The most chilling of all the Eldar Harlequin are those individuals known as a Solitaire, called in the Eldar Lexicon the arebennian. The Solitaires, as their name implies, are solitary individuals who roam the Webway, seeking out other Eldar they think might be talented enough to join a Harlequin troupe. During the great Harlequin performance or Masque that dramatises the ancient Fall of the Eldar known simply as The Dance, Solitaires are tasked with playing the role of the Chaos God Slaanesh who brought the Eldar low. Impersonating the deadliest enemy of the Eldar race as a whole is almost unbearable for the sensitive psyche of an Eldar, and thus only a trained Solitaire will be able to perform the role of "She-Who-Thirsts", as the Prince of Chaos is known to the Eldar. Various stories exist of other Harlequins who tried to perform the role, and were driven mad by the experience. The most startling truth of the Solitaires is that, unlike other Harlequins, who are protected by their faith in Cegorach, their souls are doomed to be devoured by Slaanesh, although the Laughing God attempts to intercede on the Solitaire's behalf after their death and force the Prince of Pleasure to compete for his or her soul.

Other Eldar prefer not to think about their great enemy. As a result, Solitaires are shunned amongst their own race. Whenever Solitaires are with a Harlequin troupe, they distance themselves from the others, and one is considered cursed if one exchanges words with a Solitaire. A Solitaire never shows any sign of emotion, either with other Harlequins or on the battlefield. Psykers of every race, even other Eldar, are known to be very depressed in the presence of a Solitaire as the mental landscape of the Solitaire is obviously disturbing to them. Psychic attacks on Solitaires will almost always fall short, and weapons which attack the enemy's mind, such as the Neuro-disruptor, will simply have no effect. In battle, Solitaires almost always fight as individuals. A Solitaire may live unknown among the Eldar (or even members of another intelligent race) for years or decades, and there are many rumours and folk-tales telling of Eldar who have met a Solitaire, and realised only later that this was actually the Great Harlequin, Cegorach himself. Solitaires represent the pinnacle of the Harlequin ideal, and are truly formidable foes in combat. It is known that Solitaires are amongst the few beings in the galaxy who are allowed to enter the Black Library at will.

SourcesEdit

• Codex: Craftworld Eldar (3rd Edition)
• Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
• Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition), pg. 29
• Warhammer 40,000 Compendium (1st Edition), "Harlequins," pp. 186-187