Seers often speak of auras, emotional impressions left on an item or place after intense or prolonged exposure to the minds of mortals. Favored objects often carry an impression of their owner or memories of their use. An otherwise ordinary ring, for instance, might bear the joy of marriage, the image of the woman who carried it many long years, and the sorrow of betrayal that caused her to cast it away. Much like words in a book, those with the sight can read these impressions to reveal clues to an item's history.
This works much the same with locations, which may be similarly marked by strong emotions. An old graveyard may carry memories of somber funerals. A battlefield may echo with mingled fury and fear from past conflicts. A room, otherwise featureless to ordinary sight, may bear a deep scar if torture or murder occurred there.
The more recent or powerful the emotion, the more vivid the aura. Stronger auras may grant a seer glimpses into details of the events surrounding them, including the words spoken or the people present. Likewise, older or weaker auras may only give a vague impression.
New auras tend to overwrite old ones, as well, so attempting to read the aura on an individual is only likely to give an impression of very recent or chronic emotions. An orphan may give off an aura of loneliness, for instance, or a monk an aura of serenity. Using auras in this way may help determine an individual's disposition, but most people experience too wide a range of emotions to make it useful. Other methods tend to be more effective for determining trustworthiness or morality.
Reading auras is not without risk, however. The act of opening up one's sight in this way makes the mind vulnerable. Auras that are especially potent, such as those surrounding immortals or artifacts, or distasteful, such as those surrounding beings of the Astral, Nether, Pit, or Beyond, may overwhelm the viewer or worse. Seers have gone mad and even died opening themselves to auras too powerful or alien for their minds to comprehend.