Harlequin - Notable Masques: MasqueRuneColoursSummaryMasque of the Dance Without EndThe Masque of the Dance Without End falls upon its foes like an avalanche, appearing as if from thin air with guns already blazing. Full of passion and verve, the Players of this masque are renowned for their performances of the Spiral of Mirth and Madness. This is the cycle of dances, plays and monologues that recount the deeds of Cegorach himself -- a specialism that is said to bring these Harlequins closer to their deity. Indeed, so deep is their connection to the Laughing God that it is rumoured the Webway itself flexes and shifts at this masque's behest. Certainly, the Dance Without End seem always to attack from the most unexpected quarter, vanishing on the breeze should matters go awry. The Dance Without End wear the Rune of Myriad Paths, symbolising both Cegorach's knowledge of the Webway and the endless nature of his war.Masque of the Dreaming ShadowThe Masque of the Dreaming Shadow act as self-appointed guardians against the awakening Necrons. They appear morbid of spirit, resentful towards other masques, who perhaps surprisingly hold them in high regard. The Players of the Dreaming Shadow are bound together by their morbid demeanour, and by a simmering resentment of the other masques. This sentiment, however, is deliberately exaggerated -- part act and part truth, deriving from the fact that the war against the Necrons distracts from Cegorach's true battle with She Who Thirsts. For their part, most other Harlequins hold the Dreaming Shadow's selflessness in high esteem, though some are scornful of this masque's inherent bitterness toward them, dismissing their war against the Necrons as nothing but a sad sideshow. The Rune of Unveiled Mystery is worn by this masque as an ironic comment, symbolising the deadly threat their kin have chosen to forget.Masque of Frozen StarsPlayful and sinister in equal measure, the Masque of Frozen Stars is well known for its Players' irrepressible sense of humour. Standing secret vigil over the maiden worlds of the Eastern Fringe, these Harlequins possess a genuine hope for the future of their race. They believe that there is a path to be trod through the horrors of the Rhana Dandra that leads to a bright fortune beyond. Following destinies gleaned by their Shadowseers from a tangle of potential futures, the masque seeks to restore the balance of fate through the destruction of their many enemies. Across Maiden Worlds scattered along the edges of the Eastern Fringe, they wage a war against the slow rot of Chaos, the arrogant might of the Imperium and the reckless expansionism of the T'au Empire. However, the Masque of Frozen Stars care only for the resurgence of the Aeldari, and no one else. They view the galaxy's other intelligent races as vermin, there only to serve as the butt of its shockingly violent pranks and jests. Humanity, the Tau and countless minor alien empires have all suffered under the sudden attacks of this masque. Often believing the motley-clad warriors were coming to their aid, more than one race has discovered that the enemy of their enemy is by no means their friend. Over the millennia, this masque's Players have overloaded the reactors of hive cities, plunged mighty spacecraft unshielded into the Warp, and even depopulated whole worlds, all in the name of the Laughing God's malicious amusement. The rune of this masque is that of divergent chance, depicting the pathways of fate propped up on a foundation of certainty and determination.Masque of the Leering MoonNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.This notable Masque, like the Soaring Spite, are notable for performing and fighting in an almost exclusively airborne fashion. Traditionally, a masque incorporates two bands of Skyweavers, their aerobatic prowess serving to add a breathtaking edge of speed and danger to the Harlequins' performances. However, there are those masques, such as the Leering Moon, who prefer to field great swarms of Skyweavers, their deployment a ritual acknowledgement of the multifarious nature of the serpent that the Jetbikes are named for.Masque of the Midnight Sorrow 	 	<a href="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/9/92/Harlequin_Troupe_Master.png/revision/latest?cb=20141117002703" class="image"><img alt="Harlequin Troupe Master" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/9/92/Harlequin_Troupe_Master.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/150?cb=20141117002703" decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="150" height="229" class="thumbimage" data-image-name="Harlequin Troupe Master.png" data-image-key="Harlequin_Troupe_Master.png" data-relevant="1" data-src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/9/92/Harlequin_Troupe_Master.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/150?cb=20141117002703" /></a> 	 		 			 		 		 		 	 The Harlequins of the Midnight Sorrow are the ultimate enemies of Chaos, sworn to fight Cegorach's endless battles against the Ruinous Powers of the Warp. The Masque's name stems from the eighteenth verse of the third act of the Fall; that infamous scene wherein Cegorach witnesses the darkest time ever to have befallen his wayward children. Echoing the bleak misery and clashing violence of this scene, the Midnight Sorrow will always endeavor to strike at their foes as the witching hour tolls. Their razor-sharp focus drives the masque to pursue their agenda to the extent that no action is too extreme. On one hand they strike alliances with the pawns of the Corpse God, and on the other they slaughter his slaves without mercy. This seems capricious in the extreme to those who must deal with the Masque of the Midnight Sorrow, but to them it is all a part of Cegorach's great plan. In recent years this masque has been drawn increasingly into conflict with the servants of She Who Thirsts. The Farseers of the Aeldari Craftworlds watch the masque with growing concern, perceiving that the frenzied and daring nature of the Midnight Sorrow's actions are proof the end is at hand. Regardless, these single-minded Harlequins dance on, whether in the beautiful displays for their kinsmen, or the bloody dance of death on the battlefield. The symbol of the Masque of the Midnight Sorrow is a spear driven into the inverse heart of Twilight. To alien observers there is no easy interpretation of this icon, but Aeldari know it represents the Midnight Sorrow's desire to strike their foe when daylight is slain, but before darkness reigns once more. A literal interpretation of this might lead some to think they favour attacks at dusk, but there is a more poignant reading, too. The day of the Aeldari has come and passed, and the Midnight Sorrow strike now, before the long night begins.Masque of the Reaper's MirthAll Harlequins are masters of ironic murder, though some are undeniably more talented than others. The Masque of the Reaper’s Mirth takes the Laughing God's bloody humour to an extreme. Every battlefield is a gory canvas upon which they can paint their masterpieces of death. It is not enough to simply kill their enemies -- they must be made examples of in the most extravagant manner. The Palace of Crystal Bones, Hall of Echoed Screams and Fountain of Crimson Tears are all works of the Reaper's Mirth. Because of their penchant for inventive cruelty, the masque attracts a higher proportion of Death Jesters. These macabre warriors take sardonic pleasure in fighting alongside the Players of the Reaper's Mirth as they enact their performances of genocide and horrific destruction. The rune worn by the Reaper's Mirth is an ancient symbol that represents both the first blooding of a weapon and the last breath of an enemy.Masque of the Shattered MirageThere are those among the Aeldari who have accepted the doom of their race. Far from welcoming oblivion, these lost souls rage against the slow destruction of their people, choosing to take the galaxy with them when they go. The Masque of the Shattered Mirage are ghosts of the Webway, the embodiment of the Laughing God's maudlin mirth in the face of his race's demise. Both their kin and their enemies fear this masque's Players. Their performances are dark and terrible to behold, conveying only fatalistic despair to their audiences. In battle, they fight with a reckless abandon that is horrific to bear witness to, and even in death they take dozens of the foe screaming with them to the grave. To fight the Shattered Mirage is to fight a foe with no fear of death, intent only on the destruction of their enemies no matter the cost. The Rune of the Lamented Dead is integral to the mindset of the Masque of the Shattered Mirage -- contained within its graceful lines and bladed curves is the ultimate demise of all things.Masque of the Silent ShroudThis masque acts in absolute silence, its Players speaking not a word. Their movements are but the softest sigh of silk upon the air. Even their weapons are muffled through technology and illusion, the hiss of gunfire and the clash of blades echoing dimly as through piercing the veil from another realm. Needless to say, this disorients and unsettles the masque's foes, only adding to the sensory confusion of the Harlequins’ assault. Everything this masque does is veiled in secrecy and stealth, and it often appears from nowhere to stage impromptu performances without need for stage or accompaniment. Whether this be amid the bladed spires of Commorragh, or the blood and horror of the battlefield, it matters not to the Silent Shroud. The Silent Shroud wear the Rune of the Thorn-Strangled Stave -– a mythic weapon used by Kurnous, the hunting god of ancient Aeldari myth, to strike down his prey without making a sound.Masque of the Soaring SpiteThis masque bases its entire existence upon the tales of the Cosmic Serpent's brood. It performs and fights in an almost exclusively airborne fashion, soaring into battle like the Weaver Serpents of the mythic tales. The Soaring Spite is frequently seen in the company of the Saim-Hann Asuryani, with whom its Players share a spiritual bond. Its performances are also wildly popular within the toroid arenas of the Commorrite Wych Cults. Here, the masque's Skyweavers swoop and soar, shedding very real blood as they engage in ritual dances and duels with the best challengers the Wych Cults have to offer. The diamond rune of the Soaring Spite signifies a sense of oneness, binding the Harlequins to the mythic beasts upon whom their performances are based.Masque of the Twisted PathThe Masque of the Twisted Path are some of the most sinister of all Harlequins, luring friends and foes into the Webway never to be seen again. They are also some of the most well-travelled of all Aeldari and have been seen fighting alongside humans, Tau and even Orks, though to what end remains a mystery, for those that question their motives invariably disappear soon after. The Twisted Path have a strange affinity with Craftworld Telennar and have often been seen performing there. Curiously, no one has ever disappeared from the Craftworld following a performance, though whether the inhabitants are cursed, blessed or simply not of interest to the Harlequins of the Twisted Path is unknown. Unsurprisingly, no one has stopped them to ask. Players in the Masque of the Twisted Path wear a bright ensemble made up of reds, oranges and purples. The Masque of the Twisted Path wear the Rune of Stolen Grace, symbolising the souls taken by the Laughing God from his enemies and fashioned into weapons for his followers.Masque of the Veiled PathHarlequins of the Veiled Path are merciless tricksters who cruelly exploit other races to achieve their aims, feigning alliance when in truth they care for none but their own. Master manipulators, the Masque of the Veiled Path achieve their aims by any means necessary. It was they who caused Prince Yriel of Iyanden to take up the Spear of Twilight. This baleful weapon, one of the Croneswords of Morai-Heg, has a heavy curse upon it and once removed from its stasis chamber within the Shrine of Ulthanash, it cannot be set aside before death. When Yriel fought the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Kraken he bested several of the Hive Mind's greatest warriors in personal combat, but many have questioned why a great noble of such status would draw a weapon that will claim his life. The answer to this lies with the Masque of the Veiled Path, who manipulated him into this fateful duty. For what reasons, they will not say. Even after the tragedy which befell the Craftworld, and the sorrow it caused, the Aeldari of Iyanden do not hesitate to answer their call to arms -- providing legions of automatons to march into war alongside the Veiled Path. The Veiled Path's rune is the Inverse Enigma -– a signifier of riddles within riddles and plots within plots. It is associated not only with trickery, but with back-stabbing and an ill-omened demise.Masque of the Winter SunNo image available in Imperial records.The Masque of the Winter Sun is one of the smallest Harlequin groups that guard the Webway. While most Harlequin masques are willing to ignore the animosity between their divergent kin, the Winter Sun have not performed for, or fought with, the Drukhari for many Terran millennia. Quite why is unclear, but their signature dance, the Broken Chalice, is a tale of treachery and hints at an ancient slight by their dark cousins. The Masque of the Winter Sun were most recently seen alongside forces from Craftworld Mymeara and Craftworld Alaitoc fighting in the Maiden's Veil, known to Imperial cartographers as the Karina Nebula. On Betalis III their holo-suits made them virtually invisible in the never-ending blizzards that dominate the Tormus Delta, enabling them to quickly bypass the Imperial defence lines. Only the intervention of Bran Redmaw's Great Company saved the Imperial Guard stationed there from certain death. The Masque of the Winter Sun are painted in a complementary colour scheme of blue and orange with details picked out in black and white. Players of the Masque of the Winter Sun wear the Aeldari rune of Unseen Mysteries, a combination of two Aeldari runes. At the top can be seen the rune of enigmas, which is followed by the rune of the seer, its eye missing to signify the blindness of the ignorant.Masque of the Laughing CircusNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.The Masque of the Laughing Circus is a Harlequin masque which discovered that an unnamed Maiden World that had been isolated by a Warp Storm had been invaded by daemons. Acting quickly they sought aid from their brethren to save the Maiden World and serve as mediators between the Craftworld Saim-Hann and the Drukhari of Commorragh. They were ultimately successful in securing an alliance between the two Aeldari factions and the Laughing Circus joined the forces led by the Farseer Illanor and the Succubus Vielle that entered the Webway en route to the affected Maiden World. Unfortunately, despite the allied Aeldari's best efforts, their combined forces were defeated and the daemons continued to wreak havoc on the Maiden World. Whether the Laughing Circus was destroyed during the battle or managed to escape back into the Webway is unknown.Masque of the Leaping StarsNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.The Masque of the Leaping Stars is known to go to war heralded by the same kaleidoscopic displays of dance and music that characterise all of its performances.Masque of the Mourning MistNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.The Masque of the Mourning Mist always goes to war in a ghostly silence that is considered as ominous as the shadow of Ynnead, the Aeldari God of the Dead.Masque of the Shadow WeaversNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.Other than the fact of its existence, nothing else is known about this masque in Imperial records.Masque of the Weeping Dawn 	 	<a href="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/c/c8/WeepingDawn.png/revision/latest?cb=20170618215614" class="image"><img alt="WeepingDawn" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/c/c8/WeepingDawn.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/150?cb=20170618215614" decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="150" height="179" class="thumbimage" data-image-name="WeepingDawn.png" data-image-key="WeepingDawn.png" data-relevant="1" data-src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/c/c8/WeepingDawn.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/150?cb=20170618215614" /></a> 	 		 			 		 		 		 	 The Masque of the Weeping Dawn are artful assassins of fate, choosing their targets with meticulous care. Guided by the whispered words of their Shadowseers, the masque weaves a bloody path across the stars, seeking out the greatest enemies of the Aeldari. Chaos tyrants, Space Marine commanders, Tau Ethereals and Ork Warlords are all among those who have fallen under the flashing blades of the Weeping Dawn. Trespass upon a Maiden World, collaboration with the Dark Gods -- whether wittingly or not -- or even the killing of a single Aeldari: all are acts that might draw the attentions of this vengeful masque. All that is known for sure of the Weeping Dawn is that, once they have chosen a target, they do not rest until its life has been extinguished and its soul offered up to the Laughing God. The Masque of the Weeping Dawn wear the Rune of the Pierced Heart, an ancient Aeldari device that encapsulates both the killing blow and the unveiling of truth in all its myriad forms.Masque of the Hidden PathNo rune available in Imperial records.No image available in Imperial records.The Masque of the Hidden Path sent 9 Troupes to aid the defence of Cadia during the climax of Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade.