Widow's Walk (Magic Art)

This painting shows the crowded dockside of a bustling port. Created by Balfas the Seafarer, famed for his love of ships and all things nautical, the painting was reportedly destroyed in the sack of his island manor, but reappeared in the collection of Ramoth, of Northport. This is often cited as evidence that Ramoth in fact funded the raid on the manor- -in any ease, there is serious doubt that Ramoth can tap, or is even aware of, the true powers of his prize.
When someone viewing the painting looks closely at the crowd on the dockside, he or she immediately notices a representation of the person most on the viewer's mind during that day. While initially startling and intriguing, this is but a minor effect of the painting, an intimate alignment with the viewer's mind.
The major power of the painting is to allow the viewer total protection from divination, detection, and scrying spells or powers. The viewer cannot be detected from afar by any means while concentrating on viewing the painting for 10 rounds. Psionics, scrying spells, devices such as crystal halls and magical mirrors-all are useless. If the viewer is a wizard of 6th level or above, this effect protects the character from detection by any creature up to the status of a demigod. The isolation effect lasts for up to eight hours or until the invoker consciously dispels it. During this time, he or she need nut concentrate on maintaining the effect; nor is it necessary to continue viewing the painting. The effect can be invoked only once per day and can be granted to but one person at a time. This power does not confer any form of invisibility; the protection is restricted to magical and psionic forms of detection alone.
Any creature that can see the viewer directly can attack without interference: from the picture. In addition to the isolation effect, the viewer of the painting can cast each of the following wizard spells once per day, at the 18th level, by staring at the painting for one uninterrupted hour: control weather, part water, water breathing, anti-fog cloud. These spells may be maintained indefinitely in the viewer's mind if uncast.
The painting is relatively small, 2' by 2' square, and is lightly framed. Despite its fragile appearance, it is totally immune to damage from water or lightning. All other damage is saved against at +2.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Art