40K: Psychic Awakening – The Prophecy So Far
What does Games Workshop have baking in the oven with the Psychic Awakening event? Let’s take a look at the Prophecy to find out.
The build up to the upcoming Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising event has been brewing now for a few weeks. There has been a lot of focus on the models and for good reason. We’re getting new Howling Banshees, a new Jain Zar, new Incubi, and a new Drazhar. It’s exciting times on the hobby front. However, GW has also been releasing tidbits from some type of Aeldari Prophecy – or at least some foreboding messages from Ylocu Shaie, an Alaitoc Visionary.
Today, we’re going to take a look at all four of those messages and see if we can figure out what the heck is going on with the Aeldari.
Part I
This message was clearly referring to Chaos (the time of Nightmares, fiends gorging on souls, etc.) and also the fall. It also mentions their ancient enemy and the birth of Slaanesh and how they were ultimately responsible for that “apotheosis of a dark deity” – but this message is just the first half and it ties directly into…
Part II
In Part II, Ylocu Shaie is basically saying “hey, that was a bad time and we never really recovered from that, however, it’s about to get even worse.” The current events are pointing towards something even worse than the birth of Slaanesh and if you’re a member of the Aeldari Race, that’s a pretty bad moment in your history. But the Dathedian (aka the Great Rift) is a sign that times are about to change once again.
These two parts seem to flow together and talk about the past (Part I), and the current situation (Part II). And Part III continues that train of thought.
Part III
This section shifts gears from the mistakes of the past and looks towards this “threat” – and that threat is the Ynnari faction that has risen up. Ylocu Shaie clearly doesn’t like the “strife” they have brought with them but is basically admitting that they are promising unity among the Aeldari Race. But there is a cost. And it’s that whole “salvation through death” part that Ylocu Shaie is concerned about.
Part IV
The Ynnari philosophy is very dangerous but inspiring and the image here is that it all rests on a singular belief that annihilation leads to rebirth. And while Shaie might not be bought in completely, they can’t help but wonder what if they are right.
Putting This All Together
The situation is looking pretty grim for the Aeldari. They have been on a slow decline ever since the birth of Slaanesh. Their downward spiral has been slowed by seemingly random interventions but they have always been positioned as a dying race on their back foot. However, the Ynnari are providing an alternative option: accept oblivion and become reborn.
The fact that this Aeldari event is being called “Phoenix Rising” is a pretty big clue that the Ynnari might be on to something. But I’d like to throw out a couple other observations.
- In the video, the Harlequin says, “The Phoenix is Rising” followed by a statement about how the Incubi are going to fight the Howling Banshees.
- The Harlequin then says “A Phoenix will Rise” followed by “A Phoenix will fall” – the picture in the background is of Jain Zar
What if the Harlequin is referring to different Phoenixes? There are a few written about in the background of 40k. One of the most notable Phoenixes is actually Fulgrim, aka the Phoenician. That would tie it back to the Slaanesh part mentioned in Part I.
But there is another Phoenix-type philosophy that revolves around the Emperor of Mankind. Not unlike the Ynnari, there are those in the Imperium that believe that the Emperor needs to die so that he can be reborn. There are a couple of different theories around this which have been covered in detail. What if the death of the Emperor and Ynnead are somehow related? And who was it that helped bring back Guilliman? And didn’t he speak with the Emperor directly, alone, for a good long while?
This might be a stretch – but all of these events could very well be connected. Is it a coincidence that there is an Aeldari faction that believes that they as a race can be reborn through their own death AND an Imperial cult that believes the same thing about the Emperor? All we know for sure is that death is coming and it’s all related to this Psychic Awakening…
Which Phoenix is rising, which one is risen, and which one is falling? Let us know what you think in the comments!
