Protoss – The Simplified Histories

November 25th, 2008

The Xel’Naga was an ancient species that gave rise to thousands of other species on the many worlds where it ruled. They were a peaceful race, caring only about advancing the evolutionary stages of their subjects. They sought to create the perfect life form, but failed time and time again. Then the Xel’Naga came to a planet that had advanced beings on it, resistant to climate and the harsh natural surroundings of space, stronger and faster than any creature they had ever seen. On Auir they found the beginnings of the Protoss race, a community based on tribal society who could speak telepathically to each other. This race was the first they had created to evolve beyond basic animal instinct. The Protoss lived unaware of the Xel’Naga for centuries alone on Auir.

Still the Xel’Naga pushed the Protoss species, subtly guiding the generations until they too became sentient beings. With unrivalled intellect and mastery in the cultural arts the Protoss or first born as the Xel’Naga called them, became their greatest success. So they deemed it safe to reveal themselves to the Protoss. Warring tribes pulled closer together as the Xel’Naga walked among them on Auir.

The Protoss where eager to know the secrets of the universe from their creators who were impressed by their thirst for knowledge. So hungry were they for information that they developed sciences of their own, forging ahead in the area of meta-neural study. This made them see the advantages of personal advancement in a community. The tribes isolated themselves from one another, trying to find their place in the world and in the universe. Their creators were sorely disappointed at how easily the Protoss could lose their communal ties to each other. The Xel’Naga blamed themselves, thinking that they forced the evolutionary process on them to quickly. The tribes divided even further as individuals rose to power and they grew suspicious of their creators. The Protoss drew back from the Xel’Naga as rumors were spread about their disloyalties. Determined to separate themselves completely from other tribes on Auir, they lost the psychic connection they had between each other. Without empathy for their own kind, the Protoss race degenerated into warring and infighting.

The Xel’Naga realizing that they had failed in creating the perfect race, began to leave Auir. In a violent and senseless rage the Protoss attacked their ships, destroying many as thy fled into deep space. The Protoss tribes then turned on each other bringing about the most famous battles in a period known as Aeon Strife. It was only when the mystic Khas, who had studied the ancient teachings of the Xel’Naga discovered the Khaydarin Crystals that things began to change. Khas managed to rediscover the deep primal psychic connection that had lain dormant in his race for so long. He began teaching young Protoss how to use it, and regain their sense of community back. They understood why the Xel’Naga had abandoned them now, how they had denied their purpose and spurned their own kind. In a desperate attempt to reunite his people Khas invented a system of psychic ascension known as the Khala. His people began to reconnect, and ultimately it saved the warring tribes from wiping each other out. The Protoss willingly rallied to the system of the Khala and the race was reborn with a new sense of purpose and vitality.

The tribal system turned into a caste system because of the Khala. The Protoss became three castes – the Judicators, the Khalai, and the Templar. With this new renaming and eliminating of old rivalries, it was a fresh start for the Protoss race.

The Judicator caste – Protoss elders and statesmen known as the Conclave charged to uphold Khala law.

The Khalai caste – Most of the Protoss community, industrialists, workers, merchants, and intelligent middle class charged to rebuild war stricken Auir.

The Templar caste – Warriors charged with a holy mission to defend Auir, their psionic power increased rapidly by rigidly following Khala teachings.

The Protoss planet eventually became a superior place, and they channeled their energies to advance science. Soon they could space travel and the stars stretched out before them. They invaded and conquered worlds spreading their superior intellect and technologies. As stated by Khala law, they became the great stewards or Dae’Uhl of the universe something similar to what the Xel’Naga had been. But they refused to meddle in the evolution of their protected worlds, and allowed them to progress naturally.

The Conclave kept a secret from the Khalai however, there were still dissident tribes who did not want to join into Khala society. They were scared that their identities would be lost and that this great communal nation of the Khala would destroy the Protoss in the end. The Conclave ordered the Templar to destroy these dissidents but they could not. Under Adun their leader they hid the tribes and tried to teach them the ways of the Khala. But they would not be taught and soon without a system to control their psionic ability it spiraled out of control causing massive storms in Auir. The Conclave was unable to punish the Templar for fear of revealing their plot to kill the tribes to their people. Eventually they banished the dissident tribes, sending them away in an old Xel’Naga ship and they would come to be known as the Dark Templar.

Humanity appeared on the edge of the Protoss galaxy. The Protoss were silent and watched the humans studying their short lives and behavior. The Terran were an interesting race, managing to fight with each other and against other worlds always advancing their technologies and sciences. The sentient Protoss were dismayed at how quickly the Terran used up a worlds natural resources, they had no concept or respect for the balance of nature. Still they were not allowed to interfere by Khala law. Then on a scouting mission, information was gathered about something that would mean the death of the entire Terran race.

High Templar Tassador discovered alien space probes heading toward the Terran worlds. They studied the alien probes and were more than disturbed to find that they responded to the crystals. This mean that they were Xel’Naga made. Their one track mind set scared them even more, “find humanity…eradicate…learn…evolve.” It was a threat to their entire galaxy. Xel’Naga made these life forms would be strong, capable and extremely dangerous. Tassador rallied the Templar to fight to save the Terran, but the Conclave would have them eradicated by this new force is space. One thing was certain, the threat was not purely the Terrans, so Tassador was allowed to take his warships and assess the impending danger of this new species. When they arrived they found the new races work had already begun in the Terran colonies. Colonists had either been assimilated or eradicated, a horror the Protoss was subject to see. The entire planet was infested and orders came down to incinerate it before it spreads. Soon it was clear the alien infestation had spread and Tassador was given orders to burn all worlds affected by this new threat. He began to disagree with the motives of the Conclave giving the orders and decided to go against his orders waiting outside the perimeters of the Terran worlds watching the Zerg spread. Waiting for a chance to save humanity