Craftworld Biel-Tan is the most militaristic of the eldar craftworlds, a mobile worldship whose people believe the only worthy death is one in battle against the enemies of their race. If you’ve heard eldar called arrogant or bloodthirsty, Biel-Tan is usually who people mean.
What Biel-Tan is
Biel-Tan is an eldar craftworld, one of the giant ships the survivors of the fallen Aeldari empire fled into after the birth of Slaanesh. Its name means “Rebirth of Ancient Days,” and that’s the whole point of the place. The Biel-Tani want to rebuild the old empire, and they’re willing to burn anyone who’s squatting on the ruins to do it.
It’s home to more Aspect Warriors than any other craftworld, and its culture is drenched in warrior ideals. Even everyday citizens dress in the craftworld’s green and white. Biel-Tani are famously curt, imperious, and quick to take offence.
- Colours: green and white, often with dark thorny ivy patterns
- Speciality: destroying the colonies of younger races
- Main enemy: Orks
- Reputation: fickle and warlike
The Swordwind
When Biel-Tan goes to war it assembles a warhost called the Bahzhakhain, usually translated as the Swordwind. The idea is a single, fast, overwhelming strike that lands before the enemy can react, then melts away. With so many Aspect Warriors and Exarchs on hand, that shock punch is genuinely brutal.
The craftworld is ruled in practice by the Court of the Young King, a council of Exarchs that handles military and diplomatic policy. From that court, the Young King is chosen to lead the Swordwind, and in the oldest tellings he’s sacrificed to awaken the Avatar of Khaine before battle. The Chamber of Heroes holds the spirit stones of dead Aspect Warriors, and Farseers go there to consult the dead, referring to them by the battle that killed them.
Where it sits and who it fights
Biel-Tan drifts along the border between Segmentum Tempestus and Ultima Segmentum, and it spends most of its effort on the galactic south. That puts it near a lot of Ork empires, which is why Orks top the grudge list.
The craftworld has fought alongside Iyanden at times, and it took part in the fighting around the Thirteenth Black Crusade. Its Titan clan is Fir Farillecassion.
The fracture
Biel-Tan’s biggest recent story is its own near-destruction. The craftworld was shattered, and it’s now sometimes called the Fractured. It survived, but not intact, and the event reshaped how the craftworld operates.
Sources differ on the exact scale of the damage and how much of Biel-Tan remains functional, so treat the details as contested. What’s clear is that the craftworld that once embodied the dream of restoring the eldar empire is now fighting to hold itself together.
Key facts
- Biel-Tan is the most militaristic eldar craftworld, home to more Aspect Warriors than any other.
- Its warhost is the Bahzhakhain, the Swordwind, built around a single devastating strike.
- Colours are green and white, often with dark thorny ivy patterns.
- The Court of the Young King, a council of Exarchs, decides its military and diplomatic policy.
- Its main enemy is Orks, and it operates on the border between Segmentum Tempestus and Ultima Segmentum.
- The craftworld was shattered in recent lore and is now known as the Fractured.
FAQ
What does Biel-Tan mean?
It roughly translates as “Rebirth of Ancient Days,” which sums up the craftworld’s goal of restoring the old Aeldari empire.
What is the Swordwind?
The Bahzhakhain, or Swordwind, is Biel-Tan’s warhost. It fights by hitting hard and fast with massed Aspect Warriors before the enemy can organise a response.
Why is Biel-Tan called the Fractured?
The craftworld was badly damaged in recent lore and survived only in a broken state, so it’s now known as the Fractured.
Who leads Biel-Tan?
The Court of the Young King, a council of Exarchs, sets policy. It also chooses the Young King who leads the Swordwind into battle.