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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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==Overview==
[[File:AvatarArt10th.jpg|thumb|right|300px280px|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}}
===The Ritual of Awakening===
[[ImageFile:Eldar AvatarAvatarOfKhaine.jpg|thumb|right|220px300px|An Avatarof Khaine dispatches a [[Space Marine]]{{Fn|2a16}}]]
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|2b}}
==Notable Avatars==
[[Image:Eldar Avatar.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An Avatar{{Fn|2a}}]]*'''The Warshard''' - – The oldest and mightiest shard of Khaine, found in the tomb of [[Eldanesh]] in the [[Well of the Dead]]. It was awoken by the [[Ynnari]] when they journeyed to the tomb in search of the last [[Cronesword]]. In the end, the shard was only defeated by the efforts of [[Yvraine]], who was able to use her temporary death to summon [[Yncarne]].{{Fn|7a}} Together with [[Meliniel]], [[Iyanna Arienal]], and [[Althenian]] they are able to finally bring down the Warshard. In its destruction they find the [[Heart of Eldanesh]], which contains a purer version of the Warshards power.{{Fn|7b}}*'''The Avatar of [[Biel-Tan]]''' – Awoken before the [[Battle of Duriel]], it refused to yield as it's warhost faltered and nontheless held the Godspeak long enough to detonate the [[Fireheart]].{{Fn|15}}
==Images==
*{{Endn|13}}: [[White Dwarf 127 (UK)]], pgs. 26-28
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition)]], pg. 15
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Apocalypse War Zone: Valedor]], pg. 18-20
*{{Endn|16}}: [[Codex: Eldar (6th Edition)]], pg. 26
{{EldarUnits}}
