Iyanna Arienal
 Iyanna Arienal[4] | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | The Angel of Iyanden Sister of the Dead |
| Homeworld | Iyanden |
| Species | Aeldari |
| Type | Asuryani |
| Gender | Female |
| Relatives | House of Arienal |
| Occupation(s) | Spiritseer of Iyanden |
| Affiliation(s) | |
Iyanna Arienal, also known as the Angel of Iyanden and one of the Ynnari sisters-of-the-dead[6b], along with Yvraine, is the greatest of Iyanden's Spiritseers.[2]
Contents
Biography
Born to Hariya and Arctai of House of Arienal on Iyanden, Iyanna was destined for greatness when she first set upon the Path of the Witch.[3a][6a] During the Battle of the Burning Moon, all of Arienal's family save herself were killed in the Chaos Cyclonic Torpedo attack. Thereafter, Arienal embraced the ways of the Spiritseer and her mind was ever connected to the Infinity Circuit to commune with those that she had lost. When Eldrad Ulthran brought warning to Iyanden of the Great Devourer, he also told the Iyanden Seer Council that the Eldar race's only ultimate hope against Slaanesh lay with Ynnead, the god of the dead. While most of Iyanden dismissed Ulthran, Arienal embraced this prophecy and in a brief moment received a glorious apotheosis where the spirits of living Eldar would become one with the dead. The resulting psychic backlash would stir Ynnead from his slumber, and at last defeat Slaanesh.[3a]
Arienal's followers have been no less active than the famed Prince Yriel, throwing their hopes into the ancient prophecy known as the Phoenix Arisen; wherein the Eldar race will be reborn anew. At Iyanna's direction, they have sought the Tears of Morai-Heg, gemstone fragments that possess ancient magic that Spiritseers say would see the rebirth accomplished. Their search for the tears has brought them into contact with humans, Orks, and other primitive races. Reclaiming these tears has proven a bloody affair, and taking possession of the first required a dozen worlds left in ruin. Within a few short years, Iyanna's followers had grown so influential that they had outgrown Yriel's.[3a]
After the Battle of Duriel, many assumed Iyanna dead as she had been alongside Taec Silvereye at the time of the planet's destruction. However, this fear proved to be unfounded as she was discovered among the wounded.[3b] She later reappeared to help save Iyanden from Daemonic invasion, allying with the Ynarri.[4]
Iyanna has become a key member of the Ynnari, in regular contact with Yvraine and Eldrad. The three orchestrated a joint Ynnari and Iyandeni expedition to the lost Craftworld of Zaisuthra. The Ynnari sought the legendary Gate of Malice, a Webway Gate containing the grave of Eldanesh, and the rumoured final Cronesword. Iyanna herself sought any surviving members of the House of Arienal, who were rumoured to have a branch upon Zaisuthra. Upon arrival however, the lost craftworld was revealed to be fully infected by a powerful Genestealer Cult, which was eradicated with the aide of the legions of Wraith-constructs Iyanna had marshalled for the expedition.[6c]
The Ynnari opened the Gate of Malice hidden deep in Zaisuthra, and found the tomb of Eldanesh, guarded by the Warshard, a primal manifestation of Khaine's most infamous murder against Eldanesh. The creature was defeated, again thanks to the ghost warrior legions of Wraith-constructs, and the power of the Yncarne. No Cronesword was hidden in the tomb, but instead a mighty artefact, The Heart of Eldanesh, letting the Ynnari ally themselves with Khaine and his most powerful manifestation, the Warshard.[6d]
Iyanna has been a fierce advocate for the Ynnari on Craftworld Iyanden, rebuffing the pleas of Prince Yriel who has urged the Seer Council to turn their attention oncemore towards Chaos and away from the apotheosis of the new god – reminding all Aeldari present that Iyanden was a craftworld of ghosts and understood more than most the urgency of awakening Ynnead.[8]
Wargear
In battle Arienal is armed with a shuriken pistol, the Spear of Teuthlas, and the Armour of Vaul. She is also accompanied by a massive Wraithlord housing the spirit of an Exarch.[1][2] This Exarch is Althenian Armourlost, lately of the Fire's Heart aspect shrine of Fire Dragons.[5]
Images
Iyanna Arienal Kitbash in War Zone: Valedor[7]
Sources
- 1: Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 40
- 2: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 20
- 3: Iyanden: A Codex: Eldar Supplement (E-Book):
- 4: Gathering Storm: Fracture of Biel-Tan, pg. 64-69
- 5: Valedor (Novel), Chapter 2
- 6: Ghost Warrior: Rise of the Ynnari (Novel):
- 7: Apocalypse War Zone: Valedor, pg. 29
- 8: The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant, Lair of the Tyrant pg. 61
