Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Imperials are obviously revere the unmutated human form, but how do Aeldari feel about a little creative anatomical redesign?

We know that haemonculi go off the deep-end with their flesh changes, but most of drukhari (except scourges and possibly Kheradruakh) don't seem to sport a lot of altered biology. In the Path of the Outcast, we see one ranger express his discomfort with the concept of fleshcrafters that had set up shop in the webway only to have the other ranger mention she'd had talons for a while. The imrpression I got from the scene was that the craftworlders sort of viewed flesh crafting as being akin to getting a tattoo; scandalous among the rigid craftworlders, but not taboo in the same way a haemonculus's changes would be. In Rise of the Ynnari: Ghost Warrior, we hear about a craftworld having a lot of flesh crafters but not much in the way of bone singers immediately after the fall. It's sort of implied that aeldari in general don't really have to deal with diseases or genetic defects, possibly as a result bio-engineering.

So with all that in mind, how big a deal is flesh crafting to various aeldari societies? Is it conceivable that there are exodite cultures that have their bodies altered to be similar to the fauna they hunt and ride? Are there craftworlders not on the path of the outcast that are walking around augmented physiologies? Are there wyches that have had strange appendages grown or grafted on to add to the spectacle of their performances? Might an archon or corsair prince invest in some sort of organic implant or modification to increase their healing speed, poison resistance, physical strength, etc?

Exodites wouldn't have flesh crafters as the whole point of them is they completely avoid any potential excess or desire. Which is why they use dinosaurs as mounts and hunt for food.

It's pretty certain that Corsairs and Dark Eldar augment themselves though.

In the path of the eldar books they have outcasts that that are into body modding. They go to that port city in the web that is a neutral ground and cordials and outcasts are getting work done. In there too craftworlders change hair colour and things to suit their outfit.

I like the idea of expodites doing it but they would need a good story reason to have the tech, unless they did it old school with cutting and sewing.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Dark eldar wise anything goes. Pay a haemunculus and uncan be anything you want.

One would imagine craftworlders at least see body modifications pretty much the same way they see cybernetics/prosthetics. If it fills the function without looking "unnatural" it is fine, if it shocks others it shows you're straying from the Path system (because obviously you enjoy shocking others).

Corsairs or the like might ofc strive for just that shock effect to show they're free.

Considering Craftworlders are the Aedari equivalent of holier-than-thou Puritan pilgrims, I imagine they take a pretty stern view toward anything that might prevent individuals from moving on from one path to another, such as irreversible self-mutilation/modification.

 Manchu wrote:
Considering Craftworlders are the Aedari equivalent of holier-than-thou Puritan pilgrims, I imagine they take a pretty stern view toward anything that might prevent individuals from moving on from one path to another, such as irreversible self-mutilation/modification.

True, but for the same reason, I could see them accepting a (discrete) limb or organ regrowth in preference to a bionic after a traumatic injury.

Yeah, as long as we're not talking about obsessive behavior that hinders path-switching.