The Harlequins don’t have a homeworld. Their masques live in the Webway itself, touring between Aeldari worlds and guarding the Black Library, which is the closest thing to a fixed base they’ve got.
Why there’s no single Harlequin homeworld
Harlequins exist outside normal Aeldari society. They don’t swear to a Craftworld, a Kabal, or any other authority, so they’ve never needed a planet to call their own.
Instead, their home is the Webway, the labyrinthine network the Old Ones built. Masques travel it constantly, moving between performances wherever Aeldari (or anyone else worth telling stories to) can be found.
That wandering life is the point. A masque that stayed put would stop being a masque.
The Black Library: their one fixed address
The Black Library is the exception to all that drifting. It sits inside the Webway, and the Harlequins guard it fiercely, hiding its routes and keeping its location secret from everyone else.
It’s also where they keep their collected knowledge of Chaos, which makes it worth protecting. If you’re looking for a Harlequin “home base,” this is it, though outsiders rarely get to see it.
Masques and Saedath
A masque is a Harlequin troupe, and each one has its own style, colours, and preferred roles on the battlefield. They’re led by a Great Harlequin or a similar figure depending on the edition you’re reading.
Larger groupings called Saedath tie several masques together around a shared performance or purpose. The Dance Without End is the best-known example, but there are plenty of others.
- Masque of the Frozen Stars
- Masque of the Midnight Sorrow
- Masque of the Veiled Path
- Masque of the Silent Shroud
- Masque of the Dreaming Shadow
- Masque of the Soaring Spite
How it connects to wider Aeldari lore
Cegorach, the Laughing God, is the Harlequins’ patron and one of the few Aeldari gods thought to have survived the Fall. They believe he walks among them in disguise, which is why they treat every performance as if he might be watching.
Because they move through the Webway freely, Harlequins turn up in Craftworld, Drukhari, and even Imperial stories. They’re the thread that ties a lot of scattered Aeldari lore together.
Key facts
- Harlequins have no homeworld; they live in the Webway
- The Black Library is their only fixed stronghold
- A masque is a Harlequin troupe with its own style and colours
- Saedath are larger groupings of masques, like the Dance Without End
- Cegorach, the Laughing God, is their patron deity
FAQ
Do the Harlequins have a home planet?
No. They live in the Webway and travel constantly. The Black Library is the closest thing to a permanent base, and it’s hidden.
What is a masque?
A masque is a Harlequin troupe, with its own identity, colours, and battlefield role. Several masques can band together into a Saedath.
Who do the Harlequins serve?
Cegorach, the Laughing God. They don’t answer to Craftworlds, Kabals, or anyone else.