Masks of Rolciado
Rolciado was an adventuring priest of Light (Ikribu), who lived about CY 7100, during the Renaissance in the North after north pass was temporarily restored – taken from the Lich Lords. It was said he fashioned the masks using information learned in the north, stolen from the Lich Lords by his master’s master (Father Glasvega) who battled their forces in 7007 to free Northgate. The masks, and there were said to be a dozen or more (the exact number never confirmed) were made over time to allow Rolciado to overcome his natural lack of aptitude and capability in differing areas. It was his said his goal to be able to serve his King “in all ways”. At the end of his life, it was said that he had no personality of his own, that each mask took on its own life and subsumed his own thoughts. He could only be whole when he wore them all at once. Each mask was said to be an improvement in power over the last, fashioned by unknown hands and processes. All of them vanished after his death – stolen most likely. A few have turned up over the years, usually to be sold and vanish once again or in the hands of adventurers and lost in the course of their death.
The masks are made or some thin, skin-like material, and cover the entire face. They are a single, complete piece – no apertures for eyes, nose or mouth is visible. They are milky white and each with a different face – though none terrifying in form. They can be painted or adorned as needed, though such adornment typically dries and flakes off over a matter of weeks.
UNKNOWN: 11 masks, made from the skin of a powerful entity
PRICE:
Uncommon Knowledge
The masks were said to be terrifying to don. Many of those doing it for the first time were never quite the same again. Even after a possessor had ‘bonded’ with a mask, each time it was donned it was said that the wearer was shocked by both the physical feeling and mental effects. Each mask speaks with a different voice that is not the wearers.
Rolciado’s Illumination: It was said that Rolciado had developed a prayer which would counter some of the effects of the mask. It was a special prayer Rolciado invented for the purpose of countering some of the shock effects of donning the mask repeatedly.
It was said to have been buried with his body, though a copy was said to have been made by an enterprising priest and several manuscript have appeared over time to be such a document, but when used in conjunction with the mask, none have proven themselves a counter.
Item Statistics
[Incarna 5.0]Requirements: Requires the mask to be worn for 24 hours before it is bonded to the wearer.
First Time: Immediately upon donning, a SAN check is required as the mask grips the face with a million tendril like surfaces or 2 SAN is lost, returning at the rate of 1 per day. Its truly disturbing, but once done, SAN checks for donning a mask are not required.
Additionally, when bonded, each mask flashes through the psyche of the [when first bonded only] sights of the past owners, including deaths. None of it makes sense and it so fast that it simply jars the brain and forces the wearer into shock for 1 day, during which time the wearer and mask form a ‘bond’.
This bonding requires an additional SAN check, a point of Essence is lost if it fails.
Benefits: The wearer suffers no perceptive impairments when wearing these masks, but no normal helm will accommodate their shape either. Any capabilities (skills or traits) which are gained solely through the benefits of these masks cannot be used when they are not worn – the mind and body of the wearer is not capable of processing such feats without the added perspective and insight granted by the mask.
Penalties: Any social skills suffer a -1 penalty and facial appearance/Looks cannot be leverage either by or against the wearer (as in intimidate or seduction).
Continuous Wearing: Additionally, each masks sends urges, image and sensory flashes associated with its function. This requires a CHA check when initially donned or the wearer’s CHA is impaired for 1 hour.
The masks have the effect of leaching the tissue of moisture and color. When removed, the mask will do 1 damage per day it was worn to a maximum of 30 (-1 APP & -1 APP per 10 points; returns as healed), and the wearer suffers 1 malaise which will only heal at half the normal healing rate for the wearer – this prevents the mask from being donned and removed at will.
The effect is halved for those who are Living Sacraments to Ikribu.
Watchman Mask
This is said to be the first mask Rolciado made, in order to augment his meager fighting abilities. It is austere in countenance.
- Requirements:
- Bonded Powers: This has them affect of granting Familiarity: Maces and Familiarity: Spears when worn, as well as reducing by 1 the kinetic aptitude for all weapons in these groups. The wearer is considered Toughened as well (gains species average STA in resilience). If the possessor has Danger Sense, they gain a +2 on checks. Lastly, they gain a +1 on any PER checks.
Merchant Mask
This is said to be the second mask made by Rolciado, in order to more acquire equipment better. He often posed as some strange sect of Light, painting this mask with a happy visage – the mask itself formed into a grin of sorts as well.
- Requirements:
- Bonded Powers: The wearer gains +2 to their Appraising and written words come into focus – it grants literacy in their primary language at 1 or a +1 on checks if already possessed. The wearer is also capable of telling fake currency by sight (PER check) or touch (PER +4) and can assess the rough height and weight of known things with total accuracy. Also, the wearer gains a a chance to understand any spoken communication. If they do not possess a skill in the language, they may make a check at level 0 to understand. Lastly, this gives the wearer a bit of the poise and restraint of a shrewd merchant – they are considered to have +1 WPR in any bargaining process or content of wills.
Sorcerer Apprentice Mask
- Requirements:
- Bonded Powers: The wearer has their magic aptitude increased by one for the sake of determining whether or not they can learn skills or traits. Additionally, the mask operates as a Periaptery (+1 ALU) for the following: Locate the Weave, Discern Metal, Torchlight, Sharing Basic Knowledge and Know When the Stillness Ends. It operates as a Talisman of Revealing (+1 mana sense) and a Crystal of Reserve (+1 occult reserve when worn).
History, Credit, & Testing
Original Idea: Kelly Berger 2009