Mystical Origins: The Early Age of Imperia's Universe

Lesson 2
Mystical Origins: The Early Age of Imperia's Universe

Many wonder how the universe was made. Several theories range from the creation of it suddenly appearing, and another to a massive explosion. Mortals never truely know of this origin, nor do any of the existing Immortals or Gods nor even the Primals. Except however for a rare few...

The story begins well before this universe, even this multiverse, existed. For unknown eons a race of powerful entities known as the Primals had existed and with them was a mission that was a daunting task. They were to create the galaxies, the universes and all dimensions and establish within them order be it such authority that is known or hidden behind the guise of another set of gods.

The authority behind this organization laid with a set of Elder Primals, known only as the Primal Hierarchy. The existance of this is largely unknown and unproven as only some of the oldest Primals have laid eyes upon this mysterious set of leaders. Orders come down to them in signs, omens and voices much like a Primal would speak to a follower. While the Hierarchy maintains a distant and remote rule, the Primals still respect their authority with the oldest one of any such set of Primals reporting in regularly to the main Primal Plane.

Each set is a group, a smaller council of ten Primals selected by the Hierarchy with the task of creating, seeding with life and governing a multiverse. The Primals exist within all dimensions, so one set controls a universe and it's infinite alternate realities. The daunting task requires great power as the Primals must maintain order among all realities, lest a threat spreads from one parallel dimension to another. This council is referred to by their worshippers as "The Ten". Ten is a pivotal number cause it maintains a balance with the flow of mana.

As explained earlier, the Ten do not rule over one universe, but thousands, all parallel dimensions. This can best be explained by one earth, multiplied several times over. On each earth people are the same, time is the same, but everything else is different. Sort of what if a war ended with a different result, or you had a sister instead of a brother, or a world where a certain event never even happened. Within all of this realities, more like the layers of an onion than separate universes in and of themselves, are different versions of people. Such as a Galadore who rose to power, a Kal Olden who was never born, or a Baiganx Windfire who turned to the darkness instead of the light. However there are only one set of Primals, no alternate copies within these parallel dimensions.

Each alternate reality or parellel dimension is known as a Subverse.In the 600's Damocles began using temporal exploration to map and locate all of these Subverses, using top secret equipment rumored to of came from the future. This equipment, labeled RETAS (Reality Energy Transfer And Stabilizer) designated this reality, the one in the main role play as Subverse #3329874. Other realities located had some interesting differences as opposed to this reality. In Subverse #2490491, Imperia was struck by a massive comet and plunged into an ice age in the 700s. In Subverse #4692014, Damocles never invented airships. And finally in Subverse #0009124, Imperia, not Earth, was destroyed by Galadore in the 700's, with Earth rising up and embracing technology made of steam and electricity instead of magic. However when any time two subverses meet a Timequake occurs.

A Timequake occurs when two realities or subverses overlap temporally, much like laying down two strings of thread on a table in an X pattern. When two of the threads overlap, then both universes or just the planet in temporal alignment, exist at the same point in space/time. Both realities merge briefly, as in the example to your side two subverses have aligned in a Timequake. The people would see the realities merge in a rippling effect, and experience displacement. Along with this is subsantial earthquakes, as well as the air just seeming to waver like a flag in the wind. Soon however the timequake ends, both realities seperating back into their own original subverses however there have been cases where people were misplaced and left in one of the two crossed realities with no way to get back home. Timequakes are usually caused by intense temporal ripples, such as changes in the past, or frequent temporal travel within one of the two crossed realities.

Mana, also known as Divine Mana, flows down from the Primal Plane, and thus into the balance of the Ten and then down to all worlds. This balance acts as a pipe for the flowing mana, it's size dependent on the balance of the ten Primals. If there are less than Ten Primals, then the pipe is smaller and less mana can flow down. A spell that was easy before, such as a cantrip, becomes more and more difficult as there is less mana in the air. If there are more than Ten, then the pipe is much wider and excess mana flows in. A spell like Meteor Storm, now becomes easy for an apprentice Mage as there is plenty of energy to tap into. Ley lines and other sources of magic and energy are also affected by any skewering into the positive or negative of the balance of the Ten.

After the universe was initially created, the Hierarchy set forth to assigning the original Ten to rule this universe, the multiverse as a whole with all of it's following subverses called the "Alphaverse" and above that, all of the Alphaverses in various layers in a much grander form of the multiverse. The Hierarchy assigned one of it's oldest and most respected Primals to hand select and govern this new council of the Ten desiginated to rule this newly created multiverse.

They selected the Primal Krondor, who had served two other tenures of a universal cycle and it's creation, to head up this universe. Krondor was greatly respected among his peers for his firm rule and stern principles regarding universal rule. While powerful, he was a very reserved individual however a very judgmental one. Krondor set forth to create the council of the Ten, placing himself as their unofficial leader and the Primal of War, Law & Order.

Krondor established the Ten, consisting of Vertax, Krondor, Taidet, Argus, Mezul, Tempest, Daeril, Kraeth, Aquas and Ashtar. All Ten Primals were placed into their own separate domains, all picked by Krondor for their long service with the Primals and so planets began to be crafted and created, and seeded with life all over this new multiverse. Stars were given life, planets forged of rock and given water and atmospheres, moons crafted and all set within an orbit. Not all planets were given life, or life as many humans know it however everything has a purpose and there is a purpose for all the Primals made be it down to the moon of Earth, to the comets that cruise along the stars and to the gaseous worlds that loom like massive giants within their own solar systems. Krondor had selected a skilled and seasoned crew and with each came a task and a responsibility.

Second from Krondor was Taidet, Primal of Nature, Heaven, Earth and Good. Taidet was given domain over the plane that is considered the "Heaven" in the Primal Pantheon religion and Taidet was known as a wise and reserved Primal who was best at subtly guiding nations along a good path through enlightment and blessing them with rich harvests should they please him in the actions of their rulers. stern principles regarding universal rule. Taidet was regarded as well as Krondor, and was normally the cooler head anytime the Ten argued over how to resolve a matter. He had taken a special interest in Daeril, and a secret but forbidden love was between them however no problem would arise from such an affair..until much later.

Next was Vertax, one of the most honored and deadly of warriors within the ranks of the Primals. Vertax had fought alongside the other Primals during several threats to their power and was feared for his brutality and lethality in combat. Vertax was given domain over the Primal version of "Hell" and declared the Primal of Death, Hell, Chaos and Evil. Despite his affinity for evil. he remained loyal to the cause of the Ten and he and Krondor saw eye to eye on several matters much to the dismay of Taidet.

Argus always appeared young, despite being one of the eldest Primals of the bunch. He was always young at heart, and the lighthearted joker who loved to frolic among the mortals. Argus was deemed the Primal of Humor, Information & Fabrications. While the jokester Primal, who some have wondered if the God Loki was really Argus in disguise, Argus was also devoutly loyal to the Ten and joked a lot of the overbearing seriousness of Krondor.

While all of the Primals were easy to figure out, Tempest always remained a mystery and was one who was rare to speak and even more rare to make appearances among the mortals. Tempest was placed as the Primal Primal of Time, Eternity & Paradox. Many scholars have claimed that the reason for Tempest's lack of appearances was that he was constantly moving forwards and backwards in time to repair temporal paradoxes, problems caused by time travel and to conduct damage control for massive timequakes.

Mezul was one who was perfect for the chosen task of being the Primal of Reluctance, Discipline, Fire & Wisdom cause he was one who always conducted himself with amazing reserve of emotions and exuded an inner calm. Some claimed it was cause he was as old as, or maybe even older, than Krondor. Others claim it was due to intense meditation that lasted for an eon, in which he achieved a level of mental clarity. Mezul was also one rare to speak, but when he did he always conveyed his words in wisdom fitting of this Primal. He was also given domain over fire, and thus control over that Elemental Plane.

Daeril's charm and beauty made her the stuff of dreams, lustful visions and great stories of love. While most in her field were flaunting of their beauty and sexuality, she had a more quiet and mysterious fashion about her. A simple smile from her and a stare of her eyes was said to invoke as much lust and desire as a kiss from Enshar. She was placed as the Primal of Love, Procreation, Sexuality & Beauty however she was more often seen as the matron of love, the perfect mother, and the penultimate ideal of beauty than as a lustful, big breasted siren. Sadly however she and Taidet shared a deep but ill-fated love which that story's end would not be realized for several millions of years from this point.

The stout and brave Kraeth was selected as the Primal of Technology, Invention & Innovation as well as the father figure of all dwarves. Kraeth was more worshipped on worlds where technology was achieved fast than most, and among primitive races he was not worshipped at all. Kraeth was also one of rare appearances, being as quiet as Mezul was. Some claim he is constantly busy, watching over his children the dwarves and protecting them from the great threats of the universe.

Aquas was one of the youngest Primals of the group, and like Argus he had a large sense of humor. Sometimes he and Argus would be found among the mortals, Argus launching a series of pranks and jokes as Aquas chimed in with his sarcastic wit. Aquas was made the Primal of Water, Weather & Air as well as given control over the two Elemental Planes those elements fell into. He was frequently seen as a massive storm, and sometimes as a towering humanoid figure made of water.

And finally there was Ashtar, Primal of Mortality, Destiny & Balance. While respected, he was known for his own arrogance blinding his insight into the balance and at times he would strike out in what he felt was a corrective measure however only made things worse. He was also very challenging of Mezul and Tempest, feeling that he should have control of the two Primal's respective fields. This dissent would later grow into an outright challenge, whereas Ashtar would one day be stripped of his power, and fractured into several beings as punishment however this fate would not come for millions of years.

With the Ten organized, they spent millions of years making the worlds as well as several races such as the elves, dwarves, verax and humans of Earth just to name a few. Soon the Early Ages of the universe would come to an end, as the Primals felt they accomplished most of their work here, and were needed to attend to matters in other parallel dimensions. They would go forth to create a group of beings, called the Titans, to oversee management of this subverse (#3329874) as the Ten left to deal with matters in the other subverses, as well as an unknown emergency that arose in another multiverse in which reinforcements of the Primals were needed to aid that multiverse's Ten. However the story of the Age of Titans in Imperia's universe is a story for another time..and the next lesson to come.