The figure before Ki'Nua was someone everyone in their race knew about. After all, he was a legend, one that had changed the status of their race and made history; the one with the most tragic history among all the pinnacle beings of their race and the most short-lived one with the grandest feat.
The First Celestial Emperor!
Before that, their race was ruled over by the Treka, a race that had been immensely powerful back in those periods. The Treka had three Celestial Emperors. They were a powerhouse race that didn't fear anyone.
As a race ruled over by them, the Kalki lead hard lives. But, everything changed with the arrival of the First Celestial Emperor. He freed their race, made them a place to call their own, and actively promoted the growth of their race.