The Mirrors of the Gods

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Clark Valentine

Note: This magic item was an entry in the Holy Artifacts Challenge.

In the Age of Dreams, Paladine and Takhisis began work to establish their churches on Krynn. The two gods' early attempts to find a worthy Prophet and a worthy Nightmaster among the people foundered; the chosen mortals quickly turned their authority to their own agendas, rather than their gods'.

The gods turned to Gilean for assistance. Gilean agreed to help them choose worthy shepherds for their flocks, but his price was steep: a guarantee that the gift of free will would be respected in the churches' leaders. Paladine and Takhisis agreed that they would only choose from among the willing, and that consent must be given with the full knowledge of both the god and the follower of what sort of person is being chosen.

Paladine wanted his Prophets to be shown their capacity for compassion, for nobility, and for reflecting Paladine's majesty and bringing it to his followers. If a candidate for High Prophet cannot find such qualities in himself, he would not take on the mantle.

At Gilean's request, Sirrion forged a platinum hand mirror in the fires of his creative forge. Reorx polished its face until it reflected light perfectly, radiantly. Gilean blessed it with the power to reveal all truth about the very soul of any mortal who gazed into it, and Paladine blessed it - some say cursed it - to the service of his church. Thus was the Mirror of Paladine forged. Ever since, every man or woman taking on the role of High Prophet of Paladine has, upon initiation, gazed into the mirror. The true nature of his soul was revealed to both him and to Paladine. With this new insight into their own souls, some candidates refused to take up the post, but Paladine took comfort in knowing for certain that, for those who persisted, both he and the candidate fully understood their own failings and frailties.

Similarly, Takhisis wanted ambitious and ruthless men and women to be her representative on Krynn, the Nightmaster of her church and agent of her tyrrany and control on Krynn. However, she also wanted them to have enough humility to accept her agenda, and work for her glory rather than their own.

Sirrion took hot magma from Krynn's very core, and Chislev quenched it in water, forming an obsidian hand mirror. Reorx polished it to a flawless finish. Gilean blessed it with the power to reveal all truth about the very soul of any mortal who gazed into it, and Takhisis blessed it - some say cursed it - to the service of her church. Thus was Takhisis's Mirror of Truth forged. It did exactly the same thing that Paladine's Mirror did. No Nightmaster could hide his true self from his Dark Queen; she could rest assured that her church was in good hands.

The centuries went by, and finally a man named Beldinas arose to become High Prophet of Paladine. As was the custom, he took up Paladine's Mirror, but put it down immediately, catching only a glimpse of the dessicated wreck that was his soul - and managed to do so before Paladine could see the truth.

Never wishing to be confronted with that truth again, denying that it could possibly be right, he ordered the mirror to be locked away, never to be seen again. Takhisis's mirror was similarly hidden when it was captured in the many wars that Beldinas's hubris brought about.

The mirrors look different - the Mirror of Paladine is brilliantly polished platinum, and the Mirror of Takhisis is black obsidian - but they work in exactly the same way. Both reveal the whole, unsoftened truth about anyone who gazes into its face. No facade can survive - the observer is forced to confront, or is granted discovery of, his true self. Is to know onesself - _truly_ know - a blessing, or a curse? It has driven some men and women utterly mad. It has granted some true enlightenment. It has inspired some to the loftiest heights of achievement. It has sent others into the depths of despair.

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