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Gem of Seeing

Gem Of Seeing
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Rare (Requires Attunement)

This gem has 3 charges. As a Magic action, you can expend 1 charge. For the next 10 minutes, you have Truesight out to 120 feet when you peer through the gem.

The gem regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Provides true sight ability, revealing invisible creatures, illusions, disguises, and magical transformations. Essential for detecting hidden enemies and seeing through deceptions.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Class: Universal utility for detecting hidden threats and magical deceptions
  • Investigation Specialists: Perfect for characters focused on uncovering truth and hidden information
  • Anti-Illusion Builds: Essential for countering illusionists and shapeshifters
  • Tactical Leaders: Enables informed decision-making by revealing true battlefield conditions

Build Considerations: Has limited daily uses, so timing activation is crucial. Most valuable when facing known illusionists or shapeshifting enemies.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires perfect crystal gems, true sight enchantments, and divination magic expertise. Creation cost 15,000-25,000 gp and takes 4 months.

Common Sources:

  • Divination specialist workshops and oracle temples
  • Treasure hoards of creatures with natural true sight abilities
  • Commission from master enchanters specializing in sight magic
  • Found in the collections of investigators and truth-seekers
  • Rewards from grateful celestial beings or truth deities

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in ancient libraries or obtained through quests involving uncovering hidden truths.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 20,000-35,000 gp, with premium pricing among investigators, law enforcement, and anti-illusion specialists.

Trade Considerations: Extremely valuable to anyone dealing with shapeshifters, illusionists, or magical deceptions on a regular basis.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests dedication to uncovering truth, experience with magical deceptions, or specialization in investigation and detection.

Character Concepts:

  • Professional investigator specializing in magical crimes
  • Truth-seeking paladin or cleric devoted to honesty deities
  • Spy hunter experienced in dealing with shapeshifting infiltrators
  • Scholar studying illusion magic and its countermeasures

Adventure Hooks​

The Shapeshifter Conspiracy: Infiltration plots where true sight reveals hidden enemies and their true forms.

The Illusion Academy: Investigating magical schools where distinguishing reality from illusion becomes crucial for survival.

The Diplomatic Deception: International intrigue where seeing through magical disguises prevents war or betrayal.

The Hidden Truth: Mystery scenarios where magical concealment hides crucial evidence or information.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Gem of Seeing (Legendary): Provides true sight with enhanced range and duration, plus additional divination effects.

Gem of Piercing Sight (Very Rare): Includes ability to see through solid objects for limited distances.

Truth Gem (Rare): Combines true sight with zone of truth effects for enhanced investigation capabilities.

Specialized Variants:

  • Investigator's Gem: Enhanced for detecting lies, disguises, and magical concealment
  • Guardian's Gem: Optimized for security applications and threat detection
  • Scholar's Gem: Includes ability to analyze magical auras and enchantments

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient truth-seekers who needed to pierce through the growing sophistication of illusion magic and shapeshifting abilities.

Historical Significance: These gems prevented numerous infiltrations and exposed magical deceptions that could have altered the course of history.

Cultural Impact: Represent the value of truth and the importance of seeing reality clearly in a world filled with magical deceptions.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates mastery of divination magic and the complex enchantments required for true sight effects.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 8-14 when illusion magic becomes sophisticated and shapeshifting enemies appear regularly.

Campaign Impact: Can dramatically alter investigation and social encounters by revealing hidden truths and magical deceptions.

Narrative Consideration: Creators should consider how true sight affects planned deceptions and mystery elements in their campaigns.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Encounters with invisible creatures, shapeshifters, and illusionists
  • Investigation scenarios where magical concealment hides crucial information
  • Social situations where seeing through disguises reveals important truths
  • Complex mysteries involving layers of magical deception

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may develop non-magical concealment methods or focus on areas outside true sight range.

Detection Items: Eyes of Minute Seeing, Medallion of Thoughts, and other items that reveal hidden information.

Divination Equipment:

  • Items that enhance investigation and information gathering
  • Equipment for detecting magical auras and enchantments
  • Tools for truth-seeking and lie detection

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance Wisdom-based checks or provide additional investigation bonuses.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Truth Seeker: Characters develop reputation for uncovering hidden truths and exposing deceptions.

Investigation Mastery: Enhanced detection abilities lead to expertise in solving complex mysteries and magical crimes.

Moral Responsibility: The power to see truth raises questions about privacy, consent, and the ethical use of detection magic.