Laughing God
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The Laughing God, also known as Cegorach, is an Eldar deity in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe created by Games Workshop. The Laughing God is, with Khaine, one of only two surviving Eldar gods. For more information on other Warhammer 40,000 gods like the Laughing God, please see Eldar gods.
The Laughing God was the trickster and artist of the pantheon, and as such is the god of the Harlequins troupe. It is said that during the fight between Slaanesh and Khaine the Laughing God hid behind Khaine for protection, in the aftermath of the struggle the Laughing God fled to the Webway where Slaanesh could not find him. He still resides there, and is the only known being to know exactly where every door in the webway leads[1] [2][3][4].
In ancient Eldar myth it was said to be the Laughing God who tricked the Outsider into eating other C'tan. Those Eldar who follow him, known as the Harlequins, are protected from Slaanesh in a different way from their Craftworld brethren. While Craftworld Eldar wear Spirit Stones which absorb their souls when they die, Harlequins are directly protected by their God, becoming one with him on death. The only exception to this is the Solitaire whose soul must be won from Slaanesh by the Laughing God.
[edit] Relationship to the Deceiver
There is debate regarding whether the Laughing God is the same entity as the C'Tan known as the Deceiver. There are a pair of stories about the Laughing God and the Deceiver respectively which suggest a link, as well as the fact both are known as Trickster Gods. In one, the Laughing God tricks the Outsider into eating many other C'tan, driving him insane. In the other, the Deceiver consumed several C'tan to increase his own power and convinced the Nightbringer and the Void Dragon to do likewise.
The most significant difference is evident in the origins of the Laughing God and the Deceiver. According to Eldar mythology, the Laughing God was created by the belief of the Eldar, in the same way as were Kaela Mensha Khaine, Isha and the other Eldar Gods, and as such should be considered a warp entity. This is supported by his apparent ability to compete for Eldar souls with Slaanesh. The Deceiver, however, is a C'tan, a being entirely of the material universe. The mysteries of the Immaterium should be beyond the C'tan, who find the Warp an entirely uninhabitable place.
[edit] References
- ^ Thorpe, Gav (2000). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Craftworld Eldar. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-029-3.
- ^ Thorpe, Gav (2001). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Eldar, 3rd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-869893-39-5.
- ^ Kelly, Phil (2006). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Eldar, 4th Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-791-3.
- ^ Priestley, Rick (1994). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Eldar, 2nd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-74-0.
