Description:
Gas Masks are large masks that protect the user from multiple things, including multiple entity gasses or attacks. It is from an unknown origin, yet recent examinations show that the gas masks are futuristic, with modern technology and even an inside scanning technology that will scan other wanderers based on the wanderer's affliction.1
A Mask
Properties:
The Gas Masks do their counterpart's job of protecting users against gas, however, they can also protect against infectious entities that are airborne or gasses that entities can produce, such as The Disease, Burster's Acid, Wretches' Brown Fluid, and other such things. While it cannot protect against touch based pathogens, it will show noticable instances, such as Parasitic Paint.
Most noticeably is its effect on mind-bending/reading entities. The Mask seems to detect these entities and temporarily blocks the user from all noise or/and takes over the user's mind for a quick escape. So far, Masks have seemed to detect the Ambassadors, Berry, Sam, Jerry, and the Allure's effect. After the user is in safety, the Mask will deactivate permanently, rendering it useless, even against normal gasses. Putting on the Mask after it's deactivated will show a very dim message saying "Did I do good? :("
The Scanning system is still in research. The Masks scan almost every entity/human, pulling up their profile or psychological readings, and will translate them as hostile or passive. If marked hostile, the mask will show their weaknesses and suggest a plan of attack.2 If it scans a photo of a wanderer, it will pull up that wanderer's name, age, and where the photo is located from. If the location of the photo is corrupted, it will show up as "Unable to detect," or "File Corrupted." Any picture of any highly corrupted entities or levels will permantly damage the Mask, being highly glitchy with it's scans and data.
Upon scanning a supposed unknown level or entity, the Mask will show a question mark on the screen. If the wanderer enters the level or sees the entity, then the Mask will show the photo of it and start it's scanning system. It will record the general description and interesting things to note3 on its own, but the wanderer has to interact with the level or entity to record more data.
When scanning another Mask, the Mask will show a serial number for the mask and if it functions or not. It also has a tiny little message at the top saying, "That's me! :)" Yet, the scanning system seems to not scan objects. While it will scan another Mask, any other objects have not shown data for it.
Sentience
There is still a discussion among the BDA if the objects are sentient. These Masks shows different messages time to time, and a lot of them can be personal.
Simple:
These are messages that seem progammed in for a computer. These are very short and simple messages
Putting on Gas Mask:
"Powering on…Systems in check."
"It's (current time)."
Scanning Entities/Levels:
"Finished Scanning. Friendly. Continue on."
"Hostile. Suggested plan: Run."
"Docile. Don't harm it."
"Dangerous level."
"Safe level."
"Be wary."
Scanning Humans:
"(Name), (Birthdate), (Level)."
"Similar to you."
"Hostile to all."
"Docile. Be wary."
Personal
These messages are less often in the regular Gas Masks, but can still happen. There's a chance that a Gas Mask will only share these messages.
Putting on Gas Mask:
"Good Morning/Evening/Night, sir/ma'am/person."4
"Ready when you are."
"Hello! :)"
Scanning Entities/Levels:
"Scanning…give me a moment, please!"5
"Friendly! Can we talk to it?"
"Docile. Don't anger it, and we'll be fine!"
"Hostile. Aww :("
"Safe Level. Stay a while, lemme enjoy the view."
"Be wary of this level. I don't want you getting hurt :("
"Dangerous waters we're in. Might wanna get out quickly."
Scanning Humans:
"Hey, look, it's your new friend! :D"
"They're ok, at least."
"Hostile human. Up that machete, it's dancing time."
Sometimes, these messages can come up randomly while exploring. Since it's only told in a small textbox, it is very hard to notice these.
"We've been traveling for quite some time. I'll scan for a base."
"The road is long and hard, but I'm sure you can make it!"
"Do you love me?"
":)"
":D"
"Yippee!"
"Get some rest."
While these Masks can show messages that percieve it as sentient, it seems to be the same messages across all the Masks that do show these, and no Mask has truly showed a form of sentience.
Locations:
This mask can be found at any factory, whether working or not. No one knows who is manufacturing these, and no group has set a claim. What's strange is that these masks have been appearing rapidly in Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, and more, lower numbered levels. BDA claims to be the first to find it.
It is important to make sure you have proper gear to pick up the Masks if you find them, as they are riddled with pathogen and bacteria, along with dirt or entity markings6. Any almond water found near the Mask is not proper Almond Water, and instead has all the properties fitted into a blue bottle. Drinking the entire bottle gives more than 2800 calories.