The Before

In the primordial expanse of the void, before time itself took shape, the Great Architect wove the tapestry of existence. Contrary to the idealized depictions found in doctrines and myths, the Great Architect was neither kind nor cruel but instead a force of pure creation and unyielding purpose. This purpose manifested in the SparkArks—vast, living vessels designed to carry out the Architect’s grand design by spreading life through the cosmos.

The SparkArks were central to the inception of existence, their functions closely tied to the Big Bang events that shaped the universe. Each SparkArk carried the Spark, a primordial energy capable of igniting life from the etheric soup of cosmic matter. These ships were not mere tools but living entities imbued with knowledge and purpose, with crews of immortal beings to maintain and operate them.

The Spark

The SparkArks traveled through the uncharted void, seeking the etheric soup needed to create life. Their purpose was twofold: to map the vast and rapidly expanding universe and to ignite creation in regions untouched by life. The SparkArks were built with a fundamental directive—never to destroy or interfere with life where it already existed. This safeguard ensured that the process of creation respected the sanctity of existing life.

However, the SparkArks were not infallible. Each ship possessed immense power, capable of consuming entire galaxies to repurpose their energy for new creation if commanded by the Great Architect. This directive was only invoked in the most dire circumstances, such as when the void-born old gods corrupted entire regions of space, forcing the Architect to reset the balance. This act, though rarely undertaken, was a reminder of the immense and dangerous potential of the SparkArks.

The Void-Born Old Gods and the Balance

Before the light, the void was home to ancient entities—the void-born old gods. These beings thrived in the darkness, existing in a state of chaos and freedom. When the light invaded, it revealed the void-born for what they were, forcing them into small pockets of anti-space within spiral galaxies. These spaces became their sanctuaries, reservations within which they were contained by the Star Chamber’s laws.

The void-born old gods harbored an eternal resentment toward the light. Though confined, they were not powerless. Their influence seeped through the fabric of reality, carried by ancient songs that whispered into the minds of those receptive to their call. Evil, in its purest form, began as a thought, an idea. It was this immortality of concept that allowed the void-born to persist, planting seeds of corruption within the living realms.

The Star Chamber, an enigmatic nexus outside space and time, was established to maintain the cosmic balance. These universal laws ensured that good and evil coexisted in equilibrium, neither side gaining ultimate supremacy. Yet, the void-born gods quietly waited for their chance to tip the scales, knowing that the mere idea of their existence was enough to spread their influence.

The SparkArk Eternal Mission

Each SparkArk carried a crew of immortal beings, often mistaken for angels or divine entities. These beings were not privy to the full extent of the Architect’s grand design, their purpose limited to the maintenance and operation of the living ships. They served as stewards, ensuring that the Spark was deployed only in regions devoid of life and that the ship’s immense power was never misused.

When a Spark was triggered, the crew’s work began in earnest. They nurtured the newly created worlds, guiding nascent life forms toward stability and growth. Their efforts extended to maintaining the balance within each spiral nebula, ensuring that the void-born old gods did not gain a foothold within the fragile ecosystems.

The Corruption of Thought

Evil’s immortality lay in its conceptual nature. A single corrupted planet, imbued with the knowledge of the universe, could become a beacon for the void-born old gods. Imagine a civilization advanced by this knowledge, using it not for unity but for conquest. Such a society could spread the void-born’s influence across the stars, creating interstellar fleets and establishing ShadowGates—portals that allowed the void-born to breach the living realms.

The void-born old gods were not mere villains in the cosmic narrative. They were ancient beings with their own rules, laws, and cultures, remnants of a time before the light. To those who worshipped them, they offered freedom, knowledge, and power. The more life forms that believed in them, the stronger their connection to the living realm became.

The Tapestry of Creation

The SparkArks were integral to the Architect’s ever-evolving tapestry, a grand plan of cosmic balance. Each ship contributed to this ongoing work, its records and discoveries woven into the larger picture. Yet, the tapestry was never complete, constantly shifting as the universe expanded and evolved. The SparkArks’ mission was endless, their purpose intertwined with the preservation and propagation of life.

GM Tips

For GMs, the SparkArks and the void-born old gods offer a wealth of storytelling opportunities. SparkArks can serve as ancient relics or dormant entities discovered by adventurers, their crews acting as enigmatic NPCs with fragmented memories of the Architect’s grand design. These ships could be the setting for an entire campaign, with players unraveling their mysteries and grappling with their immense power.

The void-born old gods provide a compelling antagonist force, their influence subtly shaping the narrative. A corrupted planet or society can become a focal point, with players working to undo the damage caused by their advanced yet malevolent knowledge. ShadowGates can serve as dangerous objectives, their closure or destruction preventing the void-born from gaining further footholds.

The balance maintained by the Star Chamber offers a thematic underpinning, challenging players to consider the moral and philosophical implications of their actions. Are they preserving balance, or tipping the scales in favor of one side? The ambiguity of the void-born and their relationship with the light can add layers of complexity to the narrative, making for a rich and engaging campaign rooted in the cosmic lore of Dicesongs.