Long before the rise of the Imperium, the Aeldari were one of the greatest civilizations the galaxy had ever known.
Their empire stretched across countless worlds.
They possessed:
Advanced technology
Vast knowledge
Powerful psychic abilities
Artistic and cultural achievements beyond human understanding
At their height, the Aeldari were not struggling survivors.
They were one of the dominant powers of the galaxy.
Their downfall changed everything.
The Aeldari civilization collapsed after a catastrophic event that shattered their empire.
Worlds were lost.
Populations were destroyed.
Their society fractured into different paths of survival.
Those who remained were forced to confront a harsh reality:
Their civilization could never return to what it once was.
The surviving Aeldari became divided into different cultures, each choosing a different way to preserve their people.
The Aeldari view time differently from younger species.
Their lives are extremely long compared with humans.
They remember:
Ancient wars
Lost civilizations
Events forgotten by humanity
Because of this, they often see current events as part of a much larger pattern.
An Aeldari decision may be based on consequences that will not appear for centuries.
This can make them appear:
Mysterious
Arrogant
Unpredictable
Difficult to understand
However, their actions often come from a desire to prevent another catastrophe.
The Craftworld Aeldari are descendants of those who escaped the Fall aboard massive world-ships.
These Craftworlds became traveling civilizations.
Each contains:
Communities
Ancient knowledge
Technology
Military forces
Cultural traditions
They are not simply ships.
They are entire worlds carrying the last remnants of an ancient civilization.
Craftworld society is built around control and discipline.
After witnessing the destruction caused by uncontrolled desires, the Aeldari developed strict paths that guide individuals through different aspects of life.
These paths help maintain:
Social stability
Mental discipline
Cultural survival
Their society values:
Skill
Knowledge
Artistic expression
Personal mastery
Aeldari forces are smaller than Imperial armies, but they compensate through:
Speed
Precision
Advanced technology
Superior coordination
They rarely fight wars of attrition.
Instead, they prefer:
Targeted strikes
Careful planning
Removing key threats
Avoiding unnecessary battles
A small Aeldari force may accomplish objectives that would require entire human armies.
Relations between Aeldari and humans are complicated.
The Imperium often considers all xenos dangerous.
The Aeldari often consider humanity:
Young
Reckless
Destructive
Short-sighted
However, both species face threats that neither can overcome alone.
Temporary cooperation may occur against:
Chaos
Tyranids
Necron awakenings
Greater threats
Such alliances are usually based on necessity, not friendship.
One of the greatest differences between humans and Aeldari is their understanding of the future.
Many Aeldari possess methods of:
Prediction
Long-term planning
Reading possible outcomes
However, the future is not fixed.
Aeldari decisions often involve choosing the least disastrous outcome from many possibilities.
This can make their actions confusing to outsiders.
They may:
Save one world while sacrificing another
Interfere in seemingly unrelated conflicts
Support unlikely individuals
Their reasoning may only become clear much later.
Some Aeldari rejected the traditions of the Craftworlds and chose a simpler existence.
These Exodites settled on remote worlds.
They often live alongside:
Natural environments
Ancient traditions
Protected ecosystems
They may appear less advanced than other Aeldari, but they retain ancient knowledge.
Not all Aeldari belong to Craftworlds or Exodite worlds.
Some become:
Explorers
Mercenaries
Traders
Wanderers
These individuals often interact more directly with other species.
They may serve as:
Guides
Informants
Unexpected allies
Dangerous rivals
The Harlequins are among the most mysterious Aeldari groups.
They preserve:
Ancient knowledge
Cultural traditions
Secrets about the past
They move between different Aeldari societies and sometimes interact with other species.
Their motivations are often difficult to understand.
They may appear at important moments and disappear before anyone understands why.
The Drukhari represent a different path taken by the Aeldari after the Fall.
Rather than retreating or seeking balance, they built their civilization around survival through power and dominance.
They inhabit the hidden city known as the Dark City.
Unlike Craftworld Aeldari, Drukhari society embraces:
Cruelty
Competition
Manipulation
Personal ambition
Commorragh is one of the largest and most dangerous cities in existence.
It exists outside normal understanding of space and contains:
Endless districts
Powerful rulers
Warrior factions
Criminal organizations
Slave markets
Ancient secrets
It is a civilization built on survival through domination.
Drukhari society is highly competitive.
Power comes from:
Influence
Reputation
Wealth
Military strength
Political manipulation
Trust is rare.
Betrayal is expected.
Weakness is dangerous.
Drukhari prefer:
Speed
Ambushes
Raids
Psychological warfare
They often avoid prolonged battles.
Their attacks may target:
Important individuals
Valuable resources
Technology
Population centers
These factions work best when they create uncertainty.
They may be:
Allies with hidden motives
Enemies with understandable goals
Sources of ancient knowledge
Political complications
The question is not always:
"Can the players defeat them?"
The better question is:
"Can the players understand what they want?"
Aeldari explorers contact the players with a warning.
Questions:
Why do they care?
What threat did they discover?
Can they be trusted?
An ancient relic is discovered.
Multiple factions want it.
Questions:
What does it do?
Why was it hidden?
Who should possess it?
Players become involved in a Drukhari operation.
Questions:
Are they rescuing someone?
Are they being manipulated?
What price must be paid?
An ancient Aeldari settlement is discovered.
Questions:
Why was it abandoned?
What remains?
What dangers survived?
When using Aeldari or Drukhari, remember:
They are not simply enemies with advanced weapons.
They are survivors of an ancient tragedy.
Their actions are shaped by:
Memory
Loss
Pride
Survival
Fear of repeating the past
They should feel ancient, intelligent, and purposeful.
The Aeldari are a civilization that remembers what was lost.
They are not fighting to build a future.
They are fighting to ensure they still have one.
Their greatest strength is their knowledge.
Their greatest weakness is that they know exactly how much has already been taken from them.