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Codex Infinitum (Environment)

Environments Designed by ChapManiac
Tier
3
Type
Exploration
Difficulty
17
Impulses
In-Depth Research Store or Retrieve Information The Joy of Discovery Maddening Revelations

Environment overview

A sprawling, meandering, structured dimension of compiled information - accessible in the form of a shifting, infinite library.

Potential adversaries

Archmage Night Children Ravenous Mockery

Features

Passives

passive
  • Studious Aether

    All Knowledge Trait rolls are made with advantage here.

    Questions
    • What form does the document take or embody?
    • Is the information direct? Or is it couched in metaphor or allegory?
    • Do you share this information? Or keep it all to yourself?
  • Cross-referenced

    Once per Long Rest, the player can make a Knowledge Trait roll. On a success, the player may draw a single card from any Domain - up to a level equal to the character's level -1. On a failure, the player takes 3d10+1 direct damage - as the cognitive dissonance wracks their minds.

    Questions
    • How did your research lead to this point? Were there any surprising revelations?
    • What contradiction between sources did you overcome to reach the right index?
    • What is something your character learned from this?
  • Archive of Infinity

    The Codex contains nearly any piece of information one could possibly desire - but pursuing it can drive one completely mad.

    Once per scene, the player may mark a stress and make a Knowledge Trait roll. On a success, the player may discover a piece of relevant information (in the form of a single question to the GM). On a failure, the player marks an additional stress.

    This feature may be reused if the player spends one Hope.

    Questions
    • In what way does this knowledge shake you?
    • What part of this information must be kept secret from the wrong people?
    • You find the information you seek - but at what cost to your character?
  • Lucubrative Time

    Time passes differently in the Codex Infinitum. For every 24 hours spent in the Codex, an hour of time passes outside of it. Due to the plodding, methodological nature of the Codex Infinitum's interior, the player may only take one benefit from downtime spent inside.

Actions

action
  • Keeper's Admonishment

    Consequence countdown (12). Every time the players make any kind of 'disruptive' sound/activity while inside of the Codex (combat actions, loud conversation or yelling, using a feature or domain ability that creates sound, or GM discretion), tick the counter down by one. If a player rolls with Fear, tick the counter down by two. Narrate how the sound reverberates within the silent halls of the Codex. How the atmosphere seems to become more tense. How the players begin to wonder if they're seeing books, scrolls, and more moving out of the corners of their eyes.

    When the countdown triggers, a Keeper (Archmage) appears. With them two hordes of Lost Readers (Night Children), and two Animate Pages (Ravenous Mockery) - with the Archmage seizing the spotlight to act on the players.

    Questions
    • What was the last straw before the Keeper came?
    • One of the Lost Denizens looks familiar... Who were they?
    • The Animate Pages are torn from something you recognize. What was it?

Reactions

reaction
  • Cognitive Hazard

    Not all the data stored within the Codex is without danger. The GM may spend a Fear to force a reaction roll (17). On a failure, the player takes 3d6+6 direct damage - as their minds recoil from the horrible truth. On a success, they mark a stress.

    Questions
    • What madness lurked in those pages?
    • What were you forced to confront?
    • How have you been changed by this knowledge?

About this environment

The Codex Infinitum contains information archived from all across the many planes and worlds – but it can be difficult to find and acquire.

While space within the Codex is timeless, it is very carefully structured. Although it’s structure can be impossible to navigate without logic and scrutiny, the Codex tempts those that enter with promises of untold knowledge and power.

Codex Infinitum (Environment)

Tier 3 Exploration

A sprawling, meandering, structured dimension of compiled information - accessible in the form of a shifting, infinite library.

Impulses: In-Depth Research, Store or Retrieve Information, The Joy of Discovery, Maddening Revelations

Difficulty: 17

Potential Adversaries: Archmage, Night Children, Ravenous Mockery

Features

Studious Aether - Passive: All Knowledge Trait rolls are made with advantage here.
  • What form does the document take or embody?
  • Is the information direct? Or is it couched in metaphor or allegory?
  • Do you share this information? Or keep it all to yourself?
Cross-referenced - Passive: Once per Long Rest, the player can make a Knowledge Trait roll. On a success, the player may draw a single card from any Domain - up to a level equal to the character's level -1. On a failure, the player takes 3d10+1 direct damage - as the cognitive dissonance wracks their minds.
  • How did your research lead to this point? Were there any surprising revelations?
  • What contradiction between sources did you overcome to reach the right index?
  • What is something your character learned from this?
Archive of Infinity - Passive: The Codex contains nearly any piece of information one could possibly desire - but pursuing it can drive one completely mad.

Once per scene, the player may mark a stress and make a Knowledge Trait roll. On a success, the player may discover a piece of relevant information (in the form of a single question to the GM). On a failure, the player marks an additional stress.

This feature may be reused if the player spends one Hope.

  • In what way does this knowledge shake you?
  • What part of this information must be kept secret from the wrong people?
  • You find the information you seek - but at what cost to your character?
Lucubrative Time - Passive: Time passes differently in the Codex Infinitum. For every 24 hours spent in the Codex, an hour of time passes outside of it. Due to the plodding, methodological nature of the Codex Infinitum's interior, the player may only take one benefit from downtime spent inside.
Keeper's Admonishment - Action: Consequence countdown (12). Every time the players make any kind of 'disruptive' sound/activity while inside of the Codex (combat actions, loud conversation or yelling, using a feature or domain ability that creates sound, or GM discretion), tick the counter down by one. If a player rolls with Fear, tick the counter down by two. Narrate how the sound reverberates within the silent halls of the Codex. How the atmosphere seems to become more tense. How the players begin to wonder if they're seeing books, scrolls, and more moving out of the corners of their eyes.

When the countdown triggers, a Keeper (Archmage) appears. With them two hordes of Lost Readers (Night Children), and two Animate Pages (Ravenous Mockery) - with the Archmage seizing the spotlight to act on the players.

  • What was the last straw before the Keeper came?
  • One of the Lost Denizens looks familiar... Who were they?
  • The Animate Pages are torn from something you recognize. What was it?
Cognitive Hazard - Reaction: Not all the data stored within the Codex is without danger. The GM may spend a Fear to force a reaction roll (17). On a failure, the player takes 3d6+6 direct damage - as their minds recoil from the horrible truth. On a success, they mark a stress.
  • What madness lurked in those pages?
  • What were you forced to confront?
  • How have you been changed by this knowledge?

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