Codex Illusoria

Within the shadowed stacks of the Vault of Whispers, a forbidden text whispers promises of power and deception: the Codex Illusoria. Supposedly penned by The Illusionist himself, or perhaps a cohort, the book is not bound in leather and vellum like Elder Borin's Chronicles, but appears to shift and change with the reader’s perception, its pages shimmering with half-formed images and ever-shifting text. Its true author may have been Lorin Mistweaver, a Sky-Seer who twisted magic into an artform. Some say he was one of the Truthseekers, lost in a world of lies.

Unlike the historical accounts within the Dwarven Abbey, the Codex Illusoria is a practical guide to bending reality. Chapters delve into the manipulation of Auric Resonance to create illusions so potent they can fool the senses, alter memories, and even warp the fabric of space itself. The text speaks of using Gloomstrands as the base of deceptive magic. It also details rituals for entering and manipulating the Mirror World, a plane where illusion reigns supreme.

However, the Codex also warns of the dangers inherent in such power. Over-reliance on illusion can blur the lines between truth and falsehood, leading to madness and a detachment from reality. One passage speaks of the “Veil of Descent” into the self and its pitfalls. It even mentions how to defend against The Gaze of the Deep. It warns the reader about relying on the Runes of Return, as it creates false memories. There are echoes within the text that call to The Lost Shrine of Reflections.

The Codex Illusoria is forbidden within the Abbey not merely for its heretical content, but for the potential it holds to unravel the very foundations of dwarven society, perhaps even assisting the spread of the Chitinous Swarm. Should this fall into the wrong hands, even the Cobalt Corsairs could be fooled. It may be that Valia, the Empty seeks this power to destroy what remains of reality. The knowledge contained within is a threat to the Sunstone of Aethelgard and all it protects. There is even a new language to learn, the Language of Illusion, in order to wield the Codex's power. It may contain the formula for creating Illusory Bastion. Perhaps Archivist Theron should record this in Chapter of Veils - before it is too late.