Eldar - Encyclopedia/F

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Eldar Encyclopedia Index:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Named Eldar Individuals and Units
Battles of the Eldar
Appendix


FALCON (FAOLCHU)

During the war in heaven, it was Falcon, consort of the Great Hawk who retrieved Vaul's mighty sword Anaris, and gave it to the Eldar hero Eldanesh to continue the battle with Khaine. It is this principle of deliverance which is behind the design of the Falcon grav-tank. With its potent armament and ability to carry a small squad of fighters, the Falcon is designed to take the fight to the enemy, or to extricate the warriors should the resistance prove too fierce. A Falcon is usually armed with twin-linked shuriken catapults, pulse laser and an Eldar heavy weapon (See Eldanesh; Grav-tanks; Kaela Mensha Khaine; Vaul).

FALL OF THE ELDAR

Over ten thousand years ago the Eldar race suffered the greatest tragedy ever to befall a major intelligent race. The Eldar civilisation was at its height and spanned a significant portion of the galaxy. Their worlds were places of beauty and peace, paradises of personal contentment and cultural achievement. However, all this was to end in a cataclysm of destruction which was to wipe out the inter-planetary civilisation of the Eldar at a single stroke. This cataclysm is known simply as the Fall.

All Eldar tend towards extremes of emotion and intellect so that the temptation to pursue a life of pleasure, art and intellectual gratification is very great. Even before the Fall the majority of Eldar recognised these temptations and fought against them, refusing to be drawn into the inescapable pleasures which their sensibilities and culture afforded. However, the very act of fighting against their own nature had an unbalancing effect on their minds. Hysteria, insanity and a multitude of racial psychoses began to affect almost the entire population. Some Eldar gave in to their hedonistic impulses, joining exotic cults in their pursuit for novel experiences, esoteric knowledge and sensual excess. As these cults proliferated, Eldar society became increasingly divided. Foreseeing the collapse of their civilisation, some Eldar began a series of mass migrations to newly seeded planets where they planned to set up utopian societies free from the taint of hedonism. These Eldar called their migrations the Exodus, and referred to themselves as Exodites. Many early Exodites were wiped out by marauding Orks or became embroiled in the internal wars of humans, but some were successful, forming frontier civilisations based around a core of noble houses.

Between the survivalist Exodites and the uncaring pleasure seekers were Eldar who were still mentally stable, and who remained behind in the hope that they could help restore order to their civilisation. They became increasingly few in number until even they realised that their dream of recovery was hopeless. Eventually even these few die-hards were forced to abandon their homes as the whole Eldar civilisation fell apart in an apocalypse of destruction and madness. The last of the true Eldar eventually deserted their planets on board the few remaining spacecraft, beginning a new phase of Eldar civilisation - the age of spaceborne travel and the Craftworlds. The creatures that screamed and cackled over the ruins of the Eldar worlds could no longer be called Eldar.

The warp is an alternative universe inhabited entirely by psychic energy created by the thoughts, emotions and mental life of the inhabitants of the material universe. These thoughts and emotions cannot die, they are eternal, so that over the ages they accrue and become stronger as they are reinforced by the similar thoughts and experiences of others. Eventually a single idea or emotion can become so powerful within the warp that it attains a consciousness of its own and becomes a daemon or a god. These daemonic entities are known as the Chaos Powers. The most powerful of these are the four Great Powers Khorne the god of war , bloodshed and anger; Tzeentch the god of change, plots and intrigue; Nurgle the god of plagues and morbidity; and Slaanesh the god of pleasure and personal gratification. Slaanesh is particularly associated with the Eldar, and only came into being with their final Fall. Prior to this time Slaanesh was growing in power but not fully conscious - rather like a sleeping monster bellowing and kicking in its dream disturbed sleep.

As the Eldar pursued their road to destruction so their emotional life degenerated into the reckless pursuit of pleasure, exotic experience and intellectual indulgence. The mental energies released into the warp as a result coagulated into an entity, an entity which was potentially very powerful but which was not yet fully conscious. This entity was named Slaanesh. Some Eldar had already begun to worship the god's sleeping form. For centuries the Eldar had predicted the Coming of the Lord of Pleasure, so that many had come to disbelieve the prophets and their endless tales of doom. As the disturbed dreams of Slaanesh began to infiltrate the minds of the Eldar, so their degeneration accelerated apace, further feeding Slaanesh in the warp, and creating an unbreakable cycle of doom. While there were Eldar sane enough to be appalled by the degeneration of their race, their horror kept Slaanesh from achieving full consciousness. When the cataclysm finally came there were few sane Eldar left on their home planets. As these few Eldar fled aboard the flotillas of trading ships Slaanesh finally awoke. With a scream the god was shaken into consciousness and the other three Chaos gods were driven scattered through the warp by the waking terror like ships before the storm. The energy of that scream swept across the entire galaxy, and blew through the minds of psykers everywhere, destroying them in untold millions. Where the energy was concentrated most in the Eldar homeworlds, the boundaries between warp and real space were torn apart.

The intermixing of the two realities wiped out most of the inhabitants of the Eldar planets and formed the area of warp-real space overlap known as the Eye of Terror. Those Eldar who had succumbed to the temptations of pleasure were particularly vulnerable. Other Eldar who hod resisted the decline of their civilisation were better protected. Even so, many billions died as they fled in the giant trading ships, but some survived and rode out the psychic shockwave to become the Craftworlds of today.

The Fall was to have a further terrible result for the Eldar race, for their natural psychic nature made them especially vulnerable to the predations of daemonic creatures and especially to the newly awakened Slaanesh. As the representation of the Eldar mind, Slaanesh is able to gather up the psychic energy of Eldar as it flees their dying bodies. This means that when an Eldar dies the eternal psychic part of him, his soul, is immediately consumed by Slaanesh. Needless to say, this evokes great horror in the Eldar who will go to any lengths to avoid this fate. Therefore every Eldar wears a small spirit stone called a Waystone which has the ability to capture the psychic energy when he dies (See also Craftworlds; Exodites; Slaanesh; Waystone).

FALLEN PHOENIX (THE)

The Fallen Phoenix is one of the most sinister of all ancient Eldar Lords. Arhra, as he was once known was one of the Asurya under the tutelage of Asurmen following the Fall. He was the founder of the Aspect Warrior shrines of the Striking Scorpions, teaching his children stealthy and swift attacks from the shadows. It is not known what darkness befell Arhra, but he turned his sight away from that of his master and waged war upon his own kin. Arhra destroyed the Shrine of Asur with all of the Asurya standing against him and thence fled deep into the webway. Whether Arhra still lives is unknown, but many talk of the sinister figure in Dark Eldar society of the Dark Father, lord of the Incubi. The Incubi are a powerful martial caste who inhabit deep in the webway, questing toward an unfulfilled and unknown agenda. If the Fallen Phoenix were to return, the consequences are uncertain (See Asurya; Dark Eldar [Incubi]; Fuegan; Karandras; Phoenix Lords; Striking Scorpions).

FARSEERS (IDAINN)

After a number of years Seers usually pass on to some other life to continue their exploration of the rich possibilities of the Eldar Path. However, a Seer can give up the endless cycle of the Eldar Path and instead become a Farseer. Once an Eldar becomes a Farseer he is trapped upon the Witch Path and unable to change his future role. He uses his remaining years to learn and explore more about psychic power. Farseers spend much of their time casting the Seer Runes and making endless calculations and prognostications, trying to guide the fortunes of the Craftworld and anticipate any future difficulties. Because the calculations of the Farseers may be based upon predicted events happening hundreds of years in the future, their immediate effect is rather hard to determine. However, the Eldar consider Farseers to be a vital part of their Craftworld, basing all of their political decisions around their predictions (See Dome of the Crystal Seers; Paths of the Eldar; Runes; Seer Council).

FIRE DRAGONS

The Fire Dragons' style and dress of warfare emulates the mythical beast that gives them their name. Even the armour they wear is distinctively knobbly and spiny with a reptilian look. They are armed with devastating heat-blasting Fusion guns whose smoking nozzles and searing beams of heat make them look even more like dragons. Dragon armour is always a fiery colour such as red or flaming orange. On some Craftworlds, a squad of Fire Dragons is referred to as the 'Fire From Heaven' (See also Aspect Warriors; Dragon Rest; Fuegan).

FIRE PRISM (FUENALCHU)

This dedicated anti-armour grav-tank uses the most advanced forms of laser technology encountered in the universe. Its powerful prisms can blast apart armoured vehicles and cut through swathes of infantry. Based on the Falcon chassis, the Fire Prism has unparalleled manoeuvrability and speed. The weapon of the Prism Cannon includes a shard of psychotropic crystal from the Domes of Crystal Seers. The crystals are encouraged to grow by Spiritseers who enhance the crytal's potential to cause harm during its gestation. The crystal eventually harbours a potential charge of malevolent energy which is amplified by the prism cannon.

FIR DINILLAINN (PROTECTORS OF THE FALLEN)

Since Imperial records began the Eldar Phantoms of the Saim-Hann Craftworld have been known as the Fir Dinillainn - the Protectors of the Fallen. Yet on their own time scale, this name is but a recent acquisition earned by an act of outstanding courage and selfless service to another clan many thousands of years ago. Lord Amthillon, leader at the time, sacrificed a third of his force to protect the dying warriors of the Fir Lirithion Clan - his companions in the field - so that their spiritstones could be retrieved. By that single act of self sacrifice the Fir Lirillyon - the Knights of Purpose were renamed. the Fir Dinillain. Since that day the Phantoms of the Saim-Hann Craftworld have astonished even Imperial forces with their selfless heroism. The clan colours are magenta and black (see Saim-Hann; Titan Clans).

FIR FARILLECASSION (WATCHERS OVER ANCIENT WRONGS)

It is widely rumoured among the few Eldar unaware of the truth that the true location of the Black Library - said to hold the Eldar codices that concern themselves with the worship of Chaos and tell of the Eldar's downfall - must be the Biel-Tan Craftworld. Although this is certainly untrue, the Phantoms of Biel-Tan do display an unparalleled hatred of Chaos. The driving force behind this hatred is a feverent wish that no other race should suffer the terrible downfall that befell the Eldar. Inquisitor Trant tells of his journey to Truan IX to destroy a Khornate coven. However, Trant arrived too late - upon reaching the surface he found that virtually the entire population had been wiped out. In the rubble of the western continent's capital city he found a half-burnt banner bearing the symbols of the Fir Farillecassion - the Phantoms of Biel-Tan. They had arrived before him. The clan colours are bone and metal (See also Biel-Tan; Titan Clans).

FIR IOLARION (EAGLES BORN OF FIRE)

The Fir Iolarion - Eagles Born of Fire - were almost completely destroyed four centuries ago when they lost control of the warp gates onboard their Craftworld, Lugannath, allowing the Daemons of the warp to enter and attack them. For many years the clan drifted helplessly in space while they laboured to make the necessary repairs; stranded, and with their numbers severely depleted by the creatures in their midst, they were reduced to being one of the weakest Eldar clans. Over time however, thanks only to their own unrelenting and steadfast efforts, they have not only regained the power they once had, but have exceeded it tenfold. their almost total obliteration is now regarded by their leaders as a baptism of fire. In the months after the warp gate accident, the craftworld sent Eldar troops to nearby systems to gather materials for repairs. On the Ork world of Gragnar they found a lake of liquid copper vital to the restabilisation of their warp gates. Although their operations to drain the lake were constantly hampered by attacks from Ork Gargants, the presence of the Fir Iolarion Phantoms meant that they were able to get the metal they required without sustaining heavy losses. The clan colours are blue and gold (see Lugganath; Titan Clans).

FIR LIRITHION (HEARTS ARMOURED FOR BATTLE)

The Fir Lirithion of the Iyanden Craftworld have a most unusual attitude towards combat. This Eldar clan are slow to ire and they never go willingly to war; yet they are, once on the field, among the most fearsome of all opponents. To the Fir Lirithion, war is a cancer to be eradicated. They strive to cut out the disease but leave the body unharmed; to this end they will go to inordinate lengths to purge their enemies of belligerent leaders while leaving the unwilling masses unharmed. This tactic of course, relies on the idea that the masses will be routed upon the death of their leaders. As a consequence, the first time the Fir Lirithion found themselves fighting Orks, they suffered the biggest defeat of their long and glorious history. They struck at the Ork command post with a lightning strike, killing all of the tribe's leaders in one fell swoop. Expecting the Orks to fall apart without leadership, they did not expect the retaliation they received, and were taken by surprise. their losses were heavy that day.

Fir Lirithion are regarded as the surgeons of the battlefield by most observers. They have fought many highly effective campaigns, such as the route of a company of Emperors Children on the moon of Balthon; a strike force of Phantoms went deep into the Valley of Envy and destroyed the traitors' command centre. The leaderless and battered Marines were forced to withdraw to a savage feral world in the outer system, where they were killed by a virulent plague that caused their Larraman's Organ to emit cells uncontrollably, terminally thickening their blood. The clan colours are green and gold (See Iyanden; Titan Clans).

FORESTS OF SILENCE

A location on the Craftworld of Iyanden, detailed in the accounts of the Doom of the Eldar (see Craftworlds; Iyanden).

FORGE OF LOST SOULS

A starship manufacturing centre on the Craftworld of Iyanden, detailed in the accounts of the Doom of the Eldar (see Craftworlds; Forge of the Singers; Iyanden; Starships).

FORGE OF THE SINGERS

A second starship manufacturing centre to the Forge of Lost Souls on the Craftworld of Iyanden, detailed in the accounts of the Doom of the Eldar (see Craftworlds; Forge of Lost Souls; Iyanden; Starships).

FORTRESS OF THE RED MOON

A fortress on the Craftworld of Iyanden equipped with plasma torpedoes to repel enemy fleets. Detailed in the accounts of the Doom of the Eldar (see Craftworlds; Fortress of Tears; Iyanden; Spear of Light).

FORTRESS OF TEARS

A second fortress on the Craftworld of Iyanden equipped with plasma torpedoes to repel enemy fleets. Detailed in the accounts of the Doom of the Eldar (see Craftworlds; Fortress of The Red Moon; Iyanden; Spear of Light).

FUEGAN (THE BURNING LANCE, OF THE FIERY HEART)

Fuegan learned the arts of war in the Shrine of Asur, under the eyes of Asurmen in the distant time when the Warrior Aspects were born. Fuegan founded the Shrines of the Fire Dragons and schooled them in the art of war with fire and flame. When the Shrine of Asur was destroyed by the Fallen Phoenix, Fuegan refused to flee and was thought lost for many centuries, before reappearing during the final battle of Haranshemash, the world of blood and tears. After that conflict Fuegan vanished into the Webway, and has travelled its secret tunnels ever since, tracking down the enemies of his ancient forebears. Tradition has it that he will wall the Phoenix Lords together for the Rhana Dandra and he will be the last to die at the final conflict (See Asurmen; Asur; Fallen Phoenix [The Dark Father]; Fire Dragons; Phoenix Lords).