Postfest: The Seeker's Library

A few years back (July, 2003) I tried to get this started and only 
got a few replies.  The Coinage Postfest went fairly well, so I 
thought I'd try again.  :)

Basically, I want to create a list of the sorts of books that would 
be famous or infamous in the Spelljammer universe.  Some of the books 
will be drawn from published material, others will be fan creations.

These are non-spellbooks, and non-magic books.  Books valuable for 
their contents.

To submit, simply reply to this message so you share a subject line, 
each book entry should have the book's title, author, a short summary 
of contents, any special game effects, a citation if the book is from 
a published source, and the approximate value of the book.

Books from published sources are especially welcome, as they help tie 
the various campaigns together, and are generally useable in more 
campaigns.

Try to keep submissions edition neutral. :)

Here's a look at what we have so far.

The Geonomicon
-A large book detailing 80 or so discovered worlds. Copies are 
extremely rare and sell for 20,000 gp or more. From SJR4 Practical 
Planetology.
<submitted by Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net>


The Magical Properties of Gemstones by Mage Tenser
The Magical Properties of Herbs and Flowers by Mage Tenser
The Metaphysics of Mathematics by Mage Nystul
-These three works are fairly common, standard texts on their 
subjects, and all are in the common tongue of Oerth. Copies usually 
sell for 150 gp each. From U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarch.
<submitted by Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net>


A History of Nether by Lustair of Candlekeep
-Written in 1207 Dale Reckoning this book presents a lurid, highly 
suspect account of the Nether Empire of Toril. It is often sought by 
spelljammers as the Netherese were among the earliest human states to 
attain spelljamming abilities. It sells for 500 gp or more.
<submitted by Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net>

Submissions at the Time:

>From:     Michael Sandy <wuggadad@??????.com>
>Date:     Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:43:36 -0700
>Subject:  Re: The Seekers Library
>  >The list has been so dead lately, here's an idea for a sort of
>  >round-robin post. Books in this period were unique, important items.
>  >I thought it might be cool to start a list of the sorts of books that
>  >would be famous or infamous in the Spelljamming universe. Some of
>  >these books might be taken from actual sources, some might be made up
>  >ourselves. :)
>
>How about a series of comparative court etiquette books?  Especially
>etiquette for some of the more exotic realms, cultures and races.
>
>The head of a merchant company, or the dowager queen mother of a
>trading kingdom compiled a bunch of such books as a dower gift for a beloved
>grand-daughter.
>
>Magical texts:
>Book of Unspoken Dreams (author, unknown.  Expunged from history, burnt as
>a heretic, etc...)
>Imagine an erotic literature book programmed with ESP and permanent and
>programmed illusions.  Can be set for different races. :)  Detects as
>Chaotic Evil, but it isn't really that bad.  Okay, it has the power to
>Fascinate and give Suggestions, but it just wants its readers to lighten
>up, and to play out their fantasies.


>From:     Ariel Sibal <asibal_2000@?????.com>
>Date:     Wed, 16 Jul 2003 06:18:17 -0700
>Subject:  Re: The Seekers Library
>
>Waterdeep Cuisine
>A Waterdeep based cooking book. This book has been copied many times.
>Cost: 50 GP (1st Edition 1000 GP)
>
>Soupe Du Jour
>A soup recipe book.
>Cost: 25 GP
>
>All About Fungi!
>A recipe and resource book concerning mushroom.
>Cost: 100 GP
>
>Secret To Calisham Cooking
>A regional cookbook. Many of the recipes are in the old cooking 
>style. The lack of newer introduced ingredients and cooking methods 
>suggest this book was an old copy.
>Cost: 2000 GP

>From:     Chris Morgan <kester_pelagius@???????.com>
>Date:     Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:04:47 -0400
>Subject:  Re: [Books of the Spheres] - Hypostasis of the Spheres
>  >The list has been so dead lately, here's an idea for a sort of
>  >round-robin post. Books in this period were unique, important items.
>  >I thought it might be cool to start a list of the sorts of books that
>  >would be famous or infamous in the Spelljamming universe. Some of
>  >these books might be taken from actual sources, some might be made up
>  >ourselves. :)
>
>Ok, I'll give it a shot.  How about this:
>
>Hypostasis of the Spheres
>
>A thin codex containing a vast amount of knowledge about the nature, 
>order, and celestial mechanics of the Spheres with sideral material 
>about the Phlogiston.
>Copies of this tome are extremely rare and are seldomly available 
>for sale, though they have been known to be traded for the 
>equivalent of a Kingdom's ransom. (Practical 'in-game' uses for this 
>tome would  be as a positive modifier to lore rolls when consulting 
>the codex.)




-- 
"In my time, when a man used improper language in front of a lady, 
another man took him outside and knocked him down." Lillian Gish

Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net