The winds of fate have drawn me back to RPing Yvraine at a strange time.
I currently do not possess the new codex, but I've recently learned from a friend that they have changed Yvraine's lore so that now she's actively trying to push the 'we all have to kill ourselves for Ynnead' angle.
I think we can all agree that's not the best choice for the lore.
Rather than complain about it, I prefer to tweak what currently exists in the lore to make small fixes.
SO
A good friend once said to me that codexes and their lore are like in universe propaganda about how each race sees themselves. I like to think in most cases this is true. If not it's how Imperial Scholars see something like the Tyranids who don't exactly write down their thoughts and feelings.
In the Aeldari case however, why would the Propaganda turn against Yvraine so quickly, before she was this upstart who promised to change so much for the Aeldari, now she's a madwoman trying to get everyone to drink the kool aid at once.
Boring answer, that's the wishful thinking of Imperial Scholars who wouldn't mind at all if the Aeldar just all died at once. It could also go a long way towards explaining Wraithbone's retcon too since, you know, those Mon'keigh don't even know how toasters work.
But it's not the most interesting perspective I came up with. Not by a lot.
Because who stands to gain the most if Yvraine falls?
Slaneesh.
But Slaneesh can't influence the Aeldar, they just eat them so that led me to none other than the big hat himself.
Asdrubael Vect. Lord of Commoragh.
According to the Lelith Hesperax book by Mike Brooks (an enjoyable read in my honest opinion), Vect tries to sabotage and suplant Lelith and her Wych Cult as the greatest of their kind by raising up a rival and trying to get her to topple Lelith. To make things worse it's Lelith's old girlfriend basically.
Spoiler free, Lelith and her now no longer ex both walk away and Vect is shamed. Lelith may now walk freely between Commoragh and the Ynnari.
But Vect does not take slights.
He's been bested and tested by Yvraine and her forces, both directly and indirectly.
Her following grows and that is a direct threat to his rule. Because no one who has been a direct threat to him has ever... EVER gotten away with it and lived.
Now the Ynnari have multiple times.
So what's one of the most influential Aeldari to have ever lived to do?
Simple.
Character assassination.
Yvraine is reeling from some defeats, she's probably trying to reasses and keep her armies moving, working towards their goals.
So while they're not visibly making any progress what better time to start whispering about her intentions.
What if, you bring up the old pre Ynnari rumours about plans to awaken Ynnead.
It all fits. And why's it in the Craftworld codex?
It isn't.
It's in the unified Aeldari codex.
It's got Drukhari, Craftworlders, Harlequins, Corsairs AND Ynnari.
His influence is right there in the page, the second most common faction by datasheet is Drukhari (I haven't counted but at worst 3rd. Harlequins do have a lot of characters).
Does this solve GW's bad writing?
No.
However if I can bring some light and a perspective that makes it more fun, then this was all worth it.
I painted this gal a few months back, but did not like how the arms covered the torso hiding the gems, belts and wot not. So swapped out the arms with some spared from the guardian bits box.
