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So, I've recently been reading a bit about the Eldar on Lexicanum and other sites, and something I'd not realised before is that Eldar apparently need to get all their spirit stones from crone worlds, as they can't make them themselves in the time after the fall of the Eldar empire. But this does raise the question, what was the purpose of spirit stones in the old Eldar empire, given that avoiding Slaanesh was (obviously!) not the reason behind their existence. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the imperial Eldar had all kinds of weird things they could and would do with soul-storing crystals, I was just wondering if there were any specifics given (or just hinted at) as to their original purpose?

They didn't exist. Spirit stones only started appearing after the Fall happened. They aren't made, they're just picked up from Crone Worlds.

pm713 wrote:
They didn't exist. Spirit stones only started appearing after the Fall happened. They aren't made, they're just picked up from Crone Worlds.

Ah I see I got completely the wrong idea! Then is there any suggestion as to how/why they started appearing?

recaf wrote:

pm713 wrote:
They didn't exist. Spirit stones only started appearing after the Fall happened. They aren't made, they're just picked up from Crone Worlds.

Ah I see I got completely the wrong idea! Then is there any suggestion as to how/why they started appearing?

It's been a while since I read anything involving Crone Worlds but I think the implication is meant to be that they come from the Eldar who died in the Fall.

pm713 wrote:

It's been a while since I read anything involving Crone Worlds but I think the implication is meant to be that they come from the Eldar who died in the Fall.

Interesting. Thanks for filling me in!

recaf wrote:

pm713 wrote:

It's been a while since I read anything involving Crone Worlds but I think the implication is meant to be that they come from the Eldar who died in the Fall.

Interesting. Thanks for filling me in!

No problem.

pm713 wrote:
They didn't exist. Spirit stones only started appearing after the Fall happened. They aren't made, they're just picked up from Crone Worlds.

THE EYE OF ISHA
Thisworld-rune symbolises the
sorrow of Isha, the fertility goddess
from whom the Aeldari believe they
descend. Isha, it is said, wept bitterly
when Asuryan, the king of the gods,
ordered her separation from her
mortal children. Vaul forged her tears
into glittering spirit stones that her
grief might not be in vain. Today, the
warriors of Ulthwé bear this symbol
as their sigil, a poignant reminder of
the godhood they lost long ago.

confused raptor.jpg

Originally in 1st edition Codex, the stones are the tools (links) which allow bonesingers to draw energy and shape wraithbone, meaning whole Eldar tech relied on them, always. While the runes is same but for psychic powers and act as fuses to prevent perils of the warp.

so with whatever retcons can be, I only have 2 ideas:
1) the stones Eldar wear are different from regular ones, and were created after the Fall or Isha just held on them for a while;
2) The idea to hide souls in them was created after the Fall, and the story around this necromancy is a metaphor.

pm713 wrote:

recaf wrote:

pm713 wrote:
They didn't exist. Spirit stones only started appearing after the Fall happened. They aren't made, they're just picked up from Crone Worlds.

Ah I see I got completely the wrong idea! Then is there any suggestion as to how/why they started appearing?

It's been a while since I read anything involving Crone Worlds but I think the implication is meant to be that they come from the Eldar who died in the Fall.

Indeed I think I've read that somewhere too. Either in Path of the Warrior, or maybe in Gathering Storm.

Spirit Stones are the ''left-over" matter from the Aeldari that were instantly consumed by Slaanesh during her birth. This fits with other anatomy references, like Farseers eventually turning to crystal and (take this with a grain of salt because I cannot remember where I hear/read this) Aeldari defecate crystal.

So it's kind of ironic that CWE use the remains of consumed Aeldari to protect their own souls from being consumed

-

If i recall properly the Asurmen novel depicts the 1st encounter with spirit stones (and a glimpse of how he develop the ability to safeguard it soul in it) and recalls there is already similar ones that the ancient Eldar empire used to communicate or transfer toughts across vast distances.

Worth to remember it's hinted several times pre-fall Eldar had the ability to shatter their psyche into lesser fragments for several purpouses (DE do it to be able to be regenerated, Asurmen does to give sentience to his personal ship and similar ones)

Isn't the magic ball Asurmen finds of similar ability?

Dammit talking about Thorpe-lore gives me stomach aches.

 Lord Perversor wrote:
If i recall properly the Asurmen novel depicts the 1st encounter with spirit stones (and a glimpse of how he develop the ability to safeguard it soul in it) and recalls there is already similar ones that the ancient Eldar empire used to communicate or transfer toughts across vast distances.

Worth to remember it's hinted several times pre-fall Eldar had the ability to shatter their psyche into lesser fragments for several purpouses (DE do it to be able to be regenerated, Asurmen does to give sentience to his personal ship and similar ones)

From what I remember DE just break off part of their bodies like a blood sample and if they die the Haemonculii effectively trade a bunch of pain and suffering for the return of that soul.

Thanks for the extra info, everyone. I'm planning on reading Asurmen at some point.