Datalog #1

The world of Zutara is a vast place, full of mystery and wonder. But where did it all come from? This is what we will answer today. In the ancient past, beyond the normal reaches of space, there exists a world above all other worlds, a world known as the celestial realm. This world is filled to the brim with beings who we may consider gods, beings of unimaginable might who have the supreme power to create, or to destroy. These godlike beings are known as celestials, and they were created by the nameless one, an infinite all-powerful force that is above all other planes of existence, for He is the beginning, and the end, of all. 

Some celestials choose to serve the Nameless One and follow His ways, while some rebuke Him and walk their own path. No matter which path these celestials follow, the power of creation still rests on their shoulders. They have created an infinite amount of worlds in their image through their creative minds, each more different than the last. All domains, or multiverses, begin as a seed within the consciousness of the celestial. That celestial, in creating their own fictional world, plants that seed of creation into the chaotic waters of non-existence that flood the vast emptiness of the lower domain. This seed then grows into a great tree known as a Sefiros, or Tree of Life. This tree then in turns bears fruit, each fruit giving form to a new universe called a Starsphere.

Barbello was one such celestial, planting her Sefiros and the ripe young age of 5 years old. (in celestial years) Her Sefiros had birthed many worlds before this one, but each one was destroyed by a primordial force known as Elzakalas, a being of pure evil that has destroyed countless worlds again and again and one of Barbello's two children alongside his equal and opposite, Mekala, both born from the chaotic waters festering in Barbello's womb.

The Aeon Mekala served as a guardian of this world and all that inhabited it, embodiment of order and light. However, Mekala grew bored with a world without life, because at that time no living creatures wandered the fields. All that existed were plants and vegetation, born of the earth but incapable of thought. So, Mekala decided to create "machines” in her image to walk alongside her. Intelligent, smart machines equal to that of the gods. Elzakalas scoffed at the idea, believing that these "machines" would rise up against them and only bring trouble. 

However, as Mekala built the machines, they broke down nearly as soon as they were made. This was because they were incomplete, only one half of a greater whole. They possessed Mekala's Anima, her spirit of thoughtfulness, kindness, and compassion, but without the equal and opposite Animus, possessed by her wicked brother Elzakalas, the machines lacked ambition and purpose, wandering aimlessly until they eventually broke down from lack of care.

So, Mekala did the unthinkable. While Elzakalas was sleeping Mekala cut a piece of flesh from his thigh and used it to craft a new type of machine, a machine that instead of being made of metal and wiring was made out of flesh and blood, gears and screws replaced with flowering organs that performed the same functions. The combination of Elzakalas' worldly flesh and Mekala's spiritual essence created the first form of life separate from the gods: the dragon queen, Nargi, the first of the seraphim.

Elzakalas, outraged at this development, cursed all who possessed his flesh to the Curse of S.K.I.N., standing for "Sin of Kalas Incarnate Nature" which caused all life to be naturally inclined towards evil, despair, and self-destruction. Regardless, life pressed forward, creating a cognate-spiritual barrier to protect against the curse. This field of spiritual energy became what would eventually be known as Magick, the ability to create and influence natural phenomena using this spiritual energy field.

After Mekala created Nargi, she began work on creating the rest of the Seraphim, beings that resembled mythical beasts from the celestial realm who shared their name, and sent them out to form a society. These 12 dragons included Nargi the Dragon Queen of course, but also included Valfa the Seraphim of Fire and Bravery, Ninis the Seraphim of Ice and Love, Rohnni the Seraphim of Thunder and War, Vorpo the Seraphim of Water and Natural Disasters, Eternos the Seraphim of Wind and Peace, Mordu the Seraphim of Earth and Power, Arrakos the Seraphim of Wisdom and Silence, Kairos the Seraphim of Time and Space, Tei-Shen the Seraphim of Luck and Wealth, Orochi the seraphim of death and rebirth, and Tiamat the seraphim of chaos and destruction. Mekala also created beings in the seraphim's image and called them “dragons.” Together with the Seraphim who ruled them as elders, they formed the first civilization on Zutara, the Kingdom of Arcadia.

However, not only did dragons walk the earth, but all sorts of other beasts and creatures of every shape and size, very similar to those of the celestial realm. Eventually, the Dragons needed workers in order to work the fields and build their walls, so Mekala created humanity, simple humanoid creatures that were created to serve the dragons. But the Seraphim of Fire and Bravery, Valfa, took pity on humanity, gifting them with Astral Order: Flame of Knowledge which granted humanity natural morals and a form more resembling that of the divine. This also opened their innocent hearts to the Curse of S.K.I.N., allowing Elzakalas to gain further influence in the physical realm. As a response to this, Mekala sealed Valfa’s soul inside a mortal vessel, forced to reincarnate and never be able to return to his divine body. She then abandoned the seraphim and humanity, leaving the Starsphere never to return believing that their foolish actions would lead to their assured destruction without her.

A few years later, Mordu grew a fierce hatred of the rapidly growing human tribes, who he feared would rebel against their dragon masters and take over the world. He was manipulated by the spirit of Elzakalas to kill Nargi, the Dragon Queen, in order to gain Elzakalas’ blessing and become one of the dark god’s archons, bringers of calamity. The other seraphim responded by declaring war on Mordu and his forces, now known as Adonis, Archon of Pride, and a massive civil war broke out. The war would soon be known as the First War, the first large-scale conflict to ever take place in Zutara.