Above and Below, 2nd Edition

Above and Below, 2^nd Edition.

Cobbler, J.

Housed in the Library of the Commonwealth.

When discussing deities above ourselves, it is very natural to assign mortal qualities to the intangible, and this becomes most evident when looking at Vertira and Lenivirr, the realms of Light and Dark respectively. First of all, the very concept of a ‘realm’ is a very mundane way of understanding, the two powers have been described as anywhere from individuals not dissimilar to gods, with personality and form, or sometimes as swelling seas of clouds and water. Shape aside, the two are purest and unreachable. The minor deities of the land such as the Slumbering Brothers of Blacksand pale in comparison to the people of Ocean and Cloud, and unless proven otherwise, seem to be the most powerful forces upon the continent.

It is not uncommon for someone unfamiliar with these creatures to assign the Light as “good” and the Dark “bad”. Granted, the reputation of some of the more prominent Lenivirr sects might have tainted the understanding to the general populous, but as forces of nature these two beasts are as neutral as can be. In the same way a river can grow life upon its banks, yet flood towns and drown innocents, Vertira and Lenivirr are wells of an ancient, unbiased power that inherently are too vast to care for mortal on goings. The use of these powers by us, however, is where the thoughts of morality come into play.

Many examples of the worship to these deities can be found across the continent, from the Light-forged elves of the glass forest to the Dark dwelling mites of Chiton, and for the most part these groups do their best to use their respective powers to put good into the world. When these two powers clash however, it is in their very nature to oppose.

The most famous knowledge of Vertira and Lenivirr comes from the last time they directly interfered with our world. Most written accounts vary, and the hundreds of years that have passed have clouded the truth. Researching into the event, it seems the most accurate recollection is found within the verses of ‘Cloud and Sea’. This account tells of a frightening war between the above and below that changed the face of our home, with the abyssal Wretch clawing itself from the South Eastern ocean and attempting to scale the now missing Vertiran mountain range. The eviscerating Light that removed the range and left a spiral of shale in place (See - Mt. Voskus) is testament to how these powers are grand, terrific, and uncaring. After this war, the two slunk back to wherever it is they dwell, leaving the continent permanently altered. Remnants of their power still exists, with those pledging themselves in prayer granted access to droplets of their grand form. The most notable mark left behind however are the various artefacts imbued with their respective strength. These powers have been decided too vast to have been crafted by mortal hands, and must have been made by unseen hands of divinity themselves.