The Commencement & The Nine

The Commencement

The universe as we know it started with the Nine. Nine elder gods govern Nine realms. Each govern and draw power from their own realm. The nine realms and those who govern:

• Shometria - Governed by Lakhos, The Reader of Destiny
• Aephotora - Governed by Khroma, The Beacon of Guidance
• Webruxus - Governed by Aestheneia, The Scholar of Weakness
• Oclirim - Governed by Eutukhia, The Fortunate
• Naeheamar - Governed by Pseudes, The Liar
• Slavalon - Governed by Therion, The Beastly
• Aebbiran - Governed by Metaes, The Skilled
• Iaseron - Governed by Alibas, The Sentinel of Death
• Sumadin - Governed by Azmogdian, The Fool

  Each of the Nine created the beginnings of life in their own realms and let it grow. They were each tasked with managing their realm, making sure the pathways between were stable yet being entirely separate. The Nine realms form a ring that orbits around a lone red crystal positioned at the very center of the ring. At the very moment they and their realms were created, all of the realms started crashing towards the crystal. Immediately they realized they each were tasked with preventing the realms from colliding at the center.   The Nine set their realms in motion to orbit around the central crystal. Once they were stabilized each of the elder gods sprinkled life within their realms. Each realm was roughly the same size yet the worlds inside were starkly different. While the Nine were unaware of this, each realm played a specific role in the universe.   -----   Shometria is the realm of stories. Soon after the universe was set in motion, Lakhos saw an object hurtling towards him. It was too far away to identify, but he was able to see that it was getting closer. Upon further inspection, Lakhos was able to determine that this object came from a strange crystaline object further off in the distance. He could barely make it out but sure enough between all of the realms there was a red crystal, floating and spinning ever so slightly.   Lakhos turned his attention back towards the object hurtling towards him. The object was still too far out to clearly identify it yet it appeared to be slowing down as it got closer. Lakhos braced himself for whatever was coming. Unsure of what the object was, he didn't know whether to expect a friend or a foe. Soon Lakhos was able to make out what this object was. It was dark and cylindrical with some sort of markings on one side of it. At this point it was only a few miles off from Lakhos and the boundary of his realm. After another moment, the object slowed its pace as it reached Lakhos, hovering briefly before landing gently in his open hands.   Upon further inspection the object turned out to be a container which when opened unfurled into a small scroll. A scroll Lakhos began to read...   -----   Aephotora is the realm of wisdom. Similarly to Lakhos, an object came hurtling towards Khroma. Khroma was floating watching over her realm seemingly lost in thought. A dark blue crystal ball lowered down into her field of view, hovering a foot away from her face. Evenstill it took a few more moments before Khroma noticed it. Her eyes regained focus and pondered over the crystal ball. For a moment there was nothing but crystal but then a series of images appeared before her.   First Khroma was shown all of the nine realms along with their governers. Then for another moment the crystal returned. But then another series of images appeared. This time the images were much more informative. Khroma was shown the true purpose of this universe. "Hello, I'm Rebus"...   -----   Webruxus is the realm of knowledge. Once the realms were set in motion Aestheneia was transported to a room at the center of her realm. Almost instantly she noticed a black stone wall with markings. Without a second thought Aestheneia began to read the wall. As she read she soon realized that everything she was reading was the true history of the universe. She quickly finished reading the wall and came to realize that it was left unfinished.   Aestheneia began looking around the room and found it to be bare. Except for a locked door with a sign that read "Locked until further notice". After some time a book slid under the door. Immediately she began to read it...   -----   Oclirim is the realm of prosperity. Once the realms were set in motion Eutukhia ventured into her realm and found a small spring. She took the surrounding area and formed a nice comfortable home. Later on while she was relaxing in the hot spring, a small black rod with etched markings slowly approach Eutukhia. She reached out and began to inspect it when a voice called out, "Ooh, you'd better be careful with that..."   -----   Naeheamar is the realm of temptation. Unlike the other Elder Gods, Pseudes wasn't granted any item or object. Rather the moment the realms stabilized Pseudes was transported to a small room with nothing but a pedestal with a dark red crystal button. A small note lay atop the crystal which Pseudes picked up and read. "Press this to be free and unleash untold destruction across the realms." Pseudes took a moment and looked around. The rest of the room was a dark black stone with engravings around the edges of the walls and floor.   Pseudes took more time to look around the room but no matter how careful they looked all they found confirmed that pressing down the crystal was the only way out. Yet still, Pseudes hesitated. They didn't want to cause harm to this new beautiful universe they helped set in motion. They looked at the note again and reread the sentence they had already memorized by this point. Pseudes flicked the card into the air scoffing at their situation. However as the note flipped through the air they noticed more writing on the backside of it. Effortlessly Pseudes caught the note as it was falling to the ground and read the message. "Eventually you will understand." Pseudes went into shock trying to understand what was going on. Once they were able to reorganize themselves Pseudes still pondered whether or not to grant their freedom.   For a millennium, Pseudes sat in that small room fighting with themself. One side pressing the crystal meant they would be free to explore and experience the realm they created. On the other side them being free meant the other realms they saw could get destroyed. As time passed it became harder and harder for Pseudes to stay trapped in the room. Eventually, Pseudes succumbed to their desires and pressed the crystal...   -----   Slavalon is the realm of the untamed. As the realms started to move, Therion took a moment to gaze over his realm and the realms his siblings created. "I can't wait for whatever's ahead," he thought to himself. Therion began to move towards his realm to explore what was ahead of him. However, he soon realized that he couldn't move. He was stuck. Floating at the boundary of his realm and nothing.   Therion struggled for a moment but ultimately made no progress in breaking free of whatever was holding him. He began to look around when he turned around and was almost hit by two small objects. A small black and gold seed and a small black rectangle with white lettering. Therion inspected the seed admiring the golden lines that shimmered off of the black shell. Once satisified he turned his attention to the card and read, "Please care for me"...   -----   Aebbiran is the realm of competition. The realms were set in motion when Metaes soon felt another prescense by their side. Turning, they saw themself. Not through a mirror or some other object but as another entity standing just a few feet away from them. It took but a moment before she realized that she was looking into her own eyes through her own eyes. She was one person but shared the same mind, same memories, same feelings.   Meteas took some time to get accustomed to her shared state. Moving around one at a time, sharing thoughts and ideas, and wondering what awaited the two of them in the realm ahead. Before they started venturing into their realm they were stopped by an invisibile force. No matter how hard they tried the two of them couldn't break through. Soon there after, a small black tablet appeared from above. As it lowered down it slowed to a stop in a few feet in front of their faces. On the tablet there was white lettering that read, "Only one can remain." The Metaes's took a few steps back, in shock for a moment they tried to reason with their situation. Questioning what ifs, continuously trying to push on ahead, but ultimately everything they tried failed. They were stuck. They couldn't enjoy the realm that was theirs.   Still they waited not wanting to accept the situation they were in. Soon they got bitter towards their opposite. They grew hateful of eachother. Desired nothing more than to explore the realm that was rightfully theirs. It is not known which Metaes threw the first punch but a great fight ensued. Brutal in their own ferocities. Similar fighting styles yet different enough to prove a victor. The better Metaes looked down at the weaker one's broken body. One more hit should let them go. One more. Metaes couldn't though. Couldn't make that final hit, wouldn't kill themself. During this moment of hesitation, the weaker Metaes took some exposed bone from their arm at stabbed the better through their heart. The better Metaes collapsed and coughed blood as she fell over. The weaker, painfully rose their feet and stumbled across where the force had prevented them so long ago. Meteas turned back one final time before treading off into their realm. Their eyes gazing over the corpse of their old self and noticed more white lettering on the backside of the tablet. It read, "Eventually you will understand"...   -----   Iaseron is the realm of the dead. Once the realms were in orbit Alibas took a moment to breathe a sigh of relief. "That was a great deal of effort," he thought to himself. Feeling satisfied he began to venture into his realm. Yet once he crossed the barrier between his realm and nothingness, he felt a great emptiness throughout Iaseron. Not just emptiness but the absence of anything as well. Alibas flew back to the edge of his realm and crossed the barrier, confirming his suspiciouns.   "So. You appear to have figured it out already." A soft voice spoke out to him...   -----   Sumadin is the realm of madness. But that wasn't always the case. Azmogdian set his realm in motion and took a moment to look around. He peered towards his realm, looking deep towards the center and all the way towards the edges. As he looked around he began to see the other realms as they circled around a lone crystal directly at the center of the nine. Azmogdian pondered over this crystal for a moment then as he decided to further investigate, in the blink of an eye he found himself at the edge of the crystal. He could see partially through the large vibrant red wall before him. And as he squinted there appeared to be objects, no not objects, rather figures further within. Trying to get a better look he pressed against the crystal and as his hand layed upon the wall it gave way. Revealing a doorway that previously had not existed.   Azmogdian pushed the newfound door open revealing an intricate geometric room. "Ah, you're finally here. Please come in and shut the door behind you." a voice called out...