Measurehead

**Jean-Luc Measurehead** is a character in *Disco Elysium*.

## Background

Employed by the Dockworkers' Union under Edgar and Evrart Claire, Measurehead guards the gates to the Greater Revachol Industrial Harbour, and more specifically, the large button located above them to unlock the door into his mother's former office, the Harbour secretariat. He is a Semenese supremacist who participates in "science"-anthropometry based racism, considering most races - particularly mixed individuals with a Semenese parent - to be beneath him.

To Measurehead, the people of the Occident (whom he calls "Ham Sandwiches" or Occidental Haplogroup B4) have fallen from grace after giving the world eugenics, electricity, missiles, and aerostatics, on top of other scientific advances (like race theory). He considers the end of brutal subjugation of other cultures to be a sign of weakness and of things to come. The only facet of Semenese culture he dislikes is their alleged invention of Disco.

Despite Evrart Claire being a part of the "Ham Sandwich Race", Claire's professed desire to challenge what Measurehead calls "polycultural capital" motivates him to exercise discipline and control himself. Although his alignment with the Union may seem contradictory to his core beliefs, Measurehead does it out of "Race Heroism" for the ultimate victory of the Semenese.

Measurehead himself is Revacholian. All his knowledge of the Semenine Islands comes from radio and books. He believes that his father, Jairzinho deserves credit for making him hard, completing the softness bestowed upon him by his mother. He looks up to both of his parents as sources of inspiration; his father as a source of iron will and discipline, and his mother as a celebrated worker of the harbour secretariat (now retired).

## Interactions

* Measurehead is encountered on Day 1, guarding the button that leads to the Harbour secretariat and can be a critical obstacle on the way to Evrart Claire. If dealt with, Measurehead also provides alternative solutions for pulling the body down from the tree.
* Given Harry's state, you're in an uphill struggle with Measurehead from the start. However, if you keep him talking, you will eventually realize that you can deal with him in two ways:
	+ Internalizing his racism (Advanced Race Theory is unlocked if you pass a Conceptualization Medium 10 check). Question him on his origins and don't mention that he isn't actually from the Semenese Islands for a +1 to the check.
	+ Or succeeding in punching him out (Physical Instrument Formidable 13 check ). This is made easier by observing tattoos and mentioning his craniometrics are not as perfect as he thinks, requires Visual Calculus; be sure to follow it up with a 360 elaborate kick; otherwise, Measurehead will grab your hand and crush it, -1 Health for you!).
		- Failing the attempt, you can try again with better chances by telling Kim "I might do it again" (Volition check) and getting fighting advice from the Scab Leader for +1 to the check.
		- Kim isn't pleased about your fistfight with Measurehead and he will ask you not to put him in situations where he'd be forced to shoot random civilians (he's not even sure Measurehead would be affected by a single bullet).
* Measurehead is the ultimate part of the Turn back the wheels of time task, the Fascist Political Vision Quest. The Talk with him is the final part of the quest, requiring passing a White Suggestion Check to get him away from the Women and have The Talk about turning back the wheels of time. He has lots of insight to offer - if quirky and twisted by his racism - and ultimately explains that you can return to the past on the Sereglee Island, the southernmost of the Semenine Archipelago (AKA Ile du Fantome) and walk into the pale. Then he'll redirect you to the Paledriver.

## References

MEASUREHEAD'S BABE – "These cops are just jealous, Jean-Luc."
JOYCE MESSIER – "Now they won't even let me into the harbour. There's a 2.20 m racist behemoth blocking the gates."
MEASUREHEAD – "LESSER RACES LIKE THE "MESQUITO", A GROTESQUE MIXTURE OF A MESQUE WOMAN AND A SEMENESE MAN, ONLY POSSIBLE IF THE MOTHER IS MESQUE AND THE FATHER SEMENESE."
MEASUREHEAD – "OCCIDENTAL HAPLOGROUP B4 IS DONE GIVING ORDERS AROUND HERE. THE INFLUENCE OF THE "HAM SANDWICH RACE" IS WANING."
MEASUREHEAD – He pauses in melancholic reflection. "YOU WERE ONCE A NOBLE AND POWERFUL RACE."
MEASUREHEAD – "OFFSHOOTS OF THE SEMENESE PEOPLE INVENTED DISCO WHILE HAVING SEX UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF COCAINE. IT IS A SHAME UPON MY RACE - BUT WHAT IS DONE IS DONE."
MEASUREHEAD – "I ANSWER TO THE UNION ALONE - AND I DO THIS OUT OF \*RACE HEROISM\*."