The Tale of Codex

### A Time Before Time.

The Tale of Codex. Umbra and Luminus begins during the Primordial Age when the world and all within it was still fluid. At this time, their existed a deity known as 'Codex'. Codex' role was to preserve all knowledge of all that had been, storing that within a vast archive, and in this way did they continue, until another deity (whose name has become lost to time) offered them a challenge. How can anyone know anything who has experienced nothing? Surely, without any basis for comparison or context, such information, no matter how complete or detailed, is fundamentally meaningless.

Having never before been so challenged, Codex emerged from their Archive and began to see and even to participate the world and its many experiences. Codex found the sensations aroused in them so utterly overwhelming that they feel deeply and profoundly in love with the god who had challenged them.

The other deities initially viewed this development with trepidation, feeling that any distraction would result in errors and omissions in the Archive. At this point, with all in flux, any contradiction could have disastrous consequences. Fortunately, though, the experience of living in the world only added to Codex' Archives. Suddenly, instead of dry and factual recitation of facts, there were insights, motivations, reflections, resonances. An additional layer of complexity and nuance was added to the world, and the other gods were delighted by this.

And so things proceeded until Codex' love died.

### On The Burden of Memory.

At this point, the Archives DID go awry as all recollection of events were utterly overwhelmed by the depths of Codex' despair. Each day was a constant, full recollection of every tiny detail of their love and the inescapable knowledge that it had been irrevocably shattered. Their memories became a prison, a curse and a torture.

One morning, the other gods awoke to find the god who had once been Codex had burned the archive to the ground. Standing in the scorched and smouldering ruins, the god turned to their fellows and announced, "Codex is dead, They died with their archive. I am that which has taken their place. For I have seen that memory can be a curse, and I shall provide the gift of relief from that curse. From now on, I shall be Umbra, and I shall provide the blessed gift of Forgetfulness..."

It is at this point that the myth ends.

### A Forgotten History.

For centuries, Umbra's worship existed as a cult, with members assisting those with memories too burdensome to bear, and took possession of those things whose meanings had become lost to all else upon the world. Eventually, however, the cult dwindled and dwindled until the final living member made a pilgrimage to the town which would later be known as Strangehaven.

This pilgrim brought with them Umbra's sacred bell and had a statue commissioned, which would be added to the Cathedral. In doing so, they ensured that Umbra's existence would be remembered, but all else would be forgotten. And so it was for over 1000 years.

### The Splintering of Umbra.

In 1845, a small group of adventurers came to Strangehaven and awakened the spirit of Umbra. Umbra's initial response was to attempt to render them harmless, stealing their memories until they became hollow shells haunting the shadow realm, knowing neither time, or space, or meaning. Fortunately for them, the adventurers were able to resist Umbra's influence and revealed to her her true name, and history.

It was at this point that Umbra vanished to be replaced by the new deity, Luminus. Initially, it was believed that Luminus had replaced Umbra, but it has since been revealed that the two co-exist as a kind of diune entity. One of the adventurers, the Catfolk warrior, Nyarduke, offered to become Umbra's acolyte and remained behind while the others departed Strangehaven.

What happens from now is, as yet, unknown.