Black Mask
This high-end costume shop’s placard bears no name, only the sign of an elegant black mask draped over a dark gray glove. Inside, it offers ornate masks, double-sided cloaks, and unusual attire from common disguises to ornate parade costumes of bamboo and silk that allow a dozen men to play the part of a sea-serpent. However, it is an open secret that the shop is truly a temple to Norgorber, and that when it closes business at the end of each day, the black-and-gray-clad faithful of the Reaper of Reputation come to worship the second Ascended God.
Unlike most cities, Absalom has no restrictions forbidding the worship of Norgorber. As an ascendant of the Starstone, he is seen as a native divinity who should at least be tolerated and sometimes venerated. That said, his followers gain no special protection from Absalom’s laws either—stealing is still illegal in Absalom even if you do it to honor Norgorber’s role as the Gray Master. As a result, his priests and worshipers hide their identities in Absalom as carefully as they would anywhere else, and the Graycloaks keep a close eye on the Black Mask any night it seems to be more active than usual. Of course, not every visitor to the shop is a follower of the god—groups of alchemists hold meetings after-hours at the Mask every few weeks, customers who genuinely just want to buy a costume-piece are common, and foes of Norgorber often wander into the shop to keep an eye on its activities. On the other hand, some of the alchemists worship Norgorber as Blackfingers the Poisoner, many of the customers are thieves and assassins even if they don’t venerate Norgorber, and enemies of Norgorber can make as much trouble for Graycloaks as his faithful.
Every few years, the Black Mask begins selling numerous leather costumes with ragged, rawhide edges and ghoulish, demented faces. Such outfits are called “skinsaws” by shop clerks, and are sold cheaply. Within a few weeks, a rash of cult killings hits some poorer section of Absalom. No one has ever proven any connection between the skinsaw costumes and the killings, and even if a link exists many people believe the costumes serve as enough of a warning. Regardless of connection or intent, the poorer and weaker residents of the city always fear the news that “skinsaws” may be bought at the Black Mask.
Unlike most cities, Absalom has no restrictions forbidding the worship of Norgorber. As an ascendant of the Starstone, he is seen as a native divinity who should at least be tolerated and sometimes venerated. That said, his followers gain no special protection from Absalom’s laws either—stealing is still illegal in Absalom even if you do it to honor Norgorber’s role as the Gray Master. As a result, his priests and worshipers hide their identities in Absalom as carefully as they would anywhere else, and the Graycloaks keep a close eye on the Black Mask any night it seems to be more active than usual. Of course, not every visitor to the shop is a follower of the god—groups of alchemists hold meetings after-hours at the Mask every few weeks, customers who genuinely just want to buy a costume-piece are common, and foes of Norgorber often wander into the shop to keep an eye on its activities. On the other hand, some of the alchemists worship Norgorber as Blackfingers the Poisoner, many of the customers are thieves and assassins even if they don’t venerate Norgorber, and enemies of Norgorber can make as much trouble for Graycloaks as his faithful.
Every few years, the Black Mask begins selling numerous leather costumes with ragged, rawhide edges and ghoulish, demented faces. Such outfits are called “skinsaws” by shop clerks, and are sold cheaply. Within a few weeks, a rash of cult killings hits some poorer section of Absalom. No one has ever proven any connection between the skinsaw costumes and the killings, and even if a link exists many people believe the costumes serve as enough of a warning. Regardless of connection or intent, the poorer and weaker residents of the city always fear the news that “skinsaws” may be bought at the Black Mask.
Type
Shop, Tailor
Parent Location
Owner
Additional Rulers/Owners
Owning Organization
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