In the Darkness there is Truth
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a fun toy for mind games and the like. Though its powers are quite potent, these are intended to be balanced by significant drawbacks to keep things balanced. As with any item used in a PvP setting, the effect of an attack - or the lack of it - is up to the defending party, not the attacker.
- Image Source: Here. Cover of 'Man in the Iron Mask' Audiobook by 'All You Can' Books.
- Canon Link: N/A
- Restricted Missions: N/A
- Primary Source: Summon Fear, Mask.
- Manufacturer: Eidolon Supplies & Transport.
- Model: N/A
- Affiliation: Closed-Market.
- Modularity: No
- Production: Semi-Unique
- Material: Alchemised metal
SPECIAL FEATURES
- The mask can summon someone's fears - and assume the shape of said fears
- Alternately the mask can take the illusion of someone else's face
- Strengthens mental shields
Strengths:
- The mask is the creation of a powerful mentalist who imbued it with Sith sorcery. It is able to manifest the worst fears of those who look upont it and are affected by its power, sometimes to the point of hysteria and insanity. Those who fall under its spell find that the mask manifests the shape of their fears. The power of the illusion depends on the concentration and power of the wearer, the mental strength of the victim and the duration. The longer the victim is under the spell of the mask, the more realistic and dangerous the illusions become. Potentially, the mask has the ability to warp its victim's perception of reality, trapping him or her inside a mental maze of horrors. Ideally, a victim might be forced into a comatose state, unable to act in the real world, while their mind is tormented without pause, or driven insane. A skilled mentalist who uses this device will find that their illusions are more potent, realistic and longer in duration.
- In addition to being a tool of offensive mentalism, the mask also conceals the wearer's identity. Aside from concealing the user the way an ordinary mask does, it can assume the facial features of another person. However, this is taxing and requires a lot of concentration. In other words, it is not practical in the middle of combat.
- In the process, it also acts as a thought shield. This also makes it difficult to perceive the wearer's actions in advance through precognition. Those who try read the wearer's mind open themselves to the spell of madness, potentially making themselves susceptible to a mental attack.
- Being a product of Sith alchemy, the mask is virtually indestructible, even able to block a lightsabre strike. However, as detailed in the next section, while the mask may be all but impervious, there are still a number of ways to damage the wearer's face if he or she is not careful.
Weaknesses:
- Each mask manifests a very powerful darkside presence. In short, it acts like a beacon to Force-users. The strong aura makes it extremely difficult to cloud one's presence in the Force or perform similar stealth techniques. This does not only apply if one wears the mask, simply having it on one's person suffices.
- While the mask is all but indestructible, a lightsabre blow could send plasma sparks through the mouth or eye holes. Likewise, a precise duellist or gunslinger could simply target these areas. A grenade explosion would not destroy the mask, but can definitely mess up the face inside it. The same applies to blunt impacts, since the mask would do little to stop concussive force caused by say a hammer. Moreover, the back of the wearer's head and their neck are not covered by the mask.
- It is also rather difficult and painful to remove.
- The mask's range is limited. It is most effective at close range. Moreover, it must be upon the wearer's face in order to work. Wearing a helmet above the mask will interfere with the spell.
- Like all Force artefacts, having this mask inside a Ysalimiri bubble will completely rob it of power. It will also be less efficient within the proximity of Voidstone.
- Like all darkside artefacts, it is vulnerable to Force Light. Powerful blasts will remove the enchantment and turn it into a bland, mundane mask.
- The mask requires great focus and concentration to utilise properly. A wearer who is put under great strain, severely wounded or mentally attacked faces the risk of their own Fear illusions turning on them, creating a backlash. Very powerful blasts of Force Light can potentially produce the same effect. Likewise, damage to the wearer or significant strain can disrupt, upset or wholly nullify the concealment illusion.
- Its ability to bring forth fear and madness does not work on sentient beings who are immune to mentalism. It also operates at reduced efficacy if the species of the prospective victim is very resistant to mental attacks. The same applies to its face-shifting ability.
- For full effectiveness, the wearer requires a certain degree of familiarity with the wearer's mind. While the minds of the weak-minded are very easily penetrated, a strong-willed individual or a Master would require more work. The same applies to attempts to using the mask for concealment. A very strong willed person or a powerful mentalist could pierce the illusion or deconstruct it, in which case it would lose its power.
DESCRIPTION
The melodramatically named Kyōfu no masuku - Atrisian for Mask of Terror - is the fruit of Sumiko Tanaka's research into Sith alchemy and mentalism. The former Inquisitor turned Sith Lady spent many years studying the work of Zannah and other Sith sorceresses and sorcerers. Her knowledge expanded after she acquired the library and resources of the late Darth Shadow, following the ancient Sith Lord's demise at the hands of Siobhan Kerrigan. Already a potent illusionist, she sought to create a device that would further strengthen her power, while at the same time providing her with a tool she could sell to allies and clients.
The concept of the mask is simple. Like with many darkside imbued items, its creation process is rather unpleasant, involving ghastly blood sacrifices. With a small force of Xioquo Janissaries and a cult of deluded worshippers at her command, it was easy for Sumiko to seize various individuals on Nar Shaddaa who belonged to the dregs of society.
Having acquired suitable prisoners, she set to work. To create the first mask, the poor unfortunate souls were subjected to a vicious assault on their psyche, which brought forth their worst fears and traumas, to the point of insanity. The mental anguish and terror the prisoner experienced was imprinted upon a mask. In addition, their blood was used to empower it.
The mask would carry an echo of the victim's torment, with Sumiko imbuing the device with some of her own mental power. While this weakened her for a while, the result was a powerful device of the dark side. Furthermore, the mask was engraved with Sith hieroglyphs and a Massassi script. These words, written in Sith magic, finalised the alchemisation process and created a potent device imbued with the spell of Summon Fear, a potent darkside power that was favoured by the Dread Masters and Darth Zannah. The item is far inferior in power compared to an apex level artefact such as the Phobis Device, but nonetheless potent.
What the mask does is bring forth the victim's fears and mental terrors, assuming their shape. The more experienced the wearer and the longer the duration, the more powerful the illusion. Obviously this also depends on the mental strength of the victim and their experience in dealing with mental attacks of this sort. Furthermore, the mask conceals the wearer's identity and acts as a shield, making it difficult to read their thoughts through mentalism or anticipate their actions via application of clairvoyance, though not impossible.
Furthermore, Sumiko imbued it with the alchemical power of mask. With extreme focus, the mask can conceal the wearer by looking like someone else. In doing so, it takes on the appearance of someone else's face. The concentration required does not make this practical during combat. Moreover, it obviously does not alter the rest of the wearer or somehow change their clothing.
Like every Force imbued item, the mask will lose its power within the radius of the Force-negating bubble generated by a ysalamiri. Furthermore, it only has a short range, is vulnerable to Force Light and requires focus and concentration. A careless user - or one who has been injured severely - faces the risk of the fear and madness illusions turning on them. Either the illusionary attacks or the concealment can be deconstructed by a very strong mind or someone experienced with mentalism. This means there's the potential for high reward, but also high risk, which is something anyone who uses this item must keep in mind.
