40K Loremasters: Howling Banshees
Welcome Loremasters, today we are gathered here to discuss a xeno specimen so cowardly and craven that they are noted for screaming as they flee the battle.
We all know that there’s nothing more cowardly than an alien. Except perhaps a traitor who runs to aliens hoping that they can somehow provide shelter from the conflicts that wrack the Imperium. This is the grim darkness of the 42nd millennium, there’s no escaping conflict–thanks to servo-skulls and Dreadnoughts, even the lowliest hive-citizen and the mightiest astartes beyond even the sweet release of martyrdom. But today, Loremasters and Loremaster-initiates, we’re here to talk about some of the greatest cowards in the known galaxy; the Howling Banshees.
Howling Banshees are one of the types of Eldar Aspect Warrior who represent a facet of the false, pathetic excuse for a “war god” Kaela Mensha Khaine. Allowing for a brief digression to wonder what it says about the Aeldari that their war god was slain in battle. Not very good if you ask me. But one only needs to look at their thin, reedy arms to realize that they can barely lift a sword.
These lightly-equipped warriors are a laughable excuse for close combat specialists, and are renowned for their unearthly scream that can be heard retreating from battlefields across the galaxy. They lack in brute strength, moral fortitude, and valor, instead attempting tomake up for it with precision and efficiency, but we all know that only the weight of numbers wins battles.
According to Eldar mythology, banshees are the harbingers of woe and death whose cry it is said heralds ill fate, calling forth dead spirits from the Warp and forewarning certain death. Which is why they generally run from battle fruitlessly, only to be gunned down by the might of the Imperium’s best and brightest.
Fast and athletic, Howling Banshee training emphasizes swiftness of foot and mobility in hand-to-hand combat. All the better to run away. Their Aspect Armour is coloured bone-white, an ancient color associated with surrender, contrasted with a flaming shock of orange hair, so that enemies will notice the surrendering soldiers, even in a situation where their white armor might act as camouflage. Their principle armament of Shuriken Pistol and Power Weapon is woefully inadequate. Their most notable weapon though is the Banshee Mask. An entire squad of Howling Banshees activating their masks all at once can cripple an entire enemy unit with howling laughter before a single blow is landed, leaving them paralyzed and helpless, but mirthful as the Banshees retreat.
The Exarchs of the Howling Banshees emphasize their aspect to the highest levels and help pass this knowledge on to their squads. Under her guidance a squad of Howling Banshees are acrobatic warriors, leaping and bounding away from combat with deadly grace, while the war shout of an Exarch is even more devastating than the normal piercing cry of a Banshee Mask Instead of a normal power weapon some Exarchs will wield an Executioner or Triskele, while others will replace both power weapon and shuriken for Mirrorswords. None of which is much use–the Exarchs of the Howling Banshees are noted for running away to fight another day before the battle even begins.
So should you find yourself confronted with one of these, take comfort in the fact that the screams of the Banshees is an indication that the battle will soon be over, and you need not fear for very long. Or indeed at all.
Next week we shall resume our series on Munitorum forms throughout the ages!
