The Aeldari Pantheon is the old gods of the Eldar, a family of deities whose stories are preserved in mythic cycles. Most were destroyed when Slaanesh was born, which is why the Eldar remember their gods but don’t worship them anymore.
What happened to the gods
The Fall of the Eldar didn’t just shatter their empire. It killed their gods. When Slaanesh came into being, it consumed almost the entire pantheon, leaving only three survivors.
Cegorach escaped into the Webway, where he’s said to know every passage. Khaine was shattered into fragments that now live inside the Avatar of Khaine. Isha, if the rumours are true, is held captive by Nurgle.
Since then, the Aeldari have stopped praying for divine help. They still tell the old stories, but they don’t expect their gods to answer.
- Cegorach: the Laughing God, master of the Harlequins, still at full strength.
- Khaine: the war god, broken into pieces that empower the Avatars.
- Isha: the mother goddess, supposedly a prisoner of Nurgle.
How the Eldar see their gods
Eldar don’t agree on what their gods actually are. Some think they were fundamental forces of reality. Others believe they were Warp entities born from the emotions and memories of mortals.
The Ulthwé Farseer Illiyanne Natasé thinks both ideas hold some truth. It’s a debate that’s been running for a long time.
They also recognise other powerful beings as gods of the same kind, like the C’tan or the Chaos Gods. But they’re clear that none of those are Eldar gods.
The mythic cycles
The Eldar preserve their gods through the Mythic Cycles, ancient stories told in verse and metaphor. Harlequins perform them as dances across the Aeldari diaspora.
The cycles cover everything from the beginning of the Eldar to the Fall. The Asuryata, sung by Asuryani bards, tells of the Phoenix Lords and the Rhana Dandra, the fated end of all Eldar.
These stories aren’t just history. They shape how the Eldar understand themselves and their place in the galaxy.
Key facts
- The Aeldari Pantheon is the collection of gods worshipped by the Eldar before the Fall.
- Slaanesh destroyed almost all of them when it was born.
- Only Cegorach, Khaine (shattered), and possibly Isha survived.
- The Eldar no longer worship their gods, but preserve their stories in mythic cycles.
- The nature of the gods is debated: fundamental forces or Warp entities born from mortal emotion.
FAQ
How many Aeldari gods survived the Fall?
Three. Cegorach escaped into the Webway, Khaine was shattered into fragments, and Isha is rumoured to be Nurgle’s prisoner.
Do the Eldar still worship their gods?
No. Since the Fall, they’ve stopped calling on them for aid. They keep the stories alive but don’t expect intervention.
What are the Eldar Mythic Cycles?
They’re ancient stories told in verse and metaphor, covering the gods, heroes, and the Fall. Harlequins perform them as dances.