Divination mirror

Designed after the legendary mirror used by Tezirah, this mirror is a scrying tool used by Moon Mages. Detractors claim that all such mirrors should be destroyed, some because they worry that Tezirah went mad while scrying, others simply to remove the Guild's association with the magess. Others are quick to disagree, pointing out that the mirrors themselves hold the same properties as other divination tools, while some, most notably the mages who call themselves the Progeny of Tezirah, consider their use to be a show of respect for a mage who, despite her legendary actions, was by all accounts a most skilled and powerful seer.

Properties

Mirrors are perhaps the most unique tool. Notable features include:

• High rate of negative predictions
• Lack of bonding
• It is currently trivial to see if the ALIGNed skill was hit in most cases
• Seems to change (For better or worse) very slowly
• Sect Affinity: Progeny of Tezirah

Use

Like all prediction tools, before use the mage must know the ALIGN ability (learnable at 4th circle) and have made a successful observation. Furthermore, before the first use, the mirror must be RUBbed to bond it to the user. Syntax is to ALIGN <skill/skill set>, and then to GAZE into the mirror. In order to predict on another the mage must first SHOW the mirror to the target, and then GAZE into the mirror as before. Note: Predicting on others is occasionally buggy with this tool, and best avoided until this issue has been corrected.

Example

You gaze into the mirror looking for insight into the future. From the colors swirling across the surface of the glass an image appears of a sun-filled sky streaked with clouds over a thickly forested, secluded valley. Sitting on a stool next to a towering light is an unhappy looking Elothean man preparing a spell pattern. The mirror's surface ripples a moment, as if it was liquid. It snaps back solid looking murkier than before.

Interpretation

1. The state of the sky regards the magnitude of the prediction; the brighter the sky, the better.
2. The cloud cover and stance indicate skill set. This is largely useless due to the way ALIGN works, however it can be exploited due to a bug/feature for useful information discussed later.
3. The terrain is meaningless.
4. The size of the item is the duration of the prediction, the item itself is meaningless.
5. The emotion of the figure indicates the polarity of the prediction. "Angelic" or "estatic" (sic) indicate a critical success, which will improve the tool quality (and is always a positive prediction).
6. The race and gender of the figure is a reflection of the target.
7. The object of the figure's gaze is the skill, if seen.
8. Any additional messages have to do with quality changes.

So the example given is a very strong, very long, negative magic prediction, specifically on primary magic. Furthermore the quality of the mirror decreased.

Qualities

When LOOKed at mirrors have five qualities. Known qualities are listed from best to worst. Italics indicate a potential starting value when purchased.

Clarity

Sharp
Very clear
Clear
Slightly cloudy
Cloudy

Age

Younger
Slightly younger
Tad older
Slightly older
Bit older

Health

Little weaker
Little less healthy

Frame

Tight
Well (26 predictions)
Slightly loose (50 predictions)
Bit loose (100 predictions)
Loose (200 predictions)
Somewhat Flimsy (400 predictions)

Glass

Unscratched
Slightly pitted

Explanation

The author believes that the Clarity influences potential power, the Age influences potential duration. It is presently unclear if the Health or the Glass contributes to the polarity of the prediction or reading the skill. The Frame is the age of the tool, directly tied to the number of predictions performed and believed to increase change of breakage.

Messages

It is assumed that messages do not have to have a 1:1 relationship with their meaning. This has been confirmed for duration messages by GM-Lohkrian, specifically in the case of Small and Modest-sized duration messages.

Skies (Power)

Sky #1	Sky #2	Min. bonus	Max bonus
Forbidding	Sickly Yellow	1	20
Brooding	Sullen	21	40
Lowering	Murky	41	60
Darkened	Steely	61	80
Gloaming	Twilight	81	100
Rosy	Sunset	101	120
Bright Blue	Sun-filled	121	140
??	??	??	??
Aglow with Pastel Hues	Pink-tinged Dawn	??	??

v3.0. Scale problem fixed. Still might be some minor errors or missing messages. --Mozzik 18:05, 6 October 2008 (CDT)

Size (Duration)

Size	Min. time	Max time	Average
Tiny	5:59	18:01	8:27
Miniscule	4:56	20:16	10:55
Wee	14:51	33:55	24:19
Diminutive	14:54	35:58	26:24
Modest-sized	30:54	1:03:32	42:27
Small	33:58	59:57	45:44
Big	47:58	1:08:00	58:59
Large	55:59	1:18:58	1:08:37
Enormous	1:16:56	--	1:16:56
Immense	1:11:57	1:26:40	1:19:19
Monstrous	1:11:42	1:26:59	1:19:21
Towering	1:14:59	1:26:18	1:22:28

Please contact Mozzik if you wish to add data to the average values.

Clouds/Stances

Defense: a few puffy clouds//Laying
Magic: streaked with clouds//Sitting on a stool (also includes evasion, perception, climbing)
Survival: ominous clouds//Kneeling
Offense: a few drifting clouds//Sitting on the ground
Lore: punctuated by streaks of lightning//Standing
It is unknown currently which message scouting, backstabbing and lockpicking fall under.

Landscapes

Mountains
Field
Quarry
Dunes
Hills
Valley

Items

Rock
Light
Fire
Steam
Statue
Energy
Waterway
Fog
Smoke
Waterfall
Tree
Lake

Positive Moods

Cheerful
Calm
Smiling
Serene
Peaceful

Negative Moods

Worried
Unhappy
Sorrowful
Frowning
Cheerless

Special

Angelic - Critical success, improves Clarity and Age.
Estatic (sic) - Critical success, improves Clarity or/and(?) Age.
The mirror's surface ripples a moment as if it was liquid. It snaps back solid looking clearer than before. - Generic improvement, can, at least, improve Glass.
The mirror's surface ripples a moment, as if it was liquid. It snaps back solid looking murkier than before. - Generic damage, can, at least, damage Age, Health and Glass.
The image flashes, and quickly goes translucent. - Fumble, damages Clarity and/or Age.
Suddenly the glass cracks and shatters!

Notes

• RP verbs that can be used with mirrors: PEER, OBSERVE, STARE, WAVE, TURN, RAISE, CLEAN, KISS and PUNCH (destroys the mirror). Note: While TURNed over several verbs act differently, and the mirror cannot be used to predict.
• If not ALIGNed a divination mirror will act as an ordinary mirror while GAZEing into it.
• Bug: Offhand predictions, if they miss, seem to become shield predictions. It is unknown of this is a mirror only bug.
• Bug: If the ALIGNed skill is hit, despite the skill message, the vision will have puffy clouds and a laying figure (Usually indicative of a defensive prediction) as opposed to the usual skill set message.
• Bug: Several survival skills (as noted above) message as magic skills.
• Bug: There is currently a bug with predicting on others, the exact nature is unclear but sometimes it stops working and spams GMs with error messages when trying to SHOW it to others.
• Typo: Ecstatic is mispelled as Estatic.

Also See

• Ornate Mirror"Moon mage" is not in the list (None, Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Empath, Moon Mage, Necromancer, Paladin, Ranger, Thief, ...) of allowed values for the "Guild association is" property.