Hall of Faces

This is the central registry at the Fools' Guild which contains long shelves of meticulously ordered blown eggshells, each bearing the painted likeness of an individual Clown, together with carefully indexed and filed descriptions, clothing, special routines, and so on. Unless in very unique and special circumstances, wearing the Face of another clown is an offence punishable by eventual death.

For a clown's face is his fortune. A dying clown can will it to a son, nominate a successor, or it may be auctioned by the Guild. The right to wear a famous Clown's make-up and costume and to use his routines can change hands for many thousands of dollars. As in the case of The Great Bazonko, who has been clowning for over four hundred years, the Face confers a kind of immortality. Indeed, Doctor Whiteface has been head of the Clowns for over three hundred years. The men behind the makeup may come and go, but there is always a Doctor Whiteface.