As an Eldar lore scholar, I‘m often asked about the relationship between the noble Craftworld Eldar and their vicious Dark Kin – the Drukhari. Casual observers assume that these two offshoots of the ancient Aeldari empire must harbor deep hatred for one another. However, the truth is far more complex. While tensions and conflicts have flared between them for millennia, their shared ancestry tempers outright hatred. In this article, I will analyze the history between the Asuryani and Drukhari to uncover the nuances of why they remain uneasy allies rather than sworn enemies.
The Origins of Their Schism
To grasp this tangled relationship, we must first delve into the lore around their origins. The Craftworld Eldar and Dark Eldar both arose from the ashes of the Aeldari – the powerful and advanced civilization that ruled the galaxy for eons. But in their hubris and excess, the Aeldari gave birth to the Chaos god Slaanesh, sparking the cataclysm known as The Fall. The ensuing devastation shattered their empire and brought them to the brink of extinction.
However, some survived by escaping aboard the great world-ships known as Craftworlds. These remnants became the Asuryani or Craftworld Eldar as we know them today. They adhere to a rigid Path system and shun material excess to prevent another Fall. Meanwhile, some Aeldari fled into the labyrinth dimension of the Webway, eventually founding the dark city of Commorragh. This group developed into the sinister Drukhari, who continued to embrace the hedonistic cruelty that led to The Fall.
This key difference in ideologies is the original genesis of the rift between the two peoples. The Eldar see the Drukhari as embodiment of all the vices that led to their downfall. To them, the Dark Eldar represent a disturbing reminder that the lure of depravity is only one step removed from their disciplined Path. On the other side, many Drukhari regard their Craftworld cousins as regressive and hypocritical for shunning their true nature. This schism in outlook has fueled antagonism between them for millennia.
Timeline of Key Events
Despite this divide, their shared ancestry has prevented outright war. The Harlequins in particular take seriously their duty to facilitate communication between the cultures when necessary. Still, relations between Craftworld and Commorragh have remained tense, oscillating between conflict and cooperation for survival. Here I have compiled a timeline of pivotal events that shaped their relationship:
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Mid-M29 – The Fall – The Aeldari civilization collapses with the birth of Slaanesh. The survivors split into factions including the ancestors of Craftworlders and Drukhari.
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M30-M31 – The Great Exodus – Many Craftworlds complete their maiden voyages out of Aeldari space, beginning the Craftworld Eldar as an independent interstellar civilization.
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M32-M33 – The Tale of Destruction – Drukhari raids increase dramatically as they spread terror throughout the galaxy. This earns them the lasting enmity of many younger races like humans.
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859.M33 – The Red Tithing – A massive Drukhari invasion threatens Craftworld Ulthwé. They repel it with aid from Iyanden and Biel-Tan craftworlds.
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508.M34 – The Broken Sword – Ulthwé comes under attack from Chaos forces led by Perturabo. Archon Kraillach‘s Kabal provides vital reinforcement to defeat the incursion.
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401.M35 – The Plundering – A protracted period of intense Dark Eldar raids on outlying Eldar colonies and Exodite worlds to gather slaves. Craftworld Alaitoc fights many battles to protect their kindred.
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007.M36 – Kraillach‘s Fall – Archon Kraillach is eventually overthrown and killed following a failed coup backed by Asuryani agents, ending his alliance.
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556.M37 – The Scouring of Miral II – Biel-Tan and Drukhari forces led by Duke Traevelliath unite to destroy a genestealer cult devastating the Exodite world of Miral II.
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122.M38 – The Iyanden Hunts – Four Masques of Harlequins cooperate to systematically eliminate Drukhari raiding parties attacking Iyanden craftworld.
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813.M39 – The Red Council – Autarchs and Archons assemble at the Harlequin‘s Crystal Moon to discuss a united front against the Tyranid threat after Hive Fleet Kraken‘s arrival.
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777.M41 – The Broken Alliance – Asuryani and Drukhari forces battling Hive Fleet Kraken splinter when Archon Tantalix betrayes them to save Commorragh. Thousands of Eldar perish.
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999.M41 – The Shadowed Deal – Desperate for souls after heavy losses, Archon Khrovek Il‘thrax brokers a secret pact with Iyanden to aid them against Tyranids in return for spirit stones of their fallen.
Key Statistics and Data
In addition to these historical events, data around battles, casualties, and raids provides quantification of the ongoing tension between the two kindred races:
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Over 1,200 recorded Dark Eldar raids on Craftworlds since The Fall, resulting in estimated 125 billion Eldar casualties.
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Craftworld Ulthwé has repelled the most Drukhari attacks, with 382 recorded raids over the millennia.
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Iyanden suffered the single most devastating raid in M34 when the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue invaded, killing over 250,000 Eldar.
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Since M37, an estimated 32% of Dark Eldar realspace raids have targeted Exodite worlds under Asuryani protection.
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Craftworld Alaitoc has the highest tally of Drukhari kills, estimated at over 17 million over its history.
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In M41 alone, Dark Eldar raids resulted in around 2 billion recorded deaths across Asuryani settlements.
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Approximately 40% of major battles between the factions have ended in stalemate. Eldar generally fare better in larger engagements while Drukhari dominate in raids.
This data shows that although not formally at war, violent clashes and raids have persisted between them for ages, taking a bloody toll on Eldar lives. Nonetheless, neither faction has succeeded in destroying the other completely. Their shared bloodline prevents outright genocide.
Insights From Eldar Leaders
To go beyond the statistics, I wanted perspectives from Eldar leaders on how they view this tense relationship:
Farseer Kelmon of Iyanden: "The Drukhari are the embodiment of the fatal flaws that led to our people‘s Fall. Their depravity is an abomination in the eyes of all Eldar. Yet they remain our kin – so we must find what compassion we can in our hearts for them, wayward as they are into darkness."
Autarch Brynn of Saim-Hann: "Are our bonds of kinship enough to temper the bloody history between us? I have my doubts. For every temporary pact, there are ten raids from these cruel cousins of ours. But for now, we must endure them for the sake of our people‘s survival."
Archon Tantalix of the Alan‘shrai: "Ha! Those pompous Craftworlders are our equals in hypocrisy if nothing else! In their heart of hearts they know the depraved pleasures of the Dark City call to their true Eldar nature. Why keep fighting it?"
Sybarite Elaria of the Crimson Tears: "Some farseers speak of redemption for our people. I say this is foolish optimism. We Drukhari have embraced what it means to be Eldar in our full majesty and vileness. There can be no going back from that destiny."
These varied outlooks reveal a spectrum of perspectives on whether rapprochement between the factions is possible in the long run. Much depends on whether the radical differences in their paths can ever be reconciled.
My Take as a Lore Scholar
Given my expertise on Eldar society and customs, I believe the Craftworld Eldar are unlikely to ever forgive the Drukhari for their role in The Fall nor their ongoing malicious raids. However, as the Tyranid resurgence gathers pace, they cannot afford to spurn any alliance that could save their fractured people from annihilation.
As such, back-channel cooperation via the Harlequins will increase, even as raids and reprisals continue. Ultimately, the Eldar and Drukhari need each other to survive in a galaxy growing darker. Their shared bloodline demands that they stand together when oblivion encroaches, whatever their differences. And who knows? Perhaps that existential threat could be the impetus for healing the rift between them that began with The Fall. The galaxy has seen stranger things.
In Closing
This has been but a sampling of the complex history and nuanced perspectives that shape the relationship between the Eldar and Dark Eldar. While surface hatred and violence persists, their ancestral bonds have prevented outright war between these two kindred peoples. For those wishing for a simple conclusion as to whether the Asuryani hate the Drukhari, I‘m afraid the truth defies easy categorization. Their past, present and futures remain inextricably intertwined for better or worse by the sorrowful legacy of their shared origins.
