How we Came to Know the World.

In the beginning, the land was barren.

Nothing could have come out of the land.

Then one day, the clouds above the land parted and clumped together, shining the light of the sun onto the wasteland.

This sunlight warmed the ground, broke the soil and made it fertile.

Then, from the clouds, the first rain fell. And it fell for 30 days, making the ground into mud, cutting at it to form the lakes and rivers, pushing the hard land up into the sky to make the mountains.

The 3 highest mountains - Now known as Godpeak, Spire, and Halo - Reached up into the sky, past the clouds. As they pushed through the clouds, the clouds broke against the rugged rock, and ran down the side of the mountains, making the first snowfall.

The muddy land dried. Some became even more fertile, growing the wondrous plants of the jungle and forest. Some dried out, making the deserts. As for the rest, they formed the fields, meadows and hills we see today.

Somewhere, in this new fertile land, there was a lagoon. It was deep and clear. Hidden by a rocky peak, shaded from the beating sun and rain. In the centre of the lagoon was a tree. A huge tree, a tree of life. This tree bore many fruit of all shapes and sizes. The heaviest of the fruits fell into the lagoon, and the lightest were picked off of the tree by the wind. The sunken fruit became the fish of the rivers and the seas, finding their way through the exits under the land. The flying fruit became the birds, moving all across the continent. Other fruits, ones which did not sink or fly, floated across the lagoon. These became the animals of the land, working their way across the world.

There was still fruit on the tree - large fruit. These fruits fell from the tree and became Man and Woman. They lived around the tree, eating the fruit. They soon became tired of the lagoon, and decided to see what was on the other side of the water.

They swam through the water. And when they emerged, they had been transformed.

Through this, we came to know the Gods themselves.

First to test his power was Kanastus, the God of sleep and the night. He darkened the earth, and allowed the world to slumber, if only for a while. This was the first night.

Second was Fareh, God of the Sun. He pulled the sun up from it's hiding place, as it feared the darkness of night. He brought the morning to the world.

Third was Xine, Goddess of death. Her touch brought eternal slumber to the mortal animals. She feared being amongst the mortal world, so resigned herself to stay with the tree that could not die, and care for the souls that would be reborn from the tree. This is how Xine also became the Goddess of Rebirth, judging the souls or mortals.

Forth was Ilna, Goddess of the weather. She brought about the summer and the winter, as well as the storms and the tempest. Hers is a power great and terrible, and we must show respect to her always.

Fifth was Giloc, God of the hunt. He hunted the great animals of the land to sate the appetite of the gods. He later gave the mortal man the power to hunt.

Sixth was Dorsam, God of every ocean. He made the waves, and his steeds within the foam.

Seventh was Salk, God of battle and war. His gift, or curse, was strength to the mortal man. His is a great and terrible story.

Eighth was Yedrill, Goddess of the hidden lands. She made the giants, the dwarves, the elfen and the mundane creatures of the woods. She also made the types of plant and tree we see today. The flowers on the peak of the cactus are her eyes, I have been told.

Ninth was Undron, God of work and the harvest. He made tools for the gods and mortals to work on the land. He made the harvested crop into bread, he made the fish edible, and the bird also. We give thanks to him for his gifts.

Tenth was the cursed son. We must never speak his name, for he corrupts the flesh and blood of man, making them his vessels on earth. He made the Bane, the Hate, and the Nemesis - the three powers of darkness. Through his power, the monsters came to be upon the earth. None know were he went in place of Godpeak. Some say the Cape of eternity, though only one has dared to scale it's peaks. The cursed son made the dark magicks.

Eleventh was Hohaen, Goddess of Art and Ingenuity. She thought of the things mankind dared not to. She made the mysteries of the world, the legendary beasts and monsters, and allowed mankind to use magicks. She is our Queen of the Gods.

Last was the Godking, Edronai. He brought power of the heavenes themselves, and the power to change fate itself. He made the heroes, made the Scriers, and he made the gods immortal. Praise was great to the first Godking, now fallen.

More gods followed, but are now long forgotten or seldom talked about. And even some of the first pantheon have now passed from this world. 

The first pantheon passed into the halls of Godpeak, out of mortal eyes.

The gods, like the mortals that followed in their image, had children as well - Long have we worshipped Kaexen, Godprince of Night and Disasters, in both his father and mother's image and profession. Though all know Xine cannot truly die.

Likewise, we worship Godprince Hadarim, Born of hope and cunning, the god of luck and chance. 

There are other stories of our land, of Magekin and Witches, of Giants and Dwarves, and of Heroes.

But those are for another time.

This, was the first story.