Starry Gnosis The Starry Gnosis was a minor artifact of Shadow Weave magic imbued by the goddess Shar with powers of mental domination . Purported to be a relic of the goddess Mystra instead , it was used to abduct petitioners at the false Temple of Mystra in Wheloon in the Year of Lightning Storms , 1374 DR . Description . The " Starry Gnosis " was a crystal sphere about the size of a ( 3 . 9 – 5 . 9 in , or 10 – 15 cm ) . It had a dark inner core that no light could penetrate , yet tiny points of light twinkled like stars at the edge of this dark heart . When the full power of the " Starry Gnosis " was called upon , these stars disappeared as if swallowed up , until it was ready to use again three days ' hence . It was rather like a crystal ball gone dark . Powers . When the " Starry Gnosis " was held and the command phrase " Knowledge lies between the stars " was uttered , it produced a terrible bewitching effect on all within 30 feet ( 9 . 1 meters ) who were not allied with the bearer . Those whose wills faltered in the face of it would struggle to strike the holder of the " Starry Gnosis " . The dark orb would continue to assault their minds and wear down their will to retaliate , no matter how far they fled from it . The false priests of the Temple of Mystra devised a special three - day long ritual , the so - called Mystra ' s Sacred Trust , to wear down petitioners ' minds and so guarantee that they would succumb to the " Starry Gnosis " . Those who could not shake off the bewitching effect had their wills broken , their minds dominated and beholden to the one who held the " Starry Gnosis " , akin to the " dominate person " spell . They were bound to obey that person ' s commands for nine days , and would still struggle to attack them , should they even get the chance . However , if the orb changed hands , then the victims would be forced to obey their new master . This power could only be invoked once every three days . The " Gnosis " had another , more mundane power : holding the orb bestowed on the bearer the power of darkvision , out to the typical distance of 60 feet ( 18 meters ) . This required no activation and no time to recharge , but it had to remain in hand . Curse . The " Starry Gnosis " also carried a curse or a cost to an unqualified wielder . As a thing of the Shadow Weave , one had to have mastered Shadow Weave magic to use it in any way , else their wits and senses would be immediately assaulted . This would happen every day they attempted to use it . Furthermore , if one attempted to use the " Starry Gnosis " who did not worship Shar , then , before the domination effect came into play , it would fail catastrophically . It would crack and explode , unleashing a burst of intensely cold shadow energy , similar to a cold black fireball , over all in 5 feet ( 1 . 5 meters ) . Destruction . If the " Starry Gnosis " was destroyed , then all those bewitched by it would be freed . History . The crystal orb was once a jewel set into an immense statue of Shar standing in the Temple of Old Night in Calimport . At the direction of the priestess Esvele Graycastle , it was plucked out and imbued by the goddess Shar herself with divine power , turning it into a powerful tool of mental domination . It became key to Esvele ' s plots in Cormyr and the Vast Swamp . The " Starry Gnosis " became the resident relic in the altar of the false Temple of Mystra in Wheloon in the Year of Lightning Storms , 1374 DR , headed by Lady Naedaenya Arthas . The false priests devised a fake ritual , called Mystra ' s Sacred Trust , designed to lure in magic - using petitioners and over three grueling days erode their willpower and make them more susceptible to the " Starry Gnosis " , alleged to grant secret knowledge of magic . The most common words of the endless daily chants were the command phrase of the orb : " Knowledge lies between the stars " . Starweaver Deinyn Fembrys presented the " Starry Gnosis " to the petitioner at the climax of the ritual , dominating their minds so they might be abducted and sent off to the Vast Swamp to be sacrificed . Eventually , on Eleint 6 , some adventurers recruited to investigate the strange behavior of the false Mystran clerics unveiled and put an end to the scheme . Reputation . The false priests called the " Starry Gnosis " the " secret knowledge " , alleged to answer all one ' s questions . Despite what they claimed , there was no known holy relic or artifact sacred to Mystra called the " Starry Gnosis " . It might be supposed to be unique to a certain Mystran sect , who ' d kept it quiet for some reason . Something going by the name " " Starry Gnosis " " was mentioned in some religious texts , but these had no connection to the faith of Mystra . It was , of course , a total fabrication .