Swooping Hawk
The Swooping Hawks are a type of Aspect Warrior, Eldar who fight according to one of the aspects of Kaela Mensha Khaine. The Swooping Hawks take their name from the wild hunting birds of the Eldar myths, who symbolized revenge and retribution. Just as the birds of legend contained the spirit of a murdered Eldar, hovering over their killers as a mark of guilt, so too do the Swooping Hawks fly across the battlefield, dealing swift death to their enemies.[1a][2a][3a]
| Rune Symbol | Basic Data | |
| File:Shrune.png | Name | Swooping Hawks |
| Phoenix Lord | Baharroth | |
| Phoenix Lord Title | "The Cry of the Wind" | |
| Main colours | Light blue, white, green | |
| Combat Speciality | Airborne infantry support | |
Overview
The Swooping Hawks were founded by Baharroth, the Winged Phoenix, said to the be finest student of Asurmen. Like the other Phoenix Lords he is as old as The Fall itself, but is foretold to die his final death during the Rhana Dandra, the last battle against Chaos.[2b] Of all the Aspect Shrines the Swooping Hawks are among the most mobile thank to their Swooping Hawk Wings, which allow them to lift off into the air at a moment's notice and fly across the battlefield. The speed and agility with which this gives the Swooping Hawks more than makes up for the fact that their Aspect Armour, compared to that worn by other Shrines, is less thick and therefore offers less protection.[1a][3a] The armour's is typically coloured like the sky, such as a pale blue or grey, with contrasting colours as well, especially on the wings.[1a]
The ritual weapons of the Swooping Hawks is the Lasblaster and Swooping Hawk Grenade Pack, two weapons especially suited to their role as harassers operating ahead of the main Eldar host. The grenade pack in particular can carry a wide variety of grenades, from Krak and Frag to Plasma and Haywire Grenades. Flying over their enemies' heads, the Swooping Hawks rain down explosive death before closing in to press the assault or falling back to cover to use their laser weapons.[1a][3a]
A Swooping Hawk squad can number anywhere from five to ten warriors, including sometimes an Exarch to lead them.[3b]
Swooping Hawk Exarch
An Exarch is an Eldar warrior who has become lost upon the Path of the Warrior, trapped forever as a dealer of death and destruction. They wear more elaborate and ornate versions of Aspect Armour inhabited by the souls of past Exarchs, passing on their wisdom and forming a pool of raw psychic energy.
Those Exarchs who serve in the Shrines of the Swooping Hawks embody their Aspect to extraordinary heights and use their knowledge and skills to assist and lead their squads. Knowing the best moment to redeploy on the battlefield, the Exarch can lead his the Swooping Hawks on a skyleap high fly into the air and land in a tactically better position. Such is his skill in aerial combat, as well as those he has taught, that they can successfully combat even enemy skimmers.[3a] In addition to their normal weapons some Exarchs will arm themselves with a Power Weapon for close quarters combat, or replace his lasblaster for a Sun Rifle or Hawk's Talon.[3b]
Sources
| Command | Autarchs • Bonesingers • Farseers • Spiritseers • Warlocks • Exarchs |
|---|---|
| Aspect Warriors | |
| Troops | Guardians (Guardian Defenders • Storm Guardians) • Windrider Squadrons • Rangers (Pathfinders • Shroud Runners) • Ghost-Warriors • Wraithguard • Wraithblades |
| Support Weapons | Grav Platform • Support Battery • War Walker |
| Constructs | Avatar of Khaine • Wraithknight • Wraithlord |
| Special Characters | Amallyn Shadowguide • Eldrad Ulthran • Illic Nightspear • Iyanna Arienal • Nuadhu 'Fireheart' • Yriel |
| Phoenix Lords | Asurmen • Baharroth • Drastanta • Fuegan • Irillyth • Jain Zar • Karandras • Lhykhis • Maugan Ra |
| Fortifications | Webway Gate |
