Aspect Warrior

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Path of the Warrior symbol[10b]

The Aspect Warriors, or Asureah[18], form the main military strength of the Craftworld Eldar armies. These Eldar have chosen to walk the Path of the Warrior. Once an Eldar has chosen to tread this path they join an Aspect Shrine, a group of warriors dedicated to one Aspect. There, Exarchs train them in a specific aspect of warfare.

Overview

Aspect Warriors battle to defend their Craftworld[4a]

The Path of the Warrior is walked by those Craftworlds who feel what is dubbed the touch of Khaine. This may be anger, fear, resentment, or some other negative emotion caused by an event or life or may come with seemingly no cause. To not be overcome by these emotions and fall to indulgence or excess, as their ancestors had before the Fall, those afflicted by Khaine's touch learn to contain and focus their negative thoughts and release it during battle. The careful moderation and control of ones emotions and the ability to control and focus ones violent tendencies is the first step to walking the Path of the Warrior. To do this, most who walk the Path of the Warrior end up joining one of the Aspect Warrior Shrines, which exist in numbers on each Craftworld.[3a]

In their chosen Warrior Shrine, they learn from their Exarch instructors to form and control their War-Mask, which allows them to contain and release their fury at will and can only be unleashed in battle against a foe.[3a] Outside of battle, Aspect Warriors lift their war-mask and are free to continue their regular lives on the Craftworld outside of training or battle summons. When the Aspect Warrior feels they have mastered their emotions and no longer need their war-masks, they will leave the Path of the Warrior and begin a new Path. Those who prove unable to ever lift their war-mask are Exarchs and do not ever leave their warrior shrine outside of battle, nor do they ever leave the Path of the Warrior.[3b]

Fire Dragons, Striking Scorpions, and Dark Reapers battle Evil Sunz beside other Alaitoc forces.[21]

Each Warrior Aspect represents a facet of the Eldar war god, Kaela Mensha Khaine, and thus embodies a specific aspect of Eldar warfare, and each Shrine's founder becomes its Phoenix Lord.[4b] It is impossible to say how many different Aspects there are,[4b] and with each generation new Aspects gain favour while others fall to disuse.[9] The most common Aspects have shrines on most Craftworlds, while some Aspects are unique to a particular Craftworld - such as the weirdly terrifying Slicing Orbs of Zandros, which are confined to a single shrine on a single craftworld.[2] The firstborn Aspects created by the Asurya, Asurmen's first students are said to remain eternal – these include the Howling Banshees, Fire Dragons, Dark Reapers, Swooping Hawks, Striking Scorpions and Asurmen's own Dire Avengers.[9]

While only the Crimson Hunter is known by name,[6a] many Eldar Aircraft are only piloted by Eldar walking the Path of the Warrior, including the Nightwing,[19] Nightshade Interceptor,[6a] Eagle Bomber,[1] and Phoenix Bomber.[19] The notable exception is the Hemlock Wraithfighter, which is only piloted by Spiritseers.[6b]

Aspect Warriors will often carry with them a symbolic relic of their shrine in order to observe proper rituals at all times. At minimum, they carry a meditative wraithbone icon, typically styled as a rune of significance to the Aspect. Others might carry battle rites, relevant poetry, or speeches of past heroes for reference.[12b]

Exarchs

Symbol of the Eldar warrior spirit. It represents the Eldar's fury of emotion, balanced with the cold surety of skill.[20]
Main article: Exarch

Exarchs are aspect warriors who have lost themselves upon the Path of the Warrior and are unable to ever leave it again. They become Exarchs: simultaneously priests of Khaine, caretakers of individual Shrines, and trainers, teachers, and instructors of the respective aspect. They are equipped with very ancient weaponry and armour. Each aspect has its own particular kind of Exarch. On the battlefield, an Exarch commands an individual squad of aspect warriors. Exarchs are formidable warriors, and most of them can use their abilities to help the whole squad of aspect warriors under their command.[8]

Known Aspects

It is said that with each generation, new Aspects gain favour and old ones fall into disuse but the firstborn aspects of the Asurya remain eternal.[9]

Asuryan Aspects
Symbol Name Phoenix Lord Aspect of Khaine/Other Aspects Specialty
Direavengerrune.jpg Dire Avengers[12a] Asurmen, the Hand of Asuryan.[12a]
Founder of the Path of the Warrior[9]		 Noble punishment of Asuryan, valour, discipline[12a] Tactical flexibility[12a]
Bansheerune8th.jpg Howling Banshees[12a] Jain Zar, the Storm of Silence,[12a]
First of the Asurya[9] 		Fury, cunning of Morai-Heg[12a] Close combat and speed[12a]
Firedragonrune8th.jpg Fire Dragons[12a] Fuegan of the Fiery Heart,[9] the Burning Lance[12a]
second of the Asurya[9]		 Elemental destruction, the Dragon[12a] Heat weapons, anti-tank[12a]
Reaperrune.jpg Dark Reapers[12a] Maugan Ra, the Harvester of Souls,[12a]
Third of the Asurya[9]		 The Destroyer, the harvester of souls[12a] Heavy firepower[12a]
8thpg46.jpg Swooping Hawks[12a] Baharroth, the Cry of the Wind,[12a]
Fourth of the Asurya[9]		 Retribution and judgement, the Hawk[12a] Aerial Combat[12a]
Scorpionrune.jpg Striking Scorpions[12a] Karandras, the Shadow Hunter[12a]
(Formerly Ahra, last of the Asurya)[9]		 The hunter and the killer, Murekh[12a] Stealth, assassination[12a]


Minor Aspects
Symbol Name Phoenix Lord Aspect of Khaine/Other Aspects Specialty
8thpg56.jpg Shining Spears[13] Drastanta, the Tempest of Starlight[13] Khaine's spear, which struck like lightning[13] Jetbikes[13]
Spiderrune.jpg Warp Spiders[12a] Lhykhis, the Whispering Web[12a] The trapper and ensnarer, the Lhykosidae[12a] Teleport, the ambush.[12a]
CHRune.jpg Crimson Hunters[6a] Unknown The Bloody Blades of Khaine which defeated Oghanothir[6a] Aircraft.[6a]
SSRune.jpg Shadow Spectres[5] Irillyth, the Shade of Twilight[5] The Eternal Warrior of Khaine, for whom death is no release from duty[5] Eliminate heavy armour.[5]

Other Aspects

Eldar Aspect Warriors.[4d]

There are dozens[10a] of minor Aspect Shrines of Khaine, the Lord of Murder. Some, like the Slicing Orbs of Zandros[4c] appear on just one Craftworld, and there are many others which go unnamed.[10a]

Known Aspects Without Known Names

Notable Aspect Warriors

Aspect Shrines

Main article: List of Known Aspect Shrines

See also

Sources

Uncited


Craftworld Eldar Forces
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
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