Crystal Ball

A scrying crystal, this device lets its user call up a picture of any person, group or place that he knows or that someone with first-hand knowledge has described to him. Further spells can be cast through the ball to learn more about what it shows: Aura Reading, Chartomancy, Clairaudience, Detect Invisibility, Detect Magic, E.S.P., Psychomancy, Read Languages, Seeing, Speak Languages and Speak in Tongues. The danger is madness: after 10 minutes of gazing, every extra minute carries a cumulative 5% chance of going insane.

As a greater magic item its magic is permanent and renews itself each day. Making one calls for the materials of a minor magic item and two months plus two weeks for each level of the spell it holds, with a 99% chance of success; one offered for sale usually costs at least twice its materials plus 2,000 G.P. per week of enchanting. It counts toward the seven magic items a person may carry or wear at once; go past seven and none of them works.