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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Background
==Background==
Before the [[Imperium of Man]], and even before the [[Aeldari|Yldari]], the Slanni ruled a mighty galactic domain.{{Fn|5}} The Slann claim to be, and may actually be, the oldest of all the races in the galaxy. During the heyday of their old empire, they discovered and nurtured many primatives primitive species, encouraged encouraging their evolutionary process, all while eradicating or moving more dangerous species, and seeding many worlds with livestock.{{Fn|1b}}.
When the [[Eldar]] first encountered the [[Old Ones|Old Slann]], who were the greatest of all spacefaring peoples, they learned many secrets of the universe from them, including the principles of [[Webway|warp-tunnel engineering]], the nature of the warp, and referring to the sentient creatures of the warp as the [[Chaos|Powers of Chaos]].{{Fn|3a}} While the [[Old Slann]] taught the [[Eldar]] about the dangers of the warp, they also taught them about its many positive aspects. They taught how the mind of a living creature passes upon death into the warp, where it may, if the individual mind has achieved power, remain whole and immortal as a spirit in the warp. It was the Slann belief that the object of life was to perfect the mind, and thereby achieve conscious immortality as a spirit of in the warp, where it could then reincarnate. However, the Old Slann warned that such an existence was impossible if one's own thoughts were too close to the Powers of Chaos, for one's consciousness would be devoured by a greater power upon death, with one losing their identity and melting into the greater power.{{Fn|3b}}
