Maschera di Pietra

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Le maschere di pietra (石仮面, Ishi Kamen) sono potenti artefatti antichi presenti nelle prime due parti di Le Bizzarre avventure di JoJo, Phantom Blood e Battle Tendency. Sono state originariamente introdotte come dispositivi sacrificali utilizzati da alcuni culti vampirici Aztechi.

Montata ornamentalmente nella Magione Joestar da George Joestar I, una Maschera di Pietra trasforma Dio Brando in un vampiro, estendendo la sua influenza su una parte abbastanza grande della serie.

In Battle Tendency, viene rivelato che le Maschere di Pietra sono state progettate da Kars nel tentativo di garantire alla sua razza la capacità di resistere la luce solare; questo desiderio viene soddisfatto quando Kars usa la Pietra Rossa di Aja in combinazione con una Maschera di Pietra modificata, trasformandolo nell'Essere Definitivo.

Aspetto

Iscrizione all'interno della maschera

La maschera di pietra media ha un volto leggermente maschile, i suoi fori per gli occhi sono affilati e leggermente obliqui. Ha una bocca piccola in posizione neutra o con un leggero sorriso, con labbra carnose e piccole zanne appoggiate sul labbro inferiore.Una cresta emerge dalla fronte inferiore, continuando verticalmente verso la parte superiore della Maschera, congiungendosi con un'altra cresta che si estende a spirale sulla sinistra della fronte. Stone Masks commonly exhibit cracks and other signs of wear, likely due to their age. When activated, stone tendrils shoot out of several holes situated along the interior and rim of the mask.

La maschera di pietra posseduta da George Joestar I ha quattro brevi righe di scrittura sul retro della fronte. L'iscrizione è compilata in una scrittura oscura, semi-corsiva, cui George crede essere la lingua degli Aztechi. siccome non l'ha mai fatta tradurre,i contenuti e il significato di quest'ultima rimangono un mistero.^[1]

La Maschera di Pietra modificata di Kars ha una depressione in rilievo al centro della fronte, sullo stampo della Pietra Rossa di Aja.

Storia

Background

tra il 12 ° e il 16 ° secolo, in Messico si svolse un antico rituale azteco,nel quale un uomo indossante una maschera di pietra sacrificò una giovane donna, diventando un vampiro. La tribù dell'uomo provò a conquistare il mondo con l'aiuto della maschera e i suoi poteri, per poi però sparire completamente.^[2]

durante metà/fine del 19 ° secolo, una maschera di pietra fu trovata in una rovina Azteca da un team guidato dal father di Will Anthonio Zeppeli . dopo aver indossato la maschera, Il padre di Zeppeli ammazzò la sua squadra. Egli morì inseguendo suo figlio con lo scopo di succhiargli il sangue a causa dell' esposizione al sole, lasciando la maschera in balia dell'ignoto.^[3]

La stessa maschera verrà poi comprata da un venditore d'arte da un'aristocratica Inglese, Mary Joestar.^[4]^[5] Dopo la sua morte in un incidente in carrozza, la maschera verrà recuperata da suo marito, George Joestar I, che la appenderà al muro nella sua casa di famiglia.

Phantom Blood

Jonathan che studia la Maschera di Pietra

Durante una battaglia tra Jonathan Joestar e Dio Brando, Il sangue di Dio va sulla maschera, questo la fa attivare e la fa cadere giù dal muro.^[6] all'Inizio Jonothan crede di essere l'unico testimone dell'evento, ma poi viene rivelato che anche Dio aveva assistito.^[7]

Più tardi la maschera diventa soggetto delle ricerche di Jonathan; che arriva molto vicino a capire a cosa serva, registrando tutte le sue scoperte in un taccuino.^[8] When Jonathan leaves the mansion to track down Dio's poison seller, Dio steals the mask, believing it to be an execution device that he could use on Jonathan.^[9] After testing it on a vagrant, he realizes the mask's true purpose, reclaiming the mask after the vagrant's miraculous death by sunlight.^[10]^[11]

Though Dio initially plans to kill Jonathan with a knife, Robert E. O. Speedwagon arrives with the poison seller and a police squadron. Outnumbered and surrounded, Dio announces his intention to transcend humanity. Dio attempts to stab Jonathan, but George takes the blow; nonetheless, his blood activates the mask, turning Dio into a vampire.^[12] The mask remains in Dio's possession, despite Wang Chan's attempting to salvage and sell it after the Joestar Mansion's destruction.^[13] When Dio takes refuge in an abandoned castle near Windknight's Lot, the mask is seen hanging upon one of the walls of the castle.^[14] After Dio's apparent death, Jonathan's group finds the mask, and Speedwagon smashes it to pieces with a sledgehammer.^[15]

Battle Tendency

Santana, surrounded by Stone Masks as he sleeps

A collection of Stone Masks surround both sites of the Pillar Men's slumber: the cave housing Santana in Mexico^[16], and the underground ruins housing Wamuu, Esidisi and Kars in Rome.^[17] Kars later uses his collection of Stone Masks to turn humans and even horses into his own vampire servants.^[18]

It is revealed that Kars is the original creator of the Stone Masks. Though he intended to use them to give himself and his race the ability to withstand sunlight, he discovered that the mask's tendrils were unable to push their brains far enough due to their immortal bodies.^[19] Theorizing that he required greater power to strengthen the Mask, he designed a modified version meant to be combined with the Red Stone of Aja. Kars keeps this modified mask with him during his long search for the Red Stone, eventually succeeding in combining the artifacts and becoming the Ultimate Thing. The mask is destroyed during Kars's transformation.^[20]^[21]

Purple Haze Feedback

The information below derives from a source not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.

The Sezione Droghe decides to retrieve a Stone Mask found in an old Nazi bunker to power up Massimo Volpe. Giorno Giovanna orders Cannolo Murolo to destroy it as part of Passione's agreement with the Speedwagon Foundation, and Murolo succeeds in doing so.

Mechanisms

Vampire Creation

Blood activating the tendrils of the Stone Mask

The Stone Mask is activated when it is touched by blood. Once activated, the mask extends stone tendrils from its edges, piercing the wearer's skull and brain. The tendrils are meant to trigger certain precise points in the brain; the process is described as being similar to acupuncture. The process also produces a brief flash of light.^[22]^[23]

The mask's effects on the brain activate immediately upon piercing it and free the wearer from the constraints of natural limitation, causing them to gain immense strength and other abilities. This process has been shown to work on both horses and humans.^[24]

According to Robert E. O. Speedwagon, humans affected by the mask can jump five to eight meters, punch with a 2000–4000 kg/cm² force, and triple their leg strength.^[25] However, the body is unable to adapt to this power, rendering it "dead" (in a sense) and weak to direct sunlight or the Ripple. In addition, the wearer also develops an uncontrollable bloodlust capable of overriding even familial bonds.^[26] This set of effects designates the wearer as a vampire.

Pillar Men

Stone Mask with the Red Stone

Pillar Men who wear the mask are given near-invincibility and the ability to manipulate their bodies, but require even more energy from other living creatures to sustain themselves. In this augmented form, Kars was able to wipe out his entire clan.^[27]

To unlock further power, Kars created a modified Stone Mask which, when fitted with the Red Stone of Aja, has the ability to pierce a Pillar Man's skull completely. This Mask is triggered by exposure to intense light such as the UV beams released by the Nazis' anti-vampire weaponry.^[28]^[29]

The combination of the mask and the Red Stone grants a Pillar Man complete immunity to the Sun, the ability to use the Ripple, and the power to transform their bodies on a cellular level into any creature, preexisting or new.^[30]^[31] The mask itself is destroyed in the process, likely due to the immense amount of power emitted by the Red Stone.

It is unknown what would occur if a human or a vampire were to wear the Red Stone-enhanced Stone Mask.

Stand-Awakening

Although never shown in the original universe continuity, the third extra chapter of Steel Ball Run suggests that Stone Masks are a possible method of eventually obtaining a Stand.^[32] JoJolion doubles down on this idea in the ninety ninth chapter, briefly showing the Stone Mask as an example of supernatural phenomena within the series.^[33]

Puzzle & Dragons (Android/iOS)

The Stone Mask was obtainable for a limited time as an Assist Evolution in the mobile game Puzzle & Dragons.

The Stone Mask

Attributes:

Rarity: 8★ (Assist Evolution)

No. 9543

HP

6,682 (Lvl.99)

ATK

5,011 (Lvl.99)

RCV

396 (Lvl.99)

Active Skill: "Spines of the Stone Mask"

This ally's Att. changes to Dark for 6 turns; 5x this ally's ATK and recovers 50% HP for 6 turns.

Leader Skill: "N/A"

N/A

Gallery

MangaAnimeSC OVA & MovieGamesFigurinesCardsOther

StoryChapter CoversVolume CoversSketches

Reacting to splattered blood
The Stone Mask's activation
Jonathan testing the mask
A collection of Stone Masks surround Santana as he sleeps
Kars transforming via the Stone Mask and the Red Stone of Aja
The Stone Mask in SBR Extra Chapter 3
The Stone Mask in JJL Chapter 99

Chapter 1 Cover B
Chapter 13 Cover
Chapter 109 Cover B
JJL Chapter 110 Cover

Volume 1 Illustration
Volume 11
Shueisha Comic Bunko Phantom Blood spines
JoJonium Volume 1 Dust Jacket
JoJonium Volume 4 Dust Jacket
JoJonium Volume 7 Dust Jacket
JJL Volume 27

Chapter 1 Tailpiece
Chapter 2 Tailpiece
Chapter 3 Tailpiece
Chapter 4 Tailpiece
Chapter 5 Tailpiece
Chapter 6 Tailpiece
Chapter 7 Tailpiece

StoryOpenings/EndingsDesign SheetsPromotional Art

The Stone Mask hanging on the wall of the Joestar Mansion
Jonathan Joestar tests the Stone Mask
The Stone Mask on Jonathan's desk
Dio Brando uses the Stone Mask on himself
Zeppeli's father wearing the Stone Mask
Straizo uses the Stone Mask on himself
Modified stone mask
Kars transforming via the Stone Mask and the Red Stone of Aja

The Stone Mask in Roundabout
Kars and the Stone Mask in Roundabout
The Stone Mask in STAND PROUD

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Animation Promotional Artwork
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Animation Promotional Artwork
Phantom Blood 2013 Calendar
Jigsaw Mini-Puzzle
Chara-pos Collection (Poster)
Battle Tendency Jigsaw puzzle 1000 pieces
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Re-Edited Blu-ray Volume 1

OVAMovie

From the JoJo timeline for the English Part 3 OVA

2004 Phantom Blood movie test pilot
Model sheet from the Phantom Blood movie
The first incarnation of the website, reportedly housing an Easter egg if one hovered their mouse over the Stone Mask
A moving Stone Mask that acted as the website's loading icon
Front of the promotional 2D Stone Mask given out with movie tickets for the film
Back of the promotional 2D Stone Mask given out with movie tickets for the film
Designs for Jonathan, George Joestar, Erina, Zeppeli and Tonpetty, along with a production shot of the Stone Mask