Codex

The **Codex** is a mechanic in the game Ezrebeth (A Holiday Mindfudge) that allows the player to keep track of information they find about the characters and other clues.

Ezrebeth is the one who narrates all of her discoveries, and as the game progresses, her conflicted emotions start to emerge in the entries as well.

To fully uncover *all* entries, the player has to find all clues and have *specific interactions* with all characters. It isn't necessary to uncover all entries to finish the game, since some of them are just flavor text.

## Characters

### Ezrebeth

   *"Me, such as I am... a product of my environment."*

"I've lived long enough to grow old, which some people find enviable. I can't possibly see why. I used to be beautiful and troubled, but now I'm just troubled. Troubled by my family of incessant idiots who don't understand me and who refuse to leave me alone, troubled by old wrongs never righted, and, in more recent memory, troubled by being stuck in what appears to be a time loop. I guess you could say that I have a lot of crap on my plate."

### Begonia

    *"My sister, a lifelong tormentor of yours truly."*

"The way she carries herself always fools them. She seems so inviting, so gentle, so... *warm*. But *no*, underneath that exterior lies the truth, that she's jealous, hateful and calculating. Her being so kind to me in this late stage of life when I need it the least annoys me to no end, almost as much as the fact that no one else seems to understand what a bitch she truly is.

Using my *touch* on her revealed no malicious intent of any kind. I'm not sure what to do with that information.

Ironically, the fake version of my sister turned out to be much more pleasant than the real one ever was. In an alternate universe, where things aren't quite as messed up, we could maybe have been friends. What a thought."

### Ishobello

    *"My son, a perpetual disappointment."*

"They say that the day you become a parent completely changes your world for the better. Just another instance of everyone else being wrong. I never felt close to him, and as a result we never formed a real bond between mother and son. He always seemed more drawn to Begonia than me, honestly, he might as well have been hers. At least he's been performing well in his new position as CEO of the family business. I suppose even dim lights shine bright occasionally.

Using my *touch* on him revealed that he's a neurotic mess. No surprises to speak of, in other words.

For as long as I can remember I've carried a great shame regarding my affection, or lack thereof, for my son. I sometimes doubted that he was even mine, though that's of course impossible. In some sick way, the shadow claiming that he indeed wasn't struck me as kind of relieving.

### Volumnius

    *"My grandson, a boring little pest."*

"In medical school, my son met and hastily married a fellow student who was, and *is*, clearly a gold digger of gargantuan proportions. That encounter eventually led to the birth of this idealistic little brat. Vol, as he's somewhat affectionately known, is annoying to no end and possesses all of the worst Casarecce qualities. I can't say I'm feeling optimistic about what lies in store for him.

Using my *touch* on him revealed an intense darkness, which I strongly doubt is a good sign for what his future holds.

Seeing *that apparition* take the shape of my grandson was oddly chilling. While I never cared much for him, I at least appreciated his gentle demeanor in that it wasn't terribly offensive. The shadowy version of him did not share that positive trait."

### Charta

*"My husband, whom I've always loved."*

"Many times in life, people have accused me of being unable to love others, and that I'm just bitter and hateful for the sake of it. That's a damn lie, however. The truth is that very few people deserve to be loved, and I won't feel ashamed for recognizing that fact. Charta is handsome, pure, intelligent... *the perfect man*. He's one in a billion, and though I can't really understand how or why, he's also *mine*.

Using my *touch* on him revealed a bright light, a phenomenon I haven't seen before when using my abilities. I'm not sure what it means, but I choose to believe that it's something good.

I haven't had time to properly process what happened after I accused Charta of lying to me. I want to believe that it was all a bad dream, but more often than not in my life, reality tends to become the nightmare. I'm heartbroken, but not surprised... insane as that may sound. Charta was the only good thing in my life, and now he's gone. I have nothing of value left to lose. Finding this *RT*, who seems to be behind everything, is now the only thing that drives me."

## Clues

### The Date

"The calendar seems to reset itself, lending credence to the fact that time is repeating...?!

Yet another shitty situation in the life of Ezrebeth Casarecce. Like I haven't had enough of those already...

Ishobello claims that my calendar is unchanged from "*last time*", which he says was *"last year"*. But I'm certain I didn't have a calendar back then..."

### A Warning

"I found this strange note which I can't remember having written, even though it's definitely my handwriting.

It says *"*Don't trust the lady in white".

Hmm...

When time resets, it seems that the note reverts back to its original state... a shopping list. I wonder why?

Charta told me that he hasn't seen a woman in white, but how did he know that I was looking for a female? I'm certain that I didn't specify gender when asking him. Am I overthinking this...?"

### Cruel World

"A painting entitled "Cruel World", drawn by someone with the signature of *RT.*

My son, the quintessential art nerd, was certain that it was in fact called "Wonderful World", which seems far removed from its actual title.

Pure coincidence, or something else entirely...?

According to Begonia's story about *RT*'s mystery apprentice, the illusive painter was dressed in *glowing white.*

Charta referred to *RT* as female, even though their gender is famously unknown."

### Gift of Whiskey

"I received a bottle of *Eau de Savedalia* from *1986*... a magnificent drink, as opposed to its *1987* counterpart, which I received as a gift in an earlier loop.

Either I've made a mistake, or the details of the loop has *subtly changed*.

...And I don't make mistakes when it comes to booze.

Charta told me that the 1986 vintage was discontinued, and as such would be very hard to find now.

"Shadow Charta" said that I should talk to Ishobello about the whiskey. I don't know if I can trust him, but I've come too far to back down now.

Charta kept making glaring mistakes uncharacteristic of him, and now so does Ishobello in regards to correct vintage years. I guess I should be thankful for that, since their collective errors are leading me closer to the *truth*... whatever that might be."

### Family Photo

"In this photograph of me and my family, I look much happier than I can ever recall having been while spending time with them.

Moreover, I can't remember when or where it was taken...

Very strange.

Apparently this photo was taken as recently as a week ago, yet I still can't remember it. Hmm...

The photo was taken in Casarecce Manor, where Ishobello lives with his wife and son. Why would I ever bother to go all the way there?

*Why am I not in the photo?!"*

### Cinquefoil

"These flowers are apparently a lot more than meets the eye.

My "dear sister" kindly explained to me that they contain a multitude of blessings, though I can't claim to have ever sensed any of them having an effect on my life.

Additionally, *the health of the plant* is supposed to be tied to *the health of the owner*. I wonder what that means exactly...

The flowers are clearly dying... but what does that have to do with me?

Begonia knows that I know that something's not right. The truth is that the sister I grew up with would never show me the kind of affection that this person, whoever she is, does. *She's not real."*