Mask

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Mask
Title(s)	Master of All Thieves Lord of Shadows
Power Level	Dead power Formerly: Intermediate deity
Subservient Deities	{{{minions}}}
Dominion	The Plane of Shadow
Alignment	Neutral evil
Sphere	{{{sphere}}}
Portfolio	Shadows Thievery Thieves
Worshipers	Assassins, beggars, criminals, rogues, shades, and shadowdancers
Cleric Alignments	LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE
Domains	Darkness, Evil, Luck, Trickery
Holy Day(s)	{{{holy days}}}
Favored Weapon	Stealthwhisper (longsword)
Channel Divinity Prayer	{{{channel divinity}}}

Mask (pronounced MASK ^[1]), the Lord of Shadows, is a loner god, most often associated with thieves or those of otherwise ill-repute. He is a neutral evil Intermediate deity, from the Shadow Keep in the Plane of Shadow, whose portfolio includes shadows, thievery and thieves; although it previously also included intrigue. Mask's symbol is a black velvet mask tinged with red.

Known for his constant scheming, cool head, and oft reserved biting comment he has recently lost a significant portion of his power, the intrigue portfolio, to Cyric. This has of course lead to two things, an enduring hatred of Cyric and the Lord of Shadows leading himself to be more direct than his prior elaborate plots.

[edit] Worshippers

The church of Mask states that wealth rightfully belongs to those who can acquire it. Honesty is for fools but apparent honesty is a very valuable thing while subtlety is everything. Priests of Mask are known as the Circle of the Gray Ribbon.

It is rumored that the Cult of Mask maintains a large network of informants throughout the cities of the realm. It is also rumored that this network provides employment for all sorts of thieves, beggars and thugs.

[edit] Chosen

• Avner of Hartsvale (briefly a Chosen of Kelemvor, during the Time of Troubles)
• Erevis Cale^[2]
• Drasek Riven^[2]
• Kesson Rel (Former Chosen)

[edit] Relationships

Simply put, Mask is a loner. However, in the past he has had frequent, presently infrequent, alliances with Bane. If nothing else, their sizable hatred of Cyric gives them a common ground in addition to their history of working together. Mask is also at direct odds with Waukeen, the goddess of merchants and honest trade. All guardians of light, knowledge, and duty are opposed to him. This includes Selûne, whose light tends to reveal his own faithful whilst they work.

[edit] History

[edit] Godsbane

During the Time of Troubles Mask took shape of a powerful blade called Godsbane. He would eventually come to be wielded by the then-mortal Cyric; he acquired the sword by murdering a halfling named Sneakabout, who in turn killed the former wielder of the sword. In the years following the Time of Troubles, Mask released the powerful hound Kezef to try and kill Cyric, but the hound turned instead on the Lord of Shadows, not stopping the chase until it had bitten off one of the god's limbs. Mask, seemingly too weak to heal, acquired the powerful weapon Houndsbane to defend himself, the weapon, a gift from the deity of magic, Mystra.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Death

In 1374 DR Mask relinquished his divinity and his life over to Shar to repay a millennia old debt to the goddess. A portion of Mask's divinity - the portion stolen by Kesson Rel - was absorbed in equal portions by Erevis Cale, Drasek Riven, and Prince Rivalen of the Shade enclave. Erevis then sacrificed himself to Mephistopheles, the archdevil Lord of Cania, in payment for releasing the half of the soul of Magadon that he ate; Mephistopheles in turn absorbed the portion of Mask's divinity held by Cale.

[edit] Possible Rebirth

There are several hints that Mask may return, either in person or as a successor who takes his place in the pantheon.

• When Mask surrenders to Shar, his last thoughts are about the secret he kept from her.^[3]

• Mask apparently arranged that Cale's son was born in safety after the Spellplague.^[3]

• Riven, himself ascended to a demigod of shadows, prophesied to Magadon the return of Mask. ^[3]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. TSR, Inc. ISBN 978-0786903849.

• Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons, p. 45-47. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.

• Paul S. Kemp (December 2008). Shadowrealm. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0786948639.