Arcanist's Grimoire
Arcanist's Grimoires are 2-handed weapons used by 
arcanists and 
summoners. Some lower-level grimoires (level 50 and below) can also be used by scholars.
Arcanist and summoner weapons are often called "Grimoire" in contrast to Scholar's "Codex."
| Item | Icon | Level | Item Level | Requirement | Damage (Type) | Materia Slots | Stats and Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augmented Hellhound Grimoire | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SMN | 9 
|
0 | |
| Figment of the Journey | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SMN | 9
|
0 | |
| Hellhound Grimoire | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SMN | 9
|
0 | |
| Kokuko Shingetsu | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SMN | 9
|
0 | |
| Tarnished Mado Chronicle | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SMN | 9
|
0 | |
| Tropaios Index | 
|
1 | 1 | SMN | 9
|
0 | |
| Weathered Grimoire | 
|
1 | 1 | ACN SCH SMN | 8
|
0 | |
| Leather Grimoire | 
|
5 | 5 | ACN SCH SMN | 11 12
|
0 | Intelligence +1 1 |
| Maple Picatrix | 
|
8 | 8 | ACN SCH SMN | 13 14
|
0 | Intelligence +2 2 |
| Engraved Leather Grimoire | 
|
10 | 10 | ACN SCH SMN | 14 16
|
0 | Intelligence +2 2 Vitality +1 1 Spell Speed +2 2 |
| Item | Icon | Level | Item Level | Requirement | Damage (Type) | Materia Slots | Stats and Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Picatrix | 
|
13 | 13 | ACN SCH SMN | 18 20
|
0 | Intelligence +2 2 Vitality +2 2 Direct Hit Rate +3 3 |
| Grimoire Wing | 
|
13 | 13 | ACN SCH SMN | 20
|
0 | Intelligence +2 Mind +2 Vitality +2 Critical Hit +3 Spell Speed +3 |
| Aetherial Hard Leather Grimoire | 
|
15 | 15 | ACN SCH SMN | 22
|
0 | Intelligence +3 Vitality +2 Random secondary attributes |
| Hard Leather Grimoire | 
|
15 | 15 | ACN SCH SMN | 20 22
|
2 (5) | Intelligence +3 3 Vitality +2 2 Critical Hit +3 3 |
| Plundered Grimoire | 
|
15 | 17 | ACN SCH SMN | 24
|
0 | Intelligence +3 Mind +3 Vitality +3 Critical Hit +4 Spell Speed +3 |
| Aetherial Engraved Hard Leather Grimoire | 
|
20 | 20 | ACN SCH SMN | 28
|
0 | Intelligence +4 Vitality +4 Random secondary attributes |
| Engraved Hard Leather Grimoire | 
|
20 | 20 | ACN SCH SMN | 25 28
|
2 (5) | Intelligence +4 4 Vitality +4 4 Determination +4 4 |
| Doctore's Grimoire | 
|
20 | 22 | ACN SCH SMN | 30
|
0 | Intelligence +4 Vitality +4 Determination +4 Spell Speed +5 |
Lore
As mankind's grasp of aetherial manipulation grew stronger, so, too, did its desire to wield larger, more powerful magicks. Incapable of achieving such feats on his own, man sought to supplement his own internal aether by summoning the aether of his surroundings and directing it inward to a point of focus using a series of circles and ley lines. Uncertainty by mages as to exactly how the process worked saw early circles of summoning become overwrought confusions of cryptic symbols and gaudy gimcracks believed to accelerate the flow of aether into the caster who stood at their center. Though grossly inefficient, and ofttimes deadly, the circles did work. It was their size, and the torturous process of preparation, however, that kept their use severely limited.
Over time, methods to circumvent these drawbacks were conceived—some mages choosing to paint or tattoo their bodies with circles and runes, others to wear robes elaborately stitched with aetherially conductive thread. By far the most popular solution, however, was the use of parchment scrolls inscribed with the geometries necessary to conduct simple, localized summonings. Before long, stacks of multiple scrolls bound together were being carried off to war, and thus the battle tome was born.
Once mages learned which symbols held the most power, and which were irrelevant, summoning circles were radically simplified. Space no longer an issue, more diagrams could be fit into a tome, along with their incantations. No more were mages burdened with the memorization of the complex invocations required to power their spells, and accidental deaths resulting from miscasts dropped significantly.
Prominent Designs
Grimoire
A basic grimoire can consist of anywhere from ten to a hundred pages of parchment or papyrus bound together beneath a tanned leather cover. It is believed that the older the beast that contributed the leather, the better the transmittance of aether from caster to glyph will prove.
Pupil's Book
The leather covers of grimoires are sometimes replaced with substitutes forged of aetherially conductive materials such as mythril or electrum. Proponents of these tomes—including several veteran instructors at the Studium in Sharlayan—claim that they quicken the flow of elemental energies across the pages.
Symbols Of Power
Evolute
As the effectiveness, potency, and stability of a summoning seal can vary greatly depending on the skill of its author, a streamlined method of crafting grimoires—the diagrams made simpler, the Allagan incantations abridged—was proposed by scribes to promote their efficient mass production. This method would come to be known as “evolute.”
Involute
While considerably more difficult to create—a single misstroke possibly rendering an entire symbol powerless—the involute grimoires of the Near East oft prove many times more powerful than the evolute, their detailed glyphs promoting the rapid transduction of elemental energy—a process that helps to facilitate the summoning of familiars of all six aspects.
Far Eastern
When wishing to exert their will over a third party, be it man or beast, the onmyoji of the Far East would traditionally affix to the subject a slip of paper painted with powerful words—the logograms of Hingan script serving as both the incantation and the geometries necessary to invoke the awakening of elemental energies within. By compiling several of these “ofuda” into a tome, the mages are now able to cast their spells quickly and efficiently.
Morkinskinna
Though it is impossible to tell when exactly the tome was penned, Sharlayan scholars have concluded that Morkinskinna was most likely compiled during the Sixth Astral Era’s fourth or fifth century. In addition to Allagan incantations and glyphs, the volume contains invaluable information on the myriad wars waged by the ancient Elezen kings ere their arrival in Ishgard.
Ars Almadel
Taken from the satchel of a heretic arrested by a knight of House Haillenarte, Vault scholars were astonished to discover that the lavishly decorated tome was, in fact, a grimoire of Ilsabardian origin. In passing, one of the priests mused that their finding might prove the art of summoning was a tool of Nidhogg’s Horde, a bold declaration that caused much stir within the Holy See.
Omnitome
During the Allagan Empire’s period of rapid expansion, many nations were quick to realize they could not stand against imperial might, and accepted a fate of annexation and assimilation. Some, however, were too proud to bend to their invaders' will and were thus crushed under the metal boot of progress. All that survives of these cultures are spoils of war such as the omnitome—a stone-faced grimoire upon which a summoner might pen images with her mind.
Gogyo Sokoku
Traditionally, Domans believed only five elements to compose all life and matter on Hydaelyn—fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Gogyo Sokoku contains a comprehensive explanation of the five, revealing the secrets of how they oppose one another. It is with knowledge of these “destructive” antipodes that powerful magicks of unmaking might be conceived.
Kinyoshu
One of many items procured in the Far East by Rowena’s ravenous army of importers, very little is known about how the grimoire works, save that it does, and does well. Inquiries with its creators—the enigmatic Onishishu—as to the mysteries behind it have all, unsurprisingly, been met with silence.
Book Of Spades
One of Gerolt Blackthorn’s earlier works, this tome was a gift from arcanist Hector Lowe to his older sister Pallas upon their arrival in Limsa Lominsa from the south seas. As was stipulated in her last will and testament, the entirety of Pallas’s estate was transferred to Mealvaan’s Gate following her death. Her effects, including the Book of Spades, were eventually sold at auction to pay for the burial.
Apocalypse
A firsthand account of the world’s end penned by a nameless vagabond claiming to have journeyed far into the future upon entering a secret chamber in the Crystal Tower, its ciphered script has broken the spirit of more than one weak-willed reader. A lone entry in a compendium of ancient weaponry suggests that the grimoire may have been wielded by one of the Zodiac Braves, though as of yet, additional works that might corroborate the claim have eluded discovery.
Lemegeton
Its pages said to contain detailed accounts of legendary Allagan archmage Sari’s encounters with his era’s eikons, all original editions are believed to have been lost in the Empire’s fall. Fortunately, a new copy was recently completed when a sentient tome familiar having taken the name “Principia” patiently recited the volumes contents in their entirety to a Near Eastern scribe.
Aurora
For many years the pride of Ala Mhigo’s literary collection, the lavish tome that took a Near Eastern monastic three and a half moons to transcribe was nearly lost when a company of stubborn sappers fighting the Garlean invasion chose the royal library to make their last stand. Aurora is but half of a two-volume set, its pair the equally arresting Ethica.
Mimesis
Its title meaning “imitation,” Mimesis was created by Gerolt Blackthorn and Ardashir Balyk to house the ersatz life force they dubbed “anima.” The soulstone wherein the animate energy is stored is fastened to a clasp in the center of the tome’s metal spine. [1]
References
- ↑ Encyclopaedia Eorzea: Volume II, page 211-212
