Harlequin Gremlin
Harlequin gremlins are the closest thing Altairus has to a clown species. Colorful and fun-loving, these Dark elementals serve as the performers in the Circus of Shadows. Their physical resilience and flashy magical powers make them ideal show-stoppers for any occasion.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Harlequin gremlin surnames tend to either be references to things associated with the Dark element or sound vaguely Italian. Sometimes both.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Harlequin Gremlin Slang
Shared customary codes and values
Harlequin gremlins place a high value on levity and laughter. Their antennae are used to sense others' emotions and reactions via magical wavelengths. In essence, they are hyper-empathetic. When they sense someone who is down or not feeling well, they will approach that person and try to cheer them up. The gremlin will not rest until they sense that the person they approached is feeling better.
If you go into areas with a large harlequin gremlin population, such as the towns of Grimberg and Harlequin's Repose (the latter being named after the titular gremlins) and you are feeling sad or unwell, you can expect to be surrounded by harlequin gremlins before long.
Average technological level
Harlequin gremlins are some of the most technologically advanced faeries in Altairus, aside from the nekomata. In fact, harlequin gremlins and nekomata tend to live and work side by side and take notes from each other.
Common Dress code
Like storm gremlins, harlequin gremlins wear full-body jumpsuits. Unlike those of storm gremlins, however, these jumpsuits do not have badges. Instead, they have a pied pattern of black and some other color. The limbs of the jumpsuit are the opposite color to where they are attached (e.g. if the suit is purple and black, the limbs attached to the black side will be purple, and vice versa). The name "harlequin gremlin" actually comes from their unique suits.
Outside of their professions, harlequin gremlins may decide not to wear their jumpsuits, instead opting for other clothing. They only show themselves "out of costume" when they don't care how others see them.
Art & Architecture
Harlequin gremlins are masters at performance art. Even aside from the Circus of Shadows, they often tend to get jobs in which they are center stage, usually advertising outside the circus.
The color of their magic reflects this. While other Dark elementals' magic is very dark in color and may not even be visible, harlequin gremlin magic is always very bright and flashy with lots of colors. This helps them garner reactions from an audience which feeds into their emotive radar sense and amplifies their magical power.
Foods & Cuisine
While harlequin gremlins will eat anything they can on the road, they are credited with inventing a few common fair foods enjoyed in the Dark Carnival. You can read more about it here. Like all gremlins, harlequin gremlins have massive appetites and an unparalleled love of food.
Harlequin gremlins are known for their love of spirits, particularly red wine. Those who appoint harlequin gremlins to serve in a royal court need to be careful that the liquor cabinet is locked up when it is not in use, as harlequin gremlins have been known to empty entire stores of the stuff when left unsupervised. Even the females can handle more far more liquor than a human being of the same weight, as they tend to metabolize it faster.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Harlequin gremlins love to throw The Uninvited Parade when they visit towns. This tradition is either loved or hated depending on whom you ask, but it definitely draws attention to the harlequin gremlins and the Circus of Shadows whenever it happens.
Coming of Age Rites
While not official, many harlequin gremlins will hold a celebration once a widget becomes old enough to start performing. This celebrates their entry into the greater community.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Being Dark elementals, harlequin gremlins will collapse into a shadowy liquid when they die. Sometimes this liquid is collected then either kept or poured onto something or near somewhere the gremlin enjoyed in life.
Common Taboos
While not a taboo per se, harlequin gremlins love to poke at and make fun of those whom they consider stuffy or uptight. This is especially true if the person has a stuck-up or otherwise odious personality.
Such individuals are more likely to be subject to The Uninvited Parade. An entire crowd of harlequin gremlins will stampede through their homes, breaking anything unfortunate to be underfoot, mocking and mimicking anything anyone says, and generally being an annoying, chaotic nuisance. This is meant to teach the person not to take life so seriously, though it works only about half the time.
Historical figures
During the War of the Wendigoes, the Dark Champion of Altairus, known as the Great Strombolio, was the most popular and talented performer in the Circus of Shadows. After fending off the wendigoes with a makeshift firework launcher, he bathed it in harlequin gremlin magic and inserted laughing gas grenades into it to make a weapon capable of fighting the Heart of Darkness. It became known as the Fragment of Darkness Lethal Joke.
Major organizations
Many harlequin gremlins work in the Circus of Shadows. In fact, the circus is how their species managed to spread across Altairus in the first place.
Faeus Gremlis Harlequs
Associated Element
Darkness
Comments