Eldar Path
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This article is about the Eldar Path; for the Novel Series by Gav Thorpe, see Path of the Eldar (Novel Series). |
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After the Fall of the Eldar those Eldar who had managed to save themselves upon the Craftworlds underwent a complete social reform. Their lives would no longer spent in pursuit of their wishes, pleasures, and wanton natures. This had led to the Fall, and the creation of Slaanesh. Instead the individual Eldar chooses for himself a discipline, a Path, and will focus himself upon it. This path will be studied, practiced, and eventually mastered. Then the Eldar chooses a new path and the process will begin anew.
Each new role does not completely replace the previous, but merely adds to the Eldar's accumulated experience. As Eldar pass through these different roles they explore the many aspects of their own character. An Eldar of a thousand years or more will usually have experienced many different roles and attained a very sophisticated understanding of the universe.2
All Eldar who tread a path must be cautious, for all of them are dangerous for the Eldar mind. Some Eldar focus and obsess themselves to such an extent upon a path that he becomes unable to leave it upon completion. They will continue to tread this path until their death. This fate is a terrible one for the Eldar, and such individuals are said to be lost upon the path. This can be done on purpose. There are an unknown number of paths, and each of them has further specializations.
The doomed Bards of Twilight are also lost upon their path but its name is currently unknown.
Contents
Known paths
The Paths of the Seer and the Warrior are just two of the many paths Eldar may devote themselves to. Some of these other roles are very clearly defined, with their own traditions and behavioral patterns. Others are less structured and offer less guidance. They allow a relative amount of freedom and rely on the inner strength that the Eldar has already attained. These paths involve more civilian and mundane roles such as technicians, civil administrators, fabricators, colonists, traders, explorers, etc. Regardless of their civilian roles, these Eldar still take part in battle as Guardians and in other functions which are necessary in any military force.2
Path of Awakening
The Path of Awakening is a path in which Eldar learn how to analyse their surroundings. Those trained on this path can notice things that would seem insignificant or impossible to see, even to a normal Eldar. The Path of Awakening is the polar opposite of the Path of Dreaming, as it focuses on looking without rather than within. The Path of Awakening is usually a prelude to the Path of the Artisan.5
Path of the Artisan
The Path of the Artisan is a relatively common path. Upon the Path of the Artisan, there are many smaller avenues, such as the Path of the Poet, the Path of the Sculpter and so on. Even within each of these minor paths there are conflicting schools of style, such as the School of Hithrinair, which teaches that the artist should become as much apart of his art as he can be, with its followers often bleaching their skin and marking themselves with stylistic tattoos.3
Path of Command
The Path of Command is for those Eldar with a passion for military command and strategy. Its members are the Autarchs who tread this path to better command larger forces of Eldar warriors. To enter this path one is expected to have completed previously several 'military' paths already.
Path of the Dreamer
The Path of the Dreamer is a meditative path undertaken by many Eldar in which the Eldar learns to control and direct their dreams, which they can stay entranced in for days at a time. During these dreams it is usual for another Eldar to act as a "Dream Watcher". 5
Path of Grief
The Path of Grief is a path in which one grieves for the death and sufffering at Eldar remmberance services and funerals. This allows the other Eldar to remember without succumbing to the emotions that would be in violation of the Path and tempt the wrath of She Who Thirsts. 5
Path of the Mariner
The Path of the Mariner crew the Eldar spaceships. Those who seek this path often wish to see the sights of the galaxy and often seek inner peace after a period in which they feel lost. Also known as the Path of the Steersman. 5
Path of the Outcast
The Path of the Outcast is what is considered as outside the Eldar Path. Those who desert the Eldar Path are known as Outcasts and follow the Path of the Outcast. The intensely capable Eldar mind sometimes rebels against the highly structured delineation of achievement which the Eldar Path offers. Without the protection of the Eldar Path an individual is likely to be driven crazy and eventually succumb to self-destructive urges. The worst fate of all is the Path of Damnation, but no Eldar will speak of this aberration and so almost nothing is known about it.2
Sometimes young, inexperienced or disgraced Eldar leave their craftworlds to wander among the stars. Thereby they break out of the cycle of paths and go through a period of great danger. This period is sometimes called the Path of the Outcast, Path of Wandering, or Path of Damnation, but these names are technically wrong as these Eldar are completely outside of the cycle of paths.
Most of the time they become Rangers. Some eventually return to their Craftworlds and to the safety of the paths. Those who are unable to return, for one reason or another, eventually become Pathfinders. Other outcasts become pirates, raiders, and corsairs.
Path of Service
The Path of Service is a path in which Eldar give themselves over to the service of others. Eldar do this out of the same sense of duty that inspires some to take more militant paths. They perform jobs the Humans may describe as menial. 5
Path of the Seer
The Path of the Seer, aka Witch Path, is the longest, most treacherous, most complex, and rarest of all paths. Its members are the psychic Seers. The Spiritseers are specialists in the handling of spirit stones for the raising of the Wraithguards and Wraithlords. The Warlocks previously underwent the Path of the Warrior and now lead the Eldar into battle. The Farseers are lost upon the path of the Seer, and are the most powerful Eldar psykers of all. Bonesingers are Seers who use their psychic talents to manipulate the growth of Wraithbone2.
The ultimate fate of a Farseer is to become wholly part of the Craftworld as a Crystal Seer.
Path of the Warrior
The Path of the Warrior. Its members are the Aspect Warriors. Those who lose themselves upon this path become Exarchs. The most widely known aspects are the Dire Avengers, the Howling Banshees, the Striking Scorpions, the Fire Dragons, the Swooping Hawks, the Dark Reapers, and the Warp Spiders. There are several lesser known types of aspect warriors, some even unique to a single craftworld. One of the more rare aspects are the Shining Spears. Also known is the aspect of the Eagle Pilot1, who is the Eldar equivalent to a fighter-pilot.
It must be mentioned that Guardians are not treading this path at all. They are following other 'civilian' paths, being summoned to fight for the Craftworld for the duration of the given emergency.
Sources
- Codex: Craftworld Eldar (3rd Edition)
- Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
- 1Shadow Point (Novel), page 42
- 2White Dwarf 127, reprinted in Warhammer 40,000: Compilation
- 3Path of the Warrior (Novel), page 35
- 4Path of the Warrior (Novel), page 46
- 5Path of the Warrior (Novel)
