On Grins
It appears that many of the Bridgeworld treasures have obvious utility: a donkey to bear the load, a thread of divine silk to stitch mortal wounds, an ancient relic to inspire favour from the gods.
But Grins are different.
From scraps and scrolls recovered in the ruins of the Great Library, we understand that each Grin is sustained by dark Magic. Several scrawled entries suggest the power of each mask develops over time, at grave personal cost to the wearer.
There is much we have yet to learn, but it is clear these faceless masks must not fall into the wrong hands. We do not believe the use of a Grin can be reconciled with our Legion ideals of unity and honour. However, collecting them has not been easy. Grins are rare but hide in plain sight. They are scattered throughout the Bridgeworld like tattered mementoes from a masquerade ball.
Three days ago we discovered an entry in the charred remains of a tome entitled The Lost Treasures of Bridgeworld. These treasures have a dark history in this world. It read as follows…
Each Grin is bonded with its wearer. When a hunt begins, dark magic within comes to the fore. The Grin will shift its features according to the beholder, a blur of the friendly and familiar. It twists and reconfigures, taking whatever form is needed to win the trust of its victim. The wearer will slip unnoticed into any inner circle. The Gods’ lust for blood will be satisfied. Stealth is assured. Retribution is impossible. Look closer — as those soon to meet their end inevitably do — and the disguise will flicker for a moment. Beneath each affable Grin stare impassive eyes. The last thing you see before you die.
Of all the Bridgeworld treasures, these Grins hold the greatest promise for the Assasin’s Guild. We have seen that in well-trained hands they are an unstoppable weapon. And yet we cannot help but fear their potential. How can there be an escape from the cycle of death and darkness the Grin ignites? Is that the burden one must carry to wield a treasure of this power?
_Tales of the Legion | Arrival in the Bridgeworld
