The Elohim

The centuries-long Formation Wars were the most violent, chaotic, and destructive era in Centauri’s history. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of habitable worlds were destroyed as the Celestial Dominions battled each other for control of the Cluster. Billions of lives were lost. Entire civilizations were wiped out. But from the ashes of this devastating conflict arose the Elohim – the most powerful and technologically advanced beings in the galaxy.

Most of what we know about the Elohim is speculation based on myths and legends. But even now, more than 15,000 years later, their influence still shapes and defines Centauri. Celestials and humans alike are bound by the Laws of the Elohim – a small but inviolable collection of fundamental rules, treaties, and agreements meant to prevent the atrocities of the Formation Wars from ever happening again.

As important as the Laws are, however, they pale in comparison to the other great achievement of the Elohim – the Gates of Heaven, a network of pathways linking all the various systems of the Cluster. Before the Gates, interstellar journeys were dangerously unpredictable and prohibitively expensive and inefficient. Travel and trade between systems was limited and unreliable. The Celestial Dominions were isolated enclaves, with little communication or interaction with each other… one of the primary factors that contributed to the brutality of the Formation Wars.

The Gates of Heaven changed everything. Though still bound by the speed of light, ships are now able to navigate the vast ocean of space across the Cluster using established charts and automated navigational calculations. Even more crucial, the Gates allow for rapid acceleration to and deceleration from light speed, significantly reducing the length of time spent on each journey. Interstellar trade and travel has flourished, becoming a cornerstone of every Celestial Dominion and human inhabited world.

The Elohim are universally revered across Centauri, even by the Celestials. Without the Gates, the Travelers themselves could not exist. Exodus would be virtually impossible. The risks and uncertainties of launching blindly into the void of space would be too great for even the bravest explorers. Whether they meant to or not, the Elohim gave our kind a fighting chance.

Mysteriously, after creating the miracle of the Gates, the Elohim vanished from the galactic record. Some believe they ascended to a state of pure energy, shedding their corporeal shells. Others claim they left Centauri to explore the farthest corners of the galaxy. Perhaps they are still present among us and using advanced technology to hide their presence from lesser beings. Or maybe they suffered the inevitable fate of all empires and collapsed into extinction thousands of years ago.

But though the Elohim are seemingly gone, their power and authority remains. Those who dare violate the Laws suddenly find their ships are no longer able to access the Gates of Heaven – the ultimate punishment. Cut off from interstellar trade, economies collapse. Scientific advancement is stunted. Existing technology begins to degrade as resources become scarce. Depending on the crime, this isolation can last anywhere from a few years to a few centuries - a crippling blow to any society… if it even survives.

And what of the Elohim themselves? Were they truly the selfless, altruistic God-like beings the legends contend? Or were the Gates not a gift, but rather a way to establish dominance and control across the entire Cluster? Are the Elohim still here, watching events unfold from some secret hiding place and administering justice to those who defy their will? Or are the gates controlled by the ghost of some ancient artificial intelligence? If they are still here, what do they think of humanity and our struggle to rise up and find our place alongside the Celestials?

We may never know the truth. But for now, the Elohim seem to tolerate us, at least… as long as we play by their rules.