Saim-Hann
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Saim-Hann is an Eldar Craftworld with a reputation for wildness and a preference for lightning-fast attacks.
Contents
Background
Saim-Hann (literally, "Quest for Enlightenment") is regarded by other Craftworlds as anything from a slightly wild and dangerous place to a nest of barbarians living on the edge of Eldar society. They have developed the Path of the Eldar in a much more flexible way than other Eldar. On Saim-Hann, the Path is still a form of control over Eldar life, but it allows Eldar to experience the more wild and carefree ways of old. This practice is regarded by other Eldar as being dangerous, as it was just those sorts of feelings and experiences that led to the Fall of the Eldar. It is said that Saim-Hann was one of the first Craftworlds to escape the Eldar homeworlds before the birth of Slaanesh. It still maintains many links with the somewhat primitive Exodites.[Needs Citation]The symbol of Saim-Hann, the Cosmic Serpent, is the only creature believed by the Eldar to exist both in the Materium and Immaterium at the same time. Hence, the serpent is said to know all secrets, past and present.[2] The Cosmic Serpent is the brother of Shaimesh, a Dark Muse of poison and assassins, telling of a darker heritage.[3]
The Warriors of Saim-Hann are proud, boisterous and aggressive, and use fast, mobile troops with a high quantity of Jetbikes. Young Guardians are always trying to outdo each other in contests of speed, and particularly in battle. Their symbol is the Cosmic Serpent, and they wear red armour with contrasting black and white detailing. They also tend to use striping techniques on their vehicles.[Needs Citation]
Wild Riders
Almost every member of Saim-Hann is part of a Wild Rider family, including the seers, and this allows them to field many specialists who ride Jetbikes and Vypers. The families maintain a feudal hierarchy ruled by one Eldar and the rule is passed down through hereditary tradition. The closest family to the "Chief" become the Kinsmen, who form the ruling elite of the family. The families will decide for themselves whether to go to war and the Kinsmen will then guide the chief in battle.[Needs Citation]
Some families also fight with each other, although they usually take the form of a ritual single combat between champions. These contests are not uncommon, although fights to the death are very rare as first blood is usually sufficient to determine a winner.[Needs Citation]
Notable Conflicts
- The slaying of Lilesh Snarelust
- The Sacking of Colonia
- The war for Lilia Mundi
- The Theft of Lethidia
- The War on Dellerax — 859-861.M41, war between Saim-Hann Eldar and Cadian Imperial Guard
- The Scouring of Gnosis
- The Battle of Bosphodia
- The War against Hive Fleet Hydra on Methuselax
- The Blood Crusade - Saim-Hann sends five entire clans.[7]
- The Raid on Saim-Hann - Saim-Hann is raided by the Dark Eldar who seek to murder Yvraine, prophet of the Ynnari.[7]
- The War of Beasts — A blood feud erupts on Vigilus against the Ultramarines
- Nachmund Rift War[12]
- War Zone Laevenir - Against the Tyranids.[9]
- Battle against the Black Legion on Daethe[11]
- Arks of Omen Campaign[13]
Notable Characters
- Eliac Zephyrblade — Autarch
- Ghaelyn - Autarch[11]
- Fell Winter — Legendary Chieftain
- Hrythar Dreamweave — Wild Rider[5]
- Illanor — Farseer
- Almic — Farseer
- Yhunai - Farseer
- Nuadhu 'Fireheart' — a legendary Vyper rider of the Wild Riders.[1]
- Saimesh Roh — Wraithknight.[6]
- Talyesin Fharenal — Autarch, female[4]
- Yrannae — Autarch, who served as Chieftain Fell Winter's second in command, when he led an invasion of the Imperium world Dellerax
- Antelyth Thyllian — Autarch
- Yrn-fae — was a Swooping Hawk Exarch, who was part of Chieftain Fell Winter's forces that invaded the Imperium world Dellerax. He was killed in The Battle of Phantomfall
- Anvirr Keltoc — Farseer
- Rhyloor — Autarch
- Qelanaris — Spiritseer
Trivia
- Samhain is both a Celtic festival, and by an extension a name of the month of November in Irish.
Sources
- 1: Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 39
- 2: Codex: Eldar (6th Edition) (Ebook) pg. 24
- 3: Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition), pg. 37
- 4: FFG Announcing "The Final Gambit" - War Pack of the Conquest game — (last accessed 4 December 2015)
- 5: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 17
- 6: White Dwarf 64 (2015) — The Eldar Warhosts: Summoning the Warhost
- 7: Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising pg.12
- 8: Warhammer 40,000.com Map (last accessed 8/10/2020)
- 9: Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition Rulebook pg.161-162
- 10: Warhammer Community: Craftworld Focus: Saim-Hann (posted 10/17/2017) (last accessed 1/5/2021)
- 11: Warhammer Community: New Asuryani Clash with Chaos Space Marines in the Next Warhammer 40,000 Battlebox (Posted on 25/12/2021) (Last accessed on 25 December 2021)
- 12: War Zone Nachmund: Rift War, pg. 33
- 13: Arks of Omen: Abaddon, pgs. 30-37
Uncited
- Games Workshop Saim-Hann website (accessed 2007.06.18)
- Notes on the Eldar by Inquisitor Czevak (accessed 2007.06.18)