Celestials

*"I saw great beings made of light, who could be everywhere and nowhere at once. They were vaster than nebulae and tinier than cells, and they assembled solar systems like children with toys."* - Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik

The **Celestials**, also called **Architects**, **Builders**, **Old Ones**, **Ancients**, **Space Gods**, **First Ancestral Race**, among innumerable other names, are ancient entities of immense sophistication, who shaped life in the universe in the distant past. The Celestials had a deep connection to the Source (more or less all supernatural powers, including the Force, neural physics, etc), and were known to have used the Infinity Stones in the past. Most "gods" worshipped by the various sapient races across the cosmos are some form of Celestial.

## Definition

As they are shrouded in mystery, to accurately define what are and aren't Celestials is impossible to modern intergalactic society. Most researchers believe that nearly every trace of species Tier 1 or above prior to 15,000,000 BC (when the Forerunners arose) can be attributed to the Celestials. This definition is not without controversy, however, as it would include the Leviathans, who have a dubious connection to the Celestials.

### Groups

As previously stated, researchers have heavy debate on what is and isn't a Celestial, but several groups have been proposed:

"Space Gods": The Celestial Hosts, led by Arishem the Judge, seed life across the universe. In turn, they are created in the cores of planets bearing sentient life, fed by the psychic energies of their inhabitants.

"Malaa'ikah": Most "races" of gods/angels/demons/spirits, such as Asgardians, Olympians, Devas, Loa, etc fall into this category. Are capable of incarnating into mortal or semi-mortal forms. Can create mortal or semi-mortal offspring.

"Precursors": Known for watching over and experimenting across the Milky Way, the Precursors were the incarnate physical forms of beings who guided the evolution of life. Incarnate organic forms were wiped out by the Forerunners.

"Architects": Performed similar acts as the Precursors, but in Skyriver.

The cutoff points between these groups are vague, and may not exist at all.

## Biology

### Avatars

It is impossible to describe Celestial biology, since as a transsentient race, they have no true physical form, but can manifest in a variety of shapes, referred to as avatars. It is believed that, as multidimensional beings, the same singular Celestial may have multiple avatars at the same time, who may or may not be aware of that fact - for example, the prominent gods Thor, Zeus, Perun, and Indra are thought to be separate avatars of the same Celestial, Dyēus. Some go as far as to say that the multidimensional "true" Celestials are in turn avatars of the one singular supreme creator of the omniverse. Avatars may or may not be aware of their multiversal nature, and can vary drastically in power, from slightly above average mortals in physical strength, to manipulating the fabric of reality on a whim.

The various Hosts of the Celestials (or "Space Gods") often chose to appear in the forms of 2,000 foot tall, armored humanoids. Avatars are mortal - the mining colony Knowhere is situated within the severed skull of a Celestial avatar, but it is unknown whether Celestials are capable of "true" death.

Most Celestial avatars emanate in the form of humanoids, but that is not always the case. Many Malaa'ikah's "true" forms are beyond mortal comprehension, and may, for example, appear in the forms of flaming wheels of eyes and wings.

## History

Celestials are believed to pre-date the universe.

Celestials are known to have seeded life across the cosmos, and played a hand in the development of numerous races.

## Culture and society

To describe them as "good" or "evil" would be an oversimplification. While in general those aligned with the forces of Heaven and Hell could be described as such, all have free will and may fall or redeem themselves, and in reality, the vast majority are neutral and capable of varying moral acts, just like mortals.

Celestials appear to be driven by a desire to experiment with the evolution of different species. Within human populations, they are responsible for the creation of the Eternals, Deviants, and most notably, the X-Gene.

## Creations

Besides a purported hand in the creation of countless sapient species, many technological devices are attributed to the Celestials.

Centerpoint Station

Fold Weapon

## Behind the scenes

The Celestials are, primarily, an amalgamation of the entities in the *Marvel* universe and *Star Wars.* However, the term is more inclusive than in its *Marvel* origins - while it primarily refers to the massive armored humanoid Celestial Hosts or "Space Gods", in UE, it also includes entities above them, such as Galactus, the Phoenix Force, and the Living Tribunal. The term actually encompasses most transentient beings from all series within UE (with the notable exception of the Alimbic). This includes the Precursors from *Halo*, and most "gods" or god-like entities, both from real-life religions as well as from various series, such as many Legendary Pokémon.

The sole exception is The One Above All, which is the same as *DC Comics*' The Presence, which is the same as *Pokémon's* Original One, so on and so forth with all supreme creators from the different series, as well as real-life religions (so God, Allah, El, Ahura Mazda, etc). The hypothesis presented in the article that Celestials are avatars of said being is correct, more or less how the Hindu concept of Brahman functions. Basically, all religions are correct, but none of them in absolute specifics.