The Account of Creation

As recorded by an unknown author [1] in the second age of the Ancient world. Presented here is a fresh translation (with critical notes) of the Account of Creation:

I. The First Age of Creation

1 In the beginning there was only darkness and the abyss 2 Areluma, space, existence, lived and saw the never-ending darkness. She then began to think, to create ideas and concepts. As she looked into the void there began a beat. 3 A rhythm of a steady heartbeat that would be the foundation for all of creation. A rhythm that would not be recognized until the Ancients; Time. 4 Beleg, as Time was named, lay dormant as the void surrounded Areluma.

From Space and Time came the four Elements: 5 Earth, the structure of the Corporal Plane. 6 Water, the life giver and bringer of change. 7 Air, the shifting and evolving element that tore at the Earth. 8 Fire, the destroyer and bringer of death that yet held balance and warmth. 9 Thus the four elemental planes existed and where they met became Corporeal, material, worldly.

10 From the Earth came Magos, the first being of the world, from stone he was born and lived. From the water came Jinsei, the mother of life. Where the water and the earth met there sprouted green life. 11 Jinsei emerged from the Spring of Azul and where her foot was placed, there came life. Magos found Jinsei in those early days and vowed to protect her. 12 Jinsei flourished in the land and brought about life to the barren earth. From the wind whistling over the earth and water and plants came the Red Wind. 13 Huru-Hara who loved chaos whipped at the earth and water and plants shaping them, moving them, creating a flowing life. Where the Earth met the sky Magos seized The Red Wind and pulled him to the earth. Huru-Hara by Magos' hand became physical and took the form of a sylph. 14 For this Huru-Hara has forever been grateful. 15 Life grew too quickly as the winds carried to the farthest reaches of the earth. Deep within the ground emerged fire. From the husk of the first burnt tree emerged Gnar, Lord of Fire and Death.

16 Jinsei despised the fire that destroyed her life just as Magos despised the wind that caused chaos. 17 From Magos and Jinsei there came creatures that walked, slithered, snuck, wriggled, and flew across the earth. Creatures that ate the green life. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, as far as the imagination stretches, Magos and Jinsei would create. 18 The life produced young and ate the never-ending plant life. Soon the animals began to grow. Too many lived and ate destroying the life Jinsei had first created. 19 Magos saw what Order was and saw the necessity for it. 20 He sought out Gnar on his fiery mount. Gnar taught Magos that these animals could give life just as the plants gave them. 21 There Gnar broke its flesh and shed its blood in the fire. 22 Magos took some to eat and found it to be good. 23 Gnar and Magos made beasts for death. Creatures that would feed on the death of the living. 24 And they ate and balance was made as death was brought to life.

Thus was the First Age of Creation.

II. The Second Age of Creation

1 At the dawn of life the gods looked up and behold time cycled and the earth changed, bringing a being of destruction who had long slept in the abyss, 2 desire for the destruction of all things Diadac the destroyer came. 3 The elder dragon attacked the land and its plants and its creatures in these days the world was destroyed, till none remained but the garden of Kiol where the spring of Azul flowed. 4 The four divines met to decide the fate of the dragon 5 and with their powers created the only weapon that could cast down the beast. 6 The staff of winds, blessed symbol of Huru-Hara was gifted to him. 7 Khuda of reaping death was gifted to Gnar. The sword which held the power of death, capable of purging the Dragon [2] of its corporeal form. 8 The basin of living water, gifted to Jinsei held the water of Azul, known as the Vase of Azul. 9 Finally Creatoma, the origin of creation, was gifted to Magos, the foundation of magic [3]. 10 Thus were the first relics and thus did the gods wage war against destruction. The wind pulled out from under the great beast swings and thus it came into contact with the earth in the garden. 11 The Creatoma, bound the beast with sight and sound in everlasting binds the sword of death was plummeted into the soul of the Dragon and its mind severed from its body, finally the body of the great dragon, which fell lifelessly, was thrown into the abyss burning with the infernal fire. 12 The infernal plane thus created the dwelling place of the elder Dragon of destruction, the infernal land: Hell. 13 The body resided in the Abyss once more and from his body there were born demons and devils whom marched upon his back, burning everlasting with eternal fire.

14 The devastation of Diadac was awoken by [4] the teeming life which walked upon the earth that the gods had formed. 15 The gods saw that the world was good, and it teemed with life. Plants grew in abundance and the animals of the populated and spread wide across the world. 16 The animals ate and were fed; the plants grew, and in that time, Titans walked upon the earth. Others, who were not gods, lived among the four divines and Magos saw that their form was good. 17 He took marble and from it he sculpted Adon [5]. Next, he sculpted Granite and formed Alis. These were the Ancients. All of their descendants grew upon the earth and knew their Gods as Kings. 18 Jinsei saw that the life of the Ancients was good, they lived among the rocks and from the branches of trees they built shelters. Adon, their father, taught his descendants his craft and he and his sons and daughters grew in knowledge of the world [6].

19 Jinsei saw that the trees and the plants of the ground soon became wild and no longer listened to their mother's voice. As did the animals who grew in number and fed upon the earth and one another. 20 In fear of the wild Jinsei, approached Magos and conferred with him about the order of such things. Under instruction, and with her own graces, Jinsei took the wood of her mighty trees and formed the bodies of Elves. 21 She breathed into them life and purpose, an affinity with the growing things of the earth. From its leafy flora the fair folk were born, and they served their mother and kept her realm in order. 22 The first of the Elves was named Koya, for she was commanded to take charge of the wild places of the earth. Then was created her sister Aiki, named for her love of all things. Among these were others: Illiandril, Surilla, Sthandi, Thundili, Ousani. These were the first Elves and they lived upon the earth in harmony.

23 From Gnar’s fiery throne marched his children, who were named Orcs, in their hearts they craved blood for their father and they were the first wagers of war. 24 This world which the Gods had formed fell under the fire of Destruction and thus began the first apocalypse.

Thus was the Second Age of Creation.

|In the days of the death of the Ancients there came to pass the rise of monsters great and small. Dragons walked upon the earth and Great beasts devoured all that lived. The elves hid in their forests and and the Ancients and Orcs waged war. In those days Koyoukai, general of the bone knights, slew 600 dragons and dragon kind. In her company was 100 warriors. She now is seated in the heavens, Mistress of War, and lord of her craft |[7]

III. The Third Age of Creation

1 The days of monsters ended and the Ancients, Elves, and Orcs who lived lives alongside the gods came to an end. 2 It was then that Areluma looked down upon her children and blessed them. They ascended into the heavens where they were blest with Areuma’s everlasting light. 3 Those who rose are listed here, though there were many more that saw the light of Areluma that day:

Magos child of earth,

Jinsei child of the sea,

Gnar child of fire,

Huru-Hara child of the wind,

Koyoukai child of war,

Koya child of the wild,

Aiki child of love,

Arzt and Gul children of the dragons [8].

4 They left the earth and dwelt in the heavens and humanity saw their light from afar and worshiped them. 5 The people knelt and bowed their heads praying and singing praises to their fathers and mothers in heaven. From the heavens the gods saw that their creation was dying, so they blest the earth with new life. 6 From the hands of Magos came the Dwarves, descendants of the Ancients, whose nature was to live within the mountains and under the earth. 7 From the hands of Huru-Hara came goblinoids whose nature was to steal, feed, and kill. 8 From the hands of Gnar came new creatures of darkness who feared the light of the heavens and hid beneath the earth. 9 From the hands of Jinsei came new life of many kinds.

10 Koya saw that the creatures her mother had made were good and she loved them dearly, so with the shaft of aspen root, she fed the feline. The cat grew and from the mothering of Koya came the first catfolk: Gata. 11 Koya gifted Gata with wives, daughters, and sons. A nation arose from the forests north of the Human nation. Gata sat on a throne, and his beauty and mind enchanted the goddess who had made him. 12 Koya lusted over the king Gata and so every night she came to him asking what gifts he might need. His first request was servants for his people. 13 So from the flower of a rose, she fed nectar to a rat nearby, who became the first of the ratfolk. Koya blessed their nation and made them plentiful so their bondage to her king would serve him well.

14 But the ratfolk soon outnumbered his own people so Gata called upon his lover again to ask for clever minds to assist him in ruling.15 So [9] from the air, Koya plucked a raven, whom she fed a golden coin from the treasury. From this raven came the Tengu, whose home was made in the north of the world. Tengu worked for Gata and brought the ratfolk into alignment. 16 Gata’s nation [10] reigned for 1,500 years before Koya returned to her king who was growing weary with age, though his blessed long life had been granted by his lover. 17 Gata, clever as he was, knew he would die eventually, so after Koya’s lust had overcome her, Gata asked her to grant him entrance to the heavens. So Koya brought him to the throne of Areluma who blest him as the god of kings and thieves for Areluma knew Gata was treacherous and had seduced Koya.

18 In the days of the Kingdom of Gata, there was a man who was born in the lands of men to the south. He was named Oire and from an age of three years he worshiped the gods and sang praises. Oire loved the gods and he studied their nature, praying to all that answered him. He wrote down the things that were told of him and from his lips came praises and songs which glorified the gods. 19 Soon men and women listened to Oire and his teachings. He instructed the people how to worship the gods and what they must do to earn their favor. Oire wrote down these things and made for the god's symbols, writings, and practices [11]. 20 His congregation of followers worshiped and glorified the gods and Oire saw that the gods were pleased.

21 When Oire saw that his followers numbered greater than the birds in the sky and the fish of the sea he took them to stand around him, for he had built an altar where he would stand. His congregation surrounded him and at his request they worshiped him, praising him, singing to him. 22 From his congregation and from the altar where he stood he rose into the heavens to meet the gods. The Gods were not pleased with him, for he was meant to instruct men how to worship the gods, not mortals. 23 But Areluma looked upon him with grace and assigned him the task of speaking to mortals once more. So Oire became the Messenger of the Gods and he spoke to the people and his writings were spread far and wide.

24 From Gata and Koya were born the Twin Gods: Spiel and Wyjiao. From Koya’s womb came Gods, not born mortal. The twins’ nature followed that of their father, concerned with the affairs of mortals. Spiel grew to love the entertainment of men and designed games which he taught to them so that they might love him. Wyjiao saw the suffering of the earth and taught nations how to debate and discuss, thus she taught mortals politics. 25 And from the twins came nations who warred, debated, deceived, and gamed. Many nations rose upon the earth and many other nations fell. 26 In these times the Elves lived in the forests to the west and north. Dwarves lived within the mountain ranges. Orcs roamed the badlands in the shadow of Gnar’s Mount. Catfolk and other children of Koya lived in the forests of the middle earth and in the west dragons were born. Humans dwelt in the south, their nations warring and spreading throughout the world. Gnomes ventured from their forests homes and built cities, as did the smallfolk of the hillsides who were named Halflings [12]. These were the nations who rose and whose people still walk upon the earth.

27 During this time each nation rose and fell, people lived and died, and Areluma saw that death was the end of all things. 28 Gnar, as well, who saw that death was the end of all things living fed on the oblivion and grew stronger with death. So he taught his people, the orcs, to kill and take lives so that they might know what it is to feast on life. Gnar killed and grew stronger, his dwelling in the heavens growing dark and secluded. 29 The others did not see him when he climbed the great mountain of heaven. It was Gnar, whose mind turned only towards death, that climbed the mountain of Soul upon which Areluma’s throne dwelt. 30 When he arrived, Areluma greeted him with open arms. Gnar’s heart was full of rage and hate and in his lust for power, he took the life of Areluma by piercing her body with the Khuda of reaping death, so that its blade laid within her breast. 31 In her death, she gave her creation a gift. 32 From her death, each creature was given the soul by which they could be saved. Named after the mountain on which her form was split, she gifted to the mortals of the earth immortality in the bounds of heaven. 33 The other gods confronted Gnar for his treachery and as his lust faded, he mourned what he had done. 34 Koya and Koyoukai confronted Gnar and cast him off the mountain. There he was bound by Beleg and Magos who made chains [13] that neither broke nor aged and whose powers could not be broken. 35 Once bound in the chains, Jinsei, Huru-Hara, Aiki, and Gata delivered him to the place where the world ends and the end begins. From there the gods cast him into the Abyss, four chains bound him, and the four chains were mounted to the land so that Gnar would be bound.

36 If ever the four chains should lose his bonds, surely Gnar would return from his prison and bring about Apocalypse; the end of the world.

37 There were great reckonings and the lands split and water separated people from people. These places were called Saelsvyr, Eldor, Xifang, and Mosian. On each of these was placed a chain, a chain which held the bonds of Gnar. 38 And so the four continents were forged to seal the prison. It was in this time that Gnar peered into the Abyss, his sight drawn into his own eyes. 39 The Abyss's sight shown upon him and spoke to him. Daesmos arose from the darkness, loosed from the shadows. The watcher and ever-present keeper of Death, the keeper of Gnar. From this was created this eternal prison.

40 The gods dwelt in the heavens with the angels, devils crawled across the infernal plane and waged war against Diadac, demons listened to the whispers of Gnar and rose from the Abyss. The planes of the world each grew in life and number and the world came to be [14].

Thus was the Third Age of Creation, the Final Age of Creation.

Endnotes

[1] Traditionally attributed to Oire, the messenger of the gods.

[2] Some manuscript traditions, “Diadac.”

[3] It is grammatically and syntactically ambiguous if “the foundation of magic” refers to Magos or the Creatoma.

[4] Alternate translation: “was overcome by.”

[5] Some manuscripts, “Adom,” due to disagreement about pronunciation.

[6] The Eldorian Codex, one of the oldest complete manuscripts adds, “These were the first of the dwarves and humans and they lived upon the earth in harmony.” Whether or not the children of Adon and the Ancients were humans, dwarves, or another race is a source of fierce debate (see also III:4, 6).

[7] This section is not found in the earliest manuscripts but was likely added sometime during the Elder Age, before the founding of the First Age.

[8] This list is a tightly structured poem, likely an early liturgical formula. In some versions, the ordering of the last four is changed and expanded to five. This structuring leaves Aiki as the center of the poem and has the sea/fire mirrored by the moon/sun. It reads: “Aiki, child of love, Koya child of the wild, Arzt child of the sun, Gul child of the ocean, Koyoukai child of war.”

[9] Some scholars note the frequency of the phrase “so from,” and “so,” in this section. This has led some to suggest it is the insertion of a separate poem into the Account, but no manuscript evidence supports this claim.

[10] Idiomatic phrasing, “Gata reigned.”

[11] This work is known as “The Collection of Belief.”

[12] Manuscripts vary wildly on this verse, with additions explaining the origins of halflings and gnomes. None hold any textual weight and thus are not included here.

[13] Some manuscripts add, “forged from the ore beneath Mount Soul.”

[14] Some manuscripts, “and the world of Illumire came to be.”