Magus Ars Lexus

Masks of Dii Consentes

The Title: Magus Ars Lexus

For those students of classical Latin, the title of this seminal work can be quite confusing. This is in part because classical Latin has a flexible, almost maddening arrangement compared to medieval Latin, but also in part to its confusing terminology. The title: Magus Ars Lexus can be broken down into its respective words to ascertain its root meaning. Of course, Magus is quite clear, as it refers to those wise men of the East said to possess prophetic and other mysterious powers. The word Ars can mean any art or creative craft from the mundane to the workings of True Magick. The final word, Lexus is the most confusing of the title words, for lexus is not a proper Roman term and might be a Greek loan word. However, more likely, the word Lexus was a scriptural error on the part of some ancient copyist. The closest and most likely word that would add meaning to the title is Lexis, which means a discourse on some chosen topic. Therefore the most likely and corrupted title should be the: Magus Ars Lexis or the Discourses on the Practice of the Art.

Description

A series of scrolls - leaves from a folio. The following notes are annotated by Phidius.

Nones of Sextilus, 338 Ab Urba Condita

I was given a commission by the Emperor to honor Zeus(Jupiter) in an epic fashion. At the same time I am working with Iktinos to create Athena for the Parthenon. He has granted me nearly unlimited funds for their creation, and I have begun preliminary drawings in order to get the scale correct. In order to fulfill the requests however, I feel at a loss as to how to truly capture the essence of such a great being out of what is known. I wish to surpass all that has been done for him, to honestly capture that which is the fire of his power. to that end I will create a mask device to be able to commune with the essence of the Gods. If it works I will create the Dii Consentes in order to be able to honor them all. How will I truly know if I capture the essence of the Holy if I do not commune with them?

Sol Invictus (20 December), 344, Ab Urba Condita

The creation of the Mask has been a labor like that of Hercules. The finding and working of the necessary materials has been difficult...

My apprentice Gabrinu Attikus Regilus seems to have gone quite mad using the mask of Zeus(Jupiter). After managing to wrestle it from him, I was once more able to talk to him and not the personality that had manifested. His testimony makes it clear that the mask had convinced him to sacrifice a ram to the mask, to give it more energy. Such a sacrifice seems to have made the personality held there even stronger...I find that now the mask has it's own thoughts and goals. I have cold chills that I have already created so many of these items. I fear their effect on the world may not be as beneficial as I had hoped.

Calens of Maius, 345 Ab Urba Condita

The Masks seem to be an endless set of problems for me now. After the madness of Attikus Regilus, I spent time in my study examining the Mask of Jupiter. I was quite shocked when it began to move and talk of its own volition. I was also quite shocked at the personality that had formed within my creation. After bantering with it, I became very convinced that by some wicked trick I had truly created a connection to the Gods…I knew my magic was powerful, I was just not aware it would affect me this way.

Somehow I have created a link to the outer realms where the Gods reside. For some reason they have decided to forge a direct link with my creations. I have not seen these effects in all the masks, only some. With more research I find that the maiorem quattuor seem to be quite dominant.

4 Iunius,345 Ab Urba Condita

I have now had close brushes with Jupiter, Apollo, Neptune, and Minerva. Each of them are quite seductive in voice and thought. The careless of thought would quickly find themselves servants to these masks. Why these four? I am considering if some of my apprenti are working with them when I am not around…and perhaps under their sway.

I believe the Consentes can reach out to mortals near the them...that a telepathy or link exists. I believe the maiorem quattuor have managed to secure themselves at least one acolyte if not more among my apprenti. These dominated ones are feeding the maiorem quattuor sacrifices of vis in order to increase their power. I will dismiss them all until I can figure out who it is.

Eides of Iunus, 345 Ab Urba Condita

Having experienced the chaotic nature of the masks I began to work on a device that would enable the charging of them without the terrible growth in their personality. The Altar of Dii Consentes is the tool to tame the Masks that I have created. Through the channeling of sacrifices through the altar the energy seems to be filtered, and does not feed the personality of the mask. I searched for an found a perfect ruby to filter out the personality of the Gods. The symbols I have carved on it allows them to be filtered out through the ruby. The Spiritus Deliciis Lapidis Nihilum is the key to keeping the personalities at bay.

Nones Qunitilus, 345 Ab Urba Condita

Apollo told me today that the titans of old have been given a link here also. When I questioned him he (in the manner of any syble of his) grew very evasive and cryptic. He says there will be another creator. When I asked what Titans had a link, he told me Time would tell.

3 days priori Nones of Sextilus, 345 Ab Urba Condita

A piece of knowledge has come to me too late. It seems that the area where the altar rests matters. Given the tone of the vis of an area seems to effect the energy transferred to the mask.

I believe that Torenus wishes to emulate my creations. I am hoping to dissuade him from doing so.

Ides of October, 345 Ab Urba Condita

Torenus and I fought today. He has been reading my notes in an attempt to create his own Mask. I have tried to dissuade him but he is not listening to my warnings. His youth and arrogance make him sure he can create the Masks as I have. My warnings that the Masks have become dangerous on their own, and pose a threat to humanity mean nothing to him. He wishes only to prove that he is a greater creator than I.

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