Elysians

The *Elysians, sometimes referred to as the Azulum Kindred-kindred)* by other denizens of the Omnium Theocracy, are a species renowned throughout the Pantocrator’s Landmass for their exceptional ingenuity and formidable psionic capabilities. Originating from the Uran galaxy, and more specifically the world of Elysia orbiting the cerulean star Azulum within the Celemus system, these beings have carved a significant niche for themselves within the Theocracy, most notably as the sole purveyors of Foldspace technology. Their history is steeped in ancient galactic empires, internecine conflicts, and a profound connection to the very fabric of spacetime, making them a fascinating and integral component of the diverse tapestry that is the Omnium Theocracy, as detailed in the historical records of the Wars of the Cosmos.

Physiology and Demeanor

Elysians are a humanoid species, characterized by a slender yet resilient build. Males typically reach heights of up to two meters, while females average around 1.87 meters. Their skin possesses a distinctive grey-blue hue, often described as being reminiscent of twilight skies or polished steel. However, perhaps the most striking feature of Elysian physiology is the correlation between their hair color and the intensity of their psionic aptitude.

Psionic Castes

Elysian society is loosely structured around three distinct Psionic Castes, primarily identified by hair coloration:

Cobalt Blue Caste

The Cobalt Blue Caste represents the most populous stratum of Elysian society. Individuals of this caste possess moderate psionic abilities that, while not as overtly powerful as those of higher castes, are nonetheless integral to the functioning of their civilization. These abilities are typically employed in everyday tasks, facilitating mental synchronization for collaborative projects, and manifesting minor reality-bending feats that streamline daily life and industry. Cobalt Blue Elysians form the backbone of their society, serving as common laborers, skilled artisans, meticulous scientists, efficient administrators, and the majority of low to mid-level Elysian Machine-smiths. Their psionic talents ensure the smooth operation of the Technarchate’s vast infrastructure and societal mechanisms.

Purple Caste

The Purple Caste encompasses Elysians with significantly enhanced psionic capabilities. These individuals are frequently gifted with potent foresight, enabling them to perceive potential futures and navigate complex scenarios with uncanny accuracy. Telepathic dominion is also common, granting them the ability to communicate and influence minds across considerable distances. Furthermore, Purple caste Elysians possess an innate aptitude for perceiving higher-dimensional structures, an ability that proves invaluable in the design and maintenance of Foldspace technology and other advanced constructs. As a result of these enhanced talents, Purple caste Elysians often ascend to positions of influence, serving as trusted advisors, strategic planners, and higher-ranking Machine-smiths within the Technarchate.

Argent Caste (Zeniths)

The Argent Caste, often referred to as Zeniths, represents the pinnacle of Elysian psionic evolution. These are the most exceptionally gifted psionic beings within Elysian society. Their sheer presence subtly warps probability, causing minor fluctuations in reality around them. Their mental acuity is so profound that they can perceive the unseen fabric of spacetime, granting them an almost intuitive understanding of the cosmos. Grand Technarch Idris Vorsen himself, the leader of the Technarchate of Elysia, is a Zenith, exemplifying the immense power and perception inherent to this caste. Due to their extraordinary abilities, Zeniths often occupy the highest echelons of Elysian leadership and innovation, guiding the Technarchate's destiny and pushing the boundaries of technological and psionic understanding.

Historical Epochs

Elysian history is marked by distinct epochs, each contributing to their present societal structure and technological prowess.

The Yronum Imperium

Millennia prior to the establishment of the Omnium Theocracy, the Elysians were the architects of the Yronum Empire, a vast interstellar dominion that once held sway over much of the Uran galaxy. Archaeological records unearthed across Uran detail a period of relentless expansion and conquest, during which the Yronum Empire subjugated numerous "lesser" species, culminating in acts of documented xenocide. This era of dominance was characterized by remarkable technological advancement, evidenced by the ancient star spheres and foldgates that still dot Uran, whose energy efficiency remains unmatched even by contemporary Technarchate technology.

However, the Yronum Empire’s ambition extended beyond the confines of Uran. Driven by a thirst for further dominion, they dispatched fleets beyond their home galaxy. Historical records become fragmented and incomplete at this juncture, yet scholars theorize that these fleets ventured towards the vicinity of The Black Epitaph, the gaping wound in reality. Whatever transpired during this ill-fated expedition triggered the emergence of a devourer-god known only as "The Cadaver." This entity unleashed a wave of desolation across thousands of Yronum worlds, leaving devastation in its wake.

The Yronum Empire, already stretched thin by its extensive conquests, invested vast resources and military might in combating The Cadaver. While the devourer-god was eventually vanquished, the empire was left shattered, its infrastructure crippled, and its societal fabric torn. The galaxy of Uran descended into chaos, with countless enclaves seceding from the crumbling empire and vying for dominance. Elysia itself, once the crown jewel of the Yronum Empire, fractured into warring warlord states, losing its central significance and historical continuity amidst the turmoil.

The War for Unity and the Age of Light

The fractured state of Uran persisted for centuries, characterized by constant conflict and technological stagnation. This era of strife continued until the emergence of Idris Vorsen, a warlord from Elysia who harbored a vision of galactic unification and a new age of enlightenment. Idris, through a combination of military acumen, strategic brilliance, and fortuitous discovery of ancient technologies, began to consolidate power across Elysia.

A pivotal moment in Idris’s ascent was the discovery of a lost Biblioteca hidden beneath a mountain, containing ancient military strategies, tactical doctrines, and vaults of forgotten technology, including Oscillating Grids. This discovery, coupled with his own Zenith psionic abilities, propelled him to the forefront of the Elysian power struggle. Utilizing the Oscillating Grids to bolster his enclave’s prosperity, Idris embarked on a campaign to reclaim lost knowledge and unify Elysia under his banner.

His forces, gradually evolving into the precursor to the Technarchate’s war constructs, engaged in numerous battles against rival warlords and coalitions. These conflicts, though often brutal, served to refine Elysian military doctrine and drive technological innovation. Victories fueled industrial growth, laying the foundation for the future war machine of the Technarchate. After years of relentless warfare, Idris successfully brought Elysia under his control, establishing the Technarchate of Elysia as the dominant power.

Following the unification of Elysia, Idris turned his attention to the broader Uran galaxy. Utilizing ancient foldgates and newly developed war fleets, the Technarchate embarked on a campaign to bring the entire galaxy under its fold. This "War for Unity" spanned centuries, encountering both fierce resistance and willing acquiescence from various star systems. As the war raged, Idris recognized the need for specialized military divisions to enhance the Technarchate's war effort. This realization led to the founding of the first sects of Elysian Machine-smiths, beginning with the Circuit Theurgists.

The Gear Hierophants and Cog Magi sects followed, each contributing specialized skills and technologies to the Technarchate's growing military and industrial complex. After a millennium of galactic conflict, the War for Unity concluded with Uran fully under the Technarchate’s dominion, ushering in the Age of Light. This era was marked by unprecedented technological advancement, societal reforms, and the establishment of rights and representation for secondary species within the Technarchate. Shortly before the war’s end, the Technomancers sect was founded, completing the core structure of Elysian Machine-smiths.

Arrival at the Plateau

A mere decade into the Age of Light, the cosmos witnessed an extraordinary event: the creation of the Pantocrator’s Landmass by Uzhyr. This event, involving the repositioning of a million galaxies in a mere thirty minutes, sent shockwaves across the cosmos, disrupting established astronomical charts and causing widespread awe and consternation. Elysian astrologers, who meticulously charted the cosmos from advanced observatories on Uran’s fringes, were thrown into disarray.

The sheer scale and inexplicable nature of this event sparked both fascination and fear among the Elysian populace. Some interpreted it as a divine intervention, while others viewed it with apprehension, fearing the power of an entity capable of such cosmic manipulation. Grand Technarch Idris Vorsen, ever pragmatic and inquisitive, dispatched eight fleets to investigate the newly formed plateau, a tangible landmass of unimaginable scale that had materialized within the void.

These fleets encountered Uzhyr himself, the Pantocrator of the nascent Omnium Theocracy. Uzhyr, after introducing himself, teleported the Elysian fleets back to Uran, bearing a message for Idris: an invitation to join the Theocracy and receive numerous boons. Despite initial wariness, Idris, swayed by the potential benefits and Uzhyr’s undeniable power, agreed to the Covenant of Sanctuary. A foldgate was constructed, linking Uran directly to the plateau, and Elysian scout fleets ventured through, discovering barren but perfectly crafted districts awaiting habitation.

Since that day, Elysians have migrated to the Omnium Theocracy in vast numbers, driven by a variety of motivations, including the promise of stability, divine protection, and the preservation of their culture within the Pantocrator’s Landmass. Uzhyr, in turn, granted them numerous foundry-districts, recognizing their technological expertise and strategic importance. Hebhastun, their primary foundry-district, now boasts a population exceeding 500 billion Elysians, becoming a bustling hub of industry and innovation within the Theocracy.

Elysian Technology and Innovation

The Elysians are universally recognized for their technological sophistication, a testament to their ingenuity and psionic synergy with machines. Their technology, deeply interwoven with their psionic abilities, underpins the infrastructure of the Omnium Theocracy and plays a crucial role in its defense.

Machine-Smith Sects

The Elysian Machine-smiths are not a singular entity but rather a collective encompassing four distinct sects, each specializing in a different facet of technological mastery:

• Technomancers: These Machine-smiths focus on the direct mental interfacing with technology. Through rigorous meditation and psionic alignment, they develop an intuitive understanding of machines, enabling them to communicate with and manipulate technology through thought alone. While mentally taxing, this discipline allows them to perform complex tasks and harness the subtle energies of machines, particularly those linked to The Logryd, the Technarchate’s ubiquitous communication network.

• Gear Hierophants: The most learned and elder sect, Gear Hierophants are the custodians of ancient technologies, diligently deciphering and safeguarding relics discovered across Uran and beyond. They possess encyclopedic knowledge of past eras and serve as interpreters of forgotten lore, ensuring that valuable technological insights are not lost to time.

• Cog Magi: Specializing in cybernetics and bio-augmentation, the Cog Magi represent a unique fusion of technology and biology. Originally founded by survivors from the conquered Steel Sovereignty, they champion the enhancement of the flesh through bionic integration. Their cybernetic augmentations are meticulously designed to be removable and biocompatible, ensuring the well-being of the recipient.

• Circuit Theurgists: This sect is responsible for the creation of Noetic Sapients, semi-sentient programs imbued with a specific purpose. Through a meditative process, Circuit Theurgists extract a focused thought and imprint it onto a datalith, creating a Noetic Sapient dedicated to fulfilling that singular task. This process is subtly adapted for different Elysian technologies requiring specialized sapient programs.

Civic Technologies

Elysian ingenuity extends beyond military applications, permeating civilian life within the Theocracy:

• Gravitic Tread Trains: These high-speed transit systems utilize gravitic treads to facilitate rapid and efficient travel across vast distances within districts.

• Lumigraphic Displays: Advanced holographic projection systems, Lumigraphic Displays, are used for communication, entertainment, and data visualization throughout the Theocracy, providing immersive 3D imagery.

• The Logryd: A galaxy-spanning wireless communication network, the Logryd connects Dataliths, Elysian war constructs, and data systems across the Theocracy, enabling seamless data transfer and communication.

• Dataliths: Versatile digital devices, Dataliths, range in size from pocket-sized units to massive screens, serving as communication terminals, data storage devices, and powerful processing units connected to the Logryd. They operate via complex cortexes, programmed by Elysian Codificators using data-parchments.

• Noetic Sapients: Created by Circuit Theurgists, Noetic Sapients are semi-sentient programs embedded within Elysian technology, serving as assistants, organizers, and educators, enhancing the functionality of various systems.

• Hrysium: A psio-conductive ore unique to Uran, Hrysium is a key component in Elysian technology, valued for its adaptability and psionic resonance.

Militant Technologies

Elysian military technology is renowned for its effectiveness and integration of psionic principles. Common armaments include:

• Shard Weapons: Projectiles accelerated to hypersonic speeds, Shard Weapons deliver devastating kinetic impact, bypassing conventional armor.

• Plasmic Weapons: Utilizing superheated plasma, Plasmic Weapons inflict thermal damage and are effective against a wide range of targets.

• Gamma Weapons: Firing concentrated beams of gamma radiation, Gamma Weapons deliver intense ionizing radiation capable of melting through armor and disrupting biological systems.

• Seismic Weapons: Melee weapons that store and release kinetic energy upon impact, Seismic Weapons deliver concussive blows capable of shattering fortifications and incapacitating enemies.

• Bier Weapons: Acronym for Brightness Intensification by Emitted Radiation, Bier Weapons fire focused beams of intense light energy, capable of searing through armor and causing significant thermal damage.

Elysian Culture and Society in the Theocracy

Elysian culture, while retaining its core identity, has adapted to the unique environment of the Omnium Theocracy. Their districts, meticulously crafted replicas of Elysian environments, provide a sense of homeworld familiarity, yet they exist within the broader context of the Theocracy’s diverse tapestry.

Their societal structure, while still influenced by the psionic caste system, is now integrated into the hierarchical framework of the Theocracy. Elysians hold a position of considerable influence, primarily due to their monopoly on Foldspace technology. No species within the Pantocrator’s Landmass is exempt from utilizing Elysian Foldspace technology for interstellar travel across the vast plateau, solidifying their strategic importance within the Theocracy.

Hebhastun Foundry-District

Hebhastun stands as the primary Elysian foundry-district within the Omnium Theocracy, a sprawling metropolis of industry and innovation. With a population exceeding 500 billion, Hebhastun serves as the heart of Elysian technological production, churning out Foldspace drives, starships, weaponry, and countless other technological marvels that sustain the Theocracy. The district is renowned for its Soaring Shipyards, colossal orbital facilities where Dominantae pattern battleships and other leviathan-class warships are constructed. Hebhastun is a testament to Elysian industriousness and their unwavering commitment to technological advancement.

Elysian Role in the War for Eternity

The Elysians are deeply committed to the defense of the Omnium Theocracy in the face of the War for Eternity. Their technological prowess is a critical asset in the conflict against the forces of the Dark Pantheon and their aberration hordes. Elysian war constructs, starships of the Theocratic Navy, and Lawwatch forces are all heavily reliant on Elysian technology and expertise.

However, the war has also presented unique challenges to the Elysians. The Tricksters of Damnation, a Tenebric legion, have successfully severed Foldspace roads connecting the Theocracy to the Technarchate of Elysia in Uran, isolating Elysian districts and hindering reinforcements. Entelius the Disgraced, a Technarch now leading the Elysian districts within the Theocracy, is tasked with re-establishing these vital Foldspace links, a mission fraught with peril and political implications. His efforts are crucial not only for the war effort but also for his own redemption in the eyes of his people.

Synaxis of Uzhyr and Elysian Faith

The Synaxis of Uzhyr, the burgeoning cult dedicated to the worship of Uzhyr, has found a significant following among the Elysian population. The Elysian emphasis on order and discipline aligns naturally with the tenets of the Synaxis, which views Uzhyr as the ultimate embodiment of order and law. Elysian Machine-smiths are instrumental in constructing Plaromas, the temples of Uzhyr, across the Theocracy, further cementing their involvement in the burgeoning faith. The Urtext of Ecclesiology, the holy book of the Synaxis, is being meticulously scribed by Gear Hierophants in Hebhastun, demonstrating the deep integration of Elysian craftsmanship and religious devotion.

Thaumaturgy and Elysian Psionic Prowess

Thaumaturgy, the nascent art of manipulating unseen energies, is finding fertile ground within the Messianic Legions of the Theocracy, and the Elysians are at the forefront of its development. Lyraeon, the Etheric Emissary, created by Vitinvesto, is mentoring Elysian and other Messianic knights in the art of Thaumaturgy.

Within the Cyber Paladins, a legion composed primarily of Elysians, a unique form of Thaumaturgy is emerging: Technosophic Thaumaturgy. This discipline seamlessly blends psionic abilities with technology, allowing Cyber Paladins to cast spells that manipulate data streams, control machines, and even alter the very fabric of digital reality, further demonstrating the Elysian aptitude for integrating psionics and technology.

Relations with Other Theocracy Species

The Elysians maintain generally cordial, if somewhat reserved, relations with other species within the Omnium Theocracy. Their expertise in Foldspace technology and their industrial output makes them indispensable, earning them a degree of respect, and sometimes envy, from other species.