The atraxi are the people of Atraxis Prime, ruled by Jorhan. Amos and Jareth are atraxi scientists.
The atraxi are a long-lived humanoid people from the Atraxis system. They are taller, paler and denser than humans. Refugees escaped the destruction of Atraxis Prime Alpha through a gate and settled in Xalmyrra, where they learned magic and developed an illness that made them dependent on controlled essence.
Appearance and physiology
Atraxi bodies are sturdier and substantially heavier than human bodies of similar size. Valrindor's lighter gravity made movement easier for the refugees, and their bodies could hold much more essence than those of humans. As they adapted to it, they gained strength and their aging slowed. Members of the refugee group lived for millennia.
Atraxi and humans can have children together. The half-human children of the Xalmyrran refugees remained healthy when their pure-blooded relatives fell ill; pure-blooded children could not survive under those conditions.
Magic and illness
The refugees learned to manipulate essence after arriving in Valrindor. Their affinities differed: Amos used fire magic, Jareth air magic, and Eshmir divine healing. Belanor's command of temporal magic helped Amos and Jareth make gate activators that released a stored spell when broken.
An illness spread among the pure-blooded refugees, causing them to absorb essence uncontrollably until their bodies collapsed inward. Essence towers could temporarily stabilize them. Later, Jorhan controlled a reservoir in Atraxis Prime that sustained the remnant.
Language and technology
The atraxi's native language is structured and efficient. It spread through trade and settlement in Xalmyrra, replacing much of the local Malverine and becoming Xalmyrran.
Their civilization used spacecraft and scanners. On Valrindor, the refugees lacked the minerals needed to rebuild their old technology. They adapted to essence instead, improving essence towers, building new gates and helping construct parks and the Luminary Halls in Zeydrith.
History
Arrival and settlement
A black tide overtook Alpha and the atraxi's dying star. Jorhan blamed gods for the catastrophe, but his companions did not accept that as fact. Earlier expeditions had left to find habitable worlds; Jorhan gathered the remaining refugees aboard a final spacecraft, and Amos and Jareth powered its gate for one evacuation.
The refugees emerged high above the sea near Irrathis, losing people and equipment in the fall and swim ashore. Fewer than two hundred survived the crossing. Xoltan Morvayne welcomed them to Teryndal, and Aldred Behn offered sanctuary in exchange for their skills. Most settled in Irrathis; others moved to Valcirae and Varentis. Their increasing essence consumption worsened corruption.
Exile and Atraxis Prime
When the illness spread, Aldred ordered the pure-blooded atraxi to leave. Their half-human families could remain, splitting households. The exiles attempted to settle the western island that became Xolterra. Jorhan claimed a spiral shard there, and its uncontrolled power reshaped the island and released essence that killed many of his companions. The survivors fled.
After defeating Aldred, Jorhan sustained the refugees with his shard power. Amos and Jareth built Atraxis Prime, connected through the void, with an essence reservoir at its heart. Jorhan remade Xalmyrra in recurring cycles, using its growing population as a source of essence for the atraxi. Their numbers continued to decline while the researchers sought contact with the earlier expeditions.
The final cycle
Thalena defeated Jorhan in the final Xalmyrran cycle, ending the cycles. While he was away, attackers destroyed Atraxis Prime and killed most of its remaining inhabitants. Thirun, left mortally wounded, told Belanor that Jareth had been with them. Jorhan and Eshmir returned alive to the ruined town.
The atraxi are a long-lived humanoid people from the Atraxis system. They are taller, paler and denser than humans. Refugees escaped the destruction of Atraxis Prime Alpha through a gate and settled in Xalmyrra, where they learned magic and developed an illness that made them dependent on controlled essence.
Appearance and physiology
Atraxi bodies are sturdier and substantially heavier than human bodies of similar size. Valrindor's lighter gravity made movement easier for the refugees, and their bodies could hold much more essence than those of humans. As they adapted to it, they gained strength and their aging slowed. Members of the refugee group lived for millennia.
Atraxi and humans can have children together. The half-human children of the Xalmyrran refugees remained healthy when their pure-blooded relatives fell ill; pure-blooded children could not survive under those conditions.
Magic and illness
The refugees learned to manipulate essence after arriving in Valrindor. Their affinities differed: Amos used fire magic, Jareth air magic, and Eshmir divine healing. Belanor's command of temporal magic helped Amos and Jareth make gate activators that released a stored spell when broken.
Isandriel, encouraged by Aldred Behn and Tal'Massar, secretly destabilized one atraxi's essence in Irrathis. Aldred feared that the refugees' excessive essence use would ruin the world. The disorder spread through their population, causing affected atraxi to absorb essence uncontrollably until their bodies collapsed inward. Essence towers could temporarily stabilize them. Later, Jorhan controlled a reservoir in Atraxis Prime that sustained the remnant.
Language and technology
The atraxi's native language is structured and efficient. It spread through trade and settlement in Xalmyrra, replacing much of the local Malverine and becoming Xalmyrran.
Their civilization used spacecraft and scanners. On Valrindor, the refugees lacked the minerals needed to rebuild their old technology. They adapted to essence instead, improving essence towers, building new gates and helping construct parks and the Luminary Halls in Zeydrith.
History
Arrival and settlement
A black tide overtook Alpha and the atraxi's dying star. Jorhan blamed gods for the catastrophe, but his companions did not accept that as fact. Earlier expeditions had left to find habitable worlds; Jorhan gathered the remaining refugees aboard a final spacecraft, and Amos and Jareth powered its gate for one evacuation.
The refugees emerged high above the sea near Irrathis, losing people and equipment in the fall and swim ashore. Fewer than two hundred survived the crossing. Xoltan Morvayne welcomed them to Teryndal, and Aldred offered sanctuary in exchange for their skills. Most settled in Irrathis; others moved to Valcirae and Varentis. Their increasing essence consumption worsened corruption.
Exile and Atraxis Prime
When the illness spread, Aldred ordered the pure-blooded atraxi to leave. Their half-human families could remain, splitting households. The exiles attempted to settle the western island that became Xolterra. Jorhan claimed a spiral shard there, and its uncontrolled power reshaped the island and released essence that killed many of his companions. The survivors fled.
After defeating Aldred, Jorhan sustained the refugees with his shard power. Amos and Jareth built Atraxis Prime, connected through the void, with an essence reservoir at its heart. Jorhan remade Xalmyrra in recurring cycles, using its growing population as a source of essence for the atraxi. Their numbers continued to decline while the researchers sought contact with the earlier expeditions.
The final cycle
Thalena defeated Jorhan in the final Xalmyrran cycle, ending the cycles. On her orders, Jareth brought Isaac's people into Atraxis Prime while Jorhan was away; the settlement was destroyed and most of its remaining inhabitants killed. Jorhan and Eshmir survived their return, and Amos had already escaped through the gates. Jareth joined Thalena's work in Thalassai after Isaac healed him.
After Jorhan used his remaining power to clear darkness in Durakarn, he and Eshmir died.
The atraxi are a long-lived humanoid people from the planets of the Atraxis system. They are taller, paler and denser than humans. Their civilization developed spaceflight and gates before a catastrophe drove refugees to Valrindor, where they learned magic and became dependent on controlled essence to survive. Other survivors settled in Atraxis Prime Omega and the Malverand Intergalactic Empire.
Appearance and physiology
Atraxi bodies are sturdier and substantially heavier than human bodies of similar size. Valrindor's lighter gravity made movement easier for the refugees, and their bodies could hold much more essence than those of humans. As they adapted to it, they gained strength and their aging slowed. Members of the refugee group lived for millennia.
Atraxi and humans can have children together. The half-human children of the Xalmyrran refugees remained healthy when their pure-blooded relatives fell ill; pure-blooded children could not survive under those conditions. Belanor's partly human body was an exceptional reconstruction by Eira, who revived him and Jareth after they were killed on Vireen. She used the Malverand Heart and temporal magic.
Magic and illness
The refugees learned to manipulate essence after arriving in Valrindor. Their affinities differed: Amos used fire magic, Jareth air magic, and Eshmir divine healing. Belanor's command of temporal magic helped Amos and Jareth make gate activators that released a stored spell when broken.
Isandriel, encouraged by Aldred Behn and Tal'Massar, secretly destabilized one atraxi's essence in Irrathis. Aldred feared that the refugees' excessive essence use would ruin the world. The disorder spread through their population, causing affected atraxi to absorb essence uncontrollably until their bodies collapsed inward. Essence towers could temporarily stabilize them. Later, Jorhan controlled a reservoir in Atraxis Prime that sustained the remnant.
After Amos returned to the universe of his birth, his illness ceased, although his magic almost entirely disappeared there, where little essence remained.
Language and technology
The atraxi's native language is structured and efficient. It spread through trade and settlement in Xalmyrra, replacing much of the local Malverine and becoming Xalmyrran.
The original atraxi planets had independent governments. Their civilization used spacecraft and scanners. On Valrindor, the refugees lacked the minerals needed to rebuild their old technology. They adapted to essence instead, improving essence towers, building new gates and helping construct parks and the Luminary Halls in Zeydrith.
The original gate schematics reached Amos on Atraxis Prime Alpha as fragments of information sent backward through time. Amos designed an artificial system that decoded them over many years. Thalena and Amos later transmitted those fragments from the ruined planet, completing the exchange that had made the evacuation possible.
History
The homeland and exodus
The Atraxis system belongs to a universe distinct from the Valrindor where the refugees settled. A black tide destroyed life across their home worlds and overtook their dying star. Jorhan blamed gods for the catastrophe, but his companions did not accept that as fact.
The atraxi sent expeditions to find habitable worlds. As Alpha fell, Jorhan gathered survivors aboard a final spacecraft, and Amos and Jareth powered its gate for one evacuation. The refugees emerged high above the sea near Irrathis, losing people and equipment in the fall and swim ashore. Fewer than two hundred survived the crossing.
Settlement and dependence
Xoltan Morvayne welcomed them to Teryndal, and Aldred offered sanctuary in exchange for their skills. Most settled in Irrathis; others moved to Valcirae and Varentis. Their increasing essence consumption worsened corruption.
When the illness spread, Aldred ordered the pure-blooded atraxi to leave. Their half-human families could remain, splitting households. The exiles attempted to settle the western island that became Xolterra. Jorhan claimed a spiral shard there, and its uncontrolled power reshaped the island and released essence that killed many of his companions. The survivors fled.
After defeating Aldred, Jorhan sustained the refugees with his shard power. Amos and Jareth built Atraxis Prime, connected through the void, with an essence reservoir at its heart. Jorhan remade Xalmyrra in recurring cycles, using its growing population as a source of essence for the atraxi. Their numbers continued to decline while the researchers sought contact with the earlier expeditions.
The remnant and other survivors
Thalena defeated Jorhan in the final Xalmyrran cycle, ending the cycles. On her orders, Jareth brought Isaac's people into Atraxis Prime while Jorhan was away; the settlement was destroyed and most of its remaining inhabitants killed. Jorhan and Eshmir survived their return, and Amos had already escaped through the gates. After Jorhan used his remaining power to clear darkness in Durakarn, he and Eshmir died.
Amos reached Atraxis Prime Omega, where survivors had kept a gate ready for returning expeditions. Atraxi populations joined the Malverand Intergalactic Empire, sharing some advances while retaining other knowledge. The old system was closed to visitors. Amos and Thalena found Alpha, Beta and Epsilon still physically present. Alpha was lifeless, with ruins of the former civilization.
The atraxi are a long-lived humanoid people from the planets of the Atraxis system. They are taller, paler and denser than humans. Their civilization developed spaceflight and gates before a catastrophe drove refugees to Valrindor, where they learned magic and became dependent on controlled essence to survive. Other survivors settled in Atraxis Prime Omega and the Malverand Intergalactic Empire.
Appearance and physiology
Atraxi bodies are sturdier and substantially heavier than human bodies of similar size. Valrindor's lighter gravity made movement easier for the refugees, and their bodies could hold much more essence than those of humans. As they adapted to it, they gained strength and their aging slowed. Members of the refugee group lived for millennia.
Atraxi and humans can have children together. The half-human children of the Xalmyrran refugees remained healthy when their pure-blooded relatives fell ill; pure-blooded children could not survive under those conditions. Belanor's partly human body was an exceptional reconstruction by Eira, who revived him and Jareth after they were killed on Vireen. She used the Malverand Heart and temporal magic.
Magic and illness
The refugees learned to manipulate essence after arriving in Valrindor. Their affinities differed: Amos used fire magic, Jareth air magic, and Eshmir divine healing. Belanor's command of temporal magic helped Amos and Jareth make gate activators that released a stored spell when broken.
Isandriel, encouraged by Aldred Behn and Tal'Massar, secretly destabilized one atraxi's essence in Irrathis. Aldred feared that the refugees' excessive essence use would ruin the world. The disorder spread through their population, causing affected atraxi to absorb essence uncontrollably until their bodies collapsed inward. Essence towers could temporarily stabilize them. Later, Jorhan controlled a reservoir in Atraxis Prime that sustained the remnant.
After Amos returned to the universe of his birth, his illness ceased, although his magic almost entirely disappeared there, where little essence remained.
Language and technology
The atraxi's native language is structured and efficient. It spread through trade and settlement in Xalmyrra, replacing much of the local Malverine and becoming Xalmyrran.
The original atraxi planets had independent governments. Their civilization used spacecraft and scanners. On Valrindor, the refugees lacked the minerals needed to rebuild their old technology. They adapted to essence instead, improving essence towers, building new gates and helping construct parks and the Luminary Halls in Zeydrith.
The original gate schematics reached Amos on Atraxis Prime Alpha as fragments of information sent backward through time. Amos designed an artificial system that decoded them over many years. Thalena and Amos later transmitted those fragments from the ruined planet, completing the exchange that had made the evacuation possible.
History
The homeland and exodus
The Atraxis system belongs to a universe distinct from the Valrindor where the refugees settled. A black tide destroyed life across their home worlds and overtook their dying star. Jorhan blamed gods for the catastrophe, but his companions did not accept that as fact. Later Malverand investigations identified the Spiral Mandate as a possible aggressor; its responsibility remained unconfirmed.
The atraxi sent expeditions to find habitable worlds. As Alpha fell, Jorhan gathered survivors aboard a final spacecraft, and Amos and Jareth powered its gate for one evacuation. The refugees emerged high above the sea near Irrathis, losing people and equipment in the fall and swim ashore. Fewer than two hundred survived the crossing.
Settlement and dependence
Xoltan Morvayne welcomed them to Teryndal, and Aldred offered sanctuary in exchange for their skills. Most settled in Irrathis; others moved to Valcirae and Varentis. Their increasing essence consumption worsened corruption.
When the illness spread, Aldred ordered the pure-blooded atraxi to leave. Their half-human families could remain, splitting households. The exiles attempted to settle the western island that became Xolterra. Jorhan claimed a spiral shard there, and its uncontrolled power reshaped the island and released essence that killed many of his companions. The survivors fled.
After defeating Aldred, Jorhan sustained the refugees with his shard power. Amos and Jareth built Atraxis Prime, connected through the void, with an essence reservoir at its heart. Jorhan remade Xalmyrra in recurring cycles, using its growing population as a source of essence for the atraxi. Their numbers continued to decline while the researchers sought contact with the earlier expeditions.
The remnant and other survivors
Thalena defeated Jorhan in the final Xalmyrran cycle, ending the cycles. On her orders, Jareth brought Isaac's people into Atraxis Prime while Jorhan was away; the settlement was destroyed and most of its remaining inhabitants killed. Jorhan and Eshmir survived their return, and Amos had already escaped through the gates. After Jorhan used his remaining power to clear darkness in Durakarn, he and Eshmir died.
Amos reached Atraxis Prime Omega, where survivors had kept a gate ready for returning expeditions. Atraxi populations joined the Malverand Intergalactic Empire, sharing some advances while retaining other knowledge. The old system was closed to visitors. Amos and Thalena found Alpha, Beta and Epsilon still physically present. Alpha was lifeless, with ruins of the former civilization.