At rest, the planarity appears to be a nondescript sphere of deep-blue stone, perfectly round and smooth, that fits in the palm of a hand. However, when it comes within 50 feet of a planar portal, the planarity reacts with excitement. It changes shape, and a storm of energy rises up from its depths to play along the inner surface of the stone. Spiky protrusions emerge from the smooth surface, jutting as much as three inches before plunging back into the stone. These protrusions extend and retract faster and faster as the planarity gets closer to a portal. At the same time, the inner storm intensifies into a raging dance of color.
The planarity is a gate key, but not in the normal sense. Unlike other gate keys, which are linked to a specific planar door, the planarity has the power to open ANY portal in Harbinger House. In addition, itÂ’s the only key that unlocks the sealed doors there (both mundane and planar). The GodsmenÂ’s factol keeps the planarity in his possession at all times, sure that itÂ’ll play important, if not pivotal role in the Final Ascension.
Anyone who holds the planarity can use it – that is, anyone who knows the command word. A body’s just got to place the item in his open palm, approach any planar portal, and utter the right word. The planarity rises and floats a few inches above the palm, and the portal opens. The device doesn’t work if it’s in a pocket or pack, so accidental trips aren’t possible.
What’s more, the planarity constantly records and stores images and sounds from activities in its immediate area. This feature was intended as a means to keep track of which portals were opened, and when. Only the factol of the Godsmen can call forth the full history of stored images, which “replay” life size in plain sight.
The focrux is a bigger version of the planarity - about 15 feet in diameter. It stays inside Harbinger House at all times, as the Gosmen believe it to be the spiritual core of the House, a conduit for planar energies. All strange properties of the House- such as the fact that itÂ’s bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside- are powered by the focrux . It also causes the exterior of the house to reflect magic, preventing berks from harming the place or sneaking inside. As with the planarity , the Godsmen are certain that the focrux will prove to be critical to the Final Ascension.
One property of the focrux that plays an important role in the secrecy of Harbinger House is its ability to thwart all scrying attempts. No one- not even the Lady of Pain- can peer inside while the focrux is operational. Fact is, the focrux accounts for the uneasiness of the Lady (and through her, the dabus), as she canÂ’t pinpoint the berk who dares to tamper with portals and powers in the heart of Sigil.