The Masked Gods
The masked deities that watch over the world, wielded by Trace, Flora, and Adelaide, three characters from the three races that embody the virtues of each mask, suggested by DarthKeidran!
Mercurial, the mask of chaos and change, was the first to abandon his post as a simple observer and instead interfere with the world, creating Humans. Mercurial is both destruction and renewal. He thrives in conflict, but does not desire total destruction, as that would end the fun. He sees himself as improving the world through pain and progress. Things need to be destroyed for new things to take their place.
Mercurial's mask is constantly shifting, taking many shapes and forms, never looking the same way twice.
Ephemural (whose name was once "Ephemeral" before Mercurial swapped out the 'e' as a prank, changing its spelling in all written text) embodies the virtues of neutrality and balance. Disturbed by the humans spreading across what was supposed to be a pristine garden world, Ephemural was forced to act.
She created the Keidran, attempting to strike a balance with the existing natural world by modeling her creation after the animals that were already living on the planet. It was her hope that they would thrive in nature better than the humans and thus stop their spread.
Eternal, the rigid and unchanging mask of order, was the last to abandon his post, seeing the chaos unfolding. He placed his creations, the Basitin, far away from the other races on their own island. The Basitins were designed to embody his virtues - stubborn, unchanging, and obsessed with the rule of law. He gave them a desire to follow orders and a strict social hierarchy, which they would follow instinctually.
The mask of Chaos found this all very fun and declared it a game, to which the others had no choice but to participate in. Humans spread across the map, conquering land, while Keidran did the same and the Basitins, naturally, continued turtling on their own territory. The masks have agreed not to interfere with the world directly in any substantial way and not use their powers on any race other than their own (rules they bend all the time, of course).
The Masks are constantly trying to find loopholes to one-up each other. For example, Neutral used Mary Silverlock's body as a host, which is something normally forbidden, since Mary is human. But Mary was transformed into a Keidran at the time by Trace, and thus fair game. The Masks use hosts to interact with the material world directly, as otherwise they are mostly restricted to their own realm and have little physical influence.
The three continue to be locked in their feud, the original vows to the old gods now long forgotten.
(Disclaimer: this image does not suggest that these characters have these masks in canon. For example, Adelaide is not in possession of the Mask of Order. She's just a visual representation of the Basitins as a whole, and the same goes for the others, in case there was any confusion.)
Comments (78)
Absolutely losing consciousness over this
I liked the masked trace he looks cool
Nobody notice what seems to be magic itself being an entity ?!
We were speaking about that in an earlier post, a possible fourth mask who was destroyed (can they be?) Check out the dragon reference sheet https://www.patreon.com/posts/103126297?utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=android_share
Where do thomas get these names for the mask?
When beeing in Mekkan, do as the Romans do… 😎
Yes! LORE! YESSSS!!!!
Looks like we know what the next color vote will be.
Finally, we got their names
Thank you Tom! This looks phenomenal!
Huge lore dump! I've been waiting for this!
I’ve been waiting also. Whenever Tom would reach out and apologize over it not being done I’d tell him, more or less, not to fret and take what time he needed. I’m glad I said that because this turned out amazing.
Just out of curiosity, I checked the dragon reference sheet pointed out in another's post. While the fourth figure is vague and misty, I had interpreted the 'spikes' apparent at the shoulders as spiky scales, lending a vaguely draconian appearance. However, after looking at the reference sheet, their color leads me in another direction... https://www.patreon.com/posts/103126297?utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=android_share Anyone else seeing what I am after reading the sheet?
After reading the dragon lore I would tend to say this are mana crystals. Thought so before assuming the forth figure has attached them at his coat but now: they may have grown there. Also see Spyres post below: same idea.
Would definitely love to talk about that 4th name written behind Ephemural.... either a representation of the old gods or of the dragons, perhaps? Maybe spoilers for future parts of the story?
In the lore sheet for dragons (check comment above), it mentions that it is thought that there could have been a fourth mask, which created the dragons. Though it somehow was permanently destroyed.
If only the actual comic showed this…
LORE! The top mask looks like it says "Potential," and that would make a lot of sense for a mask that potentially created the dragons, who only ever grow in power over time. And the dust of "Potential" would be a good source for magic to exist. They also look like they're growing mana crystals...
Honestly reminds me a lot as to how Skyrim was basically formed through their gods that inhabit the lands. This is very intriguing knowledge, Tom.
Is there something written on the pillar in the background of the image or is it just my impression?
It looks like EPHEMURAL was also supposed to be up there with the other 2 names before being moved down to Flora's shirt
Ironic Flora is chosen to represent Ephemural considering what happend in cannon.
Flora was chosen by her, but then things went a little bit out of the way … fits for me nonetheless.
What is behind Ephemural Flora?
My working theory is that its the mask of the dragons or what's left. In a recent dragon lore patreon sketch, it is said there is speculation that the dragons were born from the remains of a mask were truly was destroyed. Its shards becoming the dragons and magic.
"The masks have agreed not to interfere with the world directly in any substantial way and not use their powers on any race other than their own (rules they bend all the time, of course)." Ah, they wouldn't be gods if they didn't bend the rules for their benefit.
"And who's that in the corner?" - point to very out of place pizza delivery guy "We don't know, he was already here when we moved in." -Masks
That’s hilarious. I approve this comment.
So cool and ominous! :)
Perfect. Thank you. Needed that. p.s. fourth mask was mentioned in dragons reference sheet.
I remember an old version of the lore where both Keidran and Humans believed that the "good" mask created them, and the "evil" mask created the other race, and that everyone agreed that Neutral created the Basitin. But, the Basitin believed that the "evil" mask created BOTH Humans AND Keidran, and that "good" had the sense to stay out of it. I kind of liked that version, and I assumed that the Basitin were probably right. I'm a little sad that Ephemural is no longer the creator of the Basitin, but I also get that that was probably a side post from 15+ years ago, and thoughts can change.
LOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRREEEEEE!
Who's this Neutral mentioned in the description then, since it's not the name of one of the masks? 🤔
Neutral is another name for Ephemural, being her moral alignment.
dude seriously once the comic is done you need to make it into a series
I love this. Especially the hinted existence at a 4th, higher mask which is part of my headcanon on the subject
Probably the mask mentioned in the dragon lore sheet!
Flora: S-ssss-smokin'!
GODLY!!!
COLOR. THIS. NOW!
And the dragons don’t care that much about the masks. Especially Nora.
Rumor is the dragons destroyed the mask that created them.
You know, if it's chaos Mercurial wants, he should invite the others for a game of Monopoly.
That is Monopoly, but on a very special board thought.
I have wondered about the parallel development of multiple 'humanoid' species concurrently. Nicely done!
And that Dragon in the background?
Yea, I am wondering about that as well...
That's one way to explain why it's spelled that way haha
Oh man, us lore lovers are feasting well tonight!
I know, right. This is far more than I expected.
So, who's that in the back there...
🤔🤔 Seems to havea vaguely dragon shape... I seem to remember something about dragons not bothering with or listening to the masks...
Hmmm... I vaguely recall something in the strip suggesting that the Basitin god perished because Basitins worshiped the law and not their god. This seems to suggest that Eternal is no more. Is that true, am I mistaken or has the lore evolved?
The masks don't rely on worship to exist. However, Order has not been seen in the physical world for a long time, so many do think he might be dead, or he simply is not willing to play Chaos' game.
THE LORE!!!!
The best kind too
Oh wow, lore! Very interesting.
Has it ever been mentioned if the gods are worshipped openly or if they are beyond the knowledge of the world? While Keidran and Basitins would probably approve of their respective deities, not sure if mankind would like that their progenitor is a sort of "chaos" god.
I think the races know, as for example Rose mentions them as the three gods. And Mercurial being the God of man fits very, very well. He seems to have his hands on not only in Mekkan …
Always love to hear more about The Masks and the greater story going on in the background.
Always appreciate a lore Dump. For all of Toms excellent renditions of the female form or amazing backgrounds, Tom also does a great job drawing spectral, celestial environments to represent more complex things like hierarchies. I notice Ephemural didn't get a description for her mask, neither did Eternal but the gist of his mask seems apparent. Nice to get the origins of all the races. Also Based Mercurial, taking the initiative to create mankind.
Ephemural's mask is fragile, constantly cracked and occasionally breaking apart before reforming again. Eternal's mask is unbreakable. It refuses to change.
Scary question... who made the dragons?
Since they were not mentioned here, we have to assume the old gods that preceded these three.
Also, how did the Western and Northern Basitin come about? The Westerners at least seem not to be bound by law and order, or is their definition different?
My guess is Mercurial pulled a prank of some sort to break away few groups, thinking it would be hilarious to have Basitin who were the opposite of their original purpose be about. Eternal was pissed but believed eventually the splinter groups could be re-absorbed into the fold.
My somewhat-serious headcanon is that the figure behind is called "Eventual", because we've got to wait for more lore concerning it. ;)
Or it could be one of the old gods, either being eclipsed or returning.
4th Mask out there. It's name lost to time. I swear if it's Cthulu backwards.
it pretty clearly ends in -AL, but it’s anyone’s guess what the rest says.
Not a big surprise old Trace would a Chaos agent. But it was suggested that the Masks were also behind his change. I wonder who? This seems significant.
As I get it, Trace was the champion of Mercurial, before Ephemural send him into amnesia in an intervention using the body of one of the master templars fearing he otherwise would have killed her champion Flora, who was ment to end the templar terror and kill Trace. We all know this went not well looking trough the eyes of the masks as their creations have their own minds and thus we have an exiting comic to read. 😎 I‘m wondering, when or if Eternal will choose to show. And also: who might be the sinister figure in the background? One of the old goods?
Very fascinating
can anyone tell what the top/back mask says? i’m guessing this is the creator of the dragons.
I was thinking that too
This. This is awesome.
LORE 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥
We haven't seen the masked gods in a good long while, and they look great! Nicely done Tom