Dark Eldar

These demented cousins of the Eldar are a curse upon all races of the galaxy. For endless millennia, the Dark Eldar have preyed upon other species, butchering or imprisoning all whose path they cross. Their piratical raids strike without warning, smashing defenses quickly and then disappearing before reinforcements arrive. When a Dark Eldar raiding force appears on a planet, its inhabitants know one thing: it is far better to die fighting the Dark Eldar than be taken alive by them.

Thousands of years ago, shortly after the fall of the Eldar race, the Eldar and Dark Eldar responded to their crisis in two very different ways. Where the Eldar tried to preserve their race through self-control and discipline, the Dark Eldar chose another route. The Dark Eldar believed that they could stave off the predations of the Chaos Gods by giving them what they wanted: unceasing pain and blood. If the Dark Eldar could torture and slay the lesser races, then perhaps the Dark Gods would be satiated and ignore the Eldar race.

In short, the entire Dark Eldar philosophy boils down to this: "Better you than me."

Kabal of the Azure Shadow

At the birth of the She Who Thirsts, the ancient  race of the Eldar was fragmented into 4 separate societies, each fighting the Great Enemy in their own way.  The Craftworld bound Eldar choose a life of strict discipline, not allowing themselves to experience the emotions that birthed Slanesh.  The Exodites who have given up all the advances of the Eldar race to live humble lives.  The Kabals, who continue to live like the Eldar of old, but forced to hide from the Great Enemy in the Webway.  Finally, most mysterious of all, the Harlequin, guardians of the Black Library - the only sect that is both respected and feared by the others.  

The Harlequin have a plan for the race that none outside their ranks now of.  This plan includes the Dark Kin and are slowly manipulating the power struggle in Commaragh to the Harlequin's own ends.  Their influence on in the dark city is great, but they know they may need more power to see their plans to fruition.  It was was this motivation that led the council to send a troupe, led by the Great Harlequin Dyhira, originally from the dark city, to start a new Kabal - the Kabal of the Azure Shadow.  Still beneath the stature of the great houses, such as the Absural Vect's own Kabal of the Black Heart, with the clandestine support of the Harlequin, and their own battlefield prowess, the Kabal of the Azure Shadow has quickly risen in power.   The Wych cults of the coliseum know the Azure Shadow as a beneficial employer, the elusive mandrakes have accepted their coin, and, most important of all, the Dark Father, leader of the mysterious Incubi,  has recognized the Kabal and has issued a group of his silent incubi to act as an honor guard for the new Archon (though this act is more to further his own aims than to help a new Kabal).

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