Libre des Ombres Sécrètes
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First mentioned in Quoth the Raven, Vol.22.
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 contained 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 held temptations for anyone who dared pick it up, not just for spellcasters.
The Libre des Ombres Sécrètes may also possess a malign effect on all those who approached it, enhancing their worst impulses, whispering tailor-made temptations into their minds, and encouraging them to fight over it. 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.
