The Aurelios are a long-lived humanoid species native to the Aurelion system, widely regarded as one of the most influential civilizations in recorded galactic history. They are distinguished by their pale, often luminescent skin, light hair coloration, and an ethereal physical bearing. Aurelios culture and technological development were profoundly shaped by their proximity to pre-Continuum artifacts and doctrines left behind by the Mytharil Empire, whose legacy continues to define Aurelios identity and imperial ideology.
Although commonly associated with The Aurelion Ascendancy, the Aurelios predate the modern empire by several ages.
Origins & History
Aurelios tradition holds that they are direct descendants of the Mythar, angelic custodians appointed by Helios, god of life, during the First Age to impose order upon the Prime Plane. The Mythar established the Mytharil Empire, a galaxy-spanning civilization that governed through a synthesis of divine mandate, arcane mastery, and advanced technology.
The Mytharil Empire collapsed during the First Continuum Crisis, when Valekith, Archmage of Mytharil, shattered The Continuum Crystal in an attempt to achieve godhood. Although confronted by Emperor Ezekiel, who severed Valekith’s hands, Valekith escaped into The Netherveil. The empire disintegrated shortly thereafter, leaving behind ruins, artifacts, and abandoned temple worlds.
The planet Aurelion had served as a major Mythar temple world. Following the collapse, its now mutated inhabitants inherited fragments of Mythar knowledge, including unstable forms of Rift Magic. This inheritance accelerated Aurelios development but also precipitated centuries of catastrophic arcane warfare, as mage-kings and warlords exploited rift phenomena to assert dominance over eachother.
This period ended under King Aurelion, who outlawed arcane practice entirely. He redirected remaining Mytharil knowledge into technological frameworks, developing stabilized Rift Energy systems. Using Rift-based weaponry and early flight technology, his forces eliminated or subjugated the mage factions, unified Aurelion, and erased much of Aurelios arcane history. This consolidation laid the foundation for the modern Aurelion Ascendancy.
Physical Traits
Aurelios are tall humanoids with pale to white skin that often exhibits a subtle luminescence. Hair coloration commonly ranges from white to gold or pale blonde. Eye coloration varies but frequently appears light or reflective under certain conditions.
Their physiology grants them natural lifespans spanning several centuries, with slow aging and high resistance to disease. This longevity contributes to heightened neural plasticity and extended periods of cognitive development.
So-called pure-blood Aurelions, a subset of the Aurelios population, are genetically preserved lineages closely associated with the original ruling class. These individuals often undergo memory mark implantation to achieve functional immortality, transferring consciousness into synthetic bodies or successive biological hosts.
Society and Culture
Aurelios society has historically emphasized refinement, mastery, and continuity. Their extended lifespans fostered a strong cultural inclination toward the arts, architecture, philosophy, and long-form craftsmanship. Mastery of a discipline over centuries was considered both achievable and expected.
Following King Aurelion’s reforms, arcane practice was eradicated from public life and memory. Cultural narratives were rewritten to frame technological ascension as the rightful inheritance of the Mythar, while magic was recast as a destabilizing relic of a failed age.
Modern Aurelion society is rigidly stratified. The Aurelion Aristocracy, composed primarily of pure-blood Aurelions, resides on the moon of Aurelion, terraformed into a controlled paradise. Aurelion Prime, now a fully urbanized ecumenopolis, houses the broader Aurelios population. Select individuals deemed genetically or cognitively optimal may be harvested as hosts for memory mark transfer.
Legacy
The Aurelios have left an enduring imprint on galactic history through both direct conquest and systemic influence. Their transformation of Rift Magic into stable technological application reshaped warfare, transit, and energy production across multiple galactic sectors.
However, the erasure of their arcane past remains a point of contention among historians and rival powers. Surviving Mytharil ruins and suppressed records suggest that Aurelios dominance was built as much on denial and revision as on inheritance.
Today, the Aurelios stand as both heirs and revisionists of the Mythar legacy—beneficiaries of a fallen empire whose mistakes they claim to have corrected, while quietly repeating many of its patterns on a far greater scale.