Masks can be found throughout Outer World for a number of reasons. There is the obvious utility of hiding one's identity, but they have other, more frivolous applications as well. Members of some organizations obscure their faces to appear as if they part of a more homogeneous whole. The stubborn dead occasionally use them (often accompanied by a fragrances) to be less alarming to the living when interacting with them. Performers seeking to be lost within a role swear by them, particularly if the audience is large enough that some members would only be able to make.
Occasionally, they will be rare and powerful artifacts that allow you to truly become someone or something else entirely - for a short time, anyway. These are collectively known as Morphic Masks.
Like their mundane counterparts, Morphic Masks design differ by region and the tastes of their crafters. Masks from the Wistful Dark favor abstract symbols etched into smooth surfaces that cover most of the face, those from the Twilight Meridian prefer domino style masks in fanciful shapes, the Blazing Garden often produces ones that are uncanny attempts at realism, while the Buried Kingdom makes practical allowances for things like blackout goggles.
- Morphic Masks are imbued Artifacts and made of an appropriate magical material.
- Morphic Masks take effect when worn on one's face. Properly donning one requires an miscellaneous action to do so in combat or other time-critical situations.
- Unless otherwise noted, a mask's effect lasts until it is removed.
- Morphic Masks will alter themselves to fit their wearer even if they cause a transformation that causes a significant shift in size.
- Masks take up 1 inventory slot.
Purr Mask
Stylized after Outer World's favorite little felines.
- Putting on a Purr Mask transforms you into a Purr character of your current Rank. This transformation lasts for 24 hours exactly and the mask cannot be used again for 24 hours after that.
- Any Gear on your person vanishes during the transformation, and returns when you revert back to normal.
- Cost: 337 Coins (Permanent Artifact)
Deadeye Mask
Fashioned to look like a corpse or a spirit.
- Wearing the deadeye mask temporarily turns you into a member of the stubborn dead.
- Your flesh takes on a deathly pallor. While you are transformed you are immune to Fatigue, Starvation, Suffocation, and aging. You are also immune to toxins that target living tissue which are ingested, inhaled or injected.
- You cannot benefit from the effects of potions, other consumables, or any effect meant for the living while wearing this mask.
- Cost: 300 Coins (Permanent Artifact)
Horror Mask
Designed to be grotesque and unearthly.
- Wearing this mask transforms you into a Grim Wing (BREAK!! Core Rules, pg 386). The metamorphosis is awful to behold and causes you also lose control of yourself and begin to rampage.
- The transformation is undone as soon as the mask is removed, though it's difficult to do so. This should require a Stunt, Combat Trick, or Tactical Assist at the very least. Destroying the mask works as well, if one has the means to sunder magical materials.
- Cost: N/A (The secret to creating these is well guarded, and they are generally only employed by insidious fleshwarpers and other ne'er-do-wells.)
Creating your own Morphic Masks
There are a variety of transformations that can be induced by a Morphic Mask. Some might turn wearers into other Callings, or beasts different from the examples here. There might even be ones that change you into a specific individual, but these would be rare indeed.
- If players want to make a mask, they require 1 unit of magical material and some form of unique additive related to the transformation if being crafted. Naturally, the GM is the final arbiter on how one can obtain said additive, if it is possible.
