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{{otheruses|USE=faction|OTHERUSE=Harlequin known as Rillietann|OTHERPAGE=Rillietann (Harlequin)}}

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|source = - [[High Inquisitor]] [[Bronislaw Czevak]], Letters to the Casophilians.{{Fn|12}}

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{{HarlequinsPortal}}

The '''Harlequins''', or '''Rillietann'''{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|33a}} (a word synonymous with [[Troupe]]s),{{Fn|1}} are warrior troubadours{{Fn|37}}, a unique [[Eldar]] faction which splits their time between being talented battlefield fighters and theatrical performers. They exist outside of normal Eldar society and hold no allegiance to any [[Craftworld]], [[Kabal]], or other form of authority other than to their own belief in the Eldar deity [[Cegorach]], the Laughing God.{{Fn|1}}

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==Overview==

Harlequins carry out several self-appointed duties since their first reappearance after the [[Fall of the Eldar]], the most central of which is putting on theatrical performances of [[Eldar History]].

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.{{Fn|1}}

===The Great Stage===

Harlequins are able to move across the galaxy by traversing the [[Webway]], the quasi-dimensional creation of the race known as the [[Old Ones]]. It is said that [[Cegorach]] is the only being in existence who knows every single path through the webway. This might explain how his disciples possess such an intimate knowledge of its twists and turns, for the Harlequins walk the webway without fear, appearing and disappearing at will. So well versed are they in the webway’s secret routes that many other [[Aeldari]] have credited the servants of the Laughing God with supernatural powers.

The Harlequins utilize their knowledge of the webway’s hidden paths to outmanoeuvre their foes and strike from unexpected quarters. In this way, entire masques of Harlequins can position themselves in ambush, guaranteeing the element of surprise.{{Fn|14e}}

|source = - [[Farseer]] [[Gaeloch]] of [[Craftworld]] [[Iybraesil]]{{Fn|14f}}

|}}

No Eldar is born a Harlequin, all of their number are recruited among greater Eldar society, be they [[Craftworld]]er, [[Dark Eldar]], or [[Exodite]] and every Eldar culture has strange and cautionary tales regarding Harlequin recruitment.{{Fn|14a}}. Eldar are supposedly drawn from amid bustling crowds, or beckoned into the shadows by a masked figure only they can see, or vanish from their personal chambers, or swept up in a Harlequin performance and stolen away, or lose a wager with a [[Troupe Master]], or follow mysterious laughter into a [[Webway Gate]].{{Fn|14a}} [[Solitaire]]s deliver new members to the [[Trouper|Troupe]].{{Fn|37}} Whatever the means of joining the Harlequins, to be taught their ways means undertaking a ritual{{Fn|37}} and erasing all that has come before including friends, family, and purpose. Once an Eldar becomes a Harlequin, every aspect of their old identity is erased.

===The Fall of the Eldar===

In [[M31]], the civilization of the ancient [[Eldar Empire]] is annihilated by the catastrophic birth of [[Slaanesh]].{{Fn|7e}} During the [[Fall of the Eldar]], the Laughing God [[Cegorach]] managed to escape destruction at the hands of [[Slaanesh]]. Many followers of Cegorach are hidden safely away within the [[Webway]] and survived the disaster intact.{{Fn|14g}} In the wake of the [[Fall of the Eldar]] through [[M32]], other surviving worshippers of the laughing god disappear into the Webway without explanation.{{Fn|7e}} Within the Webway, Harlequins prepare for a war that would consume their future utterly.{{Fn|14g}}

===Return to the Stage===

On '''641'''.[[M33]], after centuries of isolation, the Harlequins made their spectacular return in [[M33]] when the [[Masque of the Midnight Sorrow]] burst from the [[Webway]] onto the world of [[Llayen Nuadh]] to drive back a horde of Slaaneshi [[Daemon]]s and rescuing an embattled [[Ulthwe]] warhost in the process,{{Fn|14g}} although is not until '''666'''.[[M33]] that the harlequins first perform [[Harlequin#The_Dance_Without_End|The Dance Without End]] horrifying the audience as the [[Solitaire]] is seen for the first time.{{Fn|7e}}

===The 41st Millenium===

In '''056'''.[[M41]] the [[Masque of the Frozen Stars]] removed [[Imperial Knight]] [[House Terryn]] from the [[Maiden World]] of [[Velos]] in a [[Harlequin#Saedath|Saedath]] known as the '''Giant's Lament'''{{Fn|7e}} not a single super-heavy war engine makes it back to its landing craft.{{Fn|14g}}

From '''785''' to '''795'''.[[M41]] the [[Masque of the Dreaming Shadow]] would engage in a decade-long campaign to purge [[Necron]]s from the tomb world of [[Maedrax]]{{Fn|7e}}, following a forced retreat of [[Ulthwé]] at the hands of the [[Blood Angel]]s in '''783'''.[[M41]].{{Fn|14g}}

After the collapse of a [[Necron]] [[Dolmen Gate]] allows a horde of [[Khorne]] [[Daemons]] to spill into the [[Webway]], the [[Masque of the Veiled Path]] divert the Daemons to [[Magnor Prime]] which they had defended nearly a millennium prior, the resultant war leads to the mutual destruction of both Imperial and Chaos forces. The [[Black Library of Chaos|Black Library]] remains undisturbed.{{Fn|14g}}

Within the [[Webway]] the [[Masque of the Dance Without End]] locate an intersection where the [[Crystal Labyrinth]] of [[Tzeentch]] was overtaking the passages. The masque perform a slow and sombre dance falling to slumber and projecting their dreaming selves into the twisted mirrors to fight the invading [[Daemons]] within their mirror domains.{{Fn|14g}}

Several [[Harlequin Masque|Masques]] of the [[Masque of the Shattered Mirage|Shattered Mirage]] begin a campaign of violence against a [[Red Corsair]]-held [[Blackstone Fortress]] which lurks on the fringes of the [[Maelstrom]]. Together with a rogue faction of [[Yme-Loc]] [[Asuryani]] they retake the [[Talisman of Vaul]].{{Fn|14g}}

==Masques==

{{Main|Masque}}

Harlequins have no formal leaders, being a collective of like-minded players each of them profoundly aware of their role.{{Fn|14b}} They perform around the galaxy as [[Masque]]s, each masque a company comprised of [[Troupes]]s and specialist performers.{{Fn|1}} Each Harlequin performs their role, even on the battlefield in the [[Saedath]], such that Masques function with brutal efficiency, able to operate with extreme cohesion and coordination despite lacking a formal military chain of command and having little direction upon the battlefield.{{Fn|14b}}

===Saedath===

{{Main|Saedath}}

Each of the Masque's mythic plays has a battlefield counterpart, known as the '''Saedath''' or '''Masque Form'''. Essentially a strategic battle plan with an allegorical aspect, these inform target priority, overall strategy, and by which troupe division the conflict will be led. The appropriate Saedath is chosen based upon mythic cycles, ritual significance, or even the time of day.{{Fn|14b}}

===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.{{Fn|1}}

==Notable Grand Masques==

{{Main|List of Masques}}

*[[Masque of the Dance Without End]]{{Fn|7b}}

**{{Endn|7d}}: ''"Skyweavers"''

**{{Endn|7e}}: ''Millenia of Mystery''

*8: [[White Dwarf 55 (2015)]]:

**{{Endn|8a}}: ''"Harlequin Masques"''