Libre des Ombres Sécrètes

First mentioned in Quoth the Raven Issue 22 article the Brightwell Legacy.

History

The Libre des Ombres Sécrètes (translation: Book of Secret Shadows) is a grimoire that contains the amassed lore of the Brightwell Coven of Gothic Earth. It was transplanted from that world to the Demiplane of Dread, presumably around the same time as the scholar Mu. Whereas Mu arrived in the Domain of Barovia near Vallaki, the Libre des Ombres Sécrètes was planted in Pont-a-Museau in Richemulot. Presumably, it was the Dark Powers who arranged for the street where the Brightwell Coven once kept their prize tome to be copied almost exactly in the derelict areas of Pont-a-Museau, simultaneously hiding the book and setting a trap for any outlanders from Gothic Earth to wander into the area.

Description

The book had been copied and re-bound numerous times during its stay on Gothic Earth. In Richemulot, it appeared as a fairly large book of loose sheets of vellum, sewn into a leather cover. Protective devices and occult runes had been burned into the leather using hot irons.

The book contains a treasure in magical lore, including spells, recipes and rituals that would serve any kind of Mage or Alchemist, not just witches or wizards. The scholar Mu implied the book holds temptations for anyone who dares pick it up, not just for spellcasters. An initial hurdle to mastering the book's contents is that it has been written in several dead languages from Gothic Earth, rather than in standard Draconic. Furthermore, the contents have been encoded.

The Libre des Ombres Sécrètes may exert a malign effect on all those who approach it, enhancing their worst impulses, whispering tailor-made temptations into their minds, and encouraging them to fight over it. It is currently unknown whether this is the effect of a curse or that the book is actually an intelligent magic item. Certainly, it seemed to speak in Mu's mind and influence her to react violently to another person taking the book -- that is, until the arrival of the Mystery Benefactor seemed to suppress the book's malign influence.

Current Sketch

The Libres des Ombres Sécrètes is currently in the possession of the Mystery Benefactor, who Laurie Weathermay-Foxgrove suspects has gone to ground in an unknown location so he can thoroughly study its contents. At the request of Mu, the Van Richten Society is currently on the lookout for any clues as to the book's whereabouts. The scholar from Gothic Earth has warned the Weathermay-Foxgrove Twins - and asked them to pass on the warning - that the Libres des Ombres Sécrètes is extremely dangerous and a source of temptation and corruption.