First Ones
Encyclopedia
The First Ones is the collective name of a group of alien
s from the television
science fiction
drama
Babylon 5
.
was the first, with Lorien himself being the first among them. They were followed by the Shadows
, who were discovered and taught by Lorien's people. Other races also appeared, among them the Vorlons, the Walkers at Sigma 957, and others. Together they achieved great enlightenment and technological advancement. Over time, however, many of these races left the galaxy, some dying out, others heading beyond the galactic rim into the void of intergalactic space. Of the few who stayed behind, most remained for reasons known only to them, but of these remaining races, two would be charged with the guardianship of the younger races (the Minbari
, Narn
, Centauri
, Humans
and others). These two are the Vorlon
s and the Shadows. The others after the Great War 10,000 years ago remained in isolation and allowed only Lorien to visit.
Over the millennia, the Vorlon
s and the Shadows became engaged in a war over their different philosophies. The Vorlons believed that the best way to teach the younger races was through order, law, and discipline, while the Shadows believed that the best path to teaching younger races lay through chaos, conflict, and strife. So embroiled did these two races become, so involved in their own conflict over their philosophies that they themselves lost their way, setting up an endless cycle of wars in which the younger races were pitted against each other as pawns.
and Ranger Marcus Cole
made contact with the Walkers of Sigma 957. Though initially turned down in their request for assistance, Ivanova was able to goad the Walkers into agreeing to provide assistance in the upcoming Shadow War when the time was right.
Later, in 2261, after the Vorlons began their involvement in the war, Ivanova, with Lorien's assistance, managed to make contact with all of the remaining First Ones in the galaxy. She had them rendezvous with the allied forces at Coriana 6, where they destroyed the Vorlon planet killer in the ensuing battle. Besides the Walkers, the other four ships were the Kirishiac Lordship, Thoughtforce, the Triumviron, and the Dark Knife. At this point, the Vorlons and the Shadows made one last attempt to bend the younger races to their respective wills by telling Sheridan
and Delenn
their sides of the story. Unbeknownst to the two belligerents, however, Lorien broadcast these conversations to the entire assembled fleet of the younger races, whereupon the secret was out: The Vorlons and the Shadows, guardians of the younger races and representatives of the First Ones, had largely failed in their task by becoming consumed in their own fight to be the "right" race. This in turn led the younger races to reject both the Vorlon
s and the Shadows, and pointedly request the two older races to leave them alone.
At this point, Lorien said it was finally time for the remaining First Ones to leave the galaxy and join the other First Ones beyond the Rim. The Vorlons and Shadows both decided to leave, and the other First Ones went with them, including Lorien himself. From then on, the younger races were alone in the galaxy, to make their own way in their evolution. After that, only Lorien returned to the galaxy, once, in 2281 to take Sheridan with him beyond the Rim. Sheridan's body disappeared and was never recovered. After this, the First Ones were never seen again inside the galaxy.
A million years in the future, the humans
and Minbari
have also evolved to First One–like status.
More information on this expanded universe is also contained in Mongoose Publishing RPG book Darkness and Light.
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
s from the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
.
Overview
The First Ones are the ancient alien races of the galaxy, the first organisms to achieve sentience and the first to become spacefaring. Of these races, Lorien'sLorien (Babylon 5)
Lorien is a fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. He appears at the start of season four and again in the last episode of the show. Lórien is also a name given to one of the Valar, god-like beings in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, of whom series...
was the first, with Lorien himself being the first among them. They were followed by the Shadows
Shadow (Babylon 5)
The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
, who were discovered and taught by Lorien's people. Other races also appeared, among them the Vorlons, the Walkers at Sigma 957, and others. Together they achieved great enlightenment and technological advancement. Over time, however, many of these races left the galaxy, some dying out, others heading beyond the galactic rim into the void of intergalactic space. Of the few who stayed behind, most remained for reasons known only to them, but of these remaining races, two would be charged with the guardianship of the younger races (the Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
, Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
, Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
, Humans
Human (Babylon 5)
Humans are one of the many races in the fictional Babylon 5 universe. They appear in all seasons of Babylon 5, and all of its spinoffs. Their homeworld is Earth, from which the interstellar Earth Alliance is governed...
and others). These two are the Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
s and the Shadows. The others after the Great War 10,000 years ago remained in isolation and allowed only Lorien to visit.
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
s and the Shadows became engaged in a war over their different philosophies. The Vorlons believed that the best way to teach the younger races was through order, law, and discipline, while the Shadows believed that the best path to teaching younger races lay through chaos, conflict, and strife. So embroiled did these two races become, so involved in their own conflict over their philosophies that they themselves lost their way, setting up an endless cycle of wars in which the younger races were pitted against each other as pawns.
The Shadow War
Besides the Vorlons and Shadows, there were other members of the First Ones in the galaxy. The first human sighting of one of these races occurred in 2258 when the survey ship Skydancer piloted by Catherine Sakai encountered a strange alien ship while investigating the planet Sigma 957. With the outbreak of the Shadow War in 2260, it was decided that it would be in the interests of those fighting the Shadows to seek out assistance of these remaining races. In 2260, a White Star commanded by Commander IvanovaSusan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
and Ranger Marcus Cole
Marcus Cole
Marcus Cole, played by Jason Carter, is a fictional character in the universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. He was a regular in the third and fourth seasons of the show...
made contact with the Walkers of Sigma 957. Though initially turned down in their request for assistance, Ivanova was able to goad the Walkers into agreeing to provide assistance in the upcoming Shadow War when the time was right.
Later, in 2261, after the Vorlons began their involvement in the war, Ivanova, with Lorien's assistance, managed to make contact with all of the remaining First Ones in the galaxy. She had them rendezvous with the allied forces at Coriana 6, where they destroyed the Vorlon planet killer in the ensuing battle. Besides the Walkers, the other four ships were the Kirishiac Lordship, Thoughtforce, the Triumviron, and the Dark Knife. At this point, the Vorlons and the Shadows made one last attempt to bend the younger races to their respective wills by telling Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
and Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
their sides of the story. Unbeknownst to the two belligerents, however, Lorien broadcast these conversations to the entire assembled fleet of the younger races, whereupon the secret was out: The Vorlons and the Shadows, guardians of the younger races and representatives of the First Ones, had largely failed in their task by becoming consumed in their own fight to be the "right" race. This in turn led the younger races to reject both the Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
s and the Shadows, and pointedly request the two older races to leave them alone.
At this point, Lorien said it was finally time for the remaining First Ones to leave the galaxy and join the other First Ones beyond the Rim. The Vorlons and Shadows both decided to leave, and the other First Ones went with them, including Lorien himself. From then on, the younger races were alone in the galaxy, to make their own way in their evolution. After that, only Lorien returned to the galaxy, once, in 2281 to take Sheridan with him beyond the Rim. Sheridan's body disappeared and was never recovered. After this, the First Ones were never seen again inside the galaxy.
A million years in the future, the humans
Human (Babylon 5)
Humans are one of the many races in the fictional Babylon 5 universe. They appear in all seasons of Babylon 5, and all of its spinoffs. Their homeworld is Earth, from which the interstellar Earth Alliance is governed...
and Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
have also evolved to First One–like status.
Expanded universe
Further information on the First Ones was created for an Agents of Gaming RPG supplement. The supplement, War of the Ancients, identified more of the First Ones: the transcendent Triad (who are second only to Lorien), the telepathic Mindriders, the gambling Torvalus, the ever seeking Walkers of Sigma 957 and the bloodthirsty Kirishiac Lords.More information on this expanded universe is also contained in Mongoose Publishing RPG book Darkness and Light.