TheMithralCanvas
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The Mask Man
🕑 Added 2024-10-31 18:00:09 +0000 UTCPurveyor of Pleasantries and Peculiarities
Many are the tales of the elusive Mask Man, spanning the ages. Some encounters place him at the edge of forbidden woods. Others, in the bustling markets of major cities and ports. A few even tell of seeing him in the corner of their kitchen, as though he were just an ordinary guest. But all describe a polite and charming individual, eager to show off his collection of trinkets and baubles to any prospective buyers. With a firm (if somewhat bony) handshake and a generous deal far below market price, the Mask Man doles out his wares to any willing to give him but a moment of their time before seemingly vanishing into thin air.
But just beneath the thin veneer of amiability lies a cruel and sadistic predator, one unfettered by the scruples of morality. The Mask Man’s first and foremost concern is his own wants and desires. As such, anything, and anyone, that catches the Mask Man’s eye shall be added to his collection even if he has to drag them kicking and screaming into his rucksack. Those fortunate enough to elude his grasp spend the remainder of their lives looking over their shoulders for his telltale smile.
Amiable Professional. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, the Mask Man is a capable salesperson with fingers in many pies across all the realms. And as a professional merchant he conducts his business with utmost care and seeks to satisfy his customer’s wants and desires, often going out of his way to procure requested items that he lacks in stock regardless of the difficulty in doing so. Though he holds little care for the welfare of most living beings, those who have dealt in his wares find themselves in a unique position of simultaneously being free from his dangerous yearnings while also being subject to his overzealous sales tactics.
Painful Gifts. Perhaps the most famous of the Mask Man’s attributes (aside from his willing smile) is his collection of eerie masks and accessories that he leaves in his wake. Unfortunate recipients of these terrible pieces of art range in the manner with which they “wronged” the Mask Man. Some foolishly attempted to rob the fey, whilst others may have simply neglected to hold the door open for him. Regardless of the severity of their transgressions, the Mask Man responds in kind with what he believes to be a proportional response.
Smile Skinner. A clear and obvious sign of battle in the Mask Man’s wake is a multitude of faceless corpses lying littered about the battlefield. As a collector of tales and experiences alongside his physical wares, the Mask Man takes little mementos to remember his enemies, of which there have been many across the centuries. Nobody can say with certainty what he does with these flayed pieces of flesh, but the disquieting whispering and wailing that constantly leaks from his rucksack paints a picture for those with a vivid imagination.
Dust settles as the door creaks behind you to suffocate the noise outside. A dimly lit room greets you as you strain your eyes to make out empty shelves and cobweb-covered containers cluttering the countertop. Just as you begin to question why you came in here at all, a playful voice chirps “Greetings and salutations my newfound friends! Wholeheartedly I welcome you into my humble market of wonders, where all your wishes are mine to fulfill. Now, whomst do I have the pleasure of engaging with in business this fine day?” An eerie and concerningly pale smile seems to hang in the darkness before you, as a long and bony hand reaches forth from the shadows to grasp your own…
