Latest revision as of 09:46, 21 June 2023

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Harakien Eldar Empire

Status at the end of the Great Crusade	Reduced in realspace influence due to the Harakien Sector War
Role in the Hektor Heresy	Retake their old worlds and millions of human slaves
Area of influence	Webway, holdings in Segmentum Pacificus

The Harakien Eldar Empire is an expansionist militant successor of the fallen Eldar Empire. Led by Ku'Motsk, the Void King, they seek a return to the glory of the past through conquest and battle. Based both in the webway and in realspace, the Harakien Eldar are known for utilizing lightning tactics to overpower their opponents through vicious aerial and ground assaults. At the time of the Great Crusade, their influence extends over a dozen worlds in Segmentum Pacificus. Though holding territories within the webway, the Harakiens maintain a separate and distinct culture. The empire is an eldar supremacist organization, and thus extends a great deal of rights and protections to any and all eldar under it. Lesser species are given no such accommodations.

Summary of the Empire[edit]

Beliefs[edit]

Harakien eldar consider themselves to be the direct inheritors of the old empire, the chosen few who are destined to lead the eldar race back to greatness. These eldar consider their species to be the superior form of life in the galaxy: all eldar life is highly respected within the empire regardless of affiliation. Though they consider all other life to be inferior, the Harakien eldar do not find extermination to be a sporting solution in dealing with a conquered foe. They have no qualms with utilizing lesser races in any capacity they can, the lean times following the fall teaching them the importance of utilizing all available resources.

Worship of Kaela Mensha Khaine is tolerated within the empire, and actively encouraged on certain planets. Many within the realm consider its sovereign to have been chosen by the shattered god to redeem his people through conquest and war, especially the Khainite Klaivex priesthood of Khainash and their Incubus followers. The Void King's rapid expansion of the empire is thought by many to be a mark of favor, as is his reputation as a skilled warrior. Khainite values are ingrained deeply into the consciousness of the empire. Ritualized combat is an important tradition within its ranks, as war is seen as the ultimate art-form.

The Harakien empire, historically based in the webway, has an excellent reputation with many in the Dark City. The empire disagrees with many of the practices of its debased kin, such as the creation of halfborn eldar and their use as slaves, but shares its enthusiasm for gladiatorial combat and uses mainly Commorite weapons and wargear in its arsenal. The haemonculus covens of the dark recesses of the webway are the only amongst their Eldar brethren who the empire outright refuses to deal with, the covens' callous manipulation of eldar flesh being at odds with Harakien beliefs in Eldar and purity. Former wyches are always greeted with open arms and face little difficulty matriculating into Harakien culture, their talent in close combat making these gladiators valuable in the fleet's brutal ground raids.

Though they keep each other at an arms length, the Harlequins and Harakiens have little trouble understanding each other as both groups are concerned with the rebuilding of their once great empire. Harlequins are welcomed with great enthusiasm on all Harakien worlds and battlefields, their dances greatly valued for their historical significance and beauty, while their martial prowess have saved more than a few Harakiens from certain destruction. The empire has had contact, throughout the millennia, with their disparate cousins of all varieties. Those of the craftworlds have varying relationships with the Harakiens, some viewing them as the best hope for an imperial revival and others seeing them from savages down to a deplorable reminder of a way which ought be forgotten. Most corsair bands know well enough to leave Harakien worlds alone, and are in return provided with a safe haven. Some princes have struck deals with various fleets for mutual assistance, and some have been known to have the ear of the Void King himself. The same could be said of the Exodites, when their worlds are discovered it is the policy of the Harakiens to offer protection in exchange for regular tithes of unique commodities and even soldiers.

Harai Kenn[edit]

Harai Kenn means Oath of Blood in the eldar language, and it is from this that the empire draws its name. This oath outlines the major beliefs of the empire in the poetic form of the old eldar and was originally spoken by Ku'Motsk at the time of his conquest of the planet that would later come to be known as Ku Harai. This event formally marked the transition of Ku'Motsk's people from a band of warriors into a sovereign empire. Each member of the Imperial Fleet speaks this oath at the time of their formal admission, and it is known and respected by most within the empire. It outlines the manifest destiny of the eldar race, provides provisions for dealing with other species and factions of eldar, and also exalts the imperial values of cunning, pragmatism, fidelity to one's race, and decisive action. In the ten thousand years since its inception, the oath has changed little but interpretations of its meaning has been codified into manifold guidelines on everything from etiquette to nuanced legal disputes.

Organization[edit]

The Harakien Eldar Empire is comprised of three distinct entites under the Office of the Sovereign; these include the Imperial Fleet, the Administrative Nexus, and the Mercantile Association. The Office of the Sovereign, which is essentially Ku'Motsk, has few responsibilities. The main purpose of this office is to resolve issues which arise among the others. The Void King deals with such issues in the simple manner typical of him: both sides speak their case and Ku'Motsk makes a final decision. Though the Sovereign does his best to deal with each issue practically, on particularly opaque or minor issues he tends to give the fleet first priority and the mercantile association last.

Imperial Fleet[edit]

The fleet comprises the empire's warriors, officers, and high command. The Harakien eldar make no distinction between their army and navy, a tradition which harks back to their origins as a fleet in the old eldar empire and serves to emphasize their preference for seamless transitions between aerial and ground combat. The fleet is divided into six regular battle groups, the Uris Guard which is rotated every five years, and the Sovereign's Division which is commanded by Ku'Motsk himself. While the core of each force is the same, each grouping has certain tactics or units they favor above others, largely due to the high degree of autonomy given to their captains. In addition to overseeing their fleets, many of these captains are also responsible for the governance of planets within the empire. Rank is determined through challenging one's immediate superior in the Anuk Harai, a strenuous test of combat and strategic skills. The challenger is immediately given his superior's position should he win.

Because each of the captains of the various fleets in the empire are given a large degree of autonomy, there are certain inherent differences between them. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fleets in particular have styles of combat that have evolved to reflect the styles of their commanders, who have held their positions since the early days of the empire's existence. As a whole the fleet prefers to strike fast and hard against already weakened opponents, some sort of tactical advantage being gained before hostilities even commence. The use of combat vehicles is widespread, especially as a means by which to quickly strike at the heart of the enemy.

The fleet excels at space combat, the 4th and 5th divisions being particularly skilled in this area. The Void King is himself noted for a particular genius concerning void warfare, and his Sovereign Fleet is made up of veteran space combatants. The fleet generally prefers to utilize conservative tactics in space, evasively maneuvering and utilizing short webway shifts to avoid foes while leaving devastating darklight implosion mines in their wake.

Divisions[edit]

Sovereign's Division, led by the Master of the Fleet: Ku'Motsk, the Void King.

Specializations: Rapid massed aerial strikes followed by ground combat, aerial combat, boarding actions, space warfare

1st Division, led by Captain Kieres, the Heartless.

Specializations: Rapid aerial delivery of close assault troops, favors incubi teams.

2nd Division, led by Captain Silys Vath.

Specializations: Aerial combat, favors massed jetbike squadrons.

3rd Division, led by Captain Ralis Sinderion.

Specializations: Sabotage, infiltration, psychological warfare, intelligence gathering.

4th Division, led by Captain Sysik Alovar.

Specializations: Prolonged aerial bombardments, space warfare

5th Division, led by Captain Lhemen'Ti.

Specializations: Aerial combat, boarding actions, space warfare

6th Division, led by Captain Ju'Rhin.

Specializations: Rapid massed aerial strikes followed by ground combat.

Uris Guard, Directly overseen by Duchess Ae'Rhinia Nakhar.

Generalists (note: this is due to the rotating nature of this division)

These eight main fleet Divisions are themselves subdivided into further groupings. The specific nature of these groupings varies from division to division, but they all follow a general scheme. The largest of these groupings is the detachment, which is overseen by a commander. Each detachment comprises several thousand soldiers and are broadly organized to cover various aspects of war, such as ground combat or intelligence, which differ from division to division. The detachments are further split into squadrons, which comprise hundreds of warriors each. These squadrons are headed by a major, and fulfill the various battlefield roles necessary to the broad scope of their detachment. Finally, squadrons are split into a number of units comprising as little as one to as many as fifty individual warriors. Units are frequently reorganized according to need and skill, though most divisions keep their most successful and experienced units together.

Uris Guard[edit]

The Uris Guard is an old and important institution of the empire, a special division maintaining the empire's presence in Commoragh. The guard is rotated in its entirety every five years: none are permitted to serve permanently within it due to the Sovereign's fear of the corrupting nature of the dark city. Any warrior can be selected for the Uris Guard at any time, with the only exceptions being the captains of the various divisions and those currently in the guard. At the time of the exchange, each captain brings the men chosen from their fleet to the webway port of Uris and a month-long conference is held. The Uris conference, as it is known, gives the leaders of the empire an opportunity to discuss matters of import to the empire and the typical influx of information gathered from around the webway.

The Uris Guard itself is comprised of a number of diverse units, drawn from many different places and with varying skills. Some soldiers are uncomfortable with life in the Dark City, while a number of others revel in its many delights. Unlike the other divisions of the Imperial Fleet, the guard is not headed by a captain. The Void King's wife, Duchess Ae'Rhinia Nakhar is the ruler, but in name only. So long as her demands are met, she pays the guard no mind. This places the soldiers are put into difficult positions due to operating without the command they are accustomed to and their abilities are thereby honed, especially considering the trials of the dark city.

It is not uncommon for high-ranking members of the Uris Guard to challenge their commanding officers in the Anuk Harai after completing their service in the webway. Many feel that the skills they have gained in the unique trials of the webway are enough to tip the balance, and they are often correct. Time in Commoragh hones one's skills in a somewhat predictable manner and an inverse effect occasionally occurs following a major campaign in realspace, wherein junior officers challenge their commanders who are returning from the webway. The tradition serves the Harakiens well regardless, the strongest are ensured power either way.

The Administrative Nexus[edit]

The all-seeing bureaucracy of the Harakien eldar, the nexus is responsible for maintaining the day to day operations of the empire. The Administrative Nexus is responsible for overseeing the servant races, shipping and transportation between planets, administration of the empire's factories and other facilities, as well as the governance of many of its worlds. The Nexus is technically overseen by Ku'Motsk, but only in matters of great import does he take an interest in its activities. The most important duties of the organization is its jurisdiction over matters of law. The great system of courts and legislators overseen by the Nexus touches each of the disparate ends of the empire, enforcing adherance to the Harai Kenn. To snub it is to meet the hands of its police force, the merciless Korminsar, who also act as planetary defenders in times of need.

The Mercantile Association[edit]

A guild of traders representing many of the finest minds in the empire, the association is no mere salesman's club. The Mercantile Association connects investors and merchants to researchers, scientists and engineers together in a powerful network. Initially a private organization hoping to sell eldar innovations throughout the galaxy, the association was absorbed by the empire not long after its inception and thus gaining access to its financial networks and enforcing the empire's isolationist policies. Despite this, the association maintains a number of its own stellar vessels and has expanded its gaze far beyond the empire's reach. Rumors abound that high ranking members of the association still trade with non-Harakien worlds.

Holdings[edit]

Harkien Sector[edit]

Main article: Harakien Sector

The original and main domain of the Harakien Empire, for whom it was named. The sector was lost to the Void Angels in a great campaign. Since the reformation, this region has been regarded to be of paramount importance, considered by nearly all Harakiens as the cradle of their civilization. Most will voyage here some time during their long lives and it remains the most populace region in the empire.

Notable Members[edit]

Ku'Motsk, the Void King[edit]

Main article: Ku'Motsk, the Void King

The magnanimous sovereign of the Harakien Eldar Empire, Ku'Motsk holds absolute power within his realm due to the fierce loyalty of his skilled warriors, as well as the skill he demonstrates both on and off the battlefield. He is called Ifeth'yan, a term which translates to "Void King" or "King of Space" but can also mean "Empty King" or "Pretender", originally due to his status as a lowborn monarch who plundered in space. When the empire was officially formed, the sovereign and his followers took up the moniker with pride. He has proved more than worthy of the title, keeping his realm secure for millennia and holding an unimpeachable position of status in the webway.

Captains of the Fleet[edit]

1st Captain Kieres, the Heartless[edit]

Main article: Kieries, the Heartless

2nd Captain Silys Vath, the First-born[edit]

Main article: Silys Vath

3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, the Hidden-handed[edit]

Main article: Ralis Sinderion

4th Captain Sisyk Alovar, the Vulture[edit]

Main article: Sisyk Alovar

Knight Commander Daerfin of Vrkova[edit]

The first Harakien Dragon Knight, and the commander of their division, Daerfin of Vrkova is a quiet warrior known for letting his actions speak for him. The narrow-eyed, thin-lipped Eldar gives a strong impression of utter joylessness, and his unkempt hair and simple clothing is telling of his harsh Exodite origin. He is never without his mount, the large and powerful cold one he calls Aka'Ris. Though he prefers the company of his own kin, Daerfin is a favored hunting partner of the Void King. Ku'Motsk frequently calls on the commander for his unique perspective, often breaking his hours-long meditation, much to the Vrkovan's chagrin.

Following Ku'Motsk's ascension to sovereign with the first Harai Kenn, and the re-branding of Waken into Ku Harai, the fleet moved toward Vrkova. The Void King met with the priest-king, Wyndir, and they discussed the integration of Vrkova into the new empire. The debate lasted several hours, with the Exodite leader adamant on the condition that Vrkova be granted a certain degree of self-determination and its citizens never eligible for conscription. Ku'Motsk offered his old friend more than limited self-governance, they would administer themselves completely. All in exchange for annual payment in the form of a squadron of elite Dragon Knights, and of course permitting trade with the empire and the occasional diplomatic visit. These knights, he knew, were sacred warriors among the Exodites and Wyndir would not give them lightly, but their power was astounding to behold. After some consideration, Wyndir accepted. Daerfin and his men were the first to join the harakiens.

In the time since his absorption into the harakien fleet, Daerfin has proven himself a skilled warrior and commander. He allows the harakien knights to make the best use of their unique skill sets through his experience in warfare, keeping his men at a level of usefulness as cavalry comparable to Vath's Sky-Reapers. If not for their extremely limited numbers, the Dragon Knights would have spread throughout the fleet quickly. He leads his force at the head, charging forward atop Aka'Ris and launching blasts of darklight from his lance at the opponent.

Kaelon Asmodae, Ur-Hierach of the Khainite Priesthood[edit]

Main article: Kaelon Asmodae

The spiritual head of the Harakien Empire, Kaelon Asmodae is a powerful warrior priest who has served the Void King faithfully for millennia. He oversees the great monastery world Khainash and all priests of Khaine, or Incubi, are at his command. He is among Ku'Motsk's strongest political allies, as the Ur-Hierach firmly believes that the Void King is the leader chosen by his god to deliver his people to greatness. His skill as a swordsman is legendary, capable cleaving scores of men in twain without being struck in return. His abilities have only grown over his many years, and his control over the mystic arts of battle employed by his priesthood is without peer.

Denari Kouorern, Chief Executive of the Mercantile Associarion[edit]

Denari Kourern is the most powerful woman in the harakien empire, every exchange of goods is subject her scrutiny. Her clout surpasses that of even the Duchess Nakhar, though Ae'Rhinia would be loathe to admit it. She is also much younger than the other major players within the harakien empire and, unlike many of its leaders, was born within its borders. She is highly ambitious, having gained her power through careful politicking and negotiations before even reaching a century in age. She is a frequent visitor to the court of the Void King, their discussions are held under tight security. These intimate visits are closed to all but the chief executive and the sovereign, but their many loud hours together produce far-flung results.

Kouorern believes that the empire represents true freedom for its people and administers the association with that in mind, frequently coming into conflict with the military on matters of trade freedom. The administration's main goal under her has been to expand trade into unknown regions, her fleets work with civilizations beyond the eye of the empire and often make contact many years before the military. The association's charter gives them free reign on these matters and there have been many times the imperial fleet has discovered a seemingly new planet, only to find that Kouorern's hands have already reached it. In matters of military, it is the executive who acts as the greatest barrier to conquest, seeing indigenous peoples as a resource with more inherent value than their use as slave labor.

History of the Harakien Eldar[edit]

The Fall of the Old Empire[edit]

The Eldar Empire was the largest and most powerful organization in the galaxy, its people lived lives of endless recreation with their every need met by their advanced society. In time this leisurely existence began to wear upon the Eldar, they began seeking more and more extreme thrills. Where the culture of the Empire was once host to high-minded scientific works and sublime art of great beauty, carnal depravity began to take root within its heart. The grandiose webway port of Commoragh was on the cutting edge of the new order, hosting horrors which would shock even the desensitized Eldar of the outer realm.

Many worried for their culture and prepared for its fall. The most austere and zealous Eldar were the first to leave, seeking out new worlds far from the Eldar homeworlds and eventually settling into a harsh and simple existence, they came to be known as Exodites. As the culture drew into steady decline, many gathered into planet-sized ships called Craftworlds and made for the stars. Most Eldar continued their lives as always, though few remained completely divorced from the pleasure cultists relishing the new regimes. Ku'Motsk of Avengar was one of those Eldar who stayed behind, and it was only through a quirk of fate that he survived.

Ku'Motsk was an admiral in the Imperial Fleet, one of those few institutions divorced from the day-to-day of the greater Eldar society. The Fleet attracted individuals with a particular ambition or wanderlust that left them unsatisfied with the larger culture, pushing them to travel through the void of space in a search for more. Soldiers within it's ranks were no strangers to the pleasures of the webway ports they frequently visited, but the nature of their duty prevented excess to a degree. It was from one of these ports that the admiral departed on the fateful day of the fall. As the first portion of the fleet entered a capillary tunnel, the reality-shaking birth screams of the dark god Slaanesh threw them out of space and time. Daemons erupted from the most skilled psykers aboard the ships, and a long and fierce battle commenced. Though its commander lost an eye and several were killed during the incursion, the Imperial Fleet survived adrift in the void.

Lost in the Void[edit]

The Webway[edit]

Rise of the Empire[edit]

The Invasion of the Angels[edit]

Main article: Pacification of the Harakien Sector

The Harakien Empire makes first contact with the Imperium at Destino, defeating members of the Imperial Army highhandedly. The Harakiens and Imperials skirmish over many years and little progress is made by either side. The Space Marine Legion Winged Victory eventually enters the conflict in force, carving through Harakien Space with devastating results. At the behest of the Ur-Hierach Asmodae and 3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, a drastically wounded Ku'Motsk orders a complete retreat of all Eldar to the webway. Thanks to the quick thinking of its leaders, the majority of the Empire's people survive, though the Imperial Fleet is dealt a major blow and all Harakien realspace territory is lost. Feeling denied the sacrament of war, much of the Harakien Army marches against their Commorite kin and Uris is expanded to a true dominion.

The Reformation[edit]

Writing[edit]

http://pastebin.com/u/Aefythlir

Xenos of the /tg/ Heresy
Orks	Da Merc - Kaptain Blackjawzz - Khork WAAAGH! Mongo Mork - WAAAGH! Sarkus
Eldar	Craftworld Eldar - Harakien Empire Webway Lords & Dark Eldar
Compact of Free Galactic Interchange	Ellonoi - Metabasil - Slaugth - Tau - Vespid
Other Dangerous Aliens	Anatik - Cyfecti - Morkai - Strixoros - Yaotl

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''This page details people, events, and organisations from [[The /tg/ Heresy]], a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe.'''
+{{/tg/-Heresy-Head}}
-The Harakien Eldar Empire is an expansionist militant successor of the fallen Eldar Empire. Led by Ku'Motsk, the Void King, they seek a return to the glory of the past through conquest and battle. Based both in the webway and in realspace, the Harakien Eldar are known for utilizing lightning tactics to overpower their opponents through vicious aerial and ground assaults. At the time of the Great Crusade, their influence expands over a dozen worlds in Segmentum Pacificus. Though holding territories within the webway, the harakiens maintain a separate and distinct culture. The empire is an eldar supremacist organization, and extends a great deal of rights and protections to any and all eldar under it, though lesser species are given none of the same accomadations.
+{{Infobox HH Faction
+|Name = Harakien Eldar Empire
+|Image = [[File:1431504442290.jpg|280px]]
+|M31 Status = Reduced in realspace influence due to the Harakien Sector War
+|Heresy = Retake their old worlds and millions of human slaves
+|Region = Webway, holdings in Segmentum Pacificus
+|Allies =
+|bgcolor = black
+|fgcolor = white
+}}
+The Harakien Eldar Empire is an expansionist militant successor of the fallen Eldar Empire. Led by Ku'Motsk, the Void King, they seek a return to the glory of the past through conquest and battle. Based both in the webway and in realspace, the Harakien Eldar are known for utilizing lightning tactics to overpower their opponents through vicious aerial and ground assaults. At the time of the Great Crusade, their influence extends over a dozen worlds in Segmentum Pacificus. Though holding territories within the webway, the Harakiens maintain a separate and distinct culture. The empire is an eldar supremacist organization, and thus extends a great deal of rights and protections to any and all eldar under it. Lesser species are given no such accommodations.
 == Summary of the Empire ==
 === Beliefs ===
-Harakien eldar consider themselves to be the direct inheritors of the old empire, the chosen few who are destined to lead the eldar race back to greatness. These eldar consider their species to be the superior form of life in the galaxy, all eldar life is highly respected within the empire regardless of affiliation. Though they consider all other life to be inferior, the harakien eldar do not find extermination to be a sporting solution in dealing with a conquered foe. They have no qualms against utilizing lesser races in any capacity they can, the lean times following the fall taught them the importance of utilizing all available resources.
+Harakien eldar consider themselves to be the direct inheritors of the old empire, the chosen few who are destined to lead the eldar race back to greatness. These eldar consider their species to be the superior form of life in the galaxy: all eldar life is highly respected within the empire regardless of affiliation. Though they consider all other life to be inferior, the Harakien eldar do not find extermination to be a sporting solution in dealing with a conquered foe. They have no qualms with utilizing lesser races in any capacity they can, the lean times following the fall teaching them the importance of utilizing all available resources.
-Worship of Kaela Mensha Khaine is tolerated within the empire, and actively encouraged on certain planets. Many within the realm consider its sovereign to have been chosen by the shattered god to redeem his people through conquest and war, especially the Khainite Klaivex priesthood of Khainash and their Incubus followers.. His success in rapid expansion of the empire is thought by many to be a mark of favor, as is his reputation as a skilled warrior. Khainite values are ingrained deep into the empire, ritual combat is an important tradition within its ranks and war is seen as the ultimate art-form.
+Worship of Kaela Mensha Khaine is tolerated within the empire, and actively encouraged on certain planets. Many within the realm consider its sovereign to have been chosen by the shattered god to redeem his people through conquest and war, especially the Khainite Klaivex priesthood of Khainash and their Incubus followers. The Void King's rapid expansion of the empire is thought by many to be a mark of favor, as is his reputation as a skilled warrior. Khainite values are ingrained deeply into the consciousness of the empire. Ritualized combat is an important tradition within its ranks, as war is seen as the ultimate art-form.
-The harakien empire, historically based in the webway, has an excellent reputation with many in the dark city. The empire disagrees with many of the practices of its debased kin, such as the creation of halfborn eldar and their use as slaves, but shares its enthusiasm for gladiatorial combat and uses mainly Commorite weapons and wargear in its arsenal. The haemonculus covens of the dark recesses of the webway are the only amongst them who the empire outright refuses to deal with, the covens' callous manipulation of eldar flesh is at odds with beliefs held most dear to the harakiens. Former wyches are always greeted with open arms, their talent in close combat makes these gladiators valuable in the fleet's brutal ground raids and they typically have little difficulty matriculating to harakien culture.
+The Harakien empire, historically based in the webway, has an excellent reputation with many in the Dark City. The empire disagrees with many of the practices of its debased kin, such as the creation of halfborn eldar and their use as slaves, but shares its enthusiasm for gladiatorial combat and uses mainly Commorite weapons and wargear in its arsenal. The haemonculus covens of the dark recesses of the webway are the only amongst their Eldar brethren who the empire outright refuses to deal with, the covens' callous manipulation of eldar flesh being at odds with Harakien beliefs in Eldar  and purity. Former wyches are always greeted with open arms and face little difficulty matriculating into Harakien culture, their talent in close combat making these gladiators valuable in the fleet's brutal ground raids.
-Though they keep each other at an arms length, the harlequins and harakiens have little trouble understanding each other as both groups are concerned with the rebuilding of their once great empire. Harlequins are welcomed with great enthusiasm on all imperial worlds, their dances are greatly valued for their historical significance and beauty, and they are cherished allies on the field of battle. The empire has had no contact with eldar beyond those in the webway, the one exception being the exodites of Vrkova, who are an independent realm under the empire's protection.
+Though they keep each other at an arms length, the Harlequins and Harakiens have little trouble understanding each other as both groups are concerned with the rebuilding of their once great empire. Harlequins are welcomed with great enthusiasm on all Harakien worlds and battlefields, their dances greatly valued for their historical significance and beauty, while their martial prowess have saved more than a few Harakiens from certain destruction. The empire has had contact, throughout the millennia, with their disparate cousins of all varieties. Those of the craftworlds have varying relationships with the Harakiens, some viewing them as the best hope for an imperial revival and others seeing them from savages down to a deplorable reminder of a way which ought be forgotten. Most corsair bands know well enough to leave Harakien worlds alone, and are in return provided with a safe haven. Some princes have struck deals with various fleets for mutual assistance, and some have been known to have the ear of the Void King himself. The same could be said of the Exodites, when their worlds are discovered it is the policy of the Harakiens to offer protection in exchange for regular tithes of unique commodities and even soldiers.
 ==== Harai Kenn ====
-Harai Kenn is Oath of Blood in the eldar language, it is from this that the empire draws its name. This oath outlines the major beliefs of the empire in the poetic form of the old eldar and was originally spoken by Ku'Motsk at the time of his conquest of the planet that would later come to be known as Ku Harai. This event formally marked the transition from a band of warriors into a sovereign empire. Each member of the Imperial Fleet speaks this oath at the time of their formal admission, and it is known and respected by most within the empire. It outlines the manifest destiny of the eldar race, provides provisions for dealing with other species and factions of eldar, and also exalts the imperial values of cunning, pragmatism, fidelity to one's race, and decisive action.
+Harai Kenn means Oath of Blood in the eldar language, and it is from this that the empire draws its name. This oath outlines the major beliefs of the empire in the poetic form of the old eldar and was originally spoken by Ku'Motsk at the time of his conquest of the planet that would later come to be known as Ku Harai. This event formally marked the transition of Ku'Motsk's people from a band of warriors into a sovereign empire. Each member of the Imperial Fleet speaks this oath at the time of their formal admission, and it is known and respected by most within the empire. It outlines the manifest destiny of the eldar race, provides provisions for dealing with other species and factions of eldar, and also exalts the imperial values of cunning, pragmatism, fidelity to one's race, and decisive action. In the ten thousand years since its inception, the oath has changed little but interpretations of its meaning has been codified into manifold guidelines on everything from etiquette to nuanced legal disputes.
-=== Organization ===
+= Organization =
-The Harakien Eldar Empire is comprised of three distinct groupings under the Office of the Sovereign; these include the Imperial Fleet, the Administrative Nexus, and the Mercantile Association. The Office of the Sovereign, which is essentially just Ku'Motsk, has few responsibilities. The main purpose of this office is to resolve issues which arise among the others. The Void King deals with this in the simple manner typical of him, he hears both sides and makes a final decision. Though the Sovereign does his best to deal with each issue practically, on particularly opaque or minor issues he tends to give the fleet first priority and the mercantile association last.
+The Harakien Eldar Empire is comprised of three distinct entites under the Office of the Sovereign; these include the Imperial Fleet, the Administrative Nexus, and the Mercantile Association. The Office of the Sovereign, which is essentially Ku'Motsk, has few responsibilities. The main purpose of this office is to resolve issues which arise among the others. The Void King deals with such issues in the simple manner typical of him:  both sides speak their case and Ku'Motsk makes a final decision. Though the Sovereign does his best to deal with each issue practically, on particularly opaque or minor issues he tends to give the fleet first priority and the mercantile association last.
 ==== Imperial Fleet ====
-The fleet comprises the empire's warriors, officers, and high command. The harakien eldar make no distinction between their army and navy, a tradition which back to their origins as a fleet in the old eldar empire and serves to emphasize their favoritism for seamless transitions from aerial to ground combat. The fleet is divided into six regular battle groups each headed by a captain, the Uris Guard which is rotated every five years, and the Sovereign's Division which is commanded by Ku'Motsk himself. While the core of each force is the same, each grouping has certain tactics or units they favor above others, largely due to the high degree of autonomy given to its captains. In addition to overseeing their fleets, many of these captains is also responsible for the governance of planets within the empire. Rank is determined through challenging one's immediate superior in the Anuk Harai, a strenuous test of combat and strategic skills. The challenger is immediately given his superior's position should he win.
+The fleet comprises the empire's warriors, officers, and high command. The Harakien eldar make no distinction between their army and navy, a tradition which harks back to their origins as a fleet in the old eldar empire and serves to emphasize their preference for seamless transitions between aerial and ground combat. The fleet is divided into six regular battle groups, the Uris Guard which is rotated every five years, and the Sovereign's Division which is commanded by Ku'Motsk himself. While the core of each force is the same, each grouping has certain tactics or units they favor above others, largely due to the high degree of autonomy given to their captains. In addition to overseeing their fleets, many of these captains are also responsible for the governance of planets within the empire. Rank is determined through challenging one's immediate superior in the Anuk Harai, a strenuous test of combat and strategic skills. The challenger is immediately given his superior's position should he win.
-Because each of the captains of the various fleets in the empire are given a large degree of autonomy, there are certain inherent differences between them. The 1st,2nd, 3rd, and 4th fleets in particular have styles of combat that have evolved to reflect the styles of their commanders, who have held their positions since early in the empire's existence. Though these differences are significant, certain basic elements remain the same. The fleet prefers to strike fast and hard against a weakened opponent, typically ensuring tactical advantage before a fight through various means. The use of combat vehicles is widespread both as weapons of war or a means by which to deliver a strike at the heart of the enemy.
+Because each of the captains of the various fleets in the empire are given a large degree of autonomy, there are certain inherent differences between them. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fleets in particular have styles of combat that have evolved to reflect the styles of their commanders, who have held their positions since  the early days of the empire's existence. As a whole the fleet prefers to strike fast and hard against already weakened opponents, some sort of tactical advantage being gained before hostilities even commence. The use of combat vehicles is widespread, especially as a means by which to quickly strike at the heart of the enemy.
-The fleet excels at space combat, the 4th and 5th divisions being particularly skilled in this area. The Void King is himself noted for a particular genius concerning void warfare, and his Sovereign Fleet is made up of veteran space combatants. The fleet generally prefers to utilize conservative tactics in space, darting around and utilizing short webway shifts to avoid foes while leaving devastating darklight implosion mines in their wake. They will strike above their enemies, eradicating them before they can even draw their weapons in defense.
+The fleet excels at space combat, the 4th and 5th divisions being particularly skilled in this area. The Void King is himself noted for a particular genius concerning void warfare, and his Sovereign Fleet is made up of veteran space combatants. The fleet generally prefers to utilize conservative tactics in space, evasively maneuvering and utilizing short webway shifts to avoid foes while leaving devastating darklight implosion mines in their wake.
 ===== Divisions =====
@@ Line 31: / Line 41: @@
 ::: Specializations: Rapid massed aerial strikes followed by ground combat, aerial combat, boarding actions, space warfare
 * 1st Division, led by Captain Kieres, the Heartless.
-::: Specializations: Rapid aerial delivery of close assault troops, favoritism toward incubi teams.
+::: Specializations: Rapid aerial delivery of close assault troops, favors incubi teams.
 * 2nd Division, led by Captain Silys Vath.
-::: Specializations: Aerial combat, favoritism toward massed jetbike squadrons.
+::: Specializations: Aerial combat, favors massed jetbike squadrons.
 * 3rd Division, led by Captain Ralis Sinderion.
 ::: Specializations: Sabotage, infiltration, psychological warfare, intelligence gathering.
@@ Line 44: / Line 54: @@
 * Uris Guard, Directly overseen by Duchess Ae'Rhinia Nakhar.
 ::: Generalists (note: this is due to the rotating nature of this division)
+These eight main fleet Divisions are themselves subdivided into further groupings. The specific nature of these groupings varies from division to division, but they all follow a general scheme. The largest of these groupings is the detachment, which is overseen by a commander. Each detachment comprises several thousand soldiers and are broadly organized to cover various aspects of war, such as ground combat or intelligence, which differ from division to division. The detachments are further split into squadrons, which comprise hundreds of warriors each. These squadrons are headed by a major, and fulfill the various battlefield roles necessary to the broad scope of their detachment. Finally, squadrons are split into a number of units comprising as little as one to as many as fifty individual warriors. Units are frequently reorganized according to need and skill, though most divisions keep their most successful and experienced units together.
 ===== Uris Guard =====
-The Uris Guard is an old and important institution of the empire, this special division maintains the empire's presence in Commoragh. The guard is rotated in its entirety every five years, none are permitted to serve permanently within it due to the Sovereign's fear of the corrupting nature of the dark city. Any warrior can be selected for the Uris Guard at any time, with the only exceptions being the captains of the various divisions and those currently in the guard. At the time of the exchange, each captain brings the men chosen from their fleet to the webway port of Uris and a month-long conference is held. The Uris conference, as it is known, gives the leaders of the empire an opportunity to discuss matters of import to the empire and discuss the typical influx of information from around the webway.
+The Uris Guard is an old and important institution of the empire, a special division maintaining the empire's presence in Commoragh. The guard is rotated in its entirety every five years: none are permitted to serve permanently within it due to the Sovereign's fear of the corrupting nature of the dark city. Any warrior can be selected for the Uris Guard at any time, with the only exceptions being the captains of the various divisions and those currently in the guard. At the time of the exchange, each captain brings the men chosen from their fleet to the webway port of Uris and a month-long conference is held. The Uris conference, as it is known, gives the leaders of the empire an opportunity to discuss matters of import to the empire and the typical influx of information gathered from around the webway.
+The Uris Guard itself is comprised of a number of diverse units, drawn from many different places and with varying skills. Some soldiers are uncomfortable with life in the Dark City, while a number of others revel in its many delights. Unlike the other divisions of the Imperial Fleet, the guard is not headed by a captain. The Void King's wife, Duchess Ae'Rhinia Nakhar is the ruler, but in name only. So long as her demands are met, she pays the guard no mind. This places the soldiers are put into difficult positions due to operating without the command they are accustomed to and their abilities are thereby honed, especially considering the trials of the dark city.
-The Uris Guard itself is comprised of a number of diverse units, drawn from many different places and with varying skills. Some soldiers are uncomfortable with life in the dark city, while a number of others revel in its many delights. Unlike the other divisions of the Imperial Fleet, the guard is not headed by a captain. The Void King's wife, Duchess Ae'Rhinia Nakhar is the ruler, but in name only. So long as her demands are met, she pays the guard no mind. The soldiers are put into difficult positions due to operating without the command they are accustomed to and their abilities are thereby honed, especially considering the trials of the dark city.
+It is not uncommon for high-ranking members of the Uris Guard to challenge their commanding officers in the Anuk Harai after completing their service in the webway. Many feel that the skills they have gained in the unique trials of the webway are enough to tip the balance, and they are often correct. Time in Commoragh hones one's skills in a somewhat predictable manner and an inverse effect occasionally occurs following a major campaign in realspace, wherein junior officers challenge their commanders who are returning from the webway. The tradition serves the Harakiens well regardless, the strongest are ensured power either way.
 ==== The Administrative Nexus ====
-The all-seeing bureaucracy of the harakien eldar, the nexus is responsible for maintaining the day to day operations of the empire. The administrative nexus is responsible for overseeing the servant races, shipping and transportation between planets, administration of the empire's factories and other facilities, as well as the governance of many of its worlds. The Nexus is technically overseen by Ku'Motsk, but rarely does he take an interest in its activities.
+The all-seeing bureaucracy of the Harakien eldar, the nexus is responsible for maintaining the day to day operations of the empire. The Administrative Nexus is responsible for overseeing the servant races, shipping and transportation between planets, administration of the empire's factories and other facilities, as well as the governance of many of its worlds. The Nexus is technically overseen by Ku'Motsk, but only in matters of great import does he take an interest in its activities. The most important duties of the organization is its jurisdiction over matters of law. The great system of courts and legislators overseen by the Nexus touches each of the disparate ends of the empire, enforcing adherance to the Harai Kenn. To snub it is to meet the hands of its police force, the merciless [[Korminsar]], who also act as planetary defenders in times of need.
 ==== The Mercantile Association ====
-A guild of traders representing many of the finest minds in the empire, the association is no mere salesman's club. The Mercantile association connects investors and merchants to researchers, scientists, and engineers together in a powerful network. Initially a private organization hoping to sell eldar innovations throughout the galaxy. The association was absorbed by the empire not long after its inception, gaining access to its networks and enforcing the empire's isolationist policies. Despite this, the association maintains a number of its own stellar vessels and has expanded its gaze far beyond the empire's reach. Rumors abound that high ranking members of the association still trade with non-harakien worlds.
+A guild of traders representing many of the finest minds in the empire, the association is no mere salesman's club. The Mercantile Association connects investors and merchants to researchers, scientists and engineers together in a powerful network. Initially a private organization hoping to sell eldar innovations throughout the galaxy, the association was absorbed by the empire not long after its inception and thus gaining access to its financial networks and enforcing the empire's isolationist policies. Despite this, the association maintains a number of its own stellar vessels and has expanded its gaze far beyond the empire's reach. Rumors abound that high ranking members of the association still trade with non-Harakien worlds.
-=== Planets ===
-==== Ku Harai ====
-{{Infobox 40k Planet
-|name=Ku Harai
-|bgcolor=&#35;FFFFFF
-|fgcolor=
-|image=[[File:Ku_Harai.jpg|200px]]
-|type= Xenos World
-|orbdist=
-|gravity=
-|temp=
-|pop= 180,000,000
-|governor=
-|system= Viran
-|sector= Harakien
-|subsector= Harai
-|segmentum= Pacificus
-}}
-The heart of the empire, Ku Harai is a lush and verdant world which remains largely unspoiled. Though sparsely populated elsewhere, the planet has one massive city called Rhys on its largest continent. Rhys is the administrative center of the empire, and is home to the colossal domain of the Void King himself, who governs the planet directly. The planet is fully autonomous, providing its own necessities and only importing luxury goods. Ku Harai was the first world seized by Ku'Motsk and served as the location of the empire's formation following the bloody campaign against its original human inhabitants. Each year there is a massive festival called the Motskhar celebrating the formation of the empire, with representatives from each harakien planet and realm arriving for the week-long festivities. The city of Rhys is completely filled with all manner of delights to be experienced. Ritual combat amongst the Klaivex priesthood takes place from dawn to dusk the first day, the festival being the only place to see this spectacle beyond Khainash itself. Wych cults are brought in from Commoragh, hosting the finest in gladiatorial exhibition, and bringing out exotic and deadly creatures for the pleasure of the crowd. Even the reclusive harlequins have arrived at the time of the Mostkhar on occasion, dancing the histories of the old empire for the new.
-The Motskhar is no mere hedonistic celebration, it is also the favored venue for unveiling technological innovations or discoveries by the mercantile association, and an important event for diplomatic relations among the disparate factions of Commoragh. The final event marking the close of the festivities, the Anuk'yan, is also the most anticipated. The Anuk'yan always takes the form of a massive tournament, testing combatants on exquisitely crafted, and extremely dangerous, custom designed battlefields. The winner is always offered a position in the sovereign division of the fleet if they were not already a member, current members are typically favored for promotion, in addition to the spoils of victory. The grand prize differs year to year, but it is always of incredible quality and value, usually it is a unique and powerful weapon or finely crafted armor, though rare beasts and even vehicles are not unheard of as spoils.
+= Holdings =
-==== Vrkova ====
+== Harkien Sector ==
-An exodite eldar world, Vrkova is a fully autonomous unit within the empire at large. Ruled by the priest-king Wyndir, the vrkovan exodites are a peaceful people with a sober manner that contrasts sharply to that of the wild harakien eldar. Vrkova is a wild and uncivilized place; its scattered settlements are organized along tribal lines, and its people live harsh and simple lives. The planet was absorbed peacefully into the empire immediately after its formation. In exchange for the protection provided by the imperial fleet, Vrkova provides a small number of elite dragon knights to the imperial fleet each year.
-==== Gelden III ====
+{{main|Harakien Sector}}
-A manufacturing planet overseen by 1st Captain Kieries. The planet is covered with numerous immense factories manned by a subjugated human population overseen by a small number of eldar administrators. Gelden III was conquered early in the empire's ascendency. The planet's inhabitants were advanced and proved a difficult foe to face in straight combat. After the first battle, Ku'Motsk pulled his men back and the geldens thought themselves victorious. As they celebrated in the streets, the Void King unleashed the first strike of a bombardment that would go on continuously for one full month. When the assault craft landed in the streets of the planet's largest cities, the few of those that still resisted were swiftly eradicated. The surviving human population be permitted to live as servants in the new regime, a precedent that would be used in similar situations.
-==== Gelden V ====
+The original and main domain of the Harakien Empire, for whom it was named. The sector was lost to the [[Void Angels]] in [[ pacification of the Harakien Sector|a great campaign]]. Since the reformation, this region has been regarded to be of paramount importance, considered by nearly all Harakiens as the cradle of their civilization. Most will voyage here some time during their long lives and it remains the most populace region in the empire.
-A frozen, uninhabitable planet which is notable only for its abundance of formerly untapped raw materials and its proximity to the manufacturing base on Gelden III. The sole inhabitants of Gelden V are penal mining slaves and their brutish overseers, often eldar too cruel to fit with the empire at large. This planet is also overseen by 1st captain Kieries, his brutal tactics often being necessary to keep the peace.
-==== Kournos ====
+= Notable Members =
-A sparsely populated agricultural world, Kournos was the only human planet to join the empire willingly. Its inhabitants had nearly all been destroyed by a decade-long famine caused by the failure of ancient and forgotten technology. When the harakien fleet arrived, they were greeted as gods sent to deliver the dying people from their fate. Its discoverer, 3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, was known for his shrewdness and way with words. He told the kournoans that he would lift the curse on the planet's soil, and that it would be as a garden of the gods. They need only serve the gods and they would be permitted to share in this bounty. The Kournoan population eagerly accepted, and the planet was made into the land of enormous, fertile fields that it is today. Sinderion administers this planet still, and is venerated by the people.
+==== Ku'Motsk, the Void King ====
+{{Main|Ku'Motsk, the Void King}}
+The magnanimous sovereign of the Harakien Eldar Empire, Ku'Motsk holds absolute power within his realm due to the fierce loyalty of his skilled warriors, as well as the skill he demonstrates both on and off the battlefield. He is called Ifeth'yan, a term which translates to "Void King" or "King of Space" but can also mean "Empty King" or "Pretender", originally due to his status as a lowborn monarch who plundered in space. When the empire was officially formed, the sovereign and his followers took up the moniker with pride. He has proved more than worthy of the title, keeping his realm secure for millennia and holding an unimpeachable position of status in the webway.
-==== Thress ====
+==== Captains of the Fleet ====
-A heavily-forested planet, Thress was originally home to the thressians, a race of stubborn, hairy, three-eyed giants. Standing at nearly 3 meters, and weighing well over 200 kilograms, the average thressian male is a brutish, horned savage that delights in bloodshed. The female of the species is even more dreaded, at nearly double the size and weight of the males, though rarely seen. The thressians resisted eldar rule for years before finally being nearly eradicated by 2nd Captain Silys Vath. The only remaining thressians on the planet are relegated to one massive gated reservation in the southern hemisphere. During the protracted campaign, Vath developed a taste for thressian hunting and a respect for their tenacity. It has become a popular, if rarely indulged, sport among the empire's finest. The remainder of the planet was converted into an agricultural world, manned by imported Kournoan laborers.
-==== Khainash ====
+===== 1st Captain Kieres, the Heartless =====
-If Ku Harai could be considered the heart of the empire, Khainash would be its soul. The planet is dedicated to the eldar god of war, Kaela Mensha Khaine. A colonial world set aside for the regrowth of eldar civilization, Khainash is considered by the most spiritual to be a holy land. This reputation comes from the events surrounding its acquisition. The planet was originally thought to be uninhabited by any sapient species by its discoverer, 2nd Captain Silys Vath. When arriving on the planet, the eldar forces awoke the slumbering tomb beneath them and were forced to face a foe long thought dead. As the last of the necron forces awoke, Vath prepared his final stand. Though his men fought well, they were no match for the silent machines, and many were slaughtered. As the warriors prepared for their death, blades raised and heads held high, an immense solar flare erupted. The necrons were destroyed almost to a man by the resulting electromagnetic pulse, it was a miracle. Now, the planet is a center for the Priesthood of Khaine. It's klaivex battle-priests constantly hone themselves in the art of combat in their great shrine, leaving only to found monasteries on other worlds and teach those who would become Incubi their art.
-==== Nakhar ====
+{{Main|Kieries, the Heartless}}
-Named in honor of Ku'Motsk's original patron, Duke Nakhar, the planet is a colonial world set aside for the regrowth of eldar civilization. Nakhar is the most populous planet in the empire, and the largest source of its soldiers and administrators following Commoragh. The planet's temperate and peaceful nature makes it the favored home for those eldar seeking to have children, as all imperial citizens are encouraged to do. It was won relatively recently in an extremely asymmetrical campaign against a primitive and scattered human civilization by Ku'Motsk himself.
-==== Gharian III & Gharian IV ====
-Gharian III and its sister planet Gharian IV, are the most recent acquisitions to the empire. Both planets were originally infested with orks who had warred against each other for centuries. The planets' discoverer, 4th Captain Sysik Alovar quickly found himself overwhelmed by the greenskins. The 1st and 3rd fleets reinforced their compatriots and the longest campaign in the empire's history began. The orks were many and powerful, but the eldar were careful to ensure their foes were completely eradicated. The protracted combat went on for a decade before the greenskins were eventually defeated, with the inclusion of the 6th fleet and the personal fleet of the Void King himself turning the tide. Alovar's scouring of the twin planets is still far from complete, and it is estimated it will be many years before either planet can be made useful.
-=== Notable Members ===
+===== 2nd Captain Silys Vath, the First-born =====
-==== 1st Captain Kieres, the Heartless ====
+{{Main|Silys Vath}}
-The man called Eakionlir, or heartless, is the most loyal and fervent supporter the Void King has. Kieries joined the imperial fleet as soon as he had come of age, seeing little to sate his natural love of combat in the old empire. Though he had only served for a few years at the time of the fall, Kieries has already begun to distinguish himself as a skilled combatant. When Ku'Motsk's fleet was set adrift, he was among those who helped the admiral maintain order in the ensuing chaos. As the fleet began raiding worlds, Kieries would further distinguish himself and move up the ranks.
-The man would earn his name during the assault on the world Dynar II, which housed a gunpowder-level civilization. The humans who inhabited the planet were no match for the eldar in a straight fight, but their largest kingdom was inside a nigh-unassailable fortress. As the war council addressed the best way to deal with the situation, Kieres stepped forward and claimed he could break the siege himself. Though his advisers derided the young warrior, Ku'Motsk saw something in the boy. The commander allowed Kieres one day to do his work. When the deadline arrived, Ku'Motsk's advisers made their comments, but then the massive stone gate of the fortress began to lower. Out walked Kieres, nothing but silence in his wake. As the force ran into the city, they were met with nothing. Guards were dead at their posts, people lay peacefully in their beds with cut throats, and Kieries was holding the still-crowned head of the king in his hand.
-Ku'Motsk took to the soldier, and in little time Kieries was the commander's most trusted lieutenant. The eldar called heartless enforced his superior's peace harshly, any who stood against Ku'Motsk would face Kieries. When the fleet rediscovered their lost kin in the webway and was absorbed by House Nakhar, Kieries would become Ku'Motsk's 1st Officer. Kieries detested the webway more than any under Ku'Motsk, he had almost no contact with those outside of his original fleet if he could avoid it. He was openly defiant toward those he saw ill-fit to lead, which included nearly every one of his superior officers besides Ku'Motsk. He held particular contempt for the admiral, Otelhar, who he saw as a coward and sneak. When Ku'Motsk made his play for control of House Nakhar, Kieries was instrumental to his success.
+===== 3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, the Hidden-handed =====
-While the admiral had sent his commander off on a prolonged and intentionally pointless mission, Kieries remained behind. He prepared the men for what was to come, carefully weeding out the few who would stand for Otelhar, and organizing their ranks for the upcoming rebellion. He even arraigned the terms of Ku'Motsk's betrothal to the heiress of Uris, a much more difficult act according to Kieries. When the time had come to take power, it was the one called heartless who gave the first order. Kieries was given command of the 1st Division of the fleet as a reward for his loyalty, and has remained at its head ever since.
-During the conquest of the planet Waken, which would eventually become known as Ku Harai, Kieries led his Heartless Brigade into fierce hand-to-hand combat against the planet's elite. His men devastated their opponents and broke into the enemy camp. Their officers surrendered and begged to be sparred, but Kieries showed no such mercy and cut them down. He and his men had completed their mission, the enemy command had been broken and their base secured, but something was wrong. The base was far too sparsely manned for a place that important. Kieries called out for a retreat, but it was too late. A firestorm erupted from within the ceramite building that had formerly housed the officers, he and many of his men were caught in the blast.
+{{Main|Ralis Sinderion}}
-The captain awoke suddenly, in tremendous pain, with a number of tall figures standing over him. He lashed out against them so furiously that he fell from his bed. As he crashed to the ground, he realized he only had his left leg. His left hand was missing too. He turned to face his supposed captors, the eldar battle medics who saved his life, and commanded they make him whole again. The surgeon from among them stepped forward, he told the frantic captain that he would have to wait and recover. Kieries propelled himself forward with his remaining hand, wrapping his body around the man, and pulled out a knife. He commanded the surgeon to do as he said, to refuse again would mean the loss of his hands.
-Hours later, the captain stepped out of the recovery room on a gleaming, chrome leg. He inspected his new hand, it was the finest combat prosthetic available and incorporated an in-built pistol as well as retractable, razor-sharp talons. Kieries smiled as he looked at his new toy, his predatory grin giving the impression of a hungry wolf. With that, he put his armor on and drew his sword. Less than a day after his near-death, the man called heartless rejoined the fray with gusto. He killed nearly twice as many that day as he had the previous one.
+===== 4th Captain Sisyk Alovar, the Vulture =====
-The battle was won shortly thereafter, and Kieries stood proudly alongside his lord during the victory proceedings as Ku'Motsk began the first part of the Harai Kenn. The empire had been created, and in time Kieries would become known as the Sovereign's executioner. The man called heartless would be given command of the most difficult planets and harshest war zones in the empire, where his cruel style of leadership was most effective. A century of combat has honed his skill to legendary levels, he moves through war zones with casual fluidity. In battle, he assaults in a dazing array of strikes and slashes with his cybernetic talon and elongated klaive, the Sovereign's Justice.
+{{Main|Sisyk Alovar}}
-==== 2nd Captain Silys Vath, the First-born ====
-Of those captains who have stood by Ku'Motsk's side since the beginning of the empire, Silys Vath is unique. Unlike most of the high-command, Vath was born in the webway shortly before the fall. The notoriously charming and handsome Silys Vath was once a jetbiker who made his living as a mercenary in the frequent conflicts of Commoragh. The boy had been enthralled by tales of a mighty captain who had come out of the void and brought House Nakhar fame and power. He tested for entrance to the fleet and was accepted, joining a squad of others with experience in mounted aerial combat under the captain who had so interested him. He quickly found his place in the fleet, finding himself more at ease around the void-traveled eldar than his own kin.
-Vath was one of the few chosen to accompany Ku'Motsk into the void on the mission given by admiral Otelhar, he was exited and unaware that it was only a ploy by the admiral for more power. He was a frequent combatant in the underground fighting rings that took place in the storage bay of the ship, and gained a reputation as one of the strongest fighters on the ship. The captain came down to the storage bay during the off-hours one evening while Vath was to fight. The young warrior was terrified at the sight of his commander, fearing the unsanctioned fighting would result in disciplinary. It turned out he was right to be frightened, as Ku'Motsk himself would face Vath in the ring.
+===== Knight Commander Daerfin of Vrkova =====
-The captain was taller and heavier than most eldar, but he moved at least as quickly. Ku'Motsk delivered the first strike, but Vath dodged it and retaliated. His efforts were in vain, the captain was too quick and swept him off his feet. Vath was back up in an instant, and delivered a kick to the captain's chest. Everyone present was surprised, most of all Vath, it was known that no one had so much as touched the captain in over a decade. The soldier's hesitation cost him the match, as Ku'Motsk grabbed his leg and rocketed him into the floor. The captain was impressed, and offered Vath an invitation to stand at his side when they reached their destination.
+The first Harakien Dragon Knight, and the commander of their division, Daerfin of Vrkova is a quiet warrior known for letting his actions speak for him. The narrow-eyed, thin-lipped Eldar gives a strong impression of utter joylessness, and his unkempt hair and simple clothing is telling of his harsh Exodite origin. He is never without his mount, the large and powerful cold one he calls Aka'Ris. Though he prefers the company of his own kin, Daerfin is a favored hunting partner of the Void King. Ku'Motsk frequently calls on the commander for his unique perspective, often breaking his hours-long meditation, much to the Vrkovan's chagrin.
-Vath landed at Vrkova with his captain as planned, but the warriors were met with a surprise. The planet was inhabited by comparably primitive eldar, their leader seemed to recognize his. The two spoke for a while, and Ku'Motsk was brought forth to see the weapon they had been sent to retrieve. Vath and the others in the landing party followed along, but they were stopped at the great stone entrance of a darkened chamber. The captain was led in by the elder, Wyndir, and the men waited. Suddenly, they heard a shout from within. The captain had collapsed, and the men drew forth their arms.
+Following Ku'Motsk's ascension to sovereign with the first Harai Kenn, and the re-branding of Waken into Ku Harai, the fleet moved toward Vrkova. The Void King met with the priest-king, Wyndir, and they discussed the integration of Vrkova into the new empire. The debate lasted several hours, with the Exodite leader adamant on the condition that Vrkova be granted a certain degree of self-determination and its citizens never eligible for conscription. Ku'Motsk offered his old friend more than limited self-governance, they would administer themselves completely. All in exchange for annual payment in the form of a squadron of elite Dragon Knights, and of course permitting trade with the empire and the occasional diplomatic visit. These knights, he knew, were sacred warriors among the Exodites and Wyndir would not give them lightly, but their power was astounding to behold. After some consideration, Wyndir accepted. Daerfin and his men were the first to join the harakiens.
-Wyndir pleaded with them that he had done nothing wrong, the captain simple collapsed while examining an ancient artifact. The others in the landing party called for blood, but Vath intervened. So long as Ku'Motsk remained alive, so would Wyndir. Vath, his men, and the elder waited for hours. The party's patience was waning and they began to threaten Wyndir, then Ku'Motsk awoke. The captain waved off their concerns, he was fine and he wanted only to rest so he bid the men leave him for the night. Wyndir was suspicious and stayed behind, unbeknownst to the captain, so did Vath.
+In the time since his absorption into the harakien fleet, Daerfin has proven himself a skilled warrior and commander. He allows the harakien knights to make the best use of their unique skill sets through his experience in warfare, keeping his men at a level of usefulness as cavalry comparable to Vath's Sky-Reapers. If not for their extremely limited numbers, the Dragon Knights would have spread throughout the fleet quickly. He leads his force at the head, charging forward atop Aka'Ris and launching blasts of darklight from his lance at the opponent.
-As the two leaders spoke at lengths about the nature of their fragmented and devastated race, Silys listened. The captain told Wyndir about the amazing things he had seen while he slept, and of the great and powerful voice that commanded him. Wyndir nodded sagely, knowing what Ku'Motsk could only suspect. The captain had been chosen for a great destiny, and the visions were his future. He told of a great empire, much like the old, and their place in it. Vath listened intently for hours, he was without any doubt that what the captain said was true, he knew none was more fit to lead.
+==== Kaelon Asmodae, Ur-Hierach of the Khainite Priesthood ====
-As the landing party made to return to the ship above the following day, Ku'Motsk and Wyndir parted jovially as though old friends. When they had arrived, Vath took his captain aside. He told him what he had heard and pledged himself to Ku'Motsk as emperor, then he bid the captain rally the others to his cause. The captain pondered for a moment, and nodded. That night Ku'Motsk gathered the men and told them of what was to come, of the great empire their noble blood deserved, and was met with a great cry of approval. The fleet moved toward their home, the port of Uris, and prepared to war against the childish admiral, Otelhar.
+{{Main|Kaelon Asmodae}}
-When the ships under Ku'Motsk returned to Uris, they were greeted by the gleeful admiral. Kieries arrived soon after, his men eradicated Otelhar like the insignificant worm that he was. The captain was not the Duke of Uris, and his plan would commence. The fleet was mustered and they moved toward the planet then named Waken, itching for combat. Vath led his Sky-Reapers in the first ground assault of the campaign, their victory earning him the name First-Born. Following the recitation of the Harai Kenn and Ku'Motsk's ascendency, Vath was the first to take what is now known as the Anuk Harai. He challenged Kieries to a test of skill to prove his status, their duel lasted a week and ended only when their commander stepped in. Ku'Motsk declared the duel had shown him all he needed to see, then granted Vath command of the 2nd Division.
+The spiritual head of the Harakien Empire, Kaelon Asmodae is a powerful warrior priest who has served the Void King faithfully for millennia. He oversees the great monastery world Khainash and all priests of Khaine, or Incubi, are at his command. He is among Ku'Motsk's strongest political allies, as the Ur-Hierach firmly believes that the Void King is the leader chosen by his god to deliver his people to greatness. His skill as a swordsman is legendary, capable cleaving scores of men in twain without being struck in return. His abilities have only grown over his many years, and his control over the mystic arts of battle employed by his priesthood is without peer.
-In the years since, Vath has been an active combatant in a number of conflicts. His victory over the monstrous Thressians earned him notoriety, but Vath's command at Khainash changed him, his normally carefree nature was diminished somewhat by the sheer magnitude of the events he witnessed. The 2nd captain still leads his Sky-Reaper Jetbike Squadron into battle, with Vath himself atop a monstrous bike of his own design called the Scythe, though the Sky-Reapers are now followed into battle by dozens of similar groups. The coming of the First-Born is unmistakable, the skies are blackened and the earth shakes with the hum of his terrifying cavalry.
+==== Denari Kouorern, Chief Executive of the Mercantile Associarion ====
-==== 3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, the Hidden-handed ====
+Denari Kourern is the most powerful woman in the harakien empire, every exchange of goods is subject her scrutiny. Her clout surpasses that of even the Duchess Nakhar, though Ae'Rhinia would be loathe to admit it. She is also much younger than the other major players within the harakien empire and, unlike many of its leaders, was born within its borders. She is highly ambitious, having gained her power through careful politicking and negotiations before even reaching a century in age. She is a frequent visitor to the court of the Void King, their discussions are held under tight security. These intimate visits are closed to all but the chief executive and the sovereign, but their many loud hours together produce far-flung results.
-Ralis Sinderion is quite unlike many harakians, he has no great lust for the visceral thrill of melee. The satisfaction that the 3rd captain finds in war is of a different sort, that of besting an opponent in a high-stakes battle of wits. He has served under Ku'Motsk since their time together in the imperial fleet before the fall, in fact it was the Void King himself who gave Sinderion his nickname long ago. He has been an essential, if often unseen, part of Ku'Motsk's rise to power.
+Kouorern believes that the empire represents true freedom for its people and administers the association with that in mind, frequently coming into conflict with the military on matters of trade freedom. The administration's main goal under her has been to expand trade into unknown regions, her fleets work with civilizations beyond the eye of the empire and often make contact many years before the military. The association's charter gives them free reign on these matters and there have been many times the imperial fleet has discovered a seemingly new planet, only to find that Kouorern's hands have already reached it. In matters of military, it is the executive who acts as the greatest barrier to conquest, seeing indigenous peoples as a resource with more inherent value than their use as slave labor.
-Sinderion was the son of an eldar intelligence officer. His father taught him the ways of grand strategy from a young age, and the importance of seeing the entirety of a given situation. It was not long before the young Ralis began applying these teachings to his interactions with others, finding a talent in understanding their motives and needs from the cues of body and voice. When he was of age, Sinderion followed in his father's footsteps and joined the military. He was assigned to the Imperial Fleet and would serve for many years without note before being assigned to Ku'Motsk's command. The two would serve together for over a decade before the fall, forming a bond of mutual respect that would serve them well in the coming years. (TBD)
+= History of the Harakien Eldar =
+== The Fall of the Old Empire ==
-==== 4th Captain Sisyk Alovar, the Vulture ====
+The Eldar Empire was the largest and most powerful organization in the galaxy, its people lived lives of endless recreation with their every need met by their advanced society. In time this leisurely existence began to wear upon the Eldar, they began seeking more and more extreme thrills. Where the culture of the Empire was once host to high-minded scientific works and sublime art of great beauty, carnal depravity began to take root within its heart. The grandiose webway port of Commoragh was on the cutting edge of the new order, hosting horrors which would shock even the desensitized Eldar of the outer realm.
-==== Commander Daerfin of Vrkova ====
+Many worried for their culture and prepared for its fall. The most austere and zealous Eldar were the first to leave, seeking out new worlds far from the Eldar homeworlds and eventually settling into a harsh and simple existence, they came to be known as Exodites. As the culture drew into steady decline, many gathered into planet-sized ships called Craftworlds and made for the stars. Most Eldar continued their lives as always, though few remained completely divorced from the pleasure cultists relishing the new regimes. Ku'Motsk of Avengar was one of those Eldar who stayed behind, and it was only through a quirk of fate that he survived.
-==== Gaeren Ariksa, Ur-Hierach of the Khainite Priesthood ====
+Ku'Motsk was an admiral in the Imperial Fleet, one of those few institutions divorced from the day-to-day of the greater Eldar society. The Fleet attracted individuals with a particular ambition or wanderlust that left them unsatisfied with the larger culture, pushing them to travel through the void of space in a search for more. Soldiers within it's ranks were no strangers to the pleasures of the webway ports they frequently visited, but the nature of their duty prevented excess to a degree. It was from one of these ports that the admiral departed on the fateful day of the fall. As the first portion of the fleet entered a capillary tunnel, the reality-shaking birth screams of the dark god Slaanesh threw them out of space and time. Daemons erupted from the most skilled psykers aboard the ships, and a long and fierce battle commenced. Though its commander lost an eye and several were killed during the incursion, the Imperial Fleet survived adrift in the void.
-==== Denar Kouorern, Chief Executive of the Mercantile Associarion ====
+== Lost in the Void ==
+== The Webway ==
+== Rise of the Empire ==
+== The Invasion of the Angels ==
+{{Main|Pacification of the Harakien Sector}}
-== History of the Harakien Eldar ==
+The Harakien Empire makes first contact with the Imperium at Destino, defeating members of the [[Imperial Army (Hektor Heresy)|Imperial Army]] highhandedly. The Harakiens and Imperials skirmish over many years and little progress is made by either side. The Space Marine Legion [[Void Angels|Winged Victory]] eventually enters the conflict in force, carving through Harakien Space with devastating results. At the behest of the Ur-Hierach Asmodae and 3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, a drastically wounded Ku'Motsk orders a complete retreat of all Eldar to the webway. Thanks to the quick thinking of its leaders, the majority of the Empire's people survive, though the Imperial Fleet is dealt a major blow and all Harakien realspace territory is lost. Feeling denied the sacrament of war, much of the Harakien Army marches against their Commorite kin and Uris is expanded to a true dominion.
-=== The Fall of the Old Empire ===
-=== Lost in the Void ===
-=== The Webway ===
-=== Rise of the Empire ===
+== The Reformation ==
-== Ku'Motsk, the Void King ==
-[[File:KuMotskBald.jpg]]
 ==Writing==
 http://pastebin.com/u/Aefythlir
-[[Category:The /tg/ Heresy]]
+{{/tg/-Heresy-Xenos}}

Harakien Eldar Empire: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:46, 21 June 2023

Contents

Summary of the Empire[edit]

Beliefs[edit]

Harai Kenn[edit]

Organization[edit]

Imperial Fleet[edit]

Divisions[edit]

Uris Guard[edit]

The Administrative Nexus[edit]

The Mercantile Association[edit]

Holdings[edit]

Harkien Sector[edit]

Notable Members[edit]

Ku'Motsk, the Void King[edit]

Captains of the Fleet[edit]

1st Captain Kieres, the Heartless[edit]

2nd Captain Silys Vath, the First-born[edit]

3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, the Hidden-handed[edit]

4th Captain Sisyk Alovar, the Vulture[edit]

Knight Commander Daerfin of Vrkova[edit]

Kaelon Asmodae, Ur-Hierach of the Khainite Priesthood[edit]

Denari Kouorern, Chief Executive of the Mercantile Associarion[edit]

History of the Harakien Eldar[edit]

The Fall of the Old Empire[edit]

Lost in the Void[edit]

The Webway[edit]

Rise of the Empire[edit]

The Invasion of the Angels[edit]

The Reformation[edit]

Writing[edit]

Navigation menu

Harakien Eldar Empire: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:46, 21 June 2023

Summary of the Empire[edit]

Beliefs[edit]

Harai Kenn[edit]

Organization[edit]

Imperial Fleet[edit]

Divisions[edit]

Uris Guard[edit]

The Administrative Nexus[edit]

The Mercantile Association[edit]

Holdings[edit]

Harkien Sector[edit]

Notable Members[edit]

Ku'Motsk, the Void King[edit]

Captains of the Fleet[edit]

1st Captain Kieres, the Heartless[edit]

2nd Captain Silys Vath, the First-born[edit]

3rd Captain Ralis Sinderion, the Hidden-handed[edit]

4th Captain Sisyk Alovar, the Vulture[edit]

Knight Commander Daerfin of Vrkova[edit]

Kaelon Asmodae, Ur-Hierach of the Khainite Priesthood[edit]

Denari Kouorern, Chief Executive of the Mercantile Associarion[edit]

History of the Harakien Eldar[edit]

The Fall of the Old Empire[edit]

Lost in the Void[edit]

The Webway[edit]

Rise of the Empire[edit]

The Invasion of the Angels[edit]

The Reformation[edit]

Writing[edit]

Navigation menu

Search