How to use the CODEX:

The KEY-TEXT is a selected passage that should assist operatives in the immersion. These KEY-TEXTS often provide additional, and relevant, information about the current situation. The KEY-TEXT also provides an opportunity to gain additional practice reading Latin.

The GRAMMATICA gives explanations on how the Latin works in comparison to English. When beginning a new episode, each operative should first visit the GRAMMATICA section in order to understand the new concepts which are introduced.

The VERBA toolset gives glosses (meanings) for the Latin you encounter in your TSTT-insertions. When encountering new or unfamiliar words in the TSTT-insertions, all operatives should first consult the VERBA section before utilizing additional resources.

The CULTURALIA section provides relevant cultural background information. After operatives have read the new TSTT-insertion, they should first consult the important information provided in the CULTURALIA before beginning a discussion with his or her teammates.

The ATTUNEMENT option provides access to the attunement challenges for the current episode. These challenges are designed to help you, as an operative, gain additional skills in Latin and in Roman culture.

The NAV gives your current location within the TSTT-insertions.

For example, when malīgnus referred to the malus, it ended in -us, but when it referred to his vōx, it ended in -a . You may wish to refer back to the TSTT prompt to confirm this difference.

Also, when the arbor was next to est, it didn’t have the extra -e it picked up when it came after in. You may wish to refer back to the TSTT prompt to see this difference in action.

In order to reach mission objectives in Operation LAPIS, you will be required to gain in your reading skills by learning to recognize the differences in the endings of Latin words, and what they mean. The Operation’s CARTA COLLECTIONIS (located in your Operative Document Storage Device) activity will be of great help in practicing your new skills.

As the operation continues, the GRAMMATICA tool will contain more and more detailed information about Latin endings. For now, operative, it is enough that you recognize them, and begin to be aware of their importance. 

-t

Operative, please note carefully that most of the actions you have seen (dēsilit: “jumps down”; rogat: “asks,” est: “is”) are expressed in Latin words ending in -t.

(Note also that “jumps,” “asks,” and “is” all end in -s. Changes in ending happen in English, too–but we rarely notice them.)

You may already be familiar with the idea of “persons” when we talk about actions (by actions, we mean the kind of word we call “verbs”). We use the first person when we say “I jump” or “we jump”; we use the second person when we say “you jump”; and we use the third person when we say “she jumps” or “he jumps” or “it jumps” or “they jump.”

The Latin verbs we have seen so far, as you doubtless have already guessed, are in the third person.

Operatives, this section will become increasingly helpful throughout the Operation. Mission Control has a direct feed to all events inside of the TSTT and they will provide ancillary material that should aid you in your particular immersion sequence.

For this episode, it looks like this stranger that you met is awful curious about your name. We don't necessarily advise you to give him your Recentius' real name, so feel free to chose any name that might be plausable given the circumstances. You should look for helpful links in this section of each episode's CODEX, like the following on Roman naming conventions. Operatives are advised to pay careful attention between male and female conventions. Other links which may be helpful are:

• List of Roman Praenomina
• List of Roman Gentes
• List of Roman Cognomina
• Roman Naming Conventions for Women

We also suggest that all operatives review a standard Roman greeting in hopes they are more convincing to character inside of the TSTT. Here in this first episode, the malus asked you, "quid tibi nōmen est?" which literally translates to "What is the name to you?" We would more naturally understand that as "What is your name?" An appropriate reply to that question only needs a slight change. You can substitute mihi for tibi and the resulting phrase would be "mihi nōmen est..." or "My name is..." and then supply your name.

For more information on Roman names, feel free to watch this short video courtesy of latintutorial.com:

Directions: Select the image that best represents each sentence below. If you are copying and pasting the attunement into your Google Drive, it is advisable to not copy the pictures and only copy the sentences.

A	B
C	D

1.1.b

Directions: Based on the Key Text for 1.1, place each word under an appropriate column. You can use words more than once. The table does not need to be completely filled.

• Athēnae
• Marcus
• Mōns Vesuvius
• Sparta
• Rōma
• puer
• Pompēiī
• via
• persōna tua
• Tiberius
• senex
• arbor