Mirror of True Self

Aura moderate divination and illusion; CL 9th
Slot —; Price 24,000 gp; Weight 8 lbs.

DESCRIPTION

This finely crafted silver mirror stands three feet tall within an ornate frame of polished white ash carved with butterflies, unfurling fern fronds and blooming lilies. Tiny opals are set among the carvings, causing the frame to shimmer softly in sunlight or moonlight. Rather than reflecting with perfect clarity, the mirror's surface possesses a gentle, liquid quality, as though one gazes into a perfectly still pool.

A willing creature that spends 1 uninterrupted minute gazing into the mirror sees not merely its outward appearance, but the form that most faithfully reflects its inner identity. The reflection is neither idealized nor embellished. It simply presents the creature as it truly understands itself to be.

After completing this contemplation, the creature gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects and enchantment (charm) effects for the next 24 hours.

Once per day, a creature that has viewed its reflection may, as a standard action, gain the effects of disguise self (caster level 9th). Unlike the spell's normal limitations, the illusion may duplicate the appearance shown within the mirror, even if that appearance differs significantly from the creature's ordinary presentation. This effect remains purely cosmetic and grants no physical abilities beyond those normally provided by the spell.

Three times per day, the mirror may be commanded to examine a creature standing before it. This functions as true seeing for 1 round, but only for determining the creature's genuine identity. Illusions, magical disguises, shapechanging effects and mundane disguises become transparent to the viewer, revealing the individual beneath. The mirror reveals only truth, never ridicule, allowing viewers to perceive another creature as it truly is rather than as deception would present it.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, disguise self, remove fear, true seeing; Cost 12,000 gp, 960 XP

Lore

The first Mirror of True Self is said to have been crafted by an elderly elven artisan whose workshop welcomed every traveler without question or judgment. Over many decades, the artisan observed that while broken bones and lingering illnesses could often be mended with sufficient skill, wounds born of rejection and misunderstanding proved far more difficult to heal. Convinced that every person deserved to see themselves free from the expectations imposed by others, the artisan sought to create a mirror that reflected not appearances alone, but the quiet truth carried within every soul.

Working alongside compassionate priests, skilled illusionists and accomplished diviners, the artisan eventually succeeded. Those who gazed into the finished mirror often emerged changed, not because the artifact altered them, but because it granted a rare moment of profound recognition. In time, additional mirrors were crafted and entrusted to temples, hospices and sanctuaries where all who sought comfort would be welcomed without fear of condemnation.

Kelwyn's Notes

There exists a curious misconception among apprentice illusionists that appearance and identity are one and the same. They are not. An illusion may persuade the eye, but it cannot define the soul. The Mirror of True Self demonstrates this distinction with remarkable elegance, revealing not an aspiration or fantasy, but an honest reflection of the individual standing before it.

I have observed hardened warriors approach such a mirror expecting little more than a magical curiosity, only to remain before it in thoughtful silence long after its enchantments had completed their work. They were not astonished by the magic itself, but by the absence of judgment. There is extraordinary power in encountering an object incapable of prejudice.

The mirror also serves as a reminder that truth and exposure are not synonymous. It readily pierces deception employed to manipulate or exploit others, yet it does not seek to humiliate those who simply wish to present themselves with dignity. Wisdom often lies in discerning the difference between uncovering falsehood and respecting another's humanity.

Every person, regardless of station, wears masks fashioned by expectation, obligation, fear or grief. Some are placed upon us by society, while others we fasten ourselves in the hope of acceptance. The greatest gift offered by this mirror is not transformation, but clarity. It quietly asks a question that few possess the courage to answer: "When every expectation is stripped away, who remains?"

Should fortune ever grant you the opportunity to stand before one of these remarkable mirrors, do not seek the person others wish you to become. Seek only the person who has patiently endured beneath every assumption and every disguise. I have found that the truest acts of magic are seldom those that change the world around us. More often, they simply allow us to recognize the truth that has always dwelled within.