Aurora Stardotter

Excerpts from the Queen Rylan Book of the Reformed Aurorans: "And so, at the center of Ultracapitalis, the Council decreed that Aurora Stardotter and the captive Searchers would be put to death. They were brought in chains to a grand festival and subjected to Inquisition for the people's amusement. With bloodied hands, the Council vowed all Searchers would one day be destroyed, just as the First Searcher was destroyed long ago. But as the executions began, a great calamity descended upon Ultracapitalis, and Its name among the Celestials was Judgement. And Judgement said, 'You who reign over Terra Primus have dared seek the power of the Gods, and you who follow have let them. Thus you have all been judged!' And from Judgement came a great beam of light that tore the city asunder. The dataplexes and preon streams were eradicated, and the sentio-circutry of the people fell dormant. The Council was struck down in the burning light, as were children, and mothers, and Searchers alike. From the destruction emerged Aurora, and she beheld ruin where Ultracapitalis had stood. And so, she sought the last of the Searchers, for they had been her family since she renounced mother, and father and took on the name of Stardotter." (Marika's Declaration, 9:14-20) "Along her path lay many dead, some felled by Judgement, others slain by barbarians who fought for land and bread. Seeking shelter within a cave, Aurora discovered eight wretches she had once known as Searchers. She said, 'Upon your feet, Searchers! Would your souls dim while the stars yet shine? Bring unto me your telereceptor, that I may look upon the cosmos." And her keen eye beheld the prophecies of the heavens, and she guided the Searchers to sweet waters and steep hills." (Sang Legat, 4:10) "With the passing of years, Judgement would return many times over to raze Terra Primus, shattering the land and drying the rivers. Yet by Aurora's gaze, studying the revelations of the stars, the settlement of Stellanatis endured. The tribes of the wastes were less fortunate and suffering led to greater savagery. All coveted the fruits of Stallanatis, yet none more than the Arbiters who revered Judgement and killed in its name, not from faith but from craven fear. The Arbiters struck at Stallanatis many times. Some they slew, others they enslaved. Yet Aurora refused to bow to such malice. Through her telereceptor, she foresaw the Arbiters' schemes in the cosmos and when they next marched to Stellanatis, they found Aurora alone before them and many weapons pointed to their backs. Defeated, they fled to the wastes, for they could not stand against the woman who walked with fate." (Larichus, 10:1-5) "In time, the tribes of the wastes saw their folly, for they had lost more than they could bear. And so, their leaders came to the gates of Stallanatis, cast down their weapons, and begged Aurora for salvation. And out of great mercy, Aurora welcomed the tribes, and made them as one. The people were filled with faith, and in her name they called themselves Aurorans." (Transgressions, 5:12) "For many seasons, the land knew peace, until Judgement returned and struck the walls of Stellanatis until there were great hills of dust in their place. Aurora cast herself before the Celestial and said, 'Deliver these people from your wrath, for it is I they follow. Judge me, for I would climb to the heavens and cleanse the Celestials in a sea of fire.' In the face of this defiance, Judgement declared, 'Your people are a rot upon the universe, protected by your hand. Your sentence is exile, and in your absence, your people shall lay waste to all that you have built, and they shall drown in the blood they shed upon their kin.' And Judgement struck Aurora with blinding light, and in the place she once stood was nothing, and the people fell to their knees and wept for their lost savior. Yet as Aurora's shout lingered, it brought forth a great cloud of Darkest Shadow. Judgement cried in fear and though it tried to escape, Darkest Shadow took hold and grew until a black tower stood above Stallanatis, and when it drew away, Judgement was no more." (Kelgen's Declaration, 14:11-15) "The Aurorans rejoiced, for finally they were free from Judgement. They wandered the lands, proclaiming that though Aurora was exiled, they would follow the example of their Darkest Shadow: all who opposed the Aurorans would be consumed by black smoke. First they set the Arbiters upon flames, and then the unbelievers also, so that Aurora might return to a world made pure. Such is the path of Aurora Stardotter. Such is the path of Darkest Shadow." (Marika's Declaration, 25:6)