter 3
• 6: Warhammer 40,000: Conquest, Sslyth Mercenary - Gift of the Ethereals set