AÏA first set out to repair the damage done to the Solus Galaxy during its predecessor’s outburst and eruption. AÏA’s first creations in this process were the planets called Shakrah and Ossiah.

 

AÏA looked out to the heavens above itself and drew forth energy and material out of the nothingness that was, and out of it AÏA conjured a planet. Varying shades of blue coated the planet, depicting its vast oceans and great seas that composed the majority of its surface. AÏA called this planet Ossiah and filled it with life and beauty within its rich, abundant seas: the greatest among them, the behemoths known as Cetesians; great whales who patrolled the seas with grace and power.

 

Directly below itself AÏA then shaped another planet. It called this one Shakrah; a world full of mountains and ravines and enormous open skies where the wind was wild and free. Shakrah was host to aerial beings; the Shakiri they were called. Countless species of winged creatures roamed its vast skies and occupied its highlands, aeries, and mountain ranges. The quickest and most capable it called the Shakroosari, the most elite of the Shakiri.

 

After creating Ossiah and Shakrah AÏA was greatly pleased and watched as the various species carried out their lives, eating and sleeping, breeding and traveling, living and dying. Generations passed and life flourished on each planet. AÏA delighted at how beautiful it all seemed but steadily realized that the rest of the galaxy required tending and repair. AÏA too, ultimately desired to create evermore to observe and love. At this AÏA then created a shepherd for each planet’s inhabitants; a monitor to protect, to guide, and to educate its occupants in AÏA’s absence.

 

To this end AÏA created the ÏOS and the SHÏK. To each of them AÏA gave a form, unique in its own appearance but similar to that of the creatures on their respective planets, that they may be one with them in order to govern them.

 

The ÏOS was a large, tusked mammal; plump, jovial, and wise. He served as chaperon and teacher to the myriad schools and pods of aquatic creatures living on Ossiah and studied the many mysteries of life as pupil to AÏA, learning powers beyond that of any mortal. He taught many things to his followers, though none took as much interest as the Cetesians, who later became his top disciples.

 

The SHÏK was the most handsome and capable of flying creatures. It served as shepherd to the vast flocks of Shakiri and taught them all how to hunt, nest, and most importantly, how to soar. Its speed and flying skill were second to none and because of this it favored physical ability to intellectual, and always pushed itself to be the absolute best.

 

Upon completing these planets and their guardians, the ÏOS and the SHÏK, AÏA left to continue the Restoration of Solus. As AÏA turned its attention to its new work, ZÏZ watched on from the darkness and as soon as AÏA’s guard was down, ZÏZ infiltrated Ossiah and Shakrah. ZÏZ first targeted the ÏOS with the lure of governance over Shakrah, but its offerings fell on deaf ears. ZÏZ then turned to the SHÏK with promises of power and control over Ossiah and the other guardian, the ÏOS. ZÏZ promised the SHÏK abilities beyond its comprehension and the SHÏK’s pride was easily coerced. The first seeds of dissent and betrayal had been sown and the SHÏK had fallen under ZÏZ’s corruption.

 

***

 

As ZÏZ set to undoing AÏA’s work, AÏA unknowingly resumed work on repairing the Solus Galaxy with the creation of two new planets. These were named Gaïa and Arco. Gaïa was placed directly in front of AÏA, while Arco took up place behind.  Both were planets of untold beauty, mixing the best elements of Ossiah and Shakrah. Vast oceans and large landmasses coated the planets’ surfaces with lush greens and pure blues, while great mountain ranges spotted the planet’s surfaces with the earthy browns of rock and the untainted whites of snow.

 

For these planets, AÏA had something new in mind. Each planet would receive its own species much like Ossiah and Shakrah, but to these species AÏA gave something new; the ability to create; not just procreation, but intelligence, ingenuity, choice, design.

 

Thus the Children of AÏA were born and the Gaïos and Arcos began their civilizations.

 

The Gaïos were an emotive people, favoring creation in the form of art and music. They revered the light which AÏA provided and thus grew to worship it and desired to create in its image, learning to harness and control it for their wellbeing. They lived for passion and love and to create. Much like before, AÏA granted self-governance to the Gaïos and from that came the Prïm’el Gaïane, the loving mother.

 

The Arcos were a strong-willed and physically talented people. Their creations were of a scientific design and were often aimed at increasing the wellbeing of their peoples. AÏA gave to them the control of the worldly elements; earth, water, wind, and fire. With these they created a domain of greatness on their world, led by AÏA’s appointed Supreme Arcon, the commanding father.

 

The Children of AÏA lived apart for several eons as both peoples lived and designed their own lives, chose their own paths and shaped their planets as they saw fit. AÏA watched on as they went until it saw fit to continue with its work. It changed its focus and again, without its protecting eye, the seeds of dissent sprouted and darkness crept evermore into the Solus Galaxy.

 

AÏA saw still more that needed to be repaired in the Solus Realm and now looked to its sides, to new prospects; to two new planets. These AÏA called Terra and Macra and were to house AÏA’s best creations yet, even better sentient humanoids that would capture the best qualities of the Gaïos and the Arcos. AÏA began by conjuring both planets as usual but was ultimately stopped short by the ÏOS with grave news about the rising shadows.

 

Throughout AÏA’s work, ZÏZ too had been busy, coercing numerous Shakiri to his side and teaching them the ways of warfare. ZÏZ had also been busy observing and infiltrating the Gaïos and Arcos peoples, learning their ways, influencing their tendencies and ultimately coercing them to his dark will. ZÏZ had been quite busy while AÏA focused on the recreation of the galaxy; inciting immense pride, arrogance, and a quarrelsome nature in the Arcos, leading them to be skilled warriors, physically strong and unyielding; however, because of this and their immense strong will, ZÏZ was never truly able to break the constitution of any Arco and all attempts to lure them to its taint were unsuccessful.

 

During this time however, ZÏZ also preyed on the emotions of the Gaïos, and in its meddling pushed them to the limits of their species. Many of the Gaïos ZÏZ tested broke under its will and through this torture and mutilation, something new, demented and twisted in appearance arose. ZÏZ called these new beings Malïos. They were sick and twisted in appearance, constantly bearing their decadent flesh, pierced as it was in varied manners, rife with scars and demented tattoos, the Malïos truly showed how ZÏZ’s demented presence was altering the shape of the hexus and the galaxy around it. 

 

After council with the ÏOS, AÏA learned of what ZÏZ had been doing and planned for retribution—to save The Creation and everything it had grown to love. AÏA demanded to confront ZÏZ and in doing so began The Contention.