(thus far, TBD)

THE CODEX ANATHEMA

Almost two centuries ago, an event the mortal races simply now call "The Cataclysm," devastated The once mighty Razaji Empire and forced it's people into exile. An exile that they even still now continue long after the fall of their civilization. Other domains did not fair any better, and among them was the once proud realm of Harnia. Following much later after the slow, bloody, and grueling conquest of his kins homeland. The warrior and scholar Freg Gerntef, became enamored in discovering the origins and, if any, weaknesses of this new scourge. He gathered all he could, from everything to eye witness accounts, uncovering lost forgotten lore, gleaming from word of mouth, and even first hand experience. In the end The Codex, or The D'sastr, includes accounts of deep subterranean voyages into the dim antediluvian ruins when forgotten races ruled over the world, frenetic narratives about passages into the depths of the Far Realms, and dialogues with ancient sages and ageing loremasters. Studies and observations about the creatures such as the fearful Ghur-qun, Darthchuuls, psurlons, Dread hounds and, beings clearly originating outside of nature but clearly born of the Darthlukian, comprise a large part of the Codex. Overall, the book is poorly organized, consisting of a haphazard collection of essays, narratives, notes, and odd arcane formulae jotted down in whatever order Freg happened to think of them or come upon them.

Master scholars find his work erratic at best (hardly surprising coming from a minotaur many conclude), however, even they must admit that his studies have shed much needed light on the nature of the cruel creatures we have come to call Darthlukian. Translated into the common tongue as "Children of the Deep." In all, The D'sastr records the frightful visions he observed in the now lost lands of his people, along with rambling essays in which Freg describes his own findings and conclusions about matters no sane being should dwell on for long.

Chapter One: The Cataclysm

Not many o'me kin are learned in tha letta's. Much less can read what I'm writtin now. Wont stop me from makin dis book thoogh, it needs makin if we're to stand any chace against what many are callin de sceerge. Pretty simple name for a horrible race of flesh'eten monsters if ya' ash me.

Not sure where to start, so I guess da'beggnin is good enugh. What we know from thos fer balls of that now dead Razaji Empire, is dat the day of tha D'sasstr - The Catlikkilsome- was a day like any other, aside from the dyin to come. It first began on the 1012th of the Year of za 13th hero. Started as some great rumbling, within the Captial city shaking it almost to pieces. It ended afar a hole day, and not much waz thought on it at the time. According to an elf who was visiting za city, it was two days past before the shakin started up'again.

This time somtin rose from up on out of the very ground, splittin the great citdal o'dat Emperor of the Catkin. Reports say it was shaped like some big'ol mountan, that just don popped out o'the very earth. Smoke, and ash followed, once the top of this so called mountan exploded. Showerin most of da city in debris an'rocks. Worse is what came affa. What I can understand, apperently somethin screamed, or something close to that any how. Not the kind of sound you hear with your ears, but in'ya head. Whatever it was, those closest to the center of the city suffered the worse, as it seemed to outright kill them or drive them outta der minds. After this 'scream,' the very rocks that had fallen started popping open like chicken eggs, and out came the Darthlukian. We don't know what they mightin of looked like back then, as we know now they seem to evovle as time passes- but we do know wholesale slaughter followed their swif arrival. The city fell within the hour, and hardly anyone survived, save those already leaving the city on business or what have you. It was only much later that it was learned other cities suffered similar attacks of their own. Of which der was not a bit of warnin let alone any formal decloration of whar. Within a few days, the Empire was but a memeory, not one real pitch battle was even fought.

Now -even so many years after that event- no one knows the origins of the Darthlukian, or der motives. If ya ask me, I could care less about such things in'so far as it would aid us in the fight today. Whatever their reasons, the Darthlukian are here today, and if we don't find some way to stopp'em, we may as well start'da digging of ur'a own graves. I hope what I learn in the coming months and prehaps years, will make sur dat'nuffa happens.

Chapter Two: Species Darthlukian