The Ancient Lore of the Eldar
The mythology of the Eldar is a tapestry of heroism, tragedy, and divine conflict. Once guided by a powerful pantheon of gods, the Eldar thrived in an age of enlightenment and unparalleled prosperity. But as the millennia passed, hubris and darkness crept into their civilization, culminating in cataclysmic events that shaped their destiny.
The War in Heaven
Central to Eldar mythology is the War in Heaven, a cataclysmic battle among their gods. The conflict began when Lileath, goddess of dreams and fortune, prophesied the downfall of Kaela Mensha Khaine, the god of war and murder. Enraged by his foretold demise, Khaine launched a violent crusade to eradicate mortal Eldar, seeking to sever their connection to the divine.
To protect his people, Asuryan, chief of the Eldar gods, erected a barrier between the gods and mortals. While this shield saved the Eldar from Khaine’s wrath, it also severed their spiritual connection, isolating them from their divine protectors.
Defiance and Betrayal: Isha and Kurnous
Among the pantheon, Isha, goddess of fertility and life, and her consort Kurnous, god of the hunt, defied Asuryan’s edict. They continued to guide the Eldar by sending messages through spirit stones crafted by Vaul, the smith god.
However, their defiance was discovered by Khaine, who captured the pair and subjected them to endless torment. Vaul attempted to intervene, forging a hundred magical blades to secure their release, but fell short of his promise. Khaine, enraged by the deception, launched a campaign of destruction, igniting a war among the gods.
The Fall of the Pantheon
The war reached its climax when the Eldar empire fell into decadence. Their unchecked indulgences and desires resonated within the Warp, culminating in the birth of Slaanesh, the Chaos God of Excess.
“With a single, soul-rending scream, Slaanesh was born, and the pantheon of the Eldar was torn asunder.”
The rise of Slaanesh spelled doom for the Eldar gods. Even the mighty Khaine fell, shattered into fragments that rained across the galaxy, taking the form of the Avatars of Khaine—beacons of war and vengeance for the surviving Eldar.
The only surviving gods were:
- Cegorach, the Laughing God, who escaped Slaanesh’s wrath by hiding in the Webway.
- Khaine, though shattered, whose Avatars remain as manifestations of war.
- Ynnead, the nascent god of the dead, whose awakening is prophesied to bring about Slaanesh’s ultimate defeat.
The Birth of the Asuryani and Craftworlds
Following the destruction of their pantheon, the Eldar civilization fractured. The survivors, known as the Asuryani, retreated to colossal space-faring vessels called Craftworlds. These sanctuaries became the new bastions of Eldar culture, preserving their way of life and traditions.
Through the use of spirit stones, the Asuryani found a way to protect their souls from being devoured by Slaanesh, tethering their essence to the Infinity Circuits of their Craftworlds after death.
The Harlequins and the Laughing God
While many Eldar sought refuge on Craftworlds, others turned to Cegorach, the Laughing God. His Harlequins became the keepers of Eldar mythology, preserving the tales of their gods and reenacting the Dance Without End, a theatrical retelling of the Fall. Harlequins traverse the Webway, serving as messengers and warriors of the Laughing God’s will.
Ynnead: The Last Hope
In the darkest hour of the Eldar, hope lies in the awakening of Ynnead, the god of the dead. Believed to be slumbering within the Infinity Circuits of the Craftworlds, Ynnead’s rise is foretold to bring balance and deliverance to the Eldar by defeating Slaanesh once and for all.
The Ynnari, a sect of Eldar devoted to Ynnead, have emerged as agents of this prophecy, seeking unity among their fractured kin and the strength to challenge Chaos itself.
Legacy of the Eldar Gods
The mythology of the Eldar is not merely a relic of the past; it continues to shape their actions, beliefs, and struggles in the present. From the war cries of the Avatars of Khaine to the theatrical performances of the Harlequins, the Eldar draw strength from their divine heritage, even as they grapple with its tragic legacy.
In the grim darkness of the far future, the Eldar’s survival depends on their ability to reconcile their fractured past and unite against the existential threats of Chaos, Orks, and humanity.
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