The Most Dangerous Games: The Three-Mask Ritual Game

Previously: The Nail Cutting Ritual.

Have you ever played the game Two Truths And A Lie? Y’know, the ice-breaker game where you tell a group of relative strangers two truths and a lie about yourself, and everyone has to guess which is which? Well, the ritual game often referred to as the Mask Game, or what I think of as the Three-Mask Ritual Game, is essentially What If Two Truths And A Lie, But Supernatural.

Unlike your standard Two Truths And A Lie, however, there’s a prize for winning the Three-Mask Ritual Game. There isn’t necessarily a cost for losing… as long as you execute the emergency procedures correctly. If you don’t, things might go… poorly for you.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

Originally posted to the r/ThreeKings subreddit in May of 2018, I’m pretty sure this one is a recent creation — although precisely who created it remains up for debate. Per the Redditor who posted it, u/thisiswhythefccisbad, they had “heard about it from a friend [they] met at summer camp a few years ago”; assuming this is true, then they probably would have heard about it around 2016 at the latest, and potentially earlier.

(How much earlier depends on the age of the Redditor, which is unclear, although I’d argue that if the phrase “summer camp a few years ago” is in play, they wouldn’t have been older than their teens at the time — meaning the window for the timeframe here is probably pretty slim and limited to the early-to-mid-2010s. Then again, I am an aging and decrepit Old and anyone under the age of 30 always seems impossibly young to me, so do with that what you will.)

Whether the game was invented by that friend or whether they had also originally heard about it from a friend isn’t clear. Whether the Redditor was even being truthful here also isn’t clear; there remains the possibility that the Redditor themself could have invented it, as well.

Masks have, of course, been used in ritual for time immemorial; they’re usually worn by someone, however, which, curiously, they aren’t in the Mask Ritual game. Or at least, they aren’t worn by the player. They don’t seem like they’re worn by… whatever you’re corresponding with, either — but then again, just because they’re placed on the ground doesn’t mean there isn’t something occupying them from there anyway.

If you have a wish or desire, this is one way to try to get it granted. Be careful what you wish for, however.

As always: Play at your own risk.

Requirements:

• A piece of paper.
• A writing implement.
• Two candles. (See: Additional Notes.)
• Matches or a lighter. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A sharp object. (See: Additional Notes.)
• Three masks. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A dark, quiet room in which to play. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A wish or desire — something you want.
• A word — one you find powerful or meaningful. A word that is close to your heart.

Instructions:

Making The Preparations:

1. Begin at night. Do not begin before the sun has fully set and the moon has risen.
2. Go to your chosen playing space, bringing with you all of your supplies.
3. Empty the room of all electronic devices, as well as of any pets or other people. If there are windows, draw the curtains or otherwise block them such that no outside light intrudes. Then, close the door behind you.
4. Ensure that you will not be disturbed for the duration of the game.
5. Once the door has been shut, clear a wide space on the floor, moving and all flammable items to the edges of the room. It is recommended that you acquire a fire extinguisher and set it nearby, within easy reach.
6. Imagine you are drawing a square in the empty space on the floor. Set one of your masks down at each of the three of the corners, each mask facing the ceiling.
7. Place the two candles inside the square, at the corners adjacent to the empty corner — the maskless corner — positioning them opposite each other.
8. If you have not already done so, turn out the lights.
9. Using the matches or lighter, light both candles.
10. Now: Position yourself at the fourth corner — the corner where there is no mask. You should be able to touch each of the three masks from this position, if you were to reach out — but do NOT touch them. Not now. Not yet.
11. Place the paper, the writing implement, and the sharp object within easy reach.
12. Once you have positioned yourself correctly, and written down your word, speak aloud the following words: “Join me, game masters, for I want a prize.”
13. Now: Wait. Pay attention to your surroundings. What do you see? Hear? Sense?
    • If you detect any changes in your surroundings: Do not proceed. Extinguish the candles and leave the room; then enact the directives laid out in Emergency Procedures (see below). It would… not be wise to attempt this ritual again.
    • If nothing changes: You may proceed.

Finding The Lie:

1. Use the writing implement to write down your chosen word — your Word — on the piece of paper. Keep it close by. Do not forget your Word.
2. Place the piece of paper in the middle of the square formed by the three masks and yourself.
3. Wait. Wait for a count of 30 — as close to 30 seconds as you are able to estimate. But do not count out loud. Do not make any noise. Remain silent.
4. After 30 seconds have passed, take note again of your surroundings. You may sense a change in the masks — perhaps observable by sight, perhaps not. You may hear a voice speak — perhaps with your ears, perhaps inside your own mind. If the voice speaks, it will say this, and only this: “I am here. Let’s play Two Truths And A Lie.”
   • NOTE: If you do not sense these changes, or if you sense any changes OTHER than these precise ones, DO NOT PROCEED. Should you find yourself in this situation, speak your Word aloud three times, extinguish the candles, and leave the room. Then enact the directives laid out in Emergency Procedures — IMMEDIATELY.
5. Speak aloud your assent. Do not respond with anything other than assent.
6. Your Correspondent will begin. They will make three statements: Two of them will be truths, and one of them will be a lie. These truths may be about anything — any topic at all, including (although not necessarily) yourself. The lie may be about anything — any topic at all, including (although also not necessarily) yourself. 
7. Consider these three statements carefully, and decide which one you believe to be the lie.
   • If you believe the FIRST statement to be the lie: Pick up your sharp object, and drive it into the mask in the corner to your LEFT.
   • If you believe the SECOND statement to be the lie: Pick up your sharp object, and drive it into the mask in the corner OPPOSITE yourself.
   • If you believe the THIRD statement to be the lie: Pick up your sharp object, and drive it into the mask in the corner to your RIGHT.
   • If you DO NOT KNOW which statement is the lie: Leave your sharp object where it is and speak aloud the words, “I do not know.”
8. If you are correct: You will know.
9. If you are incorrect: …You will know.
10. Do not be incorrect.

Telling The Lie:

1. If you are correct, the game will continue. It is now your turn to tell your Correspondent two truths and a lie.
2. Your Correspondent will indicate to you which statement they believe to be the lie, although the way in which they will do so is… not necessarily set. Regardless, you will know what they have chosen — somehow.
   • If your Correspondent is incorrect: Congratulations; you have won the game. You may now communicate to your Correspondent your wish or desire — the thing you want. They will be required to grant it. They cannot decline to do so.
   • If your Correspondent is correct: Your Correspondent has won; you have lost. Speak your Word out loud three times, extinguish the candles, and leave the room. Do so IMMEDIATELY. Then, enact the directives laid out in Emergency Procedures.
3. Should you lose the game, do NOT fail to speak your Word.
4. Do NOT fail to speak it three times.
5. And do NOT fail to leave the room.
6. Should you stay… well, let’s just say that you may never leave that room again.
7. Ever.

Additional Notes:

Due to the use of candles and open flames, this game should be considered a fire hazard. Should you choose to play, it is recommended that you exercise commonsense fire safety precautions, including removing flammable items from the area, ensuring you have one or more fire extinguishers available and within easy reach, etc. We are not responsible for anything that may befall you or anyone else, should you choose to play this game.

Regarding the sharp object: This object may be, but does not necessarily NEED to be, a knife of some variety. However, other objects, such as a pair of scissors, etc., may also be used. Regardless as to the specific object chosen, it is recommended that you exercise commonsense safety precautions for the handling and use of sharp objects. We are not responsible for anything that may befall you or anyone else, should you choose to play this game.

Regarding the masks: The masks may be any variety of decorative, costume, or theatrical mask, including but not limited to: Halloween masks; carnival or masquerade masks; half masks; full masks; masks used in performance such as Greek drama or Japanese Noh theatre; character masks; domino masks; etc. They need not be identical; nor need they be three different marks. There is only one stipulation: The masks must NOT depict demonic beings or entities of any sort. Using a mask or masks of this variety might invite a Correspondent for which you… will not be fully prepared.

Regarding the playing space: Although this game may be played inside a room with windows, provided the windows are sufficiently covered, the ideal playing space is windowless or with only small windows. A basement or bathroom is recommended.

Emergency Procedures And When To Carry Them Out:

The following emergency procedures should be carried out in the event that anything unusual occurs during the performance of this ritual:

After speaking your Word three times, extinguishing the candles, and leaving the room, close the door behind you. Do not open this door or return to the room until at least one full day has passed — two if possible — and then, only in daylight. Ideally, vacate the premises entirely.

When you are able to return, gather up and destroy and all supplies, including the masks.

Especially the masks.

Destroy them as completely and totally as possible.

Remove the remains of these destroyed supplies to a location as far away from yourself and your home as possible and leave them there. Bury them, if you can.

There is nothing stopping you from attempting the ritual again at a later date, but it is… not recommended that you do so.

Please note that these emergency procedures may be carried out at the specific points indicated in the Instructions — but may also be carried out if the player senses anything… wrong during the course of the game.

Anything at all, at any point.

If you tend not to be able to sense these kinds of things — to sense when something is off, even if everything appears normal on the surface — you would be wise to think twice about attempting to play this game.

The cost of missing something is rather high.

Is your wish worth it?

Is it worth the risk?

Truly?

Okay, then.

If you’re sure.

I just… hope you know what you’re getting into.

***

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[Photos via capobleu2a, MLARANDA, sdep, dimitrisvetsikas1969/Pixabay]