Aeldari

The Aeldari, also known as Eldar, are an ancient, psionically potent humanoid race in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are renowned for long lifespans, advanced technology, and a culture deeply intertwined with art, ritual, and psychic power. Their once galaxy-spanning empire collapsed in a cataclysmic event known as the Fall, triggered by excess that gave birth to the Chaos God Slaanesh.

The Fall dispersed the Aeldari into several distinct cultures. Craftworld Aeldari live on colossal interstellar ships called craftworlds, traveling the Webway between stars and guided by Farseers and Autarchs. They preserve their people by imprisoning souls in Spirit Stones and by strict cultural discipline to avoid repeating past decadence. Exodites are Eldar who settled on remote worlds, living more communally with nature and with their own forms of advanced technology. Drukhari, or Dark Eldar, inhabit the shadowy city of Commorragh within the Webway and sustain themselves through raids, torture, and the extraction of souls to forestall Slaanesh’s predation. Harlequins are enigmatic performers and storytellers who keep Eldarin myths alive and act as guardians of the Webway and the path to Ynnead’s coming age. Ynari is a later faction formed by those Eldar who embrace Ynnead, the god of the dead, seeking to guide the return of lost souls and usher in a new era.

In warfare, the Aeldari deploy advanced technology rooted in Wraithbone, potent psychic powers, and specialized craftworld tactics. They remain a central xenos faction in Warhammer 40,000, often driven by the need to safeguard souls and preserve their civilization amid a perilous universe.