An expanse of white spreads out in all directions only to be broken by the occasional pulse of power. Each pulse came from the cracks and veins running through the entire space breaking up be lack of color of the space. The whiteness itself was neither glaring nor dull as it felt almost warm and gave off a stable and comfortable feeling to it.

Gold and silver could be seen from the veins with each ebb of force, revealing the shapes of some of the features within the expanse. One such feature was a round table with and indent in the middle which had a conical pedestal. Suspended in space mere inches over the top of the pedestal was an orb. The orb had a kind translucency that made its existence feel ephemeral but that too was also broken by the pulsing of an intricately complex web of same kind of gold and silver veins running all throughout its surface and interior, a pattern full of a chaos that gave of an almost ironic feel of total equilibrium to it.

Nine identically indistinct seats were also arrayed round this table equi-distant from each other. Upon each seat were beings of similarly different traits and characteristics from one another and each was a pinnacle of perfection of the races of the sentients which bear their likenesses.

The were three figures standing, also equi-distant from one another, behind the round table and the seats of the beings, which then began to speak.

“An eon has passed as the seeds of life you all had imprinted and released into the world have sprouted and had begun to bloom.” A wave of the figures’ hands caused the orb over the pedestal to glow and an image of the world.

“They have been scattered by the wind, grown roots, and began to reproduce. Some have crossed expanses and set themselves far and wide, encountering one another, finding commonality, mixing and intermingling. Inevitably, conflict arose and lives that bloomed were withered and after a time, cycles of growth and culling have changed their populations. Now many have come together in peace, cooperation and affinity. While a few others have chosen the path of isolation for reasons of, defense, fear and loathing against the rest.”

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A barrage of images flashed through each and every mind of those seated. The perspectives gleamed from certain individuals that were at one point “imprinted” by the progenitors. The “imprints” just mere pins on the individual beings bringing no consequence to them though giving a slightly higher perception and sensitivity to the senses, greater vitality and health, and increased intellect.

Experiences of hardship, success, suffering, bliss, destitution, indulgence, serfdom, privilege, discrimination, parity, sorrow and joy, and all states in between and along with the emotions carried in them were transmitted unto those seated.

The three figures opened their mouths once more, “The time draws near as a tumult is coming to the whole world. The change back then has brought a renewal to lands and seas and the lives that populate it now have become as a moving force of the flow of this world. The cracks that could never be sealed over remained inert for near an eon and have recently trickled over letting out an agent of potent power which may distort, corrupt, empower or or enhance any life that bathes in it.”

The round table and the pedestal vanishes as the image of the world remains and cracks of putrid and ominous red and black snake across through the lands and under the waters. The three figures now stood in front of the seated nine between the image of the world with eyes glowing with speckles of light like the stars in the pitch night sky.

“Champions shall rise now as to bring balance to the seeping out power of the world. A group for every race is to represent for them, as their strength is best brought out together and not alone, for by themselves each may be more than a match for a dozen of the best of their own race but working together they are able to face armies. Abuse of this power shall bring downfall and ruin far quicker so now each of you shall take up a more active role in guiding the sentient races.”

Three hands pointed from one side to the next, passing over each of those seated and causing their eyes to glow the same radiance of the standing three and a resonance with those “imprinted” occurred.

To the nine, all these events are merely long moments, perfectly recorded in their memories, but to the world two and a half centuries has passed since the rise of such champions.