The Masquerade

Affiliation

Affiliated with the New World Order, the Masquerade is equal parts mystic cult and domestic terrorist cell, but fundamentally a group of powerful killers armed with the supernatural power of Persona. They are independent of the organization itself, but choose to align themselves with it for the perks and their allegiances to its members since ties between the Masquerade proper and the wider NWO are fairly solid. It is comprised of two basic "levels": The eager, if deluded, cultists and foot soldiers who make up the bulk of the organisation, and the inscrutable "Executives" who direct these minions' efforts.

Their duty within the organization is as cleaners, enforcers of loyalty, and the ultimate in scorched earth policies.

Led by the zealous King Leo and supported by the full might of the NWO and its own Executives, even their own compatriots fear crossing these powerful agents of the conspiracy. In addition to the King, the Masquerade is lead by Joker, an inscrutable entity clad in jester's motley who grants the dreams of those who call upon him.

All are afforded some status, more than adequate pay and benefits, and a wide berth. The Masquerade members stand for quick, dependable service, though all have their own specialties.

Agenda

The Masquerade's true agenda, outside of the granting of dreams, or "Ideals", is the evolution of Man and the exaltation of the world via the events foretold by the Oracle of Maia. They have set several of these events into motion in order to bring about this cataclysmic change.

Important Thematic Elements

While Masquerade members come in flavors of both executive and minion, executives universally have names in the format of title-sign. Examples include Count Libra, King Leo, and so on.

Resources

High ranking members of the Masquerade are known to have access to normally forbidden NWO technology and the capacity to vanish from one location and appear in another through little-known means. Should they need to appropriate something the Masquerade will have it, and should they need someone disappeared or some other convenient job done which is beneath their station that too will take place.

The Crystal Skulls

"...A non-executive like you could never control the Crystal Skull. This Skull can only be controlled by those bearing the constellation of the Holy Cross." -Lady Scorpio

In accordance with the prophecy, the Masquerade has in its possession a set of ancient Mayan relics called the Crystal Skulls. (Yes, those Crystal Skulls.) Unlike the purported thirteen of the legend, roughly half of which are in various museums, the Masquerade's Skulls are the real deal. There are six of them on the MUSH, as opposed to the canonical four: The Skulls of the Heavens (Air, Earth, Fire, and Water), the Anchor Skull, and the Skull of the Underworld. The Skulls are the means by which the four senior executives can teleport (especially now that the Traumaport has been sundered), but their primary function is the absorption and storing of Ideal Energy.

The Masquerade also owns the newly refurbished Club Zodiac in Sumaru, though inspecting the Club's records will reveal nothing amiss.

Public Front

Publically, the Masquerade is known as a burgeoning charitable organisation which focuses on helping people achieve their dreams through self-help seminars and counseling. The popularity of these clinics is growing, especially as the techniques they teach actually produce results. Joker-granted results, but results nonetheless! The organisation is endorsed by several public figures, including idols in Ginji Sasaki's stable, as well as the Prince himself.

In addition, Sumaru-area schools -- Sevens and Kasugayama High most prominently -- have started "Masquerade Clubs", offering peer counseling and acceptance for those teens who need it. These clubs, and the Masquerade's influence in general, are spreading to the rest of the Five Cities area.

Members

• Marquise Aries: The most mysterious executive by far, and Anise Thompson's replacement. To whom is she loyal now, and will she be replaced by another Marquise? Her color is scarlet.
• Princess Taurus: She and Ginji Sasaki appear to be squabbling over the Taurus seat. He possesses the Crystal Skull of Earth, which she is trying to retrieve from him; their color is gold.
• The Gemini seat has been abandoned, and is currently empty.
• Baroness Cancer: Once she takes up her rightful place, she will almost certainly take possession of the Anchor Skull; her color is aqua.
• King Leo: Joker's right hand, viceroy of the Masquerade and holder of its fundamental text In Lak'ech. Utterly devoted to the motley-clad entity, Leo acts as the voice of the organisation. He possesses the Crystal Skull of Fire. His color is crimson.
  • Magical Warrior Maiden Ixquic: The King's emotionally-compromised minion. She wears a Mayan-inspired costume, and is accompanied by her long-suffering demon, Belphegor.
• Dame Virgo: It would seem the new regime has much less of an issue with witches than the last. The Dame's color is white.
• Prince Libra: More loyal than his predecessor, the Prince still has plans of his own...including winning the Crystal Skull of the Underworld from the man he's replaced. His color is black.
• Lord Scorpio: Former boss of the Kasugayama High gangs, he is now the leader of all the gangs in Hirasaka Ward -- and pledges to ensure that only beauty exists in the new world. While Anna Yoshizaka, the former Lady Scorpio, still possesses the Crystal Skull of Water, her successor is likely to acquire it soon. Blue is his color.
• Duchess Sagittarius: In a twist that will surprise no one, the Shadow of Naomi Suzuno has sided with the new regime. Her color is silver.
• Countess Capricorn: Easily one of the most dangerous replacements due to the breadth of her knowledge about the NWO and its inner workings, the new Countess is a force to be reckoned with. Violet is her color.
• For now, the Aquarius seat has been abandoned and sits empty; however, Junko Kurosu, the former Queen Aquarius, still possesses the Crystal Skull of Wind; her color is green.
• The Pisces seat has been abandoned, and is empty.

Other Members

• The Man Who Would Be King: There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two kings on a single throne. The two Leos will surely come to blows...and when they do, the conflict will rock the Masquerade to its core.
• The Ice Queen: Every King must have a Queen, and the Leo pretender is no different. Will the two Tauruses be too busy squabbling to notice that winter is creeping up behind them?
• The Yankee: She could take the Pisces seat if she wished -- will she?
• The Traitor: He disavows his original's treachery, but will that be enough?