"Child, you must be warned about them."

"Them?"

"Them. They call themselves the In-. Excuse me, Eladrith Ynneas. Never ever trust them bastards."

"Are they like the Eldar?"

"Physically, they are Eldar. Fey folk, ancient empires and all that."

"We traded with some of them, didn't we?"

"Yeah, you liked them. They were greater once, and more powerful. They don't live in jungles and ruins, but on vast cities of shimmering glass and bone that float through space. We met their diplomats on the ruins of their civilisation."

"There are bad ones, presumably."

"Yes, yes. There are bad eggs in every basket. But these are something else."

"Those kroot are savage. They apparently eat you after a battle to gain your strength."

"Hush. Whatever disaster they led unto themselves made them insane and bloodthirsty. Those dark tales parents tell their children... Remember those fuedals we sold a bunch of guns to? They had this story about a ring of fairies that would steal you if you were bad."

"It seemed rather silly, honestly."

"Well, many cultures have them. But those tales always have some monster that will drag you away when you're not looking. Those monsters are the Ynneas."

"They caused the stories?"

"Well, it's more likely that they are preying on people's anxieties and fears, which often take root in the very young. It serves their purposes."

"Purposes?"

"Whatever happened to them meant that they no longer live or die like the rest of us. Instead, they are fueled by pain, specifically that of other people. Mind, body, and soul, they are dedicated to inflicting as much misery and suffering on the galaxy. Beyond that, who knows?"

"It doesn't sound the worst ever. Some aliens want to eat everything."

"You're not thinking far enough ahead. Death is preferable to some things. You will crave death after a certain point. I craved death."

"What? You were taken?"

"A long time ago now, but I was different then. Physically and mentally primed to lead my life, until they grabbed me. I thought they'd sell me or kill me or use me for one of their bastard schemes. But they didn't. They delighted in hurting me, letting me go occasionally only to take me again."

"How did you escape?"

"I think they were attacked by another group of them. They fight a lot. Where I was, there was an almost constant battle. Months and months turned into years. They have a way of getting into your head. Yeah, you hate them. But you wind up hating yourself too. For being weak, pathetic, for being inferior. I don't even know anymore. But your mind rages to incandescence as your imperfect body fails."

"That's... Terrible."

"Well, yes. They feed off your self-hate too. It's not just the physical pain, but for the mental suffering they can inflict. After I had gotten away, I had to be tied down. I kept attacking myself and screaming."

"Is that how you lost your eyes?"

"Yes."

"Where did they take you?"

"To their fairy realm. To Commorragh."