Exuberant Executioners

(To be added)

The **Exuberant Executioners**, For'Ni'Hu Lu'Airach in Aeldari, are a lesser known Aeldari Aspect Shrine operating across the Eastern Fringe. Entirely armoured, they follow the path of the tank hunter where, like the Crimson Hunters, each aspect warrior is a pilot driving powerful battletanks unique to their Shrine. The temples to this Aspect are highly militant and reclusive; Remaining aboard 'Aeride' starships that know no permanent home. The Exuberant Executioners operate with their own chain of command as an allied detachment, rather than integrating into the Aeldari Craftworlds and armies. Typically a warhost can travel safe of interference from enemy armour, who lie in smouldering ruin before the battle's start. With little guidance from their absent Phoenix Lord the Aspect has broken into two distinct shrines with opposing radical interpretations of the lost Akhliss' often contradictory teachings; The Roaring Wolves and the Ferocious Kites. Whereas the Kites focus on singular skill the Wolves focus on effective squadron tactics, which despite their opposing philosophies work in cohesion.

## Mythology

"*While the Falcon retrieved Anaris for Eldanesh Ossifrae attempted to intercede, however mighty, the Falcon was too fast and Ossifrae failed*"
—Uncredited texts of the War in Heaven
The Aeldari myth around Ossifrae has been lost to time, and few know more of this 'God' than it's failed attempt to intercept the Falcon. Many scholars even dispute the validity of the Myth and demand earlier texts.

Regardless the Exuberant Executioners bear the Ossifrae's symbol as their own and celebrate the 'Ally of Khaine', embodying his speed, stamina, vicious relentless attack and cunning.
The mighty warrior Akhliss joined Asurmen's group later than most, but swiftly earned his place at the helm of a powerful tank that threw back the Daemon hordes that assailed the students. However during one of their many battles Akhliss was forced to defend as a rearguard alone, and relied on the return of Ither (Another Phoenix Lord) to be his saviour. However Ither failed to return and Akhliss was enveloped by the forces of Chaos, not to be seen again. Asurmen did not raise the shrines to Akhliss to form the Exuberant Executioners, as there was no Phoenix Lord to train the aspect warriors. Despite this the Exuberant Executioners came into being, and therefore the aspect has always been under a shroud of doubt and suspicion, inflamed by their secretive and isolationist way of life. A matter that does help their reputation is their refusal to fight alongside the Astral Bulwark who are highly regarded. Though they have never come to blows, the Exuberant Executioners have withdrawn before battle, discovering they would be expected to fight alongside the children of their Phoenix Lord’s Betrayer.

## Culture

The Exuberant Executioners do not keep temples within the Craftworlds, they instead maintain a line of 'Merchant Vessels' which accompany Craftworld fleets. They maintain their own force of Guardians, known as Wardens, who operate vehicle recovery on the battlefield and extract stranded pilots. Rarely are visitors allowed aboard their merchant vessels, with interaction restricted to the recruiting envoys aboard craftworlds. Their greater shrines exist aboard Pallas Cruiseliners, which are identical to the original core vessels that evolved into Craftworlds.

The Exuberant Executioners are stern and unforthcoming outside of the battlefield, but often 'come alive' once in their vehicles. The Pilots revel in duels and accruing kills that they mark on their tank - each of which is tailored with war paint and tribalistic markings. The Exarchs of the respective shrines reflect their doctrines in their personality, as the Ferocious Kites stalk alone, mute and patient; while the Roaring Wolves are seen in their packs, playful and loquacious.

Though Craftworlds welcome the aid and power that the Exuberant Executioners bring to the battlefield it is a quandary in that the aspect drains the recruiting pool for Titans and Vypers, preferring to recruit twins and close blood relatives for the two seat battle tanks. Worse is the isolationist practice of the shrine means that their recruits rarely return to their home craftworld and remain within the Exuberant Executioners ships and squadrons.

## Role in the Battlefield

The role that the Exuberant Executioners fulfil within the battlefield is dominating vehicular control. Often operating with little oversight of the Autarch, the Executioners prowl the battlefield hunting and ambushing enemy armour elements at will. The two opposing shrines operate alongside each other, with the Kites taking to the battle early and lingering long past its end - foiling many an enemies’ counter attack. While the wolves use their team cohesion and combined arms to bring down targets beyond the Kites ability, in a single sweeping attack.

## Unique Vehicles

The Exuberant Executioners field a number of specialist tank variants based of the Falcon Chassis, while all variants are fielded by both Shrines the Surgebreakers are typically seen in the hunting packs of the Roaring Wolves, and the deadly Warp Stalker are almost exclusively the dominion of the Ferocious Kites. Super heavy Grav tanks are an unusual sight within the aspect, and used exclusively by specialists known by Alastor.

Base Vehicles

* SurgeBreaker - A light one man tank with twin pulsars and a underside mounted support weapon. The SurgeBreaker was designed independently of the Corsair Hornet, but fulfils the same role. It has considerably stronger armour but is also a larger target. A few Exarch's remain in customised SurgeBreakers who have mastered the pack hunting strategies and lead the aspect pilots, however the Surgebreaker is considered the tank of aspect warriors.
* Firekite - Fire Prism variant of the Exuberant Executioners. Pilot pairs of compatible mindset, wherever possible twins, are given Firekites to wield in battle. The Firekite shares the typical upgrades of the Exuberant Executioners Grav tanks.
* Warpstalker - Warphunter variant of the Exuberant Executioners. Typically the pilots have mastered the art of singular precision kills, ‘To slice the jugular’. They are given Warphunters as the Apex single pilot tank, dedicated to single devastating shots. The Warpstalker shares the typical upgrades of the Exuberant Executioners grav tanks.

Supporting Elements

* Ossifrae - Falcon variant of the Exuberant Executioners. Though Ossifrae is likely consumed alongside the rest of the Pantheon, the Aspect that bears his symbol still name their guardians angels after their once vigilant 'Patriarch'. The young aspect warriors utilise this fast transport to ferry the Wardens to their targets and exfiltrate downed pilots. In place of the support weapon an anti-gravity device is fitted to allow removal of wreckage and function as a tractor beam to withdraw grounded tanks from the battlefield. The Ossifrae shares the typical upgrades of the Exuberant Executioners Grav tanks.
* Wraithsbane - Though it is in extremely rare circumstance, the Exuberant Executioners will return their fallen warriors in Wraith form to assist the living. However the fallen Exarchs are unsuitable to field the bodies of Wraithlords and are instead implanted into wraith constructs closer to the tanks they once piloted. The Wraithbane is armed with either a twin linked Wraithcannon or a single D-Cannon. To work effectively they must be led by a Spiritseer or Warlock Skyrunner (That without a Craftworld’s support they cannot bring themselves). The Wraithsbane fight in groups, and have great firepower and incredible durability, shrugging off the impacts that would cripple other grav tanks. However they are fielded only when absolute and indiscriminate destruction is required, or the Pallas (The Aspect’s reclusive home) is in jeopardy.

## Equipment

The vehicles of the Exuberant Executioners are unmatched, no resource is spared in their construction and the finest shapers ensure each vehicle is a mastercraft in construction - such that the aspect will go to length to recover their broken vehicles instead of replacing them. This is noticeable in the resilience of the grav tanks armour as well an increase in speed and manoeuvrability.

In addition each vehicle is given the following upgrades:

* Elanus Shield - A similar design to Waveserpents' Serpentshields. Though the pilots believe it beneath them, and pride themselves on avoiding damage entirely, it is a feature of all the shrines' vehicles. It does not feature the same discharge system at proximity, designed purely as a protective shield.
* Reinforced Wraithbone - The Red Kite aces have the learnt secret weaknesses and areas of improvement for theirs tank's armour. For only a minor increase in weight, there is a considerable bonus to strength.
* Spirit stones - The stones of fallen pilots are embedded into their tanks, and in the same way that aspect warriors can learn from fallen predecessors, Red Kite pilots are guided by theirs. As Millennia have passed ancient tanks have recurred personalities and particular skills, altering the aim of their pilots to better land a perfect kill shot, evading incoming strikes instinctively and even guiding themselves after their pilot has fallen.
* Crystal Targeting Matrix - Advance targeting that allows the pilot to gain a target acquisition much faster than would be allowed by the normal laws of physics.
* Remiges - Thrusters located throughout the body of the Grav tank that enable superb manoeuvring and greater feats of flight. They complement the existing star and vectored engines.

The Exuberant Executioners Grav tanks are equipped with Shuriken Cannon as standard secondary turret weapon, however it is often upgraded to rocket launcher, star cannon, bright lance, or scatter laser. Less often more advance and exotic weaponry is used:

* D-Scythe - The Wraithsbane utilises the D-Scythe as it's support weapon.

## Shrines

**Ferocious Kites**

The Greater Shrine of the Ferocious Kites are solitary hunters, this is tied to the tanks not the pilot, stalking across the battle and infiltrating past enemy defensive lines to prey upon isolated tanks and infantry formations. The Ferocious Kites are known for their patience and serene beauty, gliding across the battlefield with minimal use of their engines and thrust - complementing their stealth tactics. The Kites will be seen long after the battle has ended, picking apart the survivors until ‘even the bones are consumed’. Finally in the heat of battle the Kites are relied upon for their unmatched accuracy at full speed.

* **The Rectrices of Diamond** - The hunters of this shrine move quickly with little pause, rather than lay in wait they glide between their enemies and loop their quarry balancing the dangers of their foes with little perceived care. To face the Rectrices of Diamond is to be cut apart and divided before your eyes, and while preoccupied struck in the back by the real threat - the Eldar Warhost.
* **Coursing Kestrels** - This Hunting shrine is unmatched in its patience and sharp eyes, those enemies that believe themselves as infiltration specialists are cut down before a precision burst of shuriken or laser. The Coursing Kestrels make their quarry the infantry divisions and light scouts of their enemy, laying ambushes and deceiving their enemies'.
* **The Bone Breakers** - With a particular preference to the Warpstalker mount, the shrine of the Bone Breakers maximise their damage output with devastating strikes from their D-Cannons. No tanks or even walkers are safe from their illusive and abrupt attacks. They also have the prestige of fielding Cobra super heavy tanks, with the finest pilots remaining unseen despite their size; Many an enemy commander has screamed in confused rage as their heaviest weapons are felled by an unexpected tear in realspace, the unseen Cobra emerging from its hiding place.

**Roaring Wolves**

The Greater Shrine of the Roaring Wolves are pack hunters, fielding entire Hosts of tanks in a single group instead of scattering across the battle. Rather than whittle down the enemies tanks through a thousand cuts the wolves bring their foes down in a single frenzied attack. With a clear leader, scouts and ‘claws’ to their attack wing the Wolves seek out the strongest of the enemy, their knights, their baneblades, their titans and they bring them down with group strategy and combined firepower. They are known for stamina, agility, and gall. Often the strongest of their foes find themselves exhausted, their ammo depleted into the void of battle, their fuel run dry from the chase, their weak points chipped away by repeated unseen and uncountered attacks, until finally the jugular is ripped out in a killing blow.

* **The Cunning Revontulet** - A shrine that specialises in advance tactica, leading their foes into traps with baits, feints and slights of hand. Familiar commanders may mistake the tanks of this shrine for the Ferocious Kites as they scatter alone across the battlefield, and the true nature of the Hunt does not become clear until their tank column over stretches and becomes enveloped, often after a confident chase of an isolated Surgebreaker.
* **The Inimitable Howl** - The Hunting Packs of this shrine are powerful and unmet in their chase bringing to bear super heavy tanks such as the Scorpion to spear head armoured charges. Skill and grace disappear in the fearsome fusillade they put out into the ranks of their foes.
* **The Untamed Moon** - The Hunting Packs of the Untamed Moon have taken to the air when their pilots realised they were as effective against the enemy air wings as the tank columns. Many enemy pilots are caught off guard as the battle tanks they seek join them in a dog fight. Following the loss of their air cover the Untamed Moon's prey can expect precision blasts from above, not unlike that of the Swooping Hawks, but from their prism cannons and pulsars.

### Alastor (Headsmen)

Known in Gothic as Headsmen, Alastor are those champion warriors of the aspect who are entrusted with the rare and treasured super heavy grav tanks. Each one will have suffered the loss of their co-pilot and fought on. They will have learned the pure clarity of heart broken fury and will harness it with each battle forth. Alastor are distinct from any shrine and follow only the greater teaching of the Wolves and Kites, assigned to each battle by higher command.

## Akhliss

The true nature of the Exuberant Executioner's Phoenix Lord is known to few, it is a dark secret and bitter page of their history. Akhliss fell against the hordes before Ither could reach him, but was retrieved by Mak'Aria his twin. Mak'Aria bore the pain of her twin's death and escaped to her followers, a corsair of renown. Through their shared memories she laid down the teachings of their Aspect, becoming an Exarch. Akhliss taught from the infinity circuit (once communion with the dead was discovered by the first spiritseer). However they were distinct, despite being twins their teachings were polarised with Akhliss the lone hunter and Mak'Aria the leader of wolves. Akhliss was never a true Phoenix Lord, having fallen before he had been ascended, had followers, or mastered his path. He had no armour to be reborn from. Mak'Aria however was ascended by Asurmen, and built Atro'Pos *Thread Cutter* which became the 'armour' of Akhliss. However Mak'Aria could not, initially, be resurrected by an Exarch. The gestalt psychic entity rejected each pilot that sat into the vehicle. That was until one day S'Uda took the chair. Desperate to reincarnate the phoenix lord to carry the battle, and grieving after the loss of their twin, the aspect warrior carrying the freshly inturned soul of their sibling around their neck took the chair and was instantly absorbed. Akhliss and Mak'Aria as a single entity, Atro'Pos, reborn. The morbid truth was revealed. Their phoenix lord bore the same price as the Wraithknight, a grieving twin and their sibling's souls. Not only this, it demanded a rarer twin for S'Uda was of an opposing discipline of their twin, a Roaring Wolf and Ferocious Kite.

Such it is that Akliss rarely joins battle, for a severed twin is a rare and unhappy event, and for two of opposing shrines even rarer. While Akhliss will remain active until their next death, they will go long periods of slumber until the precise requirements for their resurrect can be met. However it is a morbid and reviled practice, that should Akhliss' presence be so dearly needed that a twin will make the sacrifice to see their Phoenix Lord be reborn.

### The Thread Cutter

"*And when it was demanded by Khaine, Vaul broke the Sun in twain with just a song. Would you like to hear it?*"
—The myth of the Sunbreaker and a favourite to be recanted before battle.
A tank of two worlds, two spirits, two pilots. Within the great wraith tank sits the spirit of Akliss, Phoenix lord of the Exuberant Executioners, and within the turret sits the spirit of their twin Mak'Aria. The peculiar arrangement heaps a heavy toll on its awakening, but the power of Atro'Pos, the gestalt weapon of the Exuberant Executioners, knows no equal.

It is a super heavy grav tank, strong from the finely wrought wraithbone body and stronger still from its powerful rune shield powered by the hundreds of spiritstones embedded within it's hull. The Toxotis shield has been seen to deflect the munitions of titans, though it is the very extent of its potential.

Mounted on the hull are two Heavy D-Scythes for infantry clearance and 'Akhliss' spite', two potent fusion weapons used to kill vehicles at close range, as well as switching to a flamethrower-like spread against infantry.

The Threadcutter features a massive turret to allow weaponry equivalent to a cobra but still keep the advantage of turret weaponry. The primary weapon is the single Sunbreaker, the 'Song of Vaul'. Much like its relative Suncannon and Sunrifle it unloads a beam of superheated plasma. Unlike its relatives it features an inbuilt 'focusing stone' this technology lost since the fall is capable of constricting a section of time and space. Should it be desired the relic is used to focus the plasma beam into shaft mere molecules across. This concentration allows unparalleled anti-armour capability and it is known for the Song of Vaul to cleave lesser titans in two with a well-timed blast. Typically the Sunbreaker will instead fire in rapid broad beam salvos to eviscerate tank columns or knights. Alongside this decisive weapon are two 'Accelerated' Pulse lasers that fit in their own turrets mounted on the main turrets flanks. They are anti infantry and anti-air weapons with considerable range to pick apart and suppress the enemy. The final weapons mounted upon the turret are several missile launchers - configured to fire into the air and arc into the ground as a light suppressive artillery.

## Supporting Elements

**Wardens**

Wardens are a professional force of infantry that serve the Exuberant Executioners in a supportive military fashion. They are not an ad hoc militia, as Guardians, but a full time and professional military unit. A radical path of servitude, rather than a warrior path; They are not there to sate their anger but to serve. They do not learn a particular martial skill but remain adaptive, though it is quite common for veteran wardens to become inspired and leave the Exuberant Executioners ships and join the Craftworlds to find a suitable shrine and path of the warrior; Though it is more common for them to find themselves in the crews of corsairs. When asked by curious citizens of their former life the former wardens remain silent, dutiful to the end.

Outside of the battle the Wardens care for the pilots, particularly the Exarchs, who lose the ability to care for themselves. They additionally see to the 'housekeeping' of the shrines and vessels, trade and business.

The Wardens are required to defend objectives and hold their ground whatever the opposition's firepower and numbers, a position that is typically antithetical to Aeldari battle strategy, but it is the Warden's duty to protect grounded vehicles and wounded pilots. To complement this they wear heavy armour, equal to the Striking Scorpions and equivalent heavily armoured aspect warriors, and carry powerful base weapons with a focus on ranged firepower. Utilising the Cloudsweeper as their base weapon with each squad fielding a number of weapon specialists carrying handheld Fusion Blasters, Shuriken Cannons and Rocket launchers; this is alongside a grav platform typical of Guardian Defenders supporting a heavy weapon. The Wardens field an impressive weapon array, but they lack the skill, speed and finesse of the Aspect Warriors. The Wardens are led by a Retainer, a veteran of many hundred years of duty and one who has trained in some of the paths of the Aspect Warriors. The Retainer may field weaponry of their choosing but are equipped with power sabre and 'Sunspot' handgun of a similar design to the sunrifle that maintains good range and firepower to keep pace with the squad.

**Whiptail Catalyst**

The Whiptail are specialist Vyper skimmers upgraded with a Prismatic Cannon calibrated to charging a Prism Cannon that is otherwise inefficient as a main weapon. It is used to amplify a Fire Prism’s attack, firing into the psychocrystal the charge is held for a few second before the mid-yield laser follows, the resulting Prism fire is enriched with energy and hits harder. Whiptail Catalyst's accompany Firekite hunting packs of the Roaring Wolves, functioning purely in a supporting role and piloted by young initiates, and are a sign of well supplied and supported strikeforces intended for large battles. With several Whiptails accompanying them a Firekite oriented hunting pack can output volleys of amplified blasts.

**Aerides**

The Aerides are the merchant vessels of the Exuberant Executioners, they bring their recruiting parties to the craftworlds and bridge the Aspect to the Asuryani. The Exuberant Executioners refrain from using the Webway between their ships and allies, preferring to keep their domain a secret. Before battle the Aerides transport the warhost to the Craftworld and accompany their forces through their webways. The Aerides are often referred to as Remora, when a number are seen latched to a Craftworld. Each one will contain a single aspect shrine, or faction (should that shrine be significantly large) and the Aerides are never alone.

**Azalea**

The Azalea class Cruiser is the dedicated warship that accompanies the motherships and most often the merchant vessels of the Exuberant Executioners. An all-round vessel built for speed, ranged combat and squadron deployment working around the philosophy that they needn't hold territory and instead focus on outrunning their opponents, dealing maximum damage in a small window of time. The Azalea's appearance differs from the ships of its class, with two main solar sails arranged on its flanks rather than a singular sail along its spine.

**Pallas class Mothership**

The Motherships of the Exuberant Executioners and core of the recruiting fleets. Several Pallas travel throughout the galaxy, they are simply very small craftworlds that are little bigger than human battleships but still can support the shrines and training grounds of their Aspect warriors. The Pallas are heavily fortified and dedicated to their Aspect, with a dozen shrines within them and grand biodomes for their battle practice. Due to their smaller size they also have limited access to the webway and are not at the mercy of realspace travel. It has been known for Pallas' to be seen as the flagship of Corsair fleets during more bold offensive strikes.