Tuesday Magic Item – Spectator’s Mirror

Voddick looked behind the tapestry, again.

“What is the matter?” asked Gollaon, eyebrow canted curiously.

“I just cannot shake the feeling that we are being watched,” explained Voddick, bending to look under a table.

“Hmm.”  Gollaon took a silver coin and set it spinning on the table, seemingly unconcerned.  When it stopped spinning and landed with on side up, he glanced at it and swept it up with his hand.  “We are being watched by some sort of magic.”

“Ah, that explains it,” nodded Voddick.  “But why?”

“No idea.”

Spectator’s Mirror

These mirrors always seem to have some small flaw, not quite casting a prefect reflection.  They usually have ornate frames and can be of medium to large size.

These mirrors allow the owner to observe through their surface (as clairvoyance), sometime even voices will carry through though rarely as more than the barest whisper.  The mirror usually key to a particular room once the owner sets they to watch a particular person and it takes effort to move it to a new person or viewpoint (causes fatigue).  The mirror can remain “open” observing the person and room, to be watched whenever the owner is by the mirror.  The mirror cannot see across planes but distance is not an issue.

But in fact, all of these mirrors are flawed, some would say cursed they never quite show what the owner really wants to see.  Something will obscure the vital thing that want to see, but the mirror will constantly tease its owner, almost showing what they want to see, letting whispers of conversation -almost audible- to be heard.  It seeks to draw its owner into the trap of the observer, always watching, never acting . . . or acting on flawed information.

Aura strong divination; CL 13th
Slot none; Price 55,000; Weight 10+ lb
Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Item, clairvoyance, limited wish; Cost 27,500

For D&D 5E:

First and third paragraphs as above.

These mirrors allow the owner to observe through their surface (as clairvoyance), sometime even voices will carry through though rarely as more than the barest whisper.  The mirror usually key to a particular room once the owner sets they to watch a particular person and it takes effort to move it to a new person or viewpoint (causes two levels of exhaustion).  The mirror can remain “open” observing the person and room, to be watched whenever the owner is by the mirror.  The mirror cannot see across planes but distance is not an issue.

Notes: Inspired indirectly by the magic mirror in the Dragon Prince, and this short story, Triquetra by Kirstyn McDermott.  Not exactly a cursed item but a kissing cousin there of.

Photo of the frame and mirror from the Rijksmuseum and is in the Public Domain.