ELDAR
HARLEQUINS
Harlequins are a uniquely Eldar social institution, a caste of warriors and entertainers who exist beyound conventional Eldar Society. While not considered to be amounst the Outcasts, Harlequins owe allegiance to no craft world.
Harlequins see no distinction between art and war. Followers of the strange Eldar god Cegorach, The Great Harlequin, they travel freely amoung the Eldar Craftworlds, and colonies. They are warrior troubadors whose carefully choreographed dances and impressive displays of mime and acrobatics tell the many legends of Eldar history and mythologies. They wear exotic, multi-colored costumes brightly patterned and adorned to represent figures from the Eldar mythologies. They are said to never reveal their true faces, concealing them behind a shifting costume mask which can assume any form at the will of the Harlequin wearing it. When Harlequins fight in battle their masks are said to reflect the worst fears of all those who gaze upon them, causing their foes to quail with supernatural fear.
In battle, Harlequins shun armor and heavy weapons, relying on their speed, stealth, and acrobatic skill to get them into close combat, where they easily outclass most foes. Their speed and agility is almost beyond belief, and many foes have been cut down even as they stood dumfounded by the suddenness and swiftness of the Harlequin attack.
Every Harlequin troupe consists of a formalized group of costumed players. The majority of the troupe is made up of warriors known as the Chorus, who are adept at playing any of the lesser role in the Harlequin dances. Exceptionally talented and gifted individuals rise to become the much feared Great Harlequin leaders, mysterious Shadow Seers, heavily-armed Death Jesters, or even the reclusive Solitaries-those Harlequins who have been touched by the power of the Great Harlequin god and gifted with the ability to comprehend and perform the part of the Chaos God Slaanesh, the great enemy of the Eldar.