'''Exarchs''' serve as the high priests of [[Kaela Mensha Khaine]] and thus keepers of the [[Aspect Warrior]] shrines. They themselves are actually warriors who have become trapped in their Warrior Aspect Path and are unable to put aside their adopted mental persona. As such, they are now forever devoted to war and death which they dedicate their entire beings. All Aspect Warriors face this dangerous prospect as their minds can become trapped in the Path of the Warrior with the [[Eldar]] being unable to recover his full personality. Such mental entrapments are very real dangers and can be horrifying to behold as Exarch's serve as living embodiments of such a fate whenever they go to war.<sup>4-p70</sup>
In terms Those Eldar that fall down this path are unable to pass beyond the Path of the Warrior and are unable to resist the passionate lure of equipmentbattle leading to them developing an unquenceable lust for bloodletting. As such, they become trapped in the path they have chosen and are unable to leave the Aspect of the War God they represent whilst becoming addicted to bloodlust that only battle can satiate. This leads to the Exarch's wear elaborate being met with a mixture of awe and often ancient versions revulsion by their kin. The Eldar respect these individuals due to them dedicating themselves into the single-minded pursuit of a side of their nature which most of Aspect Warrior armourtheir kind fear. From their shrineHowever, they take are pitied as the Exarch's have, in essence, abandoned the [[spirit stone]] Eldar Path that houses offers new experiences and constant development. There exists an even greater dread for the Eldar in relation to the departed souls of past Exarch's whereupon they assumed a Sacred Name that is associated with the stone. This comes at a time when their spirit mingles with fact that each of them hold the spirit stone which has been part potential of falling down the armour since its inceptionsame ruinous path. The mind Those that take this mantle represent one form of its user becomes lost within the greater heroic beings problem with those that bear walk down the Exarch's name with their memories as well as experiences of Eldar Paths in the past beginning to merge sense that they become obsessed with their ownroles that they are ill-prepared for and thus can never leave it. Thus, their life becomes just another stage in the long existence of Exach's and the spirit stone as [[Harlequin]]s represent the heroic warrior is born once again universal peril though, in either case, they still hold a new formplace within their society.<sup>45-p70p49</sup>
An '''In terms of equipment, Exarch''' is s wear elaborate and often ancient versions of Aspect Warrior armour.<sup>4-p70</sup> These fightings suits are of a former superior version worn by ordinary members of the Warrior Aspect and their great age means they preserve much ancient workmanship, long abandoned decorative styles as well as various emblems and ornamentation that mean nothing to typical Eldar.<sup>5-p50</sup> From their shrine, they take the [[Aspect Warriorspirit stone]] who ''has lost himself upon that houses the [[Path|Path departed souls of the Warrior]]past Exarch'' and s whereupon they assumed a Sacred Name that is unable to ever leave it againassociated with the stone. At this point he is considered to have abandoned the greater Eldar Path This comes at a time when their spirit mingles with its promise that of new experience and constant development in favour the spirit stone which has been part of a life the armour since its inception. The mind of bloodshed. He its user becomes an lost within the greater heroic beings that bear the Exarch; simultaneously a priest 's name with their memories as well as experiences of [[Kaela Mensha Khaine]]the past beginning to merge with their own. Thus, a caretaker their life becomes just another stage in the long existence of the individual spirit stone as the heroic warrior shrineis born once again in a new form.<sup>4-p70</sup> As such, and trainer, teacherwhen a new Exarch wears their armour, their experiences and instructor accumulated memories merge with that of the respective aspectone present in the spirit stone. He is equipped with very This combined experiences allows the user to understand the ancient weaponry and armour. Each warrior aspect has its own particular kind that they are using as well as gave them general knowledge of Exarchsancient times when the original wearer lived. On In this manner, the Eldar that wears the battlefield armour of an Exarch commands a individual squad of aspect warriors. Exarchs are formidable opponents, and is initiated into the most closely guarded secrets of them can use their abilities to help his kind namely the whole squad origin of aspect warriors under their command. The very first original the Exarchs are during the time of the [[Phoenix Lord]]sFall itself.<sup>5-p50</sup>
Exarchs Whilst Exarch's remain trapped on the Path of the Warrior, but sometimes continue to cycle from one Aspect to another. During times of war, they can wear one of two or more armoured suits which represents the different Aspects that they have taken. On a similar basis, they can equip themselves with the appropriate weapons that represent these Aspects. Those that succumb to this constant cycle of events are regarded sometimes known as ''"Menshad Korum"'' or ''"Lost Warriors"'' with both awe and revulsion by other the [[Eldar Lexicon|Eldarterm]] roughly meaning ''"hunters in pursuit of themselves. Awe"'' However, in the majority of cases, because Exarchs an Exarch will only adopt a singleAspect though may pass through several different Aspect Warriors before finally becoming trapped in the Warrior Path.<sup>5-mindedly pursue p49</sup> Upon being trapped in their final Warrior Aspect, they demonstrate a side great level of battle-skills due to their nature which most experience in the other Aspects making them more skilled compared to ordinary Aspect Warriors. Upon assuming the position of Exarch, these Eldar fear begin to adopt the ancient names that reflect their respective Aspect such as Horned Serpent, Gleaming Scale, Slicing Fang that are all names associated to the [[Fire Dragon]] Exarchs. These names are particular to even contemplate[[Craftworld]]s and the specific shrines of the War God within each Craftworld. Revulsion, because Only a single Exarch can bear a particular name at any one time which is associated with the armour they have become trapped wear in battle. Only when killed can that name and armour be taken by another Aspect Warrior whereupon the warrior aspect and destined for new bearer takes the mantle of a thousand year legacy where they continue legendary life of never-ending violencea single heroic identity.<sup>35-p50</sup>
An Exarch assumes an ancient name associated When not fighting, these individuals tend to the shrines of Kaela Mensha Khaine which are sites where they along with the Aspect. Each name is associated with a set Warriors gather in times of Exarch armour war and undergo the Exarch wears in battle. If the Exarch is killed another Exarch may take the suit and ritual transformation where they adopt one of the name. The same armour is worn by many successive Exarchs over thousands of yearsWarrior Aspects. The Exarch breaks with his old lifeIn these sites, continuing the legendary life of the single heroic identity represented by that armour and name. Worked into the armour is the [[spirit stone]] containing the spirit of the very first hero Exarchs not only serve as priests but as armourers as well as instructors to have worn their kin with it. When falling under their responsibility to maintain the Exarch enters shrine's wargear along with the armour this spirit merges with his own, adding its own accumulated memories and experiences to histraining of Aspect Warriors.<sup>35-p50</sup>
==Sources==
*<sup>3</sup> [[WD127|White Dwarf 127]]
*<sup>4</sup> [[Codex Imperialis]], pg. 70
*<sup>5</sup> [[Warhammer 40,000: Compilation]], pg 49-50
[[Category:Titles and Ranks]]
[[Category:Eldar]]
[[de:Exarch]]
[[fr:Exarque]]
