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AeldariEdit

The Aeldari are an ancient, highly advanced humanoid species whose history stretches back tens of millennia in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They occupy the galaxy in three primary strains: the craftworld Eldar who have preserved their culture within vast, living ships; the Dark Eldar who dwell in the cruel shantytown of Commoragh; and the Harlequin cabals who keep the old myths alive across the webway. Their story is one of spectacular achievement, extraordinary artistry, and a cautionary tale about decadence, power, and the consequences of spiritual vacancy.

The Aeldari emerged long before many other civilizations rose to prominence. Their civilizations once spanned star systems, and their art, science, and psionic capabilities defined the cutting edge of civilization. However, their prosperity depended on the maintenance of a tightly disciplined cultural order. When excess and self-indulgence ran unchecked, a cosmic tragedy unfolded—the birth of Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Excess. The sudden shock of this birth caused a psychic cataclysm that shattered the Aeldari civilization and culled countless lives. The surviving Eldar had to react quickly to preserve what remained, leading to a diaspora that produced distinct paths of survival: the construction of craftworlds, the exile of certain factions into the Dark City network, and the formation of new traditions to keep their culture alive.Slaanesh Craftworld Asuryani

History

Origins and the rise of a vast empire

The Aeldari trace their roots to a long-vanished era of stellar empires where magic-like psychic power and mastery of technology fused into a sophisticated civilization. Their early world was one of poets and engineers, of dancers and tacticians, where awe-inspiring works of art and formidable warcraft went hand in hand. That synergy between beauty and power became a hallmark of their culture, and it served them well while their realm remained largely stable and expansionist.Asuryani Eldar

The Fall and the diaspora

The birth of Slaanesh—born from the excess, decadence, and unchecked hedonism of the Aeldari civilization—brought catastrophe. The immensity of their psychic spill led to the collapse of their empire and the near-total destruction of their species. A portion of the survivors sought to prevent a total extinction by retreating into sanctuaries far from the gaze of the galaxy: the craftworlds, immense starships that function as self-contained worlds. Others entered the darker, more brutal paths in the shadow-haunted cities of Commoragh, giving rise to the Drukhari. Yet a third path persisted through the Harlequins, who preserve the grand myths and histories of the Eldar on the move across the webway.Slaanesh Dark Eldar Harlequins Craftworld Iyanden Ulthwé Saim-Hann Alaitoc Exodites

The present diversity of the diaspora

Today, Aeldari communities inhabit distinct modes of life. The craftworld Eldar—the Asuryani—live in ancient, rule-bound societies governed by seers and noble houses, their days ordered around the protection of their people and the maintenance of their dying culture. The Drukhari exist in a brutal, survivalist society organized around predation and ritualized torment, where the life force of others—captured souls—fuels their relentless economy of cruelty and power. The Harlequins, elusive performers and storytellers, bind the two sides together through the memory of the Eldar’s former glories. This fragmentation reflects the deeper truth of the Aeldari: a civilization that achieved remarkable heights but remains guarded and wary of any force that might unbalance its delicate, long-accumulated order.Asuryani Drukhari Harlequins

Culture and society

Social structure and governance

Aeldari society is organized around hereditary and ceremonial lines of authority, with rulers shaped by long experience and the insights of seers. Farseers (psycho-sensitive leaders) and Warlocks (warrior mages) guide their people, while noble houses and craftworld councils decide on matters of war, diplomacy, and resource allocation. The craftworlds themselves are large, living machines built from Wraithbone and sustained by the will of their inhabitants; they are as much temples as cities, designed to preserve a way of life rather than to conquer distant horizons. This emphasis on order, tradition, and self-preservation has earned the Aeldari a reputation for discipline and strategic patience.Farseer Warlock Wraithbone Craftworld Iyanden Ulthwé]

Culture of artistry and psionics

Art, music, poetry, and architecture are not mere pleasures for the Aeldari; they are forms of discipline and power. Their artisanship is legendary, and their wargear often blends aesthetics with function. At the heart of Aeldari mastery lies psionics—abilities that shape reality and bend the will of others. The careful cultivation of psychic power is a sacred duty, and it is managed through institutions that emphasize restraint, focus, and the protection of the greater good of their people. Soulstones and the reverence for the soul are foundational in how they honor and preserve individuals even after death. Soulstone Psionics

Exodites and other offshoots

Not all Eldar who survived the fall did so within the craftworld framework. The Exodites—challenging but verdant leaders—settle on exoplanets, living with the flora and fauna of those worlds and maintaining a more agrarian, hands-on relationship with their environment. These groups remind us that even within a culture as refined as the Aeldari, there is room for diverse approaches to security, governance, and life itself. Exodites Iyanden Alaitoc Saim-Hann

Technology and warfare

Living technology and advanced weaponry

Aeldari technology is a fusion of engineering precision and psionic compatibility. Their weapons and vehicles are often lighter, sleeker, and more flexible than those of many rivals, while their ships—built of Wraithbone and other living materials—are both fortress and sanctuary. Their wargear is designed to maximize battlefield efficiency, with tactics that emphasize mobility, precision, and the strategic use of psychic power. The marriage of high science and mystic discipline defines Aeldari military philosophy. Wraithbone Farseer Harlequins

The two faces of military doctrine

On the craftworlds, warfare is undertaken with a sense of purpose, thrift, and restraint; even aggressive campaigns are conducted with careful planning and a respect for other civilizations. The Drukhari, by contrast, pursue war as a means of survival and a way to harvest life-energy from others, making their methods notoriously brutal and morally contested. For observers who value order and long-term stability, the Craftworld Eldar’s approach is more admirable, even if it comes with stern moral choices. Drukhari Ultramar Saim-Hann

Notable groups and places

  • Asuryani on the craftworlds: Ulthwé, Iyanden, Saim-Hann, Alaitoc, and others; each with distinctive customs and war-cults. Ulthwé Iyanden Saim-Hann Alaitoc
  • The Harlequin cabals who preserve history and myth while moving through the webway. Harlequins
  • The Dark Eldar city of Commoragh and its ruthlessly efficient raiding culture. Drukhari
  • The Exodite worlds, with their own unique cultures and ways of life. Exodites
  • The Soulstone, a sigil of memory and self-preservation in death. Soulstone
  • The Webway, a vast network of tunnels used for travel between Eldar domains. Webway

Controversies and debates

From a traditionalist perspective, the Aeldari embody both admirable discipline and dangerous hubris. The fall that birthed Slaanesh is regularly cited as a stark warning against unrestrained decadence, and many observers defend the craftworlds’ insistence on order and continuity as essential to long-term survival in a dangerous galaxy. Critics argue that such a society can verge on rigid elitism, insularity, and a reluctance to engage with other civilizations on terms of mutual benefit. The existence of the Drukhari—whose brutal practices are a direct challenge to universal norms—offers a dramatic contrast that fuels ongoing debates about the costs and benefits of extreme self-preservation versus open, pluralistic engagement with others. Proponents argue that the Eldar’s selective contact preserves their civilization and protects billions of lives from a cascade of spiritual and material decay, while detractors claim that fear of outside influence stifles innovation and moral progress.

The debate around contact with human civilizations and other species is part of a broader conversation about sovereignty and responsibility. Some commentators maintain that the Aeldari’s cautious diplomacy and selective knowledge-sharing are prudent, given the galaxy’s volatile history and the risk of attracting the forces of chaos or rivals who would exploit contact for their own ends. Others insist that such reticence hampers progress and hinders moral accountability to a broader galactic community. These tensions reflect a broader ethic in which tradition and prudence are weighed against openness and growth, a tension typical of long-lived civilizations seeking stability in a universe marked by uncertainty. Slaanesh Craftworld Farseer Warlock

See also