Warhammer 40k Archives

Title: The Shadow-Haunter: Phoenix Lord Karandras and the Birth of the Dark Eldar

Gather around, comrades, and lend an ear. Today, we delve into a tale as dark as the void of space itself. This is not merely a story, but a chapter from the annals of the grim darkness of the far future, where there is only war. This is the Legend of Phoenix Lord Karandras, the Shadow Hunter.

Born from the shadows, Karandras, a master of close combat, charges headfirst into melee with a grace unseen in this universe. Armed with a deadly Mandy Blaster known as the Scorpion’s Bite, this weapon built into his helmet discharges lethal stings at close range. Too swift for the mortal eye, he moves like a specter; his victims recoil, only to be shredded by his mighty claw and chainsword, its diamond teeth a testament to its lethality.

Often, his victims are unaware of their impending doom, for the Phoenix Lord strikes with the speed of a comet, vanishing into the darkness as swiftly as he appeared. Born from the shadows, Karandras remains its steadfast ally, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies and allies alike.

Yet, our tale does not begin with Karandras. It begins with the Eldar, a race that once stood proud and mighty, only to fall into decadence and hedonism. Post the cataclysmic event known as The Fall, the Eldar found themselves scattered, leaderless, and bereft of their once vast knowledge of warfare. Hunted by slaver races, driven from their homes, they teetered on the brink of extinction.

However, from the ashes, there emerged a group of heroes capable of standing against the tide of their enemies. These warriors, reborn from the essence of dead gods, were the Phoenix Lords. The first amongst them was Asurmen, followed by others, including Arhra. Each Phoenix Lord had their own followers, disciples who devoted themselves to their master’s unique style of combat. From Asurmen’s swift and deadly strikes to Maugan Ra’s soul-harvesting range attacks, each had a unique approach to warfare.

Then came Arhra, the Fallen Phoenix, who taught his followers, the Scorpions of Arura, to harness their rage, to strike from the shadows with disciplined fury. Among these disciples was his greatest pupil, Karandras. However, Arhra’s tale is a dark one. Succumbing to chaos, he turned against his fellow Phoenix Lords, leading a demonic horde against the Eldar’s sacred shrine on Asa.

Only the inner sanctum, protected by the power of the Eldar gods Kaine and Asuryan, remained untouched. Arhra, the traitor, fled into the webway, where he began spreading his twisted teachings, becoming the progenitor of the Dark Eldar order of Incubi.

In the craftworlds, it was rumored that Arhra’s teachings differed greatly from those of the other Phoenix Lords. They preached discipline, caution, and preservation, aiming for a slow recovery. They worried that inflamed passions of war might destroy what remained of the Eldar. They taught Aspect Warriors to adopt a certain guise, the Aspect of War, to shield their souls from slaughter and prevent them from developing a taste for senseless violence.

But Arhra’s beliefs remained a secret, known only to his followers, the Incubi. According to them, the Phoenix Lords disagreed with Arhra’s methods as they wished for the Eldar to learn the role of a warrior and to be able to step in and out of it as if donning or doffing a cloak. They wanted to abandon the people of Commorragh, the City of the Dark Eldar, and fight only for the craftworlds.

Arhra, however, believed that a war with chaos required all Eldar to be truly devoted to it. He refused to compromise, defying the ideals of the other Phoenix Lords and founding the first Incubi shrine.

Ever a thorn in chaos’ side, Arhra stood against it time and again. In his last battle, he fought alone for days and nights, his heart finally pierced by the dark light of chaos. Yet, when he returned to the shrine, he blazed with an unholy fire, instilling terror and madness in his disciples. Just when all seemed lost, his voice echoed from the flames, urging them to gather their fury and confront him.

So, in the grim darkness of the far future, the legacy of the Fallen Phoenix continues, his tale a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Eldar, and a reminder that even the greatest heroes can fall. So ends this chapter, but fear not, for there are countless more to explore in the lore of Warhammer 40,000.