Ethereal Mask

The Rebirth ceremony of Assiram uses ethereal masks that are fashioned to represent creatures from which the material was gathered. The essence is painstakingly extracted using a ritual that binds the hunted creature into the mask. Thus, the Ethereal mask contains the complete essence of the creature from which it is fashioned. This requires hunters to venture out to "collect" creatures for which the masks can be made. Within the culture, more venerable creatures, those perceived to portray desirable traits within the community, are given higher value and prestige. Hunters capable of capturing such creatures have little want within the small, close-knit societies.
While the precise process in which this is done is known only to the most senior tribe members, the masks are given as a celebration of a coming of age. The masks offer protection to the bearer against the enmity that the creatures of Assiram bear for those who dwell completely in the material world. To create the masks, the creatures are subjected to binding magic that slowly saps the creature's essence and stores it within the mask. Over the course of several days, the ethereal part of the creature vanishes and the material part begins to die. It is largely assumed that this process is complete as soon as the sacrificial creature withers, but a test eventually needs to be conducted. The test requires an individual to encounter one of the wild creatures. While this is a risky prospect, it is a necessary part of the society as a whole.
An ethereal mask offers protection by acting as the ethereal part of the wearer, who in turn exists in the material plane. Creatures can sense the dual nature and are less likely to attack, though it is not unheard of. Similarly, if an individual wearing a mask were to remove the mask while in the presence of these creatures, the truth would be revealed and would be sorely regretted in the moments to come.
While it is true that the masks given to the celebrated individual on the day in question is often said to embody the spirit of the person, this is not particularly true. These masks are often made and like many other items are damaged and need to be mended or replaced. Thus, these masks are typically in abundance within these tribes and can be found fairly regularly. Most commonly, the masks will be passed down between generations from previously deceased family members, believing that their spirits too reside in the masks.