Attika

The White Raptor and the rune for "bravery"

An Attikan White Raptor

## Societal Information

### **Major Locations**

Bar na Gorthim, Aernoss, Brauron, Celebaeglir, Gaearon, Wayport Vandan, the Cardinal Naval Bases

### **Main Colours**

Crisp White and Gold with Navy Blue highlights

## Military Information

### **Main Enemy**

Chaos: specifically Tzeentch & Nurgle, the Imperium of Man

### **Leading Autarch**

N/A, though Aran Agarwaen is an ascendant figure

**Attika** is an Aeldari craftworld that escaped the ruinous birth of Slaanesh, but it did not manage to escape from the ruinous powers of Chaos.

## History

### Escaping the Fall into the Fog of Infinity

When an Exodite world became engulfed in a warp storm, Attika, decided by majority vote of the population, went to into the warp storm to defend their brethren beginning a time known as “the Fog of Infinity”. For thousands of years, they remained tireless defenders but all their effort would ultimately prove futile for the planet. Exposed to an unending wave of (seemingly) random genetic mutations and feral sorcerous powers, the world fell to Chaos. Yet the Attikan’s valiant struggle was not without reward.

They managed to rescue a large amount of the planet’s saurian fauna, which now have healthy and sustainable populations upon the craftworld itself as well as their sister world, El-Icatha. In particular, the Attikans had great success at domesticating and training the raptor saurians, which smaller breeds are regularly seen as civilian pets and the larger, more ferocious breeds are utilized in martial professions. They’ve had milder success with flying saurians and, at best, mixed results in domesticating carnosaurs. It is a challenge their pride will not abide their surrender.

Though their greatest triumphs come in concert from their greatest challenges. Being constantly exposed to ever shifting Chaos corruption forced the Attikans to become exceptionally proficient at “stabilizing” it. They even managed to “stabilize” a handful of Chaos corrupted species and breed sustainable populations out of them. Most notable among these are the byakko-washi, large white tiger beasts with eagle wings, and the coatl, saurian sized flying serpents adorned with rainbow feathers.

Their survival is owed in no small part to the heroic interventions of a Harlequin troupe known as, *The Masque of the Last Laugh*. Upon their return to real space, the Attikans were greeted with the horror of the Great Rift and the dark, turbulent state of the galaxy. Never ones to run from danger, the Attikans regularly intercede in points of conflict across the galaxy. They also discovered Yvraine’s Ynari movement spreading among all facets of the Aeldari. By in large, Attika stands sympathetic if not allegiant to her cause.

### The Rise & Fall of Sias-Vel

During the Fog of Infinity, with their craftworld under the constant threat of demonic incursion, many of Attika’s more diplomatic and democratic traditions were subsumed by militaristic norms. Over time this led to a fundamental shift in their governing structures. Attika is ruled over by a high council of seers who are elected from a meritocratic pool of candidates. Though not intended to be aristocratic, that is more or less the mode by which the government operates. Autarchs are a purely military position with no direct role in governance, who are selected by the High Council.

This political pageantry of “parrots in owls’ feathers” wore thin among the populace in such trying times. Because of their frustrations with the council’s “wisdom”, people increasingly turned towards the leaders of various aspect warriors. One among them, Sias-Vel, had proved an exceptionally capable commander. Once her ascent started, it wouldn’t be long before she was able to reform the role of autarch into, not only an active member of governance, but effectively the head of the High Council. Sadly it would not take long for the allure of ambition and power to corrupt her reign.

All dissent would be ruthlessly crushed and the rights of the Attikan people severely curbed. Fortunately, their traditions proved too strong to be so easily overridden. In a tense but ultimately bloodless stand-off, Sias-Vel negotiated her deposal and exile in exchange for a honorary royal title for her daughter, "Princess" Nen.

### Expulsion of the Maroon Guard

The aspect warriors known as Dire Avengers are not welcome on Attika. The deposed Sias-Vel was an exarch of the Dire Avengers. As her status grew, her fanatically loyal avengers consolidated themselves into her Maroon Guard. With her ascendency came their power. The Maroon Guard would eventually become the “secret” peace keepers of Sias-Vel’s regime. They snuffed out all dissent with what many considered an in-Asuryani brutality. It was their brutality that begat the civil unrest.

Despite her allies on the High Council counseling her to distance herself from them, Sias-Vel’s honor dictated that she would not abandon her brothers-in-arms. Though this sentiment may not be half as noble as it first appears. Let it be said that the Maroon Guard crossed no lines lest they were given explicit orders to do so. At no point were they any less than utterly loyal and betraying that loyalty is something Sias-Vel had to know would all but guarantee a bloody end to her existence. When the people turned on her, they did not flinch. When the rest of the military turned against them, they did not falter. Even when Sias-Vel herself stepped down, they marched into exile with their heads held high. Again, the appearance may be more noble than the truth. Just as she was stuck with them, they were stuck with her. Without her authority to protect them from reprisals the warriors knew they’d be made to suffer in the name of “justice”.

But whether it be out of a genuine sense of blind, ruthless loyalty or the cold cunning of foresight, the Maroon Guard followed their leader into the cold void on the Path of the Outcast. There are those who say that fraternal bonds shattered in the expanse of space and they left Sias-Vel to her own fate. Others insist that the bonds were true. They say that the Maroon Guard remain loyal to their autarch to this day. Whether they serve as the corsairs on her ship or as incubi warriors to her succubus in the Dark City, there are many who insist they still fly beside her on the Path of the Eagle.

### The White Falcon's Rising

Yet another capable and charismatic autarch threatens to upend Attikan society with his unparalleled military prowess and fanatical following. Yet the farseers grow weary that they cannot see Aran Agarwaen's future, as it is blinded with the radiant light of glory...or perhaps something else. The cold, cunning, ruthless, and beautiful Aran reeks of destiny...but whether that destiny be doom or glory is unknown. Either way those who fear and adore him are increasingly drawn into deepening factionalism.

## Notable Battles/Campaigns

### Crusades Make Strange Bedfellows

Originally aligned to do battle with Necron forces, the two ancient enemies find themselves reluctantly working together to stave out the unrelenting power of an Imperial Crusade.

* Farseer Caladon Sallaben, ("The Grey-Eyed Owl") found himself in the most unexpected predicament. He had originally rallied Attika's forces to drive off the forces of Sons of Khyrek Necron dynasty from a former Maiden World but the two enemies found themselves working together against a mutual foe: the Imperium of Man. A joint host of the White Scars Space Marines and Imperial Knights raced across the battlefield towards their positions. The Farseer and Necron Overlord reached a terse, tenuous agreement, "I don't shoot you, you don't shoot me. We shoot them". The two armies took up defensive positions and fired into the oncoming Imperium forces. Wraiths and Imperial Knights tore each other to pieces with their canons. Just as it looked like the White Scars were about to smash into the Asuryani line, the Masque of the Last Laugh struck out of the webway, ambushing the Space Marines and earning their namesake against the "laughing killers". All the while, the Necron forces slowly but steadily advanced, inevitably engulfing what remained of the Space Marines and overpowering the Imperial Knights. With their mutual foes slain but knowing that was merely the first wave in the tide of "crusade", the Attikans and Sons of Khyrek continued to refrain from shooting one another.
* The next front in the ongoing Crusade saw the aspiring yet secretive "Daughters of the Phoenix" do battle against the Imperium's Death Watch Space Marines. Despite a valiant effort, the young warriors found themselves outmatched by the Imperium's dedicated "anti-xenos" specialists. Though they were saved from annihilation by the staggering display of power by the Crimson Sage Maegera U'mel; who used her tremendous psychic powers to blast Imperial aircraft out of the sky, though she failed to bring down the drop pod that cutoff the retreat of a majority of the Attikan forces.
* Battle of Old Varaston: once again, a joint force of Imperial Knights and a Space Marine chapter (successors of the Ultramarines) forced the Sons of Khyrek and Attika to stand side-by-side as reluctant allies in the decisive battle of the crusade. In the long abandoned human settlement of "Varaston"; the "Reluctant Alliance" found themselves on the outskirts of the Imperium's forward base on the planet. If they could win here the crusade would be broken. So they advanced on the Imperium's heavily defended positions. Caladon Sallaben once again found himself leading Attikan forces. The initial assault did not transpire as he had foreseen. Imperial Knights blasted Attikan aces out of the air, the wraiths' advance was stalled, and even their Necron allies got pinned down & obliterated in a hail of sundering firepower. Asuryani falcon tanks attempted strafe the enemy's defensive position but were similarly annihilated by Knight heavy fire. The Alliance's assault seemed all but exhausted, so the defenders took the offensive. With most of the Necrons "dead" in the center of the battlefield, the Attikans dug themselves into the city's buildings to avoid further decimation at the hands of the knights. The Space Marines descended from their elevated defensive positions and marched over the bodies of the Necrons, led by their Chapter Master himself. The battle became a series of brutal "house to house" engagements in which the Space Marines steadily pushed the Aeldari back as they swelled their center to break the faltering Attikan center. Little did the Space Marines realize that they had been led into a trap. Caladon conjured a mighty eldritch storm that ripped asunder the clustered Space Marines. Then with their high-pitched, horrid shrieks, the Black Banshees swept in from the flanks and slaughtered what was left of the survivors. Laelel Tai'ina had the honor of slaying the badly wounded Chapter Master. Meanwhile, the Sons of Khyrek had activated their re-animation protocols and taken the abandoned defensive positions; which they used to blast the Knights to atoms. It was a crushing defeat that broke the crusade and saw the Aeldari and Necrons part on amicable terms without coming to blows. "The Reluctant Alliance" still maintains its non-aggression pact to this day.
* As Attikan forces were preoccupied with the crusade, the Emperor's Children Chaos Space Marines made an incursion on the craftworld but were thwarted by the daring intervention of the Masque of the Last Laugh...who would later on narrowly escape the grasp of the Adeptus Custodes of the Imperatores Vindictam.

### Siege of Doldrey

Attikan forces laid seige to the Imperium Fortress World of Doldrey garrisoned by the Astra Militarum, but the Adepta Sororitas had reinforced their numbers as an opportunity to repay a prior shame Attikan forces had supposedly paid unto them. Outnumbered, outmatched, and surrounded; it appeared that doom had befallen the forces of Attika. The (relatively) young commander Aran Agarwaen had seemingly led his forces into a trap as the Sororitas emptied out of their stronghold to "purge the xenos from existence". What they did not realize was that an infiltrator force was waiting for just that precise moment. The Golden Hawks descended upon the practically unguarded bastion and turned their own guns on Imperial forces. He had baited them into *his* trap. The ascendant autarch led his forces from the front lines, hewing the Sisters of Battle to pieces.

Then the battle took a ludicrous turn that no sane mind could have foreseen. Somehow against all odds and reason, the Princess Nen appeared in the thick of the Sororitas. In dazzling display of heroism and swordsmanship, Agarwaen carved a veritable canyon through the Sisters to rescue the beleaguered princess...then the fates conspired events that Attikans still curse to this day. The roundly detested wraith warrior Kaz Baus-Tan "the Snatcher" managed to infiltrate behind enemy lines within proximity to the princess (well known for his fetishistic lust for the human Sororitas, reportedly he had broken rank to steal articles of their clothing for his own "future gratification" and was deliberately allowing them to "stomp" on him). Through a series of absurdist coincidences, the loathsome wraith scooped up the wayward princess and carried her to safety past the charging autarch.

### Mysteries of Somnium Reef

Strange signals have drawn a number of warring forces into conflict with one another as they investigate.

* Led by Farseer Caladon Sallaben, Attikan forces engaged the O'Shova Kavaal'sral Ko'vash'da'noh Kau'ui Tau. Emerald Rangers took advanced positions to lay down traps that bogged down the Tau's advance as Shining Spears charged their battle suits and mechs, pinning them down. This allowed the entrenched White Raptors and Wraithguard to lay down heavy fire upon their foes. From this position the Black Banshees struck in a pincer like charge of the bogged down the Tau. It appeared to be the beginning of a crushing defeat for the Tau but then their Riptide mech managed to break through the advance Aeldari forces and obliterate the infantry's defensive positions with its impressive arsenal. This cleared the way for Shas'O O'Mont'Lel to make a desperate breakout through the Attikan lines, but as he and his cadre of battle suit lieutenants rushed forward Caladon rallied the White Raptors and the line held. The Crimson Sages Kirithon Sughaimen and Megaera U'mel laid waste to O'Mon'Lel's lieutenants as the Tau Commander engaged the Asuryani Farseer in combat. The Tau commander severely underestimated the psychic power of his foe and found himself and his army's mighty mecha smote by the Grey-Eyed Owl of Attika as the emboldened Attikan forces pressed forward, annihilating their enemy. With the battle won and his enemy's full command at his mercy, Caladon foresaw that Attika would require the aid of these Tau in the near future. So he permitted them to leave under the condition of an unnamed favor at a future date. With no other choice, O'Mont'lel accepted and limped home.
* As they were scouting the worlds on the outer reaches of the sector, Caladon made the fateful decision to send half his forces back to Attika to recover and further divide his forces; sending the Emerald Rangers to accompany Laelel Tai'ina in hopes of maintaining a small enough force to avoid detection. This effort was in vain. They were ambushed by the Adeptus Custodes of the Imperatores Vindictam (presumably as they were on the hunt for Masque of the Last Laugh as part of their "on-going duet"). Vastly outnumbered by an overwhelming enemy, the Farseer called in that favor much sooner than he expected. O'Shova O'Mont'lel honored his word and rode to the Aeldari's aid...though the it cost them dearly. With no hope of victory, the Attikan's stood firm with their allies of opportunity. This bought Laelel Tai'ina and her Black Banshees enough time to ambush the engaged Imperial forces. Though intended as little more than a counter-offensives to facilitate his forces' retreat, this proved an invaluable opportunity to test the Black Banshees for their intended purposes. Laelel Tai'ina and her reformed Drukhari succubae annihilated the Sister's of Silence and even imperiled the isolated Shield Host Captain Valares. Despite their heavy losses, Caladon couldn't help but feel a tremendous sense of victory. Not only had they lived to fight another day but they erstwhile alliance with O'Shova Kavaal'sral Ko'vash'da'noh Kau'ui was all but cemented...what's more, ***the plan*** was working.
* The antagonism between the xenos and the Imperium quickly found itself a secondary concern as the Ruinous Powers made their incursions in the Somnium Reef. Farseer Caladon Salaben, managed to stymie the heinous forces of the Entropy Saints, traitorous Chaos Space Marines. It was with the incursion of Chaos that the Masque of the Last Laugh leapt into the fray. The horrendous might of the Chaos Knights of House Itarex fell upon Attikan forces only to be overwhelmed by the guile of the Harlequins and the extraordinary....seemingly impossible feats...of Aran Agarwaen in battle.
* Again Attika found itself allied with the Tau of O'Shova Kavaal'sral Ko'vash'da'noh Kau'ui when the Entropy Saints led a counterstrike on the Attikan ssister world of El-Icatha. The combined might of Eldar and Tau proved too much for the powers of Chaos and were driven back to the Warp.
* Alas...all would come to ruin on the world of Planetfall. Imperium forces found themselves entrenched for a final battle on two fronts, attacked by Chaos and xenos simultaneously. Yet as was ever his way, Caladon Salaben recognized the graver threat of Chaos as well as the strategic importance of alliances against the Ruinous Powers. Thus he conspired with their new found Tau allies to combine technology with psychic might. Together they forged a crown that would allow Caladon to command the actions of a small tyranid hive fleet. armed with this astounding advancemen, Attikan and Tau forces rushed to relieve the besieged imperial forces from the powers of the Entropy Saints and House Iterax. Eager to finish his foes off, Odyn Maitar led his Harlequins alongside a deep strike team at Chaos' rear position. All seemed poised for a resounding defeat of Chaos by a grand galactic alliance, all orchestrated by the diligence of Caladon Salaben...but they were all deceived. A signal fired through the crown, frying the Farseer's mind. This broke his control over the tyranids who immediately began attacking their supposed masters. Though the Harlequins made short work of the bugs, the damage had been done. The technology had been a ruse by the Alpha Legion. In Caladon's absence, Agarwaenn began "aggressively reinforcing" Imperial positions. If he had intended to provoke a response, he succeeded. Imperium defends opened fired on their would be xenos saviors. With little other recourse, Attikan forces were forced to call for a total retreat. In the unfolding havoc, a Vindicaire Assassin saw an opportunity to eliminate a priority target and shot the badly staggered Caladon through the head. He died in the arms of his meddlesome student, Maegara Umel. With his passing, no one could stand in the way of Aran Agarwaen's ascent to power.

## Segments

### Bar na Gorthim (House of the Dead)

The central wriathbone chamber of the craftworld's infinity circuit. Here lies the shard statue to summon the Avatar of Khaine. More curiously is a haphazard pile of metal (possibly ceramite armor stolen from Space Marines) that roughly approximates the form of Cegorach, presumably compiled by the resident Harlequins.

#### The Voice of Lady Wisdom

Among all the spirits of the dead in this place, one speaks with quiet, sundering force. Who exactly this spirit is remains a mystery but most believe it to be Ataeana: the mythologized founder of the truly ancient city of Ataens. The legendary city-state from the Aeldari homeworld that the Attikans fashioned themselves in the image of.

### Aernoss (Holy Home)

The highest point in Attika. The exalted "temple square" where are all the old Aeldari gods are worshipped, alive or dead. The most prominent and frequented is the Temple of Cegorach that serves as the resident headquarters of the Masque of the Last Laugh and grand theater. Within the temple lies the Harlequin's own webway gate. The wondrous white dome shines like a beacon through the darkness of space. Also serves as the religious academy and archives.

#### Statue of Ataeana

At the center of Aernoss stands a glistening marble statue of a woman in ancient armor with a shield in one hand and spear in the other, with an owl on her shoulder and snake at her feet. She is a figure from truly ancient times, before the War in Heaven. She was said to be the favored daughter of Asuryan upon the lost Aeldari homeworld. The perfect, peerless warrior/philosopher/ruler. Upon Attika she is revered as a goddess and her cult maintains that she is the rightful heir of Asuryan. They believe when Rhana Dandra comes, she'll be "the Phoenix who rises from her father's ashes" and lead the Aeldari to their ultimate triumph over the Ruinous Powers.

It is said that the statue is the original from the city of Ataens itself. The spiritseers claim that the spirit of Ataeana herself lives within the infinity circuit of Attika. Some have said that she can possess the statue and use it as an avatar to walk among the Asuryani and bring glorious victory to those who stand beside her. Given the fact the statue has at least once mysteriously disappeared and reappeared, this notion is not easily disregarded.

### Wayport Vandan

The largest webway port and center of commerce & trade with the outside universe, adjoining two separate bio-domes. The dome glitters gold. The port overlooks the stunningly beautiful Tarlean Falls.

### Brauron

The largest of Attika's dozen non-military bio-domes, it is the beating heart of the craftworld. It's "Wilded Wood" is a continent sized expanse of untamed, natural forest where Attika's expansive ecology thrives. The dome stays a light blue with streaks of white and grey through its day cycle then goes clear during its night cycle.

#### The Secret Shrine of the Ataeana

Deep in the heart of Brauron lies the once abandoned shrine of Asuryan. After the tyranny of Sias-Vel and the expulsion of the Maroon Guard, the shrine fell out of favor and was surrendered to the wild. However, in recent centuries has garnered a new band of warriors. Ataeana was believed to be "the perfect warrior": disciplined, strong, cunning, and patient. Many young women are called by her spirit. These "Daughters of the Phoenix" have cloistered themselves deep within "the Wilded Woods" and secretly follow in the ways of the exiled Dire Avengers...or as they nicknamed themselves, "the Secret Avengers".

Their exarch is White Raptor Commander Nikaea Thaliel.

### Celebaeglir (the Silver Mountaintops)

The thinnest but longest bio-dome that rings around the outskirts of Brauron. Beneath the silvered dome stands towering mountains. It is a place where Attikans come to earn their rites of passage into adulthood by learning how to fly by whatever means is most relevant to their paths. Here one can find the remote shrine of the Swooping Hawks, that also serves as the makeshift palace of Aran Agarwaen. The winds around the shrine are often filled with heinous whispers and the Harlequins never approach it.

### Gaearon (the Great Sea)

Attika's second largest bio-dome. Maintains the same day/night cycle as Brauron. Adjoins eight other bio-domes including: Brauron, Celebaeglir, Wayport Vandan, and the Pynx. As such it serves as the centralized hub of inter-craftworld commerce.

### The Pynx

Adjoining both Gaearon and Wayport Vandan, while serving as the passage up to Aernoss is the center of Attika's government. Here the High Council gathers to conduct the business of governance. Within the Pynx also stands the abandoned Palace of Sias-Vel. It serves as an eerie reminder of the time Attika almost lost itself to tyranny. The debate rages over whether or not the autarch ought to be stationed within the Pynx or relegated to one of the Cardinal Naval Bases.

### Moredhel Otso (The Dark-Elf City)

While Attika is more welcoming of their dark brethren than most other Asuryani, it is still none-the-less a bitter pill for them to swallow. The truth is that most Attikans are not in favor of Drukhari immigration even though the High Council has been lobbying for it for centuries. The average citizen is utterly oblivious of the Council's machinations via the Black Banshees, thus they are baffled by the dark eldar's presence among their society. Even though the process of integration into Asuryani ways is the best means of diffusing their worst proclivities, nobody is amicable to bringing all the pain, suffering, and horror that come with the Drukhari to their communities.

This has led to the biodome in the shadow of the Pynx to be forfeited to the Drukhari where they have replicated a miniature Commoraugh. Moedhel Otso is everything the Dark City is just at a much smaller scale. While "diamonds among the rough" have risen up to earn places of honor in Attikan society, a great many devolve back into their violent, hedonistic anarchy. They largely remained isolated from the rest of the craftworld by Attika's second largest ecological expanse....

### H'vras Eryn

The fourth largest bio-dome is home to perilous jungles where the Drukhari who escaped out of Moredhel Otso have turned tribal and formed new clans not that dissimilar to those of feral Exodites. Stunning beasts from across the stars find their abode here as well, including many saurians and the majestic coatl. It is a lush land with rivers as plentiful as veins in the body. In part due to it's proximity to "The Dark-Elf City" but also because of its perilous allure, H'vras Eryn attracts the most outworld poachers.

### The Cardinal Bases

Attika maintains its robust aerial defenses with four major naval bases at each corner of the Craftworld with an additional two aerial defense stations between each.

## Beliefs & Practices

### Ataeana, Favored Daughter of the Phoenix King

There is a myth from the most ancient days of the Aeldari, before the War in Heaven. The Phoenix King Asuryan once imagined the perfect woman and she sprung forth from his head: a child of his thoughts. Ataeana was her name and she was beautiful, powerful, but above all else wise. The impeccable warrior-philosopher-queen would go on to establish the legendary city of Ataens on the Isle of Ulthuan; where it is said that the first democratic government and first justice system of the fledgling Aeldari race. She was worshipped as a goddess of wisdom, war, and justice. Her myths tell of her pitched rivalry and epic battles with the "Hag Queen" Morathi of the ancient Dark Elves. These mythological precursors to the Drukhari are depicted as fanatical worshippers of Khaine, thus Ataeana is depicted in conflict with him as well. It is this mythologized history that serves as the basis for Attikan's skepticism towards Khaine.

But as the Aeldari spread to the stars, her stories and myths were overshadowed but the deities of other clans. Yet her presence never vanished. The great city of Ataens, capitol of the Attikan kingdom never forgot her. When the Aeldari made their fateful choices that would beget their fall, the spirit of "Lady Wisdom" counseled the Attikans to "flee as far as you can!" They heeded her warning, thus being saved from the Birth of Slaanesh. Asuryan would be consumed by "She Who Thirsts" along with the rest of the Aeldari pantheon, save for Cegorach, Isha, and Khaine.

During the Fog of Infinity, the Attikans believe that the spirit of Ataeana did battle with Tzeentch himself and triumphed. Thus whenever they feel the taint of madness upon them they turn to Ataeana to restore their reason. The Attikans believe that upon the appointed time of Rhana Dandra, Ataeana will be reborn with her father's full might and lead the Aeldari to glorious victory.

### Conservationism

Above all else, Attikans feel a deep kinship with all species teetering upon the verge of extinction. This is why so many of their efforts are dedicated to rescuing species on the brink. Many of the more ruthlessly material factions of the 41st millennium are utterly baffled by this. Though this often provides an advantage in the form of their enemies underestimating them. A fair share of Imperium forces have been caught woefully unprepared when Attika followed through on their declarations to “save the whales”. To this end Attika has established numerous "preserve worlds" across the galaxy where they have transplanted countless ecosystems. The first and foremost of which is the world of El-Icatha.

### Hostility Towards the Imperium of Man

Though still proud *Aeldari supremacists*, the Attikans find nothing more offensive than the systematic genocide of any species, sentient or not. For this reason, they adamantly refuse to abide any peace with the Imperium of Man. Though there have been instances where Attikan forces have maintained cease-fires with Space Marine chapters to address a crisis imperiling “innocents” of one definition or another. Despite their zeal, Attika is not a lot of fools. They are profoundly cautious with their engagements with the Imperium as they know full well they'd have no chance at surviving a crusade. In this way, the Imperium's profound indifference to ecological catastrophe aids the Attikans. Many confused commanders have simply allowed the eldar to take whatever flora/fauna they were so insistent about "saving" if for no other reason than to shut them up.

Though should their true intentions be discovered the full might of the Imperium most assuredly would be thrown at them.

### The Khaos-Tao

The root of their deep hatred for the Imperium of Man is born of this idea of “Chaos is corrupted Khaos”. The Attikans hold that first corruption of the Khaos-Tao was the doing of the Necrons and their “War in Heaven”. Then the Aeldari played their part in the tragedy with the “Birth of Slaanesh”. Now they regard humanity as the primary engine of Chaos’ power and more precisely, the unintended accomplishment of the Imperium. They hold that the Imperium inadvertently sustains the ruinous powers by the actions they take. The Attikans also trace the root of that corruption to a single man…the God Emperor. They absolutely and adamantly preach that, “the corpse seer must perish for the Khaos-Tao to be cleansed!”

Their sympathies toward the Ynnari extend only so far as well. While the majority largely can abide the notion of an awakened deity in the form of Ynnead, their beliefs take a sharp turn down a path all their own. The Attikans believe that the ruinous powers of Chaos are a corruption of the Khaos-Tao. The Khaos-Tao is the living entity of creation itself and they seek to stabilize it. They don’t wholly reject all aspects of the Chaos gods. There are facets of all four of them that Attikans regard as “true Khaos shining through”.

They don’t seem to despise Slaanesh any more than the other Chaos gods. In fact, Attikans often refer to Slaanesh as “the dance partner of Infinity” in reference to Tzeentch as “Infinity”. Similarly, they call Khorne, “minion of Oblivion” where Nurgle is “Oblivion”. It could be said that Attikans more or less regard Slaanesh and Khorne as mere pawns of Tzeentch and Nurgle. The Attikans also largely recognize the malleability of the ruinous powers. Whereas the Ynnari are attempting to “realize” Ynnead to kill Slaanesh, the Attikans believe that Khaine could usurp Khorne.

The latter is derived from their time spent with their Harlequin allies. The lesson many Attikans took from the performances of the Masque of the Last Laugh was that Tzeentch is a cracked reflection of Cegorach. While they recognize Ynnead triumphing over Slaanesh as a pivotal moment, Attikans tend to believe that the true fate of creation will be decided between Tzeentch and Cegorach. “Who will get the last laugh?” Consequently, they revere Cegorach to a much greater degree than they do Khaine.

### Crafting the Anathema's Bane

As members of a nearly extinct race themselves, the Attikans are more welcoming to the Drukhari kin than most Asuryani. Some of this is also derived from their history with “stabilizing” Chaos corruption. They believe that the Drukhari can be reformed. To that end, a small but not irrelevant percentage of the Attikan population consists of Drukhari. However, such grace is not without some measure of self-interest. Their time in the warp storm, surrounded by sorcerous power, amplified and attuned many Attikans’ potential as psykers. This had the unfortunate side effect of making them that much more susceptible to anti-psyker measures employed by the likes of the Imperium. The nullified psychic potential of their Drukhari contingents have proven invaluable at pivotal moments throughout the years but still has much work to be done.

### Culture of Preservation, Independence, and Theater

Attikans cherish their hard won democratic rights, freedom of expression, independence and self-sufficiency. Their close ties to the Harlequins has fostered a strong cultural attraction to the performing arts and comedy. Attikans are quick witted with sharp tongues and little regard for centralized authority. The brief tyranny of Sias-Vel and her Maroon Guard have left Attika entirely hostile to the Dire Avengers aspect warriors. There are no ("officially" active) shrines for their ilk to be found anywhere on Attika.

For this reason, along with their greater belief in Cegorach, there is not much effort to be made in the summoning of an Avatar of Khaine. Despite the fact that he's already dead and therefore useless as a sacrifice, Kaz Baus-Tan, the detested wraith warrior, is perpetually elected as "the young king", the designated sacrifice to summon the avatar. Would be Autarch Aran seems peculiarly insistent on being named "the young king". His detractors point to it as a betrayal of his "Tzeentchian ambitions" while his advocates insist that it is a display of his "righteous nobility". There are comedians and performers who joke that, "how about an avatar of Cegorach?", but they all are merely waiting for the opportunity to manifest itself and would happily hurl themselves into that spotlight if given the chance.

## Arts, Culture, & Industry

Attika’s reputation is founded on the cornerstones of their close relationship with the Harlequins & their battle against Chaos, their biophilia & saurian husbandry, their highly trained (even by Aeldari standards) citizenry, and their phenomenal aerial talents.

### Path of the Raptor

Before all else, Attikans are raptors. It is a path that every member of their society will walk and thus it creates a commonality which breeds comradery and community. "All members must serve the pack and the pack must serve all its members". Attikans never leave any of their own behind. When sacrifices must be made they are done so with informed consent of those being sacrificed and in kind everyone is expected to make sacrifices when the pack is imperiled. All citizens are expected to contribute in the fashion that their chosen path best allows. They are neither individual nor collective. Rather, they are both. This is why Attika has been so hostile to autocracy. “The pack serves one and the one serves none.”

### Players on the Stage

Due in no small part to their close association with the Harlequins, and Masque of the Last Laugh in particular, the most highly venerated deity in Attika is Cegorach. In turn this fosters a great love of artistic expression in its myriad forms. There is a profound love for the performing arts. Attika is renowned for its theaters, music, and comedy. Wit and wordsmithing are among the most desirable cultural traits. Stand-up comedy and poetry are among the great Attikan past times. As a consequence, free expression is one of their highest values.

Comedy is an almost sacred ritual. As devotees of Cegorach their belief is that “laughing at the darkness” is the best weapon against the Ruinous Powers. By extension this is why they regard Tzeentch as the true threat, because he is the jester of Chaos, "he is the darkness that laughs back".

### Birds on the Wind

Perhaps by fluke of design or guided by fate, when the craftworld disembarked from the core of the Aeldari Empire all those millennia ago Attika had always supported very spacious biodomes and always maintained large populations of avian creatures. Regardless of the intentionality, Attikans have had ages with wide open spaces and rugged natural features. This in turn fostered a spirit of rugged individualism. They are thus more willing to accept degrees of danger to allow freedoms to exist. With the act of traveling being a necessity, the idea of completing your own “travels” became a cultural rite of passage. This is why so many Attikans turn Outcast but such a high percentage return. Attikans do not tolerate being kept in bondage.

### Biophilia

Perhaps more than anything, Attikans love "their nature". Between there own expansive natural lands and those of the "preserve worlds", living among the wild is second nature to the people of Attika. They pride themselves as conservationist perhaps more than anything else. They are the self-appointed guardians of imperiled species and are utterly aghast at the casual, cruel indifference other forces show "their nature". For the same reason, they abhor genocide. Even the orks, tyranids, humans, and even the daemons of the warp all play their part in the great cosmic pageant of the Khaos-Tao.

### Sauroculture

The following is a thorough but far from extensive list of the saurian populations maintained by Attika and its "preserve worlds".

#### Raptors

* Attikan White Raptor: The animal which adorns their rune sigils serves as exemplars of their society. The raptor is covered in white scales while it's head, neck back, and arms are crested in dark blue, aqua-teal, and magenta feathers. Standing 1.4 meters (4'7") tall, measuring up to 3.75 meters (12'4") long, and weighing 113 kg (250 lbs.) the Attikan White Raptor is a formidable pack-hunter. Males tend to be slightly larger than females. Packs mostly consist of two-three generations, numbering anywhere from 4-5 or as many as 15; with the mated mother/father or grandfather/grandmother acting as the group's leaders. Upon entering adulthood, the raptors will split off from the pack to find a mate and start of pack of their own. Occasionally parent raptors will return to their parents' packs, but too large a pack makes for inefficient hunting. While raptors don't technically mate for life, mated pairs do remain together as long as they are raising offspring. So the Attikan White Raptor tends to remain mated for extended periods of life and typically don't have more than two mates before they age out of reproduction. The White Raptor was the first saurian domesticated by the Attikans and is thus one of the more plentiful and most prestigious breeds to own. While their large size makes them very poorly suited to urban care. However in the rural expanses of the craftworld, preserve or maiden worlds, the Attikan White Raptor is a mainstay for farmers, ranchers, and frontiersmen. Few raptors are capable of both being able to drive off large therapods and be trusted with one's family. That is why they've become the cultural icon of Attika.
* Icathan Achillobator: introduced to the temperate forests and wide open grassland of Attika's sister world: El-Icatha, the large breed raptor (what Exodites would refer to as a "riding dragon") is a truly impressive predator. Covered in deep emerald green scales and white & brown feathers it measures 2.1 meters (7') tall, up to 6.7 meters (22') long, and weighing over 408 kg (900 lbs.), the Achillobator the first raptor truly large enough for an Aeldari to ride. Though their less social natures can make taming/breaking them quite difficult. In the wild they rarely run in packs of more than 3-4. Though that additional antisocial aggression may make them better war mounts, it does severely limit their domestic use. Certain polities even outlaw their ownership.
* Austroraptor: the premier riding raptor. Standing at 1.8 meters (5'9"), measuring around 6 meters (20') long, and weighing up to 300 kg (660 lbs); the Austroraptor is a large enough raptor for an Aeldari to ride while still being a more social predator. Running in packs numbering 5-8, Austroraptors are far less aggressive than their Achillobator cousins. Perhaps even friendlier than the Attikan White Raptor. While capable of carrying an Aeldari, they tend to struggle as mounts for extended periods of time or with heavy loads. This makes them ideal as messengers and for day-to-day errands. They have a much narrower snout and their entire body, minus their face, is covered in pastel feathers (coloration varying by breed).
* Ostrummaysi (death bird): the largest species of raptor...and by far the most dangerous. At a height of 3.1 meter (10'), measuring over 7.6 (25') foot long, and weighing nearly 550 kg (over 1,200 lbs.); an Ostrummaysi can be nearly the same size as a juvenile carnosaur. Though this increased sized makes them notably slower than their fellow raptors they make up for with terrifying ambushes. They are typically black and white scaled with reddish-orange feathers that camouflage with their homeworld's native "red cliffs". Ostrummaysi scales the side of these cliffs above a watering hole and then uses its proto-wings to swoop down on unsuspecting prey. though far too heavy to fly, they do appear able to glide. Though known to engage in group hunting strategies, the Ostrummaysi is an otherwise strictly solitary predator. They are one of the few raptor species to still actively prey upon Aeldari. Some are kept as living trophies of the rich or powerful but are strictly isolated from personal contact.
* Druhstrummaysi (dark death bird): a variation of the Ostrummaysi bred/cloned by the Drukhari. The same size as its cousin but weighing nearly twice as much (1100 kg) and having any shred of sociability eradicated and predatory aggression heightened to its maximum. These black, featherless beasts are genetic monstrosities, full stop, made for the nihilistic whims of their Drukhari masters.
* Dromeosaurian: the archetypal domestic raptor. Standing at a neat 0.8 meters (2'8"), measuring an even 2 meter (6'7") long, and weighing 18 kg (40 lbs.); serves as the foundation to countless "worker breed raptor". Breed sizes and feather'scale colorization will vary greatly.
* Velociraptor: the premier "sport raptor". Standing at 0.72 meters (2'4") tall, measuring up to 2.1 meters (6'10") long, and weighing on average 15 kg (33 lbs.); the Velociraptor was built for speed. Reaching a top speed of nearly 100 km/h (60 mph), this speedster is the apple of a gamesman's eye. It's various breeds will be seen in racing tracks or out in countryside with their masters on hunting trips.
* Microraptors: the most numerous of all raptor breeds fall under this "teacup" categorization. These are the raptors that will be most commonly seen in heavily urbanized environments. With breeds as small as small as 0.76 meters (2'6") or up to 1.2 meters (4'), weighing between 1.5 kg (3.4 lbs.) and 4.1 kg (9lbs.), these pint-sized raptors are what can be expected to be found in people's parcels or on leashes as they traverse through cities. As mentioned previously, scales/feather coloration will vary by breed.

#### Therapods

* Attikan Crimson Carnosaur: Carnosaurs are the iconic, terrifying bipedal beasts of legend with sundering jaws. Attika has it's own specific breed of them with a distinctive red scaled coloration. Standing nearly 4.5 meters tall (15'), measuring up to 13 meters longs (43'), and weighing as much as 8.5 metric tons (18,700 lbs.) the Carnosaur stands as one of the most impressive predators in the galaxy.
* Allosaurian: length: 9.7 meters (32'). weight: 2.7 metric tons (5,900 lbs.)
* Ceratosaurian: height: 2.1 meters (7'). length: 7 meters (23'). weight: 1 metric tons (2,200 lbs.)
* Icathan Carnotaur: black scaled. height: 2.5 meters (8'3"). length: 8 meters (26'3"). weight: 2.3 metric tons (5,000lbs.)
* Carcharodontosaurian*:* length: 12 meters (39'). weight: 6 metric tons (13,200lbs.)
* Dilophosaurian: length: 7 meters (23'). weight: 400 kg (880 lbs.)
* Herrerasaurian: length: 6 meters (20'). weight: 350 kg (770 lbs.)
* Suchomimus: length: 11 meters (36'). weight: 3.8 metric tons (8,400 lbs.)
* Therizinosaurian: height: 5 meters (16'). length: 10 meters (33'). weight: 5.5 metric tons (12,100 lbs.)

#### Herbivores

* Stegadons: the power horned beasts with frilled necks. They come in a variety of sub-species that vary in size and are primarily identified by the number of horns
* Thagomisaurians: the various sub-species of herbivores with armored plates along their backs and spikes on their tails
* Ankylodons: the various sub-species of armored herbivores with a turtle-like shell and club tail
* Archeosaurians
* Brachiosaurians
* Pachychephlasaurians: the relatively small, bipedal sub-species of saurians with hardened head for ramming
* Hadrosaurians: various sub-species of relatively large, semi-bi-pedal dinosaurs that gather in large herds

#### Drukhari Monstrosities

It is sadly not uncommon for Attika's resident Drukhari to abduct innocent animals for the vicious blood sport and to breed/modify them into unrecognizable horrors. most of these poor beasts don't live for long. There are times when they escape their containment and escape into H'vres. There the Emerald Rangers hunt them down before they can do any real harm...but a few have managed to elude them throughout the eras.

### Economy

Attika largely practices free trade and believes in free markets balanced out by limited but potent restrictions that effectively establish the bounds by which markets play within. Where possible, it is preferable to maintain this through cultural custom and common practice as opposed to strict state mandates. “The Path of the Pack” plays out here as well. Where people are entirely free to better themselves there is tremendous social cost to doing so at the expense of the pack. For nearly all Attikans their flora, fauna, and land are considered “part of the pack”.

In turn Attikans have a well-earned reputation as restorationist, animal husbandry, domestication, and breeding. The saurians and chaos-quelled beasts are all parts of their proud menagerie. Though the jewel in their crown are their raptors. With their high intelligence and sociable natures, raptors proved to be highly domesticable. To date Attika has bred dozens of different raptor breeds ranging some small enough to fit into a handbag, to midsized breeds that stand somewhere between knee and thigh high, to the truly large breeds suitable for riding. Raptors are a part of daily life for most Attikans; ranging from the frontier peace keepers and their mighty austroraptor steeds, to the families on the cusp of the cities with their worker breeds, to the urban resident and their miniature companions. Raptor breeders ship out well-bred egg clutches to prospective owners on other craftworlds on a regular basis. They even trade with non-hostile Tau and Leagues of Voltann worlds. The two groups explicitly forbidden by law to breed fauna for are the Drukhari of Commorragh and the worlds of the Imperium of Man.

#### Blackmarkets

However, where ever there is law and profit to be made by not abiding it, there will be crime. Almost every major port has a “shadow port” that traffics in any and all things. There is plenty of demand for ferocious monsters for fighting pits and Attika has quite the supply. On the same trip that corsairs will smuggle out mill bred eggs or wild beasts, they’ll smuggle in poachers looking for the hunt of their lives. The vast majority of Attika’s rangers are the dedicated guardians of their wilds.

### Dark Towns

While welcoming Drukhari comes with its own benefits it also comes at a high cost. Drukhari neighborhoods are almost always overrun with drugs, assault, and murder. That too encourages the trafficking of people for unsavory ends at these shadow ports. When forced to integrate by virtue of being isolated, most will become acceptable members of Asuryani society within a reasonable timeframe. When left collected to replicate their culture you begin to see the emergence of “dark towns”, which act as miniature Commorragh’s. Most interestingly, Drukhari always seem to seek out the most urbanized centers. For whatever reason, when dropped into the wild many of their worst behaviors fall away. Observes have coined the term “humbled by the wild” for this phenomenon.

## Orders of Battle

### Paths of the Avian

Attikans have a tremendous affinity for and pride in aerial combat. They are taught from the youngest possible age how to fly and it is so deeply ingrained in their culture that Attikans have their own unique set of *paths* separate from all other Aeldari.

·      Path of the Owl: see “Path of the Seer”

·      Path of the Raven: see “Path of the Dreamer”

·      Path of the Eagle: see “Path of the Warrior” (elites)

·      Path of the Falcon: see “Path of the Warrior” (fast attack)

·      Path of the Raptor: “Path of the Pack/Civilian Soldier” (guardians). The one path required by law for all Attikans to follow as they enter adulthood.

·      Path of the Vulture: wraiths

·      Path of the Coatl: pilots and navy

·      Path of the Mockingbird: see “bone singer”

·      Path of the Songbird: artisans

·      Path of the Jay: merchants

·      Path of the Parrot: politicians

### The White Raptors

Inspired by their saurians, Attikans see their society as similar to a raptor pack. The success of the pack and the individual are entwined with one another. All individuals must be beneficial the pack and the pack must beneficial to all its individuals. Intelligence and speed aren’t enough. Survival demands teamwork. All citizens are required to serve a term of military service. This time is served in the ranks of the White Raptors. A large majority will return to civilian life after they’ve served enough time to secure certain benefits from the High Council. A few will “advance” to become aspect warriors. Some will remain in the ranks. Regardless, at one point or another all Attikans were, and still are, White Raptors.

Among those who remained are Commanders Nikaea Thaliel and Sétanta Huanion.

### The Home Fleet

Attika is well known for its aerial prowess and that is not limited to their soldiers and citizens. Having almost completely forgone heavy armor like tanks, Attika relies heavily on its air force to maintain air superiority above the battlefield and navy in the void of space. While lacking much audacious raw fire power, they more than make up for it with blazing speed and dazzling use of webway hit and run tactics. Yet Attika reserves its best for its own defense. The Attikan home fleet has the highest collection of ace pilots in the galaxy. They are more than capable of outdueling all but the most skilled and numerous forces.

Attika hosts a variety of wholly unique naval and aerial combat ships. Their pilots are second to none in the galaxy. As such very few enemies survive any engagement with Attikan air superiority. This makes both their ships and pilots highly sought-after commodities. Many young Attikans make their names as corsair pilots during their time treading the path of the outcast. Those who return do so with a tremendous amount of flight and combat experience under their belts before they commit to the Path of the Coatl, where those skills will be honed to their zenith. Once they do they start flying either the legendary Wing-1 or Wing-0 Nightwing fighters. Attikan units move with an astonishing speed and agility even by the standards of their kin. Their aces boast they can hold off enemy fighters at a 50/1 disadvantage. They hold in highest reverence the Serpent God, whom they envision with the rainbow feathers of a coatl.

#### Notable Pilots

##### Callon- Er

Callon-Er is the greatest living pilot in Attika’s already formidable fleet of ace pilots. He is an exarch of the Path of the Coatl. If an average Attikan ace can triumph at 50/1 odds, Callon does so with 100/1 odds. Every one of him is worth a hundred of any other enemy pilot. His vehicle of choice is the Wing-1 Nightwing though he more than capable of flying just about anything he desires. Little is known of his life but what it is known that he served as child soldier and possibly assassin. The man has a suicidal commitment to the mission. Some would even say he has a death wish. It should also be noted that he is romantically partnered with Attika’s lead diplomat, Tarieth Estevairė.

##### Caron Anguriel, the Crimson Comet

Callon is Attika’s greatest living pilot but there is still one who may outclass him. Caron Anguriel is a wraith pilot, flying both the paths of the Vulture and Coatl. It is rumored that he is three times faster than the average Nightwing pilot. He streaks above and strikes like a shooting star...hence his moniker. He was a Drukhari trueborn of the Deitrach clan who was forced to flee Commorragh when his entire noble family was murdered in an act of treachery. For decades he wandered the stars until arriving on Attika where their pilot culture awoke his incredible latent talents. As he gained renowned as one of the finest pilots in the history of the galaxy. He spent centuries plotting his vengeance. Then over the course of time, he tricked the Zabaeli Kabal to kill themselves one by one until he personally executed the last surviving member of their noble family. However, this triumph is something he would not survive. Though fortunately he had received a soul stone and was put into Attika’s infinity circuit with all the ceremony worthy of his tremendous exploits.

In death he is still haunted by one thing. He had an infant sister when he fled the Dark City. He left her in the care of an Exodite family on a maiden world. Caron never found her. Even in death he still hopes to.

### The Black Banshees, Silence’s Bane

The resident Howling Banshee aspect warriors are all reformed Drukhari wyches. They acknowledge their dark past by wearing a distinctive midnight black armor. These elite warrior women are led by Laelel Tai’ina, a former Drukhari succubus. Like her, they all now fly the Path of the Eagle.

Their presence on the battlefield remains a rarity. Though their existence is not a closely guarded secret, their purpose is. After several encounters with Culluxes assassins and one skirmish with the elusive Sisters of Silence who guard the human corpse seer, the Attikan High Council resolved to develop their own counter measures against these so called “blanks”. Hence why a Drukhari population was encouraged to begin with, so as to provide them with a pool of candidates who are not as susceptible to “blanks”.

But these efforts go beyond defense. It is clearly understood by Laelel and her banshees that, innkeeping with Attika’s views on the Emperor of Mankind and how his corruption of humanity ultimately feeds Chaos, the true purpose of the Black Banshees is to one day lead the assault on the human’s home world and finally put the corpse seer to rest. To emerge triumphant, they must prevail over his faithful dogs, who hold their watch next to his grave. The logic behind their plan, based upon their previous encounter, that “the golden monkeigh super soldiers” have no real defense against a proper psyker. That is where the Sisters of Silence come in. If the Black Banshees can best the “pure evil” women who serve as his guardians, they’re quite confident they can kill the God Emperor.

Though preparations have been put into motion, such a plan is nowhere near ready to be executed. More information is necessary. This why Attika is increasingly trying to infiltrate the human home world.

### The Crimson Sages

The combative psykers of Attika, like everyone else, begin their journey on the Path of the Raptor. What separates the Crimson Sages apart is that at some point along their journeys, is the manifestation of their talents. This in turn prompts them to fly either the Path of the Owl or the Path of the Raven. As is the case with many Aeldari societies (due to their incredibly long lifespans), there is no real parallel between age and one’s journey down their paths. Most will walk many.

### The Golden Hawks

Autarch Aran Agarwaen's personal band of Swooping Hawks aspect warriors. Much like the Maroon Guard and Sias-Vel, they are fanatically loyal to him above all else.

### The Emerald Rangers

The Emerald Rangers serve as the primary guardians of Attika's expansive biology. Most will spend the majority on their time along the path wandering the fringes of Attika's wilds. They typically arrive on the path by way of time served on El-Icatha during their tenure as White Raptors where they developed a deeply ingrained admiration for their people's prized beasts. In many ways an Emerald Ranger is the Attikan's archetypal image of themselves; rugged, capable, adventurous. Their primary source of conflict, outside the inherent dangers of the wild itself, comes from corsair poacher bands. These poachers are reviled as the worst sort of scum, which is why it is so catastrophic when an Emerald Ranger joins their ranks. A ranger turned poacher is persona-non-grata on Attika and will be hunted down by his former comrades with extreme prejudice.

It often falls to them to corral Drukhari who've escaped their "dark towns" and fled into the wilds. More often than not, the rangers simply keep eyes on them as "nature humbles them".

## Notable Members

### Laelel Tai’ina

Laelel Tai’ina herself is a trueborn of the Kabal of the Mother’s Tears. She is the daughter Archon Vilsuarck Shay-Uh and her harem of incubi. She was raised as a dark warrior princess of the highest breeding, but when she came of age her mother banished her from the Dark City under pain of death, was bound like a lowly slave, and a band of peasant corsairs disposed of her on what she regarded as a backwater called Attika.

For an extended period of years, she lived as a wild beast among a pack of raptors. Eventually she was captured by the Black Banshees and forcibly tamed by her reformed kin. Though able to function in an Asuryani society, none of her sadistic nor masochistic fetishes have abetted. For this reason, she remains a mostly solitary presence, even as she has risen up the ranks of the Black Banshees. To date her only real “friend” is a wraith warrior of astonishingly ill-repute named Kaz Baus-Tan. Though her impressive feats in battle against the hated Imperium has her star on the rise.

### Megaera U’mel

A Crimson Sage, Megaera has all but lost herself on the Path of the Owl. She is driven by a singularly minded purpose to advance her powers to their apex, to be the pinnacle among the ranks. Her grand sorcerous ambitions tend to prohibitively isolate her, which in turn only exasperates people’s discontent with her lackluster social etiquette. Megaera is frequently prone to frenetic babbling about subjects that interest her while precociously snarking at all that doesn’t. While a great many profoundly admire her as a military asset, (particularly her performances against the Death Watch and Tau) very few wish to associate with her personally. One of those few just happens to be Princess Nen. The two are centuries long drinking buddies. This can be quite terrifying for whatever poor soul happens to be in path of their stumbling stupor because Megaera has a tendency to lose control of her powers when she drinks.

### Kirithon Sughaimen

The Crimson Sage Kirithon flies the Path of the Raven but his journey to that path is quite the tale. For a large majority of his life, Kirithon served as a Solitaire for the Masque of the Last Laugh. As such, he does not wear a soul stone for he knows that there is no point in it for him. As a (former) solitaire his soul is forfeit to Slaanesh. This has gifted him a rare sense of urgency among his people. As part of the effort to defend Attika from the ruinous powers, the Masque of the Last Laugh near constantly aided and coordinated with the craftworld. This is how Kirithon would meet a woman by the name of Irrythies’el serving as a White Raptor. He eventually retired from his troupe and married her. Now they have an infant daughter.

Sadly, Kirithon and his family are keenly aware of the fate that awaits him. To that end he has no regrets. In many ways he still has all the reckless instincts of a Solitaire and uses his exceptional combat prowess to maximal benefit. Pound for pound, he is possibly the most skilled and capable warrior in the craftworld. He remains in close contact with the Masque of the Last Laugh, who keep him informed of their concerns about Autarch Aran, and he can’t bring himself to disagree with them. The growing power and standing of the autarch is dividing the craftworld into a potential civil conflict with one another. Kirithon finds himself increasingly imagining scenarios where ruthless, decisive action could stop an oncoming catastrophe.

### Nikaea Thaliel

The White Raptor commander found herself called by the spirit of Ataeana to the deepest section of the Wilded Woods in Brauron. There she discovered the long abandoned shrine to Asuryan. More young warrior women were called to the site and in secret restored it. Now this elite cohort of "Secret Avengers" work on restoring the "forsaken path" ruined by the excesses of the Sias-Vel & her Maroon Guard. These "Daughters of the Phoenix" prepare for the day in which they will be called upon to do battle along Ataeana's side.

### The White Falcon

Despite his (relative) youth, Aran Agarwaen blazed down the Path of the Falcon with a string of incredible victories. His first came as a company commander of the White Raptors, successfully repelling the forces of Chaos in defense of El-Icatha. Next he would triumph in battles against the Adepta Sororitas and then held off a force of the Imperium’s most elite soldiers, the Adeptus Custodes and Sisters of Silence, forcing them to withdraw. The Black Banshees are in part his work. He’s an impeccable swordsman and incredibly graceful flyer, which earned him the title, “the White Falcon”. He is guarded by a personal company of Swooping Hawk aspect warriors known as the Golden Hawks.

There is an aura of destiny about the man. Fate seems to bend itself to his benefit. When the farseers attempt to gaze into his future they are blinded by brilliant white light. With a phenomenal charisma, brilliant strategy, and tremendous fortune some are beginning to fear the rise of another Sias-Vel. Others, typically those born after those times, welcome it. The farseers grow increasingly weary of his triumphs and a seemingly innocuous artifact he always keeps on his person.

Ever since he was a child, Aran has worn a peculiar red amulet. It was seen as nothing more than a good luck charm. Then it seemed to be a sign of favorable fortune. But one day events spiraled far beyond such a scope. Before he was named Autarch, Aran was leading his Golden Hawks on a world that had been ravaged by Chaos. In the ruins they encountered a bloodthirster of Khorne. His men were annihilated and Aran easily batted aside. By all rights the bloodthister should have killed him, but when it saw the amulet it stopped. The demon laughed and flew away.

Ever since that day there’s been a mounting dread among the farseers that Aran may be in some kind of pact with the ruinous powers. His name means, “Blood-Stained King”, and at first it seemed fitting for a warrior rising up the ranks through victorious battles. The incident with the Khornate demon has forced some to recognize a treacherous parallel. In spite of these suspicions, all manner of mental probing revealed no such corruption nor treachery. Despite their misgivings about his meteoric rise, Aran’s momentum proved too great for them to halt.

### The Grey-Eyed Owl

The old farseer has witnessed much on his journey down his path of the Owl. One such tremendous, yet treacherous event was the meteoric rise and fall of Sias-Vel. Now Caladon Sallaben fears history is on the verge of repeating itself. Sias-Vel had been his friend since they served in their first Raptor company. He took no delight in leading the uprising that overthrew her.

By most accounts he shouldn’t second guess the blessing of having an autarch as capable as the White Falcon…but he’s lived long enough to know better. Lived long enough to remember what most have forgotten. It was this unease and inability to divine Agarwaen’s future that prompted him to resign from the High Council and return to military service. This was to prevent Argarwaen from consolidating the army’s support for any increases in his position and authority. Caladon has returned to his long-abandoned post as the commander of Attika’s shinning spears. To this day, as Attikan tradition demands, he remains an excellent flier. Last time they were able to avoid civil conflict. Caladon isn’t so certain that fate will be that merciful twice.

By rights he cannot find any proof of Argarwaen’s alliance with the ruinous powers, but his intuition screams at him every time he looks ta the man. *A bloodthirster doesn’t just let you live.* To that end he reached out to Attika’s Harlequin allies and their assurance weren’t reassuring. Their troupe masters assured him that, “Aran won’t outlive his usefulness.” Should he really have expected anything less than such a cryptic answer?

His dramatic return to military command has been a mixed blessing for himself. On the one hand he's proving himself a viable candidate for Autarch with his defeat of an Imperial Crusade, but that came at quite a terrible cost. Not in lives lost but in a loss of moral standing...for he did so by allying with the Necrons. That fateful decision has done much to damage his standing in the public perception. His gifts as a diplomat remain at the forefront of his military success, weaving together a patchwork of alliances that preserve Attika's safety and well-being. The alliance with the O'Shova Kavaal'sral Ko'vash'da'noh Kau'ui Tau has proven far more palatable to the people of Attika.

In concert from Alpha Legion sabotage and Imperium treachery, Caladon Salaben was felled by an assassin's bullet during the siege of Planetfall.

### The Stalwart Starling

Bethril Amathrod has risen in esteem among the High Council in concert with the rise of Aran Agarwaen. She was an early supporter of his and he has proven to be a most fortuitous bet. Now that the omens turn ill upon him, the farseer remains defiantly loyal to her prospect. Though old enough to have seen the deposing of Sias-Vel, Bethril had yet to come into her own as a member of the high council. To her, Agarwaen represents a changing of the guard. *“The old owl has gone blind”,* she has been heard saying on increasingly frequent occasion. On Attika an autarch no longer holds any real political power, at least officially. They need a partner of some sort to be their ally on the High Council. Amathrod has found herself in this most advantageous of positions. Though Agarwaen is the cause of the movement, for all intents and purposes Amathrod is the “real” leader of it. She has become a leading voice, on the council if not publicly…yet, for the institution of a proper monarchy.

She sees the existence of their ceremonial royal as an opportunity and not a feckless burden without purpose, as the rest of the craftworld regards her. If Aran Agarwaen was to wed Princess Nen, they could be crowned as a proper king and queen. For her part, she’s quite confident she’d be handsomely rewarded with the title of vizier for her efforts. She remains the loudest proponent of Agarwaen’s *“glorious promise”*, as the white light that blinds the council’s sight is the manifestation of the bright future he shall lead them to. Regarding the confrontation with the bloodsthirster, she ardently reframes the affair as *“Aran beating back the bloodthrister”*. She has almost convinced herself of this story. Whatever ill omen that incident foretells, she cannot risk acknowledging it. The crescendo of her career has built to this one man’s ascent and she will not jeopardize it for anything less than conclusive proof. Amathrod eagerly greets Aran’s victories with all the ceremony she can muster.

The greatest hinderance to her plans is the princess herself. The loutish “girl” is wholly undependable and thoroughly ignorant to all that isn’t immediately before her. Bethril’s countless efforts to arrange Aran’s courtship of her has been thwarted by the bibulous larks of Princess Nen. Worst of all, she is seemingly smitten with the infamous wraith warrior, Kaz Baus-Tan. Their princess’ absurdity taxes Bethril’s patience. Bethril’s critics, particularly Caladon Sallaben, are fond of the phrase, *“a parrot in owl’s feathers”.* It’s a criticism of farseers who are regarded as being more concerned with the politics of the present than the needs of the craftworld’s future.

### Princess Nen

During the Fog of Infinity, the Attikan people managed to peacefully depose Sias-Vel, the woman who had consolidated the military rank of “autarch” into a government position that superseded the authority of High Council. This was accomplished by accommodating her one request:

>            *“Kin, let us not shed our precious blood. In my time as a mother to my people I have failed. For this failure I shall readily accept the Path of the Outcast. I shall march into that exile so long as one request is met. Let me meet my destiny with my head held high in the knowledge that I have not failed my progeny. Treat my newborn daughter as the princess that she is and I shall instruct my warriors to lay down their shurikens and shining spears*. *Come gentle kin, allow a mother this last kindness to a child she’ll never see again.” **Sias-Vel***
>
>

So her infant daughter was christened “Princess Nen”, a title with no power what-so-ever, and Sias-Vel accepted her exile. No one is certain what became of her. Some say she became a corsair captain. Others say she joined the Drukhari wyches. It is an answer whose importance rapidly diminished with time. Though the title itself gave Nen no power of any kind in the government, it did come with a hefty financial promise that all-but secures her the most lavish lifestyle. In theory the position should have granted her some cultural clout, and in fact it did…for a time.

As a child she was cherished. As an adolescent she was tolerated. As an adult Nen has exhausted all patience and good will for herself with her pompousness, immaturity, entitlement, and drunken antics. She is obtuse, dim witted, and shockingly vulgar. It is commonly joked that “her father was an ork”. Various more seriously spoken conspiracies have said her father was a human. Her people are deeply ashamed of her in many, many ways.

No one is quite certain of what ludicrous chain of events led to her being on an open battlefield and having to be rescued from the Adepta Sororitas by Baus-Tan (many blame Tzeentch), but everyone on Attika regrets it. Divining the nature of their relationship with one another is recognized to be truly beyond all reason. Despite unceasing, ruthless antagonism towards one another they are inseparably close in kind. Everyone is incredibly displeased that Princess Nen throws around what little influence she does have for his benefit.

### Kaz Baus-Tan, the Snatcher

Baus-Tan is as infamous in death as he was irrelevant in life. He was a wholly unremarkable, out and out worthless drain on society. Very much an echo of the ruinous gluttony and sedation of the Aeldari before the Fall. He wasted his glorious existence in the pursuit of short sighted, hollow comforts and playing soldier simulator games. A peculiar legal technicality and bureaucratic mismanagement allowed him to evade his mandated service as a White Raptor. The most notable thing about his life was his death; dying of fright after nearly being run over by a windrider high on mankweed.

Unfortunately, desperate times do not permit one to be picky. With his soul safely sealed within the infinity circuits, Baus-Tan would be pressed into military service via piloting a wraithguard. Once in the construct’s body, his centuries of simulated combat games finally became a relevant skill set to society. While his usefulness drastically increased, he remained deeply despised due to his immaturity, entitlement, and proclivity to grievously insult people on a whim. By wretched miracle this too proved to be advantageous for his military service. Kaz became quite exceptional at taunting opponents, which could be used to lead enemies into pre-staged traps.

However, his moniker is derived from his most detestable behavior in the eyes of his fellow Attikans. Aeldari are no strangers to unconventional sexual fetishes…but Baus-Tan’s runs afoul of multiple religious and cultural norms, even by Aeldari standards. He is uncomfortably fixated upon the Imperium of Man’s Adepta Sororitas, the Sisters of Battle. He is known as “the snatcher” because of the absurd lengths he has gone to acquire articles of their clothing, especially their boots and socks. In spite of having no nose and therefor no means of actually smelling anything, Baus-Tan takes tremendous pleasure in “smelling” his “angelic trophies”.

He is universally reviled by his own people but his antics are abided by virtue of his wholly unearned military talent and Princess Nen’s bewildering favoritism towards him. His wraith bone is deliberately painted so that he'll stand out amongst his fellow wraiths and be targeted by the enemy. Much to everyone else's chagrin, he has yet to be slain and proves too valuable an asset to simply execute and his stubborn refusal to "not stay dead" has forced him to overcome much peril and is inadvertently raising his stature. People are beginning to joke about Kaz being named Autarch and how impossible that would be. As they do so, the Harlequins chuckle underneath their breaths.

## Appearance

### Colors

White and gold. Specialized units may have more unique color schemes but the standard colors of Attika is primary white for "wisdom", secondary gold for "justice".

### Rune Banner

Attika flies a golden rune for "bravery" upon a black field with the head of a "white raptor" in front of it.

## Realtions

### Asuryani

Attika maintains itself as suzerain of it's "Preserve Worlds" and El-Icatha, and allies itself with a small but growing host of Maiden Worlds and other craftworlds.

Asuryani
 Iyanden
 Bel-Nach

### Drukhari

Given their active efforts to bring in Drukhari, Attika's "Dark Towns" are often populated by the refugees of shattered/disbanded kabals. This often leads to open gang wars as the kabalites of a previously ruined kabal descend upon those who had been responsible for their kabal's destruction. Such is the endless cycle of retribution and revenge. The impressive fauna of Attika also acquires the attention of the most discerning Drukhari Beast Masters looking to add to their stocks...and the odd Necron looking to add to their collections.

Drukhari
 Kabal of the Savage Hunt
 Kabal of the Obsidian Rose

### Tau

Attika maintains numerous trade agreements with various Tau Septs. This is not wholly benign. There is a saying on Attika, "soft words carry more weight than the strongest hands." The best way to exert influence over another is to be in their orbit. Well woven diplomatic and economic ties are every bit as much a part of Attika's defense as its navy...and the Tau are not the blood-hungry, zealous brutes that the Imperium are. They are a power that can be supplicated and persuaded.

Tau

### Imperium of Man

Imperium of Man
 Adepta Sororitas
Many years later, the hour of the Sisters' retribution was at hand. In force their missions descended upon the Imperial fortress world of Doldrey. Outnumbered, outmatched, and surrounded; it appeared that doom had befallen the forces of Attika. The (relatively) young commander Aran Agarwaen had seemingly led his forces into a trap as the Sororitas emptied out of their stronghold to "purge the xenos from existence". What they did not realize was that an infiltrator force was waiting for just that precise moment. The Golden Hawks descended upon the practically unguarded bastion and turned their own guns on Imperial forces. He had baited them into *his* trap. The ascendant autarch led his forces from the front lines, hewing the Sisters of Battle to pieces.
Then the battle took a ludicrous turn that no sane mind could have forseen. Somehow against all odds and reason, the Princess Nen appeared in the thick of the Sororitas. In dazzling display of heroism and swordsmanship, Agarwaen carved a veritable canyon through the Sisters to rescue the beleaguered princess...then the fates conspired events that attikans still curse to this day. The roundly detested wraith warrior Kaz Baus-Tan "the Snatcher" managed to infiltrate behind enemy lines within proximity to the princess (well known for his fetishistic lust for the human Sororitas, reportedly he had broken rank to steal articles of their clothing for his own "future gratification" and was deliberately allowing them to "stomp" on him). Through a series of absurdist coicidences, the loathsome wraith scooped up the wayward princess and carried her to safety past the charging autarch. The shame of being outdone by a "pervert so heinous even the Eldar cannot suffer him" is nagging wound upon the honor of the Emperor that the Sororitas cannot allow to stand.

### Necrons

The undying servants of the Yngir (C'tan) are the Eldar race's most ancient foe. Most Aeldari, Asuryani and Drukhari, shudder at the their mere thought. That is Attika's action have shocked and appalled their rest of their kind and remains the greatest rift between them and their kindred.

Necrons