Varana's Tomb Library

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Ars Magica: Nova Semitae Saga
ArM5LogoColor.jpg
GM
Mark
Game Start
Anno Domini MCCXX, hiems
A.D. 1220, winter
5 Neanne 1, Hiems
Game Year
Anno Domini MCCXXXV, aestas
A.D. 1236, summer
7 Aulus 2, Aestas
Magi of Nova Semitae
Geoffroy de Dreux of Jerbiton
Joshua Levi of Verditius
Magni of Flambeau
Obscurus Ignis of Flambeau
NPC Magi
Aulus · Neanne · Fr. Thomas · Vitria
Apprentices
Ysabelo discipulus Aulus
Esyllt discipula Geoffrey
Sigrun discipula Magni
Hermetic Status
Companions
Lady Angharad ferch Madog, Princess of Powys Fadog
Ritter Sigmund, German ex-Crusader
Sir Daniele d'Audrieu, Norman merchant
Sir William Cornwell, English ex-Crusader
Other Characters
Covenfolk · Agents
The Redcaps · Notable NPCs
Chart of Languages Spoken
Notable Animals
Guests
Hortense of House Bonisagus
The Covenant
Hermetic
Covenant Charter · Membership Record
Record of Offices · Covenant Service
Council Voting Records · Hermetic Politics
Stonehenge Tribunal
Mundane
Mundane Geography · Mundane Politics
Village of Melverley · Melverley Castle
Village Laws · Village Rumors
Medieval Farming
Covenant Resources
Covenant Library · Varana's Tomb
Hospital · Hospital Library
Vis Sources and Stores
Covenant Magical Items · Mundane Wealth
Classes and Training · Covenant Experts
Covenant Mechanics
Other
Ars Magica House Rules
Ars Magica Expanded Notes
Campaign Log · Loose Ends
Ars Magica PC Reference
Player Resources (PDFs)
Experience Point Worksheet
Character Sheet (Variant 1)
Character Sheet (Variant 2)
Experience Point Chart

Back to Varana's Tomb

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
  • Intellego
  • Muto
  • Rego
  • Auram
  • Imaginem
  • Mentem
  • Terram
  • Vim

Laboratory Texts

  • Many (largely Auram, Imaginem)