Gods and Their Specialty Priests

Mask (Lord of Shadows)

Lesser Power of Hades, NE

Portfolio: Thieves, intrigue Requirements: Wisdom 14, Dexterity 14 Major Spheres: All, Astral, Charm, Combat, Divination, Guardian, Healing, Protection, Sun Minor Spheres: Elemental, Necromantic, Summoning, Weather

Weapons Allowed: Same as clerics plus knife Armor Allowed: Leather, padded leather, or studded leather, no shield Magical Items Allowed: Same as clerics plus devices that can be used only by thieves

Granted Powers

• Specialty priests of Mask have some thieving abilities. They have the thieving skill base scores as set out on page 39 of the <Player's Handbook> with 20 discretionary points to distribute among them. Each time a specialty priest of Mask gains an experience level, another 20 points can be added. Priests of Mask do not gain other thief abilities, such as the backstabbing bonus or scroll use.
• Specialty priests of Mask understand and can use thieves cant.
• Specialty priests of Mask cannot turn or command undead.

Other Notes

The adventuring cleric of Mask dresses like any other armored cleric. The specialty priest of Mask usually dresses as a thief (that is, like almost anyone who might be met on the street). Ceremonial garb is much more impressive. The tunic and trousers are a bright motley, with ballooned sleeves and cuffs. The entire ensemble is covered by a gray cloak that can be bundled shut, concealing the brightness beneath. The cloak has a hood and the priests of Mask (standard or specialty) wear black cloth masks beneath.

In areas where thieves are tolerated and worship of Mask is fairly open, these masks are of a sheer fabric, while in most of the North they are a thick wool to hide identities. There is a saying that, "the degree of law in a town can be seen on the face of a cleric of Mask:'

The priesthood of Mask is independent in each major city or region, to prevent the frequent actions against one thieves' guild or temple from spilling over and affecting others. The hierarchy makes use of clerics, specialty priests, and thieves in about a 40/30/30 ratio.

In areas with a single strong thieves' guild, the temple or shrine to Mask is usually connected to the guild hall via underground tunnels. In large cities with competing guilds, the temple is in an underground location and is recognized as neutral ground by all sides.

Specialty priests of Mask are called demarchs if male, demarchesses if female.