The scrying crow is is a feathered mockup of a crow with a tiny gem for one eye. Its companion piece is a large, clear crystal that fits in the palm and sparkles intriguingly.

If the crystal is put to the eye (for close examination and/or appraisal), you can see thru it and out the “eye” of the mock crow, even in near darkness. If you turn yourself while scrying, the mock crow will turn its head. If you turn rotate the crystal, it will zoom in.

The two items can be up to a mile apart. The mock crow can be lashed to the branch of a tree or something with a length of wire and can withstand rain and wind quite well.

Uses

The scrying crow would be useful to a noble, sophisticated bandits, a cult, or a witch in the woods or anyone else of fairly high intelligence who would want to keep an eye on a stretch of road or entrance to their hideout or stronghold.

Variations

A more elaborate variation of the mock crow might be animated with fairly life-like movements.

An even better version might feature a real, live crow fitted with a scrying gem as a false eye but be limited to the life of the crow.