Craftworld Vanari

"In wisdom, we endure. In discipline, we prevail."

"We are the inheritors of a lost age, the wielders of forgotten wisdom. Where others see only survival, we seek transcendence. Our blades cut not just flesh, but the threads of fate itself. We do not flee from She Who Thirsts—we walk the razor’s edge between salvation and annihilation, for only in balance can the Aeldari rise again."

Origins & History

Craftworld Vanari was once a thriving Aeldari world-ship, home to philosophers, warriors, and artisans who sought to temper their passions with discipline long before the Fall. When the cataclysm of Slaanesh's birth ravaged the Aeldari empire, Vanari was among the few Craftworlds that escaped annihilation, thanks to the foresight of its seers.

Unlike other Craftworlds that embraced the Path system purely as a means of survival, the Vanari retained a deeper connection to their ancestral traditions—echoing the ancient Aeldari mastery of both mind and spirit. They view themselves as the last true inheritors of the Aeldari’s lost golden age, blending psychic mastery with martial precision.

---

The Light of Hysh

As the Aeldari Empire collapsed into decadence and the birth-cries of She Who Thirsts sundered the cosmos, the ancestors of Vanari sought not just survival—but preservation. In their darkest hour, they discovered Hysh, a celestial wonder unlike any other—a star whose light carried purity, discipline, and clarity, anathema to the corruption of Chaos. Rather than let it be consumed by the growing tides of the Warp, the Vanari took Hysh into themselves, embedding it within the heart of their craftworld using lost Old Ones' geomantic technology.

• Not a Prison, But a Sanctuary – The Vanari did not bind Hysh by force. They offered it refuge, and in return, its light shielded their infinity circuit from She Who Thirsts’ touch.
• A Living Covenant – The star’s radiance sustains them, and in turn, they protect it from those who would misuse its power.

The Nature of Hysh’s Light

Hysh is more than a star—it is a manifestation of cosmic order, a remnant of the ancient Aeldari’s lost wisdom.

1. The Light of Purity
   • Its radiance cleanses corruption, making Vanari’s infinity circuit nearly impervious to Slaanesh’s whispers.
   • Those who meditate beneath its light experience visions of the Aeldari’s past glory, not as nostalgia, but as instruction.
2. The Geomantic Resonance
   • The craftworld’s wraithbone grows in harmony with Hysh’s pulses, forming crystalline structures that amplify psychic energy.
   • Vanari Rune-Mages etch spells into reality itself, using Hysh’s light as their ink.
3. The Starborn
   • Some Vanari are born with eyes like captured sunlight, their souls unusually attuned to Hysh’s frequency. These individuals often become Blademasters or Seers.
   • In rare cases, a dying Aeldari’s soul merges peacefully with Hysh, becoming part of its eternal radiance.

The Balance of Light

Hysh is not a god, nor a thing to be worshiped—it is a partner in survival.

• The Vanari do not feed it souls—it sustains itself, its light self-renewing.
• It does not demand obedience—it offers illumination, and the Vanari choose to follow its example.
• It is not infallible—its light can be dulled by great sorrow or doubt, requiring the craftworld to seek out new sources of inspiration.

---

The Ynnari: A Whisper of Hope

• The Joining of Musings

While not openly declaring allegiance to Ynnead, the Vanari are sympathetic to the Ynnari cause. They see the prophecy of the God of the Dead as a potential key to restoring balance—not just for their race, but for the galaxy itself.

• Secret Alliances – Vanari has quietly supplied the Ynnari with warriors, relics, and intelligence, though they stop short of fully committing their forces.
• The Whispering Council – A faction within the High Loremasters believes that Ynnead’s birth is the only way to truly defeat Slaanesh, while others fear it may only hasten another cataclysm.
• Shared Missions – Vanari forces have fought alongside Ynnari strike teams against Chaos incursions, particularly those led by the Drukhari or Slaaneshi warbands.

However, their cooperation is not unconditional. The Vanari distrust the reckless zeal of some Ynnari, fearing that desperation may lead to folly.

Relations with the Imperium: Pragmatic Disdain

The Vanari see the Imperium of Man as a brutish, ignorant empire—yet they recognize that even the blind may strike a useful blow against a common foe.

• "The Lesser Evil" Doctrine – The Vanari will ally with Imperial forces if the alternative is a greater threat, such as:
  • A massive Ork WAAAGH! spilling into a Maiden World under their protection.
  • A Chaos Black Crusade that threatens a strategically vital system.
  • A Tyranid Hive Fleet that could consume a region of the galaxy they rely on.
• Temporary Pacts – These alliances are never formalized, and the Vanari will abandon their human "allies" the moment their own objectives are secured.
• The Kaelith Incident – A rare example of prolonged cooperation, where Vanari forces and an Ordo Xenos strike force purged a Genestealer Cult from an Exodite world. The Imperium later betrayed them, reinforcing Vanari distrust.

Despite this pragmatism, the Vanari never forget human treachery, and many Loremasters advocate for manipulating the Imperium rather than fighting alongside them.

Military Doctrine – The Vanari Host

The Vanari military reflects their philosophy—precision over brute force, discipline over frenzy. Their forces include:

• Hyshian Sentinels – Elite Guardians wielding enhanced shuriken rifles and force shields, fighting in perfect unison.
• Ymnari Blademasters – Paragons of the Dire Avengers shrine who engage in fluid, meditative combat style.
• Shyishian Wraithseers – Psychic constructs bound not by grief, but by sacred duty, acting as spiritual guides in battle.
• Shadow Warriors – Rangers who move unseen, striking from the darkness before fading like mist.

Their war machines are graceful yet deadly, with Wraith-constructs infused with runes of warding and enlightenment.

Psykers & the Warp

The Vanari treat the Warp with respect, not fear. Their Rune Mages weave psychic energy with geometric precision, creating runic wards and beams of light that purify corruption. However, their arrogance sometimes leads them to underestimate Chaos, believing their discipline alone can shield them.

Notable Conflicts

• The War of the Bleeding Dawn – A brutal campaign against a Word Bearers warband, where Vanari forces used geomantic rituals to cleanse a daemon world.
• The Shadow of Morrian – A failed alliance with Ulthwé, where Vanari seers attempted to rewrite a prophecy, only to fracture fate further.
• The Pact of Dying Stars – A temporary truce with the Ynnari and an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor to destroy a Genestealer Cult uprising.

Color Scheme

Primary Colors:

• Hyshian White & Gold – The Vanari favor pearl-white wraithbone plating edged in radiant gold, symbolizing their pursuit of enlightenment.
• Azure Blue – Deep, celestial blues (akin to Alaitoc, but richer) adorn their armor’s flowing cloth and runic sigils, representing wisdom and the heavens.
• Pale Silver Accents – Used for joints and finer details, evoking the cold light of the stars.

Secondary Colors:

• Mist-Gray – For stealth units (Rangers, Shadow Spectres), blending into twilight.
• Ymnari Crimson – Rarely used, but present in ceremonial sashes or the blades of those who have walked the Path of the Warrior many times.

Psychic & Energy Effects:

• Hyshian Glow – Their weapons and runes shimmer with pale gold-white energy.
• Shyishian Violet – Wraith constructs and spiritseers wield ghostly amethyst-tinged soulfire, a nod to the afterlife.

Symbolism:

• Gold = Wisdom, the light of Hysh.
• Blue = Discipline, the celestial order.
• White = Purity, the unbroken soul.