The First Era: From Technological Advancement to the Cult of Knowledge

The dawn of the technological era in Umerium marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Homo Deus civilisation. Breakthroughs in interstellar engineering enabled them not only to overcome atmospheric barriers, but also to take their first steps in the colonisation of space. Their science was driven by an unrelenting curiosity and an ambition to unravel the fabric of the universe, to discover new worlds, and to seize control of their resources. Their hunger for knowledge, like stellar fuel, propelled them ever deeper into the galaxy — until interstellar travel became routine, and discovery became the norm.

During their early interstellar voyages, the Umerians encountered many lifeforms capable of communication, igniting their fascination and deepening their hunger for knowledge. Among these discoveries, one encounter stood out — they came upon the Dun, a race whose extraordinary nature surpassed anything they had previously known. The Dun were three living planets, bound to one another both organically and spiritually in an unbreakable union. These three entities, once a single cosmic body known in the ancient Quark tongue as Proneutro, formed a being with three hearts: Ice, Life, and Shadow. It was Shadow who, over time, became consumed by thoughts of reunification. Obsessed with finding a way to become whole once more, his relentless pursuit began to erode his very essence. Eventually, this obsession led to his isolation, and Shadow vanished into the darkness of the cosmos — leaving behind only the faint echo of hope and memory in the consciousness of the remaining two worlds.

 

Mothers of the Universes: The Cult of Knowledge and Black Holes

Inspired by the discoveries and wisdom of the Dun, the Umerians created their own religion — the Mothers of the Universes. In this new, scientific vision of the cosmos, black holes — mysterious and unfathomable — became the central element of spirituality and a symbol of absolute power. These cosmic giants, awe-inspiring in their gravitational pull and unimaginable vastness, were revered by the Umerians as deities — objects of devotion and embodiments of ultimate knowledge. According to the priesthood, black holes held within them the secrets of the birth and collapse of universes, serving as gateways to infinite reservoirs of understanding.

The priests of the Mothers of the Universes proclaimed that knowledge alone was the highest virtue, and its pursuit a sacred duty for every citizen of Umerium. Science became a spiritual mission, and black holes a symbol of all that was unknown and transcendent. This religion — fusing science with mysticism — became the essence of Umerian spirit: a cult that gave their cosmic expansion and exploration a missionary character. The universe was seen as something to be understood and brought under their dominion, and their boundless hunger for knowledge began to surpass all other desires, driving them toward ever greater discoveries and relentless exploration. In one of the most revered sermons of the High Priestess Ancasa, words were spoken that would be forever etched into the memory of Umerium: “The Mothers of the Universes draw all things inward, just as we, in our journey toward knowledge, draw the mysteries of the cosmos unto ourselves. Every particle of matter that approaches their core is torn apart, ground into cosmic dust — only to be reborn in new forms. This process generates a power so immense that it opens new gates of existence. At the very heart of a black hole lies a particle — the seed of countless universes — and each black hole carries encoded information, transmitted through superposition to another being, wherever in the cosmos it may be.

When information is transferred, a new particle undergoes molecular encoding, and quantum overload triggers a Great Explosion — from which a new universe is born. This is the cycle the Mothers of the Universes have revealed to us, so that we may follow the path of understanding and continually transcend the boundaries of existence.”

The priests taught that the pursuit of this knowledge was a sacred mission — one to which every Umerian was bound to devote themselves in the name of the Mothers of the Universes. These beliefs transformed Umerium into a civilisation for which understanding was a form of spiritual enlightenment, and the acquisition of cosmic resources became a religious ritual.