The Legend of the Starborn

The stars in heaven are not mere balls of fire but souls – souls that are greater and brighter than we can ever hope to understand. They are not Gods, for Gods dwell on other planes. However, they are like Gods in that they have an interest in human affairs on earth. The opposing power to the stars is the darkness that lies between them, occupying the cold and desolate places. The stars are not evil nor good; they merely exist. The darkness, by contrast, is that kind of evil which cannot abide that which is different from itself. It seeks to absorb, to control, to assimilate. All mortal life, good and evil alike, is endangered.

Once in every age, there comes an Equinox of the Heroes. At this time, the power of the darkness and the power of the stars leave their equilibrium. What was certain becomes confused. What was concealed becomes manifest. Stasis gives way to conflict. According to ancient principles laid down before the universe awoke, a portion of each cosmic force is invested into mortal agents. The stars, each with its own unique essence, incarnate themselves into the bodies of mortal heroes. Similarly, the power of the darkness, universal and undifferentiated, reaches out and infuses itself into those who will become its pawns.

Those mortals who are born with the souls of stars are called the Starborn. Their adversaries, born of the principle of darkness, are called the Host.

The victory of either side determines which power will be dominant over the world until the next Equinox. Victory by the Starborn heralds an age in which mortals make their own destiny, choosing wisely or foolishly, each for himself. Victory by the Host destroys any hope of individuality. Conformity, uniformity, darkness and silence characterise the time.

It is known that the elven race has an especial interest in the Equinox of the Heroes, though nobody is quite certain why. There is an episode in their history that the younger elves do not remember and the older ones do not speak of. What is known is that those elves who aided the Starborn in past aeons created artefacts that would maintain the connection between the stars and the earth. These varied in form but the most common were circles of stone, which acted as observatories and calendars as well as spiritual sanctuaries. At these places, the power of the stars was focused and strengthened. They would become rallying points for the Starborn at each Equinox of the Heroes. If one of the Starborn was slain, the star-soul could be reunited with the body by taking it to one of these places.

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