Codex Keepers

There is no more important book in all the multiverse than the Codex of the Infinite Planes, at least according to some, and the knowledge contained within it is said to come straight from the formation of the multiverse itself. Its existence predates all other known items, and the secrets held in its pages can supposedly unravel the fabric of reality itself.

There are those that believe such power needs to be monitored carefully, and thus the Codex Keepers were formed. This group of sages, wizards, and scholars have gathered together to understand the nature of the multiverse and to keep a close eye on the Codex of the Infinite Planes wherever it may appear. They are the ultimate authority on the general nature of the planes, and in there secret demiplane of Arx Infinitus they gather knowledge from all over existence.

History

The Codex Keepers were organized originally over 1,000 years ago by the elven wizard Prescaryn, an aged and learned sage from the Arrathalass Conclave on Arborea, who ran across a mortal bearing the Codex of the Infinite Planes itself. The mortal was driven mad by the book and stumbled upon Nasselaithess in hopes of stealing its arcane secrets. He would have succeeded had Prescaryn not taken certain defensive precautions, actions thought foolish at the time by her elven colleagues.

Prescaryn took the artifact and kept it in her tree tower on Arborea for many years. She studied it, learned its history, and became increasingly fearful of its untold power to travel the multiverse. With it, a person could go anywhere, bypass any lock, get into any place, no matter the defenses. Her own defensive spells worked only because the mortal didn’t understand elven magic, but after her time studying the Codex Prescaryn came to realize the full potential of the artifact.

She brought her concerns to her colleagues at the Arrathalass Conclave, but they dismissed them as “beneath elven notice.” Her use of the artifact to prove her point backfired, and Prescaryn was banished from the elven land of Nasselaithess. Taking the Codex, she worked with other arcane contacts and created a demiplane using powerful magic to keep it hidden.

Initially, Prescaryn brought other likeminded sages into her demiplane to help share the scholarly load. She tasked some with maintaining the demiplane, now known as Arx Infinitus, and others she set to research topics. They built a magical fortress to house their findings, and word eventually spread out that the Codex Keepers were amassing vast amounts of planar knowledge.

Over time, however, Prescaryn began to change. Some believe that her time spent with the Codex of the Infinite Planes warped her sense of perspective, driving her mad and keeping her locked in her personal quarters. Eventually her friends in the Citadel of Arx Infinitus came to check on her and the friendly meeting turned into a violent confrontation. Prescaryn unleashed potent magical power in an amazing display of arcane prowess, but her friends were skilled as well. The elven wizard, clearly unhinged by the corrupting effect of the Codex of the Infinite Planes, used the artifact in a last desperate act.

The result was an explosion that rocked the citadel. Prescaryn was never heard from again and the Codex was thrown to the multiverse. By this time, the planar sages had already developed their less corrupting versions to share knowledge, but the Codex remains a valuable if dangerous tool for them. It has resurfaced numerous times since Prescaryn’s disappearance, sometimes staying in Arx Infinitus, and sometimes necessitating direct action by the Codex Keepers to keep its vast power from falling into untrained hands.

Organization

The Codex Keepers have a loose structure. The rank and file members that tend to the library stacks and other duties of Arx Infinitus are known as minor scholars. Once a minor scholar has proven their worth in the organization they can elevate to planar scholar, where they take on projects both on individual and larger organization levels. Most planar scholars focus their study on one particular aspect of the multiverse, such as the Inner Planes, Echo Planes, Transitive Planes, or a grouping of Outer Planes.

The highest rank of the Codex Keepers are the master scholars. These are titans of knowledge that have truly made an impact on the efforts of the organization, and a key requirement to becoming a master scholar is to have held the Codex of the Infinite Planes itself. Each master scholar has a codex of the finite planes that they use as a repository for all of their knowledge.

Joining the Codex Keepers

Membership in the Codex Keepers is by invitation only. Prospective applicants must be sponsored by a planar scholar, who is brought before a panel of master scholars in a biannual ceremony. The applicant’s credentials are reviewed in detail, but most of master scholars understand the heart of the Codex Keepers is not in academic achievement but in planar vigilance. Many skilled and brilliant students have been brought before the council of master scholars only to have their membership rejected on grounds of “personality conflict” – those seeking to leverage the assets of Arx Infinitus for their own personal gain are usually spotted and eliminated before graduating to full members.