Visage
"This is the port of Visage, where faces may not be naked. Except one: a stone monument the size of a village church, serenely gazing upwards. Flourishing-of-Years."
Visage is an island in the southern Unterzee whose main feature is a large face that watches the sky. Everyone on the island wears masks, according to their role. For example, those that wish to trade wear locust masks, those who wish to learn of Visage wear frog masks, and spies wear bat masks. Once a mask is chosen, its wearer must play their assigned part.
It is implied that there are little to no permanent citizens of Visage, only an endless stream of people playing them, possibly for years at a time, before giving their positions to others.
Some notable locations include the Flood Court, which is always flooded to a certain degree. Said degree varies - the water could be ten feet deep, but it could also be up to one's ankles. There is also the Library of Parts, where citizens go to learn how to perform what their mask asks of them. Apis Temple, a temple in which an injured bull is kept, has priests constantly collecting it's blood through cups.
Visage's face is hollow, and it is possible to enter its interior through its ear. This is done on festival days. During the festival, in complete darkness, people remove their masks and trade secrets, though nobody knows whose secrets are whose. Trading masks, however, is completely unheard of.
The Masks of Visage
For every part played in the ritual life of Visage there is a mask to represent specific personalities and castes within the society. Each person is expected to follow the nature of their mask, to play their part in the grand play that goes on here. Visage has many masks, here are just a few and the parts they play.
Moon Moth
A sort of instructor and customs agent of the Island. Most new members of Visage are often shadowed by a Moon Moth in order to make sure the newcomer knows how to play his role and make sure they don't cause trouble. The Moon Moth is often a senior member who has spent years on the island.
Cobra
Closest being to a priest class on Visage. Cobra's are respected members of society who's main job is to maintain the Temple and Flood Court. To be invited into the home of a Cobra is considered a great honor.
Crocodile
The equivalent of an enforcer or warrior on the island. Crocodiles hunt threats to the island as well as sail overzee to enforce the will of the Island. They are not afraid to kill you just on the type of mask you wear.
Jackal
Another type of enforcer who protects the ritual of entering the Flourishing-of-Years. It makes sure ALL member are playing their part and to reward those who follow the rules with beautiful treasure.
Frog
The most typical sign of a newcomer on Visage. Frogs are expected to be goofy, playful, and otherwise stupid. Few care for the antics of a Frog.
Locust
The mask of traders and greedy folk. Locusts are expected to put money over all other thoughts, and is not uncommon to see them swarm over the money pools of the Flood Court
Bat
The Bat signifies that a spy is present in Visage. Very few people play the part of the Bat, as the Bat always dies. Crocodiles and other enforcer members are expected to kill them on sight, but no one else. Bats often stay hidden in the shadows or within the Flourishing-of-Years.
There are, of course, many other masks in the great show Visage plays. These are just the major cast members you may see, but be warned, to not play your part or to remove your mask is almost surely a death sentence.
Possible Origins
Due to the interesting culture on Visage the island's history may trace down to the Second City taken by the Bazaar, the Egyptian City of Amarna. The flood court is an interpretation of an ancient custom to the way ancient Egyptians recorded the seasons of flooding in the Nile River. While the Zee does not flood the detailed records of the Egyptians allow the people of Visage to simulate the natural calendar flood cycles from when they were above.
The masks also have a significant role in Egyptian culture. Priests and higher members of society often wore such masks to represent the animals of the Nile. It is often thought that the mask would gift the wearer with the virtues and powers of the animal shown. Many festivals and religious celebrations often had such masks to hold reverence to the creatures who were thought to be messengers and eyes of the Gods.
The most important detail is Apis Temple. The Sacred Bull is a very common custom in many cultures of the early Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and even Greek civilizations. In Egypt, the bull was worshiped as Apis, the embodiment of Ptah and later of Osiris. A long series of ritually perfect bulls were identified by the god's priests, housed in the temple for their lifetime.
