The One

> There is only One truth. Our Lord, our God, our Trust, our Faith. The One... who saved us all.
>
> Scion Heskal

## Chronological and political information

### Area of influence

Aura

**The One** was a cosmic force that predates the majority of creation. Before Modern Eras, The One was known as **The Guardian**. The One was worshipped as a deity amongst most mortals.

## History

### Czera and Rhyne

In the beginning, there was a burst of energy in the middle of darkness. This burst sent shockwaves throughout the void as the universe was created. Along with the creation of the universe, celestial beings were created. These millions of beings were mostly benign, unknowing what to do with their creation.

One of the Celestial Beings, Czera, became aware of their surroundings and sought to find one like them. For a thousand years, they searched until they discovered Rhyne. They felt a natural pull towards each other and naturally became inseparable. While they swam in each other's thoughts, they believed that they were different than the others and if anyone else became self aware they would destroy their bond.

Together, they started a campaign to consume as much energy as they could by devouring other celestials. It took many years to accumulate enough power, but with one final push they caused an event known as The Freeze. This event forced the other celestial beings to freeze in place and become unable to escape from their bonds as their energies worked until they burnt out.

### **Birth from Death**

With their success, Czera and Rhyne ushered in a new era as Masters of The Universe. Czera believed that their work was complete, however Rhyne became paranoid. Rhyne believed that they had not froze them all and that they would come after them in revenge. Together they siphoned the lifeforce of the frozen celestials into another celestial. They charged this celestial with being the guardian of the universe and to their power.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, for Czera, Rhyne was mostly right in believing that they had not froze all of life. The Guardian came into contact with a rocky planet teeming with something new. Curiosity struck and they witnessed mortal beings for the very first time. The Guardian watched these mortals eat, drink, sleep, fight, die, and being born. The natives took notice of The Guardian's presence and hid in fear. The Guardian materialized onto the planet. He noticed a woman dying of thirst. The Guardian waved its hands and created a reservoir. They called The Guardian The One who saved them. From that point on, The Guardian went by the title "The One" and lived alongside these peoples as their Guardian. They told The One about their world of Elyssia and the struggles to survive.

### The Drums of War

While The One has lived amongst mortals, Czera and Rhyne became more impatient about The One's progress. They summoned The One back to their center of power. Upon arrival, Czera and Rhynen interrogated The One about its findings. Furious at The One's incompetence, they Froze The One and left their center of power. The One battled the urge to consume their own lifeforce, like the celestial beings that came before. The One focused its powers and was able to escape their prison and was once more free. Fearing the worst, The One flew back to Elyssia to discover a dead world. The trees were husks; the rivers now dry; the people now dust. Czera and Rhyne appeared in front of The One and mocked The One's new sensation of morality and duty. The One looked at them with such hatred that it attacked Rhyne. The fight ended with Czera and Rhyne fleeing.

The war that followed consumed Aura and saw many worlds caught in the cross-fire. Though The One was enraged by Czera and Rhyne, they didn't seek vengence; instead, they sought justice. Eventually The One was able to subdue Czera and Rhyne. The One siphoned their lifeforce until they did not exist anymore. After witnessing death and destruction on such a scale, The One sought to heal the universe.

### The Nova Era

The first thing The One tried to do was to undo The Freeze. This task proved impossible because of the energy it lacked compared to the energy in Czera and Rhyne's prime. While The One was unable to help those affected by The Freeze, they used the collection of beings to position them across the universe as beacons of light in the darkness. These beings transitioned into stars. The One expanded Aura and created many worlds of different variations. The One felt despair and longing for the lost world of Elyssia, so it sang a world into existence. This world would embody a diverse ecosystem with large mountains and deep oceans. This world would be known as Verra.

The One created mortals that looked similar to itself. The One materialized and walked amongst the mortals and tought them how to hunt, plant, build, and destroy. Many civilizations formed and The One was pleased they created a world better than Elyssia. Satisfied with their work, The One left to create more worlds. During this time, mortal sciences were on the rise, while arcane sciences declined. Some civilizations became aggressive or greedy to the point where they destroyed other civilizations, or invaded their lands. While The One dreamed of a perfect world, it didn't occur to them that the universe would be created using part of Czera and Rhyne's characteristics of Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, Sloth, and Wrath.

### The Hunger

In the center of Aura, The One noticed a being swimming at the center of Aura of pure shadow. The One believed this to be an entity that had gained freedom from the affects of The Freeze. The One saw this being trying to mimic what The One was trying to do. This being tried to create life, but was stopped by The One. The One claimed that only they could create life. Angered, this being left the center of Aura and went to the universe's edge. The being would defy The One by trying to create a better version of The One's mortals on the ancient world of Serevar. This being corrupted the population and became powerful. When the sensation faded, this being would become Hungry for more. The Hunger went to many worlds to corrupt, enslave, and destroy planets to fill the void it held.

### The Creation of The Nether

Eventually, The One took notice of what this being was capable of. The One called this being The Hunger, and sought to contain it by creating an inescapable dimension known as The Nether. The One created fortresses and beings of pure energy to guard and keep The Hunger contained. The One transported the infected populous of Hunger-invaded worlds into The Nether. Unfortunately, The Hunger's thralls corrupted the dimension and destroyed its protectors. In order to mock The One further, the protectors were then corrupted into shades of their former selves that would relive the pain and agony on a never-ending cycle.

### The Exodus of Verra

The One saw how The Nether had fallen and destroyed all portals linking the Nether Dimension to the Mortal plane. The One knew it had to protect Verra at all costs and flew to the world. The One saw how Verra was dying as hundreds of millions were deceased by the time they arrived. In one swift motion, The One stunned The Hunger's thralls. The One was desperate to save its work and raised portals that would transport Verra's uninfected to the world of Reverie. With the Verrans leaving their homeworld in large numbers, The One turned its sight onto The Hunger. It had become monstrous, unholy, and diabolical. The last thing the Verrans saw was The One fighting The Hunger and a blast of light.