Eldrad Ulthran

Eldrad Ulthran was born before the Fall and became one of the greatest seers of Craftworld Ulthwé. Across more than ten thousand years he repeatedly used his visions to divert catastrophes that threatened the surviving Aeldari. His guidance helped keep Ulthwé near the Eye of Terror where its seers could watch the movements of Chaos. Before the Horus Heresy Eldrad foresaw a disaster comparable to the Fall and attempted to warn humanity. He met Fulgrim on Tarsus intending to reveal Horus Lupercal’s treachery. Instead he discovered that Fulgrim had already fallen under the influence of Slaanesh. The meeting became a battle and convinced Eldrad that humanity understood little of the powers consuming it.

Eldrad continued manipulating events across the following millennia whenever his visions showed that Aeldari survival depended upon intervention. During the War of the Beast he helped send Harlequin emissaries into the Imperial Palace in an effort to warn the Emperor of the greater threat posed by Chaos. His foresight later led Ulthwé to attack the Orks of Urk. Those actions contributed to Ghazghkull Thraka’s rise and redirected the resulting Waaagh! toward Armageddon. Eldrad accepted the deaths of millions of humans because the alternative futures he had witnessed threatened far greater losses among his own people. He also warned Iyanden of the coming of Hive Fleet Kraken and repeatedly acted against daemonic incursions and other disasters that endangered the craftworlds.

As the Thirteenth Black Crusade approached Eldrad personally opposed Abaddon and coordinated scattered Aeldari forces through the Webway. His path later became bound to the awakening of Ynnead. Convinced that the nascent god of the dead could offer the Aeldari a means of defeating Slaanesh he attempted a great ritual intended to awaken Ynnead before the extinction of his species. The intervention of the Deathwatch disrupted the undertaking. Eldrad was condemned by Ulthwé’s Seer Council and departed with followers who shared his purpose. He later aided Yvraine and the Ynnari before eventually returning to Ulthwé. Despite the slow crystallization that awaits ancient Farseers Eldrad continues searching the strands of fate for a path that can preserve the Aeldari through the wars still to come.

Appearance: Eldrad Ulthran has very pale skin and a tall slender build. Without his helmet he has a long narrow face with black eyes, sharply pointed ears, and dark hair drawn up into a high topknot with long sections falling beside his head. A blue gem sits at the center of his forehead. He wears layered robes in deep purple and blue tones with an elaborate high collar and a large reddish fur mantle around his shoulders. His chest is covered by ornate silver armorwork and jewelry set with large oval blue stones, and he carries a long staff capped with a tall triangular headpiece set with purple gems and hanging discs. He also holds a smooth pale helm with a narrow visor and a small red slit.

With his helmet on, his body is wrapped in a long black robe marked by bold white geometric lines that run across the chest and down the front. The helmet fully covers his head and forms a narrow black faceplate framed by white markings, gold trim, and several round blue gems, with a tall curved crest rising from the top. Wide angular shoulder pieces flare outward in black and white. Long parchment-like bands covered in runic symbols hang from his shoulders to his feet. Gold bands circle his wrists and waist, and more blue gems are set into the chest, belt, and lower robe. His gloves are white.

Personality: Eldrad is patient and calculating because he rarely judges an action solely by its immediate consequences. He sees countless possible futures and is willing to cause suffering in the present when he believes it prevents a greater catastrophe. This can make him appear cold even among other Aeldari. He is nevertheless driven by an enduring commitment to preserving his people rather than a desire for personal authority. Eldrad knows that foresight is imperfect and has endured the consequences of predictions that failed or produced outcomes he did not intend. His age has made him cautious without making him passive. When every safe path ends in disaster he will choose a dangerous one and accept responsibility for where it leads.

Ulthwé remains the center of Eldrad’s loyalty even after his disagreements with its Seer Council drove him into exile. Yvraine became an important ally after Eldrad committed himself to Ynnead’s awakening and he continued assisting the Ynnari when their goals aligned with the survival of the Aeldari. His attitude toward humanity is more complicated. Eldrad considers humans crude and dangerously ignorant of Chaos but repeatedly cooperates with them when his visions show that their survival serves a greater purpose. Fulgrim became one of his ancient enemies after their disastrous meeting before the Heresy. Abaddon likewise earned Eldrad’s direct opposition because the Despoiler’s wars threatened Ulthwé and the stability of the galaxy itself.

Eldrad is among the most powerful living Aeldari psykers and possesses an exceptional command of divination. He reads the branching possibilities of the future through psychic runes and can identify events that will not occur for centuries or millennia. His powers extend far beyond foresight. Eldrad can enter or attack minds and unleash destructive psychic force against enemies. He can channel immense storms of Warp energy and has destroyed powerful daemons and war machines through psychic power. His consciousness can also be projected through prepared waystones which has allowed him to guide distant forces and coordinate battles across the Webway. He has developed thousands of runic combinations during his immense lifespan and understands psychic disciplines unknown to younger seers.

Eldrad carries the Staff of Ulthamar which contains spirit stones belonging to ancient members of Ulthwé’s Seer Council and serves as a powerful focus for his abilities. He also bears a witchblade capable of channeling psychic force through its strikes and carries a shuriken pistol for ranged combat. The Armour of the Last Runes surrounds him with potent protections against physical and supernatural harm. His ghosthelm shields his mind while he reaches into the Warp and his collection of protective runes provides further defense against hostile psychic forces.