The Pattern Beneath the World

Codex Terra— the design system —

One archive, many domains. These are the tokens, surfaces, and rites of composition every page of the world shall obey.

I

Foundations

Three tiers hold the whole world together: the stage (dark chrome), the page (parchment), and wayfinding (gold). Everything else is variation upon these.

Stage · the dark ground
Navy
#0d1626
Navy Deep
#07101e
Navy Rich
#14213a
Page · parchment & ink
Parchment
#e8d9b8
Vellum
#f0e6cd
Parch. Shadow
#b9a679
Ink
#2a2418
Ink Soft
#4a3f2a
Wayfinding · gold
Gold
#c9a961
Gold Bright
#e3c178
Gold Deep
#8e7338
Crimson
#6b1f24
Surface · Parchment

The working page. Turbulence-noise grain, warm radial light, inset shadow — never a flat fill. Carries all body content.

Surface · Vellum

A paler cousin for maps and galleries, where fine detail must read against the ground. Same family, lighter voice.

II

Accent System

The eight domains are color-coded within the navy/gold spine. The adopted scheme is Option A · Jewel of the Domains.

Adopted

Jewel of the Domains

Each domain wears one rich, aged jewel-tone. Maximum distinction across many entries — the 16personalities approach.

★ In use
Alt

Aged Heraldry

The same hues, drained and dusty — as if every banner has hung in a hall for three centuries. Subtler, more somber, more grimdark.

○ Mood: somber
Alt

Gilded Monochrome

No color-coding at all. Gold everywhere; domains told apart only by sigil and word. Most unified and austere — but flatter across 200 entries.

○ Mood: austere

The system is built so this is one decision, not a rebuild — accents are CSS variables keyed by data-domain. Switching options re-tints every page at once.

III

Typography

Three faces. Cinzel carves the headings and labels; Cormorant Garamond speaks the italic flavour; EB Garamond reads the long passages.

Cinzel · display
clamp 32–56px · .04em
The Chronicler's Hand
Cinzel · eyebrow
12px · .4em · caps
Of the Eighth Annal
Cormorant · script
italic · 21px
“So it was written, and so it was kept.”
EB Garamond · body
18px · 1.6
The body face carries the weight of the world's telling — long passages of lore, the patient accounting of names and years, read without fatigue by candle or by screen.
IV

Components

The reusable parts. Every card, button, tag, and rule here is drawn from the shared stylesheet — change it once, and the whole world follows.

Buttons & Tags
Enter the Domain Read the Annal Third Age Sundered XII
Card Archetypes
Sigil Card
icon-led · for schools & orders
An emblem, a name, a line of intent. The atom of the codex — used for the twelve schools and any set of kindred things.
Read entry
Region · No. VII
Codex Card
text-led · for realms & places
When the subject is a place or an event, the kicker carries its index and the body its summary. Same bones, no sigil.
Read entry
Figure
Dossier Card
portrait-led · for persons
Teaser for a deep entry. Clicks through to a full multi-section dossier — lore, relationships, gallery.
Open dossier
Dossier Field Grid (deep entries)
Peoples · Gentes

The Hearthborn

“they who keep the deep fires”
Homeland
The Underroads
Stature
Short, broad
Lifespan
~ 250 years
Temperament
Stubborn, loyal
Tongue
Old Delving
V

The Eight Domains

The world divides into eight books. Each becomes its own page, themed by its accent, built from the components above. Hover to feel the accent seam.

Arcana
the workings of magic
The twelve schools & four triads.
Built ✦ Codex Arcanum
Terrae
realms & geography
Maps, regions, cities, the wilds.
Next ✦ map generator
Gentes
the peoples
Races, cultures, tongues, customs.
Planned
Ordines
factions & houses
Orders, allegiances, banners, feuds.
Planned
Annales
history & the ages
Timelines, epochs, the great events.
Planned
Divinitas
the pantheon
Gods, faiths, rites, the divine.
Planned
Bestiarum
beasts & monsters
The bestiary of Terra, fair and foul.
Planned
Personae
notable figures
The persons who shaped the age.
Planned
Sigil & Heraldry Specimens