Epoch

Epochs are eras of time wherein events of great cosmic significance occurred. They range from centuries to millennia. However, it is unknown just how many Star Systems use the same terminology or even have the same understanding of the significance as the Epoch terminology, outside of the Zero Star System and

## Epoch Zero (0E)

Epoch Zero, or the Age of Becoming, was the era of the Primordial's formation. It is difficult to conceive of how long the Epoch lasted, for there was an era of timelessness between the formation of Spirit and Body, known as the birth of the Fire and Earth Essence, and even after the creation of Time, the Primordial was alone for an unknowable amount of time before there were Gods and Mortals to differentiate and name periods of time.

## First Epoch (1E)

The First Epoch was the time of Ancients. The Ancients were the first of the Primordial's pseudo-mortal creations, though they did not possess of enough of a sentience to be considered Gods the way that current mortals conceive of them; they are more actors and personifications of cosmic will and law, acting out the purposes of the Primordial where it cannot. They are considered carriers, and are comparable to the more obscure and alien angels of Biblical lore due to their incomprehensible forms. Mortal names for the Ancients are Phoena, Carrier of Fire; Ourabo, Carrier of Earth; Iathan, Carrier of Water; Sirein, Carrier of Air; Eraph, Carrier of Light, and Erebo, Carrier of Shadow. The Ancients were the generators of magic, almost tools to be wielded by the Primordial.

## Second Epoch (2E)

The Second Epoch was the time of Divines. The Divines were considered the true Children of the Primordial, for they were sentient in a way that the Ancients were not. However, they are truly children of the Ancients, but as the Ancients were naught more than extension of the Primordial's truly incomprehensible essence, it is one in the same. These were the closest to mortal's mythology of Gods, having personalities and wills. They followed the wills of the Anceints and Primordial alike, using the magic generated by the Ancient to create planets and people. The first people were known as Elementals, and were taught the ways of the Divines to manipulate magic, and were wise-men and happy. Life-forms existed in harmony, but the Elementals grew restless and envious of the greater power above them. They wanted more, afraid of their own weakness, and what that may be.

## Third Epoch (3E)

The Third Epoch was the time of Divine Death. The Elementals and Divines warred, and it was cosmic slaughter of the many Elementals that had lived in great societies. Yet, despite all odds, the Elementals succeeded. Oral lore tells that the Divine Nolu, child of Eraph and Erebo, deceived their fellow Divines for ambiguous purposes, and was the first to spur the content Elementals into their fear and mistrust of the Divines, and happily watched the anarchy of war and slaughter that fell upon the Elementals. Further emphasising their ambiguous nature and unknown motivations, it was Nolu that assisted the Elementals in the destruction of the Divines. What came of Nolu is unknown.

## Fourth Epoch (4E)

The Fourth Epoch was the time of Ravage. There were few Elementals left in a ravaged world, and abandoned by Nolu, they were left with the ruins of the greatest war they had ever known. Their wounds were great, their planets had been sapped of magic, and magic in general had been greatly weakened. Elementals had to reproduce, but their own magic prevented them from creating beings of the same power. From them, magic trickled downwards until eventually Mortals were created, and knowledge of magic became sparse. There were some that retained the Old Ways, but others that were adapted to New Ways, where magic had become a thing of myth, something to be feared and rejected. Zero Star System was a victim of the New Way, while Bright Star retained the Old Way. This was the longest Epoch known, for until the Genesis Collapse this had been the way of the Essential Universe.

## Fifth Epoch (5E)

The Fifth Epoch was the time of Champions.