Post by flux on Jan 10, 2022 16:02:59 GMT -5
Base Concept
Creations of horror, these living things take a striking resemblance to that of a mask, covering only the eyes of its host. It is a parasitic relationship, spreading its hardy neural roots inside of its host and making the host’s body its own.
These masks can take over any living organism and have been known to take over plants such as trees creating wooden bodies, although this is rare and takes the mask creature far longer to do.
The living masks are non-magical by nature, however they have been known to be able to learn magic through their host, if they host was an experienced magic-user. Due to their nature they cannot access magic, but if the host had already access magic, the living masks can use those pathways.
Life Cycle
The life of these living masks begins as that of a giant seed pod about the size of a human fist. It contains anywhere between three to nine seeds. These seeds develop into the infant stage where they begin to resemble a bastard hybridization between that of a mask and spider. The infants will fight each other until at least one remains, that surviving infant then eats the corpses of its dead siblings and progresses to the next stage of youth. Most often there will be two surviving infants and in pods with far more eggs generally more infants will live to become youths.
Youths begin to grow in size and will resemble a mask far more than their days as an infant. It is much like that of a mask with ten legs crawling in the shadowy places of a forest. These youths will seek out prey to latch onto. Once it finds a prey it will attach itself to the prey’s face and dig its legs into the flesh to make itself as difficult as it can to pry off. Once enough time as passed the youth will begin to spread its neural roots and take control of the host’s body. Once it as done so its legs will wither and fall off, with the youth progressing to an adult.
Adults will grow and grow learning from its host and using whatever memories it finds to its advantage. Adults can use this knowledge to learn and adapt further, such as learning to communicate in the language of its host and even learning the talents of the host.
After many decades an adult will progress to an elder. Elders will begin to fully merge with their host with the mask and face seemingly becoming as once entity. Eldar will often grow new features that differentiate itself from other living masks of similar age, and often feature far more prominent personalities that could be categorized into further types. It can be considered that a living mask only truly gains its sentience once it becomes an elder.
Elders then progress into ancients after the decades begin to blur into centuries. Ancients are the the most intelligent and dangerous of the living masks and are known to use their abilities to mold their host’s body in the image of their desires and to suit their need. They are considered to be on average to be stronger than most trained and experienced warriors and should not be faced one on one.
At the end of a living mask’s life, so as long as it is an adult or older, it will develop a new pod. The creation of these pods kills the host as the pod itself is grown from the host’s heart. Once the mask is dead it is only a matter of time before the pod hatches and the cycle begins anew. It should be noted that youths and infants cannot create these pods and are considered the weakest link in a living mask’s life cycle.
Types of Masks
As previously mentioned, elders will gain features that can be categorized into many different types. These types are broad categories that help describe a mask’s tactics at life and how one might deal with one should they come across one.
Beasts
Beasts are any mask that is considered immediately hostile. They cannot be reasoned with and will attack if they deem you their prey. They are highly dangerous and instinctive killers that will show no hesitation or pity. Their hosts will often mutate natural weapons such as sharp fangs, or razor-sharp talons.
Contemplators
Contemplators are any mask that shows a highly adept ability to reason and think. They are almost always focused on a mental task or strengthening their abilities. They can be reasoned with but should be avoided. They will often seek to have others serve under them and will make a place to ensure their protection.
Jesters
Jesters are any mask that hides among its host’s kind. It will do anything to blend in with the crowd and will even socialize with others. They are considered highly reasonable and charismatic, and have been shown to show compassion to its host’s species. Their forms are often such to closely resemble a wooden mask (or similar) and at a glance will simply appear as such. Their only tell-tale sign is that their masked form lacks any strap that should affix to its host’s face.
Golems
Golems are any mask from adulthood that chose to make a plan its host. These living masks are the least documented and are far more rare. It is said that it takes a living mask its entire adulthood to finally integrate with a plant, with it finally becoming an elder once it does so.
Creations of horror, these living things take a striking resemblance to that of a mask, covering only the eyes of its host. It is a parasitic relationship, spreading its hardy neural roots inside of its host and making the host’s body its own.
These masks can take over any living organism and have been known to take over plants such as trees creating wooden bodies, although this is rare and takes the mask creature far longer to do.
The living masks are non-magical by nature, however they have been known to be able to learn magic through their host, if they host was an experienced magic-user. Due to their nature they cannot access magic, but if the host had already access magic, the living masks can use those pathways.
Life Cycle
The life of these living masks begins as that of a giant seed pod about the size of a human fist. It contains anywhere between three to nine seeds. These seeds develop into the infant stage where they begin to resemble a bastard hybridization between that of a mask and spider. The infants will fight each other until at least one remains, that surviving infant then eats the corpses of its dead siblings and progresses to the next stage of youth. Most often there will be two surviving infants and in pods with far more eggs generally more infants will live to become youths.
Youths begin to grow in size and will resemble a mask far more than their days as an infant. It is much like that of a mask with ten legs crawling in the shadowy places of a forest. These youths will seek out prey to latch onto. Once it finds a prey it will attach itself to the prey’s face and dig its legs into the flesh to make itself as difficult as it can to pry off. Once enough time as passed the youth will begin to spread its neural roots and take control of the host’s body. Once it as done so its legs will wither and fall off, with the youth progressing to an adult.
Adults will grow and grow learning from its host and using whatever memories it finds to its advantage. Adults can use this knowledge to learn and adapt further, such as learning to communicate in the language of its host and even learning the talents of the host.
After many decades an adult will progress to an elder. Elders will begin to fully merge with their host with the mask and face seemingly becoming as once entity. Eldar will often grow new features that differentiate itself from other living masks of similar age, and often feature far more prominent personalities that could be categorized into further types. It can be considered that a living mask only truly gains its sentience once it becomes an elder.
Elders then progress into ancients after the decades begin to blur into centuries. Ancients are the the most intelligent and dangerous of the living masks and are known to use their abilities to mold their host’s body in the image of their desires and to suit their need. They are considered to be on average to be stronger than most trained and experienced warriors and should not be faced one on one.
At the end of a living mask’s life, so as long as it is an adult or older, it will develop a new pod. The creation of these pods kills the host as the pod itself is grown from the host’s heart. Once the mask is dead it is only a matter of time before the pod hatches and the cycle begins anew. It should be noted that youths and infants cannot create these pods and are considered the weakest link in a living mask’s life cycle.
Types of Masks
As previously mentioned, elders will gain features that can be categorized into many different types. These types are broad categories that help describe a mask’s tactics at life and how one might deal with one should they come across one.
Beasts
Beasts are any mask that is considered immediately hostile. They cannot be reasoned with and will attack if they deem you their prey. They are highly dangerous and instinctive killers that will show no hesitation or pity. Their hosts will often mutate natural weapons such as sharp fangs, or razor-sharp talons.
Contemplators
Contemplators are any mask that shows a highly adept ability to reason and think. They are almost always focused on a mental task or strengthening their abilities. They can be reasoned with but should be avoided. They will often seek to have others serve under them and will make a place to ensure their protection.
Jesters
Jesters are any mask that hides among its host’s kind. It will do anything to blend in with the crowd and will even socialize with others. They are considered highly reasonable and charismatic, and have been shown to show compassion to its host’s species. Their forms are often such to closely resemble a wooden mask (or similar) and at a glance will simply appear as such. Their only tell-tale sign is that their masked form lacks any strap that should affix to its host’s face.
Golems
Golems are any mask from adulthood that chose to make a plan its host. These living masks are the least documented and are far more rare. It is said that it takes a living mask its entire adulthood to finally integrate with a plant, with it finally becoming an elder once it does so.