(Field Thaumagraph, Collegium Pattern Mk I)
Origin and Theory
The Nadi Dial was developed by the Thaumaturgic Collegium in Il-Wāāt ul’Ihāt Kathira to detect faint resonance within what scholars privately call the Mishipa ka Mungu—the hypothetical “Veins of God.”
Though the Collegium publicly describes the device as a portable thaumic sensor, its design betrays deeper purpose: an attempt to prove that magic itself still circulates through Sayarii’s wounded world.
At its heart floats a silvered vane suspended in a droplet of preserved abolethic ocular fluid, a substance rumored to retain the creature’s pre-Fall capacity to see beyond physical light. The fluid flexes and shivers in response to local changes in thaumic density, translating invisible harmonics into visible movement of the vane.
Each Dial is slightly alive—no two respond the same. Some are calm; others pulse restlessly, as if remembering deeper waters. Old artificers say that the finest examples “dream when left near relics.”
Principle of Function
The aboleth eye-fluid reacts to the faint radiation of thaumaturgic events: living organs that store magical energy, active relics, decaying enchantments, or ruptured field nodes.
Because these emanations exist as oscillations rather than rays, the Dial cannot give direction—only presence and intensity.
To the Collegium, this proves that magic behaves as a global resonance rather than a localized force.
Field Interpretation
| Reading | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Lazy drift | Background pulse | Ambient field; inert. |
| Single twitch | Echo | Passing discharge or residue. |
| Two-beat rhythm | Organ tone | Living or active magical source nearby. |
| Sustained climb / audible whine | Overtone | Unstable discharge or rupture; immediate danger. |
Maintenance and Risk
Keep sealed; aboleth fluid degrades in sunlight.
Do not open casing—the vapor can attract certain predatory fauna attuned to magic.
Daily re-zero by holding over cold stone until still.
A Dial that vibrates continuously for more than an hour indicates a field bleed; most operators bury it in soil to “let it forget.”
A damaged Dial can release the fluid, which retains a faint psychic echo of its donor. Contact causes hallucinations of deep pressure and drowned light (DC 15 Con save or 2d6 psychic damage).
Rarity: Very Rare
Attunement: Not required
Value: 10,000 gawida equivalent (if genuine abolethic core)
In-Game Effect (DM reference)
Detects any active magical source (creature, item, spell, relic, or field) within 60 ft.
Does not reveal direction or school.
Always active while carried; faint hum precedes detection.
Advantage on Arcana/Investigation checks to identify magical phenomena after 1 minute of observation.
On natural 1 during calibration → feedback surge (2d6 psychic damage, stunned 1 round).
In vein-rich regions the Dial remains partially active even when covered, providing subtle atmospheric cues for story use.
(Standard Field Thaumagraph — User Instructions)
Purpose
A delicate brass and glass instrument used to detect nearby magic.
It does not identify what kind of magic—only that something magical is active within about sixty feet.
How to Use
Hold the Dial steady for one full breath until the fluid clears and the needle rests near the mark labeled Breath.
Watch the needle:
| Needle Behavior | Field Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gentle drift | Background magic in the air | Harmless |
| Single twitch | Old or fading trace | Note for later |
| Two quick beats | Nearby living or active magic | Be cautious |
| Continuous rise or faint hum | Powerful or unstable magic | Step back—now |
Re-zero it each morning by holding it still until it quiets.
Keep sealed and shaded from sunlight; rough handling can ruin the inner fluid.
What It Can Do
Always “listening.” Detects the presence of magic within 60 ft. even through thin walls or shallow soil.
Does not consume spells or charges.
Grants advantage on Arcana or Investigation checks to locate or identify magic after watching it for at least one minute.
The Dial does not reveal direction, intensity, or school—only that something magical is nearby.
Cautions
Heavy storms, relic sites, or enchanted materials may cause false readings.
The needle may hum faintly before visible movement; that’s often your only warning.
If it begins to whine continuously, wrap it in cloth and leave the area.
Never open the casing—the inner medium is irreplaceable and hazardous if released.
Common Field Saying
“When the Dial hums, something unseen is paying attention.”