Yijing 108 of the Balanced Scales

Lore: The Balanced Scales were originally commissioned by the High Arbitrators of the Tyrus Island Country to assist in settling land disputes between newly arrived souls and the established guild masters. Crafted during the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, this item is a small, heavy pendulum made of “Refined Copper” and “Ilmatus-glass.” Within the glass housing, three “Tier 1 Magic Crystals” are suspended in a specialized alchemical oil. When held over a legal document or between two disputing parties, the crystals shift to form hexagrams that reveal the “Truth” or “Deceit” hidden within the “Power of Thought.” It is the standard tool for town mayors and village leaders who must act as judges in rural areas.

Stats

Tier: 1
Rarity: Common
Armor Check (AC): 1
Resilience: 12
Item HP: 32 (Avatar Max HP + 12)
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Slot: Waist Slot (Worn as a belt hanging) or Hand Slot (Held)

Passive Magic

The Joyous Lake (Tui): While the pendulum is openly worn on the waist, the avatar receives a +1 training point toward the Diplomacy or Insight skill. This is a temporary bonus provided by the “Mind’s Eye” as it interprets the subtle vibrations of the pendulum’s swing.
The Keeping Still (Ken): The avatar is shielded from minor magical “Misdirection” or “False Stats” when engaging in a formal negotiation. The pendulum remains perfectly still if the speaker is being truthful but vibrates at an “Irregular Interval” if deceit is detected.

Activable Magic

Sequence of Changes (Normal Chant): By speaking the “Trigram of Heaven,” the user can focus the pendulum on a specific individual. For the next 10 minutes, the avatar can see the “Renown Points” and the “Character Marks” (such as Banishment Marks) of the target through the Mind’s Eye, appearing as desaturated ultraviolet icons.
The Clinging Flame (Ritual Chant): By reciting the “sixty-four changes” for more than 6 seconds, the user invokes “Identify” on a contract or written agreement. This reveals if the item is “Bound” to a specific nation or if it contains hidden “Wild Magic” clauses. This draws significant attention as the Ilmatus-glass emits a bright purple glow.

Specific Slot

Waist Slot: Can be worn on a belt (using one of the four belt slots) to provide passive benefits.
Hand Slot: Must be held and stabilized to perform Active Activation magic.

Acquisition of the Yijing 108 of the Balanced Scales

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Yijing 108 is frequently issued to junior civil servants, town mayors, and traveling magistrates as a standard tool of the office. For an adventurer, the item is often obtained as a “Quest Reward” for successfully arbitrating a dispute between local factions or as a “Combat Reward” from a fallen corrupt official. Because the item is often “Bound” to a specific nation or municipality, finding one in the “Wilderness” usually implies the previous owner met a grim end or was stripped of their title. Those who seek to craft one themselves must establish a reputation for “Sincerity” and “Jurisprudence” to gain the necessary “Mind’s Eye” calibration from the Guild of Arbitrators.

Trade and Commercial Locations

The Magistrate’s Outfitter and Guild Hall Located in the “Somewhat Safe” areas of major island cities, these specialized shops cater exclusively to the legal and administrative classes. They deal in “Refined Copper” tools and “Ilmatus-glass” instruments.

Buying: A pristine Yijing 108 costs approximately 150 Silver (1.5 Gold). This price includes the initial calibration to the local monarchy’s legal standards.
Selling: These outfitters will buy back a functional pendulum for 75 Silver, provided the “Character Marks” of the seller do not indicate a criminal history.

The Urban Curio and Pawn Broker In the bustling “Normal” areas of a metropolis, where many Isekai souls first congregate, these shops buy and sell a wide variety of “Common” Tier 1 gear.

Buying: Due to the “Sellers’ Market” and the “Buyer Beware” nature of these shops, a pendulum may be priced anywhere from 120 to 180 Silver. The shopkeeper may claim it has “Unique Abilities” or “Deeds” attached to its history to justify the higher cost.
Selling: A broker will rarely offer more than 40 to 50 Silver, often pointing out minor scratches on the glass or suggesting the “Magic Crystals” inside are nearing their “Shattering” point.

The Village Market and Rural Trade Post In “Rural” areas with less than ten residents, or “Villages” where a single leader settles disputes, these items are incredibly rare and highly valued.

Buying: Coin is often scarce in rural areas, so the price might be expressed in trade. A farmer might ask for 200 Silver in “Rhodium” value or an equivalent amount of livestock and “10 days of rations.”
Selling: A village leader might be desperate for such a tool to manage their community and could offer up to 100 Silver if they have had a particularly profitable harvest, or perhaps a “Bound Item” of equal tier in exchange.

The World Bank Confiscation Sales The World Bank, operated by the god of commerce, occasionally holds sales for items seized from individuals who failed to pay their “Possession Storage” taxes on the 1st of the month.

Acquisition: The Bank values these items at a rigid 100 Silver (1 Gold) baseline. They do not haggle. You pay the fee, and the transaction is recorded in your Mind’s Eye. If you are a foreign citizen, remember that you may be required to pay twice the local rate depending on the local monarchy’s “Taxes and Fees” laws.

Strategic Jurisprudence: The Yijing 108 in Conflict and Resolution

In the world of Saṃsāra, where a “Banishment Mark” can be as lethal as a sword, the Yijing 108 of the Balanced Scales serves as a conduit for the “Power of Thought” to manifest as order. While it is a tool of law, its application in the “Unsafe” and “Deathly” areas of the world requires a firm grasp of both its defensive and offensive potential.

Defensive Roleplay and Protection

In Designated Safe Areas or Somewhat Safe municipalities, the pendulum is used to reinforce the “Armor Check” of the law.

Roleplay (The Keeping Still): When the avatar is confronted by a “Rule Breaker” or a hostile negotiator, they roleplay placing their hand over the pendulum on their Waist Slot. They describe the copper growing cold and the glass becoming opaque. This signals to the “Mind’s Eye” of everyone present that a “Divine Restriction” is active—deceit will not pass. The avatar uses this to maintain a “Joyous Lake” of calm, preventing a social conflict from escalating into physical violence.
Environmental Shielding: In a “Magic Storm” or “Wild Magic” zone, the avatar holds the pendulum aloft. They roleplay the three magic crystals spinning to form a “Hexagram of Earth,” grounding the chaotic energy. This doesn’t stop a physical attack, but it prevents “Misdirection” spells from confusing the party’s sense of direction or altering their “Character Marks.”

Offensive Roleplay and Combat

In Unsafe or Deathly Areas, the pendulum is used to “Identify” the spiritual and physical weaknesses of the opposition.

Roleplay (Sequence of Changes): During a “Turn Based” combat encounter, the avatar uses a Normal Chant to swing the pendulum toward a foe. Through the Mind’s Eye, the avatar roleplays seeing the target’s “HP” and “Renown” as a desaturated ultraviolet overlay. “I see the weight of your crimes,” the avatar might declare, pointing out a structural crack in the foe’s armor or a gap in their “Resilience” caused by a previous “Item Mark.” This provides the party with a tactical “Over-Power” advantage for their next strike.
The Clinging Flame (Offensive Identification): If an enemy is using a “Bound” legendary item, the avatar roleplays a Ritual Chant. As the pendulum glows purple, they “Identify” the item’s specific “Divine Restriction.” The avatar then shouts this information to their allies—revealing, for example, that the enemy’s sword loses all “Damage” bonuses if they move more than 10 yards. This effectively “deactivates” the foe’s primary threat through the power of arbitration and knowledge.

Roleplay in Social Arbitration

The true “Offense” of the Balanced Scales is often found in the courtroom or the village square rather than the battlefield.

Exposing the “False Name”: If a “Reborn Soul” is attempting to claim a “Hearthstone” or a “Possession” that does not belong to them, the avatar roleplays the pendulum swinging in a “Nearly Impossible” erratic pattern. This visual evidence of a “Rule Breaker” can be used to invoke a “Banishment Mark” from the local monarchy, removing the threat without a single drop of blood being spilled.
Group Powered Item Synergy: If the avatar is part of a “Gestalt” or a “Guild,” they can roleplay connecting the pendulum to a larger “Group Powered Item,” such as a city’s “Magic Circuit.” This amplifies the “Sequence of Changes,” allowing the avatar to arbitrate the truth for an entire crowd simultaneously, ensuring that “Social Influence” is gained by the righteous.

Perception of Activation:

User’s Perspective

Visual: The world undergoes a “Corrective Shift.” Colors become desaturated, except for those belonging to sentient beings, which gain a faint, ultraviolet outline. The crystals within the Ilmatus-glass glow with a steady violet light, and floating “Sequence of Changes” hexagrams appear in the air, labeling objects with their “Tier” and “Resilience” stats.
Auditory: A clear, rhythmic ticking sound—like a heavy grandfather clock—resonates directly in the user’s skull. This “Metronome of Truth” drowns out background noise, allowing the user to hear the slight hitch in a liar’s breath or the erratic heartbeat of a nervous negotiator.
Tactile: The copper handle of the pendulum grows comfortably warm, vibrating with a frequency that seems to align with the user’s own pulse. If the user touches a fraudulent document, a sharp, static-like sting pricks their fingertips, signaling “Misdirection.”
Extra-Sensory:
- Moral Weight: The user perceives a literal “heaviness” or “lightness” radiating from individuals. A “Rule Breaker” feels like a dense, oppressive leaden weight in the user’s Mind’s Eye, while a person of high “Sincerity” feels as light as a breeze.
- Temporal Anchor: For a split second during activation, the user feels anchored to the “Now,” making it impossible for them to be affected by minor time-dilation or memory-altering “Transient Global Amnesia” effects.

Observer’s Perspective

Visual: The pendulum’s glass housing flares with a bright purple luminescence that illuminates the user’s face from below. Tiny, geometric sparks of “Silver Fire” occasionally leap from the copper chain to the floor.
Auditory: Those within the immediate vicinity hear a low-frequency hum that sounds like a choir singing a single, sustained note. It is a peaceful yet demanding sound that naturally encourages people to lower their voices.
Tactile: A subtle “pressure” is felt in the air, similar to the feeling before a thunderstorm. It feels as though the room has become “smaller” or more focused on the pendulum itself.
Extra-Sensory: Sentient beings nearby feel a sudden, involuntary urge to be honest. It is a non-aggressive “mental nudge” that makes the act of lying feel physically and mentally exhausting while the “Balanced Scales” are active.

Positives

Infallible Discernment: The user cannot be “Misdirected” by Common-tier illusions or False Stats while the Ritual Chant is active.
Commanding Presence: The “Joyous Lake” passive grants the user a serene authority, making it “Nearly Impossible” for others to interrupt their arbitration.
Clarity of History: The user sees the “Item Marks” and “Character Marks” clearly, understanding the history of an object or person without needing a lengthy interrogation.

Negatives

Unfiltered Truth: The user sees all truths, including those they might wish to remain hidden, which can lead to social complications or emotional distress.
Static Vulnerability: The intense magical circuit created by the pendulum makes the user a “Lightning Rod” for any nearby “Wild Magic” surges, which could cause the crystals to shatter.
Hyper-Focus Burnout: After the activation ends, the user suffers from “Visual Desaturation” for 1d4 minutes, during which time they cannot distinguish colors or read fine print.

Alchemical-Legal Schematic: The Pendulum of Just Accord

Materials Needed

3 Tier 1 Magic Crystals: Small, clear shards harvested from Geode-Spirits or purchased from the World Bank. They must be uniform in size to maintain the “Balanced Scales.”
Refined Copper: 6 ounces of high-purity copper, beaten into a cylindrical housing and a weighted teardrop base.
Ilmatus-glass: A rare, lead-free alchemical glass known for its ability to contain “Silver Fire” without shattering.
Viscous Alchemical Oil: A clear, non-evaporating liquid used to suspend the crystals and dampen physical vibrations that are not caused by “Mind’s Eye” resonance.
Fine Copper Chain: Exactly 12 inches of interlocking links, representing the 12 lunar cycles of Saṃsāra.
Sincerity-Inscribed Parchment: A small strip of vellum soaked in “Truth-Serum” to be placed inside the base.

Tools Required

Precision Steam-Lathe: Used to turn the copper housing and ensure the Ilmatus-glass fits with a “Water-Tight” seal.
Jeweler’s Loupe: For inspecting the magic crystals for microscopic “Structural Cracks” that could cause a “Wild Magic” leak.
Harmonic Tuning Fork: Calibrated to the frequency of “The Joyous Lake” (Tui) to align the crystals’ internal vibrations.
Vacuum Pump: To remove all air from the glass cylinder before sealing it with the alchemical oil.

Skill Requirements

Trained Skill: Alchemical Crafting: Level 1 minimum. Required to stabilize the oil and seal the Ilmatus-glass against the copper frame.
Trained Skill: Mechanical Engineering: Level 1 minimum. Necessary to assemble the “Sequence of Changes” gear-work in the pendulum’s cap.
Trained Skill: Diplomacy (or Jurisprudence): Level 1 minimum. You must understand the “Power of Thought” behind arbitration to calibrate the crystals to detect “Misdirection.”

Crafting Steps

Forging the Frame: Smelt the refined copper and cast the upper cap and the weighted lower point. Use the steam-lathe to carve a “Recessed Groove” for the glass cylinder.
Preparing the Crystals: Place the three Tier 1 Magic Crystals on a velvet cloth. Strike the harmonic tuning fork and hold it near them. If they pulse with a synchronized purple glow, they are ready for the “Balanced Scales.”
The Vacuum Seal: Slide the Ilmatus-glass cylinder into the copper base. Fill it with the alchemical oil and drop the crystals inside. Use the vacuum pump to remove any air bubbles—bubbles will cause “False Stats” during arbitration.
Inscribing the Covenants: Using a fine stylus, etch the hexagram for “The Keeping Still” onto the top of the copper cap. This ensures the pendulum remains steady in the presence of “Sincerity.”
Assembly of the Chain: Attach the 12-inch copper chain to the cap. Ensure each link is secure; a “Broken” chain during a “Ritual Chant” can lead to a “Banishment Mark” from the local authorities for “Legal Malpractice.”
The Calibration Chant: Hold the completed pendulum over the Sincerity-Inscribed Parchment. Perform a “Normal Chant” of the “Sequence of Changes.” If the crystals align into a vertical column and emit a steady violet light, the item is “Attuned” and ready for a “Tier 1 Avatar.”

Lead-Heavy String Which Unknits Web of Tongue-Twisters

In the era when the Great VaporSphere was but a sneeze of the celestial nose and the moon Saṃsāra was a hot porridge cooling in the bowl of the stars, there was a Great Shouting. Before the nine thousand years were etched by the stuttering chisels of the first stone-speakers, the world was a tangle of “Power of Thought” without a “Rule Book.” People spoke with “False Names” and traded “Broken” items for “Legendary” promises. The “Social Influence” was a soup of lies.

Among these confused souls was a being named Ken-Tui, the Quiet-Walker. Ken-Tui suffered from the “Transient Global Amnesia” of the first rebirth, wandering the 73 Island countries with no “Hearthstone” to call his own. He found that the “Guild Masters” of the ancient cities were using “Misdirection” spells to steal the “Renown Points” of the innocent. They would sell a “Common” Tier 1 shovel and call it a “Tier 5” earth-shifter. Ken-Tui’s “Mind’s Eye” was weeping because the “Truth” was hidden behind a “Banishment Mark” of noise.

It is scrawled in the crumbling dust-books that Ken-Tui traveled to the peak of the mountain known as the Iron-Scale, where the gravity is so “Heavy” that a man’s “Armor Check” is always a failure. There, he encountered a “Magic Virus” that lived within the copper veins of the earth. This virus did not bring a fever of the skin, but a fever of “Sincerity.” Ken-Tui did not run, for he knew that to cure the world’s “Lies,” he must first catch the “Corrective Shift.”

With a “Precision Steam-Lathe” made of dragon-bone and a hammer fueled by “Silver Fire,” Ken-Tui began to forge a weight for the world’s tongue. He took the “Refined Copper” from the mountain’s heart and beat it into a teardrop shape, for the tear is the only water that cannot be “Misdirected.” He did not have the “Mechanical Power Transmission” of our modern factories, but he had the “Sequence of Changes” in his blood. He carved into the copper the trigram of “The Keeping Still,” which is the stone that does not roll when the “Wild Magic” blows.

It is whispered by the wind-spirits that for seven years of seven months, Ken-Tui sat in the “Safe Area” of a silent cave. He performed a “Ritual Chant” that was so quiet it could only be heard by the “Magic Crystalline Cells” he had placed inside the “Ilmatus-glass.” He sang to the crystals until they forgot they were stones and remembered they were “Balanced Scales.” He did not use a “Simple Attunement”; he “Bound” the item to the very concept of “Jurisprudence,” making it a “Group Powered Item” for all who seek the law.

When the first pendulum was finished, it was the Yijing 0. It was not “Common,” but an “Artifact” of such “Resilience” that even the “d4 Dice” of the gods could not scratch it. When Ken-Tui held it between two fighting “Monarchies,” the “Sequence of Changes” began to glow with a violet light. The “False Stats” of the kings withered away. One king claimed to have 10,000 soldiers, but the pendulum swung to the “Nearly Impossible” left, revealing he had only three tired goats and a “Broken” spear.

But the translation of the ancient mold warns of the “Over-Power” of the Judge. Ken-Tui became so consumed by “Arbitration” that he began to judge the very trees for growing crookedly and the clouds for being “Irregular” in their rain. He used the “Clinging Flame” to “Identify” the secret shames of every soul he passed. He saw the “Banishment Marks” on the hearts of mothers and the “Item Marks” on the souls of children. The “Divine Restriction” of his own heart began to tighten like a “Waist Slot” belt made of thorns.

The High Matriarch of the “World Bank,” who counts the “Renown” of the stars, saw that Ken-Tui was ignoring the “Social Influence” of mercy. She saw that he was using his “Tier 1” body to carry a “Tier 10” burden of judgment. In the “Evening” hour of the Great Eclipse, when the “Vapor-Spire” blocks the sun Helios, she sent a “Magic Storm” to test his “Resilience.”

As the “Wild Magic” roared, Ken-Tui tried to use his “Mana Boost” to arbitrate the storm itself. He commanded the lightning to speak its “True Name.” But the lightning is a “Rule Breaker” by nature. The “Silver Fire” inside the Ilmatus-glass grew so hot it reached the “Shattering” point. In a flash of ultraviolet sparks, Ken-Tui’s physical vessel was “Deactivated.” He was “Balled” into a “Soul Crystal” and hidden beneath the foundations of the first “Urban” courthouse.

Before his “Transient Global Amnesia” claimed him once more, Ken-Tui shattered his masterpiece into sixty-four times sixty-four pieces. He made the pendulums “Common,” so that every village leader and “Reborn Soul” could have a small piece of the “Truth.” He limited their power to “Tier 1,” so that no one man could ever judge the entire world again, for that is a “Nearly Impossible” task meant only for the gods who do not have “HP” to lose.

The Moral of the Story He who uses a scale to measure the sins of his neighbor must first ensure the string of his own heart is not tangled in the knots of his own pride, for the weight of the truth is a burden that only the humble can swing without breaking.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Unique Name: The Pendulum of the Cold Verdict

Item Type: Occult Artifact / Tool
Skill Bonus: Grants a +15% bonus to Psychology and Persuade rolls during formal negotiations or interrogations.
Special Ability (Weight of Deceit): The user may spend 2 Magic Points to focus on a speaker. If the target tells a deliberate lie, the pendulum vibrates subtly. This provides the user with a Bonus Die on the next Psychology roll to discern the target’s hidden motives.
Sanity Cost: Using the pendulum to “Identify” a person touched by the Mythos (revealing their true, non-human nature) requires a Sanity roll (1/1d4 loss). The “Truth” revealed is often more than the human mind can bear.
Syntax: The investigator must remain stationary to use the pendulum. Any sudden movement or “Wild Magic” (magical interference) renders the reading “Inconclusive” for 1d10 minutes.

Blades in the Dark

Unique Name: Spark-Craft Truth-Weight

Item Type: Fine Arcane Implement (1 Load)
Tier: I
Quality: Fine (+1 Tier for determining effect when arbitrating disputes or uncovering lies).
Mechanic (The Unbroken Covenant): When you Sway or Consort with a target to reach a legal or social agreement, you may take 1 Stress to “Anchor the Truth.” This grants you +1 Effect and ensures that if the target breaks the deal, you immediately know (the weight grows freezing cold).
Passive: Counts as a Fine Set of Documents when used to authenticate or “Identify” legal contracts and deeds.
Syntax: The Ilmatus-glass pulses with a faint violet hue when a lie is detected. This is visible to anyone with a “Fine” quality of perception or a high “Mind’s Eye” rating.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Unique Name: Yijing Pendulum of the Justiciar

Item Type: Wondrous Item
Rarity: Common
Attunement: Required (Simple Attunement – 1 Minute)
Properties:
- Passive (Arbitrator’s Aura): While wearing this item on your Waist Slot, you have Advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and Wisdom (Insight) checks made to resolve a non-violent conflict.
- Active (Sequence of Changes): As an Action, you can focus the pendulum on a creature within 30 feet. For the next minute, you know if that creature tells a lie. This functions similarly to the Zone of Truth spell but only affects the target and does not prevent them from being silent.
- Ritual of Identification: You can use the pendulum to cast Identify as a ritual. Once used, this feature cannot be used again until you finish a Long Rest.
Syntax: If the user is Tier 1, they add their Tier Die (1d4) to any Insight check. If used by a higher-tier creature, the “Divine Restriction” causes 1d4 psychic damage on a failed check.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Unique Name: The Law-Weight

Item Type: Tool (1 Slot)
Quality: 12 (Resilience)
Armor: +1 AC (Standard AC rules apply; maximum of 3 per level).
Mechanics:
- Sincerity Check: When interrogating a prisoner or negotiating a price, the user adds +2 to their Charisma or Wisdom checks.
- Identify Contract: By spending 10 minutes (Ritual) studying a document through the glass, the user automatically discovers if the document is forged or carries a magical curse.
- The Keeping Still: Once per day, the user may force a target to make a Spirit Save. On a failure, the target cannot tell a lie for 1 turn (10 minutes).
Syntax: If the user rolls a 1 (Crit Miss), the copper chain snaps (Broken status), and the “Wild Magic” of the area causes the crystals to dim until repaired.

Fate (Core / Condensed)

Unique Name: The Pendulum of Just Accord

Item Type: Stunt-Granting Extra
Aspect: The Eye of the Legal Storm
Stunt (The Keeping Still): Because I possess the Pendulum of Just Accord, I get a +2 to Empathy or Investigate actions when I am specifically trying to determine if a person is lying or if a document has been forged.
Active Ability (Sequence of Changes): Once per session, you may spend a Fate Point to “Declare a Verdict.” This allows you to automatically discover one Hidden Aspect on a situation or contract that represents a legal loophole or a hidden motive, with one free invoke.
Syntax: Using the pendulum requires a moment of quiet focus. If the user is in a “Wild Magic” zone or a chaotic crowd, the GM may compel the item’s aspect to represent “Sensory Overload,” making the reading difficult to interpret.

Numenera & Cypher System

Unique Name: The Arbitrator’s Harmonic Node

Item Type: Artifact (Tier 1)
Level: 1d6
Form: A copper-weighted pendulum with a glass core that hums at a low frequency.
Effect (Insight of the Lake): While the artifact is active (held or worn), the user gains an Asset on all tasks involving social interaction where truth-telling is a factor (Diplomacy, Deception-detection, or Persuasion).
Active (Deep Identification): The user can spend 2 Intellect points to use the internal crystals to identify the specific magical or technological properties of a written contract or a “Bound” item.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20. Upon depletion, the “Alchemical Oil” within leaks out, and the crystals dim until a new “Tier 1 Magic Crystal” is integrated.
Syntax: If the user attempts to arbitrate a Tier 2 or higher dispute, the difficulty of the task increases by one step as the “Balanced Scales” struggle to weigh the higher-tier energy.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Unique Name: Yijing Scales of the Magistrate

Item Type: Held or Worn (Waist); Item 1
Usage: worn belt attachment or held in 1 hand; Bulk: L
Traits: Divination, Magical, Mental
Mechanic (Jurisprudence Bonus): You gain a +1 item bonus to Perception checks to Sense Motive and Society checks to Decipher Writing or determine the legality of a situation.
Activate (Single Action): (Envision) You focus on a single speaker. For the next minute, you gain a +2 status bonus to Perception checks to Sense Motive against that specific target.
Activate (10 Minutes – Ritual Chant): (Envision, Interact) You perform the Identify spell on a document or a magical item.
Syntax: The item bonus does not stack with other item bonuses. If the user is Tier 1, they roll 1d20 + 1d4 for the activation check. A failure indicates the pendulum swings erratically, providing no information.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Unique Name: Pendulum of Sincerity

Item Type: Gear (Enchanted)
Rank: Novice
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Core Mechanic (Arbitration): The bearer gains a +2 bonus to Notice and Persuasion rolls when acting in an official capacity to settle a dispute or verify the truth.
Power (The Clinging Flame): As a Limited Action, the user may spend 1 Power Point to activate the detect arcana power, but only to identify “Bound” statuses or “Banishment Marks” on individuals.
Syntax: If the user is forced to tell a lie while wearing the pendulum, they must make a Spirit roll or be Shaken as the “Divine Restriction” of the item reacts to their lack of sincerity.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

Unique Name: The Law-Giver’s Resonant Pendulum

Item Type: Detection Focus
Rating: 1
Essence Cost: 0 (Worn on Waist Slot)
Capacity: 1
Mechanic (Sincerity Filter): While the focus is active, the user receives a +1 dice pool bonus to all Judge Intentions tests and Influence tests made during formal negotiations. The copper housing acts as a grounding wire for social anxiety, keeping the user’s “Mind’s Eye” clear.
Active Ability (Astral Discernment): By spending a Minor Action, the user can observe the crystals to “Identify” if a target is under the influence of a Manipulation spell or a “Misdirection” spirit. This reveals the target’s Magic Rating (or Tier) as a desaturated ultraviolet aura.
Syntax: Using the pendulum in a high-noise or high-static Urban environment imposes a -1 penalty to the test as the “Mechanical Power Transmission” of the vibrations is disrupted.

Starfinder (2nd Edition / Playtest)

Unique Name: Trigram Truth-Anchor

Item Type: Hybrid Item (Hand or Waist Slot)
Level: 1; Price: 150 Credits
Bulk: L; Capacity: 20; Usage: 1/hour
Passive (Magistrate’s Interface): While worn on a belt, the anchor grants a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to Sense Motive and Culture checks to decipher legal codes or “Item Marks.”
Activate (Standard Action): You expend 1 charge to focus the pendulum on a digital or physical contract. This functions as the Identify spell, but also reveals if the contract was signed under “Misdirection” or if it contains a “Banishment Mark” clause.
Syntax: The Ilmatus-glass must be kept clean. If the item’s Resilience drops below 5, it provides “False Stats” on a natural 1 d20 roll.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Unique Name: The TL-12 Diplomatic Pendulum

Item Type: Specialized Social Tool (Tech Level 12)
Weight: 0.5 kg; Cost: Cr 1,800
Skill Bonus: Provides a DM+1 to any Diplomat, Investigate, or Advocate check made to settle a dispute or verify a “Character Mark” (reputation).
The Keeping Still (Active Detection): When held over a subject during an interrogation, the user may make an Average (8+) Investigate check. Success indicates the user knows if the subject is experiencing the physiological stress of a lie.
Syntax: The pendulum uses a “Magic Crystal” core. In a “Deathly Area” with zero gravity, the pendulum must be “spun” rather than swung, requiring a DEX check to maintain the “Sequence of Changes” frequency.

Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition / Age of Sigmar: Soulbound)

Unique Name: Verena’s Copper Weight

Item Type: Arcane Artefact (Law)
Availability: Rare
Traits: Magical, Lawful, Fragile (Resilience 12)
Mechanic (The Joyous Lake): The bearer gains a +10 bonus to all Intuition and Lore (Law) tests. The “Mind’s Eye” perceives a “Rule Breaker” as having a dark, oily shadow regardless of the actual lighting.
Activable (Normal Chant): The user may attempt a Channelling (Hysh) test to “Balance the Scales.” Success reveals the target’s Current HP, Corruption Level, and any “Bound” items. If the user fails, the crystals emit an “Irregular Interval” vibration that causes the user to be Stunned for 1 round.
Syntax: Requires the user to be in a “Safe Area” or “Somewhat Safe” municipality to use the Ritual Chant without attracting “Wild Magic” miscasts. The item is “Bound” to the Magistrate’s office.