Face Stealer

Many older tales from disparate peoples, recorded in the Splendiferous Life and the Monsters They Coddle for anyone whose interested, involve some kind of mimic that would steel the faces of loved ones. The tales tell of shadowy figures that would appear in the darkness, wearing the face of some loved one, asking the individual to do something they do not want to do, or offering something to the individual that will have an undisclosed price.

Myth

It is strange that so many disparate cultures from Mount. Kornal all the way to Hevjaegr having such similar stories of a shadowy figure that steals faces. In addition to the character, they all seem to have the same theme where it isn't any moral standing of the protagonist that saves the day, but ingenuity to trick the Face Stealers. They will, in some way or another, convince the face stealers to steal some form of a false face. this often takes the form of a mask, where the protagonist will wear one and offer themselves. but it can also take the form of a glamour, statue, or other not-real person. Once the face stealer takes this face, they will leave, be defeated, die.

Historical Evidence?

It's suggested that these are true tales of the Miftyanya. Modern science has uncovered these creatures to be shapeshifters and the tales date back to when they still roamed the earth. The shadowy figure and the faces may have been embellishments for the Miftyanya taking the form of someone in a small village. Their ends for doing this are unknown, but if the tales have anything to go by, they may very well have been nefarious.