The House of Black and White as a religious order (recruitment, organization and network)

[The Sleeper]

Generally speaking the FM are viewed as either mercenaries or a cult. While there is merit in both these perspectives I do not think they are entirely accurate.

Their more prominent role is that of assassins. Unlike what would expect from such an organization they operate openly and maintain a temple and appear to provide legitimate religious services. Their doors are open and there are people. Is the only reason people visit to commit suicide. While it is not explicitely stated, I think it is not. Arya observes sailors praying to the Merling King, soldiers to the pale child and old women to the weeping lady. Why would one pray to a death deity? The first reason would be to preserve oneself or loved ones who are in danger. That would fit with the worship of sailors and soldiers. One would also appeal to a death deity in times of mourning for the soul of a loved one. A large part of the duties performed by Arya involves the daily affairs of the temple itself rather than assassination.

Another aspect is that they have all the hallmarks of a monastic order. The relinquishment of past allegiances and affiliations, the rejection of wordly concern as a requirement for devotion is something that is seen in story in the brothers of the Quiet Isles, the Silent Sisters, the Most Devout and institutions such as the Night's Watch and the Kingsguard. For individuals joining such institutions the withdrawal from their previous lives would be an end in itself. For other it would be a refuge, when there is no where else to go. Still for others they could be seen as a path to power and influence. Arya would fit in all three categories. These aspects of monasticism are taken to extreme and serve to make the priests more adept in disguises, but they are still in line with self-abnegation as a religious practice. This practice would be in line with the members being perfectly obedient vessels. There is one element that contradicts this and all the other orders mentioned. There are several elements in Arya's arc that suggest that there is no hierarchy and that the rejection of personhood and its attendant preferences and judgement are more than a tool for keeping accolytes and accomplishes in line.

Arya's training seems to straddle the line between manipulation and honesty very neatly. Every part of her training is voluntary and is basically prefaced with the ultimatum do as you are told or get out. At the beginning, at least it is accompanied by offers of not simply turning her out on the street, but setting her up with a new life. There is a question of whether these offers were genuine and if they are still on the table. I believe they are. Another peculiar aspect is that each stage of her training is initiated in one way or another by Arya herself. At first she performed a servant's duties untill she asked the Kindly Old Man how he knew she was lying. It is only then that he begins to teach her how to lie. The next stage she initiated by being disobedient. Many people consider her blindness to be a reward. She was relegated back to a servants garb. There is also the element of the drill. In military training disciplinary measures often consists of excessive exercise or other tasks, which though still productive are highly unpleasant. In the FM's case of induced blindness the ultimatum, becomes much more difficult to bear. Her first assignment comes after an interview regarding her goals within the temple.

Arya's recruitment does not appear to be the regular course of events. We are told two tales of how one becomes a member of the temple. The first the Waif's, who was left at the temple as part of the sacrifice for the assassination of her stepmother. The other is the story of the first assassination ever performed in which the applicant became the aecond member of the order. The commonality is service in exchange for a death. Something to consider in this context is that the priests are not the only ones present at the temple. There the servants, the other accolytes and the cook. They all prey. Where did they come from? An answer would be that like the Waif they were left or joined the temple after an assassination. There is also the matter of Brusco and Izembaro, and the fact that Arya is the apprentice of the latter. As Arya slept with Brusco's daughters, it is implied that there is an active association with the temple and a level of trust on both sides that goes far beyond the demonstration of an iron coin. There is a question that places all these facts in the same context. That is whether all the novices, accolytes and people who find themselves at the Temple advance to the rank of Faceless Man. I think rather not, considering how demanding the training is, but that most opt out at one or another, becoming the servants, cooks, Bruscos and Izembaros. The variety of lives the Kindly Old Man offer to set Arya with, suggests that there plenty more of them out there and it makes me think the offers are genuine. When the Kindly Old Man told Arya that his wants did not matter, I think he was being genuine and guides Arya's training within set standards of rules and the subtlest of nudges, ensuring that ultimately she is the one responsible of how far she would take it.

This would explain the Temple's apparent network, while being consistent with their tennets. An individual would progress as far as they would be willing to go or sacrifice, their level of involvement would depend on how far they got in their training, while keeping the process ostensibly voluntary. It also fits with the negation of personhood, which in theory would eliminate active recruitment or judgement from the process. The other fact that supports this that there appears to be no hierarchy. One would assume that Kindly Old Man is in charge, but in the two meetings Arya has attended the priests sit as equals and debate the affairs of their order.

There are many other aspects and questions that arise. One inescapable conclusion is that their must be some sort of understanding with the city of Braavos, as they not only operate openly, but can command instant obedience to a certain extent among the citizens and have apparent influence beyond that. Other questions involve the context in which they view their organization in dealing with outsideway.The vital one of how are the sacrifices for the assassinations arranged. One can also speculate on how they evolved to their current form. I believe it would be a mistake to think that all the FM are of the same mind and interpret their tenets in the same way.