Esne was considered the goddess embodying envy within the pantheon of the Old Gods. These deities were venerated by the inhabitants of the planet Zakuul before Valkorion rose to become the immortal Emperor. Born as one of the four offspring of Izax and Scyva, Esne shared a twin sister relationship with Aivela, the goddess representing passion. Esne's intense avarice and animosity towards her sister motivated her to challenge the devotion of believers and eliminate the vulnerable by provoking feelings of jealousy and envy. The expression "Eyes of Esne" became a frequently used figure of speech to symbolize jealousy among the Zakuulans.
Originally, Esne was an experimental titanic wardroid superweapon from Iokath, crafted by a technologically superior, yet ancient people. She, together with her five siblings, underwent trials on various unsuspecting planets, resulting in over ten trillion deaths. Zakuul was one of these planets, explaining why Esne received worship there.