Teutonic Anti-Contagion Filtration Masks

[Mirtok 2853]

*As you walk to the city center of Dresden (The Capitol) you see several Sariants dressed in their normal black, gold, and red handing out several leather bags to civilians passing by. Curious you decide to walk over, upon doing so you are quickly handed a leather bag and a leather bound book by Grand Sariant Maur. Another Sariant, Haleth, also tells you to hurry home and study the literature you have been handed by order of the Hochmeister. You hurry through your door and make your way near the warming fire to nip off the frost of Hanseti from your blood. Once comfortable you place the leather bag to your side and open the book, it reads . . .

Anti-Contagion Filtration Mask Guidebook

Thank you for accepting your very own anti-contagion filtration mask, through this handbook you will learn all the important functions and procedures for operating and effectively using your mask. By the order of the Hochmeister in hopes to combat the rising infectious ailments, every Hanseti citizen is issued their own filtration mask for safety.

Safety Tips:

1. Never misplace or lose your mask, though the Hochmeister cares deeply for your safety, he will not be able to give out spare masks to careless people.

2. Never share your mask, to prevent the spread of the illness the Hochmeister urges all mask users to stay with their own mask no matter the circumstances.

3. Maintain your mask, keeping your mask in proper order and at full upkeep will prevent incidences of breaks or breaches in your mask’s special protective filtration and sealant systems.

4. Use filters to their fullest, each few years the Hochmeister will distribute new filters for your masks but until then you must ration off what you have, this will not only test your ability to be responsible with your life but to prove you have what it takes to survive in a hazardous world.

Preparing Your Mask:

Upon receiving your mask it is a good idea to become acquainted with how it works and how to properly use it to fend off infective agents of death. Firstly, it is a good idea to make sure your filters are in place and secure along both sides of the mask. Under the eye sockets of the mask should be two metal containers with 3 clip secure locks located on the circumference of each capsule. Inside you can see the several layers of filters and spinning mechanism that make up the filtration system. Do refrain from tinkering with the delicate parts and only manipulate the filters. Once assured that the filters fit snuggly in their respective areas we can move to making sure there are no cracks in the mask. We are unsure as to how the infection is spread and therefore it is important to account for all possible biological entries into the body. First examine the two large eye sockets and lenses on the front of the mask. Also scan along the man folds and seams of the mask to make sure no loose strings or openings are present. Finally make sure the center piece where each tube leading from the two filter capsules is not loose or emitting a rattling noise when shook. Be sure to be extra careful when checking for breaches as a single hole can mean the difference between life or death.

Replacing Filters:

To replace a filter you must first unlatch the lid to the two filtration capsules. Once the interior is exposed careful turn the filter pads until a hard click is heard above the smaller clicking during turning. When heard the pads should slightly elevate themselves in a popping motion and then should be ready for removal. Replacement works in the opposite fashion, place the new ones in the direction of the painted arrows and turn when resistance is felt. Several clicks should be heard until a final snap indicates its in place. Close the capsule and move to the next one.

Using Your Mask:

When a situation calls for you to use your mask, you must follow a few simple steps to ensure your maximum safety in the face of an infective area. First loosen all of the straps along the back and front of the mask. Then place the loose mask over your head and position the eye sockets for your prefered viewing. When ready, slowly tighten each strap until the strapped area feels tight and snug over your head. It is very important to maintain a tight fit but also to keep the mask from cutting off blood flow to your head and face as such will prompt discomfort and compel you to adjust the mask. When all straps have been secured, turn the small dial located on the front of your mask where the capsule tubes meet until you hear a small rush of air. When all these are done you should have achieved maximum anti-contagion safety.

Breaching/Cracks:

In the event of a breach or crack in your mask, it is advised by the Hochmeister to quickly remove yourself from the jeopardizing area and seek cover and solitude from any other contact with others. The Hochmeister then urges you to remove the filter pads from your filtration capsules and attempt to apply them over your nose and mouth if no other repair methods is successful on the damaged mask.

Good luck out there and may Celestia keep this tragedy from our frozen lands.

- Hochmeister Mirtok

*All throughout the book you see several illustrations depicting the many procedures and methods for mask care. The final picture is that of a frontal view of the mask with a small inscrition saying "As designed by Hochmeister Mirtok".

((GET YOUR MASK HERE http://i.imgur.com/6ctgr.png))

[SpiritSpectre 134]

"Ah Excelent! Hope this works against the plague indeed."

Puts on his mask, places the filter and heads towards the Cloud Temple to examine the water.

[xmrsmoothx 317]

(( I think that this is too modern for use in Asulon. ))

[everblue2er101 906]

((Since Hanseti is locked down this means only those within the nation can get one, correct?))

[SpiritSpectre 134]

(( I think that this is too modern for use in Asulon. ))

((I think there is enough RP and the technology isnt that sofisticated although yes, gas masks were invented I think during World War I))

[Mirtok 2853]

((Look more at the writing than the concept art. I had this drawing drafted for the sake of helping people understand how the mask works but like most commissions it won't be an exact copy of what goes into the world. The skins I have had made look more Asulon fitted and should integrate better than the picture. Also Hanseti is on full lock down and all immigration and emigration has been prohibited, for those of you who are not Hanseti citizens who were present before the lock down you cannot get a mask, at least not our mask.))

((I think there is enough RP and the technology isnt that sofisticated although yes, gas masks were invented I think during World War I))

((Calling it a gas mask is an acceptable placeholder but it is just a filtration mask as we haven't discovered oxygen and what not yet, from the reports by my soldiers I had this mask created to protect against all forms of infection from ingestion, inhalation, exposure and absorption.))

[xmrsmoothx 317]

((I think there is enough RP and the technology isnt that sofisticated although yes, gas masks were invented I think during World War I))

(( The mask shown displays rivets - not invented until well after the Black Death outbreak - and air filtration technology, which was not even close to within the limits of those in this time period. In addition, something of such extreme intricacies (for this time period) would not be feasibly able enter mass-production, as this post seems to imply. Finally, the tubes shown seem to be fabricated from either vulcanized rubber or some variety of synthetic, both of which were unavailable during the middle ages. ))

[The Lion 736]

((I drew the image with an idea of what each bit was made out of, and so that it could fit in with the existing tech in LotC, the mask is made of a leather body with molded brass both glued and riveted on to it, the tubes are made of animal intestine that is dried and hardened and covered in paste/glue to ensure no holes. It can then be adjusted by leather straps for comfort, the lenses are a crystallized redstone that is also pasted into the sockets))

[Mirtok 2853]

(( The mask shown displays rivets - not invented until well after the Black Death outbreak - and air filtration technology, which was not even close to within the limits of those in this time period. In addition, something of such extreme intricacies (for this time period) would not be feasibly able enter mass-production, as this post seems to imply. Finally, the tubes shown seem to be fabricated from either vulcanized rubber or some variety of synthetic, both of which were unavailable during the middle ages. ))

((Though true that may be, the concept of the rivet is not too hard to understand. I have seen plenty of gates and doors that are said to be of riveted metal. Since these arn't really massive rivots they can just be fastened and peened off on the inside of the mask then covered over to prevent harm to the user. Lastly the universe of LotC doesn't have to directly follow actual earth events and periods of technological advancements. If we adhered to real world time lines a lot of what we have today would not be such as coal, cannons and magic. And by the way, Solid rivets are one of the oldest and most reliable types of fasteners, having been found in archaeological findings dating back to the Bronze Age. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivet))

[xmrsmoothx 317]

((Though true that may be, the concept of the rivet is not too hard to understand. I have seen plenty of gates and doors that are said to be of riveted metal. Since these arn't really massive rivots they can just be fastened and peened off on the inside of the mask then covered over to prevent harm to the user. Lastly the universe of LotC doesn't have to directly follow actual earth events and periods of technological advancements. If we adhered to real world time lines a lot of what we have today would not be such as coal, cannons and magic. And by the way, Solid rivets are one of the oldest and most reliable types of fasteners, having been found in archaeological findings dating back to the Bronze Age. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivet))

(( Ignoring the possibilities of rivets, air filtration technology was not developed until the very late second millennium. ))

[Mirtok 2853]

(( Ignoring the possibilities of rivets, air filtration technology was not developed until the very late second millennium. ))

((Again, we do not have to adhere directly with real world events, but my filter pads can be easily explained. The "Gas Mask" has been in the real world for long time as quoted "According to Popular Mechanics, 'The common sponge was used in ancient Greece as a gas mask...'" if you read further on you will also see many other examples of filtration technology. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_mask))

[xmrsmoothx 317]

((Again, we do not have to adhere directly with real world events, but my filter pads can be easily explained. The "Gas Mask" has been in the real world for long time as quoted "According to Popular Mechanics, 'The common sponge was used in ancient Greece as a gas mask...'" if you read further on you will also see many other examples of filtration technology. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_mask))

(( Archaic gas masks mean little to nothing, seeing as technology reached an all-time low almost exactly around the time of the Black Death. If a denizen of this time period would create a 'filtration device', it would be extremely bulky, uncomfortable, and made of little to no mechanical parts. In addition, its 'filtration' would reduce the chance of infection from "huge" to "slightly less huge". Air filtration technology in the middle ages, if it existed at all, would be no more sophisticated than a cloth wrapped around one's face. Finally, a mask of even the quality I described would be ridiculously expensive to produce. ))

[Mirtok 2853]

(( Archaic gas masks mean little to nothing, seeing as technology reached an all-time low almost exactly around the time of the Black Death. If a denizen of this time period would create a 'filtration device', it would be extremely bulky, uncomfortable, and made of little to no mechanical parts. In addition, its 'filtration' would reduce the chance of infection from "huge" to "slightly less huge". Air filtration technology in the middle ages, if it existed at all, would be no more sophisticated than a cloth wrapped around one's face. Finally, a mask of even the quality I described would be ridiculously expensive to produce. ))

((These mask are quite bulky in size and have been equipped with straps to combat the floppy folds of cloth, and formed metal pieces have the leather of the mask riveted onto it. I have outlined in the handbook, assuming you read it and not just looked at the pretty picture, that the mask will not always be comfortable but the straps will help if tightened correctly.

As for my filtration system, the capsules consisted of two halves are held together by three metal locking clips. Inside are three filtration pads with some gaps in between. Each pad is a circular donut of metal with several very thin pieces of cloth stretched around the insides and glued into position. The outer rim of the pads is notched for better grip and a single notch is snapped into place when turned correctly, since the pads are not reusable to remove the pads would be to break them anyhow as you must force the notch free from the nub at the bottom of the pad intake. In between the pads are two blade fan like pieces of metal that are operated by a wind up crank on the out side.

When a person receives the mask they are already wound to their fullest so that when a person must use it they flick the switch on the front and the spinners release to help move air through to the persons mouth. Since I know clocks and pocket watches have been invented, the use of smaller gears and cranks is justified. When the person does not need to use the mask they flip the switch off and it halts the fans turning to save both the filters and the cranked energy.

And finally, who ever said these masks were high quality, I believe it is up to the recipient to RP any faults in the masks design. And also Hanseti does not need to buy anything so there is no expense. We do not need to pay our soldiers nor our engineers as they are all apart of the Teutonic Order and therefore answer to me. The materials and distribution is no problem at all as long as it all comes from our self sustaining fortification and moved by my soldiers.))

[Neri 3590]

These masks are approved, they are a ingenious if rather flawed (flawed is good, right?) solution the plague. They are by no means perfect and have as many negatives as positives, and because of that, I deem them fine for use.

[ski_king3 0]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.