Cosmic Forge
From HOTGT
One Legend of the Forge
When the universe was young, The First rose from the primeval ooze. The First made machines and built a civilization while today's stars were still being born. Being The First, they were the wisest and most learned of all. They broke the chains of gravity and the bonds of realspace. On golden chariots they explored the nascent galaxy. In their laboratories, they learned to breed stars.
They wanted too much, the First did. A thousand worlds conquered, stars enclosed in crystal spheres, gateways to infinite realities, they had all this and more. The First thirsted for the innermost secrets of the universe and they searched for them with all their energy. On the farthest comer of reality, where realspace and otherspace meet, they built the Forge. A cauldron where a million galaxies could be born. The Cosmic Forge was no mere tool, for no mindless artifact could contain its power. The minds and souls of a thousand thousands of the wisest among the First were placed within the Cosmic Forge. When its fire burned, it could be seen instantly across the entire galaxy, unbound by distance and time. And The First rejoiced, for they thought they had mastered the arts of creation.
The Cosmic Forge tried to use its powers to help. Its energies coursed through the stars, healing the sick, empowering the genes of The First, giving its creators the gift of eternal life. The First became as gods and basked in the light of the Forge.
But every light casts a shadow. There was One among the First who seethed with jealousy and anger. The One wished to be above the First, as the First were above all others. The One coveted the power of the Cosmic Forge. Its guardians were deceived and overpowered. The One seized the Forge for just a moment.
With but a wish, he willed The First to be no more. A thousand worlds were cleansed of life in that instant, and the First were no more. The Cosmic Forge spewed forth flames that to this day swirl across the galaxies, sometimes touching the living and gifting or slaying them.
The One's triumph lasted but a moment, for the Forge was self-aware and not an obedient slave. It broke free and sent the One into oblivion. But then, in horror, It saw what It had done, and hid its Light in shame. And through an eternity, the Cosmic Forge remains hidden, touching only those few who are worthy of its power.
The Cosmoknights
Since the beginning of recorded history in the Three Galaxies, the Cosmo Knights have been an enduring presence in galactic affairs. Venerated and loved, persecuted and feared, these super-powerful beings have defended the lives and rights of sentient beings against those who would enslave or destroy them. Their enemies claim that the Cosmo Knights are meddlers who serve an alien and possibly evil master. Everybody, friend or enemy, takes them seriously. Its is widely known that the Cosmo Knights are The creation and agents of the Cosmic Forge, the mythical creation of the First Race, a comic entity of incredible power. Their bodies are pure batteries of cosmic energy, and are powerful enough to go toe to toe with a starship! Their tremendous power comes with great responsibility. The knights have many enemies, including their own spirits. Power corrupts, and many the Cosmo Knights struggle against the temptations that their power presents to them. Those who fail this battle lose their link to the Forge along with all of their powers (Neither Errant nor Mishan seem to have truly lost their powers, and therefore are still considered Cosmo Knights).
Nobody knows what the requirements for becoming a Cosmo Knight are. The chosen come from all walks of life, from princes and emperors to beggars and criminals. Almost every race in the Three Galaxies have been chosen at one time or another. Lawmen, scoundrels, normal people, male and female, have all been called to serve the Forge. All these people share some intangible quality that makes them stand out from among the rest. Whether it is inner courage, determination, or willpower is unknown. The chosen is contacted by the Cosmic Forge in the form of extremely realistic dreams (or are they dreams?) or occasionally during a near death experience. The dream shows the sleeping candidate in the shining presence of the Cosmic Forge. What the Forge looks like changes from person to person. To some, it is a giant vat molten metal from which a face is formed and speaks to them. Others, it is a giant, godly version of the same race as the candidate, but made out of pure light. To others, it appears as a swirling mass of lights that communicates telepathically.
The candidate is asked to become one with the Cosmic Forge. The answer must not be lightly given and candidates are I time to think about it and are even shown glimpses of possible future. A future where they may die horribly, be persecuted, lose their loved ones, or even fall from the Forges grace entirely. Many refuse the responsibility and awake in their beds, with only a faint memory of their experience. If a near death experience, they often have a miraculous recovery. Those who accept enter the Cosmic Forge and are bathed by unimaginable energies. Their bodies and souls are seared and reshaped by cosmic forces. When they emerge they are transformed by their experience.
Cosmo Knights retain their previous appearance and can even pass as normal members of their race (which is important for undercover work). However, they no longer have the weaknesses of normal mortals. They are cosmic beings with incredible strength, endurance, the ability to control comic energies, and enabling them to fly at trans-light speeds. Furthermore, they can summon their "cosmic armor" at will, a metal skin that covers them completely, granting them enormous protection. Some also create a personalized weapon or tool that serves them as an implement of justice, and as their personal trademark. Both the armor and the weapon (if any) change in form, style, and color from knight to knight. Some prefer a seamless, plain metallic skin. Others favor heavily decorated archaic or fantastic armor. Any "one" color can be chosen, but all have metallic hues.
The Cosmo Knights have a strict code of honor. The Cosmic Forge's Code of Honor has a pragmatic streak that gives its champions surprising leeway when dealing with threats to the universe. On the other hand, they are strictly enjoined against the abuse of power.
