Phoenix Nebula

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The Phoenix Nebula is a crimson nebula that resembles a large avian or a bird of prey. The formation of this nebula is considered highly irregular as evidence suggests that it was once a red hypergiant that prematurely detonated. It is widely theorized that this premature detonation was the first example of stellar terraformation within the Crucible Galaxy. With materials dating as far back four billion years, it is thought that this was done by the Alkan species in an effort that predates even the Empire of Arckas. As the Alkan were said to be very prolific at guiding the evolution of other civilizations, it is thought the life that first arose in this region of space are a direct result of their experimentations. This nebula is also one of the oldest in the Crucible Galaxy having maintained its shape through the constant birth and death of the stars within it.

The Promorin species also invaded this particular area during their genocide of the Alkan. While the Promorin themselves are thought to be extinct as well, microorganisms that share their DNA have been found within the various star systems within this region.

The largest star in the nebula is Erya, a blue hypergiant located around the "head" of the nebula, resembling the eye of the phoenix. It is only a few million years old, having formed from the Phoenix Nebula's dust and gas.

Interestingly enough, a large number of cultures within several thousand lightyears of the nebula tend to have myths of a great phoenix of the stars being born from an egg that hatched from a great flame. This was likely due to all these cultures witnessing the same supernova event.