There was a time when the galaxy was home to a legendary people

Many eons ago, the people of the world of Tor were once called “The Endless”. With their immense knowledge and untold wonders of technology, they were a prosper, thriving empire that stretched across the stars. They were the pinnacle of civilization among all others of their time. But, despite the vastness of their civilization, war and strife within the once-great empire had reduced many of their worlds to barren wastelands.

Their greatest feats were turned into instruments of their undoing, as their technology spiraled towards war and carnage, razing the worlds they had inhabited. Their people were splintered, and before long, their empire was shattered. With the downfall of the Torian and many of the minor peoples doomed or wiped out, the galaxy was left deserted. Its stars and worlds in disarray, the galaxy was scarred by the war for eons to come.

In an ironic twist of fate, however, their single greatest creation proved itself to be truly timeless, resisting the passage of the ages, entropy, and the loss of its creators. Many of their deeds persisted in the form of ruins and artifacts of their civilization, as some were spared from destruction. But beyond these artifacts, the staple of their civilization also endured: The Dust.

Perhaps the most notable—and yet the least understood—of all of their creations, 'Dust' is the moniker given to nanomachines created by The Endless. Once used to aid the Torian at their expansion throughout the stars in a myriad ways, it now remains as an eerie reminder of their civilization; near-omnipresent at their former capitals and derelict vessels.

To the uninitiated, the Dust is on par with magic, its capabilities nothing short of miraculous. Harnessing its potential has yielded monolithic structures, revealed sciences before unknown, and elevated those who rose after The Endless.

Dust has proven itself to have incredible potential for its users. Its applications are virtually infinite, ranging from nano-manufacturing and computing to its outlandish 'symbiosis' with machines, and even living beings that are exposed to it, on top of its capability to become more efficient as it links and networks with systems in ever more complex manners. Despite being difficult to control and contain, this Dust is found in nearly every intact remnant of Endless technology, be it in storage as its ‘raw’ form or trace amounts scattered across the worlds.

Those who have exposed themselves—or have been exposed to—Dust are regarded by some as “legendary heroes” or “Dust Adepts” across several cultures, varying in name and degrees of respect, or fear.

These 'Dust Adepts' have surfaced by chance and on intention alike, but like most of what is poorly understood, adverse effects from Dust have been observed among them. From issues stemming off a traumatic exposure incident to other side effects of unknown nature, Adepts are powerful, resilient and strong-willed individuals, but still make most wary of Dust augmentation.

Still, achieving fame and surpassing their goals with notable prowess, Adepts become incredibly resourceful individuals: Great strategists with unnatural expertise, seemingly invincible warriors, scholars of insatiable knowledge, and charismatic leaders, all of which are said to turn tip the scales in favor of their causes.

Between Adepts and relics, Dust and wonders, we come to today. Breaking ground by using the legacy of The Endless, we move forward; their secrets yet to be unveiled by those who followed; the universe, a mystery to be solved...

Perhaps in the future, we may see a truly "endless" empire rise.