Path of the Warrior (Novel)
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Path of the Warrior written by Gav Thorpe is the first book in the Path of the Eldar Series. It follows Korlandril, starting from the Path of the Artisan, to and through the Path of the Warrior as a Striking Scorpion.
Plot Summary
Korlandril is an Eldar from Alaitoc Craftworld. He is a sculptor of some renown on the craftworld of Alaitoc. However, when his best friend, Aradryan returns from a long time in space, his life takes a turn for the worse, spurned by momentary hatred, emotional betrayal from Thirianna a female friend, Korlandril is swooned towards the Aspect Temples, to flaunt his anger in battle, in the way of war. Following the route of the Striking Scorpion, the shadow-bound hunter, the shadow of Khaine, Korlandril works to control his depthless rage, and to focus it on a constructive task
Trained in the hidden art by Kenainath, Exarch of the Shrine, Korlandril leaves the Path of the Sculptor behind, reining in his primitive bloodlust, tuning his body to become a thing of lethal beauty. Korlandril`s first task is against the Orkish Xenos upon Eileniliesh, an Eldar Exodite world. The Aspect Warriors strike a hammer-blow against the Orks, though Korlandril is heavily mortal injured by the hand of an Ork Warlord.
Escorted back to Alaitoc, Korlandril is healed upon the Craftworld, though to a heated mental battle, against t losing control of his War-mask. The War-Mask must be allowed to only surface once blood is shed, not during times of peace. Korlandril, however fails to keep this important division between the shedding of blood and all the surrounding emotions, and the peaceful nature of the Aspect; losing his identity wrought from his previous Paths, and boiling down into a purest incarnation , an Exarch.
Abandoned from the Shrine of the Deadly Shadow, Korlandril, spurned by the message of the Autarch`s heads towards a long, abandoned Shrine of the Striking Scorpion, only to be bereft of his own body, as his soul is consumed by a far more ancient Eldar presence, manifesting, alongside its former personalities, as Morlaniath, one of the founding Exarch`s of the Aspect. Korlandril is encompassed by Morlaniath, revealing how the Exarch`s Keninaith and Aranarha are but conglomerations of many Eldar of the history of the Craftworld forged into one archaic suite of armour.
War stirs with the arrival of the Phoenix Lord ; Baharroth, Maugan Ra and Karandras to Alaitoc. The Young King is scarified to awaken the Avatar of Khaine, the Aspect Temples unite, and Alaitoc readies for battle, as the Imperium launches a frontal assault against the Craftworld. With thousands of Guardsmen charging orbital defenses, spearheaded by the the Adeptus Astartes. As the battle rage on, Karandras sacrifices himself to save Bechareth a former Dark Eldar Incubi, now pursuing the Path of the Warrior as a Striking Scorpion. Morlaniath then allow himself to be consumed and becomes the new host of Karandras. Karandras then proceeds to fight against the invading Imperium forces.
Notable Characters
- Baharroth - Phoenix Lord of the Swooping Hawks
- Maugan Ra - Phoenix Lord of the Dark Reapers
- Karandras - Phoenix Lord of the Striking Scorpions
