Potion of Proximate Whispers

by Frazer 👁 239 views

A small glass vial holds a violet liquid that shimmers with tiny silver motes. The cork is wrapped in parchment etched with delicate sigils resembling ears and sound waves. When the liquid is swirled, it emits a soft, almost inaudible whisper that seems to drift from the glass itself.

Whispered Thoughts After you drink this potion, for 1 minute you can hear the surface thoughts of any living creature within 60 feet that you can see. The thoughts appear as faint whispers in your mind and are intelligible to you. You understand the thoughts in languages you know, and you can use an action to focus on a single target within range to hear their thoughts more clearly; on a successful DC 14 Intelligence check, you discern the target's immediate goal or intention.

Whispers' Burden The constant whispers crowd your thoughts, imposing disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing for the duration of the effect.

Lore

The Whispering Draught was brewed by the secretive order known as the Echoes in the hidden libraries beneath the city of Larethor. It was said to grant listeners a chorus of nearby minds, a tool for spies and informants who sought the truth hidden in thoughts as well as words.

History

Created by the arcane chemist Seris Vael, the potion was first used during a failed coup to eavesdrop on the conspirators' private musings. The recipe fragmented into a dozen bottles, each slipping through hands of merchants and thieves before finding a steadier home among scholars and agents who crave hidden motives.

Created by Frazer 👁 239 views