Lore

Starbound's lore is presented to the player through books, logs, papers and other materials found in the game world, conversations with NPCs who will change what they say based on your race, as well as racial scan descriptions for objects and even environmental storytelling.

Once a codex has been collected and learned it's permanently available in that character's Codex Library, which can be opened by clicking the side menu icon or using the hotkey [L].

In early beta most lore was written primarily by Ashton Raze and Demanrisu. Later, Starbound's lore was revised and revamped by Abi and Rosiedeux in the cheerful giraffe update.

"It may seem like a small/insignificant feature to some, but it's something we hope will greatly contribute to the atmosphere of the game as well as the sense of discovery in constantly reading new tidbits of information about each race. So...lore fans, rejoice!" - "The Starbound Chronicle: July 2013"

Starter Codex Entries

Every player learns these entries when they begin the game.

About The Terrene Protectorate

Terrene Protectorate Field Guide

Racial Codexes

Apex

10 Years On Apex: An Identity Lost Apex Ration Book Dissent in our Midst!

Internal Report #E86A Miniknog Crisis Aversion 'Project: De-Ape' Lab Report RE: Selection bias!

Rebel Dispatch Side Effects of VEP The Superior Species

Avian

A Pilgrimage to Avos Avian Battle Techniques Avoscript: Verse 1:1:1 Avoscript: Verse 23:4:27 History of the Stargazers

Manifesto of the Grounded Our Lost Wings Stargazer's Treasures The Eyes of Kluex

Yolotli's Diary Entry 1 Yolotli's Diary Entry 2 Yolotli's Diary Entry 3 Yolotli's Diary Entry 4

Floran

A Departed Floran A Greenfinger's Diary Floran Family Trees Floran Meatbook

Florans in the Mist Good Floran Behaviour How To Get Meats

Maku's Journal The Role of a Greenfinger What I Did On My Holidays

Glitch

A Plea to Self-Aware Glitch Built for Purpose? I Built for Purpose? II

Doomed Machines Discovered! Filling Up the Tank Mechanical Machinations

Medicine Amongst the Glitch The Ins and Outs of It The Plague of Madness

Human

A History of Space Travel A United Earth Earth's Emergency Broadcast Human Census: Report

HUMANITY NEEDS YOU! Humanity's Redemption It's Not a Bug, It's a Creature Off-Earth Human Census

Our Duty to the Stars The Protectorate Code USCM Annual Report

Hylotl

A Culture of Beauty A Treatise on the Floran In Defence of Our Race

The Evolution of the Hylotl The Fall of Our Peace The Pledge of the Scholar

To Train the Warrior We Who Survive Letheia Corporation Brochure

Penguin

Dreadwing The Penguin Shockhopper Mech Mk I The Would-Be King Part 1

The Would-Be King Part 2 The Would-Be King Part 3 The Would-Be King Part 4

The Would-Be King Part 5 The Would-Be King Part 6

Mission Codexes

Erchius Mining Facility

Communication Failed Emergency Lockdown

Letheia Corporation Guidelines

The Erchius Horror

Ceremonial Hunting Caverns

History of The Hunt Living In Fear

Rools

The Ixodoom, an Analysis

Grand Pagoda Library

Letter from the Librarian Official Notice

Salvage Plans

Nox's Journal

Freedom Ironbeak's Journal

Miniknog Issued Joke Book Never Invite a Novakid to Tea

The Slibbler

Great Sovereign Temple

A Desert Expedition Caretaker Guidelines

The Great Temples

The Gift

Miniknog Stronghold

Contents Page Defensive Systems

Report on Rebel Bases

Miniknog R&D Report

Baron's Keep

Dear Baron Details of the Wager

The Big Book of Adventurers

The Bone Dragon

The Dantalion

Occasus Lab Report: RUIN

Occasus Lab Report: ANCIENT

Other Codexes

Esther's Journal

Thank you card

The Ancient Alphabet

Colony

A Guide To Colony Construction How I Became A Landlord 1 How I Became A Landlord 2

How I Became A Landlord 3 How I Became A Landlord 4

How I Became A Landlord 5 How I Became A Landlord 6

Hiraki Corale, Hylotl Adventurer

A Nice Day Out A Slight Misunderstanding Floran Architecture

Guest in the Castle La Resistance Seasick

The Prefix Problem The Silly Miniknog Trapped in a Tomb

Legacy Lore

There are a number of codex entries which served as placeholders to the current lore that have been removed. Most of these codexes were found in dungeons and villages during beta. They're no longer in the game files so they are no longer obtainable by any method and rendered non-canon.

Races Agaran The Agaran Menace Apex  Starter: An Apex Journey Begins An Apex Introduction A plea from the Resistance  Findable: A Child's Rhyme A Folk Tale A Scribbled Note An Apex Advert An Apex Headline An Apex Poster Big Ape and the Beanstalk Glory to Big Ape: A Chant Miniknog Problems: A Report Avian  Starter: An Avian Journey Begins An Avian Introduction The Truth about Kluex  Findable: Abridged History of the Avians A Doctrine of the Grounded A Modern Avian Prayer A Prayer to Kluex An Ancient Avian Prayer An Avian Air Shanty Las'la Crimsonwing's Diary [ 1 | 2 | 3 ] Note from a Pilot Results of Ascension The Children of Kluex The Commandments of Kluex The Fall The Flightless Mandate The Lusty Avian Maid Tombkeeper's Diary [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ] Words Scrawled Inside A Tomb Floran  Starter: A Floran Journey Begins A Floran Introduction A Floran's Goal  Findable: Apex-written note [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ] Charcoal drawing Charcoal writing Greenguard's Journal [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ] Guard log Scrawled handwritten note Slate drawing The Trial of Saplings [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ] Glitch  Starter: A Glitch Journey Begins A Glitch Introduction Outcast No More  Findable: Message to all Glitch Guards Outcast Poster Stamped-on pamphlet To-Do List Well-Folded Note Human  Starter: A Human Journey Begins A Human Introduction The Problem with Tentacles  Findable: Ghosts in the Walls New Policy Subject: Standing Orders USCM Field Handbook USCM Personnel Log [ 12572 | 54126 | 58719 | 58991 | 60102 | 99999 ] Hylotl  Starter: A Hylotl Journey Begins A Hylotl Introduction Spread Your Peace Specific characters Big Ape A Ludicrous Annoyance Minutes of a Meeting Doctor Lax Blog of a Lab Assistant [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 ] Project Incarcerus Notes [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 ] Greenfinger of the Floran Greenfinger's Notes: Big Ape Humans Loose Ends Receiving Guests Teaching The Beast Treetop Dwellings Writing Ban Methods of Excommunication Notes on [ Drysap 1 | Drysap 2 | Floran Biology | Sunborn Corpses ] The Compiled Bestiary [ Growfly | Mecharachnid | Po ] The Curious Glitch Hewlett Deckard, Glitch bounty hunter The Steel Casebook: Apex Excerpts [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ] Prisoners [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 ] Transcript [ 0292 | 0293 ] Hiraki Corale, Hylotl Adventurer A Note on Glitch [ Hierarchy | Individuals | Outcasts ] A Pleasant Town A Rude Awakening A Strange Encounter A Tasty Beverage Bunker Busters Fight or Flight Friends to the End The Iron Avian The Peaceful Temple Huntmaster Sunflower Tzu The Art of Stabbing [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ] K'arn Hollowbeak, Avian scholar Avian Burials Avian History Avian Power Crystals Avian Tombkeepers Avian Traditions Species and their Gods The Avian Afterlife The Clipped Council The Nature of Sacrifice The Writing of the Texts Kah'se Seedpecker Notes from the Ground Platinum Ace, Outcast leader A Handwritten Note Constructed Free The Battleground The Ferrying The Severing Po-metheus Lament Loneliness The Modern Po-metheus Rochard Hawkwings The Kluex Delusion [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ] The Iron Avian Journal of a Mechanic [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 ] Journal of a Hero Mallard Reynolds' Diary Thornwing The Ascendant's Tale [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 ] Treeio Florstab and Professor Irondome A review of Floran Peace An Angry Rant An excerpt from Floran Peace Page of an Exercise Book Printed Page Professor Irondome's Journal [ 1 | 2 ] Missions and bosses Missions Erchius Records [ 01 | 02 | 03 ] Floran Caverns [ Analysis | Study | Tactics ] Bosses Bone Dragon Fatal Circuit Jelly Tentacomet

Lore
Starter About The Terrene Protectorate • Terrene Protectorate Field Guide Species Apex 10 Years On • Apex: An Identity Lost • Apex Ration Book • Dissent in our Midst! • Internal Report #E86A • Miniknog Crisis Aversion • 'Project: De-Ape' Lab Report • RE: Selection bias! • Rebel Dispatch • Side Effects of VEP • The Superior Species Avian A Pilgrimage to Avos • Avian Battle Techniques • Avoscript  [ Verse 1:1:1 | Verse 23:4:27 ]  • History of the Stargazers • Manifesto of the Grounded • Our Lost Wings • Stargazer's Treasures • The Eyes of Kluex • Yolotli's Diary  [ Entry 1 | Entry 2 | Entry 3 | Entry 4 ]  Floran A Departed Floran • A Greenfinger's Diary • Floran Family Trees • Floran Meatbook • Florans in the Mist • Good Floran Behaviour • How To Get Meats • Maku's Journal • The Role of a Greenfinger • What I Did On My Holidays Glitch A Plea to Self-Aware Glitch • Built for Purpose?  [  I  |  II  ]  • Doomed Machines Discovered! • Filling Up the Tank • Mechanical Machinations • Medicine Amongst the Glitch • The Ins and Outs of It • The Plague of Madness Human A History of Space Travel • A United Earth • Earth's Emergency Broadcast • Human Census: Report • HUMANITY NEEDS YOU! • Humanity's Redemption • It's Not a Bug, It's a Creature • Off-Earth Human Census • Our Duty to the Stars • The Protectorate Code • USCM Annual Report Hylotl A Culture of Beauty • A Treatise on the Floran • In Defence of Our Race • Letheia Corporation Brochure • The Evolution of the Hylotl • The Fall of Our Peace • The Pledge of the Scholar • To Train the Warrior • We Who Survive Penguin Dreadwing The Penguin • Shockhopper Mech Mk I • The Would-Be King  [ Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 ]  Missions Erchius Mining Facility Communication Failed • Emergency Lockdown • Letheia Corporation Guidelines • The Erchius Horror Ceremonial Hunting Caverns History of The Hunt • Living In Fear • Rools • The Ixodoom, an Analysis Grand Pagoda Library Letter from the Librarian • Salvage Plans • Official Notice • Nox's Journal Freedom • Ironbeak's Journal • Miniknog Issued Joke Book • Never Invite a Novakid to Tea • The Slibbler Great Sovereign Temple A Desert Expedition • Caretaker Guidelines • The Great Temples • The Gift Miniknog Stronghold Contents Page • Defensive Systems • Report on Rebel Bases • Miniknog R&D Report Baron's Keep Dear Baron • Details of the Wager • The Big Book of Adventurers • The Bone Dragon Colony A Guide To Colony Construction • How I Became A Landlord  [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 ]  Hiraki Corale, Hylotl Adventurer A Nice Day Out • A Slight Misunderstanding • Floran Architecture • Guest in the Castle • La Resistance • Seasick • The Prefix Problem • The Silly Miniknog • Trapped in a Tomb Other Esther's Journal • Thank you card • The Ancient Alphabet