Against Antediluvian Aprecipitation

One of my greatest frustrations with the interpretation of the creation in Genesis was when I discovered how irrationally the whole situation was presented, by both the so-called literal interpretations and the fully scientific rejection of it. Part of my motivations for imagining Eldwan include presenting a different take on creation. I'll deal with a couple of points in this post.

The first major gripe - Who in the world advocated the idea that there was no precipitation until Noah's flood?

A little research directs me to Genesis 2 : 4 - 6 'This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens- and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-', which has been interpreted to suggest that there was no rain until rain is quite undeniable by Genesis 7 : 12.

Let's try and sort this muddle out. Genesis 2, as I understand it, is an account of Day 6 of creation in more detail, about the creation of Adam and Eve. As such, the unique characteristics of this period, namely that there were no plants of the field, that there was no rain and that there was no man to work the ground, should be confined to our understanding of Creation Day 6. Of course there is no indication of when these conditions ceased to prevail, but I don't think they can be reasonably interpreted to have lasted until the flood. For one, after this brief description of the state of creation at the beginning of Day 6, the Lord raises the garden of Eden, and creates man. This already changes the conditions from 'no plants of the field' to many garden plants which are pleasing to eye and good for food. And man, while he may not be a worker, has also come into existence. These alterations already take effect by the end of Day 6.

By the time of the fall, man has clearly been cursed as a worker of the field, whose toil is what cultivates food for consumption. Cain is a farmer. Since the absence of rain was described with the other points that have clearly been changed, even by the fall, let alone the flood, I think rain would have pattered down on the vegetation of Eden as well. I have serious doubts about alternative hydrological cycles prevailing in this early stage of Earth's history. Just because God used rainbows as a symbol of his promise doesn't mean no one had seen a rainbow before.

Which leads me on to my second major gripe - The vapour canopy hypothesis

Unless the fundamental chemistry and intermolecular forces of water were drastically different from what they are today, I doubt that any water canopy could hover over the atmosphere of the earth for the length of time that these theorists claim. Incidentally, if water were so dissimilar to permit such structures, I don't think it would have functioned very well in human bodies.

The vapour canopy doesn't agree with scientific facts, or even biblical facts. If it was indeed the water above the earth, then the 'sky' would be limited to the space between this suspended aquatic layer and the seas. Since the sun and the moon were stated to have been placed in the sky, that would mean the sun and moon should have been sandwiched by the waters. Having a flaming sphere of plasma in such close proximity would hardly befit pre-rebellion paradise.

Exercising some creative liberty, I am re-imagining the water above the sky in Eldwan as an ice-belt that existed outside the orbit of Earth. If water was indeed raised to such an extent, the region between the ice belt and the Earth's seas would be the sky between the waters. The Sun and the Moon at least, would literally be contained within these two regions of water. I admit I cannot help the position of the stars, as they are a little too far away to wrap in an envelope of dihydrogen monoxide. But an ice-belt would at least fulfill a few more criteria that a vapour canopy cannot hope to explain.

Imperfect Apotheosis

This idea has grown to become particularly important despite its origin as a cursory addendum. So many essential themes have grown entwined with it that I should record its current state. It has to do with the postcorporists and Alero's dream for humanity. With the new reflections of Alero's motives, my original intentions for various events have grown irrelevant or inconsistent.

Alero's goal is for human fulfillment, and he interprets this as humans having the full potency of Eleyon in creative power and knowledge. This is not entirely out of line with what Eleyon wants of course, but it is incomplete and Alero jumpstarted the process before the evezhen were ready during the rebellion. After that fateful day, Alero remained proud and boasted that he could bring humanity into full bloom without Eleyon. Because of this, Eleyon decided to give Alero his way for a time, the Age of Light, and so a group of people who were willing to serve Alero were handed over to Alero to do as he pleased. At the end of that time, Eleyon showed Alero that the evezhen would never be made complete apart from himself.

Accepting this challenge, Alero holds the advancement of his followers in his hands. He guides them to greater and more potent technological ability in an accelerated manner. Alero grants them magic, albeit through unethical means, to enhance their progress further. He pushes for the postcorporists, the gods within the machine. By transferring their primary existence into the digital network, those individuals who gave up their physical bodies could exercise a shadow of Eleyon's creative ability. By intending and designing it, whole virtual worlds and simulations could come into existence.

Initially, I thought of it as borrowing from science fiction. However, I realised something potentially more significant upon deeper reflection. It may be, that out of a multitude of human endeavours, our only true creative efforts come through language. Anything physical is simply a rearrangement of pre-existing material. But words - the meaning of words is shaped by subtle societal forces, creative leaps of fluid definition. The language of a society is a collective lexical masterpiece, a creative effort en masse with every syllable we express, written or spoken.

Our control over virtual worlds is no different. We create them by language. Not by a natural human language, but a language of computers, which nonetheless finds itself the product of human ingenuity. So by inducing a shift from a physical world into a virtual world, Alero is really immersing humanity into the only domain in which their creative potential can be directly manifested, the domain of language.

Of course though, Alero's attempt is incomplete, just as his interpretation of human fulfillment is lacking. We are not fulfilled by power or ability. Our divine qualities shine through not when we are capable of immense god-like actions, but when we reflect the divine character of the Creator. Eleyon points this out to Alero before he destroys the Radiant society in the Flood.

Alero remains bitter, convinced that he could have achieved what he intended if Eleyon had not interfered. And so, with such an attitude, the next Age, the Age of Water, commences. The postcorporists in the network of Alaris reboot as the tidal generators begin to power the skeleton of the city. In their turn, they present themselves as gods to the scattered people of the coasts. Alero hears of them and approaches them, but instead of finding the gratitude he expects, they reject his leadership. The postcorporists are determined to achieve equality with the infinite for themselves with their second chance. Alero's love for them changes to hatred.

Through their actions and their internal feuds, it becomes clear that the new gods of Alaris are anything but divine. They are petty, selfish human beings who have found themselves with the power of gods. Alero finally admits in his own heart that they were never going to approach true apotheosis by the simple accumulation of power, but he bears a vendetta against the Alarians for the rest of time.

Eventually, when Eleyon himself comes to humble the Alarians, he does so by confusing their greatest creation; their language. They are cut off from their cultural heritage, from their philosophical texts, from their great novels, from their historical records. Man is truly humbled and progress must begin anew in the fragmented nations.

The fleeing, divided groups of Alaris carry their stories of their gods by oral tradition to the various areas of the coast they settle in from the destruction of their metropolis. From their half-remembered stories, the pantheons of gods of the various cultures in the Age of Rulers have their altered derivations. Stories of gods with jealous fights, selfish agendas and fickle favour. After two Ages of history, the people of Eldwan stop struggling to grasp equality with God, and Alero realises what a Sisiphean proclamation he made on the Day of Rebellion.

Horological Dabbling

I've decided to come up with the system by which the evezhen and their various divisions would have used in order to track the passage of time. The systems would have been based around the relative motion of the celestial luminaries, and would have differed between the Age of Harmony, Light and Water according to the earth shaking events that enacted their transitions. With this in place, it would help to solidify the exact dates of various historical events. 

To begin with, the original system that existed in the Age of Harmony. I know that I've posted that the passage of time was not carefully monitored due to the absence of death's call, but that is in terms of the number of years that would have passed. The evezhen would be bound to notice the day-night cycle, the phases of the moon and the turning of the constellations. But a count of years was not kept, and before the calendar was devised and decided on, none of the evezhen remember how many years had passed. Thus those who lived in this time were indeed of unknown age.

Due to the creation of the heavenly lights for the purpose of marking time, it makes logical sense that the evezhen would have reckoned time by the lights of the firmament. To that end, the names for day, month and year are compound words in tas eldwaraj. They are simply sun-cycle, moon-cycle and star-cycle, or satcwan, latcwan and yatcwan. In the perfect state of unblemished creation, these cycles matched up in exact periods. A year held 13 months and 364 days. Bear with me and I'll explain the rationale behind these odd numbers. The first evezhen held a seven day week, so the year was divided into 52 weeks. Each of the 52 weeks was in turn grouped into four week blocks of a month, resulting in 13 months. A month began with each full moon. Each new year began when the crown star, the brightest star in the sky, was at the zenith at midnight. 

Why have a seven day week? Seven became a sacred number to the evezhen, for to them, it represented perfection, completion and unity. Seven is the number of persons in the original pantheon of the Yevel. The three persons of Eleyon, Alero, Ilvesu, Oleri and Unavo. These seven persons sculpted the world in a grand cooperative exercise. Seven is a prime number, indivisible. Tolkien had his elves count in sixes and twelves, but I suggest otherwise. Six and twelve are useful because of their factors, it makes it easy to divide quantities of various things for trade, commerce and partitioning. The evezhen, in Elin Garden, would have had no need for such divisions. We prefer factorisable numbers because we are used to calculating exactly how much someone should get for each transaction and what those calculations to be straightforward. The early evezhen would have honoured prime numbers above all as little cohesive jewels, unconcerned as they were about possession and partition in their material abundance. 

The seven days of the week would be named after the seven persons of the pantheon. Spirit's Day, Soul's Day, Matter's Day, Alero's Day, Ilvesu's Day, Oleri's Day and Unavo's Day. Of the four weeks in a month, they could have been named the waning week, the failing week, the waxing week and the ripening week, following the shape of the moon. Then, each month would have been named after a constellation that would be at the zenith at midnight for the greater duration of that month. I haven't yet thought of imaginary constellations on a star map, so these months may remain unnamed for now. Then again, it also implies that I need to design a star map on top of a geographical map, quite literally. The Day of the Spirit was the holy day of rest.

Why 13 months? Well there's certainly no triskaidekaphobia amongst the garden evezhen, and 13 is another lovely prime number. The 13 months would be grouped into three seasons of four months each, and an extra month, the month of worship. During the month of worship, all other activities would be put aside for a collective focus of giving glory to Eleyon Cilves. The three seasons, another prime number mind you, were named after the three planes, the season of the Spirit, season of the Soul and season of the Body. As the garden was situated at the equator, there would not be much seasonal variation apart from varied precipitation and the change of the wheeling stars. 

After the Rebellion, the massive tectonic activity and the destructive geological actions that ensued caused the cycles to go out of synchronisation. In actual fact the only thing affected is the rotational speed of the earth, turning slightly faster. Therefore in the Age of Light, a year had 365.1633 days instead. A month lasted 28.089 days and not exactly 28 days.

Because of these changes, the Elves had to alter their calendars. An extra day was added, and this day was not included in the weekly cycle to keep as much of the old system of weeks intact. It was known as the Day of Mourning, for on that day the Elves remembered the destructive effects of the Rebellion and wept over what was lost. That day was located in the middle of the season of the Spirit, for that was when Alero had enacted his plans. Furthermore, the days of the week were changed to the Spirit's Day, Soul's Day, Matter's Day, Light's Day, Water's Day, Air's Day and Earth's Day, in order to remove Alero's name from the week.

Corrections had to be introduced to account for the discrepancy between the years and the days. There was a leap year every 7 years. This day was added to the thirteenth month, and was another day of remembrance, but this time of the promise that Eleyon would return to set things aright. Every 49 years, the corrections would be too much, so there would be a leap lap year, where no extra day was added. Unfortunately the moon was very hard to account for, and the months and the phases of the moon gradually diverged. Every 12 months, the days would go out of alignment with the months by a day, so a day was taken from the twelfth month and given to the thirteenth. This gradually caused the months to shift out of step from the year. I'll work out more of these details once I study lunar calendars.

While the Elves kept with a seven day week, the Radiant changed their calendars under the direction of Alero. They preferred to count in sixes and twelves, their new mindset about possession and barter inclining them to factorisable numbers. They tried to enforce this system on the calendar as well, with a six day week. Thus, they had sixty weeks of six days a year, which were divided into twelve months of five weeks long. They renamed the days of the week to the Light's Day, Sun's Day, Moon's Day, Star's Day, Dark's Day and Man's Day. Man's day was the day of rest. The twelve months were named after the constellations as well, but the original thirteenth constellation was annexed into its two neighbours. The months were divided into four seasons. As for the five remaining days, they were festival days inserted between the seasons, with the gap of two days marking the start of the new year. These five festival days were named after the gods of the Pantheon of Light, Alero's Day was at the start of the year, then Saroza's Day after three months, Lassier's Day after half a year, Stalie's Day after another three months and Daron's Day at the end of the year.

The corrections would also have had to apply to the Radiant calendar, and would have frustrated their numerologists. To the Radiant, it was an ugly seven year reminder that whatever their preferences and senary impositions, the original seven would still persist, and haunt their timekeeping.

Infantile Translation

I decided to have a go at translating ths Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13, into Tas Eldwarach, to test how well the language would hold out in its present state. I'll admit that there were some simplifications and loss of subtle meaning, but my vocabulary is not extensive enough yet. Anyway here it is :

Bevos üt ocesach, idizhen id weidin, ebeto arel beupesach. Abeidin beupesach utaito, wetel beupesach sepi seto, id udidin rabreu eten sete seto id weidin. Ocen satcwan, egeto zhazhen satcwagüu üt ocesach üt ocesun, ec egilto üt oces vasodz üt ocesach, rabreu üt oces egilto vaves üt ocesun. Acatom üt oces eserun vasaj, ot ibeto üt oces valots. Cive beupes geto abedin, ec esel, ec ebel, sepilun sedülach. Oseto ocen sepi seyo.

Geographical Changes

I've detailed the maps a little more and made a number of changes, the most tedious of which was a manual conversion of the scanned map into vector diagrams, click by click. There's probably a program out there that could have saved me several hundred clicks, but anyway, since the map is in digitized format now, it's much easier to modify, and when I get around to colouring it by climate, I hope it will be easier as well.

Meanwhile, I'd like to record my ideas about Eldwan's geographical history, ranging from the Age of Harmony to the Age of Rulers, with two major changes happening in between. In the Age of Harmony, all the lands are united in one supercontinent, and this is partly due to the fact that I wish to take the evidence for a supercontinent breakup into account for Eldwan.

Figure 1.1 - Supercontinent during the Age of Harmony

This is the rather hastily sketched supercontinent. I decided not to spend too much time designing it because it really doesn't feature that much in the story, save as a backdrop and to satisfy my desire for detail. I've been trying to devise a way that a creation story might possibly weave between the evidence and be consistent with both a creation mythos and apparent scientific evidence to the contrary in future. This is what I have come up with so far.

The major issues that have to be explained concern the following points : 

- The fossil records showing the distribution of species across now separate continents

- The geologic record of magnetic reversals in the seafloor

- The apparent age of the earth that a supercontinental division implies

The current sequence of events that I am toying with involves challenging one of the basic assumptions of science, that how the laws of the universe are now represents the laws of the universe in the past. Among the reasons why the earth has tectonic activity is the convection of the mantle, and the heat that drives the movement of the mantle comes from the leftover heat from the earth's formation, friction, gravity and most significantly, from radiation.

Since I do have the Yegül, who control the strong and weak nuclear forces, they effectively have control over radioactive decay. Thus, the following progression might just be workable. In the Age of Harmony, there would have been no tectonic activity, perhaps because the mantle was cooler, or there were regulated hot spots that helped to dissipate heat evenly. As a result, there would also have been no earthquakes or volcanism, two natural acts which are extremely destructive and don't befit a perfect world in my opinion.

The interior of the earth clearly cannot be dead cold, because that would imply a paralysis of the outer core and the absence of a protective magnetic field. So perhaps the interior of the earth was hot, but there were just stable ways of dissipating that heat. I'm not entirely sure if there's a way to balance these requirements of tectonic stability and a magnetic field - this calls for yet more research. 

At any rate, on the Day of Rebellion, as the Body of Eleyon destroys Baveris, Eleyon commands Unavo and Oleri to enforce a temporary change in the nuclear forces for a large spike in radioactive decay throughout the whole volume of the planet. This heats the mantle and forces the once stable crust to break up into mobile tectonic plates. The plates, propelled by the sudden increase in heat and convection of the mantle, cause the rapid break of the original supercontinent, and it results in the configuration shown in Figure 1.2

 Figure 1.2 - Divided Continents during the Age of Light

Part of why this has to occur is so that the High Elves can be given a separate continent from the Fallen, where they will be safe for a long era. I guess it makes thematic sense as well, what with a single unified continent fragmenting as the pristine order of Eldwan was fragmented by Rebellion. I have not yet named the continents since that is not really essential at the moment. 

The species distribution issue is resolved because they would have been distributed across the supercontinent during the Age of Harmony, and subsequently separated. It is perfectly possible that a great deal of fossilisation happened during this catastrophic event, and the Elves would have had to work to revive nature.

The magnetic alignment of the rocks would have been unstable given the sudden changes to the heating of the mantle and the outer core. There might have been rapid alternations during the upheaval. Lastly, the very nature of increased radioactive decay accounts for the apparent age of the earth, since our calculations are largely based on radiometric dating and massive backward extrapolation.

At this point, familiar tectonic features would affect the planet, quakes, volcanism, tsunamis, orogeny, seafloor spreading, and so on. The rate of continental drift would have decreased since the radiation burst would have ended and allowed the mantle to cool. Somewhat amusingly, this works very well with Romans 8:22 - 'We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.' I'll admit that was at the back of my mind while I was coming up with this.

Figure 1.3 - After the effects of the Deluge, for the Age of Water and Beyond

The next major modification to the geography of the planet comes with the Deluge at the end of the Age of Light, that leads to the end of Radiant civilisation and Alero's grand experiment. I haven't sorted out all the details of the Deluge just yet, but I do have some ideas in mind that I would like to record here. 

One of the greatest unresolved issues with the Biblical Creation account is the 'water above the sky', which was separated from the 'water below the sky' on Day 2. It has been suggested that 'water above the sky' refers to some vapour canopy that blanketed the earth in a thick atmosphere. The hydrological cycle would have been different in the absence of precipitation. I have serious doubts about this suggestion. If the properties of water were so fundamentally different in antediluvian times that precipitation was impossible, I don't think water would have been suitable for life either. In fact, there is nothing that indicates there was no antediluvian rain. That notion comes from a misinterpretation of the verse Genesis 2:5b - 'For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.' Genesis 2 merely describes Day 6, and not anything between Day 6 and the Flood. If someone argues that the verse does imply a dearth of raindrops, they might as well argue that man did not till the ground until after the Flood as well.

Next, the creation account clearly states that water was above the sky, not within the sky, so it could not be referring to clouds. This led me to the idea that the water might be in low earth orbit, encased in rock since liquids would not be gravitationally stable. However this was vetoed by the description of Day 4, which stated that the sun, moon and stars were placed in the expanse of the sky, which would seem to imply that they were sandwiched between the water above the sky and the waters below. This spurred me on to the notion that perhaps it would be better if the water was not in low earth orbit, but rather in an ice belt orbiting the sun. Well the stars would not be within the sky, strictly speaking, but at least the sun and moon, the greater lights, are. Overanalysing the text, stars are only mentioned in a short additional phrase after the sun and moon, so perhaps a little leeway is permissible.

During the Deluge, the floodgates of heaven were opened. Just as the fragmentation of the supercontinent involved manipulation of fundamental forces, the Deluge has Ilvesu alter the gravitational balance of the ice belt and cause many of the ice pieces to fall in towards the Cradle. The impacts of the falling ice destroy the landscape of the Cradle and the encircling mountain range, and the augmented gravity also causes much of the land of the Cradle to sink lower than normal. As a result a large inland sea forms, as drawn in Figure 1.3, and this sea serves as my parallel Mediterranean as Alaris rises to power.

After these changes, only normal processes affect the landscape to any significant degree. Weathering, erosion, residual continental drift and volcanism for example. But the time of massive geographical alteration is over as magic is gradually removed from Eldwan, and from the Age of Water and onwards, the land masses remain essentially the same.

World Maps - Vectors on Projections

Time for more maps, this round, with the whole world map instead of the local area as it was in a previous post. I decided to use the Mollweide projection, but I admit that my estimation of vectors on the projection is simply, an estimation. I doubt they are very accurate. Why vectors for maps? Well forgive me for going overboard with the detail again, but I wanted to include tectonics in Eldwan's geography. In actual fact, I would say the tectonics helped, it made the generation of the map more procedural and less arbitrary.

I've got two drafts of Eldwan's map, the first was scrapped because it didn't account for a supercontinent breakup. 

1.0 - Tectonics of Eldwan, Draft 1

For the first draft, I began by drawing the tectonic plates, with no regard for surface geography at first. I simply started by marking out the divergent boundaries, where the crust spreads. From there I looked for convergent boundaries and marked out the general direction of each of the resulting plates. This was the step that had me terribly confused by vectors, particularly at the poles. I resorted to pencil drawing on my globe to visualise what would happen.

1.1 - Tectonics and Major Lands, Draft 1

After sorting out the tectonic plates, I proceeded to draw land masses, and added the consequent features of the tectonic map. The most straightforward were the mountain ranges, which would be at the converging boundaries of tectonic plates. There were also a couple of scattered volcanic islands.

 1.2 - Major Lands and Islands, Draft 1

I transferred the outline of the continents onto a fresh grid, to observe their form more easily and add details without the confusing subterranean tectonics. The inland seas are highlighted with a blue outline.

1.3 - Major Lands and Islands (C), Draft 1

And of course I coloured it in to see what the result would look like. The white circle is the location of the Cradle, the first home of the Evezhen in the Age of Harmony and the location of most of the stories in the Ages of Light and Water. After all this, I noticed that when the map is upside down, the central land mass looks like a strange ghostly creature with two antennae...

At any rate, it was soon apparent to me that the map did not reflect tectonics very well, despite how I had taken the plates into account. The land masses didn't appear to have any sort of relation to each other, in terms of their shape, to show their history. Hence I was prompted to redraw the map by a different process.

 2.0 - Age of Harmony Supercontinent, Draft 2

This time I began by drawing the supercontinent first, indicating the location of the Cradle by the circular mountain range. Some basic tectonic boundaries were drawn in order to break up the supercontinent in the required way. 

 2.1 - Tectonics and Major Lands, Draft 2

Next, I redrew the map after the breakup of the supercontinent, first by marking out the tectonic boundaries from the previous map. Here, the divergent boundaries are in red, and the convergent boundaries are in blue. One thing I should work out in a little more detail would be which plate subducts under the other at the convergent boundaries. That would determine the appearance of volcanic islands and so on more procedurally.

2.2 - Major Lands and Islands, Draft 2

Again, I transferred the outlines of the land masses onto a fresh map without the tectonic boundaries, then added more details. This step will probably be redone in draft 3, because I'm not really satisfied by the location of the islands and shape of the land in general.

2.3 - Major Lands and Islands (C), Draft 2

The map of 2.2, coloured in with simple blue and green. I hope to rework this map once again, then I should be able to proceed to name the major continents. I would also like to add in ocean surface currents, ice caps, precipitation pattens and rivers. Once those are in place, it'll be easy to generate climates based on temperature and precipitation. There is lots more to be done, but this framework will suffice for now. The Far Continent mentioned in the posts on the Elves is the land mass to the left, while the 'Old World' is the area with the Cradle of the Evezhen. So this map helps me to visualise the broad movements of history and I should be able to work on the actual writing for now. When I start looking at the Age of Rulers, then the varied climates will become important factors in the story.

Elves : The Ward Elves

The Ward Elves, whom I formerly named the Guardians, are similar to the High Elves in terms of their biology, manner of ascension, access to magic and close fellowship with Eleyon. However, they made the fateful decision to remain among the Fallen instead of removing themselves into bliss.

Those who made the decision to become Ward Elves did so out of a genuine concern for the wellbeing of the Fallen. When they heard the judgements proclaimed on the Fallen, their hearts were moved to sympathy and they grew concerned for how the Fallen would survive under so harsh a ban. These Elves had hope, hope for the goodness that remained in the Fallen, hope for the image of Eleyon that still existed, albeit distorted, in their disgraced kin.

The hope that the Ward Elves had was hard to justify, for it becomes increasingly evident that the Fallen as a whole, increasingly turn away from the will of Eleyon. But, there was beauty in what remained intact while all else crumbled. Courage in spite of adversity, generosity in spite of poverty, hope in spite of suffering. For whatever virtues remained within the Fallen became brilliant sparks in the deepening darkness. In seeing those virtues, the Ward Elves were encouraged, but as time wore on, fewer and fewer of those virtues remained intact.

In the Age of Light, the Ward Elves lived among the Remnant of the Fallen, who were still faithful to Eleyon. And they dwelt in the forested city of Ilvaris. The Ward Elves played the role of arbiter and judge among the people of Ilvaris, because they could hear the prompting of Eleyon when they made decisions. In addition, their ability to sense emotions and thoughts, while vague when trying to understand the Fallen, was still a significant advantage in discerning the truth. Among the Ward Elves, they could sense each other's thoughts and emotions clearly, but the higher senses were clouded when it came to the darkened minds of the Fallen.

The Ward Elves had children of their own, which sometimes proved problematic when the younger Elves did not share the same temperament as their parents, wishing instead to be removed to the cities of the High Elves. So it was that a path was made for these elves, and it wound its way westward out of the Cradle and over the mountains. It was not open to the Fallen, for when it reached the mountainside, there were gates sealed by magic, which only the elves, who had magical skill, could open.

Those who left dwelt near the Cradle, to the west, and cared for the land there as they had long desired, raising it into natural beauty. However, the lands around the Cradle never equaled the full prime of the High Elvish dominions of the Far Continent. This was mostly due to the limited time with which the Ward Elves were able to bless the land before the arrival of the Fallen in the Age of Water.

By the end of the Age of Light, the Ward Elves had all departed and renamed themselves the Grief Elves, for most of their hope in the ways of the Fallen was disappointed and they suffered much in the wars between the Radiant and the Zealots. After the Deluge, some remained behind to repair the damage to the land, but most of the Ward Elves sought out their High Elf siblings. Since there were High Elven cities towards the south, many headed there and mingled with the High Elves until their long years of toil were but a memory. After a short rest in these lands, many headed east, over the sea, to reach the Far Continent and dwelt their in bliss. They rested, drank of the Spirit Cup and waited until their call for ascension.

Among those who remained were, ironically enough, were the first Elves to depart from the Cradle. They had dwelt long in the land west of the Cradle and had grown to love it. Wishing to see it restored, they remained to reestablish the forests. Other than that, the original Ward Elves who had survived also remained. However, they were soon faced with the first arrivals of the Scattered from the Cradle. The Scattered were the Fallen who did not heed the call of Alaris, and became the first wave of Fallen humans to leave the Cradle. They were not very aggressive peoples, and dwelt beside the Elves and aided them in their labours for a time. But the Grief Elves never again mingled and stayed in the same cities as the Scattered, for they were wary of the Fallen.

At the end of the Age of Water, the Elves could no longer remain a significant presence in the lands around the Cradle. Their rule of the land had to give way to the Alarians in the second wave of dispersal of the Fallen. Unlike the people of the first wave, the Alarians were proud and aggressive, and they wished to seize the land for themselves. The pacifist Elves yielded to the violent Alarians, and many more departed over the sea to the Far Continent in this time. Soon, there were no more permanent Elvish dwellings to be found in the lands near the Cradle.

Now the only Elves who remained mostly consisted of the original Ward Elves a few more of the younger Elves who also felt the call to aid the Fallen in their struggle. They became wanderers, traveling wisemen who were the source of myths about wizards and witches. For in the ignorance of the Age of Rulers, the Fallen forgot who the Elves were and could not discern their benevolent intent. But as the Age of Rulers progressed, the Wanderers became fewer and fewer in number. They were lost to violence, or departed over the sea, and a few were called to ascension after finding a secluded hermitage to rest. They ascended despite never having drank of the Spirit Cup, because grace was given to them to find rest from their long labours. Some persisted in outlying lands until the Age of the Church, even longer than the High Elvish dominions, but not for much longer than that. And so the influence of the Elves in Eldwan was finally ends and the whole earth was given over to the Fallen.

Those Elves who were unfortunate enough to suffer a physical death were simply allowed to transit straight into the Realm of the Soul, for their spirits were still pure. Their only problem was that they were less prepared for the Realm of the Soul than the Elves who matured through the whole process to reach typical ascension. The Elves who arrived prematurely had to be given special provision to acclimatise themselves to their new medium of existence, and this was not without some degree of mental anguish. But when they completed their transition, they were honoured by Eleyon, Ilvesu and the host of the Wevel for giving the ultimate sacrifice in their service.

Elves : The High Elves

Time for a little elaboration on the nature of the Elves of Eldwan. This has changed quite a bit from their original design, and it is likely to continue its metamorphosis in the future. Whatever it is, I'll record what I understand of them now. After all, that's what a developmental diary is for.

One element of the identity of the Elves that has remained essential is the idea that the Elves are humans who did not partake of the original rebellion. As a result, they are not subject to spiritual death or bearers of a sinful nature. Their pure hearts are not easily tempted by the lies of Alero, for they hear Eleyon's will strongly and fear to disobey Eleyon's instruction, particularly after seeing the consequences that came to their siblings who rebelled.

I've come up with a reverse etymology for the word Elves, which need not be known to enjoy the story, but gives me a good excuse to call them Elves instead of coming up with another default name for them. 'ves' has been delegated the meaning of a being, an independent will. Elves is simply a combination of 'el', the descriptor of Eleyon, and 'ves'. On that note, it would be perfectly valid to call the Radiant the 'Alves', and the Fallen who repent the 'Ilves'. They are the people of Eleyon, Alero and Ilvesu respectively. A final point on the name of the Elves - it would be more accurate to pronounce the word el - ves, as two distinct syllables, instead of elvz, as you would probably be accustomed to.

The High Elves are the greater of the two groups of the Elves that result from the events of the Rebellion. They are the untarnished people who chose to leave with the Garden instead of remaining to assist the Fallen in their struggles and suffering. Because of this, their purity is the best preserved, for they have neither sin within their own hearts, or observe the consequences of sin first hand. On the other hand, the Ward Elves made the decision to stay with the Fallen out of their compassion. This second group was fewer in number, but courageous and wise beyond the average Elf, and Eleyon was pleased by their concerned love for the Fallen.

The High Elves were transported to the Far Continent, removed from the immediate reach of the Fallen. At the time of the Rebellion, the lands that were once all united as a supercontinent were struck apart, and the Far Continent was in the opposite hemisphere from the continent around the Cradle, where the Fallen dwelt.

There, they dwelt in bliss, continuing to abide by Eleyon's will and eventually reaching a level of maturity that allowed them to safely drink of the Spirit Cup, the very item that was so central in the Rebellion. The Spirit Cup was remade for the Elves because the first was tainted by the deadly dust of Ilvesu's designing. As the Elves fulfilled Eleyon's design for their lives, they become the earliest fully awakened humans who attain the state the Eleyon intended for them in the first place. This state is one where humans, while not equal to Eleyon, are like Eleyon in glory and can dwell in communion with Him while His majesty is unveiled. This is the state wherein humans are higher than the Wevel and even the Cilzhen Yel, or as we know them, the angels.

The High Elves represent society as it was meant to be. They were peaceful, harmonious, in tune with nature and most importantly, in pure fellowship with Eleyon. Free of the daily labour that the Fallen are subject to, they pursue all the higher arts of life : music, poetry, dance, worship, and care of plants and animals. Taking a cue of Genesis, the Elves were vegetarian, and in the lands under their dominion, there were no beasts or birds that devoured the flesh of another. The High Elves spread out from the Garden and out over the other lands of Eldwan during the Age of Light and the Age of Water. Under their care, the land flourishes, with all manner of animals and plants. Their cities were integrated into the natural structures of habitats they encountered, and functioned by a delicate balance of symbiotic relationships. They were the true stewards of the earth, for a guardianship of nature was one of the tasks Eleyon assigned the Evezhen, and the Elves remained true to it.

Magic is freely available to the High Elves, and this is what reduces much of the need for manual labour, and also eliminates the need for tools. Ambitious as it may be, this allows me to use the High Elves as a potential source of hominid fossils found elsewhere on the globe which are not strictly Homo sapiens. As they used magic instead of tools, it would be expected that what tools they did make which were not magical in nature were rather primitive. When the High Elves departed, they would not have left any enduring remnants of what we would recognise as advanced technology. Most of their technological genius would have been embodied in biological systems or in their magical repertoire, which would have faded without the presence of the High Elves.

The Elves do not die, at least not in the conventional sense. Their bodies are not subject to the same biological degradation of their Fallen counterparts. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Elves have 24 pairs of chromosomes instead of 23, and perhaps as a result of these additional genes, they do not grow feeble with the long count of years. Additionally their metabolism would find the fruits and seeds of plants sufficient for their nutritional needs. They would remain, in appearance and health, at an age of about 20 to 30 by normal human standards.

Nonetheless, the Elves do depart from the physical realm. As part of their progression and growth in their comprehension of the world, the Elves are given sight and control of the higher realms of energy and eventually ether. This is not a collective revelation, but rather an individual step, taken when Eleyon deems each person ready. In general, the older Elves are more advanced in their progression, but age and maturity, just as with ourselves, are not directly related. At some point, an Elf will undergo a transformation known as ascension. In this process, the primary realm of the individual changes from the realm of the body to the realm of the soul and their awareness and presence undergoes a major shift. The body of the Elf appears to die, but the soul leaves in a bright glow of light. After this, the Elf may still manifest itself in the physical realm, just as the Wevel can, but they rarely do so.

The Yegül, Oleri and Uleva, are the guardians of the Elves, while Alero and Ilvesu have their fates bound to the Fallen. As such, Oleri and Uleva largely fade out of the main course of human history, but they continued to guide the High Elves until the end of the Elvish dominions. Incidentally, this is how I'm resolving the fact that Oleri and Uleva don't appear too much in the central stories of the Ages of Light and Water.

The time of the High Elvish dominions comes to an end eventually, to give way to the dominion of the Fallen. In the Age of Rulers after the Age of Water, the Fallen are truly scattered and almost seem to swarm out over the face of Eldwan. The Elves, as pacifists, have no choice, and are commanded by Eleyon, to depart from their dominions and return to the Garden, and eventually just about all the Elves ascend and leave the physical planet of Eldwan in the care of the Fallen. The Elves had no history of violence and quite possibly, some die brutal deaths at the hands of the war-mongering Fallen.

Thus it was that as sinful humans spread out over the face of the earth, the dominions of the Elves fell and were lost, region by region, and many mass extinctions followed in the wake of this succession. The Fallen had forgotten their task as stewards of nature, and so the intricate systems that the Elves had designed quickly spun out of balance and were ended.

This conception of the High Elves helps me deal with the disappearance of other hominids, anthropogenic extinction events, and the lack of apparently advanced early technology. They represent an ideal society, not communist, not a democracy, not a monarchy, but a theocracy.

Swaths of History

I've been trying to sort out a broad timeline, or movements of the history of Eldwan, in an attempt to describe the scale of this fantasy universe. Its collective heritage should play a large role in the cultural mindsets of societies in later ages. Each Age has a distinct mood to it, but they all form a single progression, and I hope to write stories within the Ages of Light, Water and Rulers at least. After that time, history becomes to familiar and well defined for imagination to manoeuvre liberally.

The Age of Harmony - Uncounted Years

The Age of Harmony begins with the creation, as told in Cil Eldawach. This age is characterised by unity between all of creation and its Creator, Eleyon. Everything proceeds within the guidelines of Eleyon's will, and there is no strife or suffering. It ends with the Rebellion of Alero and those who follow him, as ld in Asegüel. The passage of time was not marked with great concern during this age, for umankind had no fear of death.

The Rebellion divides humanity into the Elves, the Alves and the Ilves.

The Days of Fear - Unnumbered

This interim period between the Ages of Harmony and Light lasts between the Day or Rebellion and Elinrise, or the departure of the Garden and the High Elves. Humanity and creation reorganises itself after the destructive effects of the Rebellion.

The Age of Light - 1768 Years

This Age is the time given by Eleyon to Alero to guide the Alves to achieve godhood. So this age is dominated by the growth and technological development of the Radiant. The Fallen and the Guardians still dwell within the Cradle, but the High Elves in the Far Lands spread out over the land and live in harmony with nature there. It is ended by the Deluge that breaks the mountains of the Cradle and all but destroys the Radiant cities of Alaris and Eleris. The Guardians, or the Elves who chose to remain and help the Ilves, stay with the Faithful in Ilveris.

The Age of Water - 733 Years

The Age of Water lasts from the Deluge to the Confusion. During this time, the maritime empire of Alaris grows by the instruction of the ghosts of the transcorporists. The transcorporists summon the scattered people of the coasts and some respond. They found a new kingdom on the bones of the ancient city.

This represents humanity's attempt to reach godhood for themselves, without the aid of Alero or any other power. They reject Alero's offer of help, and Alero hates the Alarians ever after. Nonetheless, when the Alarians attempt to recreate a spirit portal, Eleyon sends the confusion and divides their languages. The Alarians are dispersed and carry their technology and wisdom to the scattered peoples on the coasts.

The High Elves continue to prosper in this age, and the Grief Elves, the remainder of the Guardians, have left the lands of the cradle to nurse the lands around it that were harmed by the Deluge. In some places, the High Elves meet the Grief Elves and they work to bring a brief flowering of the land.

The Age of Rulers - 2209 Years

In this age, the dispersion of humanity begins in earnest and they flood out over the lands of Eldwan. The time of the Elvish dominions is over, as they retreat back to the Far Lands and eventually all undergo ascension. Kingdoms and empires rise and fall as human societies grow increasingly complex. Yet, they exist in ignorance and descend into superstition. Much of the knowledge of earlier ages is lost, and some societies turn to worship the Wevel and turn to evil ways. Yet all through this time, Eleyon has reserved a people for His purposes, and Ilvesu watches them from the shadows as they dwell on the earth. Some of the Grief Elves remain in the land, as healers, wisemen, sages. Trying to alleviate the suffering of humans and stem the general tide of evil. But the wisemen fade, and their number dwindles over the long count of years.

After the Age of Rulers, history gets quite familiar. The salvation plan takes action and the Age of the Church begins. This leads till present day, and eventually the Last Battle happens and all is concluded. However I don't feel too inclined to write about the central dramas of the Age of Rules or the Age of the Church, for risk of being too stifled by the real history I know. Perhaps that will change, but for now, I have plenty to work on in the Age of Light and Water.

Vignette : Release

Still, isolated, quiet. Dim. Flickering, connected but disconnected, the promise of a chat, but everyone else passes by in virtual ignorance. Wouldn't it be easier not to have any expectations of them? Their empty promises cannot fulfill the heart's perceived contract.

Breaking, away from it all. The world can spin on, pirouetting to some unseen finality, aimless in its cyclical nihilism. Everyone, saying they'll be there when the weight presses, not realising that they add to the weight instead. Their ghosts stand beside while their reality moves on, and the memories of former solidarity turn to mockery.

It was easier. It was easier when no one offered their support, before the soul was tied to an image that vanished as a phantom and the heart left to drown in the open waters. But the ties cannot be so easily cut once formed, disentangling risks destruction.

The higher realms beckon, out of the stagnant, opaque ocean. Called once again to liberated thought, without concern for the comprehension of others. Flying into the oblivion of discovery, into increasingly esoteric paths of the labyrinth. The silent, glacial sea can subsume the spectres.

Asegüel - Part 2

ASEGÜEL - Part 2

The Day of Rebellion

The morning finally came when Alero determined that his plans should be enacted. Since before creation, Eleyon has existed in three aspects, and on this day, the three aspects were at separate work in the three realms of spirit, soul and body. In one swift stroke, Alero severed the connections between the three aspects of Eleyon, separating them into the Body of Eleyon, the Soul of Eleyon and the Spirit of Eleyon.

The very fabric of Eldawn shuddered and writhed, and the servants of Alero held still in fear. But Alero roused them to action, to guard over the aspects of Eleyon as the Day of Rebellion wore on. Then the dragon, who was among the Wevel most loyal to Alero, took the cup of the spirit to Caris, saying, ‘Behold, here is the cup of the spirit, if you drink of it, you will become wiser and your senses will be awoken to the ether, just as the cup of the soul awoke you to the energy.’

The dwellers of Caris debated amongst themselves. Some trusted the dragon, chief among whom was Etrius, and she spoke for the cup of the spirit. The elders were cautious and refused the cup, wanting to consult Eleyon’s will, for they had sensed the rift of creation and were uncertain. They countered the dragon saying, ‘Eleyon has cursed those who drink of the cup before the appointed time to return to the dust.’

But the dragon said, ‘Surely, you will not return to the dust, rather you will become like the Yevel, able to fold the ether to your wills.’ Then Etrius believed the dragon and saw that the cup was good in her eyes, and she persuaded many to partake of it. So it was that Etrius and those who followed her drank from the cup of the spirit, and the ether was revealed to them as the sun reached its zenith in the firmament. Then, when the other dwellers of Caris saw that Etrius was not returned to the dust, they too took the cup of the spirit and drank of it.

Then the dragon said unto those who drank the spirit water, ‘Because of your obedience, Alero calls you his true children.’ Then the fabric of Eldawn shook again, for Eleyon wept in grief at the fall of the Evezhen. The rebellion of Alero was complete, all his plans thus far realised.

Now, Eleyon moved in judgement, for despite His grief, He had lost no power. The Body of Eleyon was captive in the throne room of Baveris. Submitting to His guards no longer, He broke free of His bonds and commanded the guards to be still, and they were still. The Body of Eleyon walked out into the plaza of Baveris, and summoned all the Wevel dwelling there to Him. Those who were loyal to Eleyon were separated from those who were not. To those who were loyal, the Body of Eleyon commanded, ‘Leave this city at once, for it has been defiled and must be destroyed.’ To those who betrayed Him, He said, ‘Depart to your master, he will be in the Cradle, and there you may see the folly of your rebellion.’ 

Thus the Wevel departed from Baveris. Now the Body of Eleyon brought destruction on the City of the Powers, and it was wrought to ruin. So great was the destruction that a glow in the west could be seen from the Garden in the Cradle. When it was done, the Body of Eleyon retreated to the throne room, where the throne of Eleyon alone remained amidst the toppled pillars. The Body of Eleyon cast great wards around Himself as He sat on the throne. There He slept, for the ruin of Baveris had exhausted much of the Body of Eleyon’s magic and strength. The Body would not wake until the appointed time had come, and until that day, Baveris was a maze of rubble, and none could approach the throne.

The Soul of Eleyon now called all the Evezhen, the rebellious Wevel and the Yebel to the centre of the garden, in Teris. The Soul of Eleyon waited till all He had summoned arrived before revealing Himself, by this time, the sun was setting in the west. When the Soul of Eleyon entered the room,  those men who had the spirit-sense now perceived that the obedient beings had spirits clear and true, reflections of the brilliance of Eleyon. But when they turned to each other, they saw their own spirits were marred and tarnished. Then those who had drank of the cup of the spirit lowered their faces in shame.

Now, Eleyon asked to all present, ‘What have you done?’ First, those among the Alves who had taken the cup the spirit as followers said, ‘When we saw that Etrius and her company did not return to the dust, and that the cup of the spirit was good for knowledge, we drank of the cup.’

Then Eleyon asked Etrius, ‘What have you done?’ Etrius replied, ‘The dragon came with the cup, saying that we would be wise to drink of it; we were deceived and we drank.’

Then Eleyon asked the dragon, ‘What have you done?’ The dragon replied, ‘I was instructed by Alero to bring the cup to Caris and offer it to the Evezhen loyal to Alero.’

Then Eleyon asked Alero, ‘What have you done?’ But Alero was silent.

So the Soul of Eleyon said, ‘Alero, you do not voice it, but I know your intent. It shall be so, I give you whosoever amongst the Evezhen who will follow you, that you may lead them where you will. But I warn you now, apart from me, you will not achieve what you wish. When this time is ended, you will see your full judgement revealed.’

To the dragon, Eleyon said, ‘Because you have done this, you are accursed are you amongst all the Wevel exiled from your brethren. You shall crawl on the ground all the days of your life and be bound to the dust of the bodily realm. There shall be enmity between you and the Evezhen for all the ages of this earth.’

To the Evezhen who partook of the cup of the spirit, Eleyon said, ‘Because you have done this, cursed is the earth, it will no longer yield its bounty to you freely, but only after labour and toil. You will be burdened with toil until you return to the dust of the earth, for you were formed of the dust, and to dust you shall return. Depart now, from this garden, for in its protection you are no longer welcome. Those of you who still wish to follow Alero may do so, but to those who choose to repent of Alero’s designs, I will preserve you as a remnant.’

When thus the Soul of Eleyon had spoken, the Spirit of Eleyon moved, and the higher senses of the sinful Evezhen were rendered naught. So they were ever after called the Fallen, for they had seen the greatest heights but were cast down.

Then, the sun set, and a final change came over the Fallen, for their bodies were weakened and they perceived that a slow death had come upon them. Alero was overcome with anger, for he believed that Eleyon had judged the Fallen too harshly, but Eleyon was silent, only turning to Ilvesu.

Then Ilvesu confessed, ‘Do not be angered with Eleyon about this matter, for it was I who poisoned the cup of the spirit. I saw your ambition would not be thwarted by reason or counsel, so I sought to contain its consequences.’ When they heard this, Ilvesu was named the Lady of Death by the Evezhen.

‘And in doing so, you have also rebelled,’ Eleyon said softly. ‘This I foresee Ilvesu, that your work will being greater grief to the Evezhen than what Alero has done, for death unlooked for will ever trouble the days of the Fallen. So I doom you to watch and guide the Fallen, your existence will be bound to theirs.’ All the world was silent, but Eleyon spoke directly to the Yebel in their hearts, saying, ‘Even now, I offer you this chance, to return to my will, if you will but take it.’

Ilvesu answered in her heart, ‘Yes, I have done what is contrary to the will of Eleyon and accept my doom.’ Eleyon was glad, and reached out to comfort Ilvesu’s grieving soul.

But Alero’s anger now burned against Ilvesu and Eleyon. Accusing them aloud, he said, ‘The plans which I had would not have gone awry but for your treachery.’ Turning to the Fallen, he said, ‘If any wish to regain what you have lost, follow me, and I will take you under my protection and give you what you have lost.’ And so on that day, many of the Fallen pledged themselves to Alero, calling themselves the Alves. They departed to the east, and Alero called them the Radiant, for they looked every dawn to the rising sun. In such a manner, the Day of Rebellion drew to its end.

The Choice of the Elves

Now Eleyon turned to the remaining Evezhen in the garden, saying, ‘Since you are faithful unto me, I now call you the Elves, the people of Eleyon. For your good, I shall deliver you from this Cradle, for this land will become a place of strife and violence, and this Garden should not be defiled by the sins of the Fallen.’

But some of the elder Elves were torn in their hearts by concern for their fallen brethren. Chief among them was Talivos, and he said, ‘Lord, we are concerned for the Fallen, and fear they will stumble far from your Will. They have little encouragement while enduring their curses. Send us with Ilvesu, to be guardians over the Fallen who repent, that we may aid them.’

Eleyon was heartened by the willingness of Talivos and those who were of like intent. Eleyon said, ‘Very well, I grant you permission to stay in the Cradle of man, to aid and defend those who return to me. But I warn you of this - those who remain here will suffer much harm by the sins of the Fallen, and be brought to grief.’

Talivos responded, ‘Lord, even knowing that, we would stay, for we believe you may use us to preserve your Remnant among the Fallen.’ Those who were still steadfast in their resolve expressed their agreement with the choice of Talivos. All in all, there were fourteen Elves who made this choice.

Eleyon thus pronounced them the Guardians, and said to them, ‘You will be the consecrated servants of Ilvesu during this coming age of the world. No bond is laid on you to remain among the Fallen for longer than you can endure. When you grow weary of the burdens of the Fallen, you may depart over the mountains and come to rejoin your kin.’ The Guardians thanked Eleyon for granting their request.

Then Eleyon said, ‘Come! It is time to depart. The Guardians shall stand at the spring, as it shall remain in the cradle with them.’ So the Wevel who were faithful to Eleyon bore the Garden and the Elves away from the Cradle. The Garden was set down on the other side of the earth, far removed from the Cradle. The Elves who departed were called thereafter called the High Elves, for they were long untouched by the evils of the Fallen.

So, the Guardians sought out the repentant among the Fallen, and called them the Remnant, or the Ilves. The Guardians brought the Remnant away from the Alves, into the western forests. Together the Guardians and the Ilves were known as the Faithful, for they sought the Will of Eleyon despite the strife of wills surrounding them. Thus the sundering of the Evezhen because of the Rebellion was complete, and the Age of Light began with the Gardenrise.

Asegüel - Part 1

The Asegüel, literally translating as great-movement-downwards, is a basic premise of how rebellion is Eldawn is seeded and grown. It is based a lot on my musings in the earlier post on the nature of initial rebellion. This is a first draft though, which will probably change a multitude of times before I am satisfied with it. Part 2 will be up soon, I hope.

ASEGÜEL - Part 1

The Great Fall

Following the time of creation, Cilves Eleyon and all of creation rested for a time. Then as Eleyon intended, humanity began to grow within the garden, the man and woman brought forth offspring of the same kind as themselves. So it was that mankind began to take its first steps along the path that Eleyon had set out for them. The Asegüel was also revealed by Ilvesu, Lady of Sorrow, and recounts the Age of Harmony and its ending, as rebellion first manifests in Eldawn.

The Age of Harmony

So it was that the creation was complete, the race of man began to grow within the garden. The abundance of nature provided all that they required, and some of the Wevel dwelt among them in the forms of their patron animals. The Yevel came among men occasionally, to instruct them in knowledge and wisdom, and the Yevel clothed themselves in human form, but of greater stature than the bodies of the Evezhen. But much of the time, the Yevel and Wevel spent their days in the City of the Powers, Baveris, which was west of the Cradle of the Evezhen.

In that age time was not measured, for humans were not concerned with its passage as they were not yet under the dominion of death. And so in later days, those who lived during the age of harmony were known as those of unnumbered years, for none among the Evezhen could remember their true count of time. While uncounted, time passed nonetheless, and the Evezhen grew in number, stature and understanding.

The Cradle was a circular land walled by great mountains, and within the mountain wall there was no rain. Rather, a great spring supplied four rivers from the centre of the Cradle, and these watered all the encircled lands. At the centre of the Cradle was the Garden, a place of abundance and beauty never to be equalled in the world until the last days.

Five dwellings were founded in the Garden, the largest of which was Teris. Most of the Evezhen dwelt there, in fellowship with each other and with Eleyon, for Eleyon’s seat in the garden was in Teris. Some Evezhen dwelt there exclusively and spent their days in worship of Eleyon, and were thus called the Elves, the people of Eleyon. Other Evezhen sometimes travelled to the other dwellings, to disciple under the Cilzhen Yel and Wevel of that dwelling, that they might gain greater understanding of certain aspects of creation.

To the east, in the view of the rising sun, the dwelling of Caris prospered under the guidance of Alero and became a centre of learning. To the west, in the light of the setting sun, the dwelling of Piris became a quiet haven under the jurisdiction of Ilvesu. To the north, the dwelling of Soris, developed under the instruction of Oleri. To the south, the dwelling of Yuris, which was the domain of Uleva. Under the tutelage of the Yevel and Wevel, the Evezhen learned the workings of the world, both in holistic overviews and specific details.

The Gift of Soul-Sense

The time soon came for the realm of the soul to be opened to the senses of the Evezhen, and it was a day of great rejoicing. Two cups there were, prepared by the Wevel of Eleyon, in Teris. The first was the cup of the soul, and the second was the cup of the spirit. Within them was a sacred water, to be drunk by the Evezhen at the appointed time, so that they would be made aware of the higher realms. And so on this day, the cup of the soul was passed to the Evezhen, and they drank of its water. Magic then entered the powers of the Evezhen, and they could now sense and spin the threads of energy as the Wevel could. Their proficiency with magic was at first clumsy and cautious, but soon the Evezhen were adept.

Alero was delighted by the magical learning of the Evezhen, and desired to let them sense the ether as well, that the Evezhen’s understanding of the world might be further increased. He spoke of his desire to release the cup of the spirit, in the plazas of Baveris for all the Wevel and Yevel to hear. Eleyon was troubled, for the time had not yet come for the Evezhen to see the ether. Eleyon spoke to counsel Alero to await the appointed day, and for awhile Alero was quiet.

However, as the Evezhen grew further in their knowledge of magic, Alero was convinced anew that they were ready for the realm of the spirit. Alero began to debate openly in the courts of Baveris that the Evezhen be given the second cup, and many of the Wevel were swayed by Alero’s persuasive words. Eleyon now grieved in His heart, for it was not clear to Him that the age of harmony had entered its final days.

Ilvesu perceived the secret grief of Eleyon, for she spent much time in Eleyon’s company. Ilvesu reminded Alero of their warning from Eleyon, but Alero would not relent of his proud speech. Then, remembering the warning of Eleyon to the Evezhen, Ilvesu now formed a poisoned dust for fear that Alero’s plans would upset the harmony of creation. Ilvesu and placed the dust of death in the cup of the spirit, that whomever among the Evezhen drank of the water before the appointed day would perish a mortal death. But now greater still was the grief of Eleyon, for both the Yebel had understood not His will.

Alero did not entirely disregard Ilvesu’s reminder, and was struck with fear that he would be unmade to the ether. Therefore, Alero bent his thought on how Eleyon might be subdued until the full realisation of human potential might be achieved. Alero, first of all creation, bided his time until he felt that Eleyon was vulnerable, planning how he might most effectively conduct his intent.

Cil Eldawach

Time for a revised account of the creation saga, part of my work to establish the full framework of Eldawn before I begin filling in the details. Some of the names have changed, to comply with Tas Eldawach conventions and rules. This is the first complete draft, and it will likely be refined much further, especially with regards to the diction and tone. Presenting Cil Eldawach, literally translated as 'The Creation of Eldawn' :

CIL ELDAWACH

The Creation of Eldawn

This is the account of the earliest times of the world, as told to the elvish record keepers in Ivaris during the Age of Light by Ilvesu. Ilvesu, Lady of Wisdom, shared her knowledge at the prompting of the elves, that by it they might know their purpose and the will of Eleyon. The tale proceeds from the earliest time beyond time, until the completion of the world with the creation of humanity. So begins Ilvesu’s narrative :

The Realm of the Spirit

Eleyon existed, exists and will always exist, for time itself stems from Eleyon’s measure of the changing world. He is known by many names in the realms of Eldawn, but common to all beings, his title is Cilves, the Creator. Alone in the ether, Eleyon wandered in vain, searching for another like himself. Therefore, Eleyon created Alero and Ilvesu from the ether, calling them the Elder Spirits, or Yebel, though that name is now seldom used. Soon after, Eleyon created another pair of spirits, the Yegül, the Younger Spirits, Oleris and Uleva. The Yegül, while still of great power and wisdom, were deferential to the Yebel, for the Yebel were their mentors in the earliest time, and both Yebel and Yegül were subject to the will of Cilves Eleyon. The Yebel and the Yegül are together known as the Cilzhen Yel, the created spirits. Together, these five are known as the Great Spirits, the Yevel, for of all things, they alone have their full essence based in the ether and can natively fold it to their design.

For a long age, the Great Spirits dwelt in the ether, exploring its substance and observing its formless fluidity. Then, Eleyon called a council, where he shared his intent for the rest of creation with the created spirits, and they harkened to his words. When Eleyon’s vision concluded, Eleyon spoke a unique gift unto each of the Cilzhen Yel, and as he spoke, the awareness of the created spirits was shifted forever, for such is the strength of the will of Cilves Eleyon. So the each of the four grasped a facet of Eleyon’s grand design in more depth than the other three. 

Eleyon said to Alero, ‘To you I give the gift of imagination,’ and it was so, for in that moment Alero’s soul opened to all manner of possibility that lay slumbering in the ether. He is the most innovative and creative of the Cilzhen Yel; when examining any substance he can perceive its use and potential. His gift was the first to shine, for he looked at the empty world and saw all manner of things waiting to be called into being. Under Eleyon, Alero led the experiments of creation, giving focus to the other spirits as they shaped the world. In later stages of creation he assumed charge of light and the high heavens. His twin Ilvesu was his greatest counsellor, and apart from Eleyon, she alone could alter the flow of Alero’s genius. 

Eleyon said to Ilvesu, ‘To you I give the gift of wisdom,’ and it was so, for in that moment Ilvesu’s soul beheld the quiet bonds that bind all things to all other things. She is the keenest and most discerning of the Cilzhen Yel; able to observe the slightest detail of every plan. Her gift was the last to reach full bloom, for wisdom comes from experience, and the world was still young. What early wisdom she had she grew by abiding long in the presence of Eleyon, he who has the experience of all time. In later stages of creation she assumed charge of the seas and the depths of the earth. Her twin Alero was her delight, for she perfected many of Alero’s ideas and honed them to sharper glory.

Eleyon said to Oleris, ‘To you I give the gift of logic,’ and it was so, for in that moment Oleris’s soul comprehended the components of the world in structure and precision. He is the most deductive and analytical of the Cilzhen Yel, mathematics is his delight. Able to calculate and pursue his observations to their irreducible conclusions, he was also adept at explaining his conclusions to the other Great Spirits. Oleris spends much time alone, immersed in the abstract landscape of his mind, playing mental games of hypothetical axioms. In the later stages of creation, he assumed charge of the sky and the winds. His twin Uleva was his counterpoint, her alternative perspectives sometimes showing him the answer amidst the maze of reason.

Eleyon said to Uleva, ‘To you I give the gift of intuition,’ and it was so, for in that moment Uleva’s soul sensed the ties of aesthetic beauty between the aspects of reality. She is the most spontaneous and artistic of the Cilzhen Yel.; the arts are her delight. Uleva spends much of her time in company of others, bringing joy and vibrance with her encouragements. In the later days, Uleva would assume charge of the surface of the earth, all plants and animals would abide by her direction. Many times, she was lost amidst the theories of her twin, Oleris, but she would be drawn to one in particular and upon pondering it further, Oleris would come to realise it was indeed the optimal solution.

When the gifts of the Great Spirits were thus bestowed, Eleyon warned them, ‘Each of you I have created and blessed. So, despite all you may achieve in the ages to come, you must not forget the source of your being. For it is by my will alone that you are sustained, and if you turn from it, you will surely return to the ether.’ The Cilzhen Yel heard Eleyon, and in reverence they submitted to him, and Eleyon knew that they were good. Thus, the first stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

The Realm of the Soul

Now Eleyon said, ‘Let some of the ether be condensed, for then it shall have structure for us to weave.’ And so it was that much ether folded in upon itself, becoming heavy and coiled, and the Cilzhen Yel wondered at it. At once, they began to spin the newly formed energy into experimental forms. In the realm of the soul, there were many forms of energy and forces far beyond what humans now know, for the rules for the realm of the body do not apply to the realm of the soul.

The Cilzhen Yel worked in harmony with each other under Eleyon and the realm of the soul was fashioned to the will of Eleyon. Of this realm, present humanity is neither given full knowledge nor the ability to comprehend; humans would later call this realm heaven or the home of the gods. Eleyon has stated this ban will be lifted at the end of all things, when all secrets are revealed, but until that time, humankind is permitted to know but little of this realm. Thus the second stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

Now Eleyon said, ‘Let there be beings of energy, for it is good that the Cilzhen Yel have helpers to assist them for the work to come.‘ So it was that a host of souls arose from the energy; and like the Cilzhen Yel, they were granted wills unto themselves. These beings were named the Cilzhen Wel, the Created Souls, or simply the Wevel or the Souls. The Wevel were of a different nature from the Yevel, for the Wevel have both soul and spirit, but they have a greater part of their awareness in the realm of souls, and more deftly do they shape energy than the ether, for they are native to energy. To each of the Wevel, Eleyon bestowed gifts, but they are too numerous to name herein. A full telling of the Wevel and their gifts may be found in Egezhen Wevelach. By each of their gifts, some of the Wevel found they were suited to the service of a single, some to two, three or even all four of the Cilzhen Yel. Others found their souls drawn to Eleyon himself, to serve him directly.

Many great and wonderful things were woven in this age, far beyond the understanding of humans. Great symphonies of light, paintings of motion and dances of colour were composed and performed to worship Cilves Eleyon. When the Wevel were grown in mind and heart, Eleyon warned them with the same warning that he spoke to the Cilzhen Yel. ‘Each of you I have created and blessed. So, despite all you may achieve in the ages to come, you must not forget the source of your being. For it is by my will alone that you are sustained, and if you turn from it, you will surely return to the energy.’ The Cilzhen Yel were reminded of their promise, and now the Wevel in turn submitted in reverence to Eleyon. Thus, the third stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

The Realm of the Body

Now Eleyon said, ‘Let some of the energy be knotted, for then it shall have substance for us to build.’ And so it was that much energy spun in upon itself, becoming dense and locked, and the Cilzhen Yel and the Wevel wondered at it. Together, the Cilzhen Yel designed the laws of the physical world, the ties that relate matter with other matter and matter with energy. Of the many energies of in the realm of the soul, only some were chosen for the laws of the realm of the body. Between these chosen energies, only five of many forces were chosen to relate to matter. Each of the Yevel assumed charge of one type of force, and governs it according to their temperament. Thus the fourth stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

When the foundations of the world were established, the Wevel went to work, shaping the details of the world as Eleyon design had revealed to them. Out of the dust of matter, the Wevel formed all manner of substances. The earth was brought together from its deepest foundations and water was poured out over its surface. Light shone on the earth, that the Wevel might work with clarity and precision. The water was separated, some raised far above the earth and the rest parted for dry land to appear. Plants were raised from the earth and the lights of heaven ordained to mark the cycles of time. The Wevel fashioned all manner of animals, covering the earth with creatures great and small. Then the Wevel and Yevel built a great city on the land, that they might inhabit the realm of the body with bodies of their own. Thus, the fifth stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

Then Eleyon commanded that a garden be raised to the east, a kind region, where the land and seas were abundant and nature was arrayed in her fullest bounty. When it was done, Eleyon spoke his final command, ‘Let humans be formed from the dust of the earth, and they shall be created in our image.’ So it was that the first man and woman were raised from the dust of the earth, and they were granted wills unto themselves. They were called the Evezhen, the Beloved, for of all created things, humanity is dearest to Eleyon. When life entered the man and the woman, they beheld the world around them and were amazed. The Evezhen have Spirit, Soul and Body, and more so than the Wevel, the Evezhen are naturally able to craft the physical substance of matter, for they are native to the realm of the body. The Evezhen can faintly sense the realm of the soul, but the realm of the spirit remains a mystery to them, for the ether is too dispersed for beings of matter to detect. 

Indeed, Eleyon forbade the Evezhen from knowing the realm of the spirit until the appointed time, saying unto them : ‘Each of you I have created and blessed. So, despite all you may achieve in the ages to come, you must not forget the source of your being. Here in this garden, I have given you all the abundance of the world, that you may be blessed beyond measure. In time, I will reveal to you the realm of the soul and the realm of the spirit, but until that appointed time, it is my will that you do not seek to understand the higher realms. For if you seek the higher realms, you will surely return to the dust of the earth.’ The Cilzhen Yel and Wevel were reminded of their promise, and now the man and the woman, in awe of creation, submitted in reverence to Eleyon. Thus, the sixth stage of creation was complete, and all was fair and good.

Now, Eleyon beheld all that he created and saw that it was fair and good, in accordance with his design. The heavens and the earth in all their vast array were crafted to the pure creative expression of Eleyon. And so Eleyon declared the work of creation complete, and rested, and all creation rested with him. Thus, the seventh stage of creation was complete and with it, the whole age of creation, and all was fair and good.