>>20521029>>20593825On Death Masks
Death Masks are special adornments used by the people of /morig/. Foreign visitors note them as odd and a little unsettling, but they are considered vitally important to the people of the island. Every man, woman, and child possesses a Death Mask, and the implicit obligation reinforced by generations of teaching is to carry them on their person at all times. Simply put, they are masks made from a native ceramic material worn to cover the whole face which traditionally and predominantly are made to resemble human skulls, with few notable exceptions. They may be freely personalized, though the most wild designs are typically only adorned by ronins outside of the country. Traditionalist artisans on the island tend to categorize them into three classes: those worn by civilians and merchants, comprising the majority of the population, which tend to be simpler in design; those worn by the warriors, which are designed to be more intimidating; and those of the shrine maidens, the most visually striking as they are instead made to resemble foxes.
The function of the Death Mask is for it to be worn during mortal combat. Infused into its design are trace amounts of native chuubanite, enough for the wearer to be instilled with a deep sense of calm without inhibiting cognitive function (for a time). For a practiced combatant, this can be utilized to enhance reflexes, giving the wearer a slight edge in martial prowess provided they can overcome their opponent before the encroaching mental fog, lending to the reputation of /morig/ warriors are being particularly fearsome and wandering Deadbeat ronins as highly valuable and competent mercenaries. The mask also grants protection from the external influence of Mori-affinity chuubanite, such as that which is endemic to the Underworld, or the gaseous weapons employed by Deadbeats.
Prolonged exposure to Mori-affinity chuubanite via the Death Mask still has the drawback of disorienting the wearer. The longer it is worn, the greater the weight on the mind. It requires extensive discipline and training to wear one for extended periods of time without feeling the side-effects. Conversely, some extremist artisans have a different approach to crafting Death Masks: by using a more intense psychoactive refinement of chuubanite, wearing the mask can induce a state of frenzy, transforming warriors into terrifying berserkers. The physical drawbacks of these masks are much more severe, and the benefits, though frighteningly effective, are short-lived. There’s a local legend of a famous, possibly apocryphal outlaw driven mad by never removing his mask, who fights ferociously on horseback, subduing his pursuers with chains.
