The Riftborn are sentient beings from another universe who naturally control the fourth dimension: time.
Endless Space 2 - The Riftborn - Prologue
Hailing from Coroz, an alternate dimension orthogonal to the Endless Universe, the Riftborn would have happily lead out their abstract, timeless existences entirely ignorant of galactic strife, were it not for a breach that precipitated a disaster of unimaginable proportions. Like a poisoned blade slashed deep into clean flesh, the rift acted as a source of terrible disorder in the Riftborn's pristine, geometrical universe. Desperate, unable to halt the disease's advance no matter what they tried, the Riftborn took the last available course of action that might lead to their survival: Together with their strange time-shifting abilities, they stepped into the Endless Universe.
Lore[]
Leadership[]
The Riftborn's highest authority in the Endless universe belongs to the Grand Viceroy of New Coroz. Although ultimately answering to the Communion back in the home dimension of Coroz, the Grand Viceroy wields singular executive power, and is invested with the authority to make unilateral decisions as the situation demands. Given the blight spreading through Coroz, the hostile environment, and the presence of unknown enemies, it is no surprise that the Communion's choice for Grand Viceroy came from what could be considered the Riftborn's closest thing to a peaceful race's military elite–a High Custodian. Tenacious and capable, the Grand Viceroy doesn't know how the Riftborn will find salvation, but they will do everything in their power to make it so.
Homeworld[]
Technically, the Riftborn do not have a homeworld, as their universe has nothing that resembles the Endless universe's planets. The Riftborn's home universe is called Coroz. A pristine place, free of shadows, where the Riftborn drifted and lived simple, happy lives as odd-looking white shapes floating in the endless grey void, meditating in peace. Unfortunately for the Riftborn, some of Auriga's survivors tried to escape their dying world on a wrecked Hissho research vessel called the Grey Owl. When the ship engaged its warp drive, a Dust artifact of immense power that was hidden in the ship's cargo bay exploded, tearing a hole between Coroz and the Endless universe. The rift began to consume Coroz and its inhabitants, due to incompatibilities of the physical laws of both universes, forcing a small group to flee through the very tear that was destroying their home, into an unknown and incomprehensible place for their minds. There was no cure for the blight, which ravaged Coroz until it was a blackened waste, devoid of life and light. The surviving Riftborn abandoned their homeland en masse, never to return.
Upon their arrival in the galaxy, the Riftborn settled on a snow-covered world that they named Vanguard. Like the rest of the universe they find themselves in, they have little love for the planet, yet in its pristine, white snowfields they find an echo of their own universe, Coroz. Less a home, and more a staging ground for further explorations, the Riftborn inhabit a small corner of the world with order and vigor, which they named New Coroz, after their old home.
Society[]
The Riftborn who have ventured from their home dimension of Coroz and sheathed themselves in quasi-robotic forms are composed of a mixture of the race's most capable thinkers, engineers, and fighters. On Vanguard they are organized in what might be recognized as a semi-military structure, and their day to day life reflects this reality. Unlike Coroz, where Riftborn life used to revolve around serenity, contemplation, and the higher arts, in the Endless universe every Riftborn is striving to contribute to the effort to understand and eradicate the blight. Construction, exploration, and investigation feature heavily as the Riftborn build the foundations for further scrutiny of the Endless universe.
Faction Quest[]
Main article: Riftborn Faction Quest.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Riftborn are called "Time Lords" in game files and some localizations.
- Unfallen vines remind Viceroy about blight.
- Viceroy tends to copy Sophon and Mavros expressions.
