Avriel's Librium
Written early in the 13th century, Avriel’s Librium is an excellent study of sacred geometry and numerology. The book is succinct, and the scholarship is sound, and it earned Avriel the only chair at the University of Gwyfned held to date by a woman. For numerology, the book includes many examples and proofs to illustrate her point, and in sacred geometry the most complete book of its sort published yet. In the decades since it was debuted, the book has found its way into all the universities collections in Aorlis. Many commentaries have been written on it, but none that run counter to the Librium’s original thesis.
Chronicles of Aorlis
Written by Centus of Noelred in Old Karmithian, and now distributed throughout Aorlis, this book was written by a contemporary author in the 13th century. It incorporates many older texts, but it serves as a rough history of the world from mythological times up into the modern day. Some historical personages, like Kamith, Kelthan, Torenth, Euchaid, Wollyn, Gregor, Osrick, and Eldred I, get a lot of biographical attention. Centus knew Eldred I personally, and his writings on that mad monarch are considered quite accurate. Increasingly, Centus is known as the modern Father of History. All booksellers offer this book in a variety of editions and prices.
Codex Arthicus
This encyclopedia was penned by Dynechius, a Karmithian-Aorlisian scholar in the fourth century. Dynechius was a talented physician and wizard, and primarily he wrote this book for healers. It has autobiographical elements, but mostly to serve as proofs for his many claims. It is laid out in four “books,” or sections, being: herbal, bestiary, travelogue, and medicine. This book was forgotten in Aorlis until it was rediscovered, stored in the back room of a library. Dynechius was well travelled, and he writes of period Karmithia, Argoria, Imerkand, and of course Aorlis itself. Those travels inform his bestiary, although he includes creatures described to him he could not see or confirm himself. When the book re-emerged on the modern scene, it caused a flurry of excitement in the medical community, and this text still holds high status there. When bound, all four books are quite cumbersome.
Combined Keys of Wollyn, aka Tome of the Black Mirror
This is the Greater Key of Wollyn, the Maiorem Autem Clavem, and the Lesser Key of Wollyn, or Luminare Minus Clavem Wollyn, collected in a single volume. The Greater Key covers demonology, with all the diabolical true names, specific skills or benefices, and details for summoning all the named demons in hell. With this knowledge, the demonologist can enslave the demons, force them to work for him, and imprison them when they are intransigent. The Lesser Key is similar, but about angelology, granting the mage the true names and controls for all the named angels, as well as the sonic calls and how to speak the angelic tongue, Elledic. All the spells within include detailed variations on the magic circle, with a dictionary of power words, occult sigils, and patterns needed to work this magic. These spells are intended for mages of world-class power and knowledge or greater, and they come with many dangers. Many of the spells are extended workings, taking a significant investment in time, materials, and assistant mages to work correctly. This book is no more rare than other occult books, but its complexity makes in daunting for most mages. This book owned by almost ritual mage, necromancer, and serious magik worker in Aorlis. Copies for sale at booksellers carry a hefty price tag, and most merchants will only admit having it and selling to trusted, discreet customers.
Divine Sojourn
Also called the Incolatus Divina, and written by Gaunt in the 12th century, this collection recounts a detailed travelogue of sorts through the afterlife. This work borrows heavily from Church cosmology and vigorously expands upon those teachings. Written in first person, it recounts Gaunt’s journey from the gates of hell or Nhetherium (Volume 1, the Infernum), down through its nine layers; then his sojourn through the multiple levels of Purgatory (Volume 2, Purgatorio and finally, on up through Heaven or the mountain of Caelum (Volume 3, Paradiso). This book has been a publishing sensation, and taught in all the universities, and copies exist in all the major libraries and churches of Aorlis. Booksellers offer a variety of editions at a range of prices.
Gate of Dreams
This book explores Oinomancy, or dream magic. It is long on theories, but with relatively few spells included. It reads more like a travelogue of dream space, with different dream kingdoms, dream guardians, and assorted dream threats and creatures. The book lists its author as Lyndrix, but that is highly doubtful—it is an old writer’s trick to list famous authors to give the book provenance and thus help it sell. Lyndrix did not write this book, and no one knows who did. It was probably penned by a practicing oinomancer, but, because the spells described or included are legitimate parts of the oinomantic arsenal.
Grimoire of Elder Lore, Forbidden Secrets, and Ancient Atrocities
An Old Karmithian translation of this tome is all that survives, and it hints at a more complete version from antiquity. Its author is unknown. While not as infamous as the Tome of Nine Damned Souls, this book has spells for conjuring ancient teachers, and absorbing their knowledge instantly with paper and ink dissolved in water and drunk. Its magic tends more to the obscure than dangerous and is likely to instil a nasty case of occult trivia than turn the mage into an evil necromancer. There perhaps a dozen copies of this book in existence, but they are not for sale, and usually chained to the library bench.
Grimoire of Fiends Most Fell
This book, written in Old Karmithian, is an expansion on the Key of Wollyn. Its author is unknown. It covers the social and command structure of demon lords in hell, their gifts, summoning, and true names, but it also offers details about their realms, palaces, and grotesque illuminations of each. Attempting the leverage this knowledge into use without first learning the Combined Keys of Wollyn is risky, as many a mage has discovered. There perhaps a score of this book in existence, but they are not for sale, and usually chained to the library bench.
Grimoire of Gloom Unending
Written in the 11th century by Lorg the Shadow Mage, this book is required reading for any wizard who delves into sciomancy, or the magic of shadows. It is intended for experienced mages, and it covers sciomancy for shadow scrying, shadow apportation and conjury, summoning shadows and shadow people, shadow wells, and all the other spells associated with this rare wizard subgroup. This book is rare, by occult book standards. There perhaps half-a-dozen copies of this book in existence, but they are not for sale, and usually chained to the library bench or hoarded by contemporary practitioners of sciomancy.
Guant's Grimoire of Hexes
Curated by Gaunt in the 12th century, this tome covers necromancy in its greater sense, and that’s maleficent magik. He gathered all the dark, unsavory spells he could find and published them. Curiously, he also includes self-defense, relief, and the removal of said evil magik. Then, for many of these spells, he writes about crafty alternate uses for these spells, and how to use them for the benefit of others. Gaunt and his reputation as an evil necromancer are hard to come to grips with, and most indications are that he was more interested in pure scholarship combined with a devious imagination. Once widely published, this book has grown scarce and expensive. Most libraries and mages own it.
Guant’s Grimoire of Imprisoned Powers
This work was written in Old Karmithian in the 10th century, and heavily annotated and added to by Guant in the 12th century. This book loosely covers demonology and angelology, and spells out the locations of the purported prisons of the Watchers. It only touches on the Combined Keys of Wollyn and assumes the wizard has already mastered that text. Key parts of the book are written in code, or information is hidden as symbology in illuminations. This book is still relatively common.
Hammer of the Heretics
Also called qui sunt perversae sententiae malleo, and compiled by Friar Barsdon Blackheart in the 12th century, this book details the magik of necromancers, witches, and those who entreat demons and the damned for favors or gain. Barsdon effusively includes all the salacious rumors he can find, and paints pagans in a very dark light. His intended audience was priests and witch hunters, or so he claimed, with copious advice on how to detect, torture, and exterminate all those who parlay with the dark arts. This knowledge has been used, misused, and abused repeatedly to destroy innocents and witches. It is interesting to note that Barsdon’s name never has been raised for potential sainthood, and a stained reputation has followed him down through the years. If someone were determined to practice black magic, everything that would-be necromancer needs is included in this book. Crafty villains could study this book for all the witch-hunter’s tricks and thus avoid getting caught.
Kegin's Codex of Marvels
While the book’s title is attributed to Kegin the Mad, it actually was written by one of Kegin’s star pupils, the wizard Andrew Tanner. This book is relatively new, being written in the 1230s, and it is chocked full of arcane commentary, a mix of handicrafts and magik, conjuration, and elementals. It is unknown whether Kegin approved of the Codex’s publication, but Andrew Tanner has gone on to a life of adventure, and he has authored many more books. This book is widely available, mostly from booksellers.
Kendorius Lost Librum of Viniculture
Ascribed to Kendorius, probably not the author’s name, but probably an assumed name or rank, this 11th century volume harks back to lost Kendore of old and the indecipherable processes by which mythical Kendorian wine is prepared. This book is short on words, long of bizarre illustrations, and modern scholars believe it to an herbal written in alchemical code. Its known words are both in Old Aenglik and Old Karmithian, adding to the confusion. It is among the most beautifully illuminated volumes known, and still available new in Valags only.
Rule of St. Euchaid the Minor
When Euchaid Minor developed the first monasteries in the 6th century, he wrote a practical guide on how to organize religious communities, prayer stations of the day, monkish diets, and monkish lifestyle. This book established all the charisms of stability, celibacy, poverty, abstinence, and all the other key elements of regular monastic life. Many later rules have been written, but they all refer to the Rule of St. Euchaid the Minor. Reformist monks in the centuries that followed considered these rules too lax, but again they were reacting to the St. Euchaid the Minor’s Rule, not re-inventing the system outright.
Rune and Staves
With no listed author, this book is a collection of several runic alphabets, as well as their correspondences, powers, and uses. There is also an entry-level guide to using runes in stave and stave spells, as well as using these symbols on weapons, tattoos, and other implements. This book is not common in Aorlis, but much better known the further north in Kainded one travels. The book has an excellent selection of agriculture warding spells, and lots of very imaginative curses. It can be purchased new in Orlois, or perhaps further north.
Seven Gates of Awakening
Written my Myrdorn the Magnificent of Alusia in the 8th century, this book encapsulates hermetic philosophy, and illustrates the seven hermetic principles: mentalism, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, cause and effect, and gender. If deeply studied for an extended period, this information has brought mystical revelations, and sometimes even cosmic awareness. It also covers astral projection and memory palace construction. Once known to only alchemists, now this book is widely published in a variety of editions and prices. It is written in Old Karmithian and illustrated with attractive woodcuts that have been hand-colored.
The Holy Testament, or Liber Sanctorum
This is the Church’s core source for cosmology and mythological history. It begins with the creation of mankind in Adramschar I, down through Utnam and the Deluge, to Euchaid and Torenth founding the Church. Its ascribed authors are Adramscharr, Utnam, Euchaid, Torenth. This book is constantly referenced in modern conversations and writings, and its parables are splashed all over murals and stained-glass windows throughout the empire. It is written in (or translated into) Old Karmithian, and translating it into Aenglik or any other vulgar tongue is expressly forbidden by the Church. Only wealthy believers own copies, and those are often beautifully bound and gloriously illuminated. Its chapters, called books, are: Book of Adramschar I-III, the Book of Watchers I-II, the Book of Giants I, the Book of Utnam I-II, the Book of Euchaid I-IV, and the Book of Torenth I-II. It is available from all booksellers in a wide range of editions.
The Tome of Nine Damned Souls
Also called Tome Novem De Animabus Condemnabitur, this is a cursed grimoire of elder lore, forbidden secrets, and ancient atrocities, and it covers a vast catalogue of necromancy, demonology, chthonic magic. In short, it offers infernal revelation, and merely possessing this book will change the wizard. This transformation always begins with obsessive curiosity, then it robs the mage’s humanity as it expands his twisted knowledge. No one comes into contact with the Tome of Nine Damned Souls and leaves as the same person. No one knows who wrote it, but its current incarnation is written in Old Karmithian with many references in Telith-Eri, Tol, and Nhetherspeak. It is considered a lost book, because no one knows where a copy may be found. The actual volume is over 500 pages, 36” x 48” x 14”, and bound in iron. Multiple demons and unclean spirits are attached to it, as well as many innovative and extremely unpleasant curses. The book has moaned or chanted in a ghostly, indecipherable way.
Universal Atlas of Planetary Talismans
Star charts have been kept drawn up and amassed since classical times, and this book charts them out and codifies them for contemporary use. Mathematical knowledge is needed to forecast planetary positions and times in the future. This book was written in the 11th century by Melena, Mistress Nightengale, and she wrote it in facing pages of Old Karmithian and Aenglik. This book is unique because it wants to be comprehended. Beyond the planetary information, the planets’ governing angels, entelechies, and demons are listed for each celestial body, as well as detailed correspondence charts for the planets, their metals, perfumes, music notes, and so forth. This tome ends with details on creating and charging planetary talismans, their magic squares, and uses. Most wizards own a copy of this book, and it rests in most libraries, but in both cases, they are usually chained. Purchasing a copy is exorbitantly expensive, and few booksellers offer it.
Wisdom of the Patriarchs
Put down by Kabbac, this is the holy book of Emirkand was written in the 6th century. It collects the writings of Kabbac’s twelve disciples, each an important prophet in his own rights, as well as the master’s own writings. This text codifies the language, religion, culture, social hierarchy, and spirituality of the Im-Talik in clear detail. It is a book of intense mystical revelation, and forbidden ever to change a word or destroy a copy of this manuscript. The Wisdom of the Patriarchs may not be translated into other languages, but the reader must learn old Maliki to study it. It is available in different editions and prices anywhere in Alusia or Imerkand, and all the Im-Talik own copies and refer to them often.
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