Like many other Craftworlds, the ancient history of Al Vantuin is shrouded in mystery. It is known that the progenitors of these tragic Eldar escaped the Home systems before the Fall, and drifted through the galaxy for millennia in their increasingly beautiful Craftworld. Battles with Ork and Man were fought, won and lost; but always the Craftworld remained. That is, until the Tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken arrived.
Recent events are much better recorded in the memory of the Vantuin warriors; for that is all that remains of Al Vantuin Craftworld. Consumed by the Hive Fleet, survivors only remain to remember her through enormous sacrifice and bravery on two parts: a Vantuin Warlock named Ulthwar Valherrion, and a platoon of Dark Angels marines led by Brother-Lieutenant Hudson Ezekiel.
Al Vantuin had been drifting through an outer spiral arm of the galaxy when one of her Spiritseers had picked up a psychic presence in the warp. Invigorated by the power of this strange force, she had reached out her mind to it, only to reel in horror at what she found: the Hive Mind of Kraken Hive Fleet, malevolent and close. Before she could disconnect, the massive psychic power had entered the Craftworld through her, spreading through the Wraithbone and draining Al Vantuin of power.
Crucified in mid air, the Spiritseer hung as the power of her home was sucked through her into the Fleet. It was at this point that her partner, Valherrion, had entered the chamber at a dash, troubled by the loss of mental connection with his Eyana, or ‘life mate’. Seeing her suspended with eldritch energy surging through her, he was overcome with grief. He knew that when Al Vantuin was drained of all power the connection would be broken, and his Eyana would return to him; traumatised but alive. However, he also knew he could not let Al Vantuin die, as her sons and daughters would soon follow; and with eyes locked on those of his mate and agony in his soul, drove his Witchblade through her heart.
Though not completely crippled by the interrupted attack from Kraken, Al Vantuin was left unable to jump through the Warp. The inhabitants prepared for their deaths at the hands of the Tyranids, resolved to defend their Craftworld to the last.
Nearby, the Imperial Cruiser Father of Purity was powering through the warp with a much depleted cargo of Dark Angel marines, bound for their home asteroid. A disastrous campaign against Orks had been interrupted by an urgent call to return to The Rock to prepare to repel Kraken. Though famously xenophobic, the Dark Angels had dropped into Realspace to answer the call of Al Vantuin’s distress beacon at the direction of the Chapter Master of the Dark Angels, Commander Azrael; who was intrigued by the extremely rare prospect of witnessing the death of a Craftworld. Azrael despatched Lieutenant Ezekiel with a platoon of marines to Al Vantuin to reconnoiter, but no sooner had he done so than the Father of Purity and Al Vantuin came under attack from a massive Hive cloud.
Sensing that the Craftworld was doomed, the Farseers of Al Vantuin placed her between the hive and the Imperial ship to give the Humans time to escape into the warp. But Ezekiel would not permit his pilot to return; staggered at the brave resolve of the Eldar to save unknown Humans at the enormous cost of their own home, he pressed on through the hail of organic fire and drop-pods to Al Vantuin in order to rescue those that he could.
Fierce fighting on Al Vantuin had seen most of the non-specialised Eldar obliterated; less than two hundred Warlocks, Farseers and Aspect Warriors were left alive. All were amazed at the psychic message that flashed around the Craftworld – Evacuate, the Dark Angels are here to rescue us. Gathering as much equipment and as many artifacts and Spirit Stones as they could, they crowded into the Battle Transport, making it to the Father of Purity just in time to watch the Kraken Sub-Fleet Command ship arrived to devour their home.
As a final act, the Farseer Council joined their minds to detonate the Wraith Matrix of Al Vantuin, destroying the Sub-Fleet Command ship and buying the galaxy a few more years to prepare for the onslaught of Kraken.
+++
Although he admitted to the Farseer council that he had not originally intended to rescue them, Azrael thanked the Vantuin for the colossal sacrifice that had saved the Dark Angels. In return, he offered the survivors the protection of the Chapter until they could build a new Craftworld, and upon return to The Rock quartered them in a remote sector of the asteroid where they could rebuild their lives in seclusion. The few remaining Bonesingers went to work, and the Vantuin began rebuilding their home; a task they and the Dark Angels knew would take many generations.
As it now stands, the Vantuin Eldar are the only aliens that the Dark Angels will fight alongside, out of respect for the honour-debt they owe. However, the Vantuin do not accompany the Dark Angels to battle other than in two circumstances: when The Rock itself is threatened, or when the foe is Kraken.
Due to the small numbers of mainly warriors that escaped the death of their Craftworld, Vantuin may not field vehicles (except walkers and jetbikes) and may field more squads of Aspect Warriors than other troops. Their colour scheme is black and bone, with blue and white accents.
It is well known that the Phoenix Lord Maugan Ra, the Harvester of Souls, has taken a personal interest in the resurrection and protection of the Vantuin, and can often be seen fighting at their side. However the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels retains much of his mistrust of aliens, particularly in regard to the mysterious Phoenix Lord, and the Dark Angels are not permitted to take the field with Maugan Ra unless Azrael himself is present. Thus it is only in times of extreme peril that these two mighty figures will be seen fighting side-by-side.
As expected, the secret of The Fallen has not been revealed to the Vantuin even in part; however the Farseer Council is under strict instruction to report any sighting or rumour of Chaos Marines to the Chapter, and is forbidden to engage them in battle.
------------
I wrote this because I like the Dark Angels and want to field them alongside my Vantuin Craftworld army. What do you think?
