Marching from Mwangi; Genealogy Masks

 

“I pass to you all we have ever been. Go forth and become all we never could.”

The xha˩˥ffi  are a tribe of Hvara in Mifob; among other unique traits, these elves use magical masks to record their deeds for their descendants. This occurs by crafting a semi-sentient mask that witnesses these deeds both directly and indirectly through recitation from their patron. Most xha˩˥ffi are granted a genealogy mask when they come of age, which they bequeath to their next of kin upon death. When a member of the family recounted in the genealogy mask performs a particularly significant event while wearing the mask, its eyes and ears animate, allowing the item to witness and record the deeds for posterity. As a mask accumulates history, it starts to develop a distinct personality reflecting the gestalt personality of its ancestral line.

Genealogy Mask Item 1

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Uncommon

White

Green

Divination

Invested

Source The Mwangi Expanse pg. 34 2.0

Price 10 gp

Usage worn; Bulk L

Access Xha˩˥ffi Tribe

These large masks are forged of precious metals or carved of wood and tasked with guarding the history of a family.

Activate command; Frequency once per day; Effect You ask the mask about the deeds of a particular ancestor, and the mask speaks for 10 minutes, recalling the tales it knows about that ancestor. The mask is limited by what information a particular ancestor shared with it. Characters receive a +2 circumstance bonus to Recall Knowledge checks related to this ancestor for the next day.

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Typically a mask restricts its recitations to members of its patron family; a DC 11 diplomacy check can improve a character’s standing with the mask, as it is convinced it can influence the character to return the mask to its ancestral line. As a character proves unwilling to return the mask, it becomes increasingly unwilling to divulge its knowledge and the DC of this check will rise.

Returning a lost genealogy mask to its family would be considered a major favor to that clan; destroying or selling one would be a major disservice. Wearing another family's Genealogy Mask in front of Xha˩˥ffi elves is taboo.

Wardens of Lost Blood

Genealogy Masks are the active component for the creation of large magical constructs that become honored entities in Xha˩˥ffi culture. When the last member of a Genealogical line dies, their mask is built into a Warden of Lost Blood. The being of gestalt experience becomes a trusted advisor to tribal leadership that generally acts also as a fierce defender should the Xha˩˥ffi come under attack. Even less cooperative Ancestral lines are revered in their Warden form as repositories of lost wisdom.