Eye of Clarity

From: Vigilism

Lore: Within the lore of Vigilism, the Eye of Clarity is a legendary enchanted monocle or lens that is believed to have been crafted by the divine hands of Auron, the Ever-Watchful. It is said that Auron created this extraordinary artifact to aid their followers in perceiving the hidden truths of the world. The Eye of Clarity is regarded as a symbol of enlightenment and heightened perception, capable of piercing through illusions and revealing the concealed realities that lie beneath.

Tier One Stats:

• Perception Enhancement: The Eye of Clarity grants a +2 bonus to Investigation or Perception checks, reflecting its ability to enhance the wearer’s perception and attention to detail.
• Illusion Sight: The Eye of Clarity allows the wearer to see through illusions or disguises, enabling them to discern the truth behind deceptive appearances.

Skills Gained:

• Investigation: The Eye of Clarity aids the wearer in investigating and uncovering hidden clues, granting proficiency in Investigation checks or advantage on related skill checks.
• Perception: The artifact enhances the wearer’s perception, making them more alert and observant of their surroundings. It provides proficiency in Perception checks or advantage on related skill checks.

Cost and Requirements:

• Cost: The Eye of Clarity is a rare and highly sought-after artifact, making it a valuable item. It may be obtained through various means, such as quests, relic hunts, or as a reward for significant acts of service to the faith of Vigilism.
• Requirements: To wield the Eye of Clarity, one must be devoted to the teachings of Vigilism and have a deep understanding of the principles of perception and uncovering truth. Additionally, the wearer must possess at least a basic level of proficiency in Investigation or Perception skills.

Tags:

1. Magical Artifact: The Eye of Clarity is a powerful magical artifact with unique properties that set it apart from ordinary lenses or monocles.
2. Perception Enhancement: The monocle enhances the wearer’s perception, granting a bonus to related checks and enabling them to notice details others might miss.
3. Illusion-Piercing: The artifact allows the wearer to see through illusions and disguises, providing an advantage in situations involving deception.
4. Additional: Vigilism, Auron, Enlightenment, Truth, Detection, Clarity, Focus, Lens, Monocle, Vision

The Eye of Clarity, being a valuable and potent artifact of Vigilism, would not be commonly sold through conventional means. Instead, it would typically be obtained through specific channels within the Vigilism community. Here’s more information on how it might be acquired and utilized:

• Sanctuaries of Insight: The primary place where the Eye of Clarity might be obtained is within the Sanctuaries of Insight, the temples, and strongholds of Vigilism. These sanctuaries serve as the central hub for the followers of Auron, and it is within these locations that the Eye of Clarity would be revered, safeguarded, and occasionally granted to worthy individuals who have demonstrated exceptional devotion and dedication to the faith.
• Rituals and Tests: The Eye of Clarity may be awarded to individuals who successfully undergo specific rituals or tests that evaluate their commitment, perception, and ability to see beyond surface appearances. These rituals could involve tasks that challenge the candidate’s investigative skills, perceptiveness, and ability to discern truth from falsehoods.
• Inheritance or Gift: The Eye of Clarity may be passed down from one generation to the next within Vigilist families or bestowed upon individuals as a gift from experienced Vigilists who recognize their potential and commitment to the faith. It could be seen as a mark of recognition for their achievements or a tool to aid them on their path of enlightenment.

Regarding usage, the Eye of Clarity is typically worn by the devoted followers of Vigilism who have been deemed worthy to possess it. It is often worn as a monocle or lens, attached to a piece of elegant or symbolic eyewear. The wearer can activate its powers by focusing their gaze through the Eye, enabling them to see through illusions, perceive hidden truths, and enhance their investigative capabilities.

In terms of environment and usage, the Eye of Clarity is used in various scenarios that require heightened perception and the unveiling of deception:

• Investigations: Followers of Vigilism utilize the Eye of Clarity in investigations, uncovering hidden clues, deciphering intricate puzzles, and discerning the truth amidst layers of deceit or illusion.
• Intricate Environments: The artifact proves invaluable in navigating complex environments such as ancient ruins, labyrinthine structures, or hidden chambers. The Eye of Clarity helps followers to see through hidden passages, detect concealed traps, and reveal secrets that may be missed by ordinary perception.
• Deceptive Encounters: In situations where deception is at play, the Eye of Clarity allows followers to see through disguises, illusions, or shapeshifting entities. It aids in identifying friends from foe and discerning the true nature of individuals or creatures encountered.

The Eye of Clarity is not an item that can be purchased or sold in the traditional sense. Instead, it is obtained through specific channels within the Vigilism community, recognizing the devotion, skill, and dedication of its recipients.

Perception of Activation: The Eye of Clarity’s activation is subtle and refined, more akin to a sharpening of focus than a dramatic burst of power. It doesn’t have a distinct “on/off” switch; rather, its effects become apparent when the user intentionally focuses their gaze through the lens.

• User’s Perspective:
  • Sight: This is the primary sense affected. When looking through the Eye of Clarity, the user’s vision undergoes a significant transformation:
  • Enhanced Clarity: The world appears sharper, crisper, and more detailed. Colors might seem more vibrant, edges more defined, and textures more pronounced.
  • Increased Depth Perception: The user gains a heightened awareness of spatial relationships, making it easier to judge distances and perceive subtle variations in depth.
  • Illusion Piercing: Illusions, disguises, and other forms of visual deception become apparent. This doesn’t mean they disappear entirely, but rather that the user perceives their unnaturalness. Illusions might shimmer, flicker, or appear translucent, revealing their artificial nature. Disguises might show subtle inconsistencies or imperfections.
  • Subtle Light Amplification: The Eye of Clarity seems to gather and amplify ambient light, making dimly lit environments appear brighter and more easily navigable.
  • Hearing: While not directly enhanced, the user’s heightened focus might make them more aware of subtle sounds that could provide clues or reveal hidden dangers. This is not a supernatural effect, but rather a consequence of increased attention to detail.
  • Touch: The user might feel a slight coolness emanating from the lens, especially when actively focusing its power. This is a subtle sensation, more akin to a mental clarity than a physical chill.
  • Smell: No direct olfactory changes are associated with the Eye of Clarity.
  • Taste: No direct taste is associated with the Eye of Clarity.
  • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): The user experiences a heightened sense of awareness and focus. Their mind feels sharper and more alert, and they are better able to process visual information. They might experience brief, intuitive flashes of insight – noticing a hidden clue, recognizing a pattern, or identifying a lie. There’s a feeling of connection to the truth, a sense of peeling back the layers of illusion and deception.
  • Extra-Sensory (Emotional): The Eye of Clarity promotes a state of calm focus, intellectual curiosity, and objective observation. Feelings of confusion, doubt, or emotional bias are suppressed, replaced by a sense of clarity and purpose. The user feels empowered by their enhanced perception, confident in their ability to discern the truth.
• Observer’s Perspective:
  • Sight: There’s no visible aura or glow emanating from the Eye of Clarity itself. However, an astute observer might notice a subtle change in the user’s eyes when they are actively focusing through the lens. Their pupils might appear slightly dilated, and their gaze might seem more intense and penetrating. The user might also exhibit subtle behavioral changes, such as tilting their head slightly to examine details or focusing intently on specific objects or areas.
  • Hearing: No audible changes are associated with the Eye of Clarity.
  • Smell: No olfactory changes are associated with the Eye of Clarity.
  • Extra-Sensory (General): Individuals with sensitivity to magic or mental energy might feel a subtle sense of focus and clarity emanating from the user. There’s a feeling that the user’s mind is working at a heightened level, processing information with greater precision and accuracy.
  • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): Other users with a mind’s eye do not detect any significant change.
• Positives:
  • Enhanced Perception: The Eye of Clarity significantly improves the user’s ability to see details, perceive spatial relationships, and penetrate illusions.
  • Improved Investigation: The enhanced perception and focus make the user a more effective investigator, able to uncover hidden clues and discern the truth.
  • Combat Advantage: The ability to see through illusions and disguises can provide a significant advantage in combat, allowing the user to identify and target enemies more effectively.
  • Increased Confidence: The feeling of clarity and empowerment boosts the user’s confidence in their abilities.
• Negatives:
  • Sensory Overload: The heightened perception can be overwhelming in complex or chaotic environments, potentially leading to distraction or mental fatigue.
  • Tunnel Vision: The focus on visual details might make the user less aware of other sensory input, such as sounds or smells.
  • Dependence: The user might become overly reliant on the Eye of Clarity, neglecting to develop their own natural observational skills.
  • Limited Scope: The Eye of Clarity only enhances visual perception. It doesn’t provide any protection against other forms of deception, such as lies, manipulation, or psychic influence. The user must still use sound reasoning.

Recipe: Crafting the Lens of Discernment — This recipe outlines the challenging and precise process of creating a lens that emulates the legendary Eye of Clarity. True replication is impossible, as the original is a divinely crafted artifact, but this method aims to create an optical device that enhances perception and grants a limited ability to penetrate illusions.

• Materials Needed:
  • Quartz Crystal (Flawless):
    • Source: A perfectly clear, flawless quartz crystal, free from any inclusions, cracks, or imperfections. The crystal must be sourced from a location known for its clarity and purity, such as a high-altitude mountain range or a geode with exceptional crystal formations. The larger the crystal the more difficult the work.
    • Quantity: 1 piece, at least 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick (for a monocle) or 5 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick (for a hand-held lens).
  • Silver (Pure):
    • Source: 99.9% pure silver, known for its reflective properties and association with lunar energy.
    • Quantity: 2 ounces (for a monocle frame) or 4 ounces (for a lens handle).
  • Starmetal Dust (Optional, Extremely Rare):
    • Source: Dust collected from a fallen meteorite, believed to contain celestial energies that enhance perception. This is an optional ingredient, but it significantly increases the lens’s potency.
    • Quantity: A pinch (if available).
  • Illusion-Dispelling Herbs (Rare):
    • Source: A specific combination of rare herbs known for their ability to counteract illusions and reveal hidden truths. This might include plants like True Sight Bloom, Mind’s Eye Herb, or Reality Root (the exact combination will depend on the specific setting and lore). These herbs must be harvested under specific conditions (e.g., during a full moon, at dawn, from a sacred grove).
    • Quantity: A small handful of each herb (enough to create a concentrated infusion).
  • Ink of Precision:
    • A special mix of rare components used by scribes and cartographers.
    • 1 vial
  • Charcoal:
    • High-grade charcoal used for sketching.
    • 2 sticks.
• Tools Required:
  • Gemcutting Tools (Diamond-Tipped): Precision tools for shaping and polishing the quartz crystal. These must be diamond-tipped or similarly hard, as quartz is a very hard material.
  • Silversmithing Tools: Tools for shaping and working the silver into a frame or handle. This might include a small anvil, hammers, pliers, files, and soldering equipment.
  • Mortar and Pestle (Crystal or Glass): For grinding the herbs and preparing the infusion.
  • Lens Grinding and Polishing Equipment: A series of progressively finer abrasive grits and polishing compounds, along with specialized tools for shaping and polishing lenses. This might involve a lapidary wheel or a hand-operated grinding setup.
  • Engraving Tools: Fine tools for etching intricate designs onto the metal frame or handle.
  • Containers:
    • Made of glass, at least four.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Master Gemcutter/Lapidary (20+ ranks): Shaping and polishing the quartz crystal into a lens without introducing flaws or imperfections requires exceptional skill and precision.
  • Expert Silversmith (15+ ranks): Crafting the delicate frame or handle and securely setting the lens requires significant metalworking expertise.
  • Expert Herbalist/Alchemist (15+ ranks): Identifying, harvesting, and preparing the illusion-dispelling herbs requires specialized knowledge.
  • Expert Enchanter (Optional, but highly recommended) (15+ ranks): If attempting to incorporate starmetal dust or further enhance the lens’s properties, enchanting skills are essential.
  • Expert in Perception or Investigation (15+ Ranks): Required to imbue the final lens.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation (1 week): The crafting process should ideally begin during a period of heightened clarity and focus, such as a full moon (symbolizing illumination) or a time when a constellation associated with sight is ascendant. The crafter must engage in meditation and sensory exercises to sharpen their own perception. The workshop must be meticulously cleaned and organized, free from distractions.
  • Herbal Infusion (3 days): Prepare a concentrated infusion of the illusion-dispelling herbs. This might involve steeping the herbs in purified water, distilling their essence, or using other alchemical techniques. The exact process will depend on the specific herbs used.
  • Crystal Shaping (4 weeks): This is the most challenging and time-consuming step. Using the gemcutting tools, carefully shape the quartz crystal into the desired lens form (either a single-lens monocle or a larger, hand-held lens). This requires immense patience, precision, and a deep understanding of optics. The lens must be perfectly symmetrical and free from any distortions.
  • Lens Grinding and Polishing (2 weeks): Using the progressively finer abrasive grits and polishing compounds, grind and polish the lens to achieve perfect clarity and a flawless surface. This is a painstaking process that requires constant attention to detail.
  • Frame/Handle Crafting (2 weeks): Craft the frame (for a monocle) or handle (for a hand-held lens) from the purified silver. The design should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, incorporating symbols and patterns associated with Vigilism and Auron.
  • Lens Setting (1 day): Carefully set the polished lens into the frame or handle, ensuring it is secure and perfectly aligned.
  • Etching Using fine tools, carefully inscribe the frame of the lens.
  • Infusion Ritual (1 day): This is the crucial final step. The crafter must perform a ritual that imbues the lens with its enhanced properties. This might involve:
  • Bathing the lens in the herbal infusion under the light of the full moon.
  • Chanting invocations to Auron or to entities associated with sight and truth.
  • Focusing their own heightened perception and intention into the lens.
  • If starmetal dust is available, carefully incorporating it into the lens or frame during this ritual.

This recipe is exceptionally demanding, requiring mastery of multiple crafts, access to rare and high-quality materials, and a deep understanding of optics, herbalism, and potentially enchanting. The resulting lens, while not possessing the full divine power of the original Eye of Clarity, will be a potent optical device, capable of enhancing perception and providing a limited ability to penetrate illusions. The process itself is a testament to the dedication and skill required to achieve true clarity of sight.

One-Good-Eye
How Not to Mistake a Goblin for a Bush (Probably)

Gather ’round, you bleary-eyed recruits, and strain your ears! This ain’t no ballad for the faint of heart; it’s a tale… mangled by drunken storytellers, scribbled on crumbling tablets, and possibly used to swat flies at some point. It’s the legend, more or less, of the… One-Good-Eye. Or maybe it was the Truth-Glimpser. Or… the… Spectacle of… Not-Being-Fooled. The ancient historians… they weren’t… consistent.

Long ago, before maps had… directions, before armor was… shiny, before… illusions were… even… invented, really, there was… confusion. Utter, bewildering, constant confusion. People mistook… things. All the time. Rocks for… sheep. Trees for… trolls. Their own… feet for… small, furry… animals. (It was a… dangerous… time).

There was… a… village. Or maybe a… settlement. Or… possibly… just a very disorganized collection of… tents. They were called… the… Fog-Folk. Or maybe the… Mist-Makers. Or… possibly… the… “We-Can’t-See-Anything-Help-Us” Clan. The records are… patchy. At best.

These Fog-Folk, they lived in… fog. Naturally. Or… mist. Or… possibly… just… very, very thick… dust. They… couldn’t see. Much. Anything. Ever. They… bumped into… things. They… got lost. Constantly. They… were… surprisingly good… at… hide-and-seek. (Mostly because… nobody could… find… anything).

Amongst this… perpetually-confused… populace, there lived… a… hunter. Or maybe a… scout. Or… possibly… the person who… just… happened to… own… a… slightly less… blurry… pair of… eyes. They were called… Clear Sight. Or maybe Sharp Look. Or… Possibly… Kevin. The translations are… truly dreadful.

This Clear Sight, they were… annoyed. By the… fog. By the… mist. By the… constant… bumping into… things. They wanted to… see. Properly. Clearly. Without… squinting. (Squinting… didn’t… help. Much).

They… tried… things. They… waved their… hands. In front of their… face. This… did not work. They… drank… strange… potions. Made from… herbs. And… mushrooms. And… possibly… fermented… goat… milk. This… definitely… did not work. (It… mostly… just… made them… see… more… confusing… things). They… tried… praying. To… various… gods. Of… sight. And… clarity. And… possibly… the… god of… not-bumping-into-things. This… was… inconclusive.

One day (or maybe… night. It was… hard to… tell), Clear Sight, they were… searching. For… something. Probably. Maybe… food. Or… firewood. Or… possibly… their… other… shoe. They… stumbled. (Naturally). Into a… temple. Or maybe a… shrine. Or… possibly… just… a very… unusually shaped… rock.

And there, on a… pedestal. Or maybe a… table. Or… possibly… just… a… slightly… less… muddy… patch of… ground, they saw… it. A… thing. A… shiny thing. A… round… shiny… thing. It was… the Eye. The… Eye of… Clarity. Or… Clearness. Or… Possibly… “Stop-Mistaking-Goblins-For-Bushes-You-Fool.” The original name is… long… gone.

This… Eye. It was… a… lens. Or maybe a… monocle. Or… possibly… just… a very… well-polished… piece of… glass. It… shimmered. Or maybe it… glittered. Or… possibly… it just… had a… very… persistent… smudge. It… felt… strange. Cold. Smooth. Knowing. (Or… maybe… it just… needed… a… good… cleaning).

Clear Sight, they… put it on. Or… held it up. To their… eye. (The… good… one. Presumably). And… something… shifted. Or maybe… everything shifted. The… fog. It… thinned. The… mist. It… parted. The… surprisingly blurry… world… it… became… clear.

They could… see. Really see. They saw… the… details. The… textures. The… differences. Between… rocks… and… sheep. Between… trees… and… trolls. Between… their own… feet… and… small, furry… animals. (This was… a… major… improvement).

They… also… saw… other things. Things that… weren’t… supposed to be… there. Shimmers. Flickers. Distortions. The… tells. Of… illusions. Of… disguises. Of… surprisingly sneaky… goblins… pretending to be… bushes. (Goblins were… very… good at… that. Apparently).

Clear Sight, they… became… famous. A… hero. A… seer. A… person who… could… actually… find… things. They… helped… their… people. They… exposed… deceptions. They… revealed… hidden… dangers. They… prevented… many… unfortunate… goblin-… bush-… related… incidents.

But… the… Eye. It… changed them. It made them… see… too much. Too clearly. They… saw… the… flaws. The… imperfections. The… lies. In… everything. In… everyone. Even… in… themselves.

They… became… cynical. Distrustful. Paranoid. They… saw… deception… everywhere. Even… where it… wasn’t. They… started… accusing… people. Of… being… illusions. Of… being… disguised… goblins. Of… having… surprisingly bad… taste in… hats.

One day, Clear Sight, they… confronted… the… leader. Of the… Fog-Folk. Or maybe the… chief. Or… possibly… just… the… person who… happened to be… standing… closest to… the… biggest… tent. They… accused them. Of… being… a… fake. A… fraud. A… cleverly disguised… something. (The scrolls are… particularly… smudged… here. Possibly… a… very large… mushroom).

They… demanded… proof. Evidence. Clarity. They… held up… the… Eye. The… Lens of… Truth-… Telling. And… they… saw… nothing. Or… maybe… they saw… everything. The texts… become… utterly… incomprehensible… at this point.

There was… a… struggle. Or maybe a… debate. Or… possibly… just… a very… loud… argument. The… Eye. It… was… dropped. Or… thrown. Or… possibly… swallowed… by a… surprisingly quick… goat.

And… it… broke. Or maybe it… shattered. Or… possibly… just… got… very… scratched. The… clarity… vanished. The… fog… returned. Or… maybe… it… just… got… dark.

Clear Sight, they… were… lost. Again. In the… confusion. In the… mist. In the… surprisingly judgmental… stares of… their… fellow… Fog-Folk.

And the… Eye? The original Eye? The… Thingy of… Seeing-… Stuff? It… was… gone. Lost. Broken. Or… maybe… just… waiting. For… someone else. Someone… who… needed… to… see. But… also… to… understand. What they… were… seeing.

Moral of the Story: Clarity is good, but don’t let it blind you to the bigger picture. Trust is important, even when you can see everything. And… maybe… don’t accuse your leader of being a giant mushroom. Unless… you have… really good… proof. And… a… very… fast… escape… route. Also, goats are surprisingly quick.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

    Lens of the Outer Spheres

• (Minor Artifact)
• This unsettling lens, crafted from a substance that seems to warp light and distort perspective, grants the user glimpses beyond the veil of reality. While it enhances perception, it also exposes the wearer to the terrifying truths of the cosmos.
• Sanity Cost: 1/1d6 Sanity loss to use the lens for the first time. Each subsequent use costs 1 Sanity point.
• Effects:
  • Piercing the Veil: When looking through the lens, the user gains a +30% bonus to any Spot Hidden rolls made to detect illusions, disguises, or hidden objects. They can also see through mundane disguises and concealment, perceiving the true form of creatures or objects.
  • Glimpses of the Beyond: Each time the lens is used, the Keeper may reveal a cryptic clue or unsettling vision related to the Mythos, at their discretion. This information is rarely helpful and often comes at a cost of additional Sanity loss (1d3 or 1d6).
  • Distorted Reality: While using the lens, the user suffers a -10% penalty to all Sanity rolls. The world appears subtly wrong, and the boundaries between reality and the Mythos feel thinner.
  • Skill Bonus: The Lens grants a +10% to Occult
• Investigator Adaptation: The Lens of the Outer Spheres is a dangerous and corrupting artifact. It offers a significant advantage in investigations, but at a steep cost to the Investigator’s sanity and mental well-being. It’s an item that should be used sparingly, and only when absolutely necessary. Prolonged use will inevitably lead to madness. It is more likely to be found in a collection on ancient artifacts.

Blades in the Dark

    The Third Eye

• (Fine Gadget, Eerie, Unreliable)
• This meticulously crafted monocle, fitted with a lens of unknown origin, allows the wearer to perceive hidden details and penetrate illusions. However, it also whispers unsettling truths and can distort the user’s perception of reality.
• Quality: 3
• Usage:
  • Investigation: Grants +1d to Investigate rolls when searching for clues, analyzing details, or detecting hidden objects or compartments.
  • See Through Deception: Grants +1d to Scrutiny rolls when attempting to see through illusions, disguises, or lies.
  • Whispers of the Void: When the user rolls a 6 on any action roll while using the Third Eye, they gain a brief, cryptic vision or auditory hallucination related to the current situation or a hidden truth. This information might be helpful, misleading, or simply unsettling (GM’s discretion).
• Properties:
  • Eerie: emits +10% to Occult
  • Unreliable causes -10% to Sanity.
  • Attunment: No attunment is needed.
• Crew Adaptation: The Third Eye is a valuable tool for a crew of Shadows, Investigators, or Cultists. It enhances their ability to gather information, uncover secrets, and navigate the treacherous underworld of Doskvol. However, the “Whispers of the Void” mechanic adds an element of risk and unpredictability, encouraging players to use the item judiciously.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

    Eye of Clarity

• (Wondrous Item, Rare, Requires Attunement)
• This meticulously crafted monocle is fitted with a lens of magically enhanced crystal, granting the wearer enhanced perception and the ability to see through illusions.
• Properties:
  • Enhanced Perception: While wearing the monocle, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks.
  • Truesight: While wearing the monocle, you can see through illusions and see the true form of any creature that is under the effect of a polymorph, shapeshifting, or similar magic, within 30 feet.
  • Keen Sight: You may see twice as far as your race normally allows.
• Campaign Adaptation: The Eye of Clarity is a valuable item for any character who relies on observation, investigation, or uncovering secrets. It’s particularly well-suited for rogues, rangers, wizards, and inquisitive characters. The ability to see through illusions and disguises is a significant advantage, making this a highly sought-after item.

Knave

    Truth-Seeker’s Lens

• A finely crafted monocle with a lens of strangely clear crystal.
• Bonus: +2 to rolls made to investigate, search for clues, or detect illusions.
• Abilities (Roll 1d6 each time the lens is used to actively search or investigate):
  • Perfect Clarity: You see through all illusions and disguises within 30 feet.
  • Hidden Detail: You notice a crucial clue or hidden object that would otherwise be overlooked.
  • Subtle Deception: You detect a lie or a subtle inconsistency in a creature’s behavior.
  • Distorted Vision: Your vision becomes blurry and distorted, imposing disadvantage on your next action.
  • Whispers of Madness: You hear unsettling whispers or see fleeting, disturbing images, suffering 1d4 damage to your Wisdom score (recoverable with rest).
  • Overwhelming Truth: You gain a sudden, overwhelming insight into a situation, but you are stunned for one round as you process the information.
• Drawback: Each time the lens is used, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it attracts the attention of entities from beyond the veil of reality (GM’s discretion).
• Sight: Your normal sight distance is doubled.
• Character Adaptation: The Truth-Seeker’s Lens is a powerful but unpredictable tool. Its significant bonus to investigation and its potential for revealing hidden truths make it a tempting choice for any character. However, the random nature of its abilities and the potential drawback encourage careful consideration and strategic use. The GM should use the drawback to introduce complications and challenges, forcing the player to weigh the benefits of the lens against its potential dangers.

Fate (Core/Condensed)

    Eye of Clarity

• (Artifact)
• This meticulously crafted lens, whether a monocle or a hand-held magnifier, grants its user unparalleled insight and the ability to pierce through deception.
• Aspects:
  • High Concept: Lens of Unveiled Truth
  • Trouble: Reveals More Than Desired (can lead to unsettling discoveries or unwanted attention)
  • Other Aspects: Gift of Auron, Sharpens the Mind, Sees Beyond Illusion
• Skills:
  • Provides a +2 bonus to overcome obstacles or create advantages related to investigation, perception, noticing details, or seeing through illusions and disguises.
  • Can be used to defend against attempts to deceive the wearer using Lore (instead of Empathy).
• Stunts:
  • Penetrating Gaze: Spend a Fate point to automatically see through any illusion, disguise, or form of visual deception, regardless of its power.
  • Unveiling the Truth: Spend a Fate point to declare a specific detail about a person, object, or situation that is currently hidden or obscured. This acts as a declaration, making the statement true (within reasonable limits, subject to GM approval).
  • Focused Insight: Spend a Fate point to gain a +4 bonus on a single Investigate or Notice roll, representing a moment of intense concentration and clarity.
• Consequences: The Eye of Clarity can be used to absorb mental or social consequences related to being deceived, misled, or failing to notice something important. However, doing so can strain the lens’s connection to reality. Each time a consequence is absorbed, add a “Cracked Lens” aspect to the Eye.
• Sight: The user can see twice the distance.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Eye of Clarity is best suited for a character who is an investigator, a scholar, or someone who values truth and knowledge above all else. The aspects and stunts encourage a playstyle focused on observation, deduction, and uncovering secrets. The “Reveals More Than Desired” aspect provides opportunities for complications and story hooks, as the user confronts unsettling truths or attracts unwanted attention.

Numenera/Cypher System

    Lens of the Revealer

• (Artifact, Level 7)
• This lens, crafted from an unknown material that seems to bend light in unusual ways, grants its user enhanced perception and the ability to penetrate illusions and see hidden truths.
• Level: 7
• Form: Monocle or Hand-held Lens
• Effect:
  • Enhanced Perception: Reduces the difficulty of all tasks related to perception, investigation, and noticing details by two steps.
  • Illusion Piercing: The wearer automatically sees through any visual illusions of level 6 or lower. For illusions of level 7 or higher, the wearer gains a +3 bonus to their Intellect roll to disbelieve.
  • Reveal the Unseen (Action): The wielder can spend 5 Intellect points to activate the lens’s full power. For the next minute, they can see invisible creatures and objects, perceive the true form of shapeshifters, and see through mundane disguises and concealments.
  • Strain on Reality: Each time “Reveal the Unseen” is used, the wielder must make an Intellect defense roll (difficulty 7). Failure results in 1d6 Intellect damage (ignores Armor) as the lens strains their perception of reality.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (each time “Reveal the Unseen” is used). If depleted, the lens becomes inert and must be recharged by exposing it to a specific type of energy or phenomenon (e.g., a psychic anomaly, a convergence of ley lines, a data stream from a prior world).
• Sight: The users normal sight distance is doubled.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Lens of the Revealer is a powerful and versatile artifact, suitable for a variety of character types in Numenera. Its abilities make it ideal for exploration, investigation, and social encounters where deception is a factor. The depletion mechanic and the risk of reality strain encourage careful use and create opportunities for adventure.

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

    Eye of Clarity

• (Artifact)
• This meticulously crafted lens, set in a frame of silver and etched with runes of vigilance, grants its wearer enhanced perception and the ability to pierce through illusions and disguises.
• Usage: worn (eye); Bulk: –
• Traits: Artifact, Invested, Divination, Visual
• Properties:
  • Keen Sight: While wearing the Eye of Clarity, you gain a +2 item bonus to Perception checks and to skill checks made to investigate or search for clues.
  • Truesight (Constant): You gain a constant true seeing effect, as per the spell, but with a range of 30 feet.
  • Focused Gaze: Once per day, you can spend a single action, which has the concentrate trait to focus the Eye of Clarity on a specific target within 60 feet. For the next minute, you gain a +4 circumstance bonus to Perception checks made to observe that target and a +4 circumstance bonus to saving throws against illusions or disguises created by that target.
• Sight: The user gains double the distance of sight.
• Campaign Integration: The Eye of Clarity is a powerful artifact, suitable for a high-level campaign. Its constant true seeing effect is a significant advantage, making it extremely valuable for characters who rely on perception and investigation. The GM should carefully consider the impact of this item on the campaign’s balance and adjust challenges accordingly.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

    Eye of the Watcher

• (Artifact)
• This finely crafted lens, set within a delicate frame, enhances the wearer’s perception and grants the ability to see through deception.
• Device Type: Lens (worn as a monocle or held in hand)
• Powers: The Eye of the Watcher grants access to the following powers. The user may activate the item as a free action.
  • Detect Arcana (1 PP, reveals magical auras and effects)
  • See Invisibility (3 PP, allows the user to see invisible creatures and objects)
  • Ranged Sight: The user can see twice the normal distance.
• Power Points: The Eye has 10 power points and recovers 1 power point per hour.
• Notes: The Eye of the Watcher grants a +2 bonus to Notice rolls and to rolls made to see through disguises or illusions.
• Campaign Integration: The Eye of the Watcher is a valuable asset for any character who relies on observation, investigation, or social interaction. Its powers provide a significant advantage in a variety of situations, from detecting hidden dangers to uncovering conspiracies. The Power Point system encourages strategic use, and the bonuses to Notice and deception-related rolls make it a versatile tool. It’s a suitable reward for a challenging quest, a treasure found in a hidden vault, or a signature item for a master spy or investigator.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

    Ares “Clairvoyant” Cybernetic Eye Enhancement

• (Cyberware)
• This advanced cybernetic eye replacement, developed by Ares Macrotechnology, grants the user unparalleled visual acuity and the ability to penetrate illusions and disguises. It’s a highly restricted piece of technology, favored by elite security forces and corporate spies.
• Essence Cost: 0.5
• Availability: 28F (Forbidden)
• Cost: 120,000¥
• Effects:
  • Smartlink Integration: The Clairvoyant Eye automatically includes a smartlink system.
  • Visual Enhancement: The eye provides Rating 4 visual enhancement, including low-light vision, thermographic vision, and flare compensation.
  • Illusion Penetration: The eye grants a +4 dice pool modifier to any Perception tests made to see through illusions or detect disguises (magical or mundane). This includes technological disguises like holographic projectors.
  • Targeting Assistance: When using a ranged weapon with a smartlink, the eye provides an additional +1 die to the attack roll, representing enhanced target tracking and prediction.
  • Double Distance: The distance for sight is doubled.
• Drawbacks: The Clairvoyant Eye is highly noticeable and can be unsettling to others. It imposes a -1 die pool modifier to all social skill tests except Intimidation (which is unaffected).
• Runner/Campaign Adaptation: The Ares “Clairvoyant” Eye is a top-tier piece of cyberware, suitable for a character who specializes in combat, observation, or infiltration. Its high Essence cost, Forbidden availability, and significant price make it a major investment, and its drawbacks should be carefully considered. It’s a powerful tool, but it also marks the user as someone with access to advanced and potentially illegal technology.

Starfinder

    Lens of True Seeing

• (Cybernetic Augmentation, Level 15)
• This ocular implant, crafted using a combination of advanced technology and esoteric materials, grants the user unparalleled visual acuity and the ability to see through deception.
• Level: 15
• Price: 160,000 credits
• System: Eyes
• Effects:
  • Darkvision: You gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet. If you already have darkvision, its range increases by 60 feet.
  • Low-Light Vision: You gain low-light vision.
  • See Invisibility: You can see invisible creatures and objects as if they were visible.
  • Truesight (Limited): Once per day, as a move action, you can activate the lens’s truesight capability for 1 minute. This grants you the benefits of the true seeing spell, with a range of 30 feet.
  • Double Distance: The distance for sight is doubled.
• Drawback The user will receive a -1 on social rolls.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Lens of True Seeing is a high-level cybernetic augmentation, suitable for characters who rely on observation, investigation, or combat prowess. Its combination of enhanced vision abilities makes it incredibly powerful, but the level 15 requirement and high price reflect its advanced nature.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

    Sensorium Implant

• (TL-14 Augmentation)
• This sophisticated neural implant enhances the user’s visual perception, granting them the ability to see in multiple spectrums and penetrate illusions.
• Tech Level: TL-14
• Cost: Cr80,000
• Effects:
  • Multi-Spectral Vision: The user can see in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrums, in addition to normal light.
  • Illusion Detection: The implant grants a +3 DM to any Perception or Investigate checks made to detect illusions or disguises.
  • Enhanced Acuity: The user gains a +1 DM to all Perception checks based on sight.
  • Drawback: The user receives a -1 on all social rolls.
  • Double Distance: The distance for sight is doubled.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Sensorium Implant is a high-tech augmentation, suitable for characters in a campaign with access to advanced technology. Its enhanced vision capabilities make it a valuable asset for scouts, investigators, and security personnel. The high tech level and cost reflect its rarity and effectiveness.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

    The All-Seeing Eye

• (Magical Item, Artifact)
• This artifact is not a single item, but a collection of enchanted lenses, each crafted with unique properties and set within different frames (monocles, spectacles, or even embedded directly into a mask). They are all said to be fragments of a single, ancient artifact, shattered long ago.
• Encumbrance: 0
• Availability: Extremely Rare (effectively unique, each lens would be a separate artifact)
• Properties (Vary depending on the specific lens):
  • Lens of True Sight: Allows the wearer to see through illusions and disguises, granting a +30 bonus to Perception tests made to do so.
  • Lens of Shadow Sight: Allows the wearer to see perfectly in non-magical darkness, and grants a +20 bonus to Perception tests made in dim light.
  • Lens of Far Sight: Doubles the wearer’s normal range of vision and grants a +10 bonus to Perception tests made to spot distant objects or creatures.
  • Lens of Detail: Grants a +20 bonus to Perception tests made to examine small details or search for clues.
• Drawback: -1 to social rolls.
• Character/Campaign Adaptation: The All-Seeing Eye, in its fragmented form, provides a way to introduce powerful but specialized vision enhancements into a Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay campaign. Each lens could be a separate quest item, a reward for a difficult challenge, or a tool used by a powerful NPC. The GM can tailor the specific properties of each lens to suit the needs of the campaign and the characters. The fragmented nature of the artifact encourages exploration and discovery, as the players seek out the remaining pieces to unlock its full potential.