Covenants Chapter Seven: Library - Revision history

Yair: /* Secondary Functions */

2026-04-10T08:33:10Z

Secondary Functions

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	The statistical adjustments for damage vary enormously.		The statistical adjustments for damage vary enormously.

	'''Editions de luxe''' are usually created as gifts, particularly for nobles and churchmen. These versions of books are decorated ostentatiously and are larger than usual. This makes them heavy, fragile, and unpleasant to study from, although they are beautiful expressions of the scribal arts. The text is complete and other artisans can make working copies from these gorgeous books. An edition de luxe has its quality reduced by up to (Profession: Scribe + Profession: Binder + Profession: Illuminator) / 2, but the greater the reduction the more sumptuous, and suitable as a gift, the book becomes. A related type is the treasure-bound book. This has the external features of an edition de luxe, but does not have the unusual internal decoration. Many Hermetic books that incorporate resonant materials are, to mundane scholars, treasure-bound editions.		'''Editions de luxe''' are usually created as gifts, particularly for nobles and churchmen. These versions of books are decorated ostentatiously and are larger than usual. This makes them heavy, fragile, and unpleasant to study from, although they are beautiful expressions of the scribal arts. The text is complete and other artisans can make working copies from these gorgeous books. An edition de luxe has its quality reduced by up to (Profession: Scribe + Profession: Binder + Profession: Illuminator) / 2, but the greater the reduction the more sumptuous, and suitable as a gift, the book becomes.

			A related type is the treasure-bound book. This has the external features of an edition de luxe, but does not have the unusual internal decoration. Many Hermetic books that incorporate resonant materials are, to mundane scholars, treasure-bound editions.

	An '''epitome''' was originally the finest, and final, work on a subject by a Hermetic author. In the modern Order, it refers to books that have been enchanted as magical items. For the purposes of enchantment, a book has a material level of 2 and a size multiplier of 4. Books have many shape bonuses: some of these are +6 for changing thoughts, +6 for changing images within the book, +4 for numerology, and +3 for divination. The resonant materials of an epitome are the only ones that may be used to assist in its enchantment as an item. Books on mundane subjects do not suffer this restriction.		An '''epitome''' was originally the finest, and final, work on a subject by a Hermetic author. In the modern Order, it refers to books that have been enchanted as magical items. For the purposes of enchantment, a book has a material level of 2 and a size multiplier of 4. Books have many shape bonuses: some of these are +6 for changing thoughts, +6 for changing images within the book, +4 for numerology, and +3 for divination. The resonant materials of an epitome are the only ones that may be used to assist in its enchantment as an item. Books on mundane subjects do not suffer this restriction.
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	'''Exemplars''' are miniature books created as templates for distant scribes and illuminators. Exemplars are extremely cheap to make, and very easy to transport, compared to full-sized books. An exemplar has a –3 modification to quality.		'''Exemplars''' are miniature books created as templates for distant scribes and illuminators. Exemplars are extremely cheap to make, and very easy to transport, compared to full-sized books. An exemplar has a –3 modification to quality.

	'''Flap-bound books''' have leather flaps instead of boards as their covers. They are usually smaller than books with board covers. Their pages develop waves, since they lack a firm cover to provide pressure. Their covers are tied closed to prevent gaping. Flap-bound books were popularized by Redcaps, are created in surprising numbers within the Order, and are sometimes used in lieu of exemplars.		'''Flap-bound books''' have leather flaps instead of boards as their covers. They are usually smaller than books with board covers. Their pages develop waves, since they lack a firm cover to provide pressure. Their covers are tied closed to prevent gaping. Flap-bound books were popularized by Redcaps, are created in surprising numbers within the Order, and are sometimes used in lieu of exemplars. A flap book has a quality modifier of –1 and cannot have resonant materials incorporated as cover ornamentation. As they age, flap books usually buckle, which damages them, further reducing their quality.

	A ~~'''~~flap book~~'''~~ has a quality modifier of –1 and cannot have resonant materials incorporated as cover ornamentation. As they age, flap books usually buckle, which damages them, further reducing their quality.

	'''Holographical''' books are those scribed by the author. These are usually poorly prepared, compared to those completed by a professional scribe. Holographic books retain an arcane connection to their author for a year, although this is severed if the magus’s opinion, encapsulated in the book, changes. A season of study on the book’s subject, for example, destroys this connection.		'''Holographical''' books are those scribed by the author. These are usually poorly prepared, compared to those completed by a professional scribe. Holographic books retain an arcane connection to their author for a year, although this is severed if the magus’s opinion, encapsulated in the book, changes. A season of study on the book’s subject, for example, destroys this connection.

Yair: added comment on Lecture Commentaries

2026-03-29T20:55:39Z

added comment on Lecture Commentaries

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	'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.		'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.

	{{CommunityGloss\|Note also the option for a Polemic and Diatribe, added in [[Transforming Mythic Europe Chapter Two: The Fourth Estate#Polemic\|Transforming Mythic Europe]].}}		{{CommunityGloss\|Note also the option for a Polemic and Diatribe, added in [[Transforming Mythic Europe Chapter Two: The Fourth Estate#Polemic\|Transforming Mythic Europe]]. In addition, Lecture Commentaries are possible for Acadmic and Arcane Abiltiies in [[Art & Academe Open Content#Lecture Commentaries\|Art & Academe]]}}

	=Magical Libraries=		=Magical Libraries=

Yair: /* The Manufacture of Books */

2026-03-25T22:46:07Z

The Manufacture of Books

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	Covenants that want to create their own books must employ many specialists and laborers. To provide the raw materials they need shepherds, gooseherds, cowherds, tanners, and apothecaries. They require notaries and scribes, illuminators and binders. Many also employ merchants, who find rare inks for their works. Some members of the Order use magic as an alternative to mundane book production.		Covenants that want to create their own books must employ many specialists and laborers. To provide the raw materials they need shepherds, gooseherds, cowherds, tanners, and apothecaries. They require notaries and scribes, illuminators and binders. Many also employ merchants, who find rare inks for their works. Some members of the Order use magic as an alternative to mundane book production.
			{{CommunityGloss\|This description implies professional-quality writing is independent from authoring. This allows one to e.g. send the draft notes to another covenant to produce a professionally crafted book.}}
	{{CommunityGloss\|This description implies professional-quality writing is independent from ~~the~~ authoring. This allows one to e.g. send the draft notes to another covenant to produce a professionally crafted book.}}

	==Writing Surfaces==		==Writing Surfaces==

Yair: /* Scriptoria */

2026-03-25T09:01:01Z

Scriptoria

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	'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.		'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.

	{{CommunityGloss\|Note also the option for a Polemic, added in [[Transforming Mythic Europe Chapter Two: The Fourth Estate#Polemic\|Transforming Mythic Europe]].}}		{{CommunityGloss\|Note also the option for a Polemic and Diatribe, added in [[Transforming Mythic Europe Chapter Two: The Fourth Estate#Polemic\|Transforming Mythic Europe]].}}

	=Magical Libraries=		=Magical Libraries=

Yair: /* Scriptoria */

2026-03-25T08:59:48Z

Scriptoria

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	'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.		'''Primers''' are summae written for students of little skill, like apprentices. Calling a magus’s opus a primer is a deep insult, except if the work really was intended for inexperienced students.

			{{CommunityGloss\|Note also the option for a Polemic, added in [[Transforming Mythic Europe Chapter Two: The Fourth Estate#Polemic\|Transforming Mythic Europe]].}}

	=Magical Libraries=		=Magical Libraries=

Yair: /* Casting Tablets */

2026-03-25T08:46:07Z

Casting Tablets

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	Magi can only author casting tablets for spells they have mastered, although magi can copy tablets written by others. A character spending a season as an author or copyist may create laboratory texts and/or tablets from the same pool of levels. Many options concerning casting, like range or vis use, are foreclosed by the author while writing the casting tablet. Casting tablets do not aid magi to learn spells the way laboratory texts do. Casting tablets purchased at covenant creation cost two Build Points per five levels of spells.		Magi can only author casting tablets for spells they have mastered, although magi can copy tablets written by others. A character spending a season as an author or copyist may create laboratory texts and/or tablets from the same pool of levels. Many options concerning casting, like range or vis use, are foreclosed by the author while writing the casting tablet. Casting tablets do not aid magi to learn spells the way laboratory texts do. Casting tablets purchased at covenant creation cost two Build Points per five levels of spells.

			{{CommunityGloss\|Note that casting tablets significantly alter the game in that magi can now cast spells they do not know. Consider whether you want to add this to your game.}}

	===Other Opus Types===		===Other Opus Types===

Yair at 08:42, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T08:42:57Z

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	To perform clarification, the magus opens the book to enchantment as an invested device. The book must then be left in a Magical aura for (12 / aura strength) years, during which time the book sheds the mundane matter it contains, replacing it with purer, more relevant materials from the surrounding aura. Such books often develop a translucent appearance. They crumble away into sand and dust if removed from a Magical aura. A magus of House Bonisagus discovered this technique in 1126; many older books have not been clarified.		To perform clarification, the magus opens the book to enchantment as an invested device. The book must then be left in a Magical aura for (12 / aura strength) years, during which time the book sheds the mundane matter it contains, replacing it with purer, more relevant materials from the surrounding aura. Such books often develop a translucent appearance. They crumble away into sand and dust if removed from a Magical aura. A magus of House Bonisagus discovered this technique in 1126; many older books have not been clarified.

	~~{\|style="border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; border-color: chocolate"~~
	~~\|style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px"\|~~
	{\|style="border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; border-color: chocolate"		{\|style="border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; border-color: chocolate"
	\|style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px"\|		\|style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px"\|
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	\|}		\|}

			{\|style="border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; border-color: chocolate"
			\|style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px"\|
	==Quality Rules==		==Quality Rules==

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	\|}		\|}

			{{CommunityGloss\|No rules are given for the time required to illuminate or bind books (the time needed for scribing is specified in the core rules). For groups that wish to track this, a reasonable and simple house rule, based on how medieval scriptoria operated, is to let illumination take as much time as scribing, and to allow a binder to bind up to three books per season.}}

	==Secondary Functions==		==Secondary Functions==
	Many Hermetic books have their quality compromised by a consideration, other than their use as a course of instruction, which influenced their author or construction.		Many Hermetic books have their quality compromised by a consideration, other than their use as a course of instruction, which influenced their author or construction.

Yair: minor spelling correction

2026-03-25T08:34:50Z

minor spelling correction

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	''(Base 1, +1 Touch, +2 Room, +1 requisite, +1 versatility)''		''(Base 1, +1 Touch, +2 Room, +1 requisite, +1 versatility)''

	====a Simple Charm for the Recovery of Misfiled Books====		====A Simple Charm for the Recovery of Misfiled Books====
	ReAn 10		ReAn 10

Yair: minor spelling correction

2026-03-25T08:34:30Z

minor spelling correction

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	''(Base 3, +1 Touch)''		''(Base 3, +1 Touch)''

	====a Simple Test for the Completeness of Books====		====A Simple Test for the Completeness of Books====
	InAn 15		InAn 15

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	''(Base 5, +1 Touch, +1 requisite)''		''(Base 5, +1 Touch, +1 requisite)''
	=		=

	====Books That Scream in Pain====		====Books That Scream in Pain====
	InAn 25		InAn 25

Yair: minor spelling correction

2026-03-25T08:34:06Z

minor spelling correction

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	''(Base 5 [one hide], +2 treated animal product [parchment] +1 Touch)''		''(Base 5 [one hide], +2 treated animal product [parchment] +1 Touch)''

	====a Useful Inculcator of Comments====		====A Useful Inculcator of Comments====
	ReHe 4		ReHe 4