Academy Anthology: Tales of Home

• Titles: Lord of Shadows, Master of All Thieves, The Shadowlord, God of Thieves, Blackheart
• Pronouns: he/she/they
• Holy Sigil: A black mask
• Other Symbols: Shadows, the colors black and brown, knives, stolen goods, disguise kits, dark alleys, hidden caches, precious stones, cloaks
• Portfolio: Assassination, Deception, Poison, Thieves
• Domains: Death, Trickery

Mask has a lean build, clad in leather armor, a dark cloak, and a mask that covers his face completely. Every part of him is hidden behind his clothing, no one able to determine what he looks like or who he might be beneath the mask. Sometimes, Mask is depicted as a woman with glowing floor length hair and glowing eyes, barefoot and typically dressed simply. Otherwise, Mask can take on any visage he pleases, shifting between appearances like a person breathes air. He could be anyone, anywhere, at anytime, never leaving a trace that he was there and vanishing without a sound.

Mask is known for his cunning, legends going back ages and ages ago detailing his machinations. He plays the long game, a master manipulator capable of turning anyone to his desires. He can figure out what makes a person tick with ease, whispering in their ear and making them believe his wishes are ones they conjured up themselves. With Mask's ability to disguise himself as anyone, it's simple work to deceive mortals into doing his bidding, like he did with Cyric long ago. There are rumors now that since The Sundering, Mask has gained more power, to the point where some believe him to have finally bested his old foe and reclaimed some aspect of his domain back. Others thing this increase in the God's abilities is due to something else entirely, perhaps even beyond the scope of what mortals can comprehend among the Shards.

Maskarrans are thieves and spies, nefarious individuals of ill repute. Mask teaches that wealth belongs to those who can take it, and Maskarrans freely do. They prize subtlety and manipulation in the few formal clergy that can be found throughout the Shards, who are usually part of crime syndicates or have formed ones of their own. Heists are seen as an important ritual and rite of passage for Maskarrans, with every aspect of the heist being silently judged by Mask. Planning, preparation, execution, escape. Every part is important, and requires a Maskarran to use all of their cunning to do them well.

Maskarran clergy are typically known as Demarchs or Demarchesses, most commonly addressed as “Brother/Sister/Sibling Shadow.” They are usually masked or disguised in some fashion, with their fellow Maskarrans forbidden from knowing their faces or proper names. Maskarrans don a different identity when among their fellow worshippers, and its considered a sin to let your true identity slip. Those who are worthy of Mask's blessings and teachings can weave a thousand little webs without ever faltering once.

Note; information is taken from the Forgotten Realms wiki with some adjustments to suit Anthology's lore.