Sorry it took so long to respond anvard, I didn't see it at first and then I was busy with Too Many Games, a 3-day convention in PA, which went very well!
I like the idea for the spirit mask, and without spoiling anything else in the story we haven't talked about yet, I think I know a way to rewrite that to fit with what we've got. Thanks!
As for that issue, I haven't encountered that before, but I messed around with it for a little bit and it turns out that only happens if you die while in the wind-up animation for the mallet, which is why I never caught it before. Should be an easy fix, thanks for the catch!