THE FACELESS MASKS
A Law Almost Forgotten
Forgotten isn't the same as dead. I should probably make that clear before we continue.
Laws don't require anybody to remember them. They were here considerably before anyone had names for them, and I expect most will remain long after there is nobody left to forget.
The Faceless is simply... less necessary than it once was. Too much of what belonged to it began belonging elsewhere too. Other Laws crossed through the same places. Meaning blurred. Names disappeared. Eventually people stopped looking for it.
Mostly.
There is a monastery in one system of worlds where they still wear masks. They will give you many reasons for this. Good reasons, actually. Their masks carry duty, discipline, identity, belief. The Masked recognise the Laws, as many peoples there do.
But traditions are peculiar things. Sometimes the reason something continues is much younger than the reason it began.
Their masks are very old.
Older, I think, than they remember.
— Wisker
THE FIRST COVERING
The first Mask shall be placed upon the initiate by another.
No initiate shall perform their own First Covering.
The initiate shall kneel.
The initiate shall close their eyes.
The initiate shall speak their given name once.
The Mask shall be placed.
The second inversion shall present.
The initiate shall stand.
From that moment the Mask may be worn according to rank, duty and doctrine.
The initiate is not forbidden their name.
The initiate is forbidden from believing the name is sufficient.
ASSIGNMENT
The initiate does not choose Law because Law is pleasing. The initiate does not refuse Law because Law is feared.
Preference is evidence. Fear is evidence. Disgust is evidence. Obsession is evidence.
None alone constitute judgement.
For one cycle the initiate shall study without Mask. For one cycle the initiate shall train without declaration. For one cycle the initiate shall observe the Masks of others and shall not ask which one will become theirs.
Those who ask repeatedly shall begin the cycle again. Those who manufacture a Mask before assignment shall surrender it. Those who wear such a Mask shall surrender more.
TRAINING OF THE MASKED
The body must learn obedience before the Mask is permitted authority. Training begins before sunrise. Late waking is recorded. Repeated late waking is corrected.
The initiate shall run the eastern ascent wearing nothing and carrying the weight assigned by the instructor. The ascent ends when the instructor says it ends. The end is irrelevant.
Following ascent, the initiate shall hold stance until trembling ceases or instruction changes. The initiate shall practise movement while sight is restricted. The initiate shall practise movement while hearing is restricted. The initiate shall practise movement while breath is restricted. The initiate shall practise movement while instructors provide conflicting commands. The initiate shall identify which command serves doctrine.
Failure is recorded. Hesitation is recorded. Anger is recorded. Excuses are recorded.