Gryphos
Auror
I've recently found myself asking a bunch of questions regarding the specifics of basilisks and their death-stare ability. Some of them I think are quite fun to think about.
First off, the assumption I'm working with is that the death-stare is a two-way process: it's not just a case of the basilisk looking at you, but you also looking into its eyes at the same time. You need to meet its gaze.
So what if your eyesight's really shit, and when you look at the basilisk all you see is a blur? Do you still die?
Or what if you look at the basilisk through a two-way mirror, with the basilisk only being able to see its reflection? Does the basilisk have to be looking purposefully at you, or does it work if its eyes just happen to be pointed in your direction?
What happens if you look at the basilisk, but you're really far away from each other?
What happens if you look at the basilisk through one of those funky distorting mirrors? If the image is distorted enough, does the basilisk stare still work?
And perhaps my favourite question: what if you've just done shrooms or something and you're tripping balls? You're looking at the basilisk, but you're hallucinating enough that you see the basilisk as a fundamentally altered object. What then?
First off, the assumption I'm working with is that the death-stare is a two-way process: it's not just a case of the basilisk looking at you, but you also looking into its eyes at the same time. You need to meet its gaze.
So what if your eyesight's really shit, and when you look at the basilisk all you see is a blur? Do you still die?
Or what if you look at the basilisk through a two-way mirror, with the basilisk only being able to see its reflection? Does the basilisk have to be looking purposefully at you, or does it work if its eyes just happen to be pointed in your direction?
What happens if you look at the basilisk, but you're really far away from each other?
What happens if you look at the basilisk through one of those funky distorting mirrors? If the image is distorted enough, does the basilisk stare still work?
And perhaps my favourite question: what if you've just done shrooms or something and you're tripping balls? You're looking at the basilisk, but you're hallucinating enough that you see the basilisk as a fundamentally altered object. What then?