Dangerous Books

There are several books that defy classification due to the rarity or perplexing nature of their insight. These are called "dangerous books."

Reading a dangerous book takes an entire season, and can be read any number of times, although the chances of misdirected learning increases each time. At the end of the season, roll the Study Total, the formula of which is different for each dangerous book to determine how many experience points you gain. Next, roll a quality die + 1 x (number of previous readings) and consult the Insight table (different for each book) to determine where those experience points are placed.

If a roll results in a choice of topics ("Astronomy or Magic Theory," for example), the reader may elect to put the experience in either Knowledge or Art, reflecting the fashion in which the reader chooses to interpret his or her insights. If the reader does not have one of the two choices, s/he must put the experience inthe Knowledge or Art s/he does have. If the reader has neither choice, s/he must roll on the table again.

When reading a Dangerous Book, if an Art is rolled as the seasonal topic, the reader may elect to attempt to incorporate the insight gained through the book in an unconventional manner, which may result in the development of a new Affinity. If the reader elects to do this, the Study Total is halved, and the reader rolls a stress die + Int. If the result is 15+, the reader has successfully gained the reduced Study Total in experience in an appropriate Affinity as adjudicated by the StoryGuide. Failure indicates that the reader learned something of use, but less than he or she would have normally gleaned; add the reduced Study Total to the relevant Art. A Botch indicates that the reader was confused by attempting to learn unconventially; multiply the original Study Total by the number of botches to determine the number of experience points gained in False Knowledges.

Corpus Hermetica

Study Total: (Simple die + Int + Magic Theory + Concentration) / 5
Insight:

* Magus must already possess an Affinity. Otherwise, roll again.
** See rules for False Knowledge, below.

Chaldean Oracles

Study Total: (Quality die + Int + Philosophiae: Metaphysics + Concentration) / 5
Insight:

Travels Of Fedoso

Study Total: (Stress die + Int + Enigmatic Wisdom + Concentration) / 5
Insight:

False Knowledge

False Knowledge is an Ability, scored like any other, representing the incompatible ideas or befuddled thinking that the magus simply cannot get out of his head. False Knowledge subtracts from any Arcane Knowledge roll or lab total involving an Arcane Knowledge.

Getting rid of False Knowledge is a long but simple process: each experience point earned in an Arcane Knowledge can be spent decreasing the magus' experience point total in False Knowledge instead. For example, Stentor has a False Knowledge score of 3 (6 experience points). He creates a lesser enchanted item, earning him 1 experience point in Magic Theory. He decides to spent it in False Knowledge instead, lowering his score to 2 (with 5 experience points).

Copying Dangerous Books

One rote copy of a dangerous book can be prepared in one season; a Strong Writer can write two copies of the same dangerous book in 1 season. Improving a dangerous book is uncommon and ill-advised.

Last modified: Thur Feb 11, 1999 / Jeremiah Genest