NOTES ON GODS & THE MULTIVERSE

Notes towards a work in progress...

THE ULTA BREEN AND ULTA RYSHA

“The Zenithal” and “The Six who are One.” Are the six gods of the Zenithal actually different facets of the same greater entity? And what about the proxies of the individual gods? Their terrestrial aspects.
Aspects of the gods develop their own unique personalities, distinct of the Ulta from which they were formed. Thus, there may be several aspects (or more) of a god which neither communicate with each other nor possibly carry forth the will of their progenitors. They may even choose to attempt to sabotage them. To supplant them. This is the only way an aspect can become “real.”
Krytuss may be a rogue aspect of Ryktuss.

THE VU’UN
Demons bound in servitude to man may fulfill many functions. Only man may bind a vu’un. Another vu’’un or relative of the vu’un (e.g. the Vala’Suun) may not hold sway over them.


HISTORY OF THE ULTA
The gods of Gothenya have origins more humble than one might expect, or possibly even believe. To think the gods of men might not be the immortal super-beings worshipped by millions could upset the entire system of checks and balances enjoyed by “modern” Gothenkind.
The Ulta began as mortal beings not dissimilar from the humans of Gothenya. In fact, they were residents of a tiny blue planet known as Earth. This would be far in Earth’s future, as it relates to the reader today. Some thousands of years distant, Earth’s residents managed to completely deplete the planet of virtually all natural resources. In place, however, they devised a new nano technology capable of simulating many of the lost and depleted resources through programming.
This technology, later to be known as the “mystical” Eret Si’Nu, was comprised of microscopic artificial organisms, capable of intelligent thought. These organisms were able to rearrange themselves to perform nearly any task desired by their programmers. The method of programming required almost arcane rituals and the inclusion of certain analogues to represent the task or item desired. To produce large gouts of flame, for instance, a programmer might produce a candle, offering it to the Eret Si’Nu. These analogues later became known as “spell components” to the more primitive practitioners of “magic” upon Gothenya.
The Eret Si’Nu was instrumental in the survival of the earthlings, as it made possible their exploration of the stars. A quest to find a new home, somewhere in the galaxy… or beyond.
After untold centuries traversing the stars, during which the humans further evolved and developed a culture amongst their massive spacecraft, the fleet of colony ships finally found a world capable of supporting life. This world, later to be known as Rylix, soon was flooded with earthlings. Quickly the refugees took to the world, even with its ever present hostilities. Large beasts, resembling the dragons of earth’s mythology, roamed the skies of Rylix. Though powerful, these intelligent beasts were no match for the technology of the Eret Si’Nu. Soon, they found themselves captives of the earthlings, domesticated (in a manner of speaking) and utilized as servants to man.
Over the centuries, the humans prospered, slowly dominating their new home, conquering all its native species and elements. What could not be assimilated was quickly destroyed. And all along, the humans continued to evolve. Here on Rylix, the Eret Si’Nu prospered, growing in power and eventually translating its increased potency to its masters. Man slowly began to drift away from his origins, soon no longer even resembling its ancestors in appearance or thought.
Humans pushed themselves to their limits, and beyond. So far from their origins they drifted, that the name “human” no longer seemed adequate to describe them. They renamed themselves the Ulta, and soon this “new” species bred division amongst their ranks. Some sought to use their burgeoning powers for “good,” to explore existence and to better the universe. Others sought more personal gain, wishing to become interstellar conquerers. The forces of “light” became known as the Ulta Breen, while the forces of “darkness” took on the moniker of the Ulta Rysha.
It seemed nothing could stop the expanse of both parties. They were even beginning plans to conquer (or simply explore) more inhabitable worlds throughout their new solar system. That was until the coming of the Nyrthanguul.
From the outer depths unknown to all intelligent life, came the one species (if you could call it that) more powerful than the evolved humans. Beings that had traveled beyond the plane of material existence (or possibly originated beyond it) in order to seek the wisdom of the void. Now they’d returned, set upon retaking their abandoned home world. That world just happened to be Rylix.
The assault was quick and catastrophic. Even with all their power, the Ulta could not withstand the onslaught. After centuries of conflict, the Ulta Breen and the Ulta Rysha even managed to put aside their petty differences and bond together once more… to deal with the continuing threat from beyond. Together they pooled all their resources, even using the Eret Si’Nu to breach the fabric of reality in order to reach the overlapping dimensions. From one in particular, the demon haunted realm sometimes known as “The Near” or “Faerie” (by those of a more literary bent), they enslaved the various sub-species of the beings known collectively as the Sidhe. The Sidhe were comprised of outright “demons” (called Vu’un) and their more comely cousins, known as the Vala’Suun. All were equally enslaved to fight against the Nyrthanguul. The Vala’Suun aided the Breen (the Breen didn’t call it slavery, but it is what it is), while the Vu’un fought for the Rysha.
From the Sidhe, experimentation led to the formation of several new “cross-species,” including the Feyluun (Strouts and the Grogans) and the Isagorn (directly descended from the Vu’un).
Even this was not enough to do any more than buy them some time. Eventually, seeing no other option, the Ulta decided to abandon their home, to once more seek out a new world to colonize. But the Nyrthanguul wouldn’t let them go so easily. Even as the Ulta launched their (new and improved) massive colony craft into space, they found themselves hunted.
It was decided that, in order to weaken the assault, they should split up. This might even ensure that at least some of their species would find an acceptable world to populate. Each colony ship was escorted by a defensive battleship, capable of at least holding off a Nyrthanguul assault (for a time). A few of the colony ships were also joined by penal vessels, holding those Ulta that couldn’t be trusted to intermingle with the host Ulta, but were “protected” by the newly forged treaty between Breen and Rysha.
The massive construct known today as Mount Celene, was one such colony vessel. It traversed the galaxy and was i turn pursued by several tireless Nyrthanguul. These beings required no spacecraft, adapted as they were to the void of space. Even one such being was capable of the total annihilation of any vessel in their path. For unknown reasons, they were dogged in their pursuit of the Ulta. Perhaps they saw the species as a potential future threat, seeing that thy continued to evolve. These tentacled monstrosities became known as the Outer Gods, and were assumed to possibly be the very first life-forms in this or any universe.
Some Ulta, in their desperation, began to revere the Nyrthanguul as gods, seeking in them a certain mercy, knowing they could never truly escape. Amongst these newfound disciples was one Ulta Rysha later to be known as the dark lord Krytuss. Krytuss, brother of Ryktuss (not their given names) began to commune with the Nyrthanguul, specifically one he came to know as Faldrighel. The powerful Nyrthanguul, for some reason, entertained the entreaties from its nearly-immortal worshipper. It placed in Krytuss’ mind the seeds of sedition and sabotage.
Krytuss spread his plan amongst a group of sympathetic Rysha. Their plan was to free their brethren aboard the penal frigate and stage a coup aboard Celene. Eventually, they’d switch themselves out for the Breen ship masters, placing them in cells in their stead. The Breen captained all the colony vessels, as per the treaty, but that would soon all change.
An agent within the penal frigate Kestruul staged an emergency and in the confusion freed the prisoners. The former captives soon overpowered their guards and began to take the ship. They made it as far as the bridge, where a violent battle ensued. The captain of the Kestruul held his ground, valiantly fighting off the covitcts, but his efforts were far from enough. In a desperate bid to keep Krytuss from completing his mission, the captain set about destroying the Kestruul. He was jumped by a powerful Rysha and the two fought over the ship’s controls. The plan was originally to dock the Kestruul with the Celene, and indeed the tow ships did connect. Just not in the way anyone intended.
There was a massive collision, forcing both vessels off course. The Kestruul managed to get off a salvo of missies against the defense frigate before the vessel could retaliate. The beleaguered defense ship, known as the Rrysuuv, was severely damaged and set adrift. Meanwhile, a cadre of Rysha managed to board the Celene while the ships were briefly connected. A team of Vuun and Rysha attempted to take the Celene, but were surprisingly repelled by both the Breen and the uninvolved Rysha (an unexpected upholding of the treaty).
While Krytuss was ultimately caught and imprisoned as a traitor, another conspirator, one from amongst the ranks of the Breen, went unpunished. The one later known as Syggos managed to conceal his involvement when he saw his side losing the battle. Soon, a small sense of normality was restored aboard the ship. However the Celene was itself badly damaged and unable to right its course. It soon fell into the gravity well of a nearby planet. That world… Gothenya.
Later, during the events following The Sundering, Krytuss will ironically only survive and escape due to his proximity to the rent blown in the holy mountain, within the structure’s internal prisons. Syggos would also escape, only to be slain by Krytuss for his treachery. Of course, it seemed as if his death was the result of the explosive war between the armies of men. He’d, in a sense, become a martyr. Some even believe his demise to be the catalyst for the ongoing silence of the gods (untrue).
In reality, the Ulta quickly moved into their protective caissons, which were built to withstand the most terrible forces and elements. Unfortunately, they became trapped within, and have been administered with a constant dose of a “long distance soporific” normally used to sedate passengers for extended journeys in space.

**** The native species of Gothenya each adapted to the Ulta in their own unique way.
Humans would eventually mate with several sub-species amongst the Sidhe, forming the Pikel and the Vistraal. The groans, for their part as gardeners of the new world (making it more suitable for the Ulta), created the Fortreal in order to aid them in this task. Further, the only other intelligent species native to Gothenya, the Vess’ka, retreated underground, not wishing to abide by their new “conquerers.”
****
During the time slip adventure (where the PCs travel across dimensions and time) the Rysha’s aboard the penal vessel Kestruul are to be aided by Krytuss’ disciples in order to complete their original mission. They’ll attempt to board Celene (rather than collide with it) and take the ship in greater numbers (not diminished by the defenses of the Kestruul). The evil agents from the future will attempt to eliminate the ship’s captain and primary defenders before the prison break.