Eldar

The Eldar are a rare and mysterious race, the last surviving
members of a far older civilization teetering on the precipice
of extinction. The Eldar once ruled over the galaxy, when
the ancestors of humanity were making their first faltering
steps on dry land. Such transcendental power led to a descent
into decadence and debauchery, their civilization falling into
anarchy and Chaos, the psychic backlash from which tore a
hole in the fabric of reality that remains visible to this day---the
Eye of Terror. Vast swathes of the Eldar race died in the Fall,
the survivors fleeing the destruction on huge spacecraft known
as craftworlds. How many escaped is unknown, even to the
Eldar, but they have been a migratory people ever since, the
scattered remnants of a once great culture drifting amongst the
stars, fighting for their very existence.
==In the Calixis Sector==
The Eldar have little presence in the Calixis Sector, with
the exception of Craftworld Kaelor, whose migration route
brings it through the sector once in a thousand years. On
such occasions, Imperial authorities have strict---and highly
confidential---instructions from the Ordo Xenos to give it a
wide birth. Battlefleet Calixis is tasked with intercepting any
ships that would attempt to make contact with the Craftworld.
More often, the Eldar can be found discreetly on worlds
across the sector, enacting their subtle machinations from the
shadows. Unofficially, it is thought that some of the more
radical members of the Calixian Conclave maintain intermittent
contact with agents of the Eldar, typically through human
contacts. Rogue Traders are the most common agents to act
as intermediaries, as their sanctioned activities often give them
legitimate reason to trade with xenos races and commune with
the Inquisition in turn. The Ordo Xenos is ever-eager to learn
more about the Eldar and their technology, both to combat
their insidious influence and to turn their advanced technology
to the Imperium’s ’s own ends.
== Maiden Worlds ==
A number of worlds in the remoter parts of the Calixan
Sector---notably those along the migratory route of Craftworld
Kaelor, including Seedworld AFG:218---are designated as
maiden worlds by the Eldar. These were worlds created by
the Eldar prior to the Fall, terraformed using techniques far
more advanced than those of the Adeptus Mechanicus. These
planets were intended for later settlement by Eldar colonists.
Few, however, were colonized, instead developing into lush,
fertile worlds in the absence of the Eldar. Many of these
worlds have been pioneered by early Imperial settlers, who
remain ignorant of their world’s origins and the bone–like
structures that scatter the remoter corners of its surface. Most
historic conflict between the Eldar and the Imperium within
the sector has taken place on such worlds, and those colonies
that still survive on a known maiden world are often heavily
reinforced with Imperial Guard regiments to protect it against
the Eldar threat. Understandably, the Ordo Xenos takes a
keen interest in such worlds, and often maintains a discreet
presence of its own amongst these colonies.
== The Webway ==
Whilst their craftworlds exist in the material universe and
they have great, elegant spaceships at their disposal, the Eldar
traverse the galaxy via the webway rather than the Warp,
stepping across great distances of space in a fraction of time.
The webway is a labyrinthine series of pathways and tunnels
that straddles the divide between the real world and the
warp, neither truly apart from nor part of either. The webway
connects a near–infinite number of points, from the craftworlds
themselves to the surface of countless worlds and stranger
places still. Some tunnels are large enough to carry entire space
fleets, whereas others are barely tall enough to allow passage to
a single Eldar. In the Calixis Sector, the surfaces of a handful
of worlds hide a webway portal, and others drift in forgotten
corners of space, hidden within dust clouds and asteroid belts.
The locations of these webway portals are secrets the Eldar will
go to nearly any lengths to conceal.
== Spirit Stones ==
All Eldar wear a glittering gem or polished stone upon their
breast. These items are known as waystones, and are formed
out of a psycho–receptive crystal attuned solely to the mind of
its owner. The purpose of a waystone is to capture the psychic
energy of an Eldar when it is released at the moment of death.
Afterwards, it is known as a spirit stone, containing a large
part of an Eldar’s personality, memories, and sense of self; the
stone becomes a repository for the Eldar’s soul. Eldar prize
spirit stones above all else, and will go to incredible lengths
to preserve and recover them. Most of the Eldar activity in the
Calixis Sector has involved tracking down and reclaiming lost
spirit stones.
==Eldar Equipment==
Eldar Shuriken Weapons
The ancient Eldar race has little to do with the Calixis
Sector, and they are believed to consider it accursed. Save
for the occasional privations of their corsairs and a handful
of wandering outcasts, they and their potent technology
remain little more than a myth for most. Eldar artefacts, as
a consequence, are rare and hugely valuable when traded
on the sector’s black market. Eldar weapons are particularly
prized, fetching huge sums from private collectors. Shuriken
weaponry is one such type—these guns are graceful dealers of
death that use sophisticated gravity accelerators to hurl volleys
of miniature razor disks to literally slice their victims apart in
seconds.
Shuriken weapons use solid core ammunition which Imperial
technology cannot replicate; as a result their ammunition is
classed as Very Rare with a base price of 500 Thrones a clip.
Pistol, 20m, S/3/5, 1d10+2, R, PEN 4, Clip 40, RLD 2Full, Reliable, WT 1.2kg, Cost 5,000, Very Rare
Avenger Shuriken Catapult
Synonymous with the Eldar race is the shuriken catapult,
as any Guardsman who has faced the xenos and lived can
confirm. As is much of their technology, the shuriken catapult
is not made so much as grown, from a light substance called
wraithbone. When fired, a shuriken catapult unleashes a
hail of razor–sharp monomolecular discs—the eponymous
shuriken. Whilst lacking the penetrating power of larger
weapons, the sheer volume of firepower a shuriken catapult
can unleash—not to mention the devastating effects such
a hail can have on a lightly armoured target—more than
makes up for it. Dire Avengers carry a modified variant of
the shuriken catapult known as the Avenger, which features a
longer barrel and inbuilt range–finders, making it dangerous
even at extended ranges.
Basic, 80m, S/3/10, 1d10+4, R, PEN 6, Clip 100, RLD 2Full, Reliable, Tearing, WT 2.5kg, Cost 9,500, Very Rare
Ranger Long Rifle
The favoured weapon of the Eldar Ranger is the Ranger long
rifle, a long–barrelled sniper weapon not dissimilar to the
long las used by Imperial snipers. Whereas the long las is an
upgrade to the humble lasgun, the Ranger long rifle is a more
advanced las–weapon entirely, seemingly custom grown for
the user, tailored perfectly to their eyesight and grip. Whereas
the artificial crystals used in Imperial las–technology struggles
to maintain a focused beam over long distances, the psychically
grown crystals used by the Eldar are able to focus a tight beam
over a much greater distance, allowing a skilled user to punch
through weak points in armour at great distances.
†When used with the Aim action, the penetration of the
Ranger long rifle’s next shot is doubled to a maximum of 4. If
the wielder Aims as a Full Action, the penetration of the rifle’s
next shot is tripled to a maximum of 6.
Basic, 200m, S/–/–, 1d10+3, E, PEN 2†, Clip 40, RLD Full, Accurate, Reliable, WT 2kg, Cost 8,500, Very Rare
Holo-Armour
This advanced Eldar design has been all but unknown to
the Calixis Sector, with only a handful of these rare suits
in existence, and even then most are in the hands of senior
Ordos Xenos officials. The armor incorporates the same
fields used by their titanic machines of war and the mysterious
Harlequins, fragmenting the wearer’s image into a thousand
swirling slivers of color when in motion.
While in motion, the distracting nature of the holo-field
causes a –30 penalty against all attacks against the wearer,
as well as Perception or Awareness Tests to discern anything
within the field, including those based on auspex readings or
similar gear. However, any Awareness Tests to notice the user
or detect the exterior of the field are at a +10 bonus.
These suits cannot be purchased by normal means, and
GMs should make any attempt to obtain them into an
adventure or campaign in its own right.
All, AP 4, WT 4kg, Cost Special, Availability Special
Diresword
The diresword is both a weapon and a symbol of the rank
and authority of a Dire Avenger Exarch. These wraithbone
swords have a small spirit-stone embedded near in the
blade near the hilt. When the weapon strikes an enemy,
the stone sears their mind as the blade cuts their flesh.
When the diresword deals damage to an opponent, that
opponent must make a Challenging (+0) Willpower
Test or take an additional 2d10 wounds, ignoring armor
or Toughness. This weapon is always Best Quality,
granting a +10 bonus to the weilder’s Weapon Skill and
+1 damage (already included in the weapon’s profile).
This weapon is immune to the effects of Power Fields.
Melee, 1d10+3(+SB), PEN 6, Balanced, WT 4kg, Near Unique
Shimmershield
The Eldar shimmershield is a small, innocuous wraithbone
device worn on the arm. Used by Exarchs of the Eldar
Dire Avengers, this device is able to project a shimmering
shield around both the individual wearing it, and any
nearby, protecting them from both projectile weapons and
psychic attacks.
The shimmershield works in the same manner as a
Field with several exceptions. The first is
that due to the astonishing craftsmanship of the Eldar, it
does not overload. The field is projected over a circular
area with a five meter radius, and provides its field save
to everyone within it. The field only provides protection
against shooting attacks and damage dealing psychic
attacks originating outside the field. The Shimmershield
has a protection rating of 30, weighs 1.7 kg and has a Near Unique availability.
Harlequin’s Kiss
Among the deadliest of all Eldar weapons, the harlequin’s kiss
resembles a long tube attached to the back of the forearm. The
rear of the tube is filled with highly compressed coiled loops
of monomolecular wire, nearly a hundred meters worth. When
the weapon’s spiked tip strikes the target, the wire is released
and instantly bursts through even the smallest puncture to fill
the interior of a body or vehicle. In seconds flesh is turned into
liquid as the wire races through the enclosed space and then
retracts back into the device for its next use. Most victims are
dead before knowing they were even struck.
Melee, 1d10+8(NoSB), R, PEN 10, Tearing, WT 1kg, Extremely Rare
Dragon's Breath Flamer
As elegant and deceptively fragile-looking as all Eldar devices,
the Dragon’s Breath is more sophisticated and efficient than
bulkier Imperial flame weapons. It utilizes a trio of rare,
highly-compressed chemicals designed to ignite when mixed,
forming liquid gouts of flame that arc outward in a deadly
spray. The chemicals do not need air for combustion, and the
heavy spray adheres to most surfaces, making extinguishing
the flames difficult.
The Dragon’s Breath flamer must be used in an atmosphere,
but that atmosphere does not have to be the standard oxygen-nitrogen
mix.
Basic, 30m, S/-/-, 2d10+2 E, PEN 3, Clip 20, RLD Full, Flame, WT 4kg, Unique
Elder Blaster
Some Eldar corsairs favor this small, pistol-like weapon
for devastating short range attacks against armored targets.
It fires a stream of mysterious dark energy, still under
investigation by the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Ordo
Xenos. This energy is similar to laser emissions in some
respects, but rather than punching holes through armor and
flesh it instead rips apart targets in explosive blasts—leading
to its common Imperial designation as a “Blaster.” Such is
the potency of this energy that even the thickest armor can
be compromised with ease.
Basic, 30m, S/-/-, 2d10+5, E, PEN 8, Clip 24, RLD Full, WT 1.2kg, Unique
Eldar Deathspinner
A weapon favored by Eldar Aspect Cults, the Deathspinner
fires a shroud of monofilament thread in a deadly gossamer
shroud. Able to fire more quickly and lethally than any
Imperial version, they can also entangle small groups, as
its wide arc is capable of blanketing several foes with a
single shot.
Basic, 40m, S/-/-, 4d10+5, PEN 2, Clip 30, RLD 2Full, Reliable, Blast (2), Tearing, WT 4kg, Unique
Eldar Lasblaster
The Eldar are masters of laser weapons, and use a variety
of elegant and lethal light-based devices. Their Lasblasters
can release a fury of laser strikes at medium ranges, easily
outperforming even the most advanced Imperial las weapons.
Eldar take particular pride in their ability to use these powerful
laser devices, signifying to all their control over light itself.
Basic, 120m, S/3/6, 1d10+4, E, PEN 4, Clip 90, RLD Full, Reliable, WT 3.5kg, Near Unique
Eldar Sunrifle
A more advanced version of the Lasblaster, a Sunrifle
sacrifices a longer range for even more firepower. Each
discharge fires as many bolts of energy as a squad of
Imperial guardsmen.
Basic, 90m, S/4/8, 1d10+6, E, PEN 4, Clip 60, RLD Full, Reliable, Storm, WT 4kg, Unique
Splinter Weapons
These cruel weapons used by Eldar pirates and raiders are a
fearsome sight to many a merchant vessel’s crew. The crystalline
ammunition is broken into tiny splinters in the firing process,
emerging from the weapon as a high-speed cloud of deadly
projectiles. The crystals often contain virulent toxins, such that
even the tiniest cut can cause festering wounds of intense pain.
The weapons themselves carry a wide variety of cutting blades
and combat attachments, making them doubly useful in closequarters
fighting. Like all Eldar weaponry, they are surprisingly
lightweight and deceptively fragile in appearances.
In Melee combat, a Splinter Pistol counts as a Mono-Knife; a
Splinter Rifle counts as a Mono-Spear.
Splinter Pistol: Pistol, 50m, S/3/0, 1d10+2, R, PEN 3, Clip 120, RLD 2Full, Toxic, WT 1kg, Extremely Rare
Splinter Rifle: Basic, 80m, S/3/5, 1d10+2, R, PEN 3, Clip 200, RLD 2Full, Toxic, WT 2.5kg, Extremely Rare
Agonizer
One of the favored melee weapons of the vicious Eldar
pirates is the Agonizer, a deliberately cruel device often
worn as a gauntlet or used as a whip. It acts similarly to a
shock weapon, but the energy inflicted on the enemy can
bleed through armor easily, causing even more intense pain
and physical trauma. Even the mightiest of warriors can be
brought low when in the grip of such a weapon.
Melee, 1d10+3(+SB), E, PEN 6, Tearing, Shocking, WT 8kg, Very Rare
Eldar Power Sword
There is perhaps nothing so dangerous as a skilled swordsman
wielding one of these deadly blades. Impossibly slender yet
strong, shimmering with field energies, and studded with
mysterious glowing gems, an Eldar Powersword is a premier
status symbols for any explorer. It is unheard of for these xenos
to sell such a weapon and they reclaim them by force, adding
even more of delightfully forbidden air to ownership.
An Eldar Powersword adds +10 to any Parry attempts
made by the bearer (with Balanced, this becomes +20 total).
Melee, 1d10+4(+SB), E, PEN 8, Power Field, Balanced, WT 2kg, Near Unique
Eldar Raider Armor
Eldar pirates wear armor that functions in much the same way as
basic Eldar armor, but is covered with spikes and cutting blades
after the fashion of their weapons. Even an unarmed raider will
always have a plethora of malicious devices on his person, ready
to rend their foes in bloody sport. Anyone wearing this armor
always counts as having a mono-knife in melee combat.
All, AP 5, WT 4kg, Near Unique
Eldar Forceshield
Rather than relying on cumbersome (by their standards) physical
armor, many of the higher-ranking Eldar leaders instead turn
to field protective devices. Forceshields are one such item, often
worn on the arm or belt. These provide protection on par with
the more powerful Imperial fields, but without the bulk or
weight—indeed many resemble the ovoid jewels or other alien
ornamentation favored by this decadent race.
Protection Rating: 75, WT .2kg, Unique
Flip-Belt
Anti-grav Flip-belts are used by the decadent Eldar of the so-called
Harlequin cult, in a sheer affront to the laws of physics.
They allow the user to partially negate the effects of gravity; the
impossibly acrobatic movements allowed by the belt along with
the wearer’s natural agility and skill make the taunting xenos
extremely difficult targets to hit despite their outlandish costumes
and coloration. A flip-belt grants the Hover Trait (6) and +20 on
all Agility-based Tests, and requires the Pilot (Personal) Skill to
use. All Flip-belts are at least Good Craftsmanship.
WT 2kg, Extremely Rare
Holo-Suit
The so-called “Harlequin” Eldar use a variety of items to
disorientate their opponents before bringing about their
excruciating deaths. They wear little or no physical armor,
instead relying on cowardly Holo-suits to project dozens
of distorted illusions of their mocking image as they move.
When they fall still, the suits rapidly activate mimicry cells
so that the user appears to fade into the surrounding terrain.
Holo-suits apply a -20 to all Ballistic and Weapon Skill Tests
targeting the user. The user also gains +30 to Concealment
Tests if they are stationary, and attempts to target them with
Ranged Weapons suffer an additional -20 penalty.
WT 2kg, Extremely Rare
==Eldar Personalities==
*Ulthyr Ellarion
*Kabal of the Crimson Woe