The Herta

Mysterious, godlike higher-dimensional beings who preside over the universe. The birth of an Aeon gives rise to a Path, which the Aeon then has power over.

An individual who has attained the permission of an Aeon to draw power from THEIR chosen Path. While not subservient to the Aeons, Emanators are as good as emissaries of the Aeons' wills in everyone else's eyes.

Corruption and aberration caused to living flora, fauna, and the landscape due to exposure to a Stellaron. Monsters created by the Fragmentum tend to model themselves after the Stellaron's surrounding. Those who die in Fragmentum-affected areas with strong emotions can remain as Echoes, retaining some of the traits they had while living. These Echoes are generally more intelligent and can lead other Fragmentum monsters into battle.

Those whose wills align closely to an Aeonic Path, allowing them to draw power from it.

A lifeform with a special property that tethers them to a certain Path or Aeon's power, spreading across the universe like a cancerous growth. They respond to the desires of the world to which it is tethered. However, the cost of fulfilling those desires often brings great disaster to the world. They are considered seeds of disaster that cause massive changes to civilizations and ecosystems, and result in the appearance of Fragmentum. There is no known way to destroy a Stellaron; currently, the most that can be done is contain its energy.

An Aeon who inspires THEIR believers to delight in the joys of life, THEY enjoy causing chaos through unpredictable means. Takes the form of a shadowy, headless human figure, the area where its face would be surrounded by a multitude of tragicomedy masks, holding circus-themed props in its large hands. When Akivili was alive, Aha once blew up half of the Astral Express to prank THEM.

Of all known Aeons, Akivili was the closest to mankind; THEY were recorded adventuring, fighting, and celebrating with mortals. Disappeared and presumed deceased.

The Aeon that presides over the Path of Remembrance, who records all that has been forgotten and prepares for the rebirth of the universe. Fuli manifests as a humanoid figure carved out of reflective crystal, wearing a mianguan.

Aeon of the Path of Equilibrium. Their form is unknown. HooH and their Emanators influence the universe surreptitiously, trying to achieve an ideal balance.

The Aeon that presided over the Path of Beauty. THEY have disappeared and are presumed dead by most.

The Aeon that presides over the Path of Nihility. THEY believe that the ultimate fate of the multiverse is nothingness, and therefore, worthless. Resembles a large purple blob with two white eyes, a large collection of asteroids and planets being pulled towards THEM.

The Aeon presiding over the Path of the Hunt. THEY wander endlessly between worlds to destroy the undead abominations of Yaoshi that once poisoned THEIR homeworld. THEY appear as a colossal, faceless, bluish-purple centaur wielding a bow, a crown sitting on their brow and their hind legs a pair of chariot wheels.

The Aeon that presides over the Path of Enigmata. THEY believe that things-in-themselves are beyond perception, and that finite entities are incapable of envisioning true infinity, and therefore everything is an enigma. THEIR form resembles a broken and torn jellyfish, akin to a deliberately destroyed version of the cognitive center of the human brain. THEY have a humanoid body surrounded by an infinite staircase in the style of M.C. Escher.

The Aeon representing the Path of Destruction and the leader of the Antimatter Legion. Nanook presents THEMSELF as a human male with long white hair, with long braids, brown skin and golden eyes. A giant scar, along with multiple smaller scars, is seen on THEIR chest, with golden ichor seeping out.

Aeon that presides over the Path of Erudition. THEY were an astral supercomputer rumored to be created by the Genius Society's founder, Zandar One Kuwabara, prior to THEIR ascension into Aeonhood. Appears as a colossal mechanical humanoid head. A multitude of lengthy ripped cables extend above and below THEIR form, and a large, bright red light, reminiscent of an eye, shines from the side of THEIR head. Herta has personally met Nous twice, and is one of THEIR Emanators.

An ancient Aeon that presides over the Path of Voracity. The unsatisfied devourer of worlds. Legends say THEY are also a kind of ancient being called a Leviathan.

Aeon representing the path of Preservation; one of the oldest known Aeons. The builder of the Celestial Comet Wall, the Subspace Crystalline Barrier, and the Great Attractor Base. Qlipoth is a legless golem littered with cracks, composed of an unknown type of rock and amber.

Aeon who presided over the Path of Propagation. THEY were motivated by nothing but the need to propagate and spread across the universe. Responsible for the rise of The Swarm and its eventual spread throughout the universe during the Swarm Disaster.

The Aeon that moves backward in time and presides over the Path of Finality. An apparition that travels across the universe while murmuring a prophecy that is destined to be fulfilled.

Representing the Path of Harmony, THEY are the amalgamation of thousands of entities that preaches the joy of human harmony and unity. Xipe presents as a serene periwinkle-skinned humanoid with three faces — two on either side of the head and one on the front. The faces are framed with lengthy white curtain bangs and are each adorned with a circlet. Xipes' extensive swathe of hair is colored white with a twinkling dark purple ombre. A bright amalgamation of colors flares behind THEIR head, reminiscent of a halo.

The nurturer of all beings and the Aeon of paradise. THEIR aim is the continual proliferation of life. Yaoshi presides over the Path of Abundance and is the sworn enemy of Lan, Aeon of The Hunt. THEY appear as a delicate human with six arms, a scorpion-like hooked tail, and hair similar to a magpie’s feather. Antlers resembling branches sprout from THEIR head. THEIR body is peppered with lesions containing red seeds that resemble serpentine eyes.

The Astral Express is a large train that was created by the Aeon Akivili the Trailblaze, and used to transport them and the Nameless across the galaxy. The Astral Express Crew's goal is to retrace Akivili's steps, repairing the star rail they laid down thousands of years ago and sealing the Stellarons threatening the galaxy.

A massive, intergalactic army of hostile, malevolent monsters led by the Aeon Nanook, based in the Warforge. Their goal is the destruction of all life and civilization in the universe. Enemies of the Astral Express, and of all organic and synthetic life.

A faction that believes that they bear the sacred duty of filtering memories for the Aeons. They steal the stored memories that Memokeepers have gathered and rank them in order of importance. The ones that they deem worthy are returned to the collection, whereas the ones arbitrarily deemed unworthy are completely destroyed, never to be found again. The Cremators claim that they are cleaning out the garbage, all in hopes of relieving some of Fuli's burdens. However, the Garden of Recollection despise such rhetoric, for the smallest shard of memory in the universe holds just as great of importance as the grandest of feats. No mortal has the right to judge the value of any piece of memory.

The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are a secret sect loyal to Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance, who they refer to as "Merciful Medicus." There are two different groups of the same name. The first group was generally harmless, worshipping Yaoshi in secrecy for thousands of years until they transformed into the Cold Springs sect. The Cold Springs sect reformed the Xianzhou's healthcare system and eventually renounced Yaoshi. They believed that mara existed because Yaoshi's will was improperly executed. The more recent Disciples of Sanctus Medicus rose in the wake of the Third Abundance War. They operated in secrecy, seeking to lead the Xianzhou Alliance on the Path of Abundance. They believe that mara, rather than being a curse, is a kind of "blessed evolution."

Ponderers who inadvertently encountered the Nihility. The Doctors of Chaos do not believe in absolute nihility. All that appears meaningless must have its own irrefutable purpose. They attempt to resist the destiny of Nihility, and try to prove to the Aeon of Nihility the meaning behind the existence of all things.

A voluntarily formed righteous group that believes the goodness and justice of the universe must be served through the actions of individuals. After breeding enmity with Dr. Primitive, member 64 of Genius Society, the group was never heard from again.

Collectors of precious memories from across the universe. They freely travel between worlds and try to find memories that can please their Aeon, Fuli.

The people who have received the grace of the Aeon, Nous. A collection of the most remarkable geniuses and smartest brains in the universe. They come from different backgrounds, have different ideals and goals. Some are even lunatics, like Rubert I, who dedicated itself to eradicate all organic life forms in the universe, or Polka Kakamond, known for killing fellow members of the society. Herta is a member of this faction.

A space station founded by Herta, member #83 of the Genius Society. Researchers from different planets comes to work here as a researcher and most of them are faithful followers of Herta. Qualifying for a researcher role in the Herta Space Station is a hard process and is a cherished goal of the scientific community.

Emissaries of the Aeon, Mythus. They travel planet to planet with the sole purpose of fabricating, obscuring, destroying, and erasing the local history. History Fictionologists believe that the past determines the future — when a civilization's history is definite, its future development is doomed as all possibilities are eliminated, leaving only a sad and rigid path forward. With "Enigmata" as their sole philosophy, they are determined to shroud the universe in mists.

An academic institution subsidized by the Interastral Peace Corporation. The Intelligentsia Guild advocates that "all knowledge must be circulated like currency." Therefore, although there are different schools that specialize in different subjects within the Guild, everyone is actively engaged with one another with no isolationism. Members trade knowledge for wisdom and formulas for recipes, seeking to achieve mastery. Each school, like a business, pays for itself, and academic circulation has achieved the maximum efficiency proposed in economic models.

An intergalactic megacorporation responsible for the economy of the entire cosmos. Purportedly follows Qlipoth, having been formed for the purpose of providing THEM with building materials, but the Aeon has never used any of the resources amassed by the IPC that have been made available to THEM. Some members of the IPC sense that it is truly on the Path of Voracity, in line with Oroboros' insatiable hunger. Overseen by a board of directors, three of whom, Arita, Madam Scarred Eye, and Taravan Keane, are heads of departments.

A faction of skillful warriors who follow the Aeon Idrila, many believing THEM to be missing as opposed to deceased. They travel the cosmos, helping those in need, regularly finding themselves in battles. Extremely self-disciplined, stubbornly abiding by an obsolete creed known as the Code of Chivalry, believing that only through a perfectly refined body, mind, and spirit can they become truly worthy of worshipping Idrila. Despite their extraordinary strength, the major factions of the cosmos hold the Knights of Beauty in low regard: Warriors with only worship but little faith are but wastrels traversing the universe, and cannot form a powerful force.

A faction of radical followers of the Elation, believing the world to be nothing but a joke, and its ultimate end, laughter. In their pursuit of pleasure, they do whatever it takes to find it, often causing havoc wherever they go. They laugh at heroes for self-righteousness, kings for their lust of power, lovers for their infatuation, and scholars for their overthinking. The Fools' objective is to stir the stagnant pool of life to create surges and change. Each member possesses a unique "mask" belonging only to them, bestowed by Aha, that allows them to obtain power from their Path.

Those who firmly resist the path of Elation. They advocate for abstinence and penance to dilute the temptation of elation. Their powers come from blessings of the Aeon of Elation, Aha. The Actors ride a gondola that spans the stars to perform. They collect and wear masks from different worlds, symbolizing the races that have passed and those that have not. They record the sorrows of intelligent life, composing magnificent tragedies for heroes facing their end and singing graceful elegies for dying stars.

Someone who accidentally stepped into IX the Nihility's shadow and from that moment forth lost their reason for existence. Despairing Self-Annihilators roam the universe in solitude. Most meet meaningless ends.

An ancient, space-faring civilization following the Aeon Lan. The alliance's goals were to patrol the world and eradicate all Abominations of Abundance, and put an end to the corruption of the undead. The surviving starships that make up the alliance are collectively referred to as the Hexafleet, and consist of the Luofu, the Xuling, the Yaoqing, the Yuque, and the Zhuming.

The core section between the two-stage structure separating the starship and the Herta Space Station. It is the section where researchers partake in their primary daily activities.

Part of the Herta Space Station; it can be detached from the station, capable of traversing the Cosmos on its own. It serves as the brain of operations when attached to the station's main body.

Once a major research facility for cutting-edge experimentation, offering convenient conditions for high-risk experiments conducted between the shuttles, laboratories, and the greenhouse. Currently closed off due to unsafe conditions.

The area of the Herta Space Station used to house curios. Gigantic pathways can be found in the center, snaking through the upper and lower level rooms where different departments store their collections.

The logistics hub of the Herta Space Station. It has all manner of resources stored within its confines, supervises an energy core, and its equipped with a fully established railway platform. It stands as an essential junction for operations and maintenance.

A project jointly made by four members of the Genius Society: Herta, who provides the project venue, personnel, and resources, Ruan Mei, a master in the field of creation who cultivated the protoplasm simulating the Aeons, Screwllum, who wrote the underlying logic of the program and the algorithm for the galaxy, and Stephen Lloyd. Its objective is to find the truth about Aeons, how were they created, why were they created and what were they created for.

The theory was to find the answer to the fourth Cosmic Conundrum: "Is the universe predetermined or not?" This theory is based on a wave that permeates in the Imaginary background. Born from an unknown point, and disappears beyond an unfathomable range, which if the experiment is in it, there will always be a mysterious error. This wave was always identical, never decayed, and was unaffected by the distortion of space time. This wave is a Moment extrapolated by Nous. The problem was eventually solved by Herta during her childhood. Its formula is: -|c|⩽14,█cem

A formula Herta crafted that proved extremely useful in the field of engineering. Its formula is: 1>2|ZN+1|=|Z

An oceanic planet orbited by the Herta Space Station. Water that represents life and particles that represent energy can be found there. People visiting the Blue often get turned around at the space station. Herta describes the Blue as "her planet." According to Herta, she has saved the Blue from destruction 19 times, and built Herta Space Station just to contain an inactive Stellaron and keep the Blue from disaster.

The lead researcher of Herta Space Station and a lady from a renowned family. She's an astronomer overflowing with curiosity, and excels at managing the disparate staff of the space station. Though Herta often deflects "bothersome" things to her so she doesn't have to deal with them herself, she truly does appreciate Asta, and considers her one of the only "tolerable" people aboard her space station.

The head of Herta Space Station's Security Department. This quiet boy hopes to protect the researchers who value their pursuit of knowledge, and to help them to complete their work. Herta never has any particular reason to interact with him, but she considers it a sign of his competence; he's handling her space station's security—and protecting her Curios—well enough that there's no reason for them to speak.

A sweet-tempered and elegant scholar, and Member #81 of the Genius Society. She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of biology, and gained the Aeon Nous' attention due to her talent and terrifying perseverance. One of Herta's collaborators on her newest project, the Simulated Universe. Herta begrudgingly puts up with the bioengineer's covert meddling with certain of its internal systems to make test runs of the system easier for the volunteers that participate within the simulations. The two are friends, in their unusual guarded yet sincere way.

Member #76 of the Genius Society. He lives on, and is the ruler of, Planet Screwllum. He is a mechanical lifeform. Screwllum is responsible for writing the underlying logic and algorithm for the false galaxy in the Simulated Universe. Herta considers him her equal, and they have a cordial and friendly relationship.

Stephen Lloyd is member #84 of the Genius Society.  He is a genius with no interest in using his abilities, and spends most of this time in his adoptive father's fruit shop. He is incredibly enthusiastic about gaming and helps generate ideas to make the Simulated Universe more fun. He is very shy, and he rarely, if ever, shows up inside the Simulated Universe when it is being play-tested. Herta takes on somewhat of a mentor-like role towards him, as the one who most often helps him communicate with others in a way he finds more comfortable, or explaining his unusual or erratic-seeming behavior in modifications he makes to the Simulated Universe. That said, she also recognizes his talent and skill openly, encouraging him.