Whatever the case, in that ancient and ageless era before the cycles began to turn, the Ascendant Velexia pondered the nature of heroism. Theirs was a noble question, of power but also of pragmatism: where stands the line between manifest, and myth? They had seen countless heroes rise and fall, and sometimes rise again - such was the nature of time, then. Legends had little such time to blossom when reality was spread so thinly; to have the answer would be to weave a future for humanity before its past had even been spun. But, Velexia was resolved to find their solution, and they had great power with which to seek it.
Drawing power from Horleus - or acting in veiled service to her, it cannot be known - Velexia set to work. A series of arenas was built, each suited to test various aspects of classical heroism. All were balanced against one another: combat and intellect, selflessness and tenacity. Each, the Ascendant reasoned, were required attributes in some measure of those whose memory would endure. But it was not a specific individual that was sought. No, it was the formula, the ultimate path along which a hero would walk towards the stars, that Velexia yearned to find. Somewhere along that tenuous strand, they would find their answer.
And so, from across realities the Ascendant pulled their champions, heroes from the annals of history and portents of fantasy alike. Many are the legends who rose alone, but all then stood beneath Velexia’s scrutiny. Into endless battles they were cast, one after the other without end. When one would fall, the arena’s magic would bring them back - after all, the rules of mortality had yet to be written. The heroes could not rest, but nor could they tire; they were given no sustenance, and yet they did not hunger. From wherever, whenever they had been pulled, in Velexia’s realm they knew only the trials to which they were put.
Not to suggest, however, that Velexia said nothing of their goal. Each hero understood the purpose of the arenas: to test their abilities, and to determine what about them would extend their stories beyond their own time. Where some resisted, others resigned themselves to their fates, even forming bonds with their fellow heroes - still others actually enjoyed their plight. But to further align them, the Ascendant offered a tantalizing prize. When the rites were done, one legend would be selected as the archetype, to be remembered above all the rest. For it was within their power to give, that hero would be granted ascension, to stand beside Velexia and the others as the future finally dawned. Playing with destiny? There again, perhaps. But a worthwhile incentive, which none were able to spurn. Victory for one would mean freedom for all - and either way, the Ascendants would emerge triumphant.
