The Mosque – Avatar for Nanomei Faction
Give a man a mask, and he will show you his true self.” – Wild
To an outsider, it is all but impossible to identify a coherent structure within the Nanomei. Indeed, even its own members rarely understand from where orders and commands originate. This ambiguity makes it incredibly difficult for Nanomei’s natural enemies to decipher their plans and even harder to identify their leaders. Being an anonymous face in the crowd is one of Nanomei’s greatest strengths.
Many believe that the Masque is the very first of the Nanomei, the individual solely responsible for its creation and its furious evolution. Others think it is a complex software (or perhaps wetware) granted to the most worthy and trusted users within the Nanomei. Is he one person, fighting the fight for the people, rising up against the corporate machine and the governmental heel of oppression? Or is it a group of talented users dedicated to The Cause?
The truth lies somewhere in between. The Masque is, above all else, a symbol, a persona that can be donned and worn to bring hope and victory to the people. While The Masque is a program of the most staggeringly complex nature, it is also a tool that the most gifted users are able to harness. Sometimes. Like many endeavors within the Aetherium, the process is never entirely guaranteed.
Those that discover the Masque many not even realize it, as the program slips through their digital fingertips. Those that are able to integrate with the Masque come to understand that its self-awareness can create a powerful bond with a user; however, the Masque is known to have an extraordinary sense of self-preservation, and rarely pauses before sacrificing its users to escape detection or ultimate deletion.
Within the Aetherium, the Masque is easily identifiable by its hooded appearance and familiar namesake covering. While reports vary on the specifics, most describe it as antiquated, a vestige of a different time cut from context and appropriated. In this sense, the persona is malleable, aggressive, constantly in a state of flux and renegotiation. Whatever the case may be, where the Mask is spotted, a major Nanomei incursion is rarely far behind.
During Operations, the Masque always seems to be waiting along the margins for an ideal opportunity to strike. One moment, it is lingering
behind its brethren and the next it has shifted to some other part of the battlefield where its allies once where. Attacking from behind an unawares opponent is the Masque’s preferred methodology – exploiting weakest point and causing critical damage to other programs. The Mask is an incredibly quick and agile opponent. Should an opponent cause significant damage, The Mask has been known to abandon its current location and literally swap with another Nanomei program nearby.
Live to fight another day indeed.
Hidden Blade – Range: Melee
Disruption – Backstab: If the model attacks and enemy model while in its rear arc, then add 2 to the total amount of damage dealt.
.exe
Skulk – passive: If this model attacks an enemy while in the rear arc, then the model gains 2 extra combat dice instead of the usual 1 for the rear attack bonus.
Truly Anonymous – passive: Once per game. If this program would be deleted choose a friendly program that is still on the Server and delete the program instead. If a segmented or linked program is chosen, delete all models in that program. Then remove all damage from the model’s Stability Grid.
Dopplewalk – 4cs: Choose a friendly model within 7 squares. This model and the chosen model swap locations.
Safeguard
Before applying damage you may choose a friendly model within 3 squares. The chosen model suffers all the damage from the attack instead of this model. If a model from a linked program is chosen, then the whole program suffers damage. This model still suffers all other effects.