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
- Availability: Crossing.
- Visual: No visible indication for skill accuracy or polarity.
- Durability: Very high
- Bond Rate: Very low
- Power Precision: Very low
- Duration Precision: Low
- Sect Affinity: Progeny of Tezirah
- Due to a bug it is currently trivial to see if the ALIGNed skill was hit in most cases due to cloud cover.
Use
For general information on how predictions work see the Prediction article.
Like all prediction tools, before use the seer 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 seer must first SHOW the mirror to the target, and then GAZE into the mirror as before.
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
- The state of the sky regards the power of the prediction; the brighter the sky, the better.
- The size of the item is the duration of the prediction.
- 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).
- The race and gender of the figure is a reflection of the target.
- The object of the figure's gaze is the skill, if seen.
- 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 six qualities. Qualities are listed from best to worst. As with all tools each message indicates a range. Italics indicate a potential starting value when purchased.
Clarity
perfectly clear
limpid
detailed
sharp
very clear
clear
slightly cloudy
cloudy
unclear
foggy
very foggy
Gaze
gazing boldly back.
staring back.
regarding you in return.
contemplating you in return.
looking back.
blinking back.
peering back.
squinting back.
glaring back.
glowering back.
scowling back.
Age
considerably younger
much younger
quite younger
quite younger
younger
slightly younger
tad older
slightly older
bit older
older
much older
considerably older
Health
much stronger
much healthier
healthier
a bit healthier
a little stronger
a little weaker
little less healthy
sicker
much weaker
considerably weaker
Frame
| Frame | Predictions |
|---|---|
| tightly constructed and solidly holds | >=0 |
| well-constructed and firmly holds | >25 |
| slightly loose, yet still secures | >50 |
| a bit loose, holding | >100 |
| loose as it holds | >200 |
| somewhat flimsy, but manages to hold | >400 |
| weak and loosely holds | >650 |
| starting to split apart, hardly holding | >800 |
| cracked and chipped, barely managing to hold | >1000 |
Glass
perfectly smooth
highly polished
polished
very smooth
smooth
unscratched
slightly pitted
lightly scratched
scratched
heavily scratched
deeply scratched
Explanation
Clarity controls magnitude, Age controls duration, with Gaze and Health modifying the chance of misreading of each of these respectively. Glass controls the understanding of the skill. Frame indicates indicates the number of predictions performed and is related to breakage changes.
Messages
Skies (Power)
| Sky #1 | Sky #2 | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Forbidding | Sickly Yellow | >0 |
| Brooding | Sullen | >25 |
| Lowering | Murky | >50 |
| Darkened | Steely | >75 |
| Gloaming | Twilight | >100 |
| Cheerfully Rosy | Ablaze with Sunset | >125 |
| Bright Blue | Sun-filled | >150 |
| Aglow with Pastel Hues | Pink-tinged Dawn | >175 |
Size (Duration)
| Size #1 | Size #2 | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | Miniscule | >0 |
| Diminutive | Wee | >20 |
| Modest-sized | Small | >40 |
| Big | Large | >60 |
| Enormous | Immense | >80 |
| Monstrous | Towering | >90 |
Positive Moods
Calm
Cheerful
Peaceful
Serene
Smiling
Negative Moods
Cheerless
Frowning
Sorrowful
Unhappy
Worried
Special
- Angelic/Estatic [sic] - Appears in place of the mood. Critical success, improves all physical qualities.
- The mirror's surface ripples a moment as if it was liquid. It snaps back solid looking clearer than before. - Improvement to one quality.
- The mirror's surface ripples a moment, as if it was liquid. It snaps back solid looking murkier than before. - Damage to one quality.
- The image flashes, and quickly goes translucent. - Fumble, damages all physical qualities.
- Suddenly the glass cracks and shatters!
Notes
- RP verbs that can be used with mirrors: CLEAN, EXHALE, KISS, OBSERVE, PEER, POSE, PUNCH (destroys the mirror), RAISE, SCOFF, SCOWL, SEARCH, STARE, TURN, WAIL, WAVE (color varies with player), and WHISPER.
- RP verbs that only work or message differently for Progeny: PREACH.
- 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: 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."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.