The gods have vanished. The bridges between the worlds were severed. The races were left separated and struggling to survive. Then, they learned to live without their gods...
One race in particular excelled far above the rest, the ancients. Then, the gods suddenly returned, weakened on their doorstep. Their previous good relationship was severed, and the gods were captured by the ancients.
With this, the ancients created a devious game to conquer unsuspecting worlds, and subjugate them before they have a chance to properly grow. The Hex Trials.
Eventually, they commanded the cosmos and all the races in it. They allowed their fellow races to become their brethren as they looked to new horizons.
But they awoke the great Auclair, the god of death. A monster who once ate half the universe in rage. A being that the gods had tried so desperately to seal in the depths of the universe.