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==Overview==
[[Image:XenologySoulStone.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Exodite]] '''Spirit Stone''', illustrated by [[Inquisitor]] [[Maturin Ralei]] of the [[Ordo Xenos]].{{Fn|20}}]]
Faceted glassy spheres{{fnFn|2a}} of gem-like polished psycho-receptive stone{{Fn|3a}} crystals called ''carrecenad'' or '''soul-stone'''.{{Fn|6}} It is a well kept secret even among the Eldar themselves that spirit-stones are actually formed from the psychic energy of the ghosts of Eldar who died during the [[Fall of the Eldar|Birth of Slaanesh]], their spirits tormented forever by Slaanesh to see the lives they can no longer possess and to reenact their death, after each cycle of which they leave behind Spirit Stones on the [[Crone World]]s within the [[Eye of Terror]]{{Fn|2b}} which dissolve once more into the [[Warp]] unless collected.{{Fn|8}} [[Eldar Mythology]], which is the living history of the eldar, tell of the origin of Spirit Stones in the ancient past as the "Tears of Isha" which were forged by [[Vaul]] such that [[Kurnous]] and [[Isha]] could speak with the Eldar without [[Asuryan]] knowing{{Fn|2a}} – this is taken today as a metaphor for the crystallisation of the psychic energies within the Eye of Terror associated with the [[Fall of the Eldar]].{{Fn|2b}}
The [[Asuryani]] will go to incredible lengths to preserve and recover Spirit Stones.{{Fn|3a}} In the context of a warhost the primary duty of a [[Spiritseer]] is to recover Spirit Stones,{{Fn|5b}} but beyond these the task falls to [[Ranger]]s on the [[Eldar_Path#Path_of_the_Outcast|Path of the Outcast]] to do the extremely dangerous task of delving across ancient fields of battle and into the [[Eye of Terror]] itself to recover and find new Spirit Stones.{{Fn|5c}} It is only in this capacity that any relations are kept with the [[Chaotic Eldar]], such as those in the [[Tyrakesh Archeomarket]] on [[Arach-Cyn]], who trade with rangers for collected Spirit Stones.{{Fn|11}} Quests may be taken by [[Wraithknight]]s to raid [[Crone World]]s of their Spirit Stones,{{Fn|9}} as famously was the task of the [[Twelve Outcasts of Alaitoc]] in '''334.[[M36]]''' – the first since the fall to recover new Spirit Stones.{{Fn|5a}} Exodites too wear Spirit Stones, although the provenance of such stones is yet unclear.{{Fn|1b}} Not all Spirit Stones recovered on [[Crone World]]s are empty, and while some contain the immortal essences of great scholars and heroes of the [[Eldar Empire]], more often they contain a malevolent soul that rages at its confinement within the crystal.{{Fn|4a}}
A Spirit Stone is a tool in the hands of an Eldar [[Seer]]{{Fn|2a}} and it is the Spirit Stone which allows a [[Bonesinger]] to draw raw energy from the warp to shape it into the matter known as [[Wraithbone]].{{Fn|7}} Spirit Stones glow brightly in the hands of Bonesingers, turn blue in the hands of [[Farseer]]s and red or orange when handled by a [[Warlock]].{{Fn|7}}{{Fn|2a}} Spirit Stones enable a Farseer the full extent of their psychic abilities (e.g. [[Spirit Stone of Eldritch Might|Eldritch Might]], [[Spirit Stone of Illusion|Illusion]], or [[Spirit Stone of Vigor|Vigor]]).{{Fn|6}} Spirit Stones are durable but may be crushed, as [[Keeper of Secrets|Keepers of Secrets]] enjoy doing,{{Fn|14}} although it may result in a small explosion, such as the one which sent [[Trythos]] the [[Space Marine]] wielding it flying a few metres away.{{Fn|13}}
Spirit Stones containing souls of the dead are interred into the [[Wraithbone]] core of a [[Craftworld]],{{Fn|3a}} most often the one in which the [[Aeldari]] lived in life,{{Fn|2a}} where they take root and grow into tall trees{{Fn|1a}} or other structures (such as on [[Iyanden]] where the [[Battle of Iyanden (Kraken)|Battle Dead]] now form bizarre spiralling shapes in the halls where they fell) and their souls enter the [[Infinity Circuit]].{{Fn|3a}} When Exodites die, their stones are brought beneath the earth into a great barrow where they are broken upon the altar of the [[World Spirit]] and laid to rest.{{DnFn|1b}} It is believed by the [[Ynnari]], the [[Eldar]] cult, that when enough Eldar souls have been interred within the Infinity Circuits that the new god [[Ynnead]] will emerge to vanquish Slaanesh, freeing the Eldar from their doom.{{Fn|3d}}
Not all souls are willing to join the infinity circuit{{Fn|5f}} and they too are used as tools: those containing the souls of powerful Eldar heroes can guide and inform those who wield them,{{Fn|5f}} retaining the identity, personality, and memories of the spirit as psychic energy,{{Fn|1a}} as well as those containing malevolent spirits recovered from the [[Eye of Terror]] which are only fit to be embedded into systems such as [[Wraithcannon]]s.{{Fn|4a}}
