Entity Type: Spirit Entity
Entity Class: Enigmatic
Description
Menrei is a spectral entity bound to an eerie, expressionless mask, often appearing where grief, longing, or deception linger. It is neither inherently malevolent nor benevolent but feeds on human emotions, adapting its nature accordingly. The more one stares at its mask, the more they become entangled in its influence—until they themselves are nothing more than another face within its endless collection.
Characteristics
Appearance
Menrei takes the form of a robed figure draped in dark, tattered silk, its true face forever obscured by a pale, smooth mask that changes expressions based on those who look at it. The mask may appear joyful, sorrowful, enraged, or terrified—reflecting the emotions of the viewer. However, those who stare too long may find their own features mirrored back at them with unnatural precision.
Beneath the mask, no human face remains—only a void. Some claim that glimpsing this emptiness causes one’s soul to unravel, piece by piece.
Sound
Menrei makes no sound of its own, but those in its presence report hearing distorted echoes of their own voices—laughter tinged with hysteria, sobs that do not belong to them, whispers of their deepest fears.
Traits & Abilities
Emotion Mimicry: Menrei does not feel but instead reflects emotions. The stronger the emotion projected onto it, the more powerful its presence becomes.
Facial Theft: Those who linger in its gaze too long risk having their likeness absorbed into the mask. Victims who fall prey to this are never found again, their faces added to its ever-changing expressions.
Unseen Influence: It does not need to touch its victims; simply observing it for too long can create confusion, memory loss, or even cause individuals to act in ways they do not understand.
Mirror Trap: If one looks into a mirror while in Menrei’s presence, they may see its mask on their own reflection. Some believe this is a sign they are already lost.
Legends & Lore
Menrei is whispered about in the hidden history of Maraheim, often tied to locations of betrayal and grief. It is said to have originated from a time when the city was still forming, an artifact once worn in mourning rituals to express grief for those lost too soon. The mask was passed between mourners, allowing them to share in sorrow—but when a widow who could not bear her loss clutched it too long, something unnatural took root within it.
Now, the Menrei appears wherever sorrow and deception fester: abandoned theaters where the final performance never concluded, alleyways where last words were spoken in regret, old estates where family portraits have been defaced.
A recurring tale warns of a traveling merchant who once carried a collection of exquisite masks, only to vanish without a trace. His abandoned cart was found overturned on the outskirts of Maraheim, masks scattered across the ground—save for one, which seemed to have been placed upon his head, his face drained of all color, his features frozen in silent horror.
Survivor’s Guide
Understanding the Entity
Menrei is not inherently violent but is extremely dangerous to those who do not recognize its nature. It does not attack, nor does it chase—its power lies in passive entrapment. Those who engage with it too deeply risk losing themselves.
Avoid extended eye contact with its mask.
Refrain from acknowledging any emotions it reflects back at you.
If you hear your own voice speaking when you have not spoken, leave the area immediately.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
Cannot be physically harmed or destroyed.
Grows stronger in areas of deep emotional resonance.
Can influence those who acknowledge its presence too long.
Weaknesses:
Those who show no emotion in its presence are often ignored by it.
Shattering reflective surfaces in its presence can weaken its hold.
The use of blindfolds when near a suspected haunting may prevent entrapment.
Preparing for an Encounter
Essential Equipment:
Blindfold or dark glasses to prevent direct eye contact.
Tainted mirrors (mirrors cracked with silver dust or iron filings) may distort its ability to trap victims.
Rope or twine marked with the names of the forgotten (a warding technique said to prevent it from drawing energy from one’s regrets).
Protective Measures:
Avoid areas where unclaimed masks or portraits with missing faces are found.
Do not speak to it if it echoes your own voice.
In cases of suspected attachment, burn an effigy of yourself without a face to sever its hold.
Final Warning
If you wake and find a mask beside your bed, do not touch it.
If you see a stranger in a crowd smiling with your exact face, do not follow them.
And if, one day, someone swears they saw you standing motionless in an empty street, wearing a mask—leave Maraheim immediately.
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