Chapter Twelve

Three days prior Amadagu had left a single book on the atrium table for her. Mora knew she was alone, Tagor had not written in his tome, which too was gone now. The druid told her she would have the time and peace to read at her pace. It was a volume she had seen before although some of the symbols on the cover were different. Radiating of magic, the book waited for her. Regardless of what her heart wanted to do with the book, she knew her mind had to read it. Placing her hand gently on belly, she took a seat and began on the first page, reading the Boh Modrin.

Without form or purpose, the three wondered the universe and danced with the stars. None of the three knowing where they would end as they admired and counted the stars in the sky. There unknown and unseen force pulling the three, they could only call it The One. Each could not resist nor did they want to as they began to culminate at one star. Finally giving in completely their desires began to manifest into a new world that seemed to cry out to them for life and thus it became life.

As they touched the moist soft soil, a transformation began within them. Formless shapes began to define themselves with arms, legs, hair and skin. Eyes surveyed the landscape; hands felt grass and ears heard the winds while lips kissed the air. Individually they traveled into different directions, exploring every place upon this new world, created of their essences. Nothing escaped their senses, every cave, waterway, mount, plain and every single spec of soil was seen by their eyes, touched by their hands and kissed by their lips. Without word their bodies began to shine, dimly at first yet growing to an intense and blinding white glow. In a sudden flash, the planet shook, the mountains trembled and their clouds dispersed for the birth of the Gods had come to pass.

From his birth Xhuri whose heart was filled with reverence for all things touched by his breath both physical and spiritual. Next to him came Rhiya whose heart filled the longing to control all it would create. Last was Pegalious, with a heart filled with the desire for growth and life itself.

Xhuri was the first to step forward and speak in his deep thunderous voice. “I am Xhuri and my children shall be known for their love and respect for the lands that surround them. The trees, the waters, the winds, the spirits and the very soil they lay their heads upon shall know and keep creations and know they are my children.”

With the finalization of his words, he pulled a strand of his soft brown hair from his head, spat into his palm, slapped his hands together and threw them into the air. As the mixture touched the soft ground, a swirling tempest raged and then receded. Thus the first of the world were given life and the life of the world embraced Ur.

Following her brother, Rhiya spoke, her voice was powerful and songlike, “I am Rhiya and my children shall control and show no weakness to the lands they walk and the lands below. The trees, the waters, the winds and the soil, they will crush under their feet and the lands will know their masters. The very air they breathe shall tremble and bow before them for fear of my wrath.”

Saying this she pulled a fingernail from her hands, cut her palm and slapped the mixture together with a fantastic flash of light. A pillar of fire growled and scorched the earth burrowing deep into it. Once it abated giving life to Minoc and the world shuddered.

Pegalious spoke last his eyes twinkling and a smile pierced his lips. “I am Pegalious and I shall create, but only if I am allowed to add something to all the creations that spawn from our lips.”

Slight taken aback by his request, Xhuri and Rhiya stood paused for a moment. Knowing they could not deny their brother, they gave their approval and blessing. Immediately Pegalious pulled a flake of skin fro his arm and a tear from his eye.

“I give life to my beautiful creatures of flight. To them and all the races that are born of our wishes I give the everlasting gift of choice.”

Putting his mixture together he spread it across the waves in the air watching it mix and mingle in the currents. Before him with a mixture of thunder, lighting, fire and wind, the ground was pummeled. Shaking and coughing in fits that shook the world, finally it took rest and the world smiled upon Daelis.

In outrage, Rhiya struck Pegalious, knowing her control over her creations was no longer complete. “You have doomed us to a death! If they do not believe and follow, we shall cease to exist! What have you done?” She screamed at him.

“Because it is what is right my sister.” Pegalious bowed to her as he spoke. “All things should have choice.”

Immediately Xhuri forgave his brother, seeing the wisdom in his works. Yet this only increased the growing rage of Rhiya to the point her form began to change and mimic her creation Minoc.

At that moment the world knew death as Rhiya lunged at Pegalious, ripping his physical form apart with her demon claws. With each slash she screamed and spat blood upon her already dead godly brother.

Spinning in blood lust, she charged after Daelis and Ur, only to find Xhuri standing before her in defiance. In blinding speed, he grasped her into a bear hug, pinning her arms and legs, whispering into her ears, trying to calm here. Wildly thrashing about, the air crackled under the power of her will, only to be negated by Xhuri’s.

“If you seek death, continue by beloved sister. Already this land is cursed in turmoil for Pegalious’ death. There can be no more or this world will be lost in death.” Xhuri pleaded with her. “You are forever cursed with is death, a pain that will torment you for eternity. Let there be no more of this between us.”

Finally shoving him away, her face showing the defeat, the Goddess Rhiya levied her curse. “There will be hatred betwixt my peoples and all others. Each will know they are the slaves of the people of my life. This pain shall endure for all eternity upon your essence Xhuri.”

For the entire age of the Gods, Rhiya rampages and ravaged the lands. So great was her destruction almost all of men began to follow her, seeking refuge from her wrath. Without warning, Rhiya left from the faces of man and slept thus giving birth to the Age of Races.

Every self aware creature and manifestation from the skies, the grounds surface, the waters and the world below the soil multiplied and grew. With that growth knowledge and society itself gathered its foothold. Throughout the world various races and creations began to mix and breed causing an explosion of population. In this, the bitter words of Rhiya took hold.

Groups of men and woman began to hunt and subjugate the other races of the world, offering tributes and sacrifices to Rhiya. Entire races, cities and cultures were wiped from existence as the earth continued to billow forth more of her demonic creations. While she slumbered, Rhiya’s power grew as nearly the entire world spoke her name threatening to blot out her brother Xhuri. Thousands upon thousands took organized arms against the world, led by Minoc.

Only Ur stood against them, rallying more and more to Xhuri’s Light as he called it. Finally hearing his please, Xhuri himself walked the world showing all there was another way. Speaking of the horrid death of his brother Xhuri caught the attention of Daelis and her broods, who began to carry the banner of Xhuri.

With this struggled between what was now called good and evil a small few chose not to choose and began to develop the written words and refined crafts beyond anything already understood. From every race throughout the known these few began to keep records, a history of time of all they saw and every event that occurred. None could determine how some of the incidences where discovered, however it was all put into words and stored in bound volumes and tomes. This was the first step in to the Age of Enlightenment and also the beginnings of the Race Elders.

Within the age of Enlightenment, knowledge grew at incredible rates. The creatures of old tales, myths and legends were proven. Herbalism and alchemy entered their infantsy. It was rumored that some learned this from speaking to Daelis and her broods that dwelt far to the west, among the soil the gods first walked. Yet others agreed it was Daelis and her dragons that shared the knowledge, it was so the other races would destroy one another in vengeance for some past wrong.

Armed with their new understandings and abilities, the races only grew hungry for more. Bickering began of who was better at what arts. Struggles even amongst those not already fighting started to grow and manifest. Fear created treaties and alliances between families, clans and eventually the races themselves. The first major treaty was the Ixon Vaein or the Mutilated Alliance. The uniting of the most viscous creature races gave all other pause, but none so much as the united creatures of the Hnor forest region. A short passage of time witnessed the slow steady destruction of the creatures of the forest begetting the splitting of the creatures. Soon the conflict grew and grew till it threatened to encompass all surrounding races, regardless of their deity. In response those not a part of the Mutilated Alliance formed the Valaresha, or Holy Treaty. The sides had been drawn and almost all were either the Ixon Vaein or they were the Valaresha.

Daelis, previously holding back her hordes released them upon the world. Those in the Ixon Vaein and the Valaresha predominately followed Rhiya. In her rage and before the races could even begin to realize what was at hand, they found themselves on the brink of complete annihilation. Each and every formed city was a shell of blackened and crumbled stone. The races could do nothing but defend what was left and fight to their deaths, crying out to Rhiya. Yet no response came from the slumbering God. Some then turned their cries to Xhuri. However he too had retreated from the world leaving those of choice to do just that, choose.

Not a sole believed they would live when word spread like wild fire about an organized army that fought back the dragons and their attacks. With those that used their ‘will’ to create magic, dragons by the dozens were being defeated; all under the leadership of Minoc, Rhiya’s anointed. At Eagles Pass the army led by Minoc defeated the larges of the dragon hordes causing Daelis herself to retreat.

Stories passed through the night like a dream shared by all. With each new tale, the legend of Minoc grew, filling the people with hope. Both the Ixon Vaein and the Valaresha were dissolved as they united under Minoc, continuing to push back the dragon broods. Even the defeats they met no longer broke their confidence as they refused to end their push.

In the final battle, the collective dragon broods totaled ten thousands against Overlord Minoc’s army of two hundred and fifty thousand. All races and creatures other than the dragons stood in his army. It matter not if they were human, demon or some other mixture, they stood united against Daelis’ broods.

Dawn broke in the clutches of battle and lasted into the night. As the sun rose the following day, it was greeted in silence. No one knew exactly when the battle ended, but all knew it was over. Not a single dragon flew the air and those that lay wounded on the blood soaked ground were laid next to their fallen kin. Most believed all the dragons had perished, but there were those that saw and knew several had gotten away. None would hear their words. They felt the fought the battle of existence and won. There could be only celebration.

A year long celebration drew to a close, the realization that all races needed to work together to rebuild that which had been destroyed, became clear. Out of those collaborations emerged new alliances, treaties and friendships. Some old feelings stayed but were awash with the goodness and shunning of the masses. The Age of Kingdoms had arrived.

Bursting with energy to help all those that suffered in the war, it became clear leaders were needed. Soon vast lands and the creatures that worked them were separated into kingdoms as determined by Minoc, according to his terms. The largest was retained by Minoc. All others gave to him freely and crowned him Emperor and thus began the reign of the Rhiyan Families.

Quickly the kingdoms not ruled by the Emperor’s direct blood began to bicker. Carefully and under the terms of protecting the lands from magic and all that was mystical, Minoc created a ministry that paid tribute to Rhiya. Those that refused were stripped and placed into work camps. Entire races became servants. Other sought refuge at the far reaches of the kingdoms, beyond the control and power of Minoc. The people of the world were broken again.

Settling some of the discontent Minoc married one of the mystical women that once lived in the Hnor forest. Michala gave Minoc five children; Seom, the twins Hakan and Ahryn, Shimshal and then Kunellos. From the moment his first born Seom was born, he began the construction of a great library which didn’t finish until his final child Kunellos was born. Gathering the entire world’s knowledge, he stored it in the great library. From this library Minoc ordered those already gifted to hone those gifts for the betterment of the kingdoms. There was as short peace between the kingdoms as all came to visit the library and learn from the knowledge there.

Peace ended ten years later when Ur, Xhuri’s first creation arrived to visit the library. After a heated argument Emperor Minoc was found mysteriously dead in the library. Ur was blamed. Discovering Michala and Ur were of the same family, Michala was banished by Michala while Ur was hunted. Although Michala claimed Seom was witnessed killing his father, Seom, Minoc’s eldest was instantly crowned Emperor. Discovering his father was killed by magic, all magic throughout the kingdoms was declared illegal. Those gifted were brought to the library where Seom personally destroyed them with his own magical powers.

As each of his siblings came of age, he removed the ruling family of this kingdom of the next and placed them in power. The library itself was closed to all but the royal family. While Seom and his siblings continued to learn and grow in their power, magic throughout the kingdoms began to disappear.

Two years later one named Amadagu came to visit the Emperor Seom, bartering for freedom for Michala to return to her children and home. A peace was bartered and Empress Michala returned. Seom immediately took her as a wife. Kunellos, youngest of his siblings rallied his brother Hakan in an assault against his brother and Emperor. Immediately they were stripped of their titles and positions not only in their kingdoms but their place in the Ministry as well.

Amadagu, Kunellos and Hakan each disappeared the day of their executions as Seom believed the visiting druid had orchestrated the rebellion. Sending execution teams throughout the kingdoms, the three were never found.

Empress Michala died giving birth to the child of Seom. From her dead body, Seom awoke the sleeping Goddess Rhiya, plunging the world into a new era of terror and pestilence. Granting him even more power after awaking, those that didn’t believe in Rhiya began to feel her wrath as she and her people ravaged everything west of the Great Library. Those that did not submit were destroyed.

Meeting her forces at the tip of Serpents Head, Ur, Amadagu and Daelis lead a charge of tens of thousands of people and creature in one wave after another against the Rhiyans. Each side fought so intensely the mounted dead reach such a catastrophic level; the count was halted at five hundred thousand dead. All assumed if a member of a family were to go to fight, they would be dead. Death rituals were preformed all day and all night.

For the second time in the world’s history, those that had the power of magic played a strong and decisive role in history. Kunellos armed with a sword forged by Amadagu and Ur, drove through the masses, protected by his own magic and beheaded the twisted form of the Goddess. As her blood feel upon soil her essence was witnessed screaming back to the Great Library. In a deafening explosion the cataclysm of her demonic blood tearing through the earth opened the lake of Serpents Head and pushed its frothing waters all the way south to the great southern sea. The dust in the air, the boiling water of the lake continued for days, creating a defining split between the kingdoms and the other lands.

Mora closed the book, unable to read anymore as anger filled her thoughts. She had now read two different stories of how the families came to be. But this was the first time she had heard Seom had killed the great Minoc. She wanted to believe this version was a lie, but there was a denial of Ur in her version. Always she had known about Amadagu and Daelis, never was a connection made between the great Empress Michala. Additionally it was always told to her Michala was Seom's wife, not also his mother.

Mora paused once again resting her hand on her belly. Feeling the child kick she realized history was attempting to repeat. Joliel anointed or not, was copying the actions of the first Seom. He was going to try and bring Rhiya back and had intended Mora to be the vessel. What else could be the reason for his actions? Creating his own stronghold, diving deeper into magic than anyone she had ever seen.

On thing stayed strong in her mind; she was no ones puppet. This he would learn.