For a Tomenti, the veil is not merely a piece of cloth; it is the boundary between the inner self and the chaotic universe. Originating from the dust-choked winds of Abnyau, where an open mouth meant death by suffocation or dehydration, the tradition evolved on the Worldships into a complex social code. To cover one's mouth is to contain one's spirit, preventing it from being polluted by the void—or from polluting the communal air with rash emotion.
Outsiders often find Tomenti "unreadable" or "cold." This is intentional. A Tomenti with the Masked training has learned to divorce their vocal tone from their physical reaction, presenting a facade of perfect, void-like calm even when furious or terrified. In the cutthroat politics of the Driftcaravans, where a single flinch can betray a clan's weakness, this discipline is a survival trait.
Masked Feat 5
Source Player Core pg. 57
Your masked face prevents others from scrutinizing your appearance, and you've learned to leverage this uncertainty to your advantage in social situations. While your mouth is covered, increase the DC of any Perception check to Sense Motive against you by 2. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Lie, make a Request, or Make an Impression.
Non-Combat Applications
High-Stakes Arbitration: Tomenti mediators use this training to preside over disputes between rival Guilds, their impassive masks forcing aggressive parties to negotiate with facts rather than emotional appeals.
Gambling & Trade: In the salvage markets of the Rift, Tomenti traders are legendary for their "void-faced" haggling. They can stare at a legendary relic or a pile of scrap with equal indifference, forcing the seller to bid against themselves.
Undercover Operations: A Tomenti can easily vanish into the background of a crowded station. By simply changing the pattern of their veil and altering their posture, they become just another anonymous nomad, ignoring the need for complex disguises.
Societal Impact
The prevalence of this discipline has created a stereotype of the Tomenti as the galaxy's "Keepers of Secrets." Factions in the Starfall Galaxy often hire Tomenti advisors not just for their wisdom, but because they are physically incapable of accidentally leaking information through a stray smile or grimace. Conversely, this has bred mistrust among more emotive species, who sometimes view the Tomenti as deceitful or hiding dangerous agendas behind their silk screens.
Adventure Hooks
The Silent Witness: A Tomenti diplomat witnessed a murder but refuses to testify openly. The players must earn their trust to learn the truth, all while reading the subtle shifts in their veil's fabric rather than their face.
The Imposter: A criminal has stolen a high-ranking Tomenti's specific clan-veil and is using the Masked discipline to issue false orders to a Worldship's security fleet.
The Unveiling: A PC is invited to a private "unveiling" ceremony, a rare honor where a Tomenti removes their mask to share a meal. The event is interrupted by assassins who know that the target is momentarily vulnerable (losing their mechanical bonuses to Deception/Defense).
To wear the mask is to be the void: silent, deep, and terrifyingly calm.
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