Mockers

The Mockers were one of 3,012 sects belonging to the Unified Sects of Cabal in the Cabal Archipelago who all worshipped The One God. Each of the sects had fought in terrible civil wars in an attempt to dominate their nation's secular and spiritual matters. Then the Grand Synod of New Year One created peace by establishing one overriding doctrine: "Belief in The One God occludes all other concerns." Like the other sects, they maintained a single college responsible for formalising their doctrine.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.223
The Mockers' sect tenet was:
"The One God, having written nothing down, having left all matters of interpretation of faith and worship to the unguided minds of over-educated mortals, is unequivocally insane."
They were forbidden laughter, for that was an invitation to the hysteria afflicting the One God.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.220-225 Instead, their faces were painted in what they called the Holy Expression--a comical mask made of thick, solid pigments, bright and garish, with an exaggerated expression of hilarity. The Mockers believed this showed a true image of the One Behind the Grand Design. 
The Mockers were concerned with matters of balance and redressing imbalances. Each person contained Ten Thousand Secretions which must flow even and clear to maintain a healthy balance of mind and body. Healing the body or mind often involved removing blockages to allow the body to self-repair and regain balance.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.222/224
They believed the One God did not aid his followers because helping one meant it must help them all. This would inevitably lead to irreconcilable conflict and drive the One God mad and out of balance--something that had indeed happened long ago. It was the core of the Mocker doctrine that if every mortal were to acquire a clarity of thought, a regard of morality, a profound humility, and a respect for all, then the One God's imbalance would be redressed and he would regain his sanity.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.224
Sect members discarded their birth names and were known only by their rank in the Unified Sects.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.222
==Notable Mockers==
Senior Assessor
==In Reaper's Gale==
Senior Assessor was brought to Letheras by the Third Edur Imperial Fleet to face Emperor Rhulad Sengar in mortal combat. When he learned Icarium was among his fellow champions, the monk was staggered. His eyes bulged, he smeared his face paint with his clutching hands, and bit his lips so hard they spurted blood. Then he ran from the room. Yan Tovis suspected he had been on the verge of hysterical laughter.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 9, US HC p.221-226 Later he stalked Icarium from afar, refusing to draw too close even when the Jhag tried to call him over. Icarium thought his worship delusional. Senior Assessor could only wonder at the idea that he was the only living Cabalhii to have seen his people's god with his own eyes.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 15, US HC p.430-431/436-437
==Notes and references==
Category:Seven Cities