Mirror of Loss

The Mirror of Loss is a large mirror found in both the Gauntlet of Shar at X: -645 Y: -735 and the House of Grief at X: -474 Y: -1650. The former is cracked and cannot be used for reflection, however the latter is functional and bestows a bonus and malus upon the user.

A Mirror of Loss, in the House of Grief

Overview

A character with base Charisma 8 being affected by the Stolen Vigour condition from the mirror.

The Mirror of Loss found at the House of Grief can be used to gain permanent bonuses to ability scores, in exchange for a temporary penalty.

All party members may interact with the mirror, but Shadowheart's interaction is unique, and dependent on prior choices (see below).

Using the mirror

To access the benefits of the mirror, one party member must first pass either an Arcana (DC 25) or Religion (DC 20) check to recognize the purpose of the mirror.

Each party member may then surrender a memory to the mirror, optionally attempting a Religion (DC 25) check beforehand to offer a prayer to Shar. The character who underwent the Mapping of the Heart receives advantage on the Religion check to offer a prayer.

Surrendering a memory to the mirror requires choosing one ability to sacrifice,^{[note 1]}^{[note 2]} which will be temporarily cursed with Stolen Vigour, a -2 penalty to the chosen ability.^{[note 3]}

If the character made a successful prayer check beforehand, there is a chance that they might unlock a dialogue choice of a second ability, which will receive a permanent +2 bonus – up to 24 (see details).

Details

When a character offers a memory to the mirror, there is a hidden, random roll to determine the outcome.

Rolled a 6 or higher and haven't already landed on this outcome: You feel the presence of something, ancient and unknowable. It has taken notice of you.
- This option lets you select the +2 ability bonus.
- You can only get this option after passing the DC 25 religion check for each character that uses the mirror.
- Once you get this option, you won't be able to use the mirror again with that character.
Rolled a 5 or higher and haven't already landed on this outcome: Disappointment floods your mind. You were sure to succeed Stelmane, but Lord Enver Gortash has stolen your support. All that charming and cajoling in the parlours of the Upper City, wasted.
- This option gives you +1 Charisma from Patriar's Memory. This can occur without passing the religion check.
Rolled a 4 or higher and haven't already landed on this outcome: You embody a merchant, deep in mourning. His wife died, and he cannot bear to go on. Only the House of Grief can help him.
- If the party encountered Arves outside the House of Grief, this narration is modified slightly to include his name.
Rolled a 3 or higher and haven't already landed on this outcome: You embody a heartbroken heiress, desperate to forget an unrequited love. The sadness flees from you... along with a string of numbers. A safe combination?
Rolled a 2 or higher and haven't already landed on this outcome: Your mind is that of corrupt alderman, eager to forget his transgressions. You feel them fade away... but your faith in the goddess Selûne is devoured along with them.
Haven't already landed on this outcome: You embody an officer of the City Watch. A comrade died because of you. The dead man's face fades away... but the identities of informants vanish as well.
Default outcome: A jumble of memories clamour for your attention. They range from ancient to new. But none are yours.
- This option can be landed on multiple times once other options are depleted.

In total, each character will have 7 opportunities to roll (1 per ability plus 1 from passing the Deception check).

To more reliably get the extra bonus from the Patriar's Memory, each character interacting with the mirror should do so before offering a prayer.

This way, they won't prematurely lock yourself out of subsequent rolls by landing on the +2 bonus, and will increase the odds of getting the Patriar's Memory outcome.

Shadowheart

Shadowheart is generally denied the mirror's benefits, having already surrendered most of her memories to the mirror. As such, she is not given the chance to be cursed nor receive a boon.

If she is no longer loyal to Shar she has disadvantage on the Religion check to offer a prayer to the mirror. Passing this difficult check ultimately still yields the above narration.

However, if Shadowheart becomes a Dark Justiciar, she can receive a permanent +2 bonus to any ability of her choosing without receiving a curse.^{[Needs Verification]}

Becoming a Dark Justiciar gives her an advantage on the Religion check to offer a prayer to the mirror. Passing it does not seem to do anything, as is not required for her to get the bonus.

Footnotes

↑ If a character have read the Necromancy of Thay and acquired the Forbidden Knowledge condition, they may surrender that instead of an ability. This will allow them to receive the +2 bonus even if they failed the prayer check.
↑ Characters have the option of attempting to trick the mirror with a false memory (Deception DC: 20). This will result in neither curse nor boon being applied.
↑ The curse lasts until taking a long rest or using the Remove Curse spell.

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[1] If a character have read the Necromancy of Thay and acquired the Forbidden Knowledge condition, they may surrender that instead of an ability. This will allow them to receive the +2 bonus even if they failed the prayer check.

[2] Characters have the option of attempting to trick the mirror with a false memory (Deception DC: 20). This will result in neither curse nor boon being applied.

[3] The curse lasts until taking a long rest or using the Remove Curse spell.

[note 1]

[note 2]

[note 3]