From Lexicanum

The Harlequins comprise a sub-group of the Eldar race. They are the keepers of the Black Library of Chaos and serve the Laughing God. They are welcomed by all other Eldar factions and known for their bright colors, agility, and powerful weapons.

Contents 1 History and Society 2 Way of War 2.1 Equipment 2.2 Death Jesters 2.3 Solitaires 3 Harlequin Army List 4 Harlequin Armoury 5 Sources

History and Society

The Harlequins (Rillietann) are a faction of the Eldar, and the most enigmatic of that mysterious race. They roam the Webway, fighting Chaos and its influence. Their purpose is to battle the forces of Chaos, and Harlequins are even known to temporarily ally with other races battling their common enemy.

Harlequins must pass a trial known only as The Ritual upon initiation into a Harlequin band. This ritual is said to free the Harlequins of Slaanesh's claim on Eldar souls. This is why Harlequins do not wear waystones, and do not have to endure the tiring soul-draining that other Eldar endure when in the Webway for prolonged periods of time.

Harlequins have no allegiance to any one Craftworld, traveling from world to world, and between Eldar and even non-Eldar societies. They are a unique case of wandering warrior-troubadours, fighting in troupes, formed of Harlequin troupers.

Their self-appointed task is to keep alive the legend of the Fall of the Eldar. The central figure of Harlequin belief is the Cegorach - the Great Harlequin, also known as the Great Fool, the First Fool or the Laughing god. According to Eldar legend, this deity survived the Fall because his mocking nature distanced him from the decadence that became Slaanesh.

Harlequins travel constantly, presenting entertainments based on Eldar tradition and the Fall. They have been known to perform their dance dramas for humans and other non-Eldar, since they believe the Fall holds a lesson from which all races may benefit.

They wander the Webway and occasionally appear at Eldar settlements: on Craftworlds, Commorragh, and Exodite Worlds. They perform dances for the spectators there: Masques, as they are called. Their artistic works portray the Fall, the legendary decline that destroyed the Eldar, the birth of the Chaos god Slaanesh, and many other tales from the long history of the Eldar.

Way of War

• Great Harlequin - leader of the troupe and player of the part of the Laughing God

Harlequin forces are organized into two basic units: the troupe and the masque. A masque is composed of a number of troupes plus certain additional personalities. A troupe is a Harlequin squad. Each troupe is led by an Avatar.

1st Edition

3rd Edition

High Avatar High Warlock Warlock Avatars (athair) are troupe leaders, and in performance take the role of the Laughing god. Harlequin Troupers (rillietann) form the backbone of Harlequin forces and are the most common members. Master Mime Mimes (distaur) are under the direct command of a Master Mime. In battle they act as advance forces and specialize in infiltration and assassination. In both warfare and before a Harlequin troupe arrives on a craftworld it is customary for the Mimes to go in advance of a troupe or masque to announce their arrival. Solitaires (arebennian) are outside the masque, 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. Death Jesters (margorach) are heavy weapon specialists. They are known for their morbid and ironic sense of humour. In battle they stand apart from the rest of the Harlequin force, firing their heavy weapons in support.

Great Harlequin (or ) (ardathair) is the commander of a Harlequin force. Shadowseers are specialist psykers, contributing most of the psychic power to a Harlequin force. Solitaire Death Jester Harlequin Trouper Harlequin Jetbike - Fast attack unit mounted on highly decorated jetbikes; they are the most lavishly decorated unit in the force Venom - Shares the chassis of a Vyper jetbike but with the heavy weapon turret removed to give a small transport capacity, ideal for travelling through the webway and on the battlefield

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 Glove used by humans. It is a set of blades worn on the forearm, or more typically, on the hand as a glove.

Death Jesters

Harlequins have no heavy weapons or tanks, save for the Death Jesters. The Death Jesters are the heavy specialists of the army, carrying an array of weaponry, from the humble Shuriken Cannon of the Craftworld Eldar, to the specialised Firepike, or the morbid Shrieker Cannon.

The Shrieker Cannon is the trademark weapon of the Death Jesters, as only they create and maintain them. They are a variant of the Shuriken Cannon, but instead of firing a hail of projectiles, they fire only a single shot. This shot is impregnated with a virulent acid that causes the victim's blood vessels and insides to expand violently. This usually results in a small explosion that showers squadmates with pieces of their companion.

Solitaires

The most chilling of all the Harlequins are the Solitaires. The Solitaires are solitary individuals who roam the Webway, seeking out Eldar they think might be talented enough to join a Harlequin troupe.

Their most startling characteristic is that their souls are doomed to go to Slaanesh. Whenever Solitaires are with a Harlequin band, they prefer to distance themselves from the others, and one is considered cursed if one exchanges words with a Solitaire. The Solitaires show no sign of emotion, either with other Harlequins or on the battlefield. Psykers are known to be very depressed in the presence of a Solitaire. Psychic attacks on Solitaires will fall short, and weapons which attack the enemy's mind, such as the neuro-disruptor, will simply have no effect.

Harlequin Army List

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. This is analysed in the Experimental Harlequin Army List (3rd Edition). See also Harlequin Army List (1st Edition) for the early list.

Harlequin Armoury

The Harlequin armoury contains many strange and ancient devices which makes them devistating in combat and excellent at stealth operations. They are analysed in the Harlequin Armoury.

Sources

• Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, Harlequins Army List, 1989
• Harlequin Army List (PDF)