Mask
Synopsis
Masking is a Feat of Volitional Suspension in which the user creates a psychological barrier between themselves and their target(s). The user broadcasts their will to go unnoticed, and any eligible entity within range experiences a dimming of its senses toward the user. Like all Feats of Suspension, a Mask must be maintained as long as the user wishes to utilize it, and will drop upon being released. The success of the user in forcibly appearing to be insignificant depends on the tenacity of the user, and the the keenness of the target(s). A Mask cannot hide a Volitionist completely, it only alters the appearence of the user.
In Effect
It is possible and even not uncommon to perform this Feat unconsciously; anyone who becomes afraid or has a strong wish to hide may do so. Unfortunately for these unintentional users of Volition, the effectiveness of a Mask hinges not on the strength of the user's emotion, but on that of their will. As such, if the Feat is sustained only by subconscious will, results will vary. It was once thought that certain supernatural animals had the ability to Mask, and that therein lay their ability to evade detection. Later, a formal experiment determined that non-human entities are unable to use Volition.
Categorization and History
There has been some disagreement about which Discipline of Volition Masking should be placed in. An official decision was made by Willwright administrators in the year 62, but even following the announcement debates remain. Some claim that Masking should be considered a Feat of Perception, due to its direct interference with the user's appearence. Others believe that it fits best within Suspension, because of its execution in performance. As of today, the general consensus holds that Masking belongs in the Discipline of Suspension, and texts categorizing it otherwise are not considered mainstream.
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