Chaos and the Aeldari
Published on: July 18, 2025
Chaos, Aeldari and their branches
Chaos, often referred to as the Primordial Truth or the Primordial Annihilator,
is a metaphysical force embodied by malevolent entities in the Immaterium, fueled by emotional energy. Predominantly
comprised of Daemons, Chaos extends to mortals pursuing its goals, ranging from Chaos Cultists to mighty Chaos Space Marines
and Traitor Titan Legions. Chaos is also the turbulent psychic energy in the alternate dimension called the Immaterium,
shaping the individual Chaos Gods' nightmare domains collectively known as the Realm of Chaos. Chaos is synonymous with the Warp,
an ocean of spiritual, psychic, and emotional energy underlying the material universe. It is a potent force of change and power,
corrupting both physically and spiritually. While not inherently "evil," Chaos often leads its adherents to malevolent acts.
Devotees may seek freedom and change, but the pursuit of excess and personal gain often results in damnation.
Psykers, the most evolutionarily-advanced mortals, tap into Chaos's energy, granting abilities beyond standard
physical laws. However, exposure to Chaos can corrupt them, turning them into unwitting slaves of the Ruinous Powers.
The four great Chaos Gods, collectively known as the Ruinous Powers, represent distinct aspects of Chaos and can be worshipped
individually or as "Chaos Undivided." The iconic symbol of Chaos is the eight-pointed star, symbolizing infinite possibilities.
Ultimately, Chaos seeks the complete destruction of the material universe, consumed by its uncontained energies. Chaos is a
malevolent force representing the negative aspects of sentient beings' psyches. In the Milky Way Galaxy, Chaos particularly
embodies Humanity's flaws, exploiting weaknesses and corrupting individuals easily. Chaos-associated dangers include mutation,
Daemonic possession, and spiritual damnation. Despite these risks, some willingly serve Chaos for the meritocracy it offers.
Chaos judges based on abilities and success in promoting the individual Chaos Gods' agenda. It provides the opportunity for
power and respect beyond mortal dreams, offering freedom in contrast to the oppressive Imperium of Man. However, serving Chaos
makes one a slave, and most who fall to its temptations face eventual failure, becoming possessed, Chaos Spawn, or mere pawns
in the Dark Gods' schemes.
Chaos Space Marines, also known as Traitor Marines, Renegade Marines, or Heretic Astartes, are former
Space Marines of the Imperium who have forsaken the service of the Emperor of Mankind, dedicating themselves to Chaos for
personal goals. They often belong to the original Traitor Legions from the ancient Horus Heresy or later Renegade Space
Marine Chapters. These corrupted Astartes can emerge from any time and place, succumbing to Chaos's allure.
The Horus Heresy witnessed the split between Loyalist Space Marines and the Chaos Space Marines of the Traitor Legions, led
by the corrupted primarch Horus. Some Traitor Marines served all four Dark Gods as Chaos Undivided, while others focused on
worshiping a single Ruinous Power. Chaos Space Marines, once ascetic servants of the Emperor, undergo physical and armor transformations,
warping into darker, inhuman forms influenced by Warp energies. Their ambitions revolve around indulging in pleasures,
acquiring wealth, causing mayhem, and above all, gaining power to rule over Humanity in the name of the Chaos Gods.
In the wake of the Great Rift's birth, Chaos Space Marines, led by Abaddon the Despoiler, pose a significant threat
to the Imperium. Their unity lies in an insatiable hunger for power, initially focused on specific goals but evolving into a deep obsession.
While the Dark Gods reward followers for carnage, the bestowed gifts are unpredictable — ranging from empowering auras to grotesque mutations.
Ultimately, Chaos Space Marines aspire for immortality, seeking to become Daemon Princes. Successful aspirants achieve this transformation,
but countless failures end up as mewling abominations known as Chaos Spawn, mutated beyond recognition.
The forces of Chaos, sometimes derogatorily referred to as the "Archenemy" or as "Renegades" or "Traitors"
for those once loyal to the Imperium, constitute a diverse array of mortal and Daemonic servants devoted to individual Ruinous Powers
and the overarching concept of Chaos Undivided. While Chaos Space Marines are prominent and potent, they are bolstered by myriad
other servants. Human Chaos Cultists, Traitoris Militarum soldiers, Traitor Titan Legions, Chaos Knights, remnants of the Dark Mechanicum,
and legions of Chaos Daemons all contribute to the forces of Chaos. In addition to Chaos Space Marines, the Imperium labels mortal
servants of Chaos, who are not transhuman Astartes, as the "Lost and the Damned." This inclusive term encompasses the varied and
numerous followers who have succumbed to the corrupting influence of Chaos, reflecting the vast and multifaceted nature of the Archenemy.
The Asuryani, or "Children of Asuryan," were once a dominant humanoid alien species that boasted an expansive
empire across the galaxy. However, their pride and descent into hedonism precipitated a cataclysm, birthing the Chaos God Slaanesh
and decimating their civilization over ten millennia ago. The surviving Asuryani, also known as Eldar or Craftworld Aeldari,
now inhabit colossal starships called craftworlds. These city-like vessels are their homes, and the Asuryani grapple with survival,
employing mental discipline and martial prowess against the galaxy's horrors. Employing mystical technologies like Spirit Stones and
wraithbone Infinity Circuits, they safeguard their souls from consumption by Slaanesh after death. The Asuryani culture distinguishes
itself through the use of these technologies and a disciplined system to control their darker impulses. Their history, preserved
through stories and traditional arts, reveals the remnants of their once-vast civilization.
Physically resembling Humans, the Aeldari exhibit longer limbs, fine features, and slightly pointed ears.
Their movements exude a unique grace, and their emotional experiences, more intense than Humans, contribute to their rich artistic
expressions. While their potential for joy and creativity is unparalleled, the Aeldari's emotional extremes also make them susceptible
to despair and darker emotions. To curb this, the Asuryani Path guides them to balance their minds and pursue constructive goals,
avoiding the destructive pursuit of pleasure that nearly led to their extinction. Innately psychic, the Asuryani can become powerful psykers,
utilizing their abilities for technology mastery. Despite their advanced status, the Craftworld Aeldari face decline in the 41st Millennium,
existing as a mere shadow of their former glory, teetering on the brink of extinction.
A craftworld is a colossal, planetoid-sized spacecraft that serves as the habitation for the Asuryani, an advanced
humanoid faction of the Aeldari species. These craftworlds traverse space at sublight speeds, carrying the primary remnants of the
Aeldari species following their catastrophic Fall. Each craftworld is an autonomous realm, possessing a unique culture and sustaining
itself independently. Constructed around a skeleton of psychoactive crystalline wraithbone, this structure permeates the colossal voidcraft,
extending throughout its entire framework and forming the core of most Asuryani constructions. The wraithbone core functions akin to the
circulatory and nervous system of a living being. It serves as a self-replenishing reservoir of psychic power, with rib-like structures
distributing this energy across the craftworld. Wraithbone's psycho-conductive nature allows it to transmit psychic impulses,
responding organically to psychic forces.
The craftworld, in essence, embodies a living entity fueled by psychic energy. This energy can be expended as light and heat,
crucial for the functionality of ship-board devices and Asuryani technology, reliant on the wireless psychic power grid woven into the
craftworld's substructure. Known as the Infinity Circuit, this metaphysical neural structure is embedded with Spirit Stones,
holding the essence of the craftworld's departed. The collective psychic energy stored in these stones serves as both the source of the
craftworld's power and its ethereal sentience, forming a ghostly presence within the vast vessel.
The Webway, also known as the Labyrinth Dimension or Labyrinthine Dimension in older texts, stands as an
extra-dimensional space secluded from the Immaterium millions of Terran years ago by the highly advanced xenos species called
the Old Ones. Today, this intricate network finds application in the faster-than-light travel of the Aeldari Asuryani from the
craftworlds and their Drukhari counterparts. The Webway serves as more than a conduit for travel; it is home to the expansive
Dark City of Commorragh and the concealed craftworld governed by the enigmatic Harlequins, known as the Black Library. Described as an
immensely intricate network of arteries and capillaries, a radiant maze of tunnels, and a mystical tapestry of concealed threads
spanning the veil between realspace and the Warp, the Webway is a hyper-dimensional construct. This construct is situated between
the material realm and the turbulent currents of the Warp, acting as an interstice akin to a veil cast over something unsavory.
Crafted through psychic means, much like other prized Aeldari artifacts, the Webway's myriad corridors are shielded from Warp incursions
through specific methods, manners, and the composition of their construction. This protection safeguards the stability and integrity
of the Webway, allowing the Aeldari to navigate its intricate pathways for swift and secure travel.
The Drukhari, pronounced Druh-KAR-ee, also known as the Dark Eldar, represent a fallen and corrupted Aeldari kindred,
embodying the sadistic and malevolent aspect of the Asuryani. In contrast to their cousins from the craftworlds, the Drukhari are
an ancient and highly advanced alien race of fey humanoids. Coined by the Drukhari archon and Supreme Overlord of Commorragh,
Asdrubael Vect, in the 32nd Millennium, the alternative term "Dark Eldar" reflects their forsaken nature. Like their Craftworld Aeldari
counterparts, the Drukhari armies emphasize mobility and advanced technology, yet they often lack resilience and numerical strength.
Infamous for reveling in piracy, enslavement, and torture, the Drukhari display extreme sadism. Employing anti-gravity skimmers
such as Raiders and Ravagers for high-speed attacks, they utilize the Webway, an interdimensional labyrinth, to traverse the galaxy
swiftly and securely.
Distinctive among the intelligent species of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Drukhari do not inhabit settled worlds;
instead, their majority resides in the Dark City of Commorragh within the Aeldari Webway's "ordered" Immaterium. Predominantly pirates
and slavers, the Drukhari feed on the souls of other sentient beings to satisfy their insatiable thirst, sometimes serving as
mercenaries for other starfaring species. Physically, the Drukhari, particularly the warrior castes, are tall, lithe, white-skinned
humanoids, exuding a death-like pallor due to the absence of a life-giving sun. Despite their beauty by Human standards, they are
monstrous creatures with black souls revealed through psychic sight, perpetually craving the psychic energy of anguish and torment
to fill their emptiness. Unlike their Craftworld Aeldari counterparts, the Drukhari disdain integrating their potent psychic
abilities into their culture. They reject psykers as their use might attract the attention of "She Who Thirsts" (Slaanesh), putting
their souls at further risk of being consumed by the Chaos God.
Commorragh, known as the "Dark City," stands as the colossal city-state nestled within the Webway,
serving as the principal home of the Drukhari, a kindred of the Aeldari species. Shrouded in mystery, it is deemed impossible
for outsiders to discover, and the inhabitants embrace anarchy and terrorism as integral aspects of their debased lifestyle.
Within the holy pathways of the Craftworld Aeldari, Commorragh is perceived as a "dark stain" growing within the inter-dimensional
labyrinth known as the Webway. More than a mere metropolis, Commorragh dwarfs the greatest cities of realspace, akin to a soaring
mountain compared to a mound of termites. Its dimensions defy conventional understanding, featuring a population exceeding that
of entire star systems. Commorragh appears as a vast amalgamation of satellite realms and cities interconnected by myriad portals
and hidden pathways. From a certain viewpoint, Commorragh resembles a malevolent virus spread throughout the arteries of the Webway.
Although physically scattered across the galaxy, these concentrations are linked by shimmering dimensional shortcuts, enabling
swift traversal between sub-realms.
The Dark City is notorious for its "wandering shadows that tear apart the unwary" and bathed in the crimson half-light
of the Ilmaea, or "black suns." These dying stars, seized from realspace during the height of Aeldari technological prowess,
illuminate Commorragh and provide it with power, existing within their sub-realms within the Webway. During the final weeks of
the 13th Black Crusade led by Abaddon the Despoiler in approximately 999.M41, the Craftworld Aeldari deliberately collapsed several
Webway portals leading to Commorragh. This action isolated the Dark City from much of the Webway. Despite this, the Drukhari can
still employ artificial Webway portals within their technological infrastructure to create temporary tunnels through the Warp,
ensuring they remain largely unaffected by their craftworld counterparts' actions due to the mutable nature of the Webway.
The Fall of the Aeldari marks the catastrophic event that befell the Aeldari race during the early 30th
Millennium of the Terran calendar, leading to the demise of their dominance in the Milky Way Galaxy. This epochal incident
gave rise to the Chaos God Slaanesh and the subsequent emergence of the present-day Aeldari factions, including the Craftworld
Aeldari (Asuryani), the Drukhari, and the rustic Exodites. The Aeldari, an ancient and enigmatic humanoid alien species, once
wielded vast influence across the galaxy. Their empire spanned eons, shaping the destinies of worlds and manipulating cosmic forces.
However, the Aeldari's zenith crumbled into oblivion, reducing them to near-extinction and scattering the remnants of their
shattered civilization into constant warfare. Those who retained enough sanity fled on mighty vessels known as Craftworlds,
becoming the last vestiges of the once-mighty Aeldari civilization drifting amidst the stars.
While the Aeldari seldom speak openly about their calamitous past, fragments of the story can be gleaned from
various sources. The Aeldari succumbed to extremes of experience, their heightened senses perceiving the zeniths of agony and
ecstasy. The intensity of emotion coalesced within the Immaterium, giving rise to a new Chaos power—Slaanesh. This entity
slumbered, fueled by Aeldari excess, and as their deeds intensified, the Aeldari plunged further into extremes. Ultimately,
the Aeldari sank into depravity, and Slaanesh awoke, its birth cries decimating the race. The Chaos God consumed the spirits
of billions of Aeldari, unleashing destruction upon their empire. The Warp erupted into realspace, creating the Eye of Terror,
a vast, corrupted wound upon the fabric of reality. The Eye of Terror, now home to the darkest evils of the galaxy, serves as
the battleground for the Great Game, an eternal struggle among Chaos factions. The Traitor Legions, driven from Terra during the
Horus Heresy, have claimed homeworlds within the Eye of Terror. Abaddon the Despoiler, a former lieutenant of Horus, has united
these disparate factions in Black Crusades, terrorizing Imperial sectors. The Eye of Terror, born from the Aeldari's shame and
the price of their Fall, distorts time within its bounds, enabling Traitor Legions to menace the Imperium for ten thousand standard years.
Ten millennia after the Horus Heresy, as Traitor Legions embark on Black Crusades, the Aeldari mourn their lost glory and fear
that the folly of Mankind may replicate their arrogance, heralding dire consequences for the galaxy.