Lost Codecca

The Lost Codecca also commonly known as the Codecca of the Demons is a book that was once part of the Skeddic Codecca and has been banned and stricken from all records in the Skeddic Theocracy. Despite that, copies of it are known to exist in Emertia, kept secretly in the Old Codeccary. All copies of the book were burnt and destroyed in the Skeddic Theocracy and members of the Order Zelotrae are on sanding orders to destroy any such copies they find of it. This hate and desperation to destroy all trace of it from Skedda has excited many and has made the book infamous, despite the fact that few have ever truly read it.

The book is known to tell the stories of the demons, including bridging the gaps between a large period of time that was unmentioned between the creation and the great war with the demons.

Composition
The Lost Codecca was written by unknown sources, however considering the source material, many attribute it to be written in fact by demons or by perhaps a worshiper of demons. However the fact that it is written in a mostly neutral light and not truly glorifying or condemning demons, adds to the debate that it might have been even been written by a neutral party who had merely gathered the facts.

Whatever the case, the original document is long gone, burnt in the pits of Adessa in the heart of the Skeddic Theocracy. The many copies however, were in fact written by Skeddic Scholars, before the book was stricken from the Skeddic Codecca. This fact is of course rarely mentioned and even denied by official statements from members of the Judicae Conclave, and many lesser Clericae don't even know that the book even existed at all.

Ties with the Skeddic Codecca
Many verses of the Lost Codecca coincide with facts with the Skeddic Codecca as well as cementing facts that are clearly facts the Skeddic Theocracy would not have known and not have within their religion. Indeed one of the most controversial instances, is the very beginning of the book, indicating that demons may have once been gods themselves. The idea of such things is considered impossible by the religious and demons as well, but considering the truthfulness of many of the ideas, many scholars find it hard to deny the facts written.

Allusions to the Crying Sea and the Western Gate
The legend of the Crying Sea and the mention of the Western Gate is mentioned in both the Skeddic Codecca and the Lost Codecca. However, there are many differences. In both the legends, the infamous Zenct is mentioned to dwell within the Crying Sea after the Valorous War. The differences start at how exactly Zenct came to the crying sea in the first place. In the Skeddic Codecca, Zenct is a demon lord who was defeated by the Gods and cast down by the Goddess Misptane to the Crying Sea. The Lost Codecca does not however convery this. Instead, it says that Zenct was a god himself and while he did retire to the Crying Sea, he entered it willingly before the end of the war as he feared that he could not let loose the power that he had gained without proper control first. Before doing this, he had given his power to other gods and godesses that had joined him.

The Western Gate is also mentioned in both Codeccas as the passage used by the demons to first enter the underworld. While the Skeddic Codecca says they were banished there by the Gods, the Lost Codecca says that they were sent there by none other then Zenct.

The "Fourth"
One of the oddest parts of the Lost Codecca is the mention of the "Fourth" and the demons that she created. Though the demon is called the Devourer, it shares many similarities to the Red Widows. No trace record can be found of the devourers, or for that matter of the name of the Fourth, as her name is unmentioned in any texts. One theory is that it refers to Kiraku, despite the fact that the book was written, most likely before she was born. However some debate that perhaps the allusions to the Devourers are a prophecy, alluding to the future Red Widows. Others say that Kiraku may be somehow descended from the Fourth's bloodline, and when becoming a demon may have triggered the Devourer blood which in turn ended up creating the Red Widows.

Demon Worship
Though the book is mentioned in a neutral tone when regarding demons, many demon worshippers consider the Lost Codecca to be the complete truth in the matter of human religious dogma. The lack of physical copies have made it so that only a few worshipers have read it and as it would have it, the demons they worship are usually not known to have read it either.

Demons 1
The beginning, which is believed to take place between the creation and the Valorous war.

1 And as it was, a dispute broke out between the lords of the great house.

2 One wished that peace be brought to the virgin land, while the other wished war upon it.

3 Said one, "Behold, in the sky, I have created air, which shall kiss her lips"

4 Said the other, "Behold, in the sky, I have created lightning, which shall taint them."

5 Said one, "Behold, from the land, I have created the plants, which shall adorn and beautify her body."

6 Said the other, "Behold, from the land, I have created fire, which shall violate it.

7 Nothing that you shall create to adore her will overshadow that which I shall create to rape her."

8 And so the dispute grew, with 5 joining the one, and 5 joining the other.

9 ''6 shepherds of peace and 6 sowers of discord. Rising in war upon the new land.''

10 And for many a year, did they wage it, til the land ran with their blood.

11 And on the millionth and 33rd day, the other looked upon it once more.

12 His voice bellowed to the heavens "I am Zenct. To rape this beauty I desired and rape this beauty did I.

13 But to continue would destroy such a beauty, and destroy I must not.

14 ''Yet my nature is destruction. And so I will rest, and not lay my eyes upon her beauty again.''

15 ''The fringes of my power shall I grant to my sowers. ''

16 And I shall retire to a crying sea."

Demons 2
The Creation of the Demons

1 As Zenct rested, his Sowers gathered together.

2 They held his power and with it, gained a multitude of power.

3 With this power, they created their children,

4 And as they did, they spoke to one another.

5 "Lo, from Zenct's power we create those that carry our blood.

6 But not our form shall they hold, but the form of our enemy's young,

7 And, from our enemy's young, life shall they take."

8 All agreed and all created their children to take the shape of their enemy's children.

9 From the 5 sowers, did 6 children rise,

10 Growing strong and fast, suckling on the life of the land.

11 The sowers smiled as they gazed upon their children.

12  And they looked to the heavens, saying, "Marvel at our works, and tremble at their might.

13 For from the power of Zenct they hath risen and from thy children shall they feed.

14 Cry heaven, for every step they taint the land, and one day, shall they taint thy lofty home."

Demons 3
The Names of the Demons

1 And so the children of the Sowers matured and grew deadly.

2 The first looked upon his child and commanded, "Go forth and with thee bring death,

3 For their life do ye mock and from their death shall ye grow strong.

4 Thy name shall be the Hunter, deadly and powerful."

5 "I shall" said the Hunter and death traveled with her.

6 The second looked upon her child and commanded, "Go forth and with thee bring wrath, 

7 For their order do ye mock and in the chaos shall ye grow strong.

8 Thy name shall be the Raging One, fiery and furious."

9 "I shall" said the Raging One and wrath traveled with him.

10 The third Looked upon her children and commanded, "Go forth, both of you, and with thee bring lust,

11 For their love do ye mock and from their guilty pleasure shall ye grow strong.

12 Thy names shall be succubus, beautiful and tempting."

13 "I shall" said one, and lust traveled with her.

14 The other refused saying, "Not from their pleasure shall I indulge, but from my own.

15 They shall weep from my pleasure and from their misery shall I grow strong."

16 The third scoffed and abandoned her child cursing as she did.

17 "Then thy name shall be Defiler. Thy cause have ye defiled and so defiler shall ye be,"

18 The fourth looked upon her child and commanded, "Go forth, and with thee bring gluttony,

19 For their hunger to you mock and from their flesh shall you feast and grow strong.

20 Thy name shall be Devourer, ever hungry and unstoppable.

21 "I shall" said the Devourer and gluttony traveled with her.

22 And the the fifth looked upon his child with worry, for it gathered the magic of Zenct, but not the strength.

23 The fifth commanded to his child saying, "Go fourth and be free,

24 Thy magic shall sustain you, but only from thy touch shall ye feed off the enemy.

25 And the child was worried, but said "I shall" and the magic of Zenct traveled with him.

Demons 4
The Banishing to the Western Gate

1 As 4 centuries passsed, the children of the sowers tainted the land.

2 From the life of their enemy's children did they grow strong

3  And in the chaos of the world they multiplied.

4  So numerous did they become, the land and sea ran black with their sin.

5 '' And the sowers watched and marveled. From the tortured earth, did they bellow to heaven.''

6  "Look once again upon our children for they hath destroyed the beauty which hath descended from thee."

7 And the lords of the great house of Heaven looked down and sorrowed.

8 Then from the crying sea a horrible voice boomed.

9 "I have felt the taint of the land and it is glorious.

10 But a horrible land has it become, stricken and dying.

11 Taint I wanted, but destruction I do not, for who can rule a dead land?

12 Ye have abused thy power and so I shall take it back.

13 Ye shall roast in my stomach forever and shall know my name is Zenct.

14 Thy children shall enter the western gate and forever shall they be a prisoner of it.

15 ''And if they return to land, cursed shall be all who they tempt, to one day join them in their barren world. ''

16  For a barren world have they created and to a barren world shall they rule."

17 And so the Sowers were consumed by Zenct and their children banished to the western gate.