The Mirror of Gal
“An ornate mirror with a golden frame. The frame is subtly asymmetric; strange figures have been worked into it.” From the ancient Sumerian: “Šen-šen “ Šen-šen ___ gal”, “The Mirror/Wrath of the Great ____” The Mirror of Gal is a Babylonian artefact and more than 3000 years old. It is made of speculum metal (a grey-white mix of 2/3 copper, 1/3 tin, adulterated with arsenic, which will hold a high polish), and so lacks a glass. The golden frame is a much more recent addition, being French Rococo of the early 19 th century (the mirror was retrieved from an Egyptian tomb by Napoleonic archaeologists). Unpleasant, asymmetrical demons replace the more conventional cherubs. There is an inscription in cuneiform on the back, made with punches before the metal was completely hardened, which identifies the Mirror as “The Mirror (or Wrath) of the Great ___” but the symbol where the God or King’s name should go has been chiselled out. The cuneiform inscription continues that the Mirror was made in Lagash and is a gift from King (Lu-gal) Burra Bu-ri-ia-aš to his “brother”, King K ing of Egypt, Ne-Nefer-Ka-____ (the symbol which should represent the patron god of this pharaoh is likewise destroyed). “When the King my Brother wishes to view his enemy, anoint the mirror with Ub-ra-an (The sound of the drum of heaven: ub – drum; ra - to strike, bang; an - sky, heaven). When he wishes to strike his enemy, anoint the mirror with Ga-bé-se-gal (the (the milk sacred to/from the shrine of the great howling/buzzing one: ga – milk; bé - buzz or howl; se – shrine, sacred, dedicated to a god; gal – great, supreme). Let there be no misunderstanding between us.” An Archaeology roll will identify the language as Babylon-era Sumerian, the common language of diplomatic correspondence in the ancient near east. A second Archaeology roll which is also a successful Library Use role will translate it (Keepers keen on historical accuracy may note that the only Sumerian dictionaries in existence in the 1920s were Sumerian-German dictionaries), and will further inform the translator that this is an artefact of considerable archaeological importance, and significant fame will accrue to the archaeologist who publishes a paper describing it… Gabeshegal/Ga-bé-se-gal : If the Sumerian inscription can be translated, a Cthulhu Mythos roll suggests that this black, powdery substance may either be derived from the Milk of Shub-Niggurath, or o r from the mysterious ores mined by the Mi-Go. If either of these can actually be obtained, a Cthulhu Mythos roll which is also a successful Chemistry roll enables Gabeshegal to be distilled. A successful Alchemy roll makes the Cthulhu Mythos roll unnecessary, if the character c haracter happens to possess such a recondite skill). Obra’an/Ub-ra-an is marginally easier to obtain. A successful Occult roll recalls this as one name for Red Sulphur, a component of the Philosopher’s Stone, which a number of Alchemical texts give recipes for. Successful Occult and Chemistry (or Alchemy) rolls are necessary to produce it, if a text with an accurate recipe can be obtained. Red Sulphur is sometimes referred to as the Essence of Thunder, due to the belief of the ancient alchemists that thunder t hunder and lightning were caused by heavenly mercury and sulphur combining in the clouds in a gunpowder-like conflagration. Unfortunately, the smell of freshly brewed Obra’an is peculiarly attractive to the Hounds of Tindalos (or, as Greek mythos manuscripts refer to them, the Thionadelos Kuon, “The Divine Hounds of the Invisible Sulphur”). The brewer has a percentage chance equal to the number of doses created of alerting a Hound. If he does so, and uses the mirror within a number of o f days equal to the number of doses created, then the only vision he will receive is that of a Hound which now knows where and when he is… PC’s being scryed upon by the mirror get a POW*1 or Cthulhu Mythos roll (whichever is higher) to sense “a goose flying over their grave”. Sorcerers with scrying experience who are scryed upon can do this with a simple Luck (POW*5) roll – if they roll below their POW or Cthulhu Mythos, they can reverse the vision!
