Hand Mirror

An important item to have to hand for dealing with wild fen and fey crystalites.   Crystalites feed on light, and if one is bereft of firelight or the means to make fire, a mirror to reflect natural light from the sun or moon is the next best thing.   Hand mirrors are varyingly common, depending on where one is. Some hand mirrors are sold as personal luxury items, are delicately and intricately decorated, and are accordingly expensive; in other areas, hand mirrors are roughly-beaten polished metal, will not show any accurate reflection, and are solely tools for interacting with crystalites in the wild. Some "mirrors" are simply faceted glass in a tennis-racket-shaped frame, capable of glinting and shining on even overcast days.   Crystalites are generally attracted to sources of light, but since reflective surfaces can also be rapidly moved, they can be used to distract or even chase off curious wild crystalites.   (I really thought I'd have more to say about this, but not sure what else to put?)   Hand mirrors can also be converted into impromptu lanterns, if a lantern crystal is affixed to the base of a mirror (near the handle). The glass/metal surface will catch and amplify the crystal's minor luminance into a paddle-shaped light source, making it a multi-use tool to have for travelers or rural citizens. Hooded lanterns can also use this format - reflective concave metal curved around either a live flame or a lantern crystal.   The size of a hand mirror varies as much as the material its reflective surface is made of. Some hand mirrors are palm-sized, able to fit in a pocket or be clipped to a belt loop; some hand mirrors are face-sized, carried strapped to the outside of a rucksack or small cart. For caravans and wagons, mirrors (or simply shards of glass or polished metal) are usually attached to the sturdiest part of the vehicle, where a wild crystalite would not be able to immediately harm a human or animal traveler.


Cover image: by Ty Barbary with Midjourney AI