The Birthplace of Light and Shadow

When the Auk’kheem, called “The Builders” by humans, began making contact with other intelligent species, it became apparent that a meeting place was needed where conflicts might be peacefully resolved, trade negotiated and wisdom shared. With this goal in mind, a facility was built on an uninhabitable planet plagued by constant, violent storms.

The building is a transparent dome affixed to a solid base covered with an intricate mosaic. At the center of the base is an interstellar portal, by which participants enter and leave. Around the middle section are sixteen bases, each one supporting an effigy of the participating species. The statues are a stylized, general representation of the race and all stand at equal height approximately sixty feet high. Some are natural stone, others composites of various materials that indicate the being’s true colors. On each base is inscribed the stellar address of the figures’ home worlds.
In front of each figure is a blank circle where the representative stands (or rests, or perches, or sits, or plants, etc.) to greet the others and begin discussions.
Due to the nature of each species, it is not always possible for representatives to understand each other by speech, so additional technology was developed by the Builders to enable communication. Each diplomat possesses a crystal translator that enables direct brainwave access to the other members. This can be daunting due to the intimate nature of the connection, but it also helps assure honesty and sincerity. Taking this role is an act of personal courage.

Member Races

Of the sixteen races, two are known to be extinct. The member species are:
• Ahea
• Auk’kheem (aka the Builders)
• Azuraki (extinct)
• Drochile
• Eeyunadi
• Jinn
• Naga (extinct)
• Narrahan
• Oh
• Qoppanishu
• Singers
• Tirmas
• Ting’sha
• Vaa (missing)
• Yun’dzai
• Z’tekis

The Jinn, Singers, Tirmas and Yun’dzai have maintained tenuous relations during their absence from the Birthplace of Light and Shadow. With the reappearance in modern times of the being known as The Architect, these four races have come back to the Consortium to resume their partnership.

Upon its discovery by humanity, the purpose of the facility was unknown. It was initially assumed to be a temple, but due to the dissimilarity of the figures, it was theorized to be a meeting place of alien races who would speak varying tongues; hence, the location was dubbed “Babylon” by the explorers who first viewed it through the portal.

Purpose / Function

This domed area was designed to be a meeting place for the various member species of the Consortium to meet in neutral territory and collaborate with each other.

History

The Birthplace was built and maintained by the Auk’kheem approximately 40,000 years ago. For eons the member nations treated with one another to varying degrees of success; however, relations began to deteriorate about 10,000 years ago and several species left the Consortium of Intelligent Species. A war began between the Naga and the Builders, and during the ensuing violence the Builders’ effigy was destroyed. Following this act, the Vaa removed their statue and disappeared from known space.

Maps

Map of the Builders
This map was inscribed on Nazca Plain for the future use of human beings when they became a space-going race. When interposed and scaled along certain anchor points, the map reveals the locations of members of the Consortium of Intelligent Species. Viewed within the Wheel of Worlds (known as Windows to humans and the Zaaskira to the Jinn), this map expands to a 3D view. Some constellations are territories rather than revealing the specific location of home worlds, as some of the member species were not keen on revealing the central location of their race. The entire network of portals built by the Auk'kheem are contained within this diagram.