The Faceless

From Ardesia

The Faceless are the descendants of the victims of a Witch Wars hex. It disfigures the victim slowly, making them progressively more grotesque. It is widely believed to be contagious: the curse is said to be attracted to those who ostracise or otherwise wrong a Faceless, and not by simple contact. Hence the Faceless are tolerated and even aided by the citizens of Tayel. (In Rightspear, the Faceless are an unwritten exception to the law forbidding begging.) Even the constabulary and Royal Dragons use a light hand when dealing with a Faceless.

A Faceless is recognisable by the all-concealing, grey, hooded robes of rough sacking that they wear. Their hands and feet are wrapped in black-dyed bandages. Their common name comes from the deep hood that conceals their face.

The curse afflicts with no obvious pattern, claiming a brother and leaving a sister, or skipping one or more generations. As a result, even those whose families have no recorded members among the Faceless may discover the curse among the next generation.