An Account of the Sheet of Ice
by Scribonia, filia Prospicientia, of House Cristofér
Manuscript completed 382, amended 389. Five complete copies known: Annalum, Antrum, Isrillion, Crepusculum, Nemus Animæ. Annalum’s copy two hands by hand-and-half, plain boards, smooth linen stock, grey ink in actual hand, thin and spidery. 112 pages. Several illuminations. —Most famous for its striking central conceit, known to many magi who have and perhaps will never read the book itself: a hole cut in the sheet of midwinter ice laid across the surface of a vast tarn. When awake, each of us stands on the ice by one of these holes; when asleep, we lower ourselves into the freezing water. There are many holes in the sheet of ice, one for each of us, but only one body of water beneath it. Mostly known for the spells and mentem theory concerned with strengthening the ice and protecting the dreamer from the deeps, its striking approach has relegated it to the second or third tier of mentem texts, along with Fons indolis or Rationis mentis—but given certain recent events, a treatment of dreams and dreaming unmarred by Litan eccentricities may well prove worth a second look. Of some note are the illuminations of the naturæ which Scribonia claimed can be pulled from beneath the ice, such as the lingua coniugis; those who have read it claim to see a subsequent influence on the Nominare morti of Prudentia. —notes compiled by Adrien filia Allisen of House Manere, Censor Antri
tremendously cool
(so to speak) Who would have thought Scribonia had it in her. Though how did it survive? I guess she wasn't hungry that day---doh, no that's a character from our ars magica game who eats her covenants books. Scribonia surely was getting good vis and such in payment for the books of good covenant Isrillion.
Vain, too.
At least, vain enough to keep a couple of copies of her magnum opus on hand.
My working theory is she took a trip or three up into the Avreth mountains south of Marienberg and heard one too many things about shadows and how you keep them out of your dreams. And that when she presented the first draft of this book Annalum said to themselves, you know, maybe she needs a nice long vacation. Isrillion is lovely this time of year...
But it is only a working theory.