Biel-tan

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 Eldar Portal
Craftworld Biel-Tan
The Swordwind, The Fractured
Rune-BielTan.png
the rune symbol of Craftworld Biel-Tan
Meaning: Rebirth of Ancient Days
Current Location: Border between Segmentum Tempestus and Ultima Segmentum[12]
Main Colours: Green
& White
Favoured Unit: Aspect Warriors, Exarchs, Avatar of Khaine[2a]
Speciality: Destruction of colonies
Reputation: Fickle, warlike
Main Enemy: Orks
Titan Clan(s): Fir Farillecassion[26]
BielTanGuardian.jpg
a guardian in the colors of Biel-Tan


Biel-Tan, sometimes Biel-Tann,[26] is an Eldar Craftworld, famous for its extreme militarism. Biel-Tan spends most of its deadly effort on the Galactic South, at the outermost edge of the Aeldari Empire.[20] As well as their traditional colours of green and white, the forces of Biel-Tan sport patterns of dark thorny ivy.[2c]

Background

Galánta of House Kre-Swift, an Autarch of Biel-Tan and leader of Warhost Shadestrike[9]

The Biel-tan Craftworld is famous for its inhabitants' militancy; it is home to more Aspect Warriors than any other craftworld[2a], and is renowned for its strong warrior ideals holding a strong honour code and believing the best way to die is in battle against the enemies of the Eldar.[18]

The Eldar of Biel-tan are honourable warriors who have taken it upon themselves to rebuild the lost glory of the ancient Eldar empire, through the destruction of the lesser races who have "usurped" the galaxy, and believe it is glorious to die fighting the enemies of the Craftworld. At the centre of Biel-tan is the Chamber of Heroes where the spirit stones of dead Aspect Warriors are placed. Farseers often come to this room to consult the dead on courses of action, referring to choruses of the dead by the battle in which they were felled.[27] The Exarchs of the Craftworld form a council known as the Court of the Young King, which decides foreign policy for the craftworld – both military and diplomatic relations[20] – it is from this council that the Craftworld's Young Kings are chosen.[2a]

When the Eldar of Biel-Tan go to war they assemble a warhost known as the Bahzhakhain, which means "Swordwind", "Tempest of Blades"[2a] or Frozen Leaves Falling to Cut.[10b] The Swordwind's tactic is a single, swift strike taking the enemy by surprise.[2a] This tactic works considerably well with the elite fighting skills of the many Aspect Warriors eliminating the enemy before they can respond. The Biel-Tan therefore make perfect use of the speed and maneuverability of the Wave Serpents and Falcon Grav Tanks.[4]

The main target of the Biel-Tan are non-Eldar colonists, particularly non-Eldar occupying Eldar Maiden Worlds. It is especially galling to the Eldar who created these paradise worlds from dead worlds to find them overrun with inferior species. The Eldar of Biel-tan believe the success of other alien races is a threat to the future progression of the Eldar empire. For this reason, the Biel-Tan particularly hate the Orks, Orks being a completely expansionist race, whose occupation of a world quickly becomes permanent. In many cases, Biel-Tan have helped Imperial forces that were under heavy attack by Orks and to hunt down Ork Roks before the tide of Orks can overrun a planet.

History

Phantom Titan of Fir Farillecassion marches besides the swordwind of Biel-Tan[26]

The Craftworld originated as a long-distance cargo hauler. Shortly before the birth of Slaanesh in the final days of the Fall, the Rebirth of Ancient Days made a stop at Eidafaeron to take on Eldar fleeing the degradation of their empire. The being who would become the Phoenix Lord Asurmen had the chance to leave aboard the vessel, but refused.[15]

The Imperium of Man first encountered Biel-tan in M32 during the Great Crusade, when an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Fleet was destroyed as it investigated Gavris Minor.[20]

Alliance with Iyanden

For several millenia after the Fall of the Eldar, Biel-Tan joined Iyanden to wage a joint war effort coordinating troops through the Webway against the forces of Chaos. Together, the two Craftworlds claimed many thousands of victories. The two would be instrumental in saving the Ybaric Cluster, with the alliance afterwards gaining the loyalty of thousands of Exodite Dragon Knights.[21a]

Biel-Tani Autarch battles a Carnifex on Valedor.[25]

The alliance faltered as Biel-Tan expanded the scope of their conquest beyond Chaos to include the Humans and Xenos species that had in time laid claim to their Maiden Worlds.[21a] This came to a head in 777.M34 where Biel-Tan began a war to reclaim the Maiden World of Rasilena from Humans, but Iyanden refused to aid as the planet's conquest would bring no benefit in the war against Chaos. Biel-Tan would solely face and defeat two Sector Battlefleets and ten Space Marine Chapters.[21b] Seeing no common ground with those who would not come to their aid, Biel-Tan soured on the alliance and the two Craftworlds disbanded.[21a]

Thirteenth Black Crusade

Biel-Tan was among the Craftworlds which came to the aid of Eldrad Ulthran and Maugan Ra within the Eye of Terror, and in that effort was able to take ground on the Crone World of Eidolon to establish enclaves of sanity within its roiling seas of chaotic possibility. Biel-Tan strives to keep these zones stable, and eventually reclaim the secrets of Eldar Empire that live on within Eidolon.[24]

Fracture

Main article: Battle of Biel-tan
Birth of Ynnead and Fracture of Biel-Tan.

During the closing days of the 41st Millennium, Biel-Tan became the center of the future of the Eldar race. A Biel-Tan native, Yvraine, became an emissary of Ynnead and introduced a plan to birth the God without the need to sacrifice the entirety of the Eldar. However, at the same time, Biel-Tan was subjected to a Daemonic invasion led by Skarbrand and The Masque. Biel-Tan allied with the Ynnari and Phoenix Lords to close the Webway Portal to the Craftworld on Ursulia. The effort was successful, but large numbers of Daemons managed to infiltrate Biel-Tan before the portal was sealed. Worse still, The Masque was able to invade Biel-Tan's Infinity Circuit and began destroying the souls within.[7]

Yvraine revealed that in order to resurrect Ynnead and purge The Masque from Biel-Tan she required an Avatar of the God as well as the Crone Swords. In order to give birth to Yncarne, Yvraine conducted a ritual in Biel-Tan's Infinity Circuit that cost countless Eldar souls. However, while devastated, Biel-Tan endured and remains united on the path to resurrect Ynnead.[7] In the aftermath of the Battle of Biel-tan, its population has been halved with many falling to the Daemons' attack and others choosing to join the ranks of the Ynnari.[9] Those that have remained with the Craftworld now reside on its fleet of ships,[8a] while its Bonesingers work tirelessly to keep the world-ship together. These Eldar cling to their orthodox methods, vowing with renewed vigour to destroy all would-be usurpers to their race and bring about a new Aeldari civilisation to rival the ancient empire of old. Biel-Tan's ghost halls have also swelled with newly animated wraith-constructs, bearing the souls of those the infinity circuit can no longer protect.[9] Yet another development is that the surviving members of Biel-Tan's Swordwind have vanished into the Webway. From there, the Swordwind have resolved to maintain the warlike traditions of their Craftworld, and continue to scour ancient Eldar worlds of Xenos usurpers.[8b]

Biel-tan Hemlock Wraithfighters[28]

Since the sundering of the wraithbone endoskeleton housing their infinity circuit, the moon-sized Aeldari world-ship has slowly broken up into its constituent parts. It is now more of a fleet than a single ship. With their power halved by Yvraine's literal and theological division caused to the craftworld, the reeling Biel-Tan that remained found salvation through their self-belief in their own strength.[11a]

Between the wars against Chaos and those departing to join the Ynnari, Biel-tan has lost half of its former population. To replenish their numbers, they have become increasingly dependent on Wraith Constructs. The hardships has left those who remain within Biel-tan more fanatic than ever.[14]

Psychic Awakening

Since the Battle of Khazhar, Biel-Tan has become aided by a great many Exodite warriors.[11a]

Notable Campaigns and Battles

Craftworld Biel-Tan forces fighting the Valhallan Ice Warriors at the Scouring of Gnosis[10b]

Locations

The Ixia Wayport on Craftworld Biel-Tan.

Unlike the rest of the Craftworlds, the entrance to Biel-Tan within the Webway is ornate and highly visible. This is seen as an invitation to those reckless enough to dare stage an attack. The gate is the height of thousands of Eldar, allowing for entire warships to pass through between enormous amounts of defensive gun batteries. On one side of the gate is an enormous statue of Khaine, while on the other is Asuryan with his scales heavily tipped to one side. It is said that when the scales are level, it will be sign for Biel-tan to launch its campaign to reclaim the galaxy for the Eldar.[22a]

Notable Biel-Tan Eldar

Main article: List of Biel-Tan Eldar

Rune Symbol

rune of Biel-Tan, Rebirth of Ancient Days

The symbolic rune of Biel-Tan stands for reincarnation, a fate previously thought reserved for every Eldar before the Fall. The rune roughly translates as Rebirth of Ancient Days, reflecting the intention of the Craftworld to see their former empire restored.[2a][5]

Images

  • Biel-Tan Craftworld.[23]

  • Craftworld Biel-tan.[7]

Miniatures

Trivia

TriviaScrollTrans.png

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.

  • Beáltaine is both a major Celtic festival, and by an extension a name of the month of May in Irish Gaelic.

See also

Sources


Craftworlds
Major
Minor
Other
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