I prefer being open minded about this, people who haven't read all books yet, don't look any further.
I had some doubts where this should be posted, this is all eldar related, so I figured this would be the best place. The books serve as a base, but I don't to intend to stay talking only about the books, I'm here to talk about the Eldar Paths in general as well (eventually move it, if you think this thread belongs in a better place)
First I'll start with a question?
What Path would you follow, most likely?As far as aspect warriors, Scorpions are my favorite, this is why I related very well to the first character. If I ever was on a craftworld, I would join a scorpion squad purely for the fun of it probably. The the path of the seer would seem pretty. I doubt I would get stuck on a path ,especially the path of the seer. Watching terrible things happen, not being able to do something about it, it jut seems so pointless. My Ultimate goal would be that of the Autarch, I've always been the leader type anyway, now this only if for some reason I would be stuck on a carftworld for some reason (probably a woman most likely)
After reading this trigoly, it became 100% clear to be, I would be a pirate, probably corsair at first, but then go full dark eldar, as dark eldar can live a lot longer than normal eldar.
I've always been attracted to the dark side anyway, but it's not for the sake of being evil per se, it's more about controlling my own life and my own desires.
Now back on the book (full spoiler alert)
At the end I really hate Thirianna, she was so powerless, seeing he friends die, seeing how badly they were doing, not do anything about it. She was in love with a guy, but refused to be with him? Really made no sence, I believe that if she had followed her feeling, Korlandril, might have made it. The future of the craftworld would be unsure however. I do believe it was the purpose for Korlandril to join the path of the warrior, to stall that final attack, to give Aradryan the time to come, but I do think: things might have still worked out, without his sacrifice.
I love how Aradryan asked Thirianna to look after their friend, but she let him get hurt and eventually die...What kind of a friend is that. She could have changed things, she did somewhere at the end, but when she had to help her friend, she did nothing, in fact she might in a way send him to his own death.
Aradryan was fun to follow, but he was way too naive and too innocent for his own sake. It think the best path for him, would have been to leave the craftworld and never return. He still remained close to his craftworld and that caused a lot of trouble.
it's pretty funny to see how the end is releaved at the very end of the book, you actually read almost nothing about the battle on the craftworld in the last book, till the end, when you get the conclusion. The first two books had both very fair amount of pages about the battles, while the last one was spend mostly outside of the craftworld.
Reading these book I learned a lot of thnings about the eldar and about the eldar paths.
For intance, the rangers, they are a lot stranger than one would imagine. No leaders, they all do whatever they want, this includes visiting very weird, strange place. From what I know, I don't think they would have any problems visiting Commoragh either, if they somehow got the chance. The piece spend in the Webway city was very interesting, teaching me exactly to what bounderies rangers would be free. I was even a little shocked when they talking about extreme body modifications, eldar style, it's a lot more extreme than what we human do.
Knowing this, I'm completely not surprised to see a ranger go Dark Eldar in the Path of the Renegade book.
Now on Eldar paths. I find Exarchs to be very similar to Dark eldar actually. Both share an interest for blood and fighting, thye are both very dark, even if exarch are less sadistic, they still think about nothing else than fighting. When you actually think about it, incubi are all exarch like. The leader is just a stronger individual, since dark eldar have no path, incubi can think and dream on about killing all they want, without anyone stopping them. Knowing all this, I could very much see an Eldar exarch or a trapped aspect warrior, go full dark eldar.
Exarchs when you think about it, are like softer versions of dark eldar, living within the craftworlds, themselves.
One thing though, I was actually extremely surprised, but I see it as possible, to see an incubus go eldar. I though a dark eldar, would be to consumed by his lust to become soft. Incubi might be the exception though, with their rituals and mysterious ways (patiently awaiting the new Path of the Incubus book)
Now the Seer path, it find it very frustrating. Thirianna claims she can't/shouldn't change destiny, she does eventually and she knows it at the end. Why no help her friends?
These have nothing to do with dark eldar, as these individuals attack possibly the most feeling to their homeworld and friends. They aren't allowed to live in Commoragh anyway.
I found it very interesting to read how their seer powers work. It's very confusing and very complicated.
Now who know why they worked to hard to keep that incubi alive in the first book, however seeing how big the sacrifices were, i'm guessing that was the destiny of a future Autarch. I don't see why eldar even a Phoenix lord would sacrifice himself to save a dark eldar, that was completely unexpected. It was the same unexpected turn of events I felt when reading Path of the Renegade when at the end, the ranger kills a very old Archon, becoming the main villain himself.
I learned quite a lot about Exodites as well, how the Paths were a trap. I have to say I enjoy exodites, a bit like a vacation, not that I would stay on an exodite world forever, but if I was a corsair, I would help them at times.
It was fun to read about Harlequins as well, I would have never expected to see a great Harlequin simply be convinced that easily. It was was more like what I would expect from a commoraghan. The solitaire was awesome, that guy definetly needs a model, he's way too important to be ignored, I miss the old days where Harlies could actually be played as a real army.
I'm really looking forward to the new upcoming book, can't wait to read more harlequin material.
One thing in general about these books I did discover though: the Eldar are a lot weirder than I could ever imagine. I don't think I've been open-minded enough about this race, never imagine the vastness of possibilities and differences between humans and eldar.
Several times while reading I was thinking: what the...eldar are even weirder than I imagined them to be.
These books also really made me start thinking about why the eldar are so scaterred and what side I would joing myself, if I was an eldar (which as far as 40k goes, I'm always eldar)
Take the parth about Dreamer, on a craftworld, you're allowed to drug yourself for howmuch time you want. Even worse, people will feed you, take care of you, while you do? Just what the hell
. Honestly I do find it attractive to not have to do certain things, I hate cleaning for instance, how awesome would it be to have people do everything for you. The path of service is really useful.
Another thing I found very disturbing, the way to create waystones, it's was really unexpected, not at all what I imagined, based on what the eldar tales told .