Belief and perception shape reality. In worlds where religions derive might from the faith of believers and where amazing magic sways the mind, those who command the senses hold great power. In such an environment, the master of masks takes center stage. Wearer of a thousand faces, with an identity as fluid as that of a crowd of strangers, this thespian of possibilities decides what is real and what can be. Thieves, spies, truth-benders, and mysterious figures, masters of masks cloak themselves within their roles and hide behind their elegant personas. Thus, these master impersonators add new layers of intrigue to any adventure, as well as a strange new kind of magic.

<php>echo “<b>Base Attack Bonus:</b>”;</php> +3
<php>echo “<b>Skills:</b>”;</php> Deception (5 ranks), Perform [Act] (5 ranks)
<php>echo “<b>Languages:</b>”;</php> Any four
<php>echo “<b>Special:</b>”;</php> Must have successfully impersonated an individual, fooling even that person’s friends and associates

<php>echo “<b>Hit Dice:</b>”;</php> d6
<php>echo “<b>Armor Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> None
<php>echo “<b>Weapon Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> None
<php>echo “<b>Skill Points/Level:</b>”;</php> 4 + Int
<php>echo “<b>Class Skills:</b>”;</php> Concentration (Con), Deception (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Trade (Int)

<php>echo “<b>Spells:</b>”;</php> At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a master of masks, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

<php>echo “<b>Persona Masks (Su):</b>”;</php> You gain the ability to craft potent magical masks, each of which allows you to take on a different persona and gain some aspect of that creature or archetypal character. At 1st level, you learn to create and use three masks selected from those described below. At every odd-numbered level thereafter, you can create and use one more mask from the list. Creating a new persona mask requires 8 hours of work and costs 100 gp. You can use only persona masks that you have crafted. No one else (not even another master of masks) can benefit from a persona mask that you create. To gain the benefit of a mask, you merely wear it. Putting on a mask is a standard action, and removing one is a move action. Once it is worn, the mask’s benefit immediately applies. Your character level is your caster level for any spell-like abilities produced by a mask. In addition to its other benefits, a mask conceals your alignment, replacing it (for the purpose of detection spells or abilities) with an alignment appropriate to the mask. You still retain your normal alignment for all other purposes (such as if a paladin uses smite evil against you). One or more persona masks can be worn at the same time, occupying the eye lenses/goggles body slot. A description of each persona mask and their effects are listed below:

• <php>echo “<i>Angel:</i>”;</php> The image of an androgynous face with eyes serenely upturned to the heavens forms this mask, carved from flawless alabaster. Cultic runes adorn the forehead and cheeks, and its edges are ringed by downy feathers. As an immediate action, you can use feather fall as a spell-like ability any number of times per day, but only on yourself. Once per day as a swift action, you can use fly as a spell-like ability; the effect lasts for 1 minute. As you advance in the master of masks class, you can use this ability more often: twice per day at 4th level, three times per day at 7th level, and four times per day at 10th level. When projected as an illusion, this mask creates the image of an astral deva. Your alignment appears to be lawful good while you wear an angel mask.
• <php>echo “<i>Archmage:</i>”;</php> This mask of deep purple fluorite is sculpted in the image of a heavily wrinkled old man. A roughly circular tangle of arcane runes appears where the visage’s mouth should be. You can use each of these spell-like abilities once per day: dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, magic missile, and shield. As you advance in the master of masks class, you can use additional spell-like abilities, each once per day: 4th level, invisibility, knock, and scorching ray; 7th level, lightning bolt and slow; and 10th level, dimension door and ice storm. Your caster level is treated as two higher for the purpose of casting arcane spells (up to a maximum of your character level). If you have no arcane spellcasting ability, this effect grants you no benefit. When projected as an illusion, this mask creates the image of an elderly wizard in ornate robes. Your alignment appears to be chaotic good while you wear an archmage mask.
• <php>echo “<i>Assassin:</i>”;</php> Hardened black leather and metal clasps create the disturbing aspect of the assassin. A jagged, cruel slit forms the opening for the mouth, and the mask’s edges are worn and stained. You can deliver a sneak attack that deals an extra 1d6 points of damage when you are flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied its Dexterity bonus (see the rogue class feature, PH 50). As you advance in the master of masks class, your sneak attack becomes more devastating: This extra damage improves to 2d6 points at 4th level, 3d6 at 7th level, and 4d6 at 10th level. If you get a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as rogue levels), the bonuses on damage stack. In addition, you gain a +2 competence bonus on Stealth and Deception checks. This bonus improves to +4 at 4th level, +6 at 7th level, and +8 at 10th level. When projected as an illusion, this mask creates the image of a mysterious cloaked figure clad in black leather. Your alignment appears to be lawful evil while you wear an assassin mask.