The Sunborn, as they came to be known, weren't born; they coalesced. Millennia ago, during an era of unprecedented stellar activity – a period historians dub the "Great Conjunction" – fragments of solidified sunlight, imbued with raw solar energy, began to manifest within the desolate canyons of Xylos. These fragments, animated by a primal force they termed “The Radiance,” formed the first Sunborn – beings of pure light and formidable power. They were not individuals in the conventional sense, but rather facets of a single consciousness, each dedicated to gathering and refining The Radiance.
Initially, their purpose was simple: survival. Xylos was a brutal world, ravaged by perpetual storms and inhabited by creatures warped by the residual energy of the Great Conjunction. The Sunborn utilized their control over light to defend themselves, manipulate the environment, and eventually, to forge rudimentary tools and weapons. Their society wasn’t built on hierarchy but on resonance – those most attuned to The Radiance held positions of influence.
Early records, etched onto crystalline tablets unearthed from the Sunborn's original settlements, depict a culture obsessed with understanding The Radiance. They developed complex rituals and technologies designed to amplify its power, leading to breakthroughs in energy manipulation and defensive capabilities. This nascent mastery over solar energy was what truly defined them.
Over centuries, the Sunborn’s understanding of The Radiance deepened. They discovered how to channel it into physical forms, creating constructs of solidified light – colossal war machines and intricate defensive systems. This led to a period of rapid expansion, as they began to project their influence beyond Xylos.
The culmination of this expansion was the creation of the Solar Empire - a vast dominion stretching across multiple star systems connected by shimmering pathways of solidified light. The Sunborn’s technological prowess allowed them to dominate the galaxy, establishing trading outposts, forging alliances (often tenuous), and suppressing rebellions with overwhelming displays of solar power.
Their capital, Solaria, was a marvel – a city built entirely from refracted sunlight, radiating warmth and energy. It served as a beacon of innovation and a symbol of the Sunborn's dominion.
For nearly five thousand years, Solaria flourished. This era, known as the “Golden Age of Helios,” was characterized by unprecedented artistic and scientific advancement. The Sunborn mastered temporal mechanics – briefly manipulating time to accelerate research and recover lost knowledge. They developed incredible healing technologies and explored the very nature of consciousness. Their understanding of energy allowed them to create devices that could manipulate weather patterns, purify water sources, and even revitalize barren lands.
During this time, a philosophical school emerged known as "The Luminary Path," which emphasized harmony between The Radiance and individual experience. It fostered an age of relative peace and prosperity throughout the Solar Empire.
However, this golden era was not to last. A catastrophic event known as “The Shattering” triggered the empire’s decline. A rogue faction of Sunborn, obsessed with achieving absolute control over The Radiance, attempted to construct a device capable of amplifying its power beyond safe limits. The experiment went horribly wrong – unleashing a wave of unstable energy that ripped through Solaria, collapsing much of the city and shattering the empire's unity.
In the aftermath, scattered remnants of the Solar Empire fragmented into warring factions, consumed by internal conflict and haunted by the echoes of their past glory. The “Shadow Years” were marked by darkness – both literal and metaphorical - as the Sunborn lost much of their connection to The Radiance, becoming increasingly fractured and unstable.
Centuries later, a new generation of Sunborn emerged – individuals who recognized the mistakes of their ancestors. They formed the “Neo-Helios Pact,” a coalition dedicated to rebuilding what was lost and restoring balance to the galaxy. This pact is built on principles of stewardship, conservation, and respect for The Radiance, aiming to avoid repeating the errors that led to Solaria’s downfall.
The Neo-Helios Pact now seeks to establish a new era of cooperation, focusing on sustainable energy solutions and promoting understanding between diverse species. Their efforts are largely focused on preserving ancient Sunborn technology while developing new approaches based on a deeper connection with the galaxy's natural energies. The future remains uncertain, but the embers of Helios burn bright once more.
The First Manifestations - Emergence of the Sunborn in Xylos (circa 5000 BC)
Formation of the Solar Empire – Expansion Across the Galaxy (1200 BC - 3000 AD)
The Golden Age of Helios – Technological and Cultural Flourishing (3500 AD – 6000 AD)
The Shattering & Fall of Solaria - The Beginning of the Shadow Years (6000 AD)
Formation of the Neo-Helios Pact – A New Era Begins (7500 AD - Present)