An Exarch is a former Eldar Aspect Warrior who has lost himself upon the Eldar Path of the Warrior and is unable to ever leave it again. At this point he is considered to have abandoned the greater Eldar Path with its promise of new experiences and constant development in favour of a constant life of bloodshed. The Eldar becomes the elite warrior called an Exarch; simultaneously, an Exarch is a priest of Kaela Mensha Khaine, the Eldar God of War as well as a caretaker of the individual warrior shrine, and trainer, teacher, and instructor for other Aspect Warriors. He is equipped with ancient and powerful Eldar weaponry and armour. Each Eldar Warrior Aspect has its own particular kind of Exarch. On the battlefield, an Exarch commands an individual squad of Eldar Aspect Warriors. Exarchs are formidable opponents, and most of them can use their often potent psychic and combat abilities to help the whole squad of Aspect Warriors under their command. The very first Exarchs were the Phoenix Lords.
Exarchs are regarded with both awe and revulsion by other Eldar. Awe, because Exarchs single-mindedly pursue a side of their nature which most Eldar fear to even contemplate. Revulsion, because the Exarchs have become trapped in the Warrior Aspect and destined for a life of never-ending violence.
An Exarch assumes an ancient name associated with the Aspect. Each name is associated with a set of Exarch armour the Exarch wears in battle. If the Exarch is killed, another Exarch of his Aspect may take the armour and the name. The same armour is worn by many successive Exarchs over thousands of Terran years. The Exarch breaks with his old life, continuing the legendary life of the single heroic identity represented by that Exarch's armour and name. Worked into the armour is the spirit stone containing the spirit of the very first Eldar hero to have worn it. When the Exarch enters the armour this spirit merges with his own, adding its own accumulated memories, experiences and abilities to his own.
Sources
- Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition)
- Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
- White Dwarf 127