Death Mask

The Standard Skull Smile Facial Apparatuses (often referred to as Death or Skull Masks for short) are a type of accessory provided to all citizens living within a GRIDLOCK as part of the process welcoming a new citizen. The standard issue mask is provided free of charge along with possible special utility masks depending on an individual's profession. Custom-made or civilian masks with more advanced features/more durable materials used for construction are often more expensive.
== History ==
After the split between the N.U.S. and Russia following the Great War and subsequent bombing of GRIDLOCK 13 that left no survivors in it's wake, the total morale of all citizens began to plummet while depressive and (more rarely) violent symptoms began to arise. In order to inspire the populace and remind everyone of who the real enemy is as the Russian Government believed the N.U.S. to be responsible for the attack, special masks were commissioned. Kurayami ended up picking up the contract, and developed them under the codename [REDACTED]. They designed the masks to serve as a symbol of defiance while honoring the memory of GRIDLOCK 13 and all those that were lost in it's destruction. Therefore, the masks had a very skull like appearance, though since the mask only covers the lower area of the face, this means the masks only feature an exposed smile and missing nose while everything left above is exposed. This was to ensure the masks could be wore with any outfit without taking away style or practicality. They were made with a dark, light, yet very durable material that was rather inexpensive to produce, allowing the standard version to be provided to all citizens free of charge.
== Features ==
The masks mostly serve as tribute to GRIDLOCK 13, though they do come in with several built in features. One of it's most prevalent is the mask acting as an identifier for it's wearer in order to gain quick access to their residence or login information regarding personal devices, security, or acting as a key for their place of employment. Upon first donning the mask, the apparatus immediately compiles a unique DNA profile of it's wearer, taking note of dental records and painlessly extracting a small blood sample via microscopic needles that pierce the skin surrounding the mouth. This is done to ensure that no one else can claim the mask as their own and gain access to everything the original owner has previously interacted with. Resetting the DNA profile is complex and requires a qualified technician to accomplish.
The masks can also act as a GPS locator in case of an emergency. It also has a built in call feature where the user can speak into their mask and have the sound be muffled from everyone else's earshot, making calls private. It can also act as a gas mask or rebreather, providing it's own oxygen supply. This supply is limited however, and at most can only last for about 5-6 hours.
Category:Lore-Related