The Masked Troupe is the performance-driven sect in Where Winds Meet, introduced in Version 1.3 Spring's Bliss. Unlike most sects that revolve around martial arts and combat, the Masked Troupe is built around music, dance, and community popularity. Joining it works differently from other sects, and the promotion system is entirely group-based.
Quick answer: You must be at least level 10 and in Online mode. Find Han Yanluo on a small boat in Fairgrounds, Kaifeng City, perform a dance or instrument for other players, receive at least one Like, then return to Han Yanluo to complete the initiation. Alternatively, earn an Invitation Letter from the Show of Splendor event and present it to Weeping Makeup at Crimson Cliff.
Initiation: Masked Troupe Quest (Standard Method)
The sect clue becomes available once you reach level 10, which is the minimum level for all sects. It points you toward the Fairgrounds area in Kaifeng City.
Step 1: Travel to Fairgrounds in Kaifeng City and locate Han Yanluo. She's on a small boat west of the central temple. Speak with her, choose any dialogue option, then talk to her again and select "I'm willing to" to begin the initiation. This quest requires Online mode.
Step 2: Open your emote options, go to the Talents tab, and either play an instrument or select Dance Now. Perform in a populated area — Petalfall Crossing is a good spot — and wait for other players to Like your performance. If you're playing an instrument, you'll need to stop playing before the quest updates.
Step 3: Return to Han Yanluo in the same location and speak with her to officially join the sect.
Beginner - Music Contest Quest (Event Method)
The Show of Splendor event, part of the Version 1.3 content, offers a faster alternative entry path. Completing just one quest from the event unlocks the Invitation Letter from The Masked Troupe as a claimable reward.
Step 1: Open the events menu and navigate to All as One → Show of Splendor. Complete any single quest from the event to unlock the Invitation Letter reward. Claim it from the performance invitation gift track at the bottom of the event screen.
Step 2: Travel to Crimson Cliff and find the NPC Weeping Makeup, who sits on a rock near a pond. Present your Invitation Letter.
Step 3: Select the "Come" dialogue option three times to complete the quest and join the sect immediately.
The Show of Splendor event also rewards fortune points, Echo Jade, and — at 15 completed quests — a stabilization token that prevents loss of grandmaster status after joining.
Sect Rules in Online Mode
The Masked Troupe's rules are straightforward but strictly enforced while you're playing online. Breaking them spawns an NPC that you'll need to deal with (use Tai Chi to push them into water) to avoid losing precept value.
- No begging in public areas.
- No partnership emotes — couple poses, and romantic displays are forbidden.
- No getting married while in the sect. Players who are already in a partnership can still join, but using partnership emotes risks detection. Velvet Shade members can reportedly check partnership status, so there's some risk of being caught.
- Full outfit required at all times — no missing top or bottom pieces.
If you're caught violating these rules, you lose precept value with the sect. The rules only apply in Online mode and don't affect offline play.
Classes and the Promotion System
After joining, you pick a stage name and choose a location or division (Sundara Land, Kaifeng, etc.). Regardless of your choice, you're placed into a random class with roughly 79–80 other players. This class functions like an idol company — promotion is a collective effort, not an individual one.
If your class accumulates 200,000 or more popularity, every member in it gets promoted. Popularity comes from several sources: jianghu errands, profile likes, Spotlight likes, floral paper exchanges, and general engagement. Coordinating in class chat for floral paper trades and liking each other's content is the most efficient way to climb.
Classes reset and randomize every week, so your group composition changes regularly. As soon as you join, go to your profile's third tab and select 10 screenshots or dances as your showcase — this is what other players will see and like.
Weekly Sect Value Requirement
Members must accumulate at least 1,000 Performer Popularity each week. The primary way to earn it is through Spotlight Mode: record a performance of your character dancing or playing music, then publish it to the Exhibition or Gallery. Likes on spotlighted content are worth roughly 15 popularity points each, though the exact math for other like types is still being mapped out by the community. All types of likes — from instruments, profiles, and spotlights — appear to count toward the total.
Virtuoso Ranks and Sect Shop
All Masked Troupe members hold the title of Virtuoso and progress through five ranks. From lowest to highest:
| Rank | Notable Shop Items | Voting Rights |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Musician | Masked Grace avatar (450 Rep), Pose: Butterfly's Tune (600 Rep), Stage Name Change (5,000 Coins), Blooming Fireworks (8,000 Coins) | 20 votes |
| Standing Musician | Masked Grace hairstyle (2,500 Rep), Masked Grace outfit (6,000 Rep) | 20 votes |
| Seated Musician | Reputation Giftbox (free) | 20 votes |
| Music Officer | Pose: Dancing Petals (1,500 Rep) | 40 votes |
| Music Director | — | 40 votes |
The exclusive cosmetics — the Masked Grace hairstyle and outfit — unlock at Standing Musician rank. Importantly, you keep purchased cosmetics even after leaving the sect. If you only want the outfit and hairstyle, you can farm reputation, buy them, and leave without losing the items.
Weekly Elections and Music Director
Every week, the sect holds an election for Music Director, the highest rank. Only Music Officers can register as candidates, and they must pay a 10,000-coin application fee. Current Music Directors cannot run for re-election. All members vote, with higher-ranked members receiving more votes (40 for Officers and Directors, 20 for everyone else). The winner holds the title for one week.
How to Leave The Masked Troupe
Step 1: Open the menu and select Sect.
Step 2: Click the Betray Master button in the bottom-right corner of the sect screen, then confirm your decision.
Step 3: Complete a Severance Trial by playing one match of Perception Forest. You can join another sect during the trial period, but the trial doesn't end until the match is finished.
Ribbon and Drums — The Teased Signature Weapon
The Masked Troupe's signature weapon has been confirmed as silk ribbons and a drum, drawing from the sect's Tang Dynasty performing arts origins. No release window has been announced, and the weapon's combat mechanics remain unconfirmed. The theatrical theme suggests a performance-inspired fighting style, but specifics are still unknown.
For players who want a social, creativity-focused sect experience rather than a combat-oriented one, the Masked Troupe offers something genuinely different in Where Winds Meet's sect system. The group promotion mechanic and weekly class shuffles keep it dynamic, though solo players should know that engagement with other members — even just exchanging likes — is essentially required to progress.
