Crystal Ball of True Seeing

Crystal Ball of True Seeing
Magic Item [Extremely Rare]
Rank: 8 (Potency 80)
Properties
  • +5 Item bonus to Ritual Casting checks made on rituals with the Scrying keyword.
  • While Scrying you may see through all forms of magical disguise within the area of your scry, including invisibility, polymorph and transmutation abilities, illusions (visual, auditory, scented, and textured), and magical forms of concealment such as magical darkness. This does not allow you to see through non-magical disguises, natural darkness, natural concealment, or to notice secret doors that have been hidden through non-magical means.
Allocation: 4 resolve
Aura: Strong Divination or Mysticism
"What? Were you expecting an amusing limerick? Perhaps accompanied by waving, dramatic gestures? You just look at it ...that's how it works ...that will be 5 silver pieces."
——Shalamir the Wise, Fortune Teller

Description

Crystal balls are magical devices utilized by spellcasters to view a location, object or being. They most typically appear as a perfectly shaped crystal or glass sphere (although other reflective mediums can be used in some cases), and give very little indication as to what powers they posses other than the ability to Scry. While many spellcasters may place their crystal balls on ornate or decorative stands, pillows, furniture or even enchant them to float on their own for flourish, a crystal ball can function on any surface.

Lore

Crystal Balls are quite possibly the most well known magical devices of wizards and sorcerers, although other types of casters can utilize them as well as long as they possess the knowledge to do so. Their use is common knowledge to even the most uneducated peasant, for even the common man has attended a fair or festival with a minor mage of some kind dolling out predictions or magically garnered information with the magic of such an item.

As to the origin of their creation, it was simply a matter of efficiency, in all reality. Experienced casters of all kinds simply grew tired of finding the necessary components and a suitable surface with which to eavesdrop on something when the need for spying was often extremely time sensitive. Thus, enchanted crystal balls were created so that the power could be utilized at will.