Harlequins for Freakshow

So I kind of poo-poo'd on this idea when the Masque bonuses were first revealed, but with additional info it seems they can be of great help even without the Silent Shroud bonus.

Shadowseers get a spell that deals D3 mortal wounds and -1 to leadership. Units suffering casualties from Death Jesters suffer -2Ld and you choose the first model that flees.

You could do an easy investment of Silent Shroud Shadowseer + 2-3 Death Jesters and a Solitaire.  Inexpensive, enough characters to spread around their roll 2 dice for morale aura, and you unlock their stratagem that lets them ignore overwatch, which is very useful for Coven units.

Seems good. You can also even make the Shadowseer a warlord for a trait almost as good as LabCunning.

You could do:
Dark Creed
Hemlocks
Silent Shroud

or

Dark Creed
Black Heart
Silent Shroud

Either should be pretty fun.

So many minuses. I'm was looking at shadowseer + solitaire + 2 death jesters added to my freakshow list, though 3 would be better for a budget. I don't think it works without hemlocks and a farseer with mindwar; have to kill synapse somehow. The death jesters would likely also have to be near the frontlines to stack that masque form on the enemy.

My question is how do you think the dark creed should be run? I've been using a battalion with msu pain engines and wracks and raiders for PGLs. I'm not fond of the msu talos to be honest but it's the easiest way to stack a -3 with them.

It would have to be a battalion, if only for the CPs you'll need. Maybe 2x2 engines and 2x5 grots, so you're still being somewhat efficient with stratagems? I think if going hemlock, and a few raiders with PGLs for the wracks, you can afford to go bigger on the heavy hitter units.