"Within its infinite depths lies knowledge no mortal was meant to see, yet those who dare to gaze are forever changed."

Description: The Abyssal Lens is a dark and enigmatic artifact, forged in the shadowed voids of Nyxarthos, the entity of shadows and forbidden knowledge. The lens takes the form of a circular, obsidian-black disk encased in a jagged frame of twisted, eldritch metal. The frame pulses faintly with an otherworldly energy, and alien runes are inscribed along its edges, glowing and shifting as if alive, defying comprehension.

The center of the lens is an infinite void, swirling with shades of dark blue, black, and violet. Shadowy tendrils coil around the artifact, occasionally reaching outward, as though attempting to pull the surrounding light into its abyssal depths. When gazed into, the lens seems to reveal incomprehensible truths and glimpses of forbidden realms, but at great personal risk to the user’s sanity.

The Abyssal Lens is not merely a tool but a test of will. While it grants incredible power and insight, it also exposes its wielder to the vast and terrifying truths of the cosmos, forcing them to confront the darkness within and without.

Magical Properties and Features:

1. Vision of the Abyss:
• The wielder can peer into the lens to gain unparalleled insight. Once per long rest, the wielder can cast Legend Lore or Scrying without requiring components. The information revealed is accompanied by unsettling and cryptic imagery.
2. Shadowed Secrets:
• The lens allows the wielder to uncover hidden truths. Once per short rest, the wielder can cast Detect Magic or Identify while using the lens. The process reveals additional details but inflicts 1d4 psychic damage to the wielder.
3. Void's Grasp:
• When activated, the lens can project tendrils of shadow to ensnare enemies. As an action, the wielder can target a creature within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be restrained by shadowy tendrils for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns.
4. Abyssal Resonance:
• While carrying the lens, the wielder gains resistance to psychic damage and advantage on saving throws against fear and mind-affecting effects. However, their dreams are plagued by cryptic visions.

Item Bonuses:

• Attribute Bonus: +2 Intelligence
• Armor Bonus: None
• Skill Bonus: Advantage on Arcana and Insight checks

Drawbacks and Risks:

1. Sanity's Edge:
• Prolonged use of the lens erodes the wielder’s mind. After each use of Vision of the Abyss, the wielder must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or suffer 2d6 psychic damage and gain one level of exhaustion.
2. Marked by Shadows:
• The wielder becomes a beacon for entities of shadow and darkness. While carrying the lens, there is a 10% chance per day that a minor shadow creature will attempt to contact or attack the wielder.
3. Truth’s Toll:
• The knowledge gained through the lens often comes at a price. After casting Legend Lore or Scrying using the lens, the wielder must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, they are haunted by incomprehensible whispers, imposing disadvantage on Charisma-based checks for 24 hours.

Lore and History:

The Abyssal Lens was created by Nyxarthos, the entity of shadows and forbidden knowledge, as a means of granting mortals a glimpse into the incomprehensible vastness of the cosmos. Those who wield the lens often do so at great personal risk, as its power comes with the price of sanity and safety. It is said that the lens has passed through the hands of ambitious scholars, warlocks, and seekers of the arcane, many of whom were consumed by the truths they uncovered.

Legends tell of entire civilizations altered or destroyed by those who wielded the lens irresponsibly, as the knowledge it reveals is often too great for mortal minds to bear. Yet, despite its dangers, the Abyssal Lens remains a sought-after artifact for those who crave power and understanding beyond mortal comprehension.

Additional Roleplay Features:

1. Eerie Whispers:
• While holding the lens, the wielder occasionally hears faint whispers in an unknown language, urging them toward curiosity or destruction. These whispers may offer cryptic guidance or lure the wielder into peril.
2. Aura of Unease:
• The lens radiates an unsettling aura. Creatures within 10 feet feel a faint chill and must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw to avoid feeling unnerved. This effect is subtle but noticeable.
3. Shadow's Mark:
• The wielder’s eyes occasionally shimmer with violet and black hues, a sign of their connection to the lens. This mark may intimidate others or attract unwanted attention from entities sensitive to shadow magic.

Item Information:

• Item Type: Divine Artifact (Lens)
• Weight: 2 lbs
• Market Value: Priceless
• Black Market Value: 100,000 gold pieces

Summary of Item:

The Abyssal Lens is a divine artifact that offers unparalleled insight into forbidden knowledge and the mysteries of the cosmos. It is both a powerful tool and a dangerous burden, exposing its wielder to the dark truths of existence. Revered and feared, the lens embodies the duality of Nyxarthos: the pursuit of understanding tempered by the peril of the unknown. Wielders of the lens must tread carefully, for the line between enlightenment and madness is perilously thin.

"To gaze into the Abyssal Lens is to court both knowledge and oblivion. What you see will change you—but not always for the better."

Notes: Resistance: Psychic, Advantage: Saving Throws, Bonus: Intelligence Score, Advantage: Arcana, Advantage: Insight, long rest, Buff