Mythos Tomes – Liber Ivonis

If you wish to see some additional background information related to the Book of Eibon, as well as an aggregated presentation of each tome, proceed here. 

Location: Gavigan’s Secret Room at Penhew Foundation (England)

Physical Description: Bound in calfskin with an iron clasp, black-edged papers, musty smell

Author:  9th century, Latin translation by Caius Phillipus Faber

Publication History:  A handwritten Latin translation by Caius Phillipus Faber from the 9th century. No earlier version of Eibon’s original work has been verified or preserved. Never printed, only six bound handwritten manuscript versions are known to exist. 

Skim:

Written by the self-described “greatest of all sorcerers”, Eibon, this incredibly dense text contains complex diagrams featuring bizarre geometric shapes, which defy the limited surface of the pages, as well as complex mathematical formulae, extensive discussion of the primal matter of existence and natural philosophy. Much of the knowledge recorded in the book is attributed to a master teacher, “Saccoche”, who is depicted in a grotesque illustration of an obese, drowsing monstrous furry hybrid of a bat and frog. There are additional disturbing and gruesome illustrations of “experiments” and “trials” using a wide variety of vivisected three-toed, fur-bearing humanoids. A notation inside the back cover indicates that the book is property of the Misr House Library. Contains pages of passages in an unknown language (Hyperborean) without translation. 

Spells: 

Link to Google Sheet

Connection to the Broader Campaign:

All three tomes can serve as connections to the Nitocris portion of the campaign. Provides description of Nyalarthotep and the Black Wind, as discussed below.

Thorough Reading:

General Content:

A full study elaborates on the story of Eibon the Great, who lived in a five-story, five-sided tower constructed of black gneiss along the towering cliffs fringing the sea in Mhu Thulan. This dark stronghold originally served as the laboratory and abode of Xylacus; however, he died mysteriously and the alchemical furnaces grew dark as his cadre of pupils dispersed across Hyperborea. Eibon joined this exodus and studied widely across the land, applying secrets he had learned in his master’s vast study. Eibon employed the proscribed mystical gates to travel between lands and worlds, expanding his knowledge while unsettling his consciousness. Eventually, he returned to Mhu Thulan to reclaim the ebon tower and hone his caliginous craft. In a short time, he became regarded as the most powerful sorcerer in all of Hyperborea. His power only deepened in meeting his new master, Tsathoggua, the Sleeper of N’Kai, in the bowels of Voormithadreth, the extinct, four-coned volcano.

“In that secret cave in the depths of Voormithadreth, lies the somnolent black toad, Tsathoggua, coated in a bat-like fur, his darks orbs gazing through drowsing lids as he surveys his formless spawn flowing like ichorous mercury before his corpulent frame. His ancient mind holds glorious secrets, and I freely offered my service. For that, he has gifted me with precious knowledge and dread artifacts.”

Content Specific to Liber Ivonis:

In this version of the text, recorded conversations between Eibon and “Saccoche” are preserved. The strange being reveals many secrets to the wizard. Confusingly, he also reveals he is known as Pazz-Luzza. If desired, a successful History/Occult/Cthulhu Mythos roll reveals that this name likely corresponds to Pazuzu, the Mesopotamian king of the demons of the wind, a bearer of storms and drought. The name Pazuzu may be associated with an additional Nyarlathotep mask, the Black Wind. Keepers may wish to elaborate on this fact depending on player interest. It may be possible to infer that Eibon was misled by Nyarlathotep masquerading as Tsathoggua to propagate knowledge that would eventually advance his far future plans. This version of the text features a well-preserved illustration of a mass of strange glowing orbs suspended in space with iconography depicting a key and gate. The text on the opposite page describes the invocation to Yok Zothoth (Contact Yog-Sothoth).

• The Book of Eibon, published by Chaosium
• The Colossus of Ylourgne by Clark Ashton Smith
• The Tsathoggua Cycle , published by Chaosium