View source for Planar compass

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| name          = Planar Compass
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| type          = Magical navigational tool
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| basicrefs     = <ref name="TPH-p138-139" />
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'''''Planar compasses''''' were magical navigational tools that pointed in the direction of the nearest way to a particular [[plane]],<ref name="TPH-p138-139">{{Cite book/The Planewalker's Handbook|138-139}}</ref> allowing users to locate interplanar [[portal|gate]]s.<ref name="ASM-p5,19">{{Cite organized play/LC/Another Serious Matter|5,19}}</ref>

==Description==
Despite their name, these devices did not resemble mundane [[compass]]es, but rather were [[iron]] spheres measuring {{SI|6|in|long=yes}} in diameter. They were designed to be easily separated into two halves, revealing a hollow cavity that measured {{SI|4|in|long=yes}} in diameter, and equally rejoined with ease.<ref name="TPH-p138-139" />

Another version existed: the planar compasses were made from [[orcanthium]].<ref name="MotP1e-p75">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|75}}</ref>

==Powers==
After placing an object within the hollow cavity of a ''planar compass'' and rejoining its two halves, the instrument would proceed to spin around until eventually stopping, with a small arrow jutting out from one of its halves. This arrow pointed towards the direction of the nearest pathway to the [[plane]] from which the item originated, whether it be a gate, [[astral conduit]], or [[elemental vortex]]. This effect remained active, the ''planar compass'' pointing unerringly, until either the device entered the planar destination or the object placed within it was removed.<ref name="TPH-p138-139" />

==History==
Around the late 14{{th}} century [[DR]], a number of [[adventurer]]s from [[Ravens Bluff]] came into possession of ''planar compasses''.<ref name="ASM-p5,19" /><ref name="ItD-p24">{{Cite organized play/LC/Into the Depths|24}}</ref><ref name="TM-p3,13">{{Cite organized play/LC/The Messengers|3,13}}</ref> One of the first was a group tasked by either [[Alcides Von Tighe]] or [[Simon Regulus]] with delivering a ''planar compass'', secured within a magical lockbox, to the [[githzerai]] sage [[A'Rinthorm]] as a substance held within it would aid in the sage's studies.<ref name="ASM-p5,19" /> Much later, another group had a compass offered to them in return for 5,000 [[gold piece]]s by [[Bob Nuhard|Bob]] and [[Susan Nuhard]], proprietors of the [[Gates of Hell Inn]] in the city of [[Dis]].<ref name="ItD-p24" /> And finally, a group of adventurers were loaned a ''planar compass'' by the [[ruvkova]] [[Kharn]] after providing him [[positive energy]], promising it would help lead them to the [[Quasi-Elemental Plane of Vacuum]].<ref name="TM-p3,13" />

==Appendix==
===See Also===
* ''[[Elemental compass]]'', a similar device that was limited to the [[Inner Planes]].

===Appearances===
{{Appearances
| organized play = ''[[Another Serious Matter]]'';''[[Into the Depths]]'';''[[The Messengers]]''
}}

===References===
{{Refs}}
[[Category:Iron items]]
[[Category:Magic items]]
[[Category:Navigational tools]]