Intelligence from the negative energy plane, Xylithians appeared in the universe when ancient Imperial Mech-Wizards attempted to harness the event horizon of a black hole to destroy an Elder God. A rent in the fabric of reality was opened and the entropic forces of the negative energy plane flowed freely into the prime material. Eventually the higher intelligences of the negative energy plane followed the current of entropy and began to feast on the life of the universe. That was thousands of years ago. Now the Xylithians have devoured most of the life at the center of the galaxy and spread outwards in a spasm of oblivion. The Xylithians will inevitabley be the end of life in the universe. Fortunately, true Xylithians are few, and they operate on a scale outside of most sapience concept of time. They will spend thousands of years feasting on the life of a world before moving to the next.
A Xylithian Hierophant is a true native of the negative energy plane. It is speculated that there are only twelve in the Galaxy. The first known Hierophant (the oldest in records of survivors) is named Xylith, and the species takes their name from this creature. The Hierophant is a mass of writhing flesh and shadow, its form impossible to distinguish. They vary in size from subatomic to larger than a star. The Hierophants negative will animates Star-Liches who command the legions of Puppets that harvest life for their masters.
A Star-Lich is the animated body of a sorcerer or other scion of power from a decimated world. They are invested with a fraction of the power of the Hierophant that claimed them. The Star-Lich uses this power to fill the shells of living things consumed by the Hierophants with negative energy and send these Puppets out to harvest life for their masters. They command the Puppets and the flesh ships. Star-Liches roam the Galaxy fulfilling the will of their masters.
Puppets are the lowest form of Xylithian. They may be found in twelve grades of varying power and ability. Twelfth degree Puppets are weak thralls, barely capable of action, while first degree Puppets are fearsome agents of doom. The Puppets are made from living things whose essence has been consumed by the Hierophant. They are hollow inside, with empty eyes and mouth , a shell of skin that is animated by negative energy. Each grade of puppet can be controlled over vast distances by the next higher grade.
The Flesh Ships are capital class starships commanded by a Star-Lich. They are horrific constructs made by melding together the life of an entire planet and using the energy contained therein for space flight. The flesh ships change shape and spawn smaller vessels of writhing animated flesh as needed.
The arrival of a Flesh Ship in a sector is almost certainly a harbinger of the end of all life in the region. However, several times in the history of the Galaxy, the often quarreling species in an afflicted sector have allied to destroy a Star-Lich and buy themselves more time before inevitable doom. There is a pan-galactic organization known as the Star-Knights who devote themselves to combating the Xylithian threat wherever it manifest in the universe.
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