Masks of Avenir

The mask burned as it was placed upon her face, an unpleasant prickling that felt like a thousand bugs crawling over her skin. She thrashed in the solid arms of the Masked Guard that held her still. The heat from the mask felt as though it were fusing to her skin, but she couldn't muster a scream as she heard the whisper in her mind. "You are calm," it whispered. "Dignified. You are elegant, poised, and in control of every situation. You do not panic." She was panicking though, and the more she did the more the mask burned. "You are calm." She stilled, slowly, her breaths quick and shallow. The mask cooled as she calmed and the whispering ceased. The Masked Guard released her and she stood as the Ashen Queen.

History

The Festival of the Masks was once a beautiful celebration where the people of the Avenir territory would wear intricately crafted masks based on archetypes. Queen, king, merchant, craftsmen, peasant, farmer masks and more were used throughout the territory. The wearer of a mask would often roleplay as the archetype for the day. The Festival of Masks originally began as a tribute to the Divine Aulia the Masked, who rules over those who wished to hide, actors, emotions, and rain. It evolved quickly from a ritual into a regular tradition that was celebrated by all.

After the Ancient Kathe's death, and Jusicial raised the Borders to lock magic into provinces, Avenir became a single Province. The next Festival of Masks to take place marked the beginning of the mask law. For reasons unknown, the Masked Guard rose from the ground all over the province, seizing those who wore masks and moving everyone into new places. The day after, everyone's masks were replaced with new ones that whispered their wants to the people who wore them. These masks demanded their wearers to act a certain way and play the role of the archetype the mask represented, or they would begin to burn. Removing the mask was possible, but the Masked Guard would catch anyone attempting to run from their role and drag them away, never to be seen again. Soon, everyone fell into the roles that they were forced to play, or they escaped to the Village of the Unmasked; the fourth largest and poorest city in Avenir.

Now Avenir is in a balance between the three kingdoms; the Ashen, the Vivid, and the Lurid. They are all a part of Avenir, each acting as it's own state. The masks are still in use to this day, even after hundreds of years. There are a few people who are still wearing the same masks. Even now, no one is sure how it all began, though there are legends of a man known as the Marquis who run Avenir over even the Kings and Queens. The three Kingdoms are mostly peaceful towards each other, although occasional spats will occur over settlements near kingdom borders.

Show spoiler

The beginning of the mask law began when The Marquis, at the time known as Marloe Adderson, entered the province two weeks before the full moons; a day that happens occasionally where both of Kollark's moons are full, and the day when the Festival of Masks took place. He was a Borderless man on the run from the Divine Diasa the Reflection. When he arrived in Avenir, he met a jeweler and became enamored with him; this led to Marloe not leaving the province before the full moons, when Diasa was at her most powerful. Diasa, infuriated with Marloe's affection towards the jeweler, decided that she would trap him there to forever gaze upon his lover but never be able to touch him. In her fury, she punished the entirety of the province so Marloe would suffer knowing he had brought this upon them. Diasa sent two of her divine servants; Minka Bonetti to raise the Masked Guard, and Atara Laroux to craft the masks. She provided a special pool of water, charged by the full moons, that would give life and purpose to each mask soaked in it. To further mock Marloe, Diasa took the mask that his lover created for him for the festival and turned it into the Marquis' own mask, where she could whisper in his ear at all times.

Execution

There is a certain number of masks, all that must be worn by at least one person. Those who wear a mask are known as a mask's "personality". A single mask can have several personalities. When a personality is not wearing the mask, they must remain in their bedroom, or wear a blank mask, which are often some shade of gray, black, or white. They are not allowed to speak while wearing a blank mask. Entering someone's room is considered taboo without invitation, otherwise one might see someone without their mask on, which is something that is incredibly intimate outside of the dark moons. Along these lines, the more a mask shows of one's face, the more risque it's considered.

Children that are born in the Kingdoms, though rare, will receive a child's mask at the age of 5, and once they turn 18 will be given a proper mask that suits them, or they will be chosen for an existing mask's role. Rarely, a child nearing the masking age might be chosen for a mask before they turn 18.

Once a month both moons enter their new moon phase, a day known as dark moons. The Masked Guard will go dormant and people can remove their masks without fear of being dragged away or punished. Often this day is a mad scramble to either escape the Avenir Courts or enter them; some people consider the price of wearing the masks worth it for the luxury that the Courts are afforded. If a mask is left abandoned, however, the Masked Guard will enter the Village of the Unmasked and forcibly take someone who suits the mask's needs. This is the only time the Masked Guard will enter the Village. If there are no suitable people for the mask, the Masked Guard may take someone less than what the mask wishes for, or, in rare occasions, they will take the mask and disappear with it.

In private, masks can be removed as long as they remain in the same room as their personality and only the other personalities of the same mask are in the room. If removed under any other circumstances, the Masked Guard will arrive quickly and attempt to reattach the mask. Masks can be lifted and will not activate the Masked Guard as long as it still covers some part of the personality's face.

Playing the part of the mask is simple enough; masks will whisper to personalities what they want, and begin to create a prickling or burning sensation when a personality is diverging from the mask's archetype. If people actively continue disobeying their masks, the Masked Guard will enter and detain them.

Show spoiler

The Marquis is the one who commands the Masked Guard in who to choose for an abandoned mask, or who is disobeying their mask. The Marquis' own mask is one that allows him to hear all the others, so that when one is abandoned or being disobeyed it will speak to him and tell him what it needs to be fulfilled. The masks are created by Atara Laroux, who crafts them as she sees fit. Each mask takes a life of its own when it is dipped into the water of a pool, charged by the full moons. After this, it decides what it wishes and tells the Marquis, who gives the mask to the Masked Guard to find it a host.

Components and tools

The masks of Avenir each have their own specific design and archetype they represent. Each Kingdom has it's own distinct style, and there are several categories of masks; nobles, soldiers, craftsmen, merchants, workers, and uniques. Each acts a certain way and may have more than one personality.

Styles

The Ashen Kingdom: The style of masks in the Ashen Kingdom are elegant and refined. Small details are popular, and there is usually no theme. Lace, gold filament, and baroque scrollwork is popular. Masks in the Ashen Kingdom call for poise, elegance, humility, charity, and honor.

The Vivid Kingdom: The Vivid Kingdom boasts wild, artistic masks that are often unusual or themed in some way. They sport vibrant colors and asymmetrical designs. These masks ask for creativeness, passion, emotion, courage, confidence, and ambition.

The Lurid Kingdom: The simplest masks in Avenir can be found in the Lurid Kingdom. They are not very colorful and when they are, it's often pastels. Symmetry and precision are considered the most beautiful features in a mask. The masks whisper for discipline, cunning, intelligence, curiosity, and drive.

Categories

Nobles: Often a reflection of the Kingdom's ideals. They are often more intricate and extravagant, with decorative pieces that protrude from the base mask. Noble masks ask for ambition, precision, grace and dignity.

Soldiers: Simple and cover the entire face. All soldiers of one Kingdom will wear the same mask design. These masks ask for strength, courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Craftsmen: Usually decorative and themed to their specific craft. These masks are tailored to their craft so that they are easy to work in. Often these masks ask for drive, productivity, and business sense.

Merchants: Gaudy and intricately decorated, usually themed to whatever they sell. These are usually created to hide the face entirely, so merchants will not give away tells when bartering. The masks ask for cunning, intelligence, and wanderlust.

Workers: Simple and plain masks that are tailored to specific work. Often this will depend on where they're working as well; palace workers tend to wear sleeker masks whereas farmers and haulers will receive rougher masks. These masks ask for diligence, loyalty, drive, and stamina.

Uniques: True to their name, these masks are unique to themselves. These masks often only have one or two personalities, and are unique in their roles. Often these are criminals; conmen, thieves, assassins, all with a specific purpose to play.

Primary Related Location

Avenir