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The World of Atercia |
In the beginning there was the void and there was Him. He is the First, He is the creator of all. Summoning His will, He began to fill the void. He created the sun and the moon and the stars to shine amongst the darkness. Thereafter, He created a world of land and sea and He named this world Atercia. This was merely the beginning and soon plants began to sprout from the ground and their canopies reached towards the heavens. Animals emerged from the dust in pairs and began to spread across the world, each different to all the kin around them. One race fascinated Him more than any however: humans. Full of intellect and reasoning they stood above all the other races and soon He created more races of similar stature: the elves, the dwarves, the orcs to name a few. Each of these He created to be alike the humans, but with a new appearance and different abilities. All the races grew in number and soon the land and the seas were filled with His creations. However, just as there is day, there is always night and the darkness must always come. He is the First but there is also the End. Strange new creatures began to emerge on the surface of Atercia; black souled beings with murderous intent. The people called them demons. They swept across the world in a cloud of darkness, killing everything that stood in their path. The people gathered together, regardless of race; some prepared to fight, others fled to safety but He could see they had no chance of survival. So in a desperate attempt to save His beloved creations, He stepped on to Atercia, not as himself, but as a group of new Gods and Goddesses, each with a part of Him within. They went to work quickly; rallying with the people, they cut down the dark beings until there was but a few left. The demons were surrounded, and the people filled with renewed hope advanced ready to finish the battle and to avenge the deaths of all those who had fallen. Their promise could never be fulfilled though, the remaining demons fled from the scene and slipped into obscurity. The threat destroyed, the Gods gathered together to leave this world and give it back to the people. However, His soul infused into these bodies could not be reversed. He had divided himself and now forever he would be divided. Changing their plans, the Gods decided instead of leaving Atercia they would stay to help rebuild the world they all loved and to provide a threat should the demons and the End ever return. The Gods & Goddesses of Atercia Tunark, Goddess of Life Tunark, the Goddess of Life, sits by a woman holding her hand as she, the woman, takes sharp breathes. Tunarks blonde hair rains down her neck, curling at the ends as they meet the small of her back. The woman closes her eyes and squeezes hard; the sound of crying breaks the air and as she opens her eyes in wonder a baby, beautiful even now, is held in the arms of the midwife.
Tunark smiles at the little miracle and stands from her seat. Looking to the new mother she nods and turns to depart but a hand pulls her back. The mother, exhausted but grinning brilliantly with more than a little glow to her cheeks, looks up and mouths a thank you. The doctor cuts the baby free and cradling it softly brings it to the woman who takes it in arms instinctively. Tunark watches the special relationship happily before turning to leave, hope very much in her heart. Lunarin, God of Night Lunarin, the God of Night, stands beside the black river, the light of the moon reflecting as ripples cross the surface. His feet, emerging from the bottom of his cloak, are submerged in the ice-cold water. His dark hair trails down his back and falls recklessly over his face. Grey eyes look out from the matted bangs at the boats that float along the river. Men sit in the shallow boats staying very still, their eyes not daring to drift to the sides. He knows where they travel to the next life and he is their guide.
His hand tightens around his stick, a slender pole that sinks into the soft earth, as he turns and walks along the bank. Overhead the stars dance and he spares them a smile before moving on. Laniidae, God of Nature Laniidae sits beneath a tree, their thick branches casting lazy shadows across his body. Leaning back against the dark bark, a collection of animals gather at his feet. Above him a collection of birds perch in the tree, singing together in harmony. The God of Nature spreads his arm forward and the clouds part, spilling sunlight into the valley below, golden rays dancing along the twirling green stems of grass.
Closing his eyes, he pushes his vision outwards and soon the entire world dancing in his beauty. This is his gift to Atercia. He paints his beauty across the globe for all to admire. Aetasu, God of Time Aetasu sits at a table with a book in front of him, turned to a half-written page. Around him are shelves filled with thousands of similar books. Without a moment hesitation he continued to write, filling it with the history of the universe. The God of Time is the original historian, the resident of the library that holds the truths of every existing moment.
Around him small imp-like creatures scurry about picking up the journals and taking them to their respective places. Aetasu takes no notice of them; they are not of his concern. Ever it is his duty to write the chronicles of Atercia. Azazel, God of Rogues Azazel stands motionless, hidden almost entirely by the darkness. A flicker of his crimson coat flashes among the black; the collar of it turned upwards concealing much of his face, only his red eyes and wild black hair on show. He watches admirable as an elf closes in on his target and silently snatches the purse from a merchants waist. The thief quickly moves away and the merchant is entirely unaware.
Azazel nods and smiles satisfactory. Despite the underhand way of life, he has always unheld an insistant of honor among thieves. You take as much as you need and give the rest away to those less fortunate. Life is a precious gift and should never be destroyed recklessly. These are the lessons he had taught his followers. Slipping deeper into the shadows he walks away. Pierus, God of Muses Pierus paces upon a mountain summit, his steely eyes gaze into the distance as he thinks. The sun glitters above, thin beams of light breaking through the clouds and shining around him. A bird swoops through one of the rays and pushes itself upward with a few strong flaps of its wings. Pierus smiles and suddenly stops pacing and begins to work.
Bending down, he pulls a blossoming plant from the earth and begins to shape it in his fingers. A bee lands on the flower, seemingly out of nowhere, and Pierus grabs hold of the insect between two delicate fingers and pushes it within the plant. His hands never stop moving as he works and a slight aura emanates from them casually. Finally, he pauses to admire his work and then throws it down into the ground, casting up a thick cloud of dust that blocks his view temporarily. He lets it sweep over him and as it clears he looks down and sees his creation. A small bird bends its head upward to look at Pierus and caws admiringly before unfolding his wings and jumping into the sky, flying away into the distance. Jacana, Goddess of Vengeance and Ni'Shade, Goddess of Compassion Jacana and NiShade, sisters in arms, walked together through one of the villages, attracting many looks and respectful bows, as they passed along the broad walkway. Half a century had passed since the battle with the demons and normality had been restored to the world. Wherever the remaining demons were hiding, it was far from the gazes of the Gods.
During these years and living among the people, each God had developed a distinctly different personality. Each had their own loves of the worlds and different things they vowed to protect; Laniidae, for example, had taken a liking to the plants and the animals. Hearing a cry for help, they rounded a corner to see a woman on the floor with blood dripping from her nose. A man ran from her with a pouch wrapped tightly within his grubby fingers. The Gods accelerated towards the scene; Jacana fled after the man and NiShade knelt beside the woman. NiShade dipped a finger under the womans chin and raised the face to look at her. The woman instantly knew she was in the presence of a God and her eyes averted unsure of how to react. When she finally did gain the confidence to look up, she gazed into a soft face framed by cascading brown locks and jade eyes. NiShade placed a hand upon the womans nose, gently, and silently repaired the damage. A slight glow was cast by her fingers. Behind her she could hear struggle and as she turned she saw Jacana holding the man several inches off the floor as she walked him back to the scene of the crime. Jacana could be a beautiful woman but with her gray eyes and unsmiling face there was always a dangerous look to her. The man dropped the pouch of money from his hand and it fell a couple of inches in front of the woman. NiShade picked it up and handed it to the grateful woman who was now looking in an even greater awe at Jacana. As usual, Jacana failed to notice the respect, and proceeded with the job at hand. She turned the man around, his feet still grasping desperately for earth, and holding him up one hand she placed the other at the centre of his chest. No! NiShade shouted, quickly moving to her sister. Jacana looked at her and for once she was smiling and replied with a single word. Yes. The bolt flashed from her hand and struck the man, sending his body across the street before hitting the ground in an ungrateful thud. NiShade reached her too late and looked at the unmoving body, then her eyes retreated back to Jacana. She stood still, arms at her side, as if she was regarding the body as a mere inconvenience. Why did you do that? NiShade shook her head. Jacana turned to her. Because I had too. He was full of hate and he would have done it again. He might not have, she replied with unlimited hope. He would. Jacana nodded as someone who had seen too much. There was a moment silence and then Jacana began to walk away. Come now, we have much to do. "Upon the peak of a mountain, we gathered, far from all the cities of men. For the first time in over two centuries, all of the Gods were meeting at one time. Aetasu, my Lord, had allowed me to travel alongside him to witness the gathering. Through the day they arrived, most of them shadowed by their closest disciples; Lunarin, the only to travel alone. As the sun was beginning to set, the heavens broke and a flurry snow drifted across the landscape. The white quickly encapsulated us all and the Gods decided this was the time to start their meeting. Leaving us behind, they climbed to a summit and began to talk. Night came and went, they still had not returned and they had issued the direct command that they were not to be interrupted. Time passed and finally on the third day they returned. The dwarves Gods descended the trail first and, gathering their companions, left quickly after. It seemed an eternity before the remaining Gods appeared. We are leaving Atercia, they announced. The Demons have disappeared, the people thrive and so our time here is over for now. Perhaps, one day we will be needed and shall return but until then we give you the world as our gift. The Time of The First is over. We are separated and will be so ever more, keep our teaching strong. I looked at my master with a tear in the corner of my eye, I didnt have to look at the other disciples to realise they felt the same. To serve a God was a honour beyond life. Aetasu looked back at me and nodded simply with a smile on his face. The Gods and Goddesses gathered together in their final act, linking hands until they formed a perfect circle. The sky lit up, bright auras dancing in the clouds and around our masters, a more beautiful sight than I have ever witnessed before. The auras pushed into the sky and I felt my eyes pulled up with them, watching the great show of power. And then they faded and our eyes fell back to the earth, the deserted earth where moments before our Gods had been gathered. They had departed. I have returned since, reliving the moment over and over in my head. I am now much older and still teach what Aetasu was worthy enough to teach me. Upon the mountain top a ring of trees now grow and in the center: peace. An area of peace that will never be broken by any of the evils that may one day return to Atercia." ~The Story of Talasin: The Departure Worshipping Practices Within Atercia The main religion of Atercia believes that as each God and Goddess is a part of the First, they are all a part of a whole and therefore should each be worshipped equally to understand His true greatness. Since the departure of the Gods from Atercia, Temples were constructed so prayer could be offered to them until the day they returned once more. Prayers are usually offered upon waking and before sleep, however visits to the Temple are only required on the Sabbath Day once a week. Around Atercia, however, there are many variations of the religion. Some groups choose to worship one God more than the others, while some merely worship one wholly. The Temples do not approve of these groups and, with their political power, have ensured that no Temples promoting one God exist within many of the large cities around the world. This has driven some people to worship alone or meet in cult-like manners to pursue their beliefs. Some groups have even begun to worship Gods that do not exist, however this does not mean they are not praying to something. The ultimate aim of the priests at the Temples is to educate the people of the Gods teachings until the day in which they return. Despite a considerable political influence, they flex these muscles very rarely, only becoming active in times when peace becomes strained. Orthor and Lorgar, brothers in arms, together took the dwarves for their own. Orthor, with his hammer, Nauthiz, taught the dwarves the art of war and superior metallurgy. Lorgar, with his tome of lore, Mannaz, taught the dwarves how to govern their cities, create a prosperous economy and the fickle art of diplomacy. Unlike the other gods, Orthor and Lorgar refused to leave the mortal realms with the other gods. But we have spent so long labouring on our children, how can you ask us to leave? Lorgar cried, casting his arms to the sky. Because it is necessary for the safety of all the races, nothing else can be done. Lunarin stated diplomatically. Nothing? Orthor snarled. How would you know? You care for nothing in this world! Youre no better than that brute who wants only war! He accused Lunarin, stabbing a finger toward ShoGog. That was uncalled for, you know how much it pains me to leave my Orcs behind, ShoGogs eyes narrowed to slits as his hand rested on his blade. Now end your whining youll come with us, even if we have to drag you out of this world. Instead they vowed never to abandon the dwarves, whatever the cost. ~*~ There, that will hold them for a moment, Lorgar said closing Mannaz.Orthor took his weight away from the door and stepped back to join his brother. So this is the only choice, right? Its the only way we can continue to protect the dwarves. Its not ideal, and well be nowhere near as powerful as we are now but it is certainly better than abandoning them. I still dont like this. No victory comes without sacrifice, how many times have you told our children that? Now it is our turn to give our utmost. Damn. Theres no arguing with you, is there? Orthor smiled sadly and raised Nauthiz. Under Lorgars guidance, Orthor turned Nauthiz upon his brother and struck him with divine strength. Having dropped all defences Lorgar allowed Nauthiz to strike him on a spiritual plane and shatter his soul, unleashing a cataclysmic level of energy that tore the brothers apart as the First had been when it entered the mortal plane. Forever shattered, but not destroyed, the essence of Lorgar and Orthor travelled on the winds of Atercia until it bonded with a suitable host. Irreversibly changed, these hosts became the Warsmiths and Whitebeards of the dwarves, and the last laugh of Lorgar and Orthor. | |||