This is a list of Craftworlds, or planet like homes, of the Eldar race in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional setting. Eldar 4th edition codex In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Eldar are a race of elf-like humanoids. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ...

History of the Craftworlds

In the time leading up to the Fall, not all the Eldar that remained on the Eldar Empire's primary homeworlds fell to the lures of hedonism. Many remained free of the depraved corruption, struggling to turn their species from its doom. Unable to do so, many of the greatest Eldar Seers caught glimpses of the darkness to come, and undertook a titanic effort to save their people. For each Eldar homeworld a gigantic ship was created, sung from wraithbone and so massive as to be nearly a planetoid itself. The last uncorrupted people from each Eldar world were loaded onto these ships, along with works of art, plant life and animals, and whatever else of Eldar culture that could be saved. In these Craftworlds (as they came to be known) the final Eldar Exodus began, and only barely in time. The psychic shockwave of Slaanesh's awakening caught some of the Craftworlds and destroyed them, while others were pulled into orbit around the Eye of Terror. The rest drift throughout the galaxy today, their exact number uncertain, as contact with and between them can be difficult and intermittent. Despite the differences between the dozens of Craftworlds of the Eldar, all share the same technology with regards to weapons, equipment and vehicles. ...

The Craftworlds probably compose the majority of the surviving Eldar race in the galaxy of the forty-first millennium, although it is impossible to say just how many this is. They are certainly the seat of the remaining Eldar industry, technology, and culture, as they contain the only vestiges of their original homeworlds. Most of the Craftworlds contain special biodomes that house plants and wildlife from their original world, and these are carefully tended. Although each Craftworld is essentially independent in its actions and governance, they will generally offer and accept aid and advice from one another. Although not common, sometimes Craftworld disagreements will cause them to clash with each other on the field of battle, though this is always a last resort.

Alaitoc

Far out on the frontiers of the galaxy, on the edge of explored space, lies the Alaitoc Craftworld. The Alaitoc Eldar are zealous in their guard against the touch of Slaanesh, even more so than other Craftworld Eldar. For these two reasons many of its citizens will at one time or another decide to leave the strict confines of the ship and strike out on their own or in small groups of rangers. They will return in times of need however, and so all Alaitoc armies will have a substantial force of rangers. The colour of their armour varies from blue and yellow, to blue and bone.

Altansar

A small Craftworld that had been on the edge of the shockwave from the Fall, Altansar was long thought to have been lost in the Eye of Terror along with the homeworlds of the Eldar. However, there were reports of its sighting and even active involvement in the recently conducted campaign between the Imperium and the Chaos Marines in the Eye of Terror during the Thirteenth Black Crusade, and doubt now exists as to its fate. As of the 4th Edition Eldar Codex, it was revealed that Altansar did, in fact, escape from the Warp with the help of the Phoenix Lord Maugan Ra, and that Eldar of other craftworlds regard its inhabitants with deep suspicion due to their multi-millennial imprisonment in the Eye of Terror.

Biel-tan

Artist's rendering of the Biel-Tan emblem

The most martial of the Craftworlds, Biel-tan has made the decision to try and reforge the Eldar Empire. Each craftworld carries the seeds of Eldar culture. Not all are identical by any means, as each reflects the cultural heritage of its long dead world of origin. Biel-Tan is renowned for the strong warrior ideals of its people. For the Eldar of Biel-Tan the Way of the Warrior, the life-stage that encompasses the Aspect Warriors, is considered the first step upon the Path of the Eldar. Upon reaching physical maturity a Biel-Tan Eldar becomes an Aspect Warrior, and only once he has fulfilled this role can he continue along the Path of the Eldar. The Eldar of Biel-Tan have a strong honour code and believe that the best way to die is in battle fighting the enemies of Biel-Tan. In the centre of the craftworld there is a special Chamber of Heroes where the spirit stones of dead Aspect Warriors are placed. When the Runeseers have to make a particularly difficult decision about the future of their craftworld they retire to the Chamber of Heroes to consult with the warrior dead. The dead of particular battles are arranged together and are often referred to by the name of the battle in which they fell - for example the Dead of Corrus fell fighting Chaos on an ancient Eldar colony. Image File history File links Bieltan. ... Image File history File links Bieltan. ...

Distinguishing Features

The symbol of Biel-Tan is the Eldar rune of rebirth and its name actually means the 'Rebirth of Ancient Days'. Biel-Tan Guardians wear white or grey uniforms with details in green. Vehicles are often coloured entirely green, with large areas broken up using a pattern of twisting vines in a contrasting shade. For every kill a pilot makes, a thorn is added to the vine. The name of the craftworld is possibly derived from the Gaelic Beltane (AKA Bealtaine or May Day). The colour scheme of the Biel-Tan Craftworld and its forces is generally green and white. This article is about the Gaelic holiday. ... May Day is May 1, and refers to any of several holidays celebrated on this day. ...

Il-Kaithe

The Eldar of Il-Kaithe constantly crusade against the forces of Chaos. Their talented Bonesingers are said to be able to practice their art even in the heat of battle. The colour of Il-Kaithe is green accompanied by purple.

Iyanden

Artist's rendering of the Iyanden emblem

The Iyanden Craftworld was once one of the largest and most prosperous of all the remaining Eldar craftworlds. They barely survived an attack by the Tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken, which nearly destroyed the Craftworld and killed four-fifths of its population. On the verge of total annihilation, Iyanden was saved from complete destruction by the exiled Prince Yriel, who had formerly been the High Admiral of the Iyanden fleet. Yriel and his exile pirate raiders, even though previously vowing never to return to Iyanden, could not bear to have their craftworld destroyed and launched an attack on the Tyranid fleet. Taking the final battle to the craftworld itself, Yriel used an ancient artefact spear to slay the Hive Tyrant that led the assault. In doing so, Yriel doomed himself to a slow and painful death due to the psychic artifact being bound to its user and burning their soul. Regardless of his actions, the chances of Iyanden recovering from its losses are slim and their future looks bleak. Image File history File links Iyanden. ... Image File history File links Iyanden. ... In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, Tyranids are a locust-like swarm of aliens which come in many shapes and sizes. ... Nobable characters and heroes form the Warhammer 40,000 race, the Eldar include: // Phoenix Lord Asurmen. ...

Distinguishing Features

Eldar of Iyanden rely much more heavily upon the spirits of the dead to defend them because of their low numbers. Iyanden makes heavy use of undead warriors known as Wraithguard and Wraithlords animated by the souls of their fallen kin. They have specialised psykers called Spiritseers who are trained in aiding the reanimated souls in battle. However, most Eldar see Spiritseers as necromancers, and even the Spiritseers themselves hate disturbing the spirits of the dead. Indeed, on the eve of the attack by Hive Fleet Kraken, Iyanden's leader Farseer Kelmon made the fateful decision to take the spirit stones from their resting places and place them into Wraithbone constructs to take to battle, knowing that they would make the difference in the craftworld's survival.^[1] Since the release of the 2006 eldar Codex, all craftworld eldar armies can field Spiritseers to help guide their wraith-construct warriors, not just Iyanden^[2]. Psykers are individuals with psychic abilities in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe. ...

The symbol of Iyanden is the Shrine of Asuryan. Asuryan is one of the most famous of the Eldar Gods. The Phoenix Lords all are some of the "children" of Asuryan, and Asurmen is the very "Hand of Asuryan". In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Eldar] are a race of elf-like humanoids. ...

Iybraesil

Iybraesil is a largely matriarchal society. As followers of Morai-Heg, the Iybraesil Eldar constantly aspire to recover the hidden secrets of the crone worlds. The colours of Iybraesil is blue accompanied by white.

Kaelor

An extremely isolated Craftworld of the Eldar. Under unclear circumstances, at some point in the distant past Kaelor made a webway jump to the edge of the galaxy and has not ventured back towards the galactic centre for several millennia. It has virtually no contact with the outside galaxy, and even the Harlequins barely remember its existence.

Lugganath

The renegades of Lugganath foster close ties with the Harlequins, for the Lugganath Eldar hope to abandon this galaxy and start civilization afresh and claim the webway as their realm. The main colours of Lugganath is orange accompanied by black.

Saim-Hann

Artist's rendering of the Saim-Hann emblem

The Eldar craftworld of Saim-Hann was one of the first craftworlds to abandon the crone worlds as the Fall of the Eldar approached, heeding their Farseer's warnings. As such they have spent far more time isolated from the rest of the Eldar than the other main craftworlds, although they do contact and have a similar culture to the Exodite worlds. They are fierce warriors, who place upon honour a higher value than their sophisticated kin. This, coupled with their pride, has sadly led them to conflict with each other and different craftworlds. While this generally takes the form of an organised duel between representatives of each clan, in which first blood is usually sufficient, the high number of deaths from these conflicts has lent to the barbaric reputation of the craftworld^[2]. Image File history File links Saimhann. ... Image File history File links Saimhann. ... The Fall of the Eldar is an event in the science fiction universe which provides the background story for the miniature wargame Warhammer 40,000. ... During The Fall, the degeneration of the Eldar did not go wholly without resistance. ...

Distinguishing Features

On the tabletop the Wild Host of Saim-Hann is comprised almost entirely of jetbikes. Any unit which cannot be mounted on jetbikes or do not have a fast form of movement (such as warp jump generators or Swooping Hawk wings) is normally given a wave serpent transport. An exception to this are the Wraithlords and Dark Reapers, whose role is normally to give covering fire to the vehicles. The force is fast moving and tactically flexible, meaning that even against a far stronger or more numerous enemy the Eldar of Saim-Hann can always remain just beyond their reach^[2]. Eldar 4th edition codex In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Eldar are a race of elf-like humanoids. ...

The Saim-Hann warhosts are generally coloured red or a light scarlet colour. They are generally highlighted with contrasting clours, mainly black, white or yellow in striped patterns. The different warrior clans have different personal symbols, however, so there is almost certain to be a significant amount of variation between clans, squads or even individuals. The craftworld symbol is a stylised serpent. The serpent is significant in Eldar mythology because it is supposed to be the only creature to exist in the spiritual and physical worlds at the same time. Indeed, it is revered so much by the Saim-Hann Eldar that one of their coming-of-age rites is to catch a daggersnake (found on the worlds of the Exodites) in mid-strike. The serpent also epitomises the attack style of Saim-Hann-a fast, deadly strike before withdrawing, leaving the enemy panicked and confused.

Ulthwé

Artist's rendering of the Ulthwé emblem

Ulthwé was caught in the pull of the Eye of Terror, where the Immaterium crosses with real space and a brooding ground for Chaos and a gateway to the Warp. Due to this proximity to the Eye, Ulthwé must be on constant high alert in case of attacks by the forces of Chaos. Constant risk and war has hardened the Craftworld's citizens and due to the lack of Aspect Warriors in the Craftworld, Ulthwé maintains a standing militia known as the Black Guardians, better skilled and better trained than soldiers of other Craftworlds ^[3]. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, the Eye of Terror has two meanings. ... The Immaterium (also referred to as the Empyrean or Warp) is an alternate dimension in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often malevolent entities which live in some sort of parallel universe, known as the Warp in Warhammer 40,000 and as the Realm of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy. ...

Such proximity to the potent raw energy that is the Eye, has also produced a large number of vigilant psykers in the form of Farseers and Warlocks among Ulthwé Eldar. Ulthwé regard the Path of the Seer over the Path of the Warrior. The most powerful of these psykers was the late Eldrad Ulthran, who was the leader of the Craftworld prior to his apparent demise aboard a Blackstone Fortress. The Seers of Ulthwé are said to be much more capable than those of other Craftworlds and can see far into the future to shape the destiny of their Craftworld based on their insights. The Seers may predict catastrophe and steer Ulthwé away from it or determine the best course of action regardless of the cost to other races. Such foresight can lead the people of Ulthwé to perform actions which seem selfish and erratic in the eyes of Men and other races, but to the seers of Ulthwé it is clear that such actions must be performed for the good of the Craftworld. Though results may not directly arise from such action, it will indirectly influence Ulthwé's fate perhaps far into the future^[2]. Psykers are individuals with psychic abilities in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe. ... Eldrad Ulthran In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, Eldrad Ulthran was the mightiest and most ancient of the Farseers of the Eldar Craftworld of Ulthwé. Among Eldrads accomplishments are supposedly: igniting the Second War for Armageddon so as to spare the lives of ten thousand Eldar,[1... Blackstone Fortress In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Blackstone Fortresses were originally created as weapons in the first war against the Ctan, and were known to the ancient Eldar as the Talismans of Vaul. ...

Distinguishing Features

In times of war, Ulthwé employs its militia of Black Guardians (profesional battle hardened soldiers) and Guardians as its army's backbone. Supporting these troops will be assortments of vehicles and elite units, flowing with advanced Eldar technology. Ulthwé also employs it's large number of psykers on the battlefield, sometimes in the form of a Seer Council consisting of multiple Farseers and Warlock Bodyguards. The Seer Council or Seers will use their potent powers to destroy the minds of their enemies, shape the battle's course to their favour and perform other tasks to ensure their victory. However, every time a Seer or Warlock delves into the Warp to harness its power to their favour, they risk their own minds and many have been lost to the terrors of the Warp which prey on the mind^[2].

Ulthwé may strike fast and hard in the form of an Ulthwé Strike Force, a highly mobile entity of Ulthwé's power in which units are highly mobilised by utilising jetbikes and other fast vehicles which enables Ulthwé to strike quickly and decisively through warp gates and vanish as quickly as they appeared.

The sight of an Ulthwé force is a brooding, dark image, filled with the air of mourning and suffering. Ulthwé's forces main colour is an ominous black and most Ulthwé vehicles and warrior armour is this colour. This is often contrasted with bone white, golden yellow and dark red. The symbol of Ulthwé is the Eye of Isha, a stylised eye with a lone tear symbolising the tears shed by the Goddess Isha for her Eldar children.

Contact with Outsiders

Of all the Eldar, Ulthwé seems to interfere with the affairs of other races the most because of its greater ability to foresee the future. Some notable conflicts resulting from Ulthwé intervention are:

• The Battle for Armageddon
• The Sanapan Scouring
• The Mortis Annihilation
• The Third Coming of Orian
• Imperial attempt to retrieve a Titan
• The Thirteenth Black Crusade of Abbadon.
• Worldwide purge of resurrected Necrons

In the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, the Eye of Terror has two meanings. ...

Yme-Loc

The Eldar of Yme-Loc are talented artisans, and their armies are supported by powerful grav-tanks and Titans. Yme-Loc's Guardians wear grey uniforms with orange helmets and armor. Their mighty titans and other vehicles are often colored grey with orange details.

Other Craftworlds

• Arach-Qin
• Aringhe
• Ava-Nile
• Menaan
• Nacretinei
• Stel-Uit
• Tir-Val
• Zahr-Tann

References

1. ^ http://uk.games-workshop.com/tyranids/defence-of-iyanden/1/
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Thorpe, Gav (2000). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Craftworld Eldar. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-029-3. 
3. ^ Eldar - Ulthwé. Games Workshop. Retrieved on 2006-03-02.

† Cassern S Goto,. Eldar Prophecy (Warhammer 40,000 Novels (Paperback)). Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84416-451-9.  For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...