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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Overview
==Overview==
[[File:AvatarArt10th.jpg|thumb|right|300px|An Avatar of [[Khaine ]] battles a [[Keeper of Secrets]]{{Fn|9}}]]During the [[Fall of the Eldar]], [[Khaine ]] fought with [[Slaanesh]] shortly after his birth, following the destruction of the [[Eldar Gods]].{{Fn|1}} Khaine was consumed by [[Slaanesh]], as he was the part of Eldar nature which delighted in bloody violence, but was torn from the nascent [[God of Chaos]] by [[Khorne]], as he was the war and rage of the Eldar – the two gods exhausted eachother. During the battle, Khaine fell into [[Reality]]{{Fn|13}} and his essence was dismantled and scattered across the galaxy{{Fn|1}} where neither god could claim him,{{Fn|13}} landing in the hearts of the remaining Eldar [[Craftworld]]s. Wherever his essence landed it consumed the body of an Eldar{{Fn|13}} and a wraith artefact was created in its place, allowing future Eldar to be able to summon him when needed.{{Fn|1}} The Avatar sits at the heart of every one of the Eldar Craftworlds,{{Fn|5}} even those whose populace died during the [[Fall of the Eldar]] at the instant of [[Slaanesh]]'s birth.{{Fn|12}}
These iron artefacts continue to remain sealed deep within the Craftworlds, seated upon a throne which connects directly to the [[Infinity Circuit]] core. Thus, the Avatar and Craftworld are fundamentally connected physically and physically. When the Eldar muster for war, the Avatar's [[Wraithbone]] vault thrums with ever-increasing aggression and his cold iron form begins to glow with heat as the shard of the murder god within yearns for blood. This aggression sweeps throughout the Craftworld, furthering the Eldar's own desire for the coming fight. Just before battle is to be joined and it is agreed that the Avatar will be necessary, the [[Exarch]]s don their ceremonial armour and enter the chamber to begin the Ritual of Awakening.{{Fn|9}}
===The Ritual of Awakening===
[[Image:Eldar Avatar.jpg|thumb|right|220px|An Avatar.]]
Once a year, one of the [[Exarch]]s of a Craftworld is chosen by its [[Farseer]]s to hold the title of [[Young King]] and will be ritually sacrificed to awaken the Avatar of Khaine, if needed. If the Avatar need not be awoken that year, then the warrior will returns to the duties of their former role. On [[Biel-Tan]], the Exarch instead joins the [[Court of the Young King]] which aids in governing their craftworld alongside the seer council.{{Fn|2}}
