Codex of the Infinite Planes
Encyclopedia
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game the Codex of the Infinite Planes is a powerful artifact. It is also known as Yagrax's Tome.
(1976).
.
.
(2002).
and the pages are sheets of paper-thin lead. Each page is inscribed with writings in alien languages and illuminated with illustrations both beautiful and horrific. No matter how many pages are turned, there is always at least one more.
In the Dictionary of Pain, the entry for the Codex of the Infinite Planes appears between the sharp sting of discovery and the salted wounds of failure.
Those who have used the Codex have been known to slowly become more than mortal, transforming into very minor godlings or fiends. The archmage Tzunk, after lengthy exposure to the tome, gained a horrific form of immortality that caused him to remain conscious and animate even after his body was dismembered and scattered across the world.
The Codex of the Infinite Planes is as much a bane as a boon, and terrible destruction has been unwittingly released against those who attempt to master it: earthquakes, storms, fiendish invasions, imprisonment, and death. Those who even open it for the first time are most often instantly annihilated.
The Codex uses those who think they own it as slaves, entering their dreams and guiding them on visions of the infinite planes, forcing them to write its pages. This is how the Codex continues to exist and to grow. Eventually its scribes use up their own lives; when they come to the page that describes themselves, they are empty husks, and the Codex finds another slave to continue its self-creation.
and other planes of existence before its powers sank the isles beneath the sea.
It was hoped, then, that the Codex had been destroyed as well, but this was not to be. The archmage Tzunk surfaced with the Codex and, after lengthy study, attempted to conquer the City of Brass
. Despite his power he was no match for an army of four million efreet, and he was duly punished.
After the dismemberment of Tzunk, the book eventually passed to the infernal godling Schaethreth, who held it in his possession for over a hundred years. During this period the Codex haunted the sleep of the mage Fallendor remotely, forcing him to write further pages in his dreams, until he escaped by writing his memories on the skin of a paladin from another world. It was stolen from Schaethreth by the agent retriever Regalid Maethos, who hid it within the ruined tower of Kerleth Helvetius, an ally of the efreeti
sultan. As of 591 CY, the Codex was being held on the Elemental Plane of Fire.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game the Codex of the Infinite Planes is a powerful artifact. It is also known as Yagrax's Tome.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The Codex of the Infinite Planes first appeared in the fourth supplement to the original D&D rules, Eldritch WizardryEldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry is a supplementary rulebook by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, written for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which included a number of significant additions to the core game.-Contents:...
(1976).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The Codex of the Infinite Planes was also mentioned in the original 1979 Dungeon Master's GuideDungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The Codex of the Infinite Planes was further developed in 1993's Book of ArtifactsBook of Artifacts
The Book of Artifacts is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This book, published by TSR, Inc. in 1993, details 50 different artifacts, special magic items found within the game at the Dungeon Master's...
.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The Codex of the Infinite Planes appeared in the Epic Level HandbookEpic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
(2002).
Description
The Codex of the Infinite Planes is a book so massive that even two strong men can barely lift it. Tzunk used a paired set of beings called dyophs to carry it around for him. The cover of the book is obsidianObsidian
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth...
and the pages are sheets of paper-thin lead. Each page is inscribed with writings in alien languages and illuminated with illustrations both beautiful and horrific. No matter how many pages are turned, there is always at least one more.
In the Dictionary of Pain, the entry for the Codex of the Infinite Planes appears between the sharp sting of discovery and the salted wounds of failure.
Powers
All powers of the book are triggered by reading it, if one knows the proper page in which to look. The Codex can open a portal to any plane, demiplane, or world, at any location. It can summon a greater fiend to serve for 24 hours, and it can raise the dead.Those who have used the Codex have been known to slowly become more than mortal, transforming into very minor godlings or fiends. The archmage Tzunk, after lengthy exposure to the tome, gained a horrific form of immortality that caused him to remain conscious and animate even after his body was dismembered and scattered across the world.
The Codex of the Infinite Planes is as much a bane as a boon, and terrible destruction has been unwittingly released against those who attempt to master it: earthquakes, storms, fiendish invasions, imprisonment, and death. Those who even open it for the first time are most often instantly annihilated.
The Codex uses those who think they own it as slaves, entering their dreams and guiding them on visions of the infinite planes, forcing them to write its pages. This is how the Codex continues to exist and to grow. Eventually its scribes use up their own lives; when they come to the page that describes themselves, they are empty husks, and the Codex finds another slave to continue its self-creation.
History
The origin of this tome is thought to predate the invention of written language among humans. It was discovered by the High Wizard-Priest of the Isles of Woe and used to create an empire on both OerthOerth
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Oerth, pronounced as "Orth" or "oyth", is the name of the fictional planet on which one of the earliest campaign settings, the World of Greyhawk, is located...
and other planes of existence before its powers sank the isles beneath the sea.
It was hoped, then, that the Codex had been destroyed as well, but this was not to be. The archmage Tzunk surfaced with the Codex and, after lengthy study, attempted to conquer the City of Brass
City of Brass (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the City of Brass is the capital of the great efreeti empire on the Elemental Plane of Fire.-Publication history:...
. Despite his power he was no match for an army of four million efreet, and he was duly punished.
After the dismemberment of Tzunk, the book eventually passed to the infernal godling Schaethreth, who held it in his possession for over a hundred years. During this period the Codex haunted the sleep of the mage Fallendor remotely, forcing him to write further pages in his dreams, until he escaped by writing his memories on the skin of a paladin from another world. It was stolen from Schaethreth by the agent retriever Regalid Maethos, who hid it within the ruined tower of Kerleth Helvetius, an ally of the efreeti
Genie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, genies are outsiders composed in part of the element of their native Elemental Planes.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
sultan. As of 591 CY, the Codex was being held on the Elemental Plane of Fire.
Additional reading
- Baur, WolfgangWolfgang BaurWolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
. Secrets of the LampSecrets of the LampSecrets of the Lamp is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1993....
. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993. - Cook, DavidDavid Cook (game designer)David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...
. "Plane Truth Part III: The Transformation" Dragon #205 (TSR, 1994). - Crawford, Jeremy; Stephen Schubert and Matt Sernett. Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2011.
- Henson, Dale, and Doug Stewart, eds. Encyclopedia MagicaEncyclopedia MagicaThe Encyclopedia Magica is a series of four volumes of accessories for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1994-1995....
Vol 2 (TSR, 1995). - Moore, Roger ERoger E. MooreRoger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
. Greyhawk: The Adventure BeginsGreyhawk: The Adventure BeginsGreyhawk: The Adventure Begins is a 1998 sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The 128 page book was written by Roger E...
. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. - Sargent, CarlCarl SargeantCarl Sargeant AM is a Welsh Labour politician and the Minister for Social Justice & Local Government in the Welsh Assembly Government...
. Iuz the EvilIuz the EvilIuz the Evil is a sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game that describes the realms of the evil demi-god Iuz in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting...
. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
External links
- Tetreault, Dennis. "The Codex of the Infinite Planes." Available online: http://melkot.com/arcane/codex.html