Nocturnian Masks

A tradition that started as a form of worship, wearing masks is now a common practice througout the lands of Nocturn.

History

The tradition originated in ancient times, where masks were worn in reverence of the gods that also hid their faces. In that era, the action was purely religious, nothing else. However, as time went on, and dependence on the Deity Elementals began to fade, wearing masks still remained a prominent convention. It became an action of self-expression in a period where the world was advancing quickly, something of a cry that people made to reassure themselves that they were still unique and the same. Today, that sentiment of expression carries over, but thanks to the tradition becoming more normalized, people also wear masks to blend in hide, whether it be out of shyness or with shady intent.

Creation

Commonly, masks are made of leather, lightweight ceramics, fabrics, or a compound similar to papier-mâché. The manufacturing of the mask depends on the material. For example, leather masks may be directly molded to one's face and baked several times to retain shape, whereas the paper ones are built off a mold instead. Traditionally, coloration is done with pigments such as paint, though gilding with metals like copper or gold has recently become popular.

Design

The design of a mask can be influenced by two distinct factors. The first of those factors is the wearer's intent. People wear masks to express, as an accessory, to remain unidentified, or simply because they are shy. Generally, the first two reasons have very extravagant or personalized designs, most often matching one's aesthetic or identity. For the second two, the mask is slightly more low-key, to draw less attention. The second factor that determines how a mask looks is its culture or place of origin. Every location, ethnicity, and species around the world has their own way of making and designing masks, resulting in a multitude of different looks.

Execution

Masks are always worn only in public or during formal occasions, being a guest in someone's house while masked is seen as discourteous. Of course, bearing a mask is not required, but has become very popular, and most people do it anyways.