Masks

A very large part of the Architects' culture was masks, and they are probably the most visible result of their mingling with the people of Atanui. The tradition was adopted most wholly by the Mora, though Xians and Krek are known to adhere to it too.

Traditions
Shortly after an individual gains some level of independence from their mother they are given a simple, plain mask, most often made of wood. As their personality emerges and they gain accomplishments, the mask is carved with runes and patterns representing them by other community members. When the individual comes of age, their mask is recreated with more durable materials such as bone, horn, stone, and metal. Thereafter, the addition of features to represent achievements is a great honour and done by skilled mask-makers. On occasion, a mask may also be modified to be better suited to the wearer's job, such as the addition of a magnifying lens or polarized visor.

It is considered impolite, embarrassing, or a sign of intimacy to be seen without one's mask on, depending on the context.

Losing one's is an event of great shame; some warrior cultures will take the masks of their defeated or slain opponents as trophies, and in some places an individual will be made to wear a blank or specially marked mask as a replacement that declares them "cursed". More benevolent societies will start a new mask and begin from the beginning, or even create a replica of the lost mask.

Noble masks
If a mask-maker has sufficiently high amounts of Architect blood in their veins and the skill to harness it, they can enchant a mask like any other object and weave powerful magic into it. Given the importance placed on masks by the people of Atanui, such enchanted or "Noble" masks are seen as objects of great honour and prestige.

Enchantments come in many forms, from those that protect the wearer to those that allow them to create illusions (or dispel them, in other cases). Some masks of exceptional power even possess the energy to trigger the ritual that creates a Guardian.