Codex of Ultimate Wisdom

The Codex of Ultimate Wisdom is a magical book, bound in leather and gold, that incorporates all knowledge that exists. When a reader opens the book, they are always able to read it, and can always find the exact piece of knowledge they needed - though this is not necessarily what they asked for, or what they wished they had found out. Emblazoned on the cover is the symbol of the Codex, a set of six lines and two circles arranged to touch three central circles in different manners. This symbol represents the eight virtues and three core principles of Britannian and Gargish virtue, which the Codex inspired.

For a long time, the Codex was in possession of the Gargoyles, who lived in the Underworld. It was them, who had managed to draw it from the Void. It was stored in the Shrine of Singularity, at the bottom of the Abyss. In Ultima IV however, the Codex was discovered by the stranger. The magical book found him/her worthy, to be the Avatar. Following the discovery, the Great Council managed to draw the Codex to the surface, against the magical powers of the Abyss.

The Shrine of the Codex was built over the entrance of the Abyss, the new home of the Codex. An enchantment by Gargoyle seer Naxalitor however, created two Stone Guardians, which would only allow people on holy quests to pass, and read the Codex. This was the situation in Ultima V, where the Avatar read the Codex eight times, and at the end was told, where Lord British was.

The Codex became a symbol of conflict in Ultima VI. Humans and Gargoyles alike claimed it for themselves. Thus, the Avatar used two special lenses and the Vortex Cube, to return the Codex to the Void. Each side could still read the Codex with their lens, but none could claim it as their posession anymore.

In Ultima IX, the Codex returned to Britannia without explanation, and the working of the lenses was also altered. Many were disappointed with this, and ignore this last chapter of the Codex.

The Codex Symbol
The Codex Symbol, called this, because it is on the cover of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, is an easy but very good way to show how the Eight Virtues are founded on the three priciples of Truth, Love and Courage, by assigning each principle a color, and each virtue is a mix of the colors of the principles the virtue is based on..

First there are the three circles of the three principles of Truth, Love and Courage, which are the foundations of all the virtues (with exception of Humility).

Then come the Virtues of Honesty, Compassion and Valor, forming a triangle around the three circles. Each of the three lines only touch one circle, since these virtues are only founded on one principle. Therefore, the three lines have the same colors as the three circles.

Then come three more lines, which roughly form a headstand triangle. These represent the virtues of Justice, Sacrifice and Honor. Since each line touches two circles, because these virtues base each on two principles, they mix the colors, resulting in green, orange and purple.

The small circle in the centre is the virtue of Spirituality. It touches all three circles, since the virtue is based on all three principles. All three colors mix into white.

The outer circle represents the Virtue of Humility. Since it is independent of the principles, it touches no circle, it has no color, and is therefore black.

Trivia

 * There is a very good reason why the Codex can't be read in Ultima VII. Since the Codex would ultimately tell the Avatar the reason for being on Britannia, which would really make it too easy, the Codex can't be read.