Ethereal Echo Lantern
Wondrous Item (Lantern), rare (requires attunement)
This beautifully crafted lantern is made of a shimmering silver metal, with intricate designs etched along its surface that seem to shift and change in the light. When lit, the lantern emits a ghostly blue flame that casts flickering shadows on the walls, creating an eerie yet enchanting atmosphere.
When activated, the lantern allows its bearer to peer into the Ethereal Plane for a brief moment. For 1 minute per day, the wielder can use the lantern to see into the Ethereal Plane as though it were the Material Plane. This ability grants the user insights into creatures and objects that exist in the Ethereal Plane, revealing outlines of incorporeal beings or hidden threats. However, this glimpse comes with a price; each use of the lantern drains a small fragment of the wielder's own essence. After using this ability, the bearer must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
Additionally, once per long rest, when the lantern is lit, the user can call upon the spirits of the past. This summons a temporary shadowy guide—a spectral figure of a creature that the party has defeated in their adventures. This ethereal guide retains its knowledge and abilities for the duration of their presence (up to 10 minutes), aiding the party with advice or can take the Help action on behalf of one creature during each of its turns.
However, it is important to note that the lantern holds a hidden power that can backfire. If a creature not attuned to the lantern attempts to use it, they must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1d4 turns, seeing fleeting silhouettes of their most feared enemies swirling around them, manifested by the lantern's ethereal light.
The Ethereal Echo Lantern is a powerful tool for those brave enough to face the unknown, offering both guidance and insight against the dangers that lurk beyond the veil of reality.
