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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
harlequin project so far.
Hit me up on my talk page for any questions, advice, complaints, ideas etc. Thanks.--[[User:Mob|Mob]] 17:31, 24 March 2011 (CET)
{{EldarPortal}}
The '''Harlequins ''', or '''Rillietann''', are a unique subset of the [[Eldar]] race, who split their time between being talented battlefield fighters and theatrical performers. They exist outside of normal Eldar society and hold no allegiance to any [[Craftworld]] or form of authority other than to their own belief in the Eldar deity [[Cegorach]], the [[Laughing God]].<sup>1a</sup>
==The Harlequins' Role==
[[Image:Harlequins.jpg|thumb|right|Harlequins of the Laughing God]]
Harlequins carry out several self-appointed duties, the most central of which is putting on theatrical performances of Eldar history; most notably the epic [[Fall of the Eldar]]. Their belief system is intertwined with the Fall, as Cegorach is one of the few Eldar deities reckoned to have survived it in some way. The Harlequins believe that his intrinsic light-hearted personality ensured he kept his distance from the depravity and corruption that became [[Slaanesh]] and that he survives to this day, often taking the form of a Harlequin himself - with those that meet him in this guise only becoming aware of his presence after he has left.<sup>1a</sup>
As the Eldar are a scattered race, Harlequins constantly tour the domains of their species (as well as other places; Harlequins believe other species should be told the stories of the Eldar as well) in their duty to perform. The dual-aspect of their nature serves them well when abroad in the [[galaxy]], as Harlequins are reckoned to be the deadliest combatants of all the Eldar. Their acrobatic and deceptive skills, as well as their unique weapons and equipment, render them such mystifiying and terrifying enemies that some of the less-developed races of the galaxy have incorporated them into their mythology as magical spirits or eldritch monsters.<sup>1a</sup>
==The Company ==
The Harlequins organise themselves into two standard units, the '''troupe''' and the '''masque'''. A troupe is a number of 'ordinary' Harlequins (referred to as ''troupers'')led by a Harlequin Avatar. A masque is simply one or more troupes that are accompanied by specialist performers.<sup>1a</sup>
===The Troupe===
*[[Avatar (Harlequin)|Avatar]] ('''Athair''') - A command-position on the battlefield, Avatars are leaders of troupes. This status will be marked out by their wardrobe and equipment choice, as well as the possession of a number of small batons which unfold into a flag representing the Harlequin masque the troupe beongs to (if any). This flag is generally left behind after an action, as a 'calling-card'. On the stage, Avatars play the part of the Laughing God himself.<sup>1a</sup>
*[[Warlock]] (Esdainn) - [[Psyker|Psychically active]] players who specialise in battlefield support with both their powers and [[hallucinogen grendades]]. In performance, they take on such roles as that of wizards and narrators.<sup>1a</sup>
*[[Trouper]] ('''Rilletann''') - The main body of any company of Harlequins will be troupers, who perform as the chorus on both the stage and battlefield.<sup>1a</sup>
===The Masque===
*[[High Avatar]] (Ardathair) - The leader of a masque, who performs much the same role as the lesser Avatars, but on a grander stage. They will take on the role of the Laughing God when the masque performs as one company, with Avatars playing the roles of the other Eldar gods. Their costume choice is notable in that High Avatars favour face-masks that either display daemonic or angelic visages, or that of the Laughing God himself.<sup>1a</sup>
*[[High Warlock]] (Athesdan) - The most senior Warlock in the masque becomes the High Warlock, who may step in to over-rule directions issued by the Avatars, up to separating them from their troupes and banding them together as a unit. The High Warlock also acts as direct support to the High Avatar, on and off the stage.
*The [[Master Mime]] (Athistaur) - Director of the [[Mimes]] of the masque, the Master Mime advises the High Avatar on the technical aspects of warfare and performance, including espionage and politics. On the stage, the Master Mime often takes on the most difficult or leading role.<sup>1a</sup>
*[[Mimes]] (Distaur) - Specialist dancers on the stage, Mimes are not permanent parts of troupes, rather kept under the direct control of the Master Mime. They also act as advertisers for the masque, being sent ahead of the company to organise performances. This role is reflected on the battlefield, where they act as infiltrators and assassins.<sup>1a</sup>
*[[Death Jesters]] (Margorach) - Notable specialists in heavy weaponry on the fields of war, Death Jesters take on the role of Death itself, or similar morbid parts, when in performance. They are noted for being deeply ironic and possessed of black senses of humour, something considered unusual for the cultured Eldar race. Death Jesters near-uniformly wear black clothing and armour, decorated with death imagery.<sup>1a</sup>
===The Soloists===
*[[Solitaire]] (arebennian) - One Harlequin role exists that, by its nature, is not a member of the masque. Solitaires are solo performers, who wander the galaxy alone apart from brief periods when they join a masque for a particularly dramatic performance, on the stage or off. They are the only performer who can take on the role of Slaanesh in Harlequin plays, and so the presence of a Solitaire is required in order for the Fall of the Eldar (termed '''The Dance''' amongst the Harlequins) to be put on. They are significant individual threats on the battlefield.<sup>1a</sup>
== Equipment ==
===The Dance Without End===
''The Dance'' is the greatest of the Harlequins' works, telling of the Fall of the Eldar. It is performed only rarely as only a Solitaire (who often stay distant from even the rest of the Harlequins) is capable of playing the role of Slaanesh. Nine troupers dance the part of the old race, while three Avatars dance the part of the Fallen gods. As the dance reaches the climax of the Fall, the Solitaire leaps into view, appearing as Slaanesh. One by one, seven figures appear behind Slaanesh to mingle with the old race. First, four Mimes, appearing as daemons who pass their sensual and disturbing movements to the rest of the dancers. Secondly comes three dark figures, the Death Jesters, their suits displaying skeletons as they leap and slay among the Fallen gods, bringing their inert forms to the feet of Slaanesh. As the last god falls, the Warlocks emanate a psychic scream which echoes through the minds of the audience. The scream becomes a laugh of madness and depravity. As the High Avatar enters, there is within the laugh, another, ironic laugh. As the Laughing God, he strolls casually onstage, laughing at the cosmic folly of the Fallen. For a moment he is lost among Slaanesh's servants, but leaps clear of their tumbling to face them. One of the dancers he drags free of Slaanesh, the writhing figures on the dancer's suit dissolving and taking on the lozenge pattern of the Laughing God. The rest of Slaanesh's servants fall or flee, at which point Slaanesh confronts the Laughing God. The battle which seems to go on forever, ends suddenly, unresolved.
==Equipment==
The Harlequins are highly accomplished warriors, each Trouper, as their warriors are called, almost a one-man close combat army.
Even compared to other Eldar they are graceful and lithe; they augment this natural prowess with so-called 'flip-belts' that generate a small anti-gravitic field around them and allow them to leap unnaturally high. They also wear 'holo-fields' and 'masks of fear'. Holo-fields are a sophisticated substitute for armour: whenever the Harlequin moves, their image is shattered into a cloud of crystal shards that dance and swirl around with vigour proportional to the speed the Harlequin is moving.
The '''Mask of Fear''' is a small holographic device worn as a mask. It projects daemonic visages and scenes of death onto the mask and has a short-range psychic amplifier which increases enemies' sensitivity to fear and despair.
Other versions of the Mask of Fear include the '''Rictus Mask''', which projects an aura of death in the general vicinity of the wearer, or the '''Dread Mask''', which acts as a mirror of an enemy's worst fears, along with a more potent psychic amplifier like the ones used on the Masks of Fear.
Harlequins are also noted for their exotic and deadly combat weapons. The most gruesome of these is the [[Harlequin's Kiss]]. The Harlequin's Kiss resembles a sharpened tube, tapering to a wicked point, fixed to a warrior's forearm. The tube is actually filled with monofilament wires. When the Kiss is punched into a victim, the wires uncoil and flail around, slicing the victim apart from the inside.
Less disturbing is the Stormglove (or Riveblades). The Stormglove is basically the Harlequin version of the [[Power Fist]] used by humans. It is a set of blades worn on the forearm, or more typically, on the hand as a glove.
==Harlequin army lists==
The Harlequins were available as a complete army (and as an allied contingent to Eldar armies) in first edition, and had an experimental army list published in later editions.
==See also==
*[[Experimental Harlequin Army List (3rd Edition)]]
*[[Harlequin equipment]]
==Sources==
*<sup>1</sup>:[[Warhammer 40,000: Compendium]]
**<sup>1a</sup>:p.184
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[[Category:Harlequins|
