Masq

**Masq** is an NPC on *Another Bad Side Quest*. He is a Dark Elf, described as a middle aged dark elven man, with an undercut, bangs which are long and flop over his face and missing his right ear, who wears ornate robes under a leather safety suit. He is a master jeweler, enchanter and owner of *Cutter's Shop* in *Quarry Hold*.

**Ep. 4 - Howls in the Dark**

The party first heard of Masq from Aaracanii as a possible ally and someone who might know of a way to break the enchantment on her, describing him an old friend, and someone who would do everything in his power to help her.

**Ep. 6 - A Few Things for the Road**

Masq was mentioned by Bolton, after he gave Quincy her new pistols, *Peril & Pain*, and suggested that she visit his store *Cutter's Shop* to service the pistols as they were older models.

**Ep. 7 - Quarry Hold**

Seren, Yashani, Quincy and RX met Masq after they arrived in *Quarry Hold* at *Cutter's Shop*, which was noticeable by the piles of raw gems that line the front of it. In meeting him he approached wearing a leather suit that reached to his neck, with a covering for his face, which after was removed revealed his white hair. After confirming who he was, they asked if he remembered Aarcanii. After showing the *Spider Druid's Gemstone* that she had given as proof, he seemed to accept their words while saying how he had made it for her. They explained Aarcanii's situation and how she said that he would be one to ask, Masq explained a little of her situation, and how no one mentioned her name in *Quarry Hold* anymore. He then tentatively asked the party to watch the store for him for the next 2 days and his piles of gems before closing his store, and cast *Dimension Door* to the chasm to find her.

**Ep. 8 - Memories**

After Masq arrived back to his shop, with help from Ob, who notably referred to Masq as a friend, he told the party how Ob was a good friend when he needed to be, someone not to cross, and noted that favors were done for favors. He noted that couldn't get her across the chasm, but had a plan, showing the the black diamond that had been on Aarcani's staff. After getting them inside his shop, and pointed to a gargoyle inside while giving the warning not to break in again. He noted that the Obsidian King, King Alis Venscar's memory had been modified by Aarcanii's sister, Kelaa, but using the diamond, which he noted he had made for Aarcanii's mother, still had some of her magic and if adjusted in time could disrupt the modification, though he was unsure how long it would last or well it would work. He also mentioned that his memory was modified to justify Aarcanii's exile, and that though had been proven not to be at fault, he had not undone the exile, against the Queen's wishes, and time had passed since then, and that he believed the people had forgotten. When asked what she had been blamed for, he noted that there was an accident in the tunnels. (At that point there was a technical issue in the stream, but Masq helped them suggest other ideas, while also revealing that in in *Still Geyser*, in *Sogo Castle*, the adopted son of the Sogo Family, Dobrio, was the illegitimate child of Aarcanii and King Alis Venscar.

**Ep. 9 - Deliberations**

Masq continued the conversation with the group, discussing ideas from sneaking them into the castle, with some of the party disguised, as a way to have contact with the King, to disrupt Kelaa's modification to him. He also informed them a little of Aarcanii's sisters, noting that the youngest, Nolania, had travelled to *Quarry Hold* one day, and then disappeared and presumed dead and that she was the weakest of the sisters, as well as informing them about *Still Geyser's* economy*,* reminder of Dobrio who was the King Alis Venscar and Aarcanii's illegitimate son, the Merchant King Wish who visited King of *Quarry Hold* and information on the Spider Dragon, when ideas of fighting against it came up. When the party started to rush out, he held on to Seren's shield for the attunement process he needed for the plan.

Later on RX showed on his own, and when asked mentioned a little on his magical history from being in the academy in *Still Geyster*, to learning from Aarcanii's mother and grandmother later on. After discussion with RX on his interest in offensive electric abilities, showed him a piece of amber which he said he could imbue into tools, but had an idea as RX himself was metal. He took RX to the back room, hammered in the piece of amber into his hand, which Yashani who had been in the area saw after she rushed from hearing RX's metallic screams, but after success, found the process had worked, and now added lightning to RX's fist when struck on a target. He showed a lot of enthusiasm and excitement by how well it worked and invited him to come back when he had more gold to spend.

When the amber was seen by Quincy and Killian, Yashani mentioned that Masq was the one who had installed the amber, and showed excitement to do more.

**Ep. 10 - The Spider Dragon**

Seren, Yashani, Alaerith and RX met with Masq after the defeat of the Spider Dragon, showed him it's poison sac, and was recommended by him to see Councilman Malakami as he dealt with fungus and creatures of *The Underdark*. He also clarified that the event Aarcanii had been blamed for was a cave in caused by the Spider Dragonand that she had been blamed for bringing the creature there or even creating it. On Yashani's belief that neither Aarcanii and Nolania were responsible, and that Kelaa was it's source and would be upset, Masq agreed on the fact and also let them know that the Councilman saw Kelaa as an abomination and was not loyal to Kelaa in anyway. Masq also gave a little information on the different gems they had found and how they could be used, from obsidian being used to cause or resist necrotic energy, diamonds being used for the mind and sapphires being used to make words "golden touched". When they decided to see the Councilman that night, he gave them instructions to get to his home before they left.

**Ep. 11 - Order of Ruin**

Tabernacle took the unconscious bodies of Killian and Quincy to Masq's shop, who then cast *Cure Wounds* on the two of them, bringing them back from the bring and also gave shelter for the group once the rest had arrived. After helping the group sort through their information of what happened, Masq helped them sort through the information they had before he cast T*eleport* and took them to Chuluu at the *Shadow Monastery*.

**Ep. 12 - Forewarned & Forgotten**

Masq let the party take refuge in his shop after they manage to escape Esmeria's chase. Masq works on Quincy's pistols, *Peril & Pain*, while the party hides in the back of the shop so he can handle the guards going from door to door. After the party takes a rest in the back room, Masq tells them the guards are looking for them, as they are outsiders, and it likely won't go well for them. Masq also made Yashani obsidian inlaid knuckle wraps, spending six hours in the back room to make them, from the obsidian gem the party found in the spider dragon nest, and only taking a fraction of the gold he would normally ask for such a project. He also contacted Cobbeel from the *Miner's Guild* on Seren's behalf when he wished for information.

As they discussed leaving *The Underdark* and Aarcanii comes up, Masq told them not to worry about their druid friend as they figured a way for her to go beyond the chasm, even if she couldn't return home just yet. Along with Chuluu, Masq told the party that with the two of them and their combined influence, they would do what they could for them, but that they would need to return back eventually, and asked them to find Esmeria and why she killed his friend Kilick, and made it clear if he could he would decapitate Esmeria himself.

Masq and Chuluu then worked together to cast Teleport and uses the shadows respectively, to get the party out of *The Underdark*. In the good-byes to follow, Masq and RX discuss the possibility of adding more amber to RX which Quincy quickly stopped and issued a friendly threat as she was dragged away by Killian and Tabernacle, that Masq took in good fun.

When the party found Aarcanii outside, the realized that this was why he told them not to worry.

**The Ballad of Bo & Gal (Part 2)**

Masq was mentioned by Poackel when Galatea saw the cloths wrapped around his hands, that sparkled with obsidian and ruby, told them they were pretty and he mentioned by name that he had them made in *The Underdark*, that he was a dark elf and his name.

**Ep.46 - The Dead Room of Dusterbryn**

Masq was mentioned by RX when he recalled his knowledge of gem's and their magical properties they imbued he learned from him.

**Ep. 49 - A Couple of Mistakes**

Masq was briefly mentioned by Yashani when she recalled how she healed RX in his shop after he installed the piece of amber in RX's hand.

**Ep. 53 - So. What Now?**

Masq was mentioned briefly when the party discussed getting friends as allies, citing that he was a high powered arcane user, but noted it would likely not be without cost due to the state *The Underdark* was left in.

**Ep. 62 - Deals of a Different Nature**

Masq was seen, when it was found Ilvwinter had at some point captured him and brought him to the Fire Plane for Arcus Malasana. Ilvwinter noted she had no idea what it took to get him and what it cost and she replied that she didn't care, that they needed him and wanted what he could do. After Ilvwinter gave the key and left him to her she proceeded to cast *Plane Shift* and took Masq with her.

**Ep. 63 - Help Me, Help You**

Masq was mentioned when RX discussed with Quincy and Sterling his idea that he was taken by Malasana in an attempt to possibly build another version of him, while Sterling believed maybe she was aware of the Order of Ruin and wanted an undying bodyguard to fight while never fearing them being turned.

Masq was later referenced when Ilvwinter, aware the group had seen him take him, admitted that his taking was behind Lunala's back and was also not aware why the Arcus wanted him.

**Ep. 64 - The Death Dealer**

Masq was referenced when Ilvwinter revealed, in exchange for getting him to Malasana, that she would find a means to get his soul out of his soul coin so he couldn't be revived again.