Warped book?

Games Discussion Ars Magica
1

Hello all,

Asking some advice for an item I let me troupe find.

They let a grog with Magic Sensitivity check out a shipment of books that had arrived in port. There shouldn’t be many books in the Order of Hermes that would be noticed via Magic Sensitivity?

In the spirit of the moment I let the roll succeed and said the grog notices a book at the bottom of a pile that seems a little odd.
It turns out to be a rather warped copy of a Terram “primer” (Level 6 Quality 15), something that Covenant were hoping to acquire.

We finished up the game night just after that, so all I said about the warping is that it appeared non-descript..For next session I need to work out how it is Warped. How does warping affect a book?
It is not so Warped that it has become a Magic Thing.

I have been looking at Warping Scars for inspiration, and wonder if the following warping scars might be acceptable?

  1. Anybody’s first impression on looking at the book each day is that it should be discarded without further examination onto the scrap heap.
  2. When turning the vellum pages, every 3rd page gives you a paper cut.
  3. Insects and vermin avoid the book, actively moving away if they get within a hands-width of the book.
2

Depends on you want to use it:

  • purely cosmetic: what about a partially crystalised look, the pages look glassy, they still bend, but have a translucent look
  • story hook: the warping is linked to where it was stored, and it is still a AC to the place. A powerful aura, or an aura with a very strong aspect that is reflected into the book warping: tiny plants grow around the book if let long enough in once place (Herbam), feels warm and glows in the dark (Ignem)…
  • story hook: the circumstances that triggered the warping - powerful spell or display of power. The spell left an imprint on it, showing images or making noise (InIm), etc…

At then, the important point is if you want to use that to introduce a story or if it is purely cosmetic.

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3

Originally it was only cosmetic, an excuse for Magic Sensitivity to find the book, though perhaps it could segue into some storyhooks I have been considering.

4

The pages turn perfectly silently. But who listens for pages turning?

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