Her Words | Her Will | Her World
At first, I created The Compendium as a working reference, something I could keep adding to as new names, patterns, and details surfaced in Candle Face Chronicles. It began as a structured record of the people, places, and phenomena tied to Candle Face. My goal was simple: give investigators, researchers, and readers one place to track definitions, compare details, and test whether the same patterns were appearing again and again. Over time, those patterns became harder to dismiss as coincidence.
This archive documents the ranks of Isabel's followers, the rules tied to her power, the signs said to mark her presence, and the fate of those who ignored her warnings. It's not propaganda, and it isn't meant as a warning, though some readers may see it as both.
Use these entries as a guide. They won't answer everything, but they can show you where to begin. Learn the language Isabel's children use. Learn the terms that hold her story together. Just understand that the deeper you go, the harder it becomes to stay detached. At this point, even I can't say for certain where the investigation stops and belief takes over.
Isabel: The forgotten daughter of La Llorona. According to the accounts, she was drowned by her mother along with her two brothers, then erased from the story that survived. She seeks the recognition denied to her in life, and the godhood her brothers were later granted. Belief appears to strengthen her. Disbelief seems to provoke her. She punishes skeptics, though some accounts suggest she may spare or favor those who believe in her. Her followers are known as the Children of Isabel.
Candle Face: Candle Face is the name I gave Isabel when I was around five years old. I called her that because of her burned appearance. In testimony after testimony, Candle Face appears as an active hunter who punishes disbelief and rewards devotion. To her followers, she is Mother.
Mother: The title used by the Children of Isabel when referring to Candle Face. Within the group, speaking it aloud is treated as an act of devotion and submission.
Arthur (Ray): The investigator and chronicler behind Candle Face Chronicles, including The Lost Souls, The Fugitives, and Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona. He maintains The Journal.
Mr. Smoe: A former Disciple, an obvious pseudonym, who was interviewed on several occasions. After his death in 2025, Arthur inherited a series of decoded notes from him that later became the foundation of Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona. Mr. Smoe had also hidden thousands of scrolls in his attic, many of them containing bound spirits. These scrolls later became the basis of what is now known as The Scrolls of Souls. His work preserved stories that might otherwise have been lost and changed the course of the investigation.
The Journal: A record of encounters, testimonies, and investigations related to the Lost Souls, the Fugitives, and Candle Face, also known as Isabel.
The Lair: Also called Atlitzinco, or “the place of the sacred water.” This is Candle Face’s realm, where the Lost Souls are trapped and the Shadows patrol.
The Empty Lot: The site where Arthur first saw Candle Face manifest on Ben Howell Drive in Austin, Texas, in the late 70s. It's believed to be an active portal.
Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake): A recurring site of drownings linked to Candle Face. Her own death by drowning is believed to echo the tragedies associated with this place.
Austin, Texas: The center of the investigation and the setting for many encounters, including those near Lady Bird Lake.
The Children of Isabel: The collective name for those who follow Candle Face. Their ranks form a hierarchy that runs from the first believer who speaks her name to the Shadows who serve her after death. Advancement isn't claimed or voted on. According to the accounts, only Mother chooses who rises within the group. The structure reflects both increasing devotion and closeness to Isabel herself.
Tlazopilli: A Nahuatl word meaning the favored children. Based on Candle Face's own speech, this appears to be her term for the children she recognizes as her own and raises above the others.
The Congregation: Groups of Children of Isabel who gather to share stories, spread belief, and recruit new followers. These gatherings must take place in public. Within the group, belief is thought to gain strength when her name is spoken openly rather than kept hidden.
The Master Shadow: The most powerful of the Shadows and the one believed to lead them. Once human, he now directs the hunt for the Fugitives. In life, he was known as Kenneth McDuff. Among the followers, his authority is said to be second only to Candle Face.
The Children of Isabel are arranged by rank and function. Advancement is never self-appointed. Only Mother chooses who rises. According to the accounts, each rank reflects a follower’s role, level of trust, and closeness to Isabel. From first belief to service after death, every level has a purpose.
1. The Believers (Foundation Tier): The base of Isabel’s power. Believers accept her existence, speak the name Isabel aloud, and repeat her story to others. Most never encounter her directly, but their belief is said to strengthen her presence and prepare them for deeper involvement.
2. The Devoted (Ritual Tier): Believers who commit themselves more fully to Isabel’s cause. They carry out public rituals and work to spread her story. Many hope to join organized groups known as Congregations, where their loyalty and discipline are tested.
3. The Deliverers (Execution Tier): Followers who prove themselves through action rather than ritual. Deliverers hunt non-believers, also called the Marked, capture the defiant, and deliver them to the Lair. Their actions are carried out under Mother’s authority. Success in this role may lead to elevation as a Disciple. Many of the Lost Souls are believed to have been killed by Deliverers.
4. The Disciples (Command Tier): Chosen servants of Isabel who act as her direct agents. They lead Congregations, direct Deliverers, and speak with her authority. Disciples recruit aggressively and are said to interpret Isabel’s will for those below them. Only Mother may raise one of them further. In death, some are believed to become Shadows.
5. The Shadows (Eternal Tier): The final rank in Isabel’s hierarchy. According to the accounts, selected Disciples who die in service to Isabel are remade as Shadows, enforcers who guard the Lair and continue carrying out her will after death. At the top stands the Master Shadow, who commands the others and leads the hunt for the Fugitives.
The Lost Souls: Spirits taken by the Deliverers or by Candle Face herself. They remain trapped in the Lair, also called Atlitzinco, and are often heard through the Voices calling for help.
The Fugitives: Thirty-one souls who escaped the Lair and are now in hiding from the Master Shadow. Their Guardians protect them by keeping them hidden, preserving their stories, and helping them stay away from the Master Shadow until they can be freed.
Icnopilli: A Nahuatl word meaning the abandoned children. Based on Candle Face's own speech, this appears to be her term for the Lost Souls. They're still her children, but not her favored ones.
The Marked: The living who reject Candle Face’s existence and deny her story. They haven't been killed, but their disbelief has drawn her attention. As a result, they may be watched, hunted, or manipulated by the Deliverers. Most don't realize they're in danger until it's too late. Every Lost Soul was once among the Marked.
The Fugitive Scrolls: Parchment vessels created to contain the Fugitives. The parchment serves as the body, while the Ink binds the soul’s voice to it, preserving its story and holding its presence there until it can be freed.
The Bottles: Temporary vessels used during the first stage of containment. They remain as relics from the earliest efforts to shield the Fugitives’ energy.
The Ink: A spiritual binding substance used to fuse a soul to its parchment body. It turns the Fugitive’s voice into written words, seals its presence within the scroll, and holds it there until it's freed.
The Portal: A gateway between this world and the Lair. It often appeared as a swirling shadow or a shimmer in the air. The Lost Souls once came through it to deliver their testimonies to me.
The Voices: Messages from the Lost Souls or the Fugitives. They often come through dreams or waking visions, usually directed at the Guardians or at me.
The Codex: A hidden layer of meaning within the Lost Souls’ testimonies. Decoding it may reveal Candle Face’s motives, parts of her history, or weaknesses that aren't obvious at first.
The Heat: A rise in temperature and a thickening of the air that signals Candle Face’s presence. This sets her apart from most spirits, which are usually associated with cold.
The Guardian Oath: A vow taken by the Guardians. It binds them to the duty of preserving and protecting a Fugitive.
Belief: According to the accounts, belief strengthens Candle Face, while disbelief provokes her. Even doubt may serve her once it's spoken or shared.
The Guardians: Members of the paranormal community who protect the Fugitives by keeping their scrolls safe and their stories active until the souls can be freed. Guardians take the Oath when they accept a Fugitive Scroll, which is believed to open clearer communication with the spirit in their care. The stronger that connection becomes, the more clearly the Fugitive’s voice may come through.
