Varana's Tomb Library
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All books are written in latin unless otherwise noted.
Although the magi have not yet learned this, copying books does not work here. The knowledge can only be transmitted if read, and re-written as a brand new book by the student. This is a quality of the regio.
General Skills
Languages
Each of these summae are composed of several 'books' bound together to get a reader to proficiency in each of the languages. While Varana is a contributor to each of them (she apparently spoke many languages), each of the languages has various other co-authors. Each of these summae are written in latin; the intended readers are primarily magi, but educated readers in Mythic Europe would also benefit.
- Speak Greek, Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Aramaic, Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Italian (Italo-Dalmatian), Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Norwegian, Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Swedish, Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Danish, Summa Level 4, Quality 8
- Speak Latin, Notes for the Educated Magus, Tractatus, Quality 8 (6 volumes)
- Co-authored by Varana plus three additional authors who wrote one tractatus each, these tomes are intended to elevate a magus' diction and vocabulary. Varana believed that too many magi only studied just enough latin to cover their studies and communicate minimally with one another. She wanted to encourage magi to the level of the great Roman orators.
Area Lore: Canaan
- The Bible, Tractatus, Quality 5
- The Talmud, Tractatus, Quality 5
Order of Hermes Lore
- Order of Hermes, Tractatus (12 volumes), Quality 7 (each)
- Although this book set is about a century dated (there are no references past 1130), this set does collect a great deal of knowledge of the Order including early Tribunals, key players, and a particular focus on the Schism War. Readers will be impressed on the enormous losses of magi and magical knowledge from the widescale destruction.
- Notes of Pralix filia Tytalus, Tractatus (2 volumes), Quality 7 (each)
- These appear to be several volumes of Pralix's personal notes and copies of correspondence with both Hermetic magi and native hedge wizards during her fight with Dav'nalleous and the formation of House Ex Miscellanea. Undoubtedly House Ex Miscellanea would dearly love these returned along with an explanation how they were removed from Cad Gadu. Unfortunately, that answer would need to come from Varana. The magi would be well-advised to keep the existence of these tomes secret.
Church Lore
- The Bible, Summa, Level 3, Quality 3
- Bibliothecae, Tracatus, Quality 7 (each)
- Written by Photius in the 9th century. A thorough documentation of early Church history. 17 volume encylopedia.
Judaic Lore
- The Torah, Summa, Level 4, Quality 8
- Written by Moses/God in ancient times. Written in Hebrew.
- The Talmud, Tractatus, Quality 8 (each)
- Written by various sources in ancient times. Written in Aramaic. Set of 6 books.
Academic Skills
Artes Liberales
- Ars Grammatica - Ars minor, Summa, Level 4, Quality 15
- Written by Donatus, late 4th century. Focuses on grammar.
- Elementa, Summa, Level 4, Quality 10
- Written by Euclid, 4th century. Set of 13 books comprising the full summa. Written in Greek.
- Isagoge, Tractatus, Quality 5
- Originally written by Porphyry (3rd century), translated by Boetheus into Latin (5th century).
- Isagoge, Tractatus, Quality 6
- Originally written by Porphyry (3rd century). Original Greek text.
- Etymologies, Tractatus, Quality 8 (each)
- Written by Isidore of Seville, 6th century. A 20-book encyclopedia.
- On the Division of Time, Tractatus, Quality 9 (each)
- Written by Venerable Beded, 7th century. Focuses on mathematics. A 6-book set.
- Optica, Tractatus, Quality 9
- Written by Euclid, circa 300 B.C. Original Greek text.
- De inventionae, Tractatus, Quality 14 (each)
- Written by Cicero, 1st century B.C. A set of 3 books.
- Institutione grammaticae, Summa, Level 5, Quality 9
- Written by Priscian, 6th century A.D. A set of 16 books.
Civil and Canon Law
- Liber Regularum, Summa, Level 3, Quality 10
- Written by St. Victricius, 5th century.
- Corpus Juris Civilis - Digest, Summa, Level 5, Quality 7
- Compiled by Emperor Justinian, 5th century. A massive compilation of Roman laws that forms the basis of Civil and Canon law.
Medicine
- Herbal, Summa, Level 5, Quality 14
- Written by Crataeus, 1st century B.C.. Written in Greek.
- Al-Qanan fil-Tibb (Canon of Medicine), Summa, Level 6, Quality 10
- Written by ibn Sina (Avicenna), 10th century A.D. Written in Arabic.
- Aphorisms, Tractatus, Quality 7 (each)
- Written by Hippocrates, 4th and 5th century B.C. Written in Greek.
- Etymologies, Tractatus, Quality 8 (each)
- Written by Isidore of Seville, 6th century. A 20-book encyclopedia. (See also Artes Liberales)
Philosophiae
- A Guide to for the Perplexed, Summa, Level 4, Quality 9
- Written by Maimodenes (Moses ben Maimon) around 1190. Written in Arabic.
Rabbincal Law
- The Torah, Summa, Level 4, Quality 8
- Written by Moses/God in ancient times. Written in Hebrew.
- The Talmud, Tractatus, Quality 8 (each)
- Written by various sources in ancient times. Written in Aramaic. Set of 6 books.
Theology (Christian)
- 'The Bible, Summa, Level 10, Quality 3
- Written by various authours in ancient times.
Theology (Islamic)
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Summa, Level 5, Quality 9
- Written by al-Bukhari, 10th century A.D. Written in Arabic
- Sahih Muslim, Summa, Level 5, Quality 9
- Written by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, 10th century A.D. Written in Arabic
- The Qu'ran, Summa, Level 5, Quality 10
- Written by Muhammad / Gabriel, 7th century A.D. Written in Arabic
Theology (Judaism)
- The Torah, Summa, Level 6, Quality 8
- Written by Moses/God in ancient times. Written in Hebrew.
- The Talmud, Tractatus, Quality 8 (each)
- Written by various sources in ancient times. Written in Aramaic. Set of 6 books.
- A Guide to for the Perplexed, Summa, Level 6, Quality 9
- Written by Maimodenes (Moses ben Maimon) around 1190. Written in Arabic.
- A Commentary on the Tanakh, Tractatus, Quality 13
- Written by Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzakhi) in the 11th century, in France.
- A Commentary on the Talmud, Tractatus, Quality 13
- Written by Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzakhi) in the early 12th century, in France. Legend has it that he died right after writing the last word of this book.
Arcane Abilities
Realm Lores
- Faerie Lore: Of Faerys, Summa Level 6, Quality 8
- Magic Lore: Anciente Kyngdome of Brytain, Summa Level 6, Quality 7
- Infernal Lore: Daemons and Beasts, a Treatyse in XVII Volumes. Tractatus (17 volumes), average level 7
- Dominion Lore: Angels and Ministyrs of Grace, Tractatus (12 volumes), average level 7
Hermetic Knowledge
- Magic Theory, Libri Quaestionum de Magicam, Tractatus (12 volumes), Quality 11 (see below)
- These books operate under unusual rules as described here. These are in the form of questions and answers, a common medieval writing format. However, each set of books is intended for a specific audience. The farther your skill is from the intended level, the less you learn from that book. This is represented as follows: Reading a tractatus will net you: (Quality) minus (twice the difference of your skill and the books intended level). It is therefore intended that you read the books only once your Magic Theory reaches a certain point; before that, and it's too advanced; after that, you already know the material and gain less from it.
- Book 1: Level 1
- Book 2: Level 2
- Books 3-4: Level 3
- Books 5-6: Level 4
- Books 7-8: Level 5
- Books 9-10: Level 6
- Books 11-12: Level 7
- Code of Hermes, Records of the First Tribunals, 4 volumes (see below for what each volume contains)
- Although these records are already contained in Redcap records currently housed at the Nova Semitae library, these appear to be much older, possibly from the Founding era whereas the ones at Nova Semitae are merely copies. Like other Tribunal records, it offers magi an excellent opportunity to conduct studies in the following fields. Each Tribunal Session produces the following:
- Code of Hermes. Two Tractatus Q10. The records are primarily the Peripheral Code for the Tribunal
- Organization: Order of Hermes Lore. Tractatus Q9. The records give insight into the personalities and nature of the Founding magi.
Hermetic Arts
Creo
- Efficacious Conjuring: With Applications for Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Body, and Spirit. Summa Lv 15, Q 14
- A detailed codex on the Art of Creo, as it applies to the elements and mind and body. No mention of the other forms not in the title is ever made. The material is comprehensive and well written. The illuminations are thought-provoking examples of the Art of Creo, including a two page depiction of the Garden of Eden in the center of the book.
Intellego
- Disputations. Summa Lv 12, Q 19
- Written by Oculus of Donum Chanuti. A sound summa beautifully illuminated with gold and bound in two sheets of glass, magically prepared. This book may be used as a focus for Ceremonial Casting, granting a +3 bonus.
Muto
- Transforming the Elements. Summa Lv 15, Q 15
- This summa on the Art of Muto is written with an Elementalist in mind, and focuses on the way in which air, earth, fire and water can be transformed from one to the other. It includes many specific tactics for Wizard's War or Marching using these transformative magics, such as turning rain into fire or turning a shield grog's mail coat to stone. The book is expertly scribed and illuminated, and bound in raven feathers taken from the shapeshifting Infernalist named Hermia, who was killed by Varana's apprentice.
Rego
- The Scepter of the Order. Summa Lv 15, Q 15
- A treatise on the use of Rego in commanding and making things orderly. Going from examples of making a magus' own sanctum orderly, to commanding others, commanding magical creatures (including warding). The author is unknown, though one could easily suspect a Tremere master of Rego who wrote this.
Auram
- Where the Falcons Soar. Summa Lv 14, Q 12
- Written by Varana. The prose in this book tends towards romanticism over flight, the sky, and creatures who live in the sky. Weather phenomenon in particular are addressed, especially in how to make the area clear of storms and the best conditions to operate in the sky. There are references to lab texts for flying and flight-related devices that may still be in the library.
Imaginem
- Images, Glamours, Illusions. Summa Lv 20, Q11
- Written by Varana. This set comprising 5 weighty volumes goes over extensive examinations into the art of crafting convincing illusions and glamours that operating on the senses. This set would normally be a candidate for archmagushood, or at least worth a Cow and Calf Oath to copy.
Mentem
- Reason over Passions. Summa Lv 12, Q12.
- Purportedly written by Tremere himself. An early book with idiosyncratic latin usage, he covers Mentem with an early view of the Art. Although somewhat outclassed by modern Mentem scholarship, it remains a solid work for a magus.
- Tremere magi treat the Quality as 2 higher due to Tremere's use of House-specific lingo and references.
Terram
- Fundamentals of Earth Magics. Summa Lv 10, Q 11
- Written by Trianoma, the political founder of the Order of Hermes. While there are undoubtedly more advanced books on the subject, this seems to be an early copy signed by Trianoma herself, and is thus valuable in its own right. This covers early uses Terram in the construction of covenant buildings as well as typical Spring covenant uses for the Art.
Vim
- The Pulse of Magic, Summa Lv 13, Q 11
- Written by Junius of Tytalus. This is a solid treatment of Vim, though in the margins are notes about auras and regiones that would interest a dedicated researcher. Hermetic magic has a very loose and crude effect on Auras and Regios.
- Magi conducting Original Research in Auras and Regiones may use this book as a source of inspiration and gain 1 Breathrough Point.
Laboratory Texts
- Many (largely Auram, Imaginem)