Black Masks: The Organization
Black Masks: The Organization
Email: Hello, I've been trying to flesh out my Elf character(mage assassin, with black mask, and alchemy... I know alchemy will probably be removed... but I'd rather keep in at least an RP prespective). Anyway, in developing his history I came accross some possible problems with the black mask. I get the feeling in a few places in the description that they're a human organization. Due to the talk of agents being aged masks, past their prime. I was wondering if you could shed some light on the beginning of the Masks. Was it a Twilight organization that, like the Church, was infiltrated and taken over by lessers? Or is it more along the lines of created completely by humans. I have a few assassin friends in the Elven Alliance that also would like some more background information on the Masks. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you
By- Atrox
Answer: Hey there!
You're right - the write up does have a distinctly Human feeling to it, but don't take that too far. Even an Elf can pass their prime and lose their nerve (especially is a deal or two goes bad or they accidentally get maimed or something).
As to the history of the Masks, I expect they began after the beginning of time (and hence, after the creation of Humanity), but that they started as an Elvish organization - sort of an Elvish Mafia, if you will.
Given the amount of Byzantine skullduggery that tends to go on between Elvish Noble houses, a nameless, faceless group of contract killers would always be in high demand.
I can imagine that there might have been some more ancient group, an entire Elvish noble house of assassins in the Age of Twilight that remained staunchy neutral politically, and that they were either eradicated in the Taming or else came to a very nasty, very public end. The first Masks might have been survivors of that group, stripped of their status and driven underground.
Anyway... the first ringleaders of the Masks were Elvish, but pariahs socially, operating entirely in secret. Too difficult for a member of high Elvish society to be a mask and keep it secret, what with all the magical snooping going on. But the lower classes... they're perfect in their annonymity. I can envision how during the long captivity of Humanity, the Masks used Human slaves as a means of getting to their targets (who, after all, would ever suspect?), and thus the first Humans were recruited, trained, and indoctirnated.
In all of the tumult that followed (the Human rebellion, the War of Falmnes, and the War of the Scourge), I expect the Masks cut themselcves loose of simple national affiliations with either Humanity or Elvenkind, and became a cult unto themselves, operating in both theatres. Hence, whether or not the Masks are a human or elf group depends on where you're looking - different cells in different places will have different make-ups (and probably very different opinions about the other cells). There share traditions, a modus operandi, a few call signs and secret handshakes, and their rules. They will look out for each other, even if they don't like each other.
Who are the REAL ringleaders of the Masks, the super secret masters of the order? Nobody seems to know. The leaders of each cell might think that they are. Geography and communications (especially since the Turning) keep the whole picutre in the shadows...
which is exactly where it belongs.
A lot to swallow all at once I know, but basically this is telling us the Black Mask originated with the Elves, they then used the enslaved humans as their pawns (after all, who would suspect a monkey?) but after the humans were liberated the order was split, having both human and elvish members. What does this mean for the Irekei? From an RP standpoint (as an assassin) I can't really see joining a firk establishment, that's not only run by them, but also founded by them. I mean the Irekei broke away from the Elves and refused all Elvish customs, how could one justify being a Black Mask?
