Church of Mask

The church of Mask, collectively 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 it was viewed by many as a mere collective of thieves and charlatans, the Maskarran faith was of the wealthiest churches in all the Realms, despite operating in the shadows of lawful society.

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

- Excerpt of the Maskarran dogma.

Organization
The collective church was split into separate priesthoods, each of operated independently in different cities across Faerûn. These autonomous operations were carried out in order to ensure guildmembers from separate groups did not step on each others' toes. In cities where multiple guilds operated within close proximity of one another, holy sites of Mask were considered neutral territory.

Bound within the extensive network of Mask's church were many small, regional organizations and independent operatives. Secrets flowed freely between various parties to the extent that head clergy members deemed necessary, to align with the ever-shifting landscape of religious and governmental politics.

Titles
Maskarran clergy members were known 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 they chose to personally engage in the larcenous arts, Maskarrans often chose to target valuable gems, as they made for ideal offerings to the Lord of Shadows. It was considered the highest form of their craft to replace these gems with valueless replicas, to hide the exchange for as long as possible.

Priesthoods of Mask diligently supported their local thieves' guilds. They would provide pre-fabricated disguises, serve as spies and informants, or 'hide away' certain individuals for a time, always for nominal fees. Maskarran priests collected regular tithings from the thieves' guilds they supported in these manners.

If so required, Maskarran priests released large amounts of currency from their reserves into local economies, in order to manufacture increased costs of goods or spur inflation.

Politics
When Mask held domain over intrigue, his priests often engaged in politics at the local level. They wove intricate tapestries of lies, deceit, and misappropriation to obfuscate the more material of thievery engaged in by their fellows. Mask's Darkfingers were not above thrusting a whole realm into outright war if it promoted an environment of increased 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.

Maskarran clerics offered prayer at night or when under the cloak of darkness. 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
Veneration of Mask was prominent among criminals in many nations across Faerûn, including the eastern realm of Thay, along with nearby Unther and Mulhorand. It was notable that Mask was the only non-native deity to garner any following of note in Mulhorand.

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 to Mask could be found within Tilverton in Cormyr, Bezantur in Thay,

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.

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

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 Uproven.

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.

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.

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

 * Bulzo Tarhair, master of the halfling thieves that operated out of Tyraturos.
 * Huriot, a particularly devious inventor and the most prolific Prince of Thieves of Skuld.
 * Kesson Rel, the first of Mask's chosen.
 * 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.
 * Shulgi, a former Cormyrean thief that became afflicted with vampirism and set to lead a thieves' guild in Messemprar.