Harmatiai: Part Two

The narrative of self-destruction and futility continues from the last post.

7. The Betrayal of Laodicea and the Second Fallen Civil War

The fallen cities have generally become disillusioned with the leadership of Sardis, and the Laodiceans have gradually become less concerned about their allegiance to Eleyon, and more concerned about simply seeking the good life. As they look to the apparent successes of the Luminosa and the failings of their own states, they seriously consider if moving under Alero's banner might be more stable and prosperous. After all, when Sardis was sacked, the population had been given a chance to remake their lives in the safety of the Luminosan cities, and many of them were fitting in quite comfortably.

In about the twelfth century, Laodicea holds a referendum. The issue at hand is whether they will pledge their allegiance to Sardis or to Eleris. The humans vote to join with the Luminosa. They send a delegation to Eleris, to discuss terms of this new relationship. Laodicea is to become a vassal city of the Luminosa, sending taxes and in turn, promised protection. A delegation from the Luminosa comes to the Laodiceans and ratifies the agreement with them there. At this point, the elves are commanded to leave Laodicea and find some other city to dwell in, along with the humans in the minority who disagreed with the decision. This population emigrates to the remaining cities, Sardis, Ephesus and Philadelphia.

Upon hearing about their complete betrayal this time, the council of Sardis is incensed against Laodicea. Sardis sends missives to Pergamum, Ephesus and Philadelphia to rally against the Laodicean traitors, but Pergamum sends only a token force, Ephesus ignores the messenger entirely and Philadelphia, expectedly, declines and upholds Laodicea's right to choose their own fate. Sardis nonetheless declares war on Laodicea and makes aggressive advances. They manage to cause considerable damage to the surrounding lands but upon reaching Laodicea, they find that there is already a strange enhancement of the Luminosan magic, that is able to repulse all their efforts. Sardis has no choice but to back off and accept the current geopolitical realities of the times.

8. The Rise of Totalitarian Sardis

The people of Sardis are frustrated and angry with their defeats and loss of power. They hark back to times past when they were the leaders of the Fallen, not only in name but in fact. They dream again of greatness and a federation of cities, strong in unity and able to take down the Luminosa to bring prophecy to fulfilment. They lament the fractured and degraded nature of many of the other cities, one by one succumbing to destructive tendencies. The people of Sardis have themselves remained morally upright, well managed in their societies and the most prosperous of the cities. Eleris still cannot compare head to head with the might of the Sardinian army on the open field, and the edifices, civil law and economy of Sardis is unmatched.

One man decides that something must be done. The pattern of Sardis must be enforced on the remaining Fallen cities to strengthen them against the decay of immorality and despair. The government of Sardis must extend its dominion over the other cities in order to lift them out of the errors of their ways. The council of Sardis decides to grant dictatorship to this one man, a man with a vision of a revitalised world, with the city of Sardis as its enlightened authority. With this in mind, Sardis begins to make diplomatic overtures externally. Internally, the policy of Sardis falls ever more tightly into the grip of the central government, with the ultimate aim of embodying the ideal of strength in unity, where all areas of society work towards one goal.

Pergamum decides to accept the offer to become Sardis' vassal, as they have felt threatened by the expansion of Luminosan influence through Laodicea. Ephesus however, once again ignores Sardis, criticising them for their arrogance in assuming superiority and the right to rule. Philadelphia insists that a vision of a federation is incompatible with the kind of government that Sardis's council is turning into, which has a centralised and absolutist philosophy.

9. The Sardinian Subjugation War and the Concealment of Ephesus

Insulted and determined to remain true to his vision, the dictator of Sardis declares war on Ephesus and Philadelphia, the last free cities. Philadelphia cannot resist, as they have long remained pacifists and have not developed any significant martial technologies of their own. Some are allowed to remain in Philadelphian lands, but most of the population is taken back to Sardis to begin the next phase of the plan, full scale mobilisation for war with the Luminosa.

Ephesus, by the thirteenth century, has become a highly stratified society. Magical purebloods sit at the top, commanding most of the resources and inbreeding to maintain their magical potential. The lower classes take on manual labour while the upper classes pursue esoteric research. Their slant has been intensely biological, delving into physiology, ecosystems, cloning and genetic engineering. They are determined that the solution to the Luminosan problem will come not from man, but from harnessing the powers of nature, believing that the militarised Sardis is fundamentally misguided. When the armies of Sardis come to storm Ephesus, the very forest and waters around them seem enchanted and dangerous, strange creatures with venom and claws attack the armies of Sardis and drive them back. Ephesus becomes a hidden city, protected by its environment, its location is forgotten in time. Only the elves of Philadelphia are permitted access and can find their way through the shifting glades and labyrinthine paths.

10. The Sardinian-Luminosan War and the Bane of Sardis

Soon, the Sardinians are ready for their greatest push against the Luminosa. The Philadelphians have been treated like slaves and the Pergamines, having lost their magical potential utterly, like second class citizens. The army of Sardis is effectively tiered, the expendable Philadelphians, the infantry Pergamines, and the elite Sardinian forces.

The first push against the Luminosa is lethal and highly successful. Laodicea is infiltrated with a precision and tactical genius that takes the defenders completely off guard. The necromantic magical source is destroyed and the power of the Luminosa broken in that region. Laodicea is annexed for Sardis. The Sardinian army moves on and swiftly attacks Alaris, the cultural jewel of the Luminosa, which for the first time is captured successfully, such that it can no longer serve as a source of supplies and support for a besieged Eleris. The strategies employed by Sardis though, effective as they may be, come at great cost of life, particularly to the lower ranks and the Philadelphian slaves. Even the Luminosa are taken aback by the Sardinian leadership's willingness to sacrifice human lives for their objectives.

The final phase of Sardis' war plan begins. They surround Eleris and the most unnerving initiative is put into motion. Suicide agents simply give themselves up in a destructive frenzy within Eleris, and these kamikaze attacks throw the Elerian defences into complete disorder. This is the hidden innovation of the tyrant, and upon its implementation, his cabinet fractures. Nonetheless, the tyrant enters Alero's temple, and manages to destroy the necromantic heart of Eleris, disabling the armies and defences of the city. In his victory, he boasts to Alero that he is the Messiah, come to crush the serpent's head. Alero only begins to laugh, to mock the tyrant's utter hypocrisy and abandonment of honour. In a great speech, Alero calls upon all that remains of nobility among humans and the Sardinian leadership to rally and put down their deranged leader.

The greatest war criminals of Sardis are trialled and found guilty, sentenced to the dungeons of Eleris to await their end in the batteries of the generators. The reconstruction effort is great, helped along by the resources of the remaining Sardinians, who decide that they must give up the fight and work for the reconciliation of the cities, even the Luminosa. Sardis would never again rise up in violence against its neighbours.

The fourteenth century begins with a new hope for a world of peace, under the purported benevolence of Alero. Eleris, Alaris, Sardis, Pergamum and Laodicea, the only cities of significance remaining, pool their resources to a try to commit to a better future. The victor narrative of the Luminosa is promulgated throughout the world, in the effort to quell dissent. Sardis the magnificent is scarred by a collective guilt and for a time retreats from centre stage, before eventually emerging as a tamed lion under the steady hand of the Luminosa. Pergamum is all but degraded, becoming a city of such vice and hedonism that her reputation is infamous. Some of the Pergamian elite, or whatever remains of them, move to Alaris where they find some semblance of how Pergamum used to be, a place of creativity and artistic pursuit. Laodicea only remains as an output, most of the population moving to Eleris and Alaris in the reconstruction effort and settling in afterwards.

11. The Ministry of Noah

Only two cities remain outside the influence of the Luminosa. The first is Ephesus, seemingly fading into isolated irrelevance. The second is Philadelphia, which is little but a small hamlet after the draining war. It is from humble Philadelphia that a man receives a call that will upend the new world order. About a hundred years have passed since the war, and the last elves of Philadelphia are given instructions. Eleyon instructs that Noah, a farmer of Philadelphia and its youngest man, is to marry and have three sons. The Philadelphians had stopped procreating after Noah was born, because of a misinterpretation of his name. When Noah's sons are mature, word comes again, Noah is to go with three of his sons to the cities of Sardis, Ephesus and Pergamum to prophesy about a disaster that is to come, for the wrath of the Eleyon is burning against them. He is to invite them to the salvation that Eleyon will prepare for them.

Noah goes to Ephesus first, shown the path by the elves of Philadelphia. In Ephesus, he is treated with scorn, for he has no elvish blood, and is but a peasant in their eyes. The Ephesians believe that they will one day be the victors over the Luminosa, and their hope in a salvation of their own making deafens them to Noah's prophecy. Only one daughter of one of the noble houses of Ephesus chooses to come away with him. She becomes the wife of Japheth, Noah's eldest son.

Noah goes to Sardis, and preaches but the Sardinians despise his message, refusing to believe any more in the words of Eleyon which they had tried repeatedly and failed to fulfil. Eleyon is a liar they claim, all his words have only brought about death and destruction, not salvation. The will of Sardis is spent in rage and grief and all they want now is to work for the healing of man. Only one daughter of Sardis believes and comes with them, she becomes the wife of Shem, Noah's middle son.

Finally, Noah goes to Pergamum, the pleasure city of the antediluvian world, and preaches judgement. The Pergamines accept the judgement but do not wish to be saved, welcoming the message that the world will come to an end. Once again, only one daughter of Ephesus believes Noah and comes away with them, and she becomes the wife of Ham, Noah's youngest son.

In total Noah ministers for six years, from 1630 to 1636, and when he returns to Philadelphia, Eleyon tells him to begin to build an ark.

12. The Death of Cain, The Destruction of Ephesus, Sardis and Pergamum

In the year 1650, Cain dies despite the best medical intervention of the Luminosa and Alero's image begins to come apart. There was nothing to be done, the breath of Eleyon had departed from Cain's flesh. Sardis and Pergamum are also caught up in fresh turmoil and Alero suppresses them brutally. The events of the Cradle of Sinners occur. Dalvos falls into Ephesus, Lelia, on the run, passes through Pergamum to try and reach Philadelphia, while Barvos and the delegation arrive at Philadelphia, determined to learn the way to Ephesus.

In the ensuing drama, Ephesus is found guilty of trying to create a disease to eliminate the Luminosa, and a weapon of nuclear proportions is detonated there, destroying the main city in 1651. However, its refuges remain hidden, and from there, the Ephesians attempt to stage their revenge. The elves of Ephesus flee with pairs of animals to Philadelphia, all affected by radiation. Many of the elves themselves soon die of radiation poisoning. The rest pass over the mountains in a final departure, with the Philadelphian elves. Eleyon sets up a protective barrier around Philadelphia so that they cannot be pursued.

13. The Plague of the Luminosa

In the year 1655, the Luminosa begin to succumb to a sickening and deadly disease. It is the perfect biological weapon, spreading from person to person, with long incubation periods and highly infectious. The plague begins in Sardis, but soon spread through all the Luminosan cities. Pergamum is the first to be completely overwhelmed, then Alaris. Selvia dies in this plague.

14. The Third Fallen-Luminosan War and the Flood
The remaining healthy individuals in Sardis and Eleris decide that the entire Ephesian forest must be completely destroyed. A vast army of Ephesians emerges from the forest, with all manner of strange beasts and half-men, and they march on Sardis to destroy it. The final confrontation occurs once again on the historic Mirrosea mesa. As the battle rages, the deluge begins. Noah, his family and the animals in the ark are preserved.

Semi-Fictional Key Dates:
Birth of Noah - 1056
Lifespan decree - 1530
Birth of Japheth - 1565
Birth of Shem - 1567
Maturity of Japheth - 1630
Maturity of Ham - 1634
Ministry of Noah - 1630 to 1636
Building of the Ark: 1636 to 1656
Death of Cain - 1650
Death of Lamech - 1651
Flood - 1656

What has been is what will be, 

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”?

It has been already in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance of former things, 

nor will there be any remembrance of later things 

yet to be among those who come after

Ecclesiastes 1: 9-11

Harmatiai: Part One

It's always pleasant when I can incorporate more biblical inspirations into the mythos of Eldwan, and this one has happened so precisely that I cannot claim to have devised it alone. It follows very much from the previous post that explains the new developments to the magical system of Eldwan. The way that it all fell into place was quite uncanny. I had previously wanted to develop the non-Luminosan societies to a greater extent, and thought I would perhaps have 7 houses of elves, and 7 cities of men that they would lead, but I was stumped as to how to characterise them in ways that would be meaningful and distinct. I came up with a rough draft of some possibilities rather on a whim, focusing on a key deficiency of truth for each city. 

I've recently been studying the Revelation to John and hit the section about the 7 churches of Asia Minor, then I had flash of inspiration to link each church to one of the cities. As I was reading and thinking through each of the rebukes and encouragements given to the churches, I began to match them up. Quite eerily, I only had to make two minor changes and everything fell into place. The saga and downfall of the seven fallen cities is described below.

A History of the Fallen Cities

An Overview: When the Fallen are expelled from the garden, Eleyon tells the elves to prepare to depart, for He intends to spare them from the ravages of sin. Seven couples of Elves however, determine that they wish to remain among the Fallen, wishing to do what they can to preserve the lives of their brethren. They wish to be moral guides and teachers of wisdom to the societies they come along side of. They would not be rulers or generals, but servants. Eleyon warns them that their choice will mean suffering and the eventual destruction of their families. Nonetheless, the fourteen elves are resolute. Knowing the goodness behind their intentions, and that he would have done the same, Eleyon grants their petition, with one condition, that there ought not to be any intermarriage between the elvish lines and the fallen lines.

The Fallen who do not take up Alero's invitation are segregated into seven groups and spread out over the surface of the earth to found seven cities. For the sake of clarity, I will use the names of the seven churches in Revelation, though they will not be the final names of those cities. Meanwhile, Alero's society, the Luminosa, grows gradually more powerful as they develop technologically.

Key Events

1. The First Marriage of an Elf and a Woman in Sardis

2. The Death of Adam

3. The Failed Messiah and the First Fallen-Luminosan War

4. The Sack of Smryna and the Second Fallen-Luminosan War

5. The Rape of Thyatria and the First Fallen Civil War

6. The Despair of Pergamum and the Expulsion of the Pergamine Elves

7. The Betrayal of Laodicea and the Second Fallen Civil War

8. The Rise of Totalitarian Sardis

9. The Sardinian Subjugation War and the Concealment of Ephesus

10. The Sardinian-Luminosan War and the Bane of Sardis

11. The Ministry of Noah

12. The Death of Cain, The Destruction of Ephesus, Sardis and Pergamum

13. The Plague of the Luminosa

14. The Third Fallen-Luminosan War and the Flood

Detailed Accounts

1. The First Marriage of an Elf and a Woman in Sardis
For the first several hundred years, the system holds. The fallen turn to the Elves for wisdom when there are issues they cannot resolve among themselves. Societies prosper and steward the land they have well. The population of the seven cities grows and the societies appear to flourish. Though the ban on mixed marriages is in place, it becomes harder and harder to reason about why things must be segregated in the way they are to some of the societies of the Fallen.

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.

Genesis 6:1

One of the biggest themes I would like to explore with Eldwan is the difficulty we have in determining what is wise and what is unwise. That which appears good and beautiful to us may not in fact be truly good and beautiful, and the consequences may be so far reaching that they cannot be anticipated. So, by about the fifth or sixth century, the cracks begin to give. In the city of Sardis, a young couple, a son of the Elves and a daughter of the Fallen resolve to be married into one household. Their elders tell them that the Elf will lose his immortality, but that does not change the Elf's mind and he decides he would rather choose mortality than to be apart from his beloved. In defiance of their elders, who had stronger convictions, they marry and have issue. The debate rages over definitions of good and evil, over what the potential consequences of this action will be. Yet, their marriage is healthy, and children of this union are not only healthy, but it soon becomes apparent that they are sensitive and can use magic.

Critics are silenced and the floodgates open. Many more Sardinian couples that had not spoken out about their love follow the precedent, and there are soon many more half-elven children walking the streets of Sardis. Two other cities, Ephesus and Pergamum, also begin to allow mixed marriages. The other four cities adopt various postures: Philadelphia and Smryna simply recall the other original instruction and chooses to trust in the intentions of Eleyon. Thyatira and Laodicea respond by trying to put more regulations around human and elf relations, imposing more segregations and in Thyatira, living separately.

Sardis begins to grow into unprecedented might, through the use of magic to generate abundance from their land, as do Ephesus and Pergamum to a lesser degree. By the ninth century, all of the population of Sardis has elvish blood and can use magic. Sardis grows proud, and in their relations with the other cities, Sardis begins to posture more as a hegemon than as an equal. Sensing that something is deeply awry, the elves of Ephesus and Pergamum put a stop to any further marriages between elves and humans.

2. The Death of Adam

In the year 930, in the city of Philadelphia, age finally claims the life of Adam, and it becomes clear that even without violent injury, those who are fallen will face the cold grip of mortality. In Eldwan, death by old age was introduced by Ilvesu, as she took matters into her own hands and poisoned the tree of ether. It had not been in the original intent of Eleyon for death to come through biological degradation.

With his death, representatives of all men come to Philadelphia, which has remained a small and humble city through the centuries, a metropolis of the surrounding agrarian towns. For the first time in centuries, Cain is seen among his brothers, come to pay respects to his father. The elves sense something deeply disturbing emanating from the presence of the Luminosan delegation, a chilling and unnatural power.

After the ceremony, fear begins to settle into the hearts of humans. Eve is also ailing, and she knows her death is also soon upon her. The words of Eleyon ring through their minds, about the fate of Adam, and also, about the fate of the serpent. After the departure of the Luminosa, Eve, in her despair, declares her personal hatred of the serpent, for his role in the fall of mankind.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring,

He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:15

3. The Failed Messiah and the First Fallen-Luminosan War

As the delegation of Sardis returns to their grand capital, they discuss the events that have just transpired. One young man speaks up, he is the brightest of his generation, and the elders listen to him, for they are overcome with uncertainty about their own fates. He claims to have a mission from Eleyon, that he is the promised seed, and be the one to crush Alero. He believes that in destroying the Luminosa, they would fulfil the prophecy. By showing their hatred of the serpent, they would redeem themselves and Eleyon would return to make everything aright.

Missives are sent out to the seven cities of the Fallen, telling them to prepare to arm against the Luminosa. The half-elves especially, begin to train in combat, using magic. Weapons are designed for the first time, primitive, but nonetheless, deadly for the inexperienced and unprepared.

Alero soon discovers what is afoot, and begins to prepare the Luminosa for what is to come. The armies of the Fallen challenge the Luminosa on the Mirrorsea. The Fallen discover that their magic is far stronger, and grow confident in their success on the battlefield. They push the Luminosan army back on the defensive, and they retreat to Eleris. Here the tide of the battle begins to turn against the Fallen, as the Luminosa find greater proximity with their power source, but they still seem on equal footing. I will not work out the details of the battle. Perhaps as death fills the air, the Luminosa get increasingly strong since that is the basis of their magic. In the end, the young leader is killed, the Luminosa are triumphant, and the coalition fractures.

In the aftermath of the war, the Thyatirans begin to envy the power of the three cities with half elves. The Philadelphians and Smyrnans contributed the least to the war, believing that it was misguided, and so Sardis begins to nurse a grudge against them, accusing them of cowardice and pacifism. The Laodiceans are discouraged by their lack of magic and begin to internalise an inferiority narrative. The Pergamine half elves are also revealed to be much stronger than any other magic users for some mysterious reason, and fractures and divisions become manifest.

4. The Sack of Smryna and the Second Fallen-Luminosan War

As the Fallen recover from the aftermath of the failure of this great war, the Luminosa now discipline and regroup. The Luminosa are keen to take revenge, and also to rebuild their lost source of energy. To that end, Alero incites them to target the city of Smyrna, also relatively weak, unaided by magic, and close to their borders.

The elves had cautioned against the madness of such a conflict, and many broken families are grieving for lost ones. A shattered idealism has left a hollow sense of purposelessness in its wake. The cities attempt to go back to normal, but the horrors of the war cannot be forgotten. Laodicea disarms entirely, revolted by the very idea of weapons, others, particularly the three cities with half elves, determine that they must find even more effective means of circumventing Elerian defences.

After a few decades, Smyrna is besieged with a ferocity fuelled by a drive for revenge. They are overwhelmed and the entire surviving population taken as prisoners of war. They are given a choice join the Luminosa or be kept as fuel for the necromantic powerhouse. Many choose to join the Luminosa but an elect are faithful to their call, and they are kept in the dungeons of Eleris.

The remaining six cities of the Fallen are enraged and Sardis, Pergamum, Ephesus, Thyatira and Laodicea rally again and attack. Philadelphia once again only sends support in the form of supplies. Once again, the Luminosa are weaker further away from Eleris, but as they approach it, the Luminosa grow stronger. In this war, the Fallen do not even make it as far as they did in the first war. The Pergamine half elves were falsely confident, but in this war they are somehow much weaker than in the previous one. The Laodicean division is filled with fear and turns to flee from the battle, causing the Thyatiran division to sustain much heavier losses. The Fallen are forced to retreat. The Luminosa do not pursue them, for their objective is attained.

The Pergamine half-elves, in examining their performance, realise that this generation of half-elves is only about an eighth to a quarter as strong as the last generation, and it comes to light that Pergamum has been tolerating sexual immorality and this is diluting their magical potential.

5. The Rape of Thyatira and the First Fallen Civil War

Now the Thyatiran humans are filled with hatred against the Laodiceans, who they feel betrayed them. They are also overcome with fear that as a non-magical city of the Fallen, the Luminosa will target them in a future war. A woman rises up in the council of Thyatira and decides that drastic action must be taken. The leaders of Thyatira rally behind her and they arm themselves and head towards the elvish district. Then the tragic doom of the Thyatiran elves transpires. The elves who resist too strongly are simply killed, while the rest of the male elves are raped in an effort to try and conceive half-elven children by them.

Not all of the Thyatirans engage in this madness. A few try to save the elves they can and spirit them away to the other cities. Those who opposed the woman and her forces are also expelled from Thyatira, many of them head to Philadelphia. Of the elves who survive, some are they are so overcome by hurt and shame that they can no longer hope in their original mission. Those who flee to Philadelphia are nursed and cared for, and many of the scarred elves from the other cities eventually go to Philadelphia where they find that they are the most welcome. They eventually decide to leave the cradle and pass beyond the mountains. This is the first establishment of the secret west road through the mountains, a road which many elves will follow in future.

The three magical cities are utterly shocked and disgusted by what comes to be called the Rape of Thyatira. Those who flee to Laodicea also warn them that the Thyatirans are coming to exact their revenge for the cowardice of the Laodiceans in the Second Fallen-Luminosan War. The four cities band together and condemn Thyatira, declaring a war of extermination on the depraved city that had betrayed their elven teachers. There is no contest between the magical and non-magical forces, Thyatira is utterly sacked.

6. The Despair of Pergamum and the Expulsion of the Pergamine Elves

The Pergamine forces carry back stories of the carnage they witnessed in Thyatira. Having seen now the destruction of two of their sister cities, one from external forces and one from internal forces, they begin to give up on the plan of Eleyon, on the hope that he had given through the promise of a victory over Alero and eventual restoration.

Pergamum begins to cut off ties with the other cities, retreating from the world. Eventually, the mindset of hedonism begins to set in: Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Immorality becomes rampant and more and more people exchange the eternal for the temporal. The faithful of Pergamum begin to insist that their elves must depart, or they will be overrun by the growing evil of the city. The elves elect to stay, but soon, they are forced out by the masses, who do not want to be reminded of the transcendant. The Pergamine elves and faithful journey to Philadelphia where they find rest, welcome and solace. Some of the Pergamine elves now follow their Thyatiran fellows, past the mountains.

Rippling Degradation: An Expanded Magical Mechanism

I had previously incorporated aspects exploitable for necromancy into Eldwan's magical system in order to power Luminosan society. This second major revision comes by devising changes to the system that also link magical potency to sexual purity. It began with the idea that sexual impurity has consequences that are not immediate and not tangible for us, living in the times when we are now. But I felt that fantasy has the unique ability to render the intangible, tangible. Therefore I decided to take the opportunity and assign links between the two. 

In the overall scheme of things, sexual impurity is linked to magical motor functions, and because of the sins of those in ages past, we have lost those motor functions entirely, thus sexual purity no longer has consequences that are as obvious to us as they once were. This is not because there are no consequences, but rather that we have become so defiled as a species that anything of value in that respect has been utterly lost. Perhaps one could think of a family heirloom that was supposed to be passed faithfully from generation to generation, but in the midst of bickering and strife, is rendered worthless.

To be clear, since this is the first post in a long time to discuss the magic of Eldwan, I will describe it here. Eldwan is a world of three planes, the ether is the most fundamental, energy is of condensed ether, and matter is condensed energy. Magic basically refers to a direct manipulation of energy, and it operates according to four schools, corresponding to the four fundamental forces of physics. Like our physical bodies, humans in Eldwan were originally created with sensory and motor energy based pathways, an energy-based body if you will. Just as with physical senses, the magical senses allowed us to sense energy directly, and as with the physical neuro-musculo-skeletal system, magical motor systems would allow for direct application of various forces.

An additional disclaimer, but when I write about Eldwan and use biblical names, as I also will in the post following this one, I am not referring to the actual people, but rather their parallels in my subcreation, who's language I have not yet devised.

When Adam and Eve are first made, in their sinless state, they have senses to all three substances, ether, energy and matter, but a motor component only for matter. As humans matured they were allowed to eat of the tree that granted energy manipulation, thus acquiring access to a whole new layer of capabilities. They began to learn how to use it and wield their new power responsibly. However, in rebellion, some, Adam and Eve included, take of the second tree before the appointed time, or perhaps they are never meant to eat of that tree. Whatever it is, the consequences play out. The punishment of Eleyon is a removal of their ability to sense the magical world. Their direct ability to sense energy is removed from them in a neat severance of metaphysical substance.

As a result, their ability to sense their own glory, which had previously served as a covering of dignity, is lost, and they appear physically naked to one another. However, they actually still retain the entire structure of the energy based component of their being, and they could theoretically thrash around like a blind and deaf man with that body, dangerous as it may be. Like physical muscles, the energy body atrophies with disuse, and so many of the Fallen assume that their magical abilities are simply gone forever after the fall.

So this is the setup at the beginning of history and soon two key discoveries are made.

When Abel is murdered, Alero notices something quite unexpected. Abel's primary awareness, which was in the material realm, pushes through the barriers to the higher realms all the way through to the etheric plane as his body expires. In addition, Cain, by some strange empathy, also experiences a temporary opening of his own magical senses and for the briefest moment. This emphatic magical sense is the basis for necromancy, and Alero bases his promise of restoration of magic to the Luminosa on this mechanism.

Now the second mechanic I will describe is the actual novelty in this post. In the original design in Eldwan, the mother was the main contributor of physical substance for a new embryo. On the other hand, the father would be the main contributor of metaphysical, energy based substance. Something quite strange then happens, when the elves and humans have half-elven offspring. This was prohibited by Eleyon when they first asked if they might stay among their fallen brethren to guide them, nonetheless, a union happens after a few generations in defiance of the command. Specifically, when the 'sons of God' have children with the 'daughters of men', their children are once again able to use magic, because their senses are restored. These become the great heroes, the men of renown. By this means, three of the now seven houses of Fallen men reacquire the ability to use magic.

There is an additional point that drives the loss of sexual purity home. Let me arbitrarily assign a value of 12 units to the default magical strength available to each individual before the fall. This value is of 'genetic' potential, which, like physical traits, can be maximised only under optimal conditions. The Fallen, though unable to sense magic, still retained a latent potential, and when there were children by their elven fathers, this was unlocked once again.

The way that magical potential is inherited though, is not Mendelian. Rather, it comes from a common pool. When two individuals have relations in Eldwan, their very constitution is changed. Suppose both partners start with 12 units. After being joined, they retain a personal pool and a common pool is formed. The ratio of these pools is 1:1 for each individual. Thus, A and B would both have a personal pool of 6 units, and a common pool of 12 units. They access the common pool based on proximity to each other. When they are in physical contact, both of them can now draw upon 18 units in a synergistic fashion. The strength of access to the common pool diminishes according to the inverse square law. This is quite literally becoming 'one flesh'. Any child conceived by this union draws from the common pool, which is 12 units, as their starting potential. Therefore, in a faithful and monogamous society, the design holds true, and each generation is no less worse than the last.

Now the disorder enters. When A has relations with another individual, C who also has a potential of 12, the balance is altered. A now has two common pools and one personal pool, which splits his potentials as 4:4:4, instead of the intended 6:6. As a result, A's two common pools with B and C only have a total of 10 units, instead of the intended 12. A second consequence of this is that A in fact has the potential to draw upon even more magic than before. With his two common pools and his own, He can draw on a grand total of 26 units, even more than 18. Already the potentials for abusing this system begin to take shape.

First of all, when there are affairs and unfaithfulness, this system quickly begins to degenerate, with each generation inheriting less and less because of the choices of their parents. Soon there are families which have stronger bloodlines and those of weaker and more impure bloodlines. There is stratification and a very understandable reason for prejudice against the weaker families. There becomes a segregation of classes, with the higher classes marrying among themselves to preserve their magical potential, and judging those who have sexual immorality and weaker houses as unfit for spousal union.  The lower classes become forced to work physically, labouring in toil, while the upper classes disdain them and have their magic to spare them the demeaning drudgery.

Second, the potential for prostitution of a totally different kind becomes possible. A bully of a person could promise protection to others in exchange for access to their magical potential, acquiring vast reaches of magical potential for him or herself. The children of this 'strong wizard' of sorts would, counterintuitively, be much weaker compared to their parent. A dynasty obsessed with power yet losing its ability to work magic could begin a concubine system, with the parent forcing numerous partners on the heir, in order to raise the heir's abilities. This only accelerates the downward spiral of that family.

That is as far as I will detail things for now. In the next post, the wider consequences of abusing this system will be shown through the corruption of the houses of men and elves, the societies that lived apart from the Luminosa.

An Outline

I started writing a post to attempt to summarise my current position on the nature of free will. It did not stay within reasonable boundaries. Instead, what I ended up with seems to be the germ of something much larger than I anticipated. This is the outline:

Its current title is:
The Consequences of Volition - An Exercise in Deductive Reasoning

The outline's a little rough but:

1. Father God’s Purpose: To create more children for Himself who would dwell in harmonious relationships with Him and with each other.
• Who is God?
• What position was God in before all of creation?
• What as the impetus that moved God to create?
• What is relationship?
2. Design: Gave us volition, gave us influence and has a plan for every area of life. He made us after His own image, with full personality and ways to know the world. 
• Content for Life: 
• God’s Design of the Natural World
• God’s Plan for Society
• The Image of God
• Personality
• The Will
• The Weight of Choice
• Influence
• Power
• Meaning
3. Teaching: He made us without any knowledge to begin with, that we would grow in our understanding. How do we figure out how to make choices?
• Ways by which we acquire information:
• Natural Senses
• Language
• Faith
• Knowledge Acquisition
• Emotions
• Reason
• Wisdom Acquisition
• Humility
• The ability to make the right decision.
4. Sin: Origin, Consequences, Spread, Fullness
• We chose disobedience: Consequences, Responsibility and Sinful Nature
• Impact of Sin on Design in relation to power.
• The laws we cannot change
• The laws we can change
• Impact of Sin on Teaching
• The loss of wisdom: Disobedience and Pride
• The corruption of emotions and reason
• The assault on truth: Deceitful Information
• The Fullness of Sin
• Self-destruction of a society
• Judgement by a Holy and Angry God
• Thoughts on Antediluvian Society
5. Mercy
• The robust designs of God: Allowances and Compensation
• The redemption plan
• The Role of Revelation and Prophecy
• The societies that survived
6. Discipline
• Distinguishing Consequence from Punishment
• Distinguishing Punishment from Destruction
• Subjecting Creation to Futility
• The supremacy of God’s goodness
7. Redemption by the Son
• The cure: Breaking the power of Sin
• The sovereign choice of God’s methods
• The significance of the Son
• Amazing Grace
8. Empowerment by the Spirit
• What is the primary role of Holy Spirit?
• Inviolable Will
• Completing the work that the Son initiated
9. Faithful/Church: 
• Salvation: Saviour
• Restoration: Lord
• Cooperation between God and His people
• The Role of Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer
• The failures of the church
• The overwhelming power of Grace
10. Apostasy
• A matter of the heart: Blaspheming Holy Spirit
• Full corruption of every source of information
• Full corruption of every knowledge acquisition
• When Grace is insufficient
• Hardening of Hearts
11. The Last Judgement
• The Holiness of God in finality on the disobedient
• The Wrath of God
12. Restoration
• What becomes of the faithful?
• Perfect Fellowship and Society
• Back to the original Design
• More discovery and content to explore

It will not cover everything in this world, but it encompasses so much that I cannot help but want to write out what I feel will communicate the power of this perspective.

Perhaps I will follow this up with a Testimony, which will fundamentally be of an inductive approach. The last great document will be an Apologia, which will be an application of abductive reasoning. The first document will serve as a clarification for me as I wade through my experiences and other worldviews in the latter two documents.

Update: I have set up a satellite blog - 'The Consequences of Volition' in order to expand on these ideas properly. I will probably take a break from writing on this blog for awhile so that I can work on putting all the ideas I have been given into words.