Craftworld Iyanden

Iyanden
Translation	"Light in the Darkness"
Location	Ultima Segmentum
Specialty	Wraithguards, Wraithlords
Hero	Yriel, Iyanna Arienal
Enemy	Tyranids
Colours	Yellow and blue

Craftworld Iyanden is one of the major Eldar Craftworlds. It suffered heavily from an attack by Hive Fleet Kraken, losing four out of every five Eldar before Autarch turned Corsair Yriel managed to drive out the Hive Fleet. As a result, Craftworld Iyanden is forced to rely heavily on Wraith constructs to keep them afloat in combat, and half of the ones alive are probably Bonesingers. They suffered further when WAAAGH Rekkfist invaded the Craftworld and were nearly overrun when the Dark Eldar of the Kabal of the Wraithkind appeared from the Webway to save them. After the battle, the Seer Council inquired why the Dark Eldar had saved them, and they replied that they thought Iyanden's angst over using Wraith constructs was so hilarious that they couldn't let them die. So grimdark.

According to Matt Ward (which is all we got since no one else ever went beyond the above paragraph) before they were NOMed they used to be the de facto leaders of the Eldar (you know being the "biggest craftworld" and all), having both designed means to harvest Soul Stones and the early Infinity Circuit. Due to having the resources and, at the time, a rather peaceful part of the Galaxy, they decided to rebuild the Eldar Empire. However, since most Craftworlds were either busying doing their own things, or didn't have the means, they could only get Biel-tan to join them.

Things were going well and the two fucked Chaos' shit up, even gaining new allies: the Ybaric Cluster Exodite Worlds and Craftworlds Malan'tai and Idharae.

But then everything went to Grimdark once they started fighting Hive Fleet Naga. Iyanden lost all its buddies as the Ybaric Cluster was isolated by a warp storm. The Invaders chapter destroyed Idharae and the Doom of Malan'tai as well. And to add even more grimdarkness, when Yriel went to battle with all of Iyanden it resulted in a Cyclonic Torpedo hitting the craftworld, killing a few thousands and breaking their soulstones.

And then, after the battle with Kraken, Biel-tan left them for dead because they're huge assholes.

Despite this the craftworld is recovering in a rather fast rate, hopeful to return to its former glory, fitting for its name really. Yes Ward wrote some NobleBright in 40k.

The Craftworld that gets shit done

As a result of their codex supplement and being the most underused of the Craftworlds, they currently have the highest number of victories of any other craftworld, despite being best known for being 'Nid food. This is possibly the one good thing that ever came out of Matt Ward's work.

Some of these includes

• Designing a method to invade Crone Worlds for new Soul Stones (NOTE; this was Phil Kelly's idea, not Mat Ward's)
• Designing the Wrathknight (as its how Eldar get said Soul Stones) and the Hemlock Wraithfighter. (Again, Phil Kelly's idea, not Ward's. Read the 6th Edition Eldar codex, then check the author, then again they probably traded notes as they worked on both on the books at the same time. So full credit belongs to neither Phil or Mat)
• Destroying a Chaos Empire ruled by a Fallen Angel.
• Handing him over to Dark Angels because their Farseer saw it was the worst thing they can do to him.
• Having fucking Colonies meaning they've done more rebuilding their Empire than any other craftworld.
• Help destroyed a minor Tyranid Hive fleet.
• Right after being NOMed they defended an Exodite world form Imperial invasion.
• Leading the Eldar Bio-Purge (aka fixing Kryptman's clusterfuck in Octarius).
• During the battle for the Farseers keep seeing the craftworld lost, until Iyanna rigs the outcome saying sometimes they need to forge their own future.
• Getting M'kar to attack Ultramar, meaning they're the ones who gave Varro Tigurius nightmares about the Daemonculaba resulting in the events that lead to everything Uriel Ventris did in his books.