The Black Library is the Eldar’s hidden vault of forbidden knowledge, tucked away inside the Webway. It’s the single greatest collection of lore about Chaos in the galaxy, and almost nobody is allowed anywhere near it.
What the Black Library actually is
It’s the Eldar’s archive of everything they’ve learned about the Warp and Chaos. Tomes on daemon summoning, grimoires, cult records, prophecies, all locked away in psychically sealed rooms.
It isn’t just Eldar knowledge. Anything about Chaos from anywhere gets taken and stored here, including a copy of the Book of Magnus. The Harlequins watch over the collection constantly.
Other secrets live here too, like what really happened to Arhra, the fallen Phoenix Lord, and the true nature of the beings humans call Star Gods.
- Atlas Infernal
- Book of Mournful Night
- Book of Rhana Dandra
- Cries of Isha
- Crystal Tome of Cegorach
- Stern Codex
- Romance of Isha and the Sun
Where it is
The Black Library exists wholly inside the Webway, the Eldar’s tunnel network that runs through the Warp. It doesn’t sit in realspace at all.
That said, echoes of it used to bleed into the material universe. After the Great Rift opened, the last of those traces in realspace turned up near the western edge of the Ghoul Stars, in a triangle between the Exodite worlds of Syph and Quilan and a Blood Angels site.
Getting there means walking the Webway, and the paths are guarded by Harlequins. Solitaires can come and go whenever they like. Everyone else needs permission, and that’s rare.
The guardians
The Harlequins guard the passages in and out, while the Guardian-Scribes protect the entrance itself. They’re said to be the most terrifying thing you’ll meet in the Webway.
Inside, the White Seers maintain the records. Between the three groups, the library has layers of protection that have kept it intact for a very long time.
History and the Great Rift
The library was built long before the Fall, when the Eldar were at their height and already studying the Warp in depth. After the Fall, it became one of the few things they managed to keep.
It’s been invaded at least once, and the opening of the Great Rift shook things up again. A Black Council oversees it, and the Harlequins still treat it as one of their most sacred charges.
For anyone chasing Chaos lore in 40k, this is the place the trail eventually leads to, if you can find it and survive the walk.
Key facts
- The Black Library sits inside the Webway, not in realspace
- It’s the Eldar’s archive of forbidden Chaos lore
- Harlequins guard the passages, Guardian-Scribes the entrance, White Seers the records
- Solitaires can enter whenever they want; almost no one else can
- It holds a copy of the Book of Magnus and secrets about Arhra and the Star Gods
- Echoes of it appeared near the Ghoul Stars after the Great Rift opened
FAQ
Where is the Black Library located?
Inside the Webway, the Eldar’s tunnel network that runs through the Warp. It has no fixed position in realspace, though echoes of it have appeared near the Ghoul Stars.
Who guards the Black Library?
Harlequins guard the Webway passages, Guardian-Scribes protect the entrance, and White Seers maintain the records inside.
What’s kept in the Black Library?
Tomes and records about Chaos from across the galaxy, including daemon summoning texts, cult histories, and a copy of the Book of Magnus. It also holds Eldar secrets like the fate of Arhra.