The Yuuzhan Vong employed creatures known as Unmaskers to incite fear in ooglith masquers, compelling these living suits to expose those concealed within. These non-sentient beings possessed a fierce nature, prominent teeth, and bore a physical resemblance to a hybrid of the ng'ok and quillarat. During the year of 25 ABY, operatives of the Peace Brigade utilized one such creature to unmask the Yuuzhan Vong Priestess Elan while she was aboard the luxury liner Queen of Empire.
Unmaskers were compact beings, sized appropriately to fit within a container that could be easily transported by a typical humanoid. They were characterized by a rough, bristly neck, exceedingly sharp teeth, and an overall appearance reminiscent of a crossbreed between a ng'ok and a quillarat, both distinct creatures in their own right. Furthermore, Unmaskers possessed an olfactory sensory capability. This creature was susceptible to the effects of bo'tous, a biological weapon of the Yuuzhan Vong.
Unmaskers, classified as non-sentient, were known for their irritable disposition. Their mere presence was enough to terrify ooglith masquers, the Yuuzhan Vong's bio-engineered disguises. When these masquers attempted to escape, some unmaskers would aggressively pursue them, seizing and shaking the masquer once caught. Despite their volatile nature, Unmaskers were cared for by Yuuzhan Vong handlers, willingly allowing themselves to be carried in containers, frequently used to startle ooglith masquers. However, Unmaskers would sometimes spontaneously leap from their handler's arms in pursuit of fleeing ooglith masquers. Their diet was carnivorous.
In 25 ABY, the Yuuzhan Vong species commenced an invasion of a galaxy distinct from their own, initiating a conflict with its inhabitants. During that year, the Yuuzhan Vong priestess Elan seemingly defected to the New Republic, which was engaged in combat against the invaders. The New Republic Intelligence Service took the priestess into protective custody, subsequently transporting her aboard the aging luxury liner Queen of Empire to ensure her safety. Nevertheless, members of the Peace Brigade, allied with the Yuuzhan Vong, boarded the liner with the intention of rescuing Elan.
The group brought aboard an unmasker and its handler to aid in locating the priestess, eventually identifying a group of suspicious individuals, including the former smuggler Han Solo. The Peace Brigadiers deployed the unmasker to frighten the ooglith masquer concealing Elan within the group, thereby exposing the priestess's true identity. In reality, Elan's defection was merely a ruse to gain proximity to members of the New Jedi Order and kill them. The priestess was subsequently compelled to eliminate her would-be rescuers, including the unmasker, after the Peace Brigadiers took her with them.
Unmaskers made their debut in the 2000 novel The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial, authored by James Luceno, and published as a part of The New Jedi Order series.