The Watchers (Magic Art)

Created over three centuries ago by Tal Alanan, an evil elven wizard. The Watchers is a bulky painting, 4' wide by 3' high, on heavy canvas. When last reported, it was framed in dark oak. The work depicts a wooded area with heavy undergrowth. Barely discernible are the eyes of several creatures watching through the bush (a viewer must consciously examine the picture to notice them). The dark-colored style has an oppressive, almost menacing, feel to it. Just passing the picture or seeing it in peripheral vision gives the viewer an overpowering impression of subtle movement; leaves seem to shift, and the bush seems to stir as creatures move behind cover. Looking directly at the painting removes this discomforting effect.
Concentrated scrutiny for more than one round activates the powers of the painting. The viewer becomes disoriented, then feels that he or she is being drawn into the painting. If a saving throw vs. spell fails, the viewer's mind merges with the consciousness of a small, woodland animal, such as a fox or an owl, one actually existing in the wooded area nearest to the painting (and viewer) at the moment, within a range of 20 miles. If no such woodland area exists or if the viewer's saving throw is successful, no ill effects are suffered. If mental merging with an animal does occur, the viewer's sensory perspective moves as the animal does, and all senses become heightened and attuned to the forest and the creature. Unless the viewer is aware of the problem and concentrates on avoiding it during the moment of disorientation, the victim's mentality becomes one with the small animal as well, unable to with draw. (Recognizing this problem requires a Wisdom check on 1d20 each time the painting is gated at until the viewer makes the check. The check need not he made again.) Once this magical union is joined, it can be broken only by blocking the victim's view of the painting or an anti-magical field (not by dispel magic). During this union, the participant's body becomes rigid and unresponsive, while heart and breathing rates rise drastically, posing severe danger. For every 10 rounds the victim remains magically captured by the painting, a successful system shock roll must he made or take 3d6 hit points damage from physical exhaustion.
When an unwitting mental union is broken, the victim's heart rate and breathing drop back to normal, but the animal mentality remains. For each round such a union exists, the animal mentality remains for one round after union is broken. Role-playing this event is left to the DM and player involved. After this period, the victim's mind returns to normal. This does not occur if the viewer passes the Wisdom check. If the viewer makes the Wisdom check and then voids the subsequent saving throw, he or she is in control of the merged animal when the union occurs, able to move anywhere at will, within the nearby woodland, with movement and speed appropriate to the animal (see the MONSTROUS MANUAL™ accessory under Mammal. Small, or the appropriate animal type; only normal, nonmagical animals are contacted). In such a case, the viewer can break contact at will, returning to his or her own body immediately. However, the stress on the heart, requiring a system shock roll still exists.
In addition to controlling the animal, someone who knows the powers of the painting can even choose where the animal to be controlled is located. Before viewing the painting, the user must concentrate on the desired region. The only restriction is that the area must be wooded and within 50 miles. As with teleportation, the chance of successfully “reaching” the target area depends on familiarity; use the same probabilities for success as for the spell teleport, in the PHB. If the viewer fails the roll (comes in “low” or “high”) or does not concentrate on a specific locale, the wooded area used is the one nearest to the painting within a 20-mile radius.
If, during the union, the animal is wounded, the viewer immediately loses a proportion of hit points equal to the proportion lost by the animal (if a 4-hit point fox takes a wound doing 3 points damage, the viewer immediately takes damage equal to 3/4 total hit points, not the character's current hit point value), fractions are rounded down; save vs. death magic for half of this damage. If the animal is killed, the viewer must save vs. death magic or die instantly. (Even if the saving throw is successful, hit points drop to one, and the victim falls unconscious for 4d4 rounds.)
Any spellcaster who successfully avoids merging with an animal mind then concentrates on the painting for 10 uninterrupted rounds, gains the power to cast one of the following spells, chosen at will: entangle, call woodland beings, speak with animals, animal friendship, invisibility to animals, transport via plants. This spell is in addition to the character's spell allotment for the day. In the case of non-druid spellcasters, the level of casting is 6th level; for druids, the level of casting is the druid's own level plus two, or fifth level, whichever is greater.
Each spell gained can be used only once and must be cast within a 24-hour period of viewing the painting, or else the acquired spell fades from the caster's mind.
It is said that Tal Alanan kept close, covert watch over his elven subjects using this painting, and he was greatly feared for his intimate knowledge of the occurrences within his minor kingdom. Until he was overthrown by a neighboring woodland kingdom, he successfully crushed every rebellion raised against him and controlled all aspects of life within his magical reach. After his death, his possessions (including the painting) were collected, but later stolen by rival wizards. The painting's whereabouts are currently unknown.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Art