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.