Church of Mask

The church of Mask, also known as the Circle of the Gray Ribbon, was the collective of individuals across the Realms that venerated Mask, the Lord of Shadows and Faerûnian god of trickery and deceit. While the church was viewed by many as mere scatterings of thieves and charlatans, the Maskarran faith was of the wealthiest churches in all Faerûn. They managed to achieve this defeat despite operating primarily beyond the reach of lawfulness and in the shadows of civilized society.

"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes of you an easy target."

- Excerpt of the Maskarran dogma.

Organization
Mask's collective church was separated into individual priesthoods, each of operated independently in cities across Faerûn. These autonomous entities carried out unrelated operations to ensure thieves of different guilds did not interfere with neighboring enterprises. In those cities where multiple guilds conducted business within close proximity of each another, holy sites of Mask were considered neutral territory for everyone involved.

The extensive network of the Maskarran church comprised countless regional organizations and independent operators. Information and secrets flowed freely between various parties only to the extent that head clergy members deemed necessary. Their direction allowed church operations to best align with the ever-shifting landscape of religious and governmental politics.

Titles
Maskarran clergy members were known colloquially as Darkfingers, but referred to each other as Brother/Sister Shadow regardless of their ranks.

Titles held by Maskarran clergy included:
 * Lord/Lady Master, the leader of a given temple.
 * Hidden Ones, high priests of the church.
 * Master Brother/Sister
 * Veteran Brother/Sister
 * Proven Brother/Sister
 * Unproved, novices within the church.

Activities
"Steal or deceive daily; the Lord of Shadows is most pleased if you manage both."

- Creed of the Maskarran faith.

When partaking in the larcenous arts, Maskarrans most preferred to steal valuable gems, as they were the absolute ideal offerings to the Lord of Shadows. Stealing these gems and replacing them with valueless replicas was considered the highest form of their craft. The longer the exchanged went undetected, the more perfect the crime in Mask's eyes.

Local priesthoods of Mask worked diligently to support their partnered thieves' guilds. Among the services and assets they provided were: pre-fabricated disguises, agents acting spies and informants, or the protection and seclusion of certain individuals, for a specified time. These church-sponsored boons were always granted for nominal fees, which were offered on top of the tithings regularly collected from the guilds.

If it was deemed necessary, Maskarran priests released large amounts of currency from their reserves into local economies. This was often done to manufacture increased costs of goods or spur inflation in certain cities or regions.

Politics
While Mask held domain over the portfolio of intrigue, Maskarran priests regularly participated in local politics. They wove intricate tapestries of lies, deceit, and misappropriation to cast a shroud over the other crimes their fellow faithful committed. Mask's followers were not above thrusting a whole realm into outright war if it would foster an environment of advantageous lawlessness.

Rituals
While not held on a regular date on the Calendar of Harptos, the Ritual of the Unseen Presence was held at least once per month in each of Mask's temples. During this ceremony, clergy members conceded to Mask the wealth in currency they had acquired and melted it down before their temples' Altar of the Masked God. This ritual, along with the church's darker rites, were always performed under the protection of conjured striking shadows.

The ritual of Shadow Walking was a sacred Maskarran ceremony by which one of the Shadowlord's faithful could attune their physical body to shadow itself. By performing this rite, they exchanged a portion of their life essence, and became what were known as shadow-walkers.

Some folks including pickpockets and other petty criminals would wear Mask's purse, in clear view on their person. These simple pouches held a few coins that made easy targets for other thieves. The loss or acquisition of one of Mask's purses was seen as a small gift from the God of Thievery, or a sacrifice made to him in tribute.

Prayer
Maskarran clerics offered prayer at night, when under the cloak of darkness, or during times of need. A courtier appearing before a noble court or even a member of a political envoy would beseech Mask's favor to ensure favorable discussions.

During the daily 'Sunset Prayers', Maskarran clergy offered coins to their immediate superiors within the church's hierarchy, beginning with the Unproven. Once the Lord or Lady Master received their tribute, they presented it before the lowest-ranking clergy member as a token of appreciation for Mask's sardonic sense of humor.

Celebrations
While not a Maskarran holiday by any means, celebrants of Liar's Night often offered tribute to Mask and wore face coverings that resembled his holy symbol.

Tactics
Priests of Masks eschewed mere pickpocketing or burglary for more daring, large-scale heists, such as stealing every item within a single warehouse or an entire ship full of goods. They often masqueraded as mere peasants or priests of other faiths when carrying out their operations.

Magic
Spells unique to the Maskarran faith included dark way, listening shadow, shadowcloak, watching shadow, and striking shadows.

Regions
The Maskarran faith was prominent among criminals in many nations across Faerûn, including Telflamm in nation of Thesk Nearly every citizen of the city contributed in some way to the prosperity of the city's Shadowmasters. While many tieflings across the Realms turned to the worship of Mask in lieu of Asmodeus, the only recorded lineage of Maskarran tieflings originated from Thesk. many

The faith was also quite popular in the eastern realm of Thay, as well as cities in nearby Unther and Mulhorand. It was notable that Mask was the only non-native deity to garner any following of note in Mulhorand.

Worship of Mask was prohibited in the otherwise tolerant realm nations of the Shining Lands.

Temples
While shrines to Mask could be found in many cities across the Realms, true temples only typically arose in cities that maintained fewer laws against thievery and burglary. Quite often these temples were constructed in hidden locales, with underground tunnels that granted easy access between them and their local thieves' guildhouse. Despite the secrecy that surrounded them, holy sites Mask emanated an aura of chaos when investigated by individuals with robust spiritual understanding.

Undistinguished temples of Mask could be found within Tilverton in Cormyr, Bezantur in Thay, and Westgate on the Dragon Coast. One long-forgotten shrine dedicated to Mask could be found deep within the lair of the spirit naga Ithkyxan, while at least one other was situated in the Street of White Roses in Bezantur.

Notable Maskarran temples included:
 * House of the Master's Shadows, in Telflamm; the largest temple of Mask in all of Faerûn.
 * Telamuzhidah, a major focal point for criminal activity in Calimport.

Possessions
Collectively, Maskarran clergy held tremendous wealth stashed in secreted away caches. These riches were expertly directed to further the faith's agenda, whether by hiring skillful agents, bribing politicians, or other forms of solicitation. It was believed that only the church of Waukeen held more accumulated wealth within their coffers and among their holdings.

Individual priests were required to make an offering of a single valuable gem, coins, or trade bars equivalent of 2,000 gp to Mask's 'Shadowed Altar' every month.

Dress
"The degree of law in a town can be seen on the face of a priest of Mask."

- A common saying regarding Mask's servants.

As would be expected, clergy of Mask's church often wore no specific vestments or insignias that could be used to identify their allegiance while operating beyond their temple. This was especially true among the faithful that took on the adventuring lifestyle. These adventuring Maskarrans―along with many demarches/esses preferring simple leather armor or unassuming clothes befitting common folk of the lands they traveled.

During ceremonies and other rituals, Maskarran clergy wore flamboyant, vibrantly-colored tunics with puffed-out sleeves and striking embellishment. This striking attire was then covered in drab, hooded gray cloak, with the priest's face hidden behind a mask of black gauze. In lands where their faith was impinged upon, Mask's priests wore their gray robes in public as mark of his favor, along with a black wool mask, tailor-made to hide their features.

Magic Items
Senior members of the church often sponsored acquisition of certain enchanted items that aided the priesthood with their daily activities. Notable among these were rings of invisibilty, rings of shadow, ropes of entanglement, and slippers of spider climbing.

The Mask of Mysteries was a minorly enchanted silk mask that resembled those worn by Maskarran priests, but functioned as a type of arcane spellbook. Anyone wearing the mask that performed the correct actions to activate it, gained access to a select number of spells. It also smelled faintly of some unidentifiable spices.

Beliefs
Mask's followers believed that any events that occurred "within shadow" fell under his domain.

Maskarran clergy held a dynamic view of property rights and ownership of belongings. A individual or organization only held right of possession over assets so long as they remained in their physical possession.

Attitudes
"Wealth rightfully belongs to those who can acquire it...Honesty is for fools but apparent honesty is a very valuable thing."

- ''Excerpt of the charge taken by Mask's Unproven.

Subtlety, caution, and discretion were virtuous held in the highest concern by the church. The ability to gain an edge over other with poised articulation―often utilizing feigned platitude―was considered a mark of distinction among clergy members. Integrity however was always maintained when working alongside other members of the church. Exemplary priests of Masks dutifully fulfilled the objectives proposed to their superiors within the church, even if numerous attempts were required for success.

Orders
While the church of Mask sponsored no knightly orders, a number of its more daring and calculating members joined the Circle of the Gray Ribbon.

The Night Masks of Westgate were one of the numerous thieves' guilds of Faerûn that considered Mask as their patron deity. Yet others like the Shadow Thieves of Amn, merely venerated the Lord of Shadows in name only.

Classes
Priesthoods of Mask predominantly comprised thieves, clerics, and specialty priests known as demarches or demarchesses. Quite often there were a few more demarches within each Maskarran order.

A priest of Mask that chose to work specifically in large, densely-populated cities could take on the role of a catfoot, whereas one that preferred to be out in the wilderness could join the ranks of the nightrunners.

History
In the, the Time of Troubles broke out across the Realms and the gods were sent down to Toril in mortal form. During that year, Mask took the form of a magical sword called Godsbane, which eventually fell into the possession of the mortal adventurer Cyric. At the culmination of those transformative events, Cyric ascended to godhood and took with him Mask's dominion over intrigue. That shift in divine portfolios prompted Mask to redirect his followers' efforts across the Realms. They would no longer involved themselves in political schemes or public plots and focus their deception to a more personal and individual scope.

Notable Maskarrans

 * Duromil, an unscrupulous adventurer from Waterdeep that lived a double life as a daring thief.
 * Erevis Cale, Mask's favored chosen that returned to service during the Second Sundering.
 * Huriot, a particularly devious inventor and the most prolific Prince of Thieves of Skuld.
 * Jalaunther Ithbreeiur, Lord Master of the Most Hidden, high priest of Telflamm.
 * Kesson Rel, the first of Mask's chosen, who turned to the worship of Mask's mother Shar.
 * Nathel Awbrunton, a Maskarran from Mordulkin that specialized in expert forgery.
 * Orniiv Fanderfall, the one-time head of Shadow Thief operations in Baldur's Gate.
 * Shabella the Pale, guildmistress of Mask's temple in Bezantur.
 * Shulgi, a former Cormyrean thief that became afflicted with vampirism and set to lead a thieves' guild in Messemprar.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Godborn