"..."

"You can make one too, you know. When I come, spirits visit. Lonesome little friends, looking for a home. They need a place to inhabit lest they fade away in time. Please, take a seat, and carve a mask with me. Let your hands be the guide, shape this fledgling vessel. Let the spirits flow through you. I have many more houses to visit before my atonement is complete, so please be timely lest the sun make my visage fade too soon."

Fenris notices the paradoxical feeling of realizing how this situation sounds downright bonkers and impossible while also believing the... entity.

"We have little time."

"How long? And why?"

"Well, I think between you and your brothers... I should grant you one hour each, if you haste Trevor won't need to fight time until the dawn sends me away. Now, why you would want it? The masks are vessels and conduits of powers. Fate, or whatever force guides me sent me to this world for a night of mask making. Don't worry about the spirits, mostly they prefer the existence inside the mask, or at least it's a better alternative to oblivion.

"..."

"You have a lot of questions. For the sake of brevity. How about if I answer one question for each step towards the completion of the mask?"

"I am already thinking a hundred questions."

"Two questions per step?"

"Ten."

"Two."

"Five."

"Three. On top of any information I will willing giving you."

"...Okay."

Fenris motions the being to go on. He does not want to risk asking about their name. He turns on the light and snatches pen and paper to make notes. Intuitively, he knows his brothers won't wake up.

"The first step, is deciding the material. What I shall lay before you..."

Fenris notes down everything, highlighting the important things. Wood is comfortable, but fragile. Stone is uncomfortable but resistant. Fleshmeld can't be removed, but is finely controlled. Spirit is vulnerable towards magic and immune to physical harm. It's balanced.

Fenris also writes down that the creature's mask does not look made of these materials. He is guessing porcelain.

"Yes, you're correct," the creature sounds pleased. It apparently can read Fenris' notes from where it sits. "the material is somewhat a limited resource. When I visit the world, I can't bring too much of it, just enough to make one mask from each."

Which means that his brothers can't have repeats. He thinks, this is important. "What others... are the other limited resources?"

"Besides the materials? There are the additions and the spirit symbols. Both are tied to unique spirits. Though, only the later have any desire or ability to interact with you."

Fenris notes. "Can you tell me about the other masks that you made tonight?"

"I won't tell you anything about them and their owners."

They stare blankly at each other. "Fair enough," Fenris finally says.

"And that's was your second question. If you're willing an fast enough, I am willing to answer all questions, before you start making the mask, but time is of essence."

Fenris notes down that the creature implied that are multiple mask makers around. Made with different materials, "additions" and spirit symbols.

"Alright, I am between Fleshmeld and Spirit."

Entirely because he does not want either Felix nor Trevor to have to pick that. They can have Wood and Stone between the.

"What are all the steps?" Fenris asks again.

"Picking the material. Picking the eyes, the shape, the nose, the teeth, the additions - you can pick three additions - and the spirit. You can also purposefully make your mask more powerful at the cost of a flaw in it's design that will manifest as a terrible drawback."

Nod. "What are the options for eyes?"

The creature describes them and Fenris makes notes. These are useful to both himself and his brothers.

"Tentatively picking Hollow eyes." He writes that down, and notes that Ethereal eyes and Mismatched might be a good picks.

"Tell me about the shapes."

The creature once again obliges.

"Tell me more about the Plain Shape."

"I will take that as a question, but for the sake of your curiosity, you can ask me anything about it."

"Oh, well. I want to know how it interacts with Fleshmeld. Would people just take for granted that I can't remove my mask? Could I look like my regular human face with it?"

"There won't be any social inconvenience from the fact that you're using your mask. You can't look completely human with it, but you can toggle your mask so it becomes very human-like, and even with a non-Plain Fleshmeld mask you would be able to eat and breathe normally, even if you had picked the option to have no mouth or nose."

Fenris decides not to ask how that works, unless he has to.

Fenris ponders the options he knows about. The only option that really appeals to him, is an Animal mask, he would love to fly. And it would be useful. He writes that down as an idea for one of his brothers. "Tell me the next options?"

The creature describes the nose options. Fenris started to suspect that the options came in eights, but apparently there are only four nose options. He discards Slit Nose right away, it's... just so mundane. Beast is the second to last. In the end, Human Nose wins over No Nose, because Fenris does not want to stay like that for the rest of his life.

The next option is Teeth. He dismisses Carnivore's Jaws and Eldritch almost immediately. He is non-zero levels of tempted by Fanged Embrace, but also dismisses that, finding and paying twelve people per year sounds too much like a hassle. It's a current a tie between Human Teeth (he is not the most charismatic person around) and Tusked Grin.

Fenris listened to the (longer) list of additions. Which are the second scarce feature.

Horns could be an interesting alternative to tusked grin. Spectral lighting? Pass. At least one triplet should have gemstone. Forest Connection is very versatile.

His first completely selfish decision ends up being Feathers, yes, give me the power of flight.

None of the other options really appeal in the same way. Broken sounds like someone one of them should have, but that's it.

After musing a bit, he tentatively underlines Tendrils for the utility. Crown of Warlocks (why does it have such a weird name? Fenris doesn't ask) sounds like another one-of-them-should-have, but not necessarily Fenris, it's just a bodyguard sort of effect. He bets that Trevor is going to want Warrior Pant. There isn't anything that immediately should appeal to Felix, but he figures that Forest Connection should go to him, if nothing else, it's sufficiently benign.

Finally, time to move on to the Spirit Symbols.

"They are very special souls. Take care of one of them."

"What?" Fenris asks flatly.

"They are very special souls. Take care of one of them," the creature smiles, "should I count that as a question? I admit I lost track of how many I own you or vice-versa."

"I am concerned with these souls' well-being."

"Admirable. You shouldn't worry, each one of them is need of spiritual growth so they can finally reach their next stage in life. Most are with me for their sins."

Well, that's sure implies things. Not that the existence of magic and spirits didn't hinted a lot about death and afterlife.

"Could they be release?"

"Not without breaking the mask, no."

"...Describe them."

Daesmor? Pass. Not even Trevor is going to want that one. Telieth? One of them should have him. Legion? Terrible power.

"How exactly do interact with these spirits?"

"It's like having Ethereal Eyes, but only for them, and other mask bearers can see them as well. That's what distinguishes them from lesser spirits."

"I see."

Crona? Meh. Medusil? Useful, but the creature made her sound suspicious. Jaliette? Oh, I guess it would be too much of a waste picking feathers, but not picking her. Fenris underlines her.

Hinter?

...

"This is terrifying. Destroying souls."

"I did mention many are with me to atone for their sins."

"This is an entire new level of atonement." Sigh. "What could I do with a soul?"

"I confess that's not a part that I know much off, I do know there are more uses to them then just mask making."

Fenris is not sure if the creature was being completely honest. At any rate he underlined Hinter and ask about the last spirit: Maple?

Oh, hell, Felix is absolutely going to pick Maple. Also, the creature does not appear to care about Maple's claims of being it's daughter. What the hell? Fenris does not voice that.

Fenris looks at the spirit list.

He does not absolutely want anyone to have the power to true-kill anyone and it's possible that such power could be used to bring back the dead. He would like to have Jaliette, but she is ultimately replaceable. Telieth is a must have.

"Is there a way to have multiple spirit symbols?"

"We could move on to drawbacks. Of which, two would let you have one more spirit symbol."

"But at what cost?"

"Well, one binds the major spirits within the mask such that they are always arguing, it's not quite a mental alteration, but it makes emotions run high and grievances more pronounced. The other allows the spirits to possess you whenever you're too emotional."

Scary. And Fenris wants to pick Fleshmeld, he can't say he is happy for a however long dealing with multiple spirits. One way or the other.

He asks about the other drawbacks.

Fleshmeld sucks. Every drawback interacts badly with a mask that's always stuck on. He sighs. He does not ask much about the Dreaded Spirit and why it isn't just another Spirit Symbol, only confirming that it doesn't give Fenris particularly cares for. He underlines Mask-eater, mostly so his brothers know about it's implied danger.

Fenris spends the remaining of his time writing down notes and thinking things on paper. Finally, he asks for the creature to guide the process of mask-making.

It all turns into a blur, or at least Fenris can't remember what each step does.

Once it's over, Fenris picks the notes again and writes. "I am sorry, but I know you."

He looks at his face in the mirror. It's like someone covered his flesh with some kind of plastic substance. It's sufficiently mask-like to be just on the right side of the uncanny valley, his choices helped.

Fleshmeld, for the sake of his brothers. Hollow eyes, so he can detect lies. Plain, so no one notices. Human nose, for focus. Human teeth, for negotiating. Gemstones, so he can put that charisma and focus to get rich. Feathers, for flight. Crown of Warlocks, for defense...

And Hinter, for the sake of their souls.

Then sleep took him over again.

Felix wakes up.

This is a strange situation.

He reads Fenris' notes. He wonders if he is not freaking out over the permanent mask because of the calm or because of the plain effect. Fenris' new "face" is surprisingly elegant, the crown, the feathers and the gems appear to be the work of someone with good taste and a talent for design.

Sigh.

Fenris' suggestions are good. But he still goes over his options. At a much faster pace than his older brother.

"Oh, I am sorry. Do you need anything? Tea?"

The creature chuckles and shakes it's head. Felix smiles politely and goes back to reading.

Felix decides to take Fernando's advice and take the Wood mask. All things considered, Trevor is more likely to put himself in situations where his mask breaks.

He moves on to eyes and marks down Ethereal or Mistmatched, he will decide later. He likes the idea of mobility, but making connection with the spirits sounds like a great way to interact positively with the supernatural. Most of the other options are rather scary.

He moves on to shape.

"Is it possible to pick the Animal shape twice? With two different animals?"

"Yes, actually. Assuming you have Windows to the soul."

Felix nods. He doesn't think he will want to pick a second Beast, but it's an option.

Deciding on a nose is pretty hard. Improved focus sounds useful, but he kind doesn't want to overlap with Fernando.

"Are you capable of talking in vague terms about people... satisfaction with their choices?"

"I don't stay around to notice."

"Ah, of course."

Felix goes back on picking. Slit nose is the only one that doesn't appeal in some way. He figures it would be useful if one of them picked Beast nose and No nose is another protective matter that would be nice to have. The brother that got it would be able to help the others against gas-based attacks. Similarly it would be good if one of them had mouthless.

Time appears to slip away from him.

Forest connection and Tendrils appears to be very useful. He is sure Trevor is going to want Horns and would be the most comfortable with Broken.

Okay, what's next.

Spirits are next. It feels like picking a slave. Ugh, he will go with Maple and try his best to make her comfortable and independent.

"Just to be sure, no way to trade the third spirit for some other benefit?"

The figure just shakes his head.

"Okay... Crackling Skull will be my third and I will get Windows to the soul. If I get Plain do people still react weirdly if I take the mask off?"

"Yes. Anything to do with that mask's powers weirdness will be ignored."

"How about Maple and her forest-realm?"

"Also won't be found to be particularly weird. As long the mask remains intact."

"What happens when it breaks?"

"People will eventually realize its weirdness, once their attention is brought to those memories."

"But how about Maple? And her realm. Are they destroyed as well."

"No. Is that all? Time is of essence."

Felix does a last minute check. "Okay, everything fits. I kinda don't want to have my mask look like a scary bird skull through plan, if that's alright. My choices are Wooden, Ethereal Eyes, Animal - Peregrine Falcon - and Plain shaped, No nose, Toothless, Tendrils, Forest connection, Crackling Skull, Maple and Windows to the Soul."

The stranger hurries Felix along the creation process. By the end of it, Felix is holding a beautifully carved wood mask, with appears to be burning from the inside with warm light.

Then he is out for the night.

Finally it's Trevor's turn. The stranger explains things. He reads notes.

"This is last born from the set discrimination. I guess there isn't much point arguing. Stone mask definitely. How exactly does the Warrior Paint weapon works? Does it teleport to my hand when I call it?"

"Yes. But it would be more correct to say that it dissolves and reforms at your hands."

"Okay, and what being imbued means? Like if I have an Earth weapon or Metal weapon they do what exactly?"

"Upon strike, they create small burst of the relevant matter. Though it crumbles into dust moments later."

"Neat."

"Man... I don't think that spider eyes is my style, but I bet is the most overlooked ability among these options. At least in terms of how much mayhem one can cause. Heh, I will default to mismatched if nothing else. I might take Plain just because my brothers took it and it's practical."

"Time is of essence," the stranger reminds him.

"Okay, okay, I will pick Beast nose, Tusked, Horns, Warrior Paint, and Broken. Also, gonna pick Telieth unless there is any chance you could let me swap Jaliette and Hinter around."

"I can't, but your choices have been noted. Warrior paint based on earth or metal?"

"Neither, lightning."

"Okay, do you know what sort of feedback I get from bugs?"

"Feedback?"

"Can I sense what they are feeling? Also, are they able to understand complicated actions like 'write me the number of people in that building'?"

"Oh, no. You're able to tell where the bugs are relative to you and tell them where to go and what to do, but not extra sense from it. But they wouldn't know how to count people or write. You could use them for writing, by positioning them as you want, but it is your mind guiding the process."

Trevor ponders on this. "Okay, so since I already want the cooler combat power set I will not take spider eyes. I will go with mismatch. And plain shape. We can all have that matching."

They hastily go about finishing Trevor's mask. It's stretching the definition of "dawn" when they finish it.

And then Trevor is out, though, mostly because he did go late to bed last night and then spent some of it forging an artifact of power. That is the sort of thing that tires you.

Their friend gets up somewhat early and turns on the TV on a low volume to pass the time.

Eventually, Fenris wakes up and listen. He startles upon hearing the emergency news.

Fenris wakes up Felix. Apparently he slept with the mask on his face? At any rather, the ethereal eyes work right away. He can see Hinter and Telieth hanging out "next" to Fenris and Trevor. Maple is over there. And through the window... there is apparently a spirit on or in their tree? Felix would've said "hi", but Fenris just quietly points at the television.