Taoist 22 of The Mirror of Still Waters

Lore: The sages of the Taoist 22 path were not spies, but silent observers of the currents of Qi that flowed between people, factions, and nations. They held that conflict, deception, and intrigue were the result of agitated, “murky” Qi, like turbulent water that distorts all reflections. Truth and clarity, they taught, could only be found when the Qi was placid and still. Their alchemical practice focused on cultivating a mind as calm and reflective as a windless pool of water at midnight.

The Mirrors of Still Waters were created as scrying and meditation tools for the sect’s initiates. By meditating on the mirror’s perfect, dark surface and learning to still the ripples of their own thoughts, an acolyte could learn to perceive the undisturbed truth of a situation. The mirror does not show the future or reveal what is not there; it reflects the present moment with preternatural clarity, stripping away the distortions of lies and emotion. It was a tool that taught a fundamental lesson of espionage: the greatest secrets are not taken by force, but are freely given to a quiet, reflective surface that people unknowingly reveal their true selves to.

Description: A small, palm-sized disc of volcanic obsidian, polished to a perfect, flawless, liquid-black mirror finish. It is unnaturally cool to the touch and seems to drink the light around it, causing the reflections within its surface to appear with impossible clarity and stability, free of any distortion. Looking into it is like gazing into a perfectly calm, black pond. The back of the disc is left unpolished, its rough texture covered in a series of finely etched, concentric circles that resemble the ripples spreading from a single drop of water. The mirror is typically kept in a soft, silk pouch to protect its surface.

Slot: Accessory

Detailed Stats

Cunning: +3
Composure: +3

Passive Magics

Ripples of Deceit: When the wearer is engaged in a conversation and can see the speaker’s reflection in the mirror, any deliberate lie told by the speaker will cause the reflection to subtly distort. The image will appear to ripple for a moment, as if a stone were dropped into the placid water. This does not reveal the truth, but it gives the wearer an undeniable, intuitive sense that the speaker’s words and intentions are not in alignment.
Surface of Stillness: The mirror’s calming influence extends to the wearer. Their own micro-expressions are subtly smoothed and their tells are quieted, giving them a natural “poker face.” This makes it significantly easier to conceal their own thoughts, emotions, and intentions during tense negotiations, interrogations, or games of chance.

Activable Magics

Scry the Adjoining Space: By pressing the flat, polished surface of the mirror against a solid barrier (such as a wall, door, or ceiling), the wearer can channel a small trickle of Qi into it. For as long as they maintain contact and concentration, the mirror’s surface will show a clear, silent, real-time image of what is on the immediate other side of the barrier. The effect can penetrate up to two feet of common material like wood or stone.
Absorb the Spoken Word: The user can hold the mirror and activate it to “record” a sound. For the next minute, the mirror’s surface will ripple faintly as it absorbs all ambient sound within a 30-foot radius. At any point within the next hour, the user can touch the mirror to “play back” the recording. The entire captured conversation will be replayed as a series of perfect, quiet whispers that only the user can hear. The mirror can only hold one recording at a time; activating this ability again erases the previously held sound.

Tags: Alchemical, Accessory, Magical, Common, Tier 1, Scrying< Divination, Utility, Espionage, Information, Mind, Sound, Deception, Surveillance, Intrigue, Obsidian, Handheld, Focus, Subtlety, Truth, Reflection, Worn

The Taoist 22 of The Mirror of Still Waters is a tool for those who trade in secrets and truths. Its purchase and sale are transactions conducted not in the boisterous open market, but in the quiet, discreet corners of society where information is more valuable than gold. Investigators, spies, scholars, and diplomats are its most likely clientele.

The Arcane Scribe & Stationer

This establishment is found in the scholarly or administrative quarters of a great city, often near a university, library, or courthouse. The shop is a sanctuary of quiet and order, smelling of rich paper, cedar shelves, and the sharp, pleasant scent of alchemical ink. The proprietor is typically a well-read, meticulous individual who understands that the right knowledge, correctly recorded, is the fulcrum upon which the world turns. They sell not just mundane supplies, but enchanted quills that never run dry, paper that cannot be burned, and other tools for the discerning scholar or bureaucrat.

How it is Sold: The Mirror of Still Waters would be kept in a silk-lined drawer beneath the main counter, shown only to customers who ask for tools of “divination,” “scrutiny,” or “truth-seeking.” The shopkeeper would present it not as a spy’s tool, but as a scholar’s aid. They might demonstrate its “Ripples of Deceit” ability by stating a simple falsehood—”The sky is green today”—while letting the customer observe the distortion in their reflection. The sale would be an intellectual one, a quiet appreciation of the item’s subtle power.

Cost to Buy: The price is aimed at a clientele that invests in knowledge and influence. The proprietor would ask for a respectable 1 Gold coin and 1 Silver coin. Value to Sell: A shopkeeper like this would understand the mirror’s value and would be willing to purchase one to offer to their exclusive clientele. They would offer a fair price of 8 Silver coins for an item in good condition.

The Guild of Inquirymen’s Supply

This is not a public storefront, but a private, members-only quartermaster’s office, likely housed in a nondescript building in a city’s legal or financial district. The Guild of Inquirymen—private investigators—is a professional, discreet organization, and their supply house reflects this. The room is functional, organized, and secure, with a retired investigator managing the inventory of specialized equipment: masterwork lockpicks, disguise kits, enchanted listening devices, and tools for forensic analysis.

How it is Sold: The mirror is considered a standard piece of field equipment. A guild member would request it by its catalog number. There is no sales pitch; the buyer is a professional who already knows the tool’s capabilities and limitations. The quartermaster would simply retrieve the item from a secure lockbox, record the transaction in a coded ledger against the member’s account, and wish them luck on their case.

Cost to Buy: The guild sells to its members at a slight markup to fund its operations. A licensed Inquiryman could acquire the mirror for 1 Gold coin and 3 Silver coins. Value to Sell: The guild would buy back equipment from its members to maintain supply, particularly from those retiring or leaving the profession. They would offer a standard buy-back rate of 9 Silver coins.

The Information Broker’s Rendezvous

There is no shop. The transaction takes place in the fleeting privacy of a crowded tavern’s corner booth, during a “chance” meeting in a steam bath, or in a shadowed alleyway pungent with rain and refuse. The seller is an information broker, a phantom who deals in the most valuable commodity: secrets. They are surrounded by an aura of paranoia and unseen associates. They trade in whispers, and sometimes, they trade the tools used to catch those whispers.

How it is Sold: The mirror is part of a deal. It might be offered as payment for a dangerous job, or sold as a show of trust to a new agent. The broker would speak in hushed, practical terms, highlighting its most illicit uses. “Press it to the magistrate’s door and see who he meets with. Catch the guild master’s secret promises and bring them back to me.” The atmosphere is tense, the language coded, and the feeling that you are being watched is palpable. Trust, not coin, is the real currency here.

Cost to Buy: The price is fluid and depends entirely on the situation and the buyer’s worth to the broker. To an unproven outsider, the broker might demand a steep 2 Gold coins and 2 Electrum coins (24 Silver total). To a trusted operative, they might trade it for a single, vital secret. Value to Sell: A broker is always in the market for good tools. They would likely offer 1 Gold coin and 5 Silver coins for a “no questions asked” purchase, valuing the mirror’s utility for their own network of agents.

The Monastery of the Still Mind

Far from the intrigue of the city, located on the shores of a mist-shrouded, perfectly calm mountain lake, is the home of the Taoist 22 sect. The monastery is a study in minimalism and tranquility, constructed of dark, polished wood that reflects the sky like the water outside. The monks practice a life of silent observation, believing that by stilling their own minds, the world reveals its truths without prompting.

How it is Sold: The mirrors are not for sale. They are the physical embodiment of the monks’ philosophy and are earned, not bought. An acolyte is gifted a mirror only after they have demonstrated years of discipline and can hold their mind in a state of perfect, reflective calm. A visitor, such as an avatar, could not purchase one. However, if they were to perform a great service for the monastery—perhaps by uncovering a subtle threat through observation rather than violence, or by bringing an artifact of great tranquility to the monks—the abbot might gift them a mirror as a sign of profound respect for their methods.

Cost to Buy: The cost is a demonstration of character and wisdom. A monetary donation is secondary, but if one were offered, the monks would suggest an amount of 8 Silver coins, not as a price, but as a contribution to cover the material cost and the simple lifestyle of the monk who polished the obsidian. Value to Sell: The monks would not buy a mirror, as its value is not in coin. They would gratefully accept one as a gift returned to their meditative practice, to be passed on to the next worthy student.

The Taoist 22 of The Mirror of Still Waters is an instrument of pure espionage. It has no sharp edges and offers no physical shield. Its power, both for offense and defense, is wielded through the acquisition of the ultimate weapon: the undeniable truth. An avatar with this charm fights their battles before they begin, using secrets and observation to ensure they never have to draw a sword.

In a Noble’s Court or a Diplomatic Summit

In this environment of veiled threats and polite lies, the mirror is in its element, acting as a scalpel to dissect deception.

Defensive Roleplay:

The mirror is the avatar’s shield against political maneuvering. During a tense negotiation over a trade treaty, a rival diplomat offers a concession that seems too good to be true.

The avatar would casually rest their mirror on the table, its polished face angled toward the speaker. As the diplomat speaks of “mutual benefit,” the avatar would roleplay noticing the change: “I watch his reflection as he speaks. His face is a mask of sincerity, but in the mirror’s black depths, his image wavers and distorts, like a face seen through troubled water. The Ripples of Deceit show me the poison in his honeyed words. I will advise my patron to reject the offer.”

Later, the avatar might be brought before a spymaster, accused of sedition. The Surface of Stillness becomes their defense.

“They place me in a hard-backed chair under a single, bright light. The spymaster’s questions are like daggers,” the avatar would narrate. “But I focus on the cool, steady weight of the obsidian in my pocket. I feel its calm seep into my mind, smoothing away my fear. My face becomes a placid lake. I deny their accusations, and my voice does not tremble. My stillness unnerves them; they can get no read, no sign of guilt. They are left with only doubt.”

Offensive Roleplay:

Offense in court is the art of acquiring leverage. The avatar needs to know what a rival faction is planning. They observe their targets entering a private, sound-proofed chamber.

The avatar would find a discreet position, perhaps in an adjoining room or hallway. Pressing the mirror to the wall, they activate Scry the Adjoining Space. “The grain of the wood melts away in the reflection, and the chamber beyond becomes clear and silent. I see my rivals gathered around a map, their expressions grim. I now know who is in the meeting, and what they are looking at.”

To discover the content of that secret meeting, the avatar finds a hiding place nearby—behind a tapestry or on a balcony—and activates Absorb the Spoken Word.

“I hold the mirror out, angling its face toward the door,” they would describe. “I feel the obsidian vibrate faintly, drinking in their treasonous whispers. Later tonight, in the safety of my own room, I will touch the mirror, and every secret promise and dark pact will be replayed for my ears alone. Tomorrow, I will own them.”

In a Thieves’ Guild Hideout

In the criminal underworld, where a bluff can be as deadly as a blade, the mirror separates deadly threats from hollow boasts.

Defensive Roleplay:

The avatar is in a high-stakes game of cards, playing against a guild enforcer for information. The enforcer makes a huge bet, his face a mask of smug confidence.

The avatar would use a polished dagger or a puddle of spilled ale as a reflective surface to catch the enforcer’s face, a proxy for their own mirror. “He claims to hold the winning hand,” the avatar would think, “but in the reflection, his confident smile ripples and twists. He is bluffing.” The avatar can then confidently call the bluff, winning the pot and the information.

When threatened by the Guild Master, who uses fear as his primary weapon, the Surface of Stillness allows the avatar to stand their ground.

“He surrounds me with his toughest brutes. He tells me all the ways my mission can fail and how my body will never be found. I simply hold his gaze, my face a mask of calm neutrality. He expects fear, but he finds nothing. His frustration grows. I have defended myself without raising a hand, and can now negotiate from a position of unexpected strength.”

Offensive Roleplay:

The avatar needs to learn the secret knock to enter the guild’s inner sanctum. They find a hiding spot in the rafters above the door.

As a guild member approaches and gives the complex series of knocks and a passphrase, the avatar uses Absorb the Spoken Word. “The mirror captures every detail—the rhythm of the knocks, the exact inflection of the phrase ‘iron rusts, gold gleams.’ The secret is now mine.”

To map out a target for a future heist, the avatar uses Scry the Adjoining Space.

From a sewer tunnel below, they press the mirror to the stone ceiling. “The rock turns to glass in the reflection,” they would narrate, “I see the layout of the vault above—the number of guards, the placement of the traps, the location of the paymaster’s desk. I sketch it from memory. The plan can now be made.”

In a Fortified Military Camp

Among soldiers and strategists, information is the key to victory, and misinformation is the key to a swift demise.

Defensive Roleplay:

The party has captured an enemy scout and is interrogating him. The avatar uses the mirror to separate truth from battlefield lies.

“I ask the scout for his legion’s numbers. He says they are only five hundred strong. I watch his face in the mirror’s surface; it remains still and true. He is not lying about that. Then I ask where they are marching. He says east. His face ripples. A lie. With this knowledge, I can ask the right follow-up questions to corner him into revealing the truth about their western march.”

Offensive Roleplay:

Offense is pure reconnaissance. The avatar needs to know the enemy’s strategy before a major battle.

Under the cover of darkness, the avatar sneaks to the outside of the general’s command tent. Pressing the obsidian to the thick canvas activates Scry the Adjoining Space. “The canvas becomes a silent window. I see the general and his lieutenants. I see their strategy map. I see their troop deployments.”

This visual information is then complemented by audio. The avatar activates Absorb the Spoken Word.

“While watching them, I command the mirror to listen. It drinks in every command, every argument, every contingency plan discussed within that tent. When I return to my own camp, I will not just report what I saw. I will be able to recite their entire battle plan, word for word. We will know their every move before they make it.”

Perception of Activation:

Activation: Scry the Adjoining Space

This is a focused, silent activation where the user channels their Qi through the mirror to see through a solid barrier.

User’s Perspective

Sight: This is the primary sense. As you press the mirror to a surface, its polished blackness deepens into what feels like a true, infinite void. Then, an image fades into existence. It is a perfectly stable, silent, real-time view of the area on the other side. It feels less like watching a screen and more like looking through a perfectly clean, smoked-glass window into a silent world. The etched ripples on the back of the mirror, which is pressed to your palm, begin to glow with a faint, cool, white light.
Sound: The sounds of your immediate surroundings become muffled and distant, as if your sense of hearing is being partially suppressed to fuel your new, unnatural sight.
Smell: There is no smell associated with this activation.
Touch: The obsidian, already cool, becomes intensely cold against the barrier. You feel a steady, low-frequency hum vibrating from the mirror through your hand—the feeling of focused, quiescent energy.
Taste: A faint, mineral taste of cold stone or wet clay forms on your tongue.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Qi Extension): You feel your own life force, your Qi, flowing from your core and into the mirror. It does not feel like a release of power, but like you are extending a long, invisible, and very fine antenna from your mind, through the mirror, and into the space beyond.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Spatial Dislocation): For a brief, dizzying moment as the image forms, you feel a sense of being in two places at once. You feel the floor under your own feet, but you also feel a phantom sense of the space and dimensions of the room you are viewing, which can be disorienting.

Positives: The information gained is purely visual, direct, and unambiguous, providing a powerful and relatively safe method of reconnaissance. The silence of the activation makes it exceptionally stealthy.

Negatives: The sensation of being in two places at once can cause momentary vertigo or nausea. While you are scrying, you are hyper-focused on the image within the mirror, making you significantly less aware of your immediate surroundings and vulnerable to being surprised.

Observer’s Perspective

Sight: An observer would see you press the black, polished disc against a wall or door and then stand perfectly still, staring intently into its surface. Your eyes would appear unfocused, as if looking at something far away. If the observer is positioned behind you, they would see the concentric circles etched on the back of the mirror begin to glow with a soft, steady, white light.
Sound: An observer would hear nothing. The activation is completely silent.
Smell: An observer perceives no scent.
Touch: An observer perceives no tactile sensation.
Taste: An observer perceives no taste.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Focused Channel): A magically-aware observer would see your aura dim slightly, as if you were drawing your energy inward. They would then perceive a thin, highly concentrated beam of your Qi flowing from your body into the mirror, where it seems to phase directly through the solid barrier without disturbing it.

Positives: The activation is visually subtle (from the front) and totally silent, making it an excellent tool for covert information gathering without alerting anyone on either side of the barrier.

Negatives: While you are using the ability, you are completely stationary, unresponsive, and staring into the mirror. To an unknowing ally, it may appear that you have fallen into a trance or are simply wasting time, which could cause confusion or impatience in a tense situation.

Activation: Absorb the Spoken Word

This activation turns the mirror into a silent recorder, capturing ambient sound for later, private playback.

User’s Perspective

Sight: As you activate the mirror, its perfectly placid surface comes alive. With each nearby sound wave, especially spoken words, the surface shimmers and ripples as if it were liquid. The strength of the sound dictates the intensity of the ripples. The concentric circles on the back pulse with a soft white light that flickers in time with the cadence of the conversation being absorbed.
Sound: You hear the conversation normally with your own ears. The mirror makes no noise as it records.
Smell: There is no smell associated with this activation.
Touch: The mirror vibrates distinctly in your hand. It is not a uniform hum, but a complex, tactile vibration that matches the sounds it is capturing. It feels very much like resting your fingertips on the diaphragm of a speaker.
Taste: There is no taste associated with this activation.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Resonant Capture): You feel the mirror’s inherent Qi actively reaching out in a subtle, net-like field. It feels like it is “catching” the vibrations from the air and pulling them into its obsidian matrix. There is a tangible feeling of the mirror becoming “full” of stored sound.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Whispering Playback): When you later touch the mirror to play back the recording, you feel the stored vibrations release into your fingertips. You do not hear the sound with your ears; the words and noises manifest directly inside your mind as perfect, clear whispers, a completely private and inaudible playback.

Positives: This ability allows for perfect, undetectable audio surveillance. The playback method is completely private, ensuring that only you can hear the secrets you have captured.

Negatives: The mirror can only store one “recording” at a time; recording a new conversation erases the old one. The constant, complex vibration in your hand during the recording process can be distracting if you are trying to remain unnoticed or perform other tasks.

Observer’s Perspective

Sight: An observer would see you holding the black mirror. If they look closely at its polished surface, they will see it shimmering and rippling in a way that does not match any light source in the room. The effect is similar to watching heat haze, but it moves in time with any nearby sounds. The pulsing glow on the back of the mirror is also a clear visual sign if it is visible.
Sound: An observer would hear nothing unusual.
Smell: An observer perceives no scent.
Touch: An observer perceives no tactile sensation.
Taste: An observer perceives no taste.
Extra-Sensory Perception (Energetic Funnel): A magically-aware observer would perceive the mirror projecting a wide, subtle field of energy that seems to “vibrate” with the ambient sound. They would see this field funneling the captured sonic energy back into the obsidian disc, where it is stored.

Positives: The activation is silent, which is a major advantage for any form of covert recording.

Negatives: The visual effect of the mirror’s rippling surface, while subtle, is a dead giveaway to anyone who is observant and paying direct attention to you or the item. Using this ability while being watched is extremely risky.

Alchemical Formulation: The Scryer’s Still Pool

This text describes the ritualistic crafting process for creating a Mirror of Still Waters. The procedure is less a matter of physical force and more an exercise in profound patience and mental stillness. The quality of the finished item is a direct reflection of the crafter’s own inner tranquility.

Materials Needed

The Void: One (1) flawless, hand-sized slab of pure volcanic obsidian, selected for its uniform blackness and absence of internal fractures.
The Abrasive of Silence: A pouch containing a handful of dried Whisper-Moss. This rare, grey moss grows only in caves where magical silence has been imposed for centuries, and its spores are a super-fine, non-abrasive polishing agent.
The Ink of Truth: A small quantity of paste made from two ingredients: one gram of finely powdered freshwater pearl and three drops of oil harvested from the glands of a Glass-Skinned Lizard (a reptile known for its translucent, emotionless visage).
The Water of Tranquility: A single vial of water collected from a geologically ancient, subterranean pool that is completely cut off from wind, rain, and all other surface disturbances.
The Shroud of Secrets: A square of soft, black silk, woven from the threads of cave-dwelling spiders, to serve as the mirror’s protective pouch.

Tools Required

Lapidary’s Polishing Set: A series of flat, fine-grained polishing stones and soft leather cloths.
Diamond-Tipped Scribe: An exceptionally fine and hard-tipped needle, required to etch the dense surface of the obsidian.
Crystal Mixing Mortar and Pestle: A small, non-porous set for preparing the etching paste without tainting its properties.
Meditation Cushion: A simple cushion to provide stability and focus during the long, stationary stages of the ritual.
Sound-Proofed Casket: A small, wooden box lined with thick felt and alchemically treated materials to create a pocket of absolute silence.

Skill Requirements

Alchemy (Novice): A foundational understanding of sympathetic magic and the properties of the unique reagents is necessary.
Lapidary (Basic): This process requires significant skill in polishing stone to a flawless finish and in precise, delicate etching.
Meditation (Proficient): The most critical skill. The crafter must be able to enter and hold a state of deep mental quietude for hours, even days, at a time.
Qi Control (Novice): The ability to project one’s intent and will into an object is fundamental to the final attunement.

Crafting Steps

The Rough Shaping: The obsidian slab is first cut and ground into a perfect, palm-sized disc. This is the only step where brute force is permitted. All edges must be smoothed, and the disc must be of uniform thickness.
The Long Stillness: This step is a meditation that can take several days. The crafter sits with the obsidian disc and the Whisper-Moss abrasive. In complete silence, they begin the long, slow process of polishing the face of the mirror. With each circular motion, the crafter must focus on smoothing the ripples of their own mind. They must polish until they can see their own reflection with absolutely no distortion, a sign that their own inner state has achieved the required initial clarity.
Etching the Ripples: The Ink of Truth is prepared by mixing the pearl powder and lizard oil in the crystal mortar until it forms a shimmering, white paste. Using the diamond-tipped scribe, the crafter must etch the concentric circles onto the rough back of the mirror. This is not done by sight, but by feel and focus. The crafter must visualize a single drop of water falling into a calm pond, and as they etch each expanding circle, they must meditate on a deeper layer of truth, moving from the surface of things to the core of reality.
The Baptism of Quiet: The finished mirror is placed inside the Sound-Proofed Casket. The Water of Tranquility is poured over it until it is fully submerged. The casket is then sealed. The crafter must then sit with the casket in their lap for one full day and one full night, meditating without pause. They must project the feeling of absolute silence and stillness into the box, allowing the water to transfer this perfect tranquility into the very essence of the obsidian.
The First True Reflection: After the period of meditative baptism, the casket is opened and the mirror is removed and dried with the silk pouch. The final step is the attunement. The crafter must hold the mirror up and gaze into their own reflection. They must then look past their reflection, focusing on the deep, liquid blackness of the void behind it. They must hold this focus, stilling their mind completely, until their own image seems to fade away entirely, leaving only a perfect, dark, empty pool. In this moment of “ego death,” a pulse of the crafter’s Qi awakens the mirror’s latent abilities. The mirror is now active and must be kept in its silk shroud when not in use to preserve its stillness.

Quiet Advisor and Black Water Glass

In a time that is now dust, there was a Great Lord who sat on a Jade Throne. This Lord was a good man, but his ears were too open. He had two advisors. One advisor was named Wei. He was the Quiet Advisor. His words were few and plain, and they were always true. The other advisor was Lord Bao. He was the Man of Honeyed Words. His words were many and beautiful, and they were always lies.

The Man of Honeyed Words had a clever tongue. He told the Great Lord that the neighboring kingdom to the north was weak and full of treasure. He said their armies were made of boys and old men. He said it would be an easy war, a great victory. The Great Lord listened, and his heart was stirred by the promises of glory and gold.

Wei, the Quiet Advisor, knew these were lies. He knew the kingdom to the north was strong and wanted only peace. He told this truth to the Great Lord. But his words were plain, and Bao’s words were beautiful. The truth sounded like a grey stone. The lies sounded like a golden song. The Great Lord listened to the song, and not to the stone. The kingdom began to prepare for a war that would destroy it.

Wei’s chest-thoughts were heavy with sorrow. He saw that a plain truth could not fight a beautiful lie. He left the palace of high ceilings. He traveled far, into the mountains. He sought wisdom. His journey ended at a hidden monastery beside a great lake. The water of the lake was black and perfectly still. It was like a sheet of polished obsidian, and it reflected the sky with no mistakes.

The monks in this place were of the Taoist 22 path. They did not speak much. They spent their days in meditation, trying to make their minds as still as the great black lake. Wei stayed with them. He learned their ways. He learned that a mind full of ripples cannot see the truth.

The head monk took Wei to the edge of the water. He reached into the cold depths and pulled out a piece of black obsidian, worn smooth by the water. He gave it to Wei. “The world tells many lies,” the monk said, his voice a whisper. “Your mind tells you lies. But a still surface tells no lies. It only shows what is. You must polish this stone. But you are not polishing a rock. You are polishing your own mind. When you can look at the stone and see your own face with no ripples of thought behind it, you will be ready.”

For many years, Wei stayed at the monastery. Every day, he sat and polished the black stone. He polished it with fine sand and soft leather. He polished away his anger. He polished away his fear. He polished away his own lies. He polished and polished until the stone was a perfect, liquid-black mirror. One day, he looked into it and saw his own face, and behind it, there was only a great, silent calm. He had made the first Mirror of Still Waters. He knew it was time to return.

He arrived at the palace as the war drums were beating. The armies were ready to march. Lord Bao was giving a final great speech to the Great Lord and his generals. His words were full of fire and glory, of easy victory and endless treasure.

Wei did not speak. He walked to the great table and placed his black mirror upon it, facing Lord Bao. The Man of Honeyed Words did not notice. He continued his speech.

“And I tell you, my Lord,” Bao said with a strong voice, “their border forts are made of rotting wood!” Wei spoke a quiet thing. “Great Lord, look at his face, but do not use your eyes. Look at his face in the black water glass.”

The Great Lord looked down at the mirror. He saw Lord Bao’s reflection. And as Bao spoke his lie, his confident face in the mirror rippled and twisted. It became ugly for a moment, like a reflection in a stormy pond.

Bao, seeing he had the Great Lord’s attention, continued. “Their soldiers carry spears of soft pine! They will break like twigs!” Again, the Great Lord watched the mirror. Again, Bao’s reflection wavered and distorted into a monstrous, untrue shape.

The Great Lord stood up. The hall fell silent. He looked at Bao, then at the mirror, then back at Bao. He did not need Wei to speak another word. The mirror had told the truth more plainly than any man could. The Great Lord saw the rotten heart behind the honeyed words. He saw the great lie that was about to lead his people to their deaths.

Lord Bao was seized. His treachery was discovered. It was found he was a paid spy for a different kingdom altogether, trying to make two strong neighbors destroy each other. The war was stopped before a single man had to die. The kingdom was saved, not by an army or a great speech, but by a quiet man with a small, black mirror that showed things as they were. The legend of the mirror, and its power to show the ripples of a lie, grew from that day.

Moral of the Story: The lesson is this: A beautiful lie may sound stronger than a plain truth. But no lie, no matter how beautiful, can survive its own perfect reflection.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

The Obsidian Pool of Leng

This artifact is a disc of volcanic glass, polished to a mirror finish on one side. The obsidian is not of any known terrestrial composition and seems to absorb light, making its reflections unnervingly clear. The unpolished back is covered in concentric rings that can cause headaches if stared at for too long. It is said to be a tool used by the strange inhabitants of Leng to discern the lies of men from the truths of the cosmos.

Game Mechanics:

Unsettling Calm: The mirror’s influence makes the holder’s emotions difficult to read. The Investigator gains a bonus die on any Psychology or Fast Talk roll made to conceal their true feelings or intent.
The Rippling Lie: If the Investigator can observe a subject’s reflection in the mirror while they speak, they may make an opposed Psychology vs the subject’s Deception roll. If the Investigator succeeds, they know the subject is lying because their reflection appears to momentarily distort as if seen through water. Witnessing the fundamental untruth of a creature from beyond space and time may require a Sanity roll (0/1).
Scry the Other Side: By pressing the mirror to a solid surface no more than 1 foot thick and succeeding on a POW x5 roll, the Investigator can see through the barrier for one minute. The image is silent and disorienting. Using this unnatural perception costs 0/1 Sanity points per minute.
Echo Recorder: By concentrating for one minute, the mirror can absorb all ambient sound within a single room. For the next 24 hours, the Investigator can touch the mirror and make a Listen roll to hear the recorded sounds as perfect whispers. The mirror can only hold one recording. Listening to a recording of a Mythos entity’s true voice may require a new Sanity roll.

Blades in the Dark

The Spymaster’s Still Glass

A disc of polished obsidian, smooth and black as the void sea. It was said to be the personal scrying device of the Spymaster for one of the Immortal Emperors, used to ferret out traitors in his court. It feels cold to the touch and seems to drink the sound from a room.

Item Type: Occult, Tool

Game Mechanics:

This is a special item that can be carried in your personal inventory.

A Face of Stone: Your emotions are hidden behind a placid mask. When you resist a consequence related to social tells, deception, or interrogation, take +1d.
Glimpse of Deceit: When you Survey a social situation, you can ask the GM, “Who here is being the most dishonest?” or “Is this person lying to me right now?” The GM will answer you honestly.
Keyhole Scry: Once per score, you can press the glass to a wall, door, or safe. For a few moments, you can see through it as if it were clear glass. When you use this ability, take 1 Stress.
Whisper Catcher: Once per score, you can activate the glass to silently record a single conversation happening within a room. Later, you may touch the glass to hear a perfect, whispered playback of what was said. When you use this ability, start a 4-segment clock labeled “The Secret Fades.” When the clock is full, the recording is lost to static.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Mirror of Unwavering Truth Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)

This palm-sized disc of polished black obsidian is cool to the touch. Its surface reflects images with impossible clarity, free of any distortion. The back is rough and etched with concentric circles.

Veil of Stillness. While holding this mirror, you have advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks made to bluff or conceal your intent, and on Wisdom (Insight) checks made to discern if someone is lying to you.
Scrying Eye. The mirror has 3 charges. As an action, you can expend 1 charge and press the mirror against a solid surface no more than 1 foot thick. For the next minute, you can see through the surface as if it were a clear, colorless window. The mirror regains all expended charges daily at dawn.
Echo of Whispers. As an action, you can command the mirror to begin recording. For the next 10 minutes, it records all sound in a 30-foot radius. At any point within the next 8 hours, you can use an action to have the mirror replay the recorded sound as a whisper that only you can hear. Once you use this property, you cannot use it again until the next dawn.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Obsidian Scrying Mirror

Inventory Slot: 1

A palm-sized disc of perfectly polished black obsidian. One side is a flawless mirror, the other is rough and etched with circles. It feels cold and heavy.

Passive – Poker Face: You are immune to any magical or mundane effect that would read your emotions or detect your lies.
Passive – Lie-Sense: If you can see a creature’s reflection in the mirror, you automatically know if it is knowingly telling a lie.
Active – Scry: You can press the mirror to any non-magical barrier (wall, door, chest) up to 5ft thick and see through it as if it were glass.
Active – Record: The mirror can be commanded to silently record all sounds in a room for up to 10 minutes. The recording can be played back later as a whisper only you can hear. The mirror can only hold one recording at a time; recording a new one erases the old one.

Fate Core System

The Mirror of the Quiet Heart

In Fate, an item’s story and function are paramount. This mirror is an extra that grants the character a unique stunt, likely reflecting a core aspect like I See the Truth in the Cracks or A Face of Still Water.

Stunt: The Mirror of the Quiet Heart Because you possess this disc of polished obsidian, you are a master of secrets—both keeping your own and uncovering those of others.

A Quiet Heart is Hard to Read: You gain a +2 bonus when you use Deceive to defend against someone trying to use the Investigate or Empathy skills to get a read on you or discern your motives.
The Rippling Lie: When you are in a conversation with someone, you can spend a Fate Point to declare that you know whether their previous statement was a deliberate lie. You don’t learn the truth, but you know for certain that they are being deceitful.
The Unseen Eye: Once per session, you can use the mirror to scry through a wall or door. You can Create an Advantage called An Eye on the Inside on the adjacent room, with two free invocations for yourself or your allies to use.
The Silent Witness: Once per session, you can declare that you were secretly using your mirror to record a conversation you were present for within the last scene. You can reveal this recording to Create an Advantage with one free invocation.

Numenera & Cypher System

The Obsidian Datascry

This artifact appears to be a simple disc of polished black volcanic glass. In reality, it is a sophisticated surveillance device from a prior world, using a combination of neutrino imaging and micro-sonic resonance to gather information.

Level: 1d6+3 (Artifact) Form: A palm-sized, polished black disc. Effect: The device functions as a multi-spectrum sensor suite, feeding information directly to the user via a subtle neural link.

Passive – Psycho-Dampener: The device generates a low-level psychic field that masks the user’s emotional state. The difficulty of all tasks for others to psionically or mundanely read the user’s emotions is increased by one step.
Passive – Veracity Analyzer: The device passively analyzes micro-expressions, pheromones, and vocal patterns. The user gains an asset on all tasks to detect lies or discern a person’s true intentions.
Active – X-Ray Imaging: The user can activate the device (an action), which uses neutrino-based imaging to see through solid matter. For one minute, the user can see through up to 1 foot (30 cm) of any common material as if it were glass. This vision is silent.
Active – Audio Buffer: The user can command the device (an action) to record all ambient sound within short range for up to 10 minutes. The recording is stored in a temporary buffer. The user can then mentally access the recording for perfect playback. The buffer is wiped clean when a new recording is made.

Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (Each time one of the Active abilities is used, the user rolls a d20. If the roll is a 1, the device’s delicate sensors overload and become inert.)

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Spymaster’s Obsidian Mirror Item 5 [Uncommon] [Divination] [Invested] [Magical] Usage held in 1 hand; Bulk L

This palm-sized disc of polished obsidian is unnervingly cool to the touch and reflects images with perfect, supernatural clarity. The back is rough and etched with concentric circles that seem to draw in the light.

Investment You must invest this item to gain its benefits.
Passive: While you have invested the mirror, you gain a +1 item bonus to your Deception DC and Perception DC against checks to Sense Motive.
Activate [One-Action] (concentrate, divination) Effect You focus on the reflection of one creature you can see. For the next minute, if that creature speaks a deliberate lie, its reflection in the mirror appears subtly distorted to you.
Activate [Two-Actions] (divination, manipulate) Frequency once per 10 minutes; Effect You press the mirror against a solid barrier up to 1 foot thick. For 1 minute, you can see through the barrier in a 10-foot square section as if it were a transparent window. This vision is silent.
Activate [One-Action] (auditory, divination, manipulate) Frequency once per hour; Effect You command the mirror to record all sounds in a 20-foot emanation for 1 minute. For the next hour, you can use a single action with the concentrate trait to replay the recording as a whisper only you can hear. Starting a new recording erases the previous one.

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE)

The Whisper-Catcher Mirror

A small, black mirror framed in dull silver. Cool to the touch, it is said that a famous spymaster used it to bring down an entire kingdom without drawing a sword. It is a legendary tool for spies, investigators, and political schemers.

Requirements: Seasoned, Notice d8+, Intimidation or Persuasion d8+

Poker Face: The hero is preternaturally composed. They gain a +2 bonus to Opposed Tests when using Deception or Performance to hide their feelings, and a +2 bonus on Spirit rolls to resist taunts or social Tests meant to provoke an emotional reaction.
Lie Detector: The hero can “read” the truth of a situation. They gain a +2 bonus to any Notice or Research roll made to determine if someone is lying or to see through a disguise.
The Keyhole: The mirror can be used to cast the clairvoyance Power, but the sensor can only be placed on the other side of a barrier the hero is physically touching. The mirror has 10 Power Points that recharge daily.
The Secret Ear: Once per session, the hero can activate the mirror to perfectly record a single conversation within 12″ (24 yards) for up to one minute. The hero can listen to this recording at any time later by holding the mirror to their ear. The playback is silent to all others.

Shadowrun, Sixth World

The “Still Pool” Scrying Focus

A discreet but powerful magical tool often disguised as a high-end commlink case or a simple pocket mirror. It is a disc of polished obsidian that has been meticulously prepared as a focus for scrying and mental magic. Though originally a meditative tool for Taoist-leaning mages, its utility in corporate espionage has made it a highly sought-after item in the shadows.

Type: Qi Focus Rating: 3 Availability: 10R Cost: 20,000 nuyen

Game Mechanics:

Placid Mind (Focus Power): While this focus is active, its calming influence shields your thoughts. You gain its Rating (3) as a dice pool bonus to any test made to resist magical or mundane interrogation, mental manipulation spells (like Control Thoughts), or attempts to read your emotions.
Lie Detector: You can use the Assensing skill to analyze the aura of a person as they speak. With a successful test, you can specifically ask if the aura shows the characteristic dissonance of a deliberate lie.
Clairvoyance: The focus allows you to cast the Clairvoyance spell. The focus acts as a Sustaining Focus (Rating 3) specifically for this spell, reducing the penalty to sustain it by 3.
Aural Echo: You can use this focus as a Talisman when casting the Hush spell. As a special use, you can instead cast the spell in reverse, creating a zone where all sound for the spell’s duration is perfectly captured by the focus. By touching the focus later, you can hear a perfect playback of the recorded sound.

Starfinder Roleplaying Game

The Spymaster’s Onyx Eye Level 5 Price 3,200 Bulk L

This palm-sized disc of polished, jet-black obsidian is interwoven with glowing microcircuitry that seems to absorb ambient light. Originally developed for use by kasathan spymasters, the Onyx Eye is a sophisticated hybrid device that functions as a versatile, short-range surveillance and counter-interrogation tool.

System: Held hybrid item Game Mechanics:

Psychic Static. While holding this item, you gain a +2 insight bonus on Bluff checks to tell a lie and on Will saving throws against all mind-reading effects.
Veracity Analysis. While holding the item, you gain a +2 insight bonus on Sense Motive checks to discern if a creature is lying.
X-Ray Scanner (3/day). As a standard action, you can press the Onyx Eye to a surface up to 1 foot thick that is not made of lead, gold, or similarly dense materials. For 1 minute, you can see through that surface as if it were transparent. This vision is silent.
Audio Capture (1/day). As a standard action, you can command the Onyx Eye to begin recording. For the next 10 minutes, it records all audio in a 30-foot radius. At any time within the next 24 hours, you can use a move action to cause the recording to be replayed directly into your mind via a low-level telepathic link.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

The ‘Observer’ Multi-Spectrum Sensor (TL 13)

A high-tech surveillance device used by intelligence operatives and corporate espionage agents. The Observer is a handheld disc-shaped sensor, cased in non-reflective black polymer with a single, perfectly smooth face. It uses a combination of terahertz imaging to see through objects, a laser microphone to listen from a distance, and advanced software to analyze vocal patterns.

Mass: 0.5 kg Cost: Cr 80,000 Power: Power Pack (48 hours of continuous use)

Game Mechanics:

Polygraph Function: The device can be discreetly aimed at a target during a conversation. It analyzes micro-expressions and vocal stress patterns, providing the user with a real-time probability of deception via a linked personal comm or subdermal implant. This grants DM+2 on any check made to detect lies or see through a bluff (e.g., Investigate or Deception).
Terahertz Imager: The device can be aimed at a barrier (wall, door, etc.). It will generate a silent, real-time wireframe image of the area on the other side, effective through up to 30cm of most conventional materials (less for dense metals). This requires an Electronics (sensors) 8+ check to operate effectively.
Directional Audio Recorder: The device can be aimed at a location up to 50 meters away to record audio. It uses a laser microphone system to capture sound vibrations off a surface (like a window). It can store up to one hour of audio. This requires a successful Electronics (sensors) 10+ check to aim and capture a clear signal.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

The Verenian Truth-Glass

This disc of polished obsidian is unnervingly cool and reflects the world with stark, unforgiving clarity. It is said to have been consecrated by a high priestess of Verena, the goddess of learning and justice, to be used as a tool to root out deceit in the courts of men. Looking into it feels like having one’s soul weighed and judged.

Encumbrance: 1 Qualities: Magical, Blessed (Verena)

Game Mechanics:

A Face of Truth: The owner of this mirror feels a divine compulsion toward honesty. They gain a +10 bonus to all Intuition Tests made to determine if someone is lying. Conversely, they suffer a -10 penalty to any Deception or Charm Tests made to tell a deliberate lie themselves, as the mirror’s influence makes them uncomfortable with falsehood.
Unwavering Mind: The owner gains a +10 bonus to all Cool Tests made to resist threats, interrogation, or social intimidation.
The Unseen Witness: Once per day, the owner may press the mirror against a solid wall or door and spend one minute in quiet prayer to Verena. If the owner’s cause is just (at the GM’s discretion), the goddess grants them a silent, clear vision of the room beyond for one minute.
Record of Testimony: By holding the mirror during a conversation, the owner can command it to remember what is said. For the next hour, the owner can touch the mirror and perfectly recall the entire conversation, word for word. Using this knowledge to expose a lie or bring about justice is a pious act; using it for blackmail is a grave sin that may cause the mirror to lose its powers.