Solitaire

Harlequins Portal

Solitaire before striking a killing blow^[3a]

Solitaires are Harlequins who chosen by Cegorach^[1] to tread upon the Path of Damnation forfeit their essence to Slaanesh, fated to be claimed by the Prince of Excess.^[2][3b][4a] At their death Cegorach himself fights for their souls in an uneven battle with the She-Who-Thirsts.^[2][3b] Only through trickery, the Laughing God can win them back.^[2]

• ^{[Conflicting sources]} In Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Without, Solitaires are described as having their souls forfeit, outside any god's help. They also possess a "Soulless Terror" skill line.

Overview

They are outsiders, even among the Harlequins, and roam the universe alone, occasionally joining a masque for a single performance or battle as the fancy takes them. They almost always fight as individuals.^[3b] They walk unseen and unnoticed even among other races, as they are said to be touched by the Great Harlequin directly, Eldar folk tales tell many accounts of a hero not realizing that instead with a Solitaire they met with Cegorach himself.^[1] In the Harlequin masques, they play the part of Slaanesh, as all others who attempt to play this part are driven mad by the experience.^[1][3b]

The Solitaires seek out Eldar considered promising and able to survive the trial that all Harlequins must endure. Though they are capable of speech, they do not speak and are not spoken to, except in ritual form during a performance. It is said that any who accidentally addresses or touches a Solitaire is cursed, and would be better to take their own life outright.^[3b]

In combat, a Solitaire is a deadly marvel, a dazzling blaze of light and colour that leaps, spins and attacks with blinding speed. Their art of dance is so advanced that the enemy's bullets, rays and shells can not hit them and every graceful sweep of his weapon decapitated their terrified enemies. It is said that each Solitaire is the equal of a full squad of lesser warriors.^[3b] They are apparently resistant to psychological factors,^[2] especially fear.^[3c]

Solitaires are among the few that can freely enter the Black Library of Chaos.^[5]

Famous Solitaires

• The Spectre of Despair
• Lathrangil

Trivia

Conflicting sources

• In an RPG setting of Dark Heresy Second Edition within a supplement Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Without (2015) Solitaires while still touched by Cegorach, are having their souls forfeit to Slaanesh, without the Laughing God being able to intervene. Their "Soulless Terror" skill line contain a list of selected talents directing towards an Untouchable talent sheet for reference.^[6] The codices from Warhammer 40,000 wargame, before and after the release of the RPG supplement, fail to support that. While attributing to the Solitaires a Path of Damnation, that makes them risk their souls, they state they still possess them, and they are at risk only at their deaths.^{[1][2][3b][4a]} No rules attributing soullessness exist either.^[2][3c][4b]

Images

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  Solitaire^[2]

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  Solitaire miniature (1st edition)^[7]

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  Solitaire miniature^[8]

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  Solitaire miniature (7th edition)^[9]

Related Articles

• Harlequin's Caress

Sources

• 1: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, pg. 187
• 2: Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition), pg. 29
• 3: Codex: Harlequins (7th Edition):
  • 3a: pg. 30
  • 3b: pg. 31
  • 3c: pg. 74
• 4: Codex: Harlequins (8th Edition):
  • 4a pg. 38
  • 4b pg. 60
• 5: Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, pg. 215
• 6: Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Without, pg. 126
• 7: White Dwarf 105 (UK), September 1988, pg. 41 and White Dwarf 106 (UK), October 1988, pg. 17
• 8: Citadel Catalogue 2004-5, pg. 148
• 9: Games-Workshop Solitaire (last accessed 21 March 2015)