Lore
About Humans
About Elves
About Dwarves
About Duolvvas/Albmot (mixed)
How your character relates to the following, by belief or disbelief, is up to the character.
Rules
1. Regular Guild rules apply, behave, play fair, no god mode, no playing other's characters and so on...
2. All off-topic discussion should be coloured light pink. If so desired, I can set up a discord for open chat.
3. Once the game begins, avoid using hiders. I will use them to give information to characters that is not openly known. I will use the following format:
[@mention]
4. Two (2) paragraphs is the bare minimum of a turn. A paragraph to me is three (3) good phat sentences. Three (3) paragraphs is preferred and more the merrier. ie: as much as you can is what I am attempting to say ;)
5. When the characters speak, use an easily readable colour that is other than red, which I reserve for myself for GM purposes.
6. After posting your turn, you can edit formatting and typos, though do try to it within 30 minutes of the original posting. DO NOT change your narrative unless you notice a fault in continuity or critical info, in which case notify of it in the OOC.
7. Write in 3rd person.
The game goes in rounds where I begin by playing the setting of a round and the rest of you have one turn. I will give direction at the OOC of exceptions and play the environment/NPC turns as the game goes on.
Any questions or concerns? Let's talk and solve! =)
Idumea
The Kingdom of Eana
Helsset, the City of the King
Anaar Fields
Avveel
- In short Idumea is a flat world that was created by god-twins Nieida (now the Queen of Darkness and called Droha(=Rebellion)) and Ganda (now the Guardian of Idumea). Idumea used to be one big continent surrounded by water. Now, several millenias later, the continent is broken and divided. One third of Idumea was moved towards West, out of the horizon and is now only a part of children's legends and included in some religious texts. The rest was carried towards East and shattered. The whole face of the lands changed because of this tumult. A mountain, Heaven's Peak, that once was in the center of Idumea is now a lonely island equally unreachable as the lost one third.
The Kingdom of Eana
- Is a kingdom on one of the Eastern Continents. It is an in-land kingdom that surrounds the Lake Guhkki and a couple of other lakes. The kingdom is mostly hills and planes but here is also a good deal of forests and some small mountains.
Helsset is the city of the King. Other bigger cities are Roavenjarga, Giron and Davvi. Most of the people in the kingdom are farmers and merchants. In comparison to it's size, Eana has a rather large army that includes career soldiers, volunteer militia and some mercenary groups.
Helsset, the City of the King
- Helsset has been built on a mountain side at the South-Eastern end of Lake Guhkki. In order to get there from North, one must sail the lake or travel along the West-bank towards South. A steep protecting mountain range rises on the East side of Helsset and has been well fortified. Towards North there is the lake. Towards west and South there is mostly fields and a descending tail of another minor mountain range that surrounds the Anaar Fields and the town of Avveel.
Helsset is the biggest and most populated city in Eana, around 10 000 citizens. It keeps growing, mostly along the shore of the lake since much of the area towards South and West is used for agriculture. The city is protected by the Royal Guard, the elite military unit in the Kingdom that is directly responsible to the King.
In Helsset you will find people who live in the streets and you will find the rich who enjoy of all the benefits the beautiful parts of the city has to offer. There are areas where the poor have no entrance and there are areas where the rich don't dare to go.
Anaar Fields
- Anaar Fields is a relatively large triangular field on the Western bank of the Lake Guhkki. It is completely surrounded by a small mountain range in the North and in the West. The only ways in and out for most people are the Rocky Gate, a wagon passable short cave, in the North-Eastern corner and a barely wagon passable path by the mountain in the South.
On the Western edge of the field there is a waterfall diving into a dense forest. The waterfall starts a minor rapid that once it comes out of the forest, calms down and becomes a river. The river then streams straight down on the gentle slope into the lake.
Avveel
- Avveel is a picturesque village of a little less than two hundred people living there permanently around the year. It is situated on the South side of the river bank with a bridge reaching across the stream. The villagers are almost all farmers. There is a shrine for the Guardian, an inn, blacksmith, tailor, shoemaker, doctor and a trader in town.
From time to time there is a good deal of traffic going through the town. No-one stays for long. Everyone are on their way to Helsset. This results the inn being the most profitable business and the trader as a good second.
Magic is a supernatural power of unknown potency. It develops in each person individually in a natural manner. That said, not even nearly everyone manage or choose to learn its control, let alone become proficient in it. If left alone unattended, the little seed of magic that once was there, will wither away and disappear. Thus becoming almost impossible to revive.
Supernatural tendencies may be suppressed, even locked away by mental barriers. Self-induced walls from trauma, fears and extremely painful memories may keep magic from manifesting. In some cases a third party may have magically locked the natural affinity away to keep things hidden.
While magic is a natural part of the world and it develops naturally within people, some aspects of it may be passed down through rituals, items, possessions, curses, blessings and so on.
The strength of one's magic depends mostly on his or her faith - confidence, understanding and knowledge of matter, unwavering trust that matter will obey when it is commanded.
Using supernatural skills strains stamina. Running out of stamina means fainting, black out, coma of a kind depending of how severely the individual in case has been exhausted.
Those who have made an extra effort towards the ways Light or Darkness in their life, there is a possibility to add some extra flavour and even purely non-elemental magic that is infused with powers of Light or Darkness. Both cannot be manifest or attained simultaneously.
Natural magic
Alchemy
Blessings & Curses
Summoning
Necromancy
Other forms of magic and supernatural arts are possible except those involved with space and time.
Supernatural tendencies may be suppressed, even locked away by mental barriers. Self-induced walls from trauma, fears and extremely painful memories may keep magic from manifesting. In some cases a third party may have magically locked the natural affinity away to keep things hidden.
While magic is a natural part of the world and it develops naturally within people, some aspects of it may be passed down through rituals, items, possessions, curses, blessings and so on.
The strength of one's magic depends mostly on his or her faith - confidence, understanding and knowledge of matter, unwavering trust that matter will obey when it is commanded.
Using supernatural skills strains stamina. Running out of stamina means fainting, black out, coma of a kind depending of how severely the individual in case has been exhausted.
Those who have made an extra effort towards the ways Light or Darkness in their life, there is a possibility to add some extra flavour and even purely non-elemental magic that is infused with powers of Light or Darkness. Both cannot be manifest or attained simultaneously.
Natural magic
The most basic magic, and ability to control the elements - the natural world around you for offence or defence. The basic elements are water, air, soil and wood. Other elements are fire, lightning, ice and gravity.
Alchemy
Traditional concept. Ideas, thoughts & questions are well received.
Blessings & Curses
Blessings and Curses can be cast in several ways. Simple ones may be cast with spells committed to memory or by reading from a spell book instaneously by a moment's notice by a proficient artist. More complex ones may need some concentration time, material preparation, several artists and in some cases a sacrifice – even a living being with a soul if the powers of Darkness are at play.
Summoning
Because the embodied spirits, the djinn, have a will of their own they can't be commanded, only called. To become a summoner one must find a djinn, challenge the djinn's test, win and make a covenant with it. Loyalty to the covenant is the key to the relationship's strength.
Each element and force of nature has it's own djinns. The djinn are in essence highly intelligent animals, kings and queens, the alphas of their sphere. Above them in hierarchy are djinn-maiori, supreme gods of the elements. There is only one for each and they are untameable. Other animals and creatures of Idumea worship and serve djinn as their protectors and providers.
The djinn hide in their nests that are well protected by the environment and other creatures. A summoner must make a great effort to reach a djinn. When/if a candidate arrives they must kneel and bow to the spirit to get it's trust. Then for an outsider it looks like that the two just stair each other to the eyes. In reality the spirit has taken the candidate to an out-of-body maze with riddles and challenges.
If the candidate clears the maze s/he must face the spirit in a duel alone at the end of the maze. Upon victory the candidate must then make a covenant with the spirit. Then the candidate - now summoner - is released back to his/her body.
If the candidate fails at any point, s/he is released. The spirit disappears and changes the nest somewhere else.
Each element and force of nature has it's own djinns. The djinn are in essence highly intelligent animals, kings and queens, the alphas of their sphere. Above them in hierarchy are djinn-maiori, supreme gods of the elements. There is only one for each and they are untameable. Other animals and creatures of Idumea worship and serve djinn as their protectors and providers.
The djinn hide in their nests that are well protected by the environment and other creatures. A summoner must make a great effort to reach a djinn. When/if a candidate arrives they must kneel and bow to the spirit to get it's trust. Then for an outsider it looks like that the two just stair each other to the eyes. In reality the spirit has taken the candidate to an out-of-body maze with riddles and challenges.
If the candidate clears the maze s/he must face the spirit in a duel alone at the end of the maze. Upon victory the candidate must then make a covenant with the spirit. Then the candidate - now summoner - is released back to his/her body.
If the candidate fails at any point, s/he is released. The spirit disappears and changes the nest somewhere else.
Necromancy
Traditional concept. Ideas, thoughts & questions are well received.
Other forms of magic and supernatural arts are possible except those involved with space and time.
- The nations and races of Idumea are human or very human like. The kingdom ruled from Helsset is mixed in races. You will find humans, elves, dwarves and mixed breed mainly. There are pale humans and dark skinned. Where they come from and who were their ancestors affect this. Elves are also different. An elf who has his/her roots deep in the forests naturally looks different from the one who comes from the dark underground caverns or from the one who came from the mountain tops.
The leading thought behind the inhabitation of Idumea is that everyone can be traced back to the "Adam & Eve" of Idumea. Thousands of years of isolation and living under certain conditions has formed the races to what they are now.
About Humans
- Consider humans as they in reality are. They are diverse and versatile. They are able to adapt and change according to the environment easier than most races. They also lack some senses or attributes that makes them inferior to other races in their native environment.
They live mostly on plains, shores & coasts, valleys & hills by forests and on mountain sides. It is very rare to find pure humans in extreme environments.
About Elves
- Elves became a separate race long, long ago. During one of the past wars a nation was completely scattered. Those that didn't run, perished. After a lifetime of hiding they settled where they could find shelter and safety. The deepest forests became the home for some, highest mountains for others and the dark underground for some.
The centuries passed and the environment molded the people. The centuries turned into millenias but the traditions of protection remained strong and the elves remained isolated. Every now and then rebellious individuals who left the safe havens, were disowned, exiled or just ran away for what ever reason and joined the world outside their sanctuaries.
Forest Elves live in harmony with everything green and living. They build their homes in trees and they feed of what the nature provides. They have developed a natural trait of reading the living nature. They are adept at tracking and hunting among other things. For them every living thing has a story to tell. Stories are their teaching from babe to grave.
The largest community of elves live in the forest of Gran Bois. The forest is one of the largest in all of Idumea and is a home for several elven settlements, including the capital of the nation Romdeau.
Mountain Elves are the advocates of wisdom. They grow up and study with the stars. Nothing is more valuable to them than wisdom and knowledge. They are reverent and silent people. Their culture makes them more skilled in supernatural arts than any other race.
Cave Elves live in the darkness of the deep underground caves. Being robbed of light most of the time their ability to sense the environment in other ways has enhanced. They see better than all other races when it is dark. They don't see in absolute darkness either but they have other ways to see. Out in the world they always have their eyes covered during the day.
About Dwarves
- There are many stories of how dwarves came to be and every dwarf tells the same story differently and every time they tell it, it is different. In short a master miner-smith-magician carved the first dwarf of a rock and with his magic made her a living being or their ancestors just loved mining and small holes. Whatever the case, dwarves are the best smiths and when something happens with rock, they are the first to know. They are slower but stronger than other races.
Dwarves live by mountainside caves. They don't live deep underground like the cave elves do but they prefer the safety of their rocky holes over open air.
About Duolvvas/Albmot (mixed)
- Duolvvas is one of the few words that have remained of the original Idumese language. It means filthy. Albmot is a word they themselves mostly and humans some use. The pure races almost by rule look down to mixed individuals. The humans are the least concerned. That is why the mixed usually lives among humans.
A mixed gets physical attributes from both parents. They also have some benefits of both races though not necessarily as strong and sharp. The same applies to any weaknesses.
How your character relates to the following, by belief or disbelief, is up to the character.
The Beginning
MY name is Diehtti, son of Kahlua. I am a simple farmer, a man of meager life not of great deeds but I have always done my best to live the way the Guardian would have had me live.
I write this under a commandment from the Son who is the Guardian of all that is good.
HE sent one of His messengers to me while I was resting under the miah tree on the far West side of my farm. I had not intended to rest for too long. It was not even noon yet and there was much work to do. I never was of the kind to rest too much. Regardless of it I grew weary and tired and I closed my eyes.
I woke up when a firm voice of a man called me by name, "Diehtti, son of Kahlua! Wake up and open your eyes!" I woke up and opened my eyes. Before me I saw a man clothed with a white armor. His whole being was glorious and bright. He saw my fear and told me not to be afraid. He gave Division as his name and told me that he had come from the presence of the Guardian to bring a message and to deliver a warning.
THIS messenger told me, that if the inhabitants of Idumea did not turn away from the ways of the darkness and seek unity among themselves and with Idumea, they would be destroyed not only by each other but the forces of darkness would consume them all. He further warned not to tamper with evil, wickedness, any unholy or unjust practice that exists because of the weakness of the inhabitants of this world. He concluded his warning by saying, "dark are the hearts and the minds, close the Rebellion is. Darker are the hearts and the minds, closer the Rebellion will be."
THE messenger came to me and took me by left hand with a blessing grip. He also rested his right palm on my left shoulder. Then he uttered the words:
"Blessed art thou, Diehtti, son of Kahlua, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for the favor your Guardian has given thee, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for the things thy eyes will behold, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for none has seen more than thy eyes will, blessed art thou."
EVERYTHING in my vision or around me became bright with light. Brightness became so great as to make me blind it seemed. In fear of it I reacted by closing my eyes. When I did it the touch of the messenger disappeared and all became silent.
I waited for a moment expecting a sign of things being normal again. It did not come so I attempted to open my eyes. I was shocked to find myself standing on a mountain top higher than any other I had ever been on. I stumbled backwards expecting to feel the miah tree behind my back but instead I backed to a rock.
ONCE the first shock began to fade I was able to see clearly what was around me. It seemed rather flat and safe where I was. I stood up and looked around. I could see that the mountain was on an island. Walking around the area where I was I could see everywhere. It was clear that the mountain covered most of the eye shaped island.
THE rock I backed to was actually an altar and on the altar was a small gray glass-like sphere. I looked at it for a while not knowing what to do. There was no way down that I would dare to take. I was trapped.
FINDING myself in that situation I allowed myself in my desperate curiosity to take the sphere from the altar. When I held the sphere a vision of endless void or space opened to me. Startled by it I dropped the sphere. Shocked and afraid I stood there - paralyzed, staring at the unharmed sphere on the rocky ground.
THE messenger from before spoke to me suddenly saying, "take it. It is what you were blessed to see." He stood behind me pointing to the sphere. I hesitated and he said again, "take it and see what you were blessed to see." I took a couple of hesitant steps towards the sphere. An encouraging nod from the messenger gave me the courage to take it.
THIS is what I saw.
Many eternities ago, long before the creators of the world had drawn their first breath, there was only two beings. If there was more no-one knows. It doesn't really even matter if there were others for they have nothing to do with our world. There is only one truth among many that is correct. This is what the true seers of Idumea have seen and been shown.
Like many other stories and legends, even most of the true ones begin in insignificance. So is the case of Idumea too, for in the beginning there was a Great Emptiness.
In that Great Emptiness there were two beings, separate, independent and lonely. Mother Eternity, the Queen of Time kept moving, never stopping for one moment. Father Universe, the King of everything that had been, was and ever would be, just stood still without progress. Both existed but were without purpose.
An eternity passed while both, being alone and separate, looked for purpose in the Great Emptiness. One looked for it in a place and the other somewhere else. No matter where they searched, the emptiness in their sphere was not filled.
Another eternity passed before life made the two lonely paths cross. After an eternity of searching, there they were looking at each other. For the first time their sphere was filled.
Father Universe and Mother Eternity came together in holy union. They made a promise never to part for nothing filled their sphere like their unity. A bond was tied that would never be broken again. Space and Time, we forever joined.
Yet an eternity passed by and Mother Eternity was found carrying twins in her womb. The vastness of the Great Emptiness filled with expectation and all ends of existence whispered great things regarding the offspring of Time and Space. Surely the children of the two would bring great things to pass.
Another eternity passed by and Mother Eternity delivered two children. The first was a most beautiful girl; she was named Nieida, the daughter of Universe. Then came a most strong baby-boy; he was named Ganda, the Son of Universe. The Great Emptiness rejoiced for the birth of the Twins. Surely they would bring great things to pass!
Thus were the creators of the world born.
SURROUNDED by endless Space, the Parents came together in holy union. It was the hour of a new creation. There had been many, there were many and there will be many. Each of them is numbered. Each of them is known to them. Each of them is unique and I was shown the history of the one where I belong.
I saw a time and another pass away in waiting. Mother Eternity rested with twins in her womb while Father Universe ruled the Great Space. The Twins were silent and still, dreaming the same dream from two different sides.
THEY are opposites to one another, the Daughter and the Son, the Children of Universe.
AGAIN a time passed by and another or two. Then came the glorious day when the Perfect Twins were born. They came hand in hand from the womb of their Holy Mother. They came without a sound, more glorious than the Sun when it shines above Heaven's Peak.
The first the Mother named Nieida, the Daughter of Universe.
The second the Mother named Ganda, the Son of Universe.
They were laid to a cradle where the Dark and the Light meet, and there they slept. Yes, there they slept dreaming the same dream on different sides.
I was not shown more of this but another vision opened before my eyes.
There they were, the Perfect Twins. They had elements as their toys. The deva and the asura were their friends.
They played a game. Ganda would build and Nieida would destroy. This continued for a time.
The vision ended and yet another opened.
I saw Ganda, the Son of Universe, and Nieida, the Daughter of Universe, both grown up. They played a game again I thought, but they were building together. They built and they built. Not as men do but as Gods do. They were talking, commanding the elements.
When I was shown what they built, I fell on my knees and bowed before the Grand Beginning.
I saw them take matter and commanding the Fire they would burn Soil of it. They gathered the Soil to one place, made it spin and take form like a potter molding clay. They formed a continent.
They commanded the Water to surround the continent, to take place on it to form streams, rivers, rapids, ponds, lakes and seas. After the Water had watered the Soil, by the command of the Twins it brought forth the Green. I saw it cover the whole face of the land that had been formed. When the time came I beheld the First Trees blow the Wind to travel the skies. All according to the commandments of the Twins.
In the end they released the deva and the asura to roam free in the world they had created.
And I beheld the world come alive. With the deva and the asura, the Twins created all manner of beasts, flying and swimming creatures, and all manner of creeping things, everything from the very smallest to the largest of living beings.
Then they commanded the Soil to form a great mountain in the middle of the continent, so high that the very edges of the world could see it. The Soil hearkened and the mountain rose. It rose above everything else. And in it's full measure I recognized it as Heaven's Peak, the Crown of Creation and the Throne of Gods.
When all this was done, the Twins named the world Idumea and all that was created bowed before them.
When Gods Dwelled On Idumea
When Idumea had been created I saw Nieida and Ganda take the Parents up on the top of Heaven's Peak. They presented the Parents what had been created and the Parents were pleased with all that had been done. Turning to their children the Parents told Nieida and Ganda that they now had to take responsibility and dominion over their creation. Both would have to take a portion of the world under their dominion and rule over it. The Parents also told Nieida and Ganda that it was not good for them to rule alone. For what is a king or a queen without a house or a nation to rule?
What I saw next exceeded everything I had seen so far. I saw the Parents form two bodies; one of a man and one of a woman. I have seen many people, many men and many women. Never have I seen such perfection. Then they called two spirits from the eternal realms; one man and one woman to take possession of these bodies.
When this was done they gave them to Twins to be their spouses. Nieida received Isit, as a husband and a companion to rule with her. Ganda received Eamit, as a wife and a companion to rule with him.
The Parents then told Nieida to choose where she would place her kingdom. She chose the land towards the night - this means towards darkness. Then Ganda was given the land towards the day - towards light, that is. Both were given a small gray metallic looking sphere and a commandment to keep it safe and pass it forward along the generations from the firstborn to firstborn. The Parents told that they would be gone for a time and leave Nieida and Ganda with their companions and kingdoms alone. They would return eventually. When the ground would shake and a pillar of light would rest on Heaven's Peak, then they would know to return to the apex of Heaven's Peak to receive the Parents. After all this was said and done the Parents sent the Twins to their directions and disappeared from my vision.
Nieida and Isit found a place to live close to the Thorn Mountains far away North-North-West from Heaven's Peak. From their seed started to grow a cunning nation, a nation that seeked pleasure, power and gain. They followed in the footsteps of Nieida and Isit.
Ganda and Eamit settled South-West on the fields by Lake Mãssu and Assãi Rocks. From their seed started to grow a nation of integrity, hard work and peace. They followed Ganda and Eamit in all things.
I saw both nations grow in numbers. They built cities and towns. They created many glorious things with their power to control the elements. No one died of old age. Children were born and they grew older but once they reached maturity they stopped ageing.
The descendants of the Twins are the great demigods of old. They knew how to control the elements and they had great power streaming in their veins. They did not die of old age or any other way but they could be killed by a god and each other. That was what separated them from Neida and Ganda.
I saw the nations grow ever larger and both prospered in their own ways. When a new generation was born the spheres were given for the firstborn when they were recognized as responsible and worthy.
In my vision I witnessed time pass. Years, decades, centuries I do not know. Eventually my attention was directed to a man. He was like Ganda, a man of strong appearance. Honesty and good will radiated off him.
Division appeared next to me. He pointed this man saying:
"Look at this poor child. He knows his heritage and he knows who he is but he does not consider it as something of great worth. His name is Gãvcci. He is the one carrying Ganda's name and heritage. He has been trusted with his father's Sphere. He is the great sorrow of the demigods who are following Ganda."
Then I saw who he was. He had all that was needed to carry on the name of his god-father.
Gãvcci, Ganda's descendant along the line of firstborns was a hiker and a wanderer. He often spent weeks just exploring the world around the kingdom. Rather than carrying on the traditions of his fathers, discovering the world was what Gãvcci was about.
When I saw Gãvcci, he was in the age of finding a companion to spend his life with. I saw him talking to his father. Trying to speak sense to his adventurous son I heard him say to Gãvcci:
"You have been running from your obligation to your lineage for too long now. It is your responsibility to find a girl you like and be sealed to her! You must stop daydreaming and do something about your life!"
With such words I heard Gãvcci being corrected. He then answered to his father:
"I have had enough of your traditions and responsibilities! I have a will of my own and will conduct my life as I will. If I can't live my life how I want to live here, I will do so elsewhere!"
He then stormed out from his father's house. I followed after him to see where he was going. After a few minutes of fast paced walking we came to a dense forest just outside the city. There I found to my surprise that Gãvcci had built himself a hideout, a hut of a kind.
Before I made it inside he came out with a backpack and sat down on a trunk. He sat there for a moment as if he was thinking. Then he stood up, threw his eyes towards Heaven's Peak in the distance and started walking. He was really leaving.
I took a couple of steps to follow after him but I suddenly found myself stepping on the Rocky apex of Heaven's Peak. I looked around to see if I could find Gãvcci somewhere. Then I heard noises behind me and turned to look. I saw Gãvcci climb up.
He walked straight to the altar in the middle of everything. It seemed as if he knew what this place was. He placed the sphere on the altar and waited seemingly expecting something to happen. Nothing happened. It was apparent that Gãvcci was confused and he didn't know what to do next.
While Gãvcci was pondering by the altar, I saw a group of men looking like hunters climb up and observe Gãvcci. One of them - he seemed like the leader of the group - stepped forward and spoke:
"Young man, why are you up here?
Startled, Gãvcci turned around and by accident dropped the sphere while trying to hide it. The sphere rolled to the feet of one of the hunters who picked it up and then gave it to the man who had spoken. He looked at the white sphere with great interest.
The man reached to give the sphere back to Gãvcci. "My name is Viljâ, a scout from a nearby village. I have seen one such sphere carried by someone else before. You are here to learn the secrets of that sphere?"
Gãvcci reached to take the sphere back. Still confounded by the sudden appearance of these hunters he spoke:
"Why I am here has nothing to do with you and of a secret I know nothing."
To this Viljâ answered, "I understand your suspicion. We will not wish you any harm. Come with us and I will take you to meet someone who might have some answers to your questions." He paused, "let us take you where we come from".
Gãvcci thought for a moment but he seemed to relax in the end. He put the sphere to his pocket and adjusted his backpack. "Sure. Why not. I have nothing that would keep me to my people."
With a heavy heart I followed Gãvcci and Your Brother's group. As the days changed to weeks my worry for Gãvcci's life grew like Gãvcci's trust for Viljâ. I wished someone would come to take that young man home.
I was not allowed to skip over these scenes. I had to follow Gãvcci on his path which I feared would lead to his downfall. I had to follow, unable to change the past.
In the end we arrived in a city built and hidden among many mountains that were steep and narrow as towers. From afar they were like thorns of stone. Your Brother led his group and a Gãvcci deep into the city. I followed them trying to tell Gãvcci to turn around and leave but he did not hear my voice. These were just images and the past does not hear today anyway.
In the end we arrived at the gates of a fortress. It was clear that it had been prepared for war, not for peace. The walls towered high as four giants. They were thick as two great steel shell turtles are long from their nose horn's tip to the end of their tail when they are full grown. Inside there was a ravine separating an inner courtyard that was connected to the gate with a bridge.
Eventually we arrived at the throne room. I was stunned by the absolute power the room radiated. On both sides there were eight decorated pillars. They were thick as the Deep sea serpent and tall as Queen Dragon was long. The room itself was more decorated than anything I had ever seen. Never in my life had I seen or heard of such craftsmanship.
At the other end of the majestic room was the throne seat. Sitting in it I saw a woman. The closer we came, the more beautiful she became. I walked a few steps distance to the side from the group I had been following. Suddenly the woman turned her face towards me. I stopped. She kept looking straight into my eyes. I continued walking towards her and she followed me with her gaze. She did not say anything to me, she just nodded reluctantly.
The woman did not turn her eyes away from me to look at the arriving party. When we came close she slightly raised her hand to tell the group to stop. Then she turned her attention away from me and focused on the others. Then I saw it. There was a sphere similar to the one Gãvcci had hanging on her neck. At first I thought she was a descendant of Nieida.
"What brings you home earlier than the others, Viljâ?" the woman asked.
"Mother, I come home early, but I return with far greater success than any of us could expect. We found this young man when we climbed to the apex of The Mountain in the Middle of Everything. He seemed to be in need of your guidance, Mother." Viljâ turned to Gãvcci saying, "show Mother what you have Gãvcci. She will have the answers you seek."
At first Gãvcci seemed hesitant but after the time he had spent with Viljâ, Gãvcci trusted him. Carefully he stepped forward and took his sphere from his pocket. "This is a sphere I received from my father, who received it from his and so on until our First Father, Ganda."
The name seemed to catch the woman completely off guard. After a moment of silence she spoke saying, "we have much to talk about, Gãvcci. The rest of you, return to your assignment." Your Brother and his group bowed their heads and hit their chests with their right fists as a sign of intent to obey it seemed. While they left the room not a word was said.
Once the door closed, the woman stood up and walked to Gãvcci. The woman searched Gãvcci with her eyes and then out of the blue she jumps to embrace Gãvcci like a lover who has not seen her significant other in years. "I'm so glad you came!" She said with apparent joy in her voice. "My name is Nieida. Come, let's go fire a walk. I have much to tell you."
When I heard that name my heart skipped a beat or two. I could not believe that woman was Nieida; one of the creators and in my day the Queen of Darkness! Now I realized what Division had talked about.
At that very moment the realization had hit me the vision changed. I saw a scene after a scene. I saw Gãvcci with Nieida. They became friends. Gãvcci began to fall in love with Nieida. He told where he lived. Nieida told Gãvcci what she had learned of the spheres; how having both grants power over all of Idumea.
By deception of power and seduction Nieida made Gãvcci fall for her. I saw them come together in an unholy union. I saw them be sealed with a false ceremony Gãvcci believing it was real and a right thing to do. In the end I saw a son be born.
There I was. Standing in a room with Nieida laying on a bed after giving birth. Gãvcci was holding the child and gave him the name Janaka. Viljâ was there too. That was when I realized I had not seen Isit, not once.
Gãvcci placed Janaka in his mother's arms. On that very blink of an eye I saw Isit storm into the room with a drawn sword. Before anyone could react he had pierced Gãvcci. In terror I followed Gãvcci dying slowly. Isit launched to kill Nieida but Viljâ jumped to intervene and wrestled Isit out of the room. Nieida kneeled beside Gãvcci weeping.
"No Love, no! Not like this," Nieida wept holding Gãvcci.
While life was fading from Gãvcci's eyes, he took a crying Janaka and gave a kiss on his forehead. Then he took the sphere he had and placed it on Janaka's heart saying, "be in peace, my son. You will have your answers in time. Be patient. Truth will be your guide." The sphere lit up and shone white for a moment. When it's light faded, Gãvcci was dead.
Nieida let go of Gãvcci and rose. She was changed. Her countenance was darker and a grim gentle smile was on her face. "Such a naive fool you were", she said.
This vision began to close. Light began to fill my surroundings. I fell on my knees. I wept. I wailed because of what my eyes had beheld. I screamed, "why, why are you showing this to me? This is more than a mortal man can bear without withering away of grief!"
To my comfort, Division came to me. He didn't say a word. He looked at me and nodded. Then he pointed a hole in the whiteness. I beheld a joyful sight. A beautiful baby girl was born. I saw Division smile.
“Why do you smile?” I asked. He answered to me saying, “this girl will change the course of history. No because of what she does but because of who she is.”
When this happens a beautiful baby girl named Amba is born into the house of Ganda. Amba was born as the youngest to the line of the youngest.
Along the coming years Nieida gathers an army to take over the kingdom Ganda has built. Why? What is a queen without a kingdom to rule?
Janaka grows towards maturity and gains superior skill as a warrior and a leader. Around the time when Amba is in the age of finding a companion, Janaka arrives in the kingdom as a spy with a few others while the army waits farther away. The two meet and fall in love with each other. While the other spies are elsewhere in the kingdom, Janaka and Amba go to meet Ganda and tell him what is happening. Janaka learns of his father and figures out his true origins.
Meanwhile the other spies return to Nieida in time that was agreed. They start the attack assuming that Janaka is still in the kingdom. Because of what has happened Janaka is ordered to be killed. The house of Ganda has no time to prepare enough, but they do what they can. To protect Janaka he tells him to escape south, as far as he can go. He goes and Amba runs away and escapes with him.
The house of Nieida invades the kingdom. Many are killed. Streets and fields fill with the dead. Years of oppression start. People rebel against Nieida's armies led and inspired by Ganda. Many are shipped to the kingdom among the Thorn Mountains.
Eventually Janaka and Amba reach Paradise Valley far far in the south. There they decide to stop and stay. At this point an all out rebellion war breaks out all over the kingdoms.
The Parents finally return to Idumea. While the war rages all over the place the ground shakes and a pillar of light descends on Heaven's Peak.
Nieida and Ganda come each from their directions. The Parents greet the Twins and ask them to give the spheres. Ganda says he has lost it from his house by a way of deception nad murder while looking at Nieida. She says nothing and gives both of the spheres. The spheres, one turned black one white, become one in the hands of the Parents. The pillar of light then disappears and the clouds roll away and the turmoil, destroyed cities, death and anguish, anger and hate are revealed all around them.
The Twins are judged for their dominion. The Parents turned to Nieida and said:
"Why did you rebel? Why did you let evil into your heart and persecute the house of your brother? Why have you done this?
We had prepared a reward, a kingdom for you and your house, a kingdom above all other kingdoms. But because of your rebellion you shall reap a kingdom you have sown.
Rebellion is your name because rebel, you did. A grief and a wound that is deep was caused to our hearts by this evil. Your deeds have been deeds of darkness. Darkness you have sown and darkness you shall therefore reap.
Depart and take your house and what your heart desires..."
Ganda is given the kingdom of light for staying true and doing what he could to defend his people in a time of need and he is appointed as the Guardian for Idumea. He is given a commandment to protect Idumea and it's inhabitants at all costs from the cunning plans of darkness that Nieida will make and execute. Then he departs and takes his house with him.
Idumea is now empty of gods and demigods besides Janaka and Amba. The Parents appear to them, seal their union. They are made mortal as are also their descendants and stewardship of Idumea is given to them. The Parents give the sphere to Janaka and Amba. It now contains the history of Idumea so far and it is to be used for wisdom and learning.
Here ends the era when gods dwelled in Idumea and the time of First Idumeans begins.
Fast forward a some thousands of years there was an event that almost destroyed Idumea, I haven't written much about it yet. All over Idumea the people began to be evil in their hearts. Some were still good, but most were evil. In the south where Janaka and Amba built their home and eventually the First Idumeans built their kingdom, the people invited the powers of darkness into the world. To protect the world from being utterly destroyed by the foolishness of evil men and the invasion of Nieida's hate and anger, Ganda and the forces of Light returned to wage war with mortals against the darkness.
In the end, to save what was still saveable, Ganda literally tears the continent apart, separating everything that was of darkness from what was not. Roughly 1/3 of the continent was separated and moved away to a total isolation and eventually purged by Ganda and his forces. That continent is now lost and has been for a long long time. Between the two continents, the mountain of Heaven's Peak stands alone on an eye shaped island, equally lost, unknown and mysterious to the people on the main continent.
Generations have passed and the events, while considered at least partially real by true followers of Ganda, are more of a legend and a source of fantasies and stories.
MY name is Diehtti, son of Kahlua. I am a simple farmer, a man of meager life not of great deeds but I have always done my best to live the way the Guardian would have had me live.
I write this under a commandment from the Son who is the Guardian of all that is good.
HE sent one of His messengers to me while I was resting under the miah tree on the far West side of my farm. I had not intended to rest for too long. It was not even noon yet and there was much work to do. I never was of the kind to rest too much. Regardless of it I grew weary and tired and I closed my eyes.
I woke up when a firm voice of a man called me by name, "Diehtti, son of Kahlua! Wake up and open your eyes!" I woke up and opened my eyes. Before me I saw a man clothed with a white armor. His whole being was glorious and bright. He saw my fear and told me not to be afraid. He gave Division as his name and told me that he had come from the presence of the Guardian to bring a message and to deliver a warning.
THIS messenger told me, that if the inhabitants of Idumea did not turn away from the ways of the darkness and seek unity among themselves and with Idumea, they would be destroyed not only by each other but the forces of darkness would consume them all. He further warned not to tamper with evil, wickedness, any unholy or unjust practice that exists because of the weakness of the inhabitants of this world. He concluded his warning by saying, "dark are the hearts and the minds, close the Rebellion is. Darker are the hearts and the minds, closer the Rebellion will be."
THE messenger came to me and took me by left hand with a blessing grip. He also rested his right palm on my left shoulder. Then he uttered the words:
"Blessed art thou, Diehtti, son of Kahlua, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for the favor your Guardian has given thee, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for the things thy eyes will behold, blessed art thou.
Blessed art thou for none has seen more than thy eyes will, blessed art thou."
EVERYTHING in my vision or around me became bright with light. Brightness became so great as to make me blind it seemed. In fear of it I reacted by closing my eyes. When I did it the touch of the messenger disappeared and all became silent.
I waited for a moment expecting a sign of things being normal again. It did not come so I attempted to open my eyes. I was shocked to find myself standing on a mountain top higher than any other I had ever been on. I stumbled backwards expecting to feel the miah tree behind my back but instead I backed to a rock.
ONCE the first shock began to fade I was able to see clearly what was around me. It seemed rather flat and safe where I was. I stood up and looked around. I could see that the mountain was on an island. Walking around the area where I was I could see everywhere. It was clear that the mountain covered most of the eye shaped island.
THE rock I backed to was actually an altar and on the altar was a small gray glass-like sphere. I looked at it for a while not knowing what to do. There was no way down that I would dare to take. I was trapped.
FINDING myself in that situation I allowed myself in my desperate curiosity to take the sphere from the altar. When I held the sphere a vision of endless void or space opened to me. Startled by it I dropped the sphere. Shocked and afraid I stood there - paralyzed, staring at the unharmed sphere on the rocky ground.
THE messenger from before spoke to me suddenly saying, "take it. It is what you were blessed to see." He stood behind me pointing to the sphere. I hesitated and he said again, "take it and see what you were blessed to see." I took a couple of hesitant steps towards the sphere. An encouraging nod from the messenger gave me the courage to take it.
THIS is what I saw.
Many eternities ago, long before the creators of the world had drawn their first breath, there was only two beings. If there was more no-one knows. It doesn't really even matter if there were others for they have nothing to do with our world. There is only one truth among many that is correct. This is what the true seers of Idumea have seen and been shown.
Like many other stories and legends, even most of the true ones begin in insignificance. So is the case of Idumea too, for in the beginning there was a Great Emptiness.
In that Great Emptiness there were two beings, separate, independent and lonely. Mother Eternity, the Queen of Time kept moving, never stopping for one moment. Father Universe, the King of everything that had been, was and ever would be, just stood still without progress. Both existed but were without purpose.
An eternity passed while both, being alone and separate, looked for purpose in the Great Emptiness. One looked for it in a place and the other somewhere else. No matter where they searched, the emptiness in their sphere was not filled.
Another eternity passed before life made the two lonely paths cross. After an eternity of searching, there they were looking at each other. For the first time their sphere was filled.
Father Universe and Mother Eternity came together in holy union. They made a promise never to part for nothing filled their sphere like their unity. A bond was tied that would never be broken again. Space and Time, we forever joined.
Yet an eternity passed by and Mother Eternity was found carrying twins in her womb. The vastness of the Great Emptiness filled with expectation and all ends of existence whispered great things regarding the offspring of Time and Space. Surely the children of the two would bring great things to pass.
Another eternity passed by and Mother Eternity delivered two children. The first was a most beautiful girl; she was named Nieida, the daughter of Universe. Then came a most strong baby-boy; he was named Ganda, the Son of Universe. The Great Emptiness rejoiced for the birth of the Twins. Surely they would bring great things to pass!
Thus were the creators of the world born.
SURROUNDED by endless Space, the Parents came together in holy union. It was the hour of a new creation. There had been many, there were many and there will be many. Each of them is numbered. Each of them is known to them. Each of them is unique and I was shown the history of the one where I belong.
I saw a time and another pass away in waiting. Mother Eternity rested with twins in her womb while Father Universe ruled the Great Space. The Twins were silent and still, dreaming the same dream from two different sides.
THEY are opposites to one another, the Daughter and the Son, the Children of Universe.
AGAIN a time passed by and another or two. Then came the glorious day when the Perfect Twins were born. They came hand in hand from the womb of their Holy Mother. They came without a sound, more glorious than the Sun when it shines above Heaven's Peak.
The first the Mother named Nieida, the Daughter of Universe.
The second the Mother named Ganda, the Son of Universe.
They were laid to a cradle where the Dark and the Light meet, and there they slept. Yes, there they slept dreaming the same dream on different sides.
I was not shown more of this but another vision opened before my eyes.
There they were, the Perfect Twins. They had elements as their toys. The deva and the asura were their friends.
They played a game. Ganda would build and Nieida would destroy. This continued for a time.
The vision ended and yet another opened.
I saw Ganda, the Son of Universe, and Nieida, the Daughter of Universe, both grown up. They played a game again I thought, but they were building together. They built and they built. Not as men do but as Gods do. They were talking, commanding the elements.
When I was shown what they built, I fell on my knees and bowed before the Grand Beginning.
I saw them take matter and commanding the Fire they would burn Soil of it. They gathered the Soil to one place, made it spin and take form like a potter molding clay. They formed a continent.
They commanded the Water to surround the continent, to take place on it to form streams, rivers, rapids, ponds, lakes and seas. After the Water had watered the Soil, by the command of the Twins it brought forth the Green. I saw it cover the whole face of the land that had been formed. When the time came I beheld the First Trees blow the Wind to travel the skies. All according to the commandments of the Twins.
In the end they released the deva and the asura to roam free in the world they had created.
And I beheld the world come alive. With the deva and the asura, the Twins created all manner of beasts, flying and swimming creatures, and all manner of creeping things, everything from the very smallest to the largest of living beings.
Then they commanded the Soil to form a great mountain in the middle of the continent, so high that the very edges of the world could see it. The Soil hearkened and the mountain rose. It rose above everything else. And in it's full measure I recognized it as Heaven's Peak, the Crown of Creation and the Throne of Gods.
When all this was done, the Twins named the world Idumea and all that was created bowed before them.
When Gods Dwelled On Idumea
When Idumea had been created I saw Nieida and Ganda take the Parents up on the top of Heaven's Peak. They presented the Parents what had been created and the Parents were pleased with all that had been done. Turning to their children the Parents told Nieida and Ganda that they now had to take responsibility and dominion over their creation. Both would have to take a portion of the world under their dominion and rule over it. The Parents also told Nieida and Ganda that it was not good for them to rule alone. For what is a king or a queen without a house or a nation to rule?
What I saw next exceeded everything I had seen so far. I saw the Parents form two bodies; one of a man and one of a woman. I have seen many people, many men and many women. Never have I seen such perfection. Then they called two spirits from the eternal realms; one man and one woman to take possession of these bodies.
When this was done they gave them to Twins to be their spouses. Nieida received Isit, as a husband and a companion to rule with her. Ganda received Eamit, as a wife and a companion to rule with him.
The Parents then told Nieida to choose where she would place her kingdom. She chose the land towards the night - this means towards darkness. Then Ganda was given the land towards the day - towards light, that is. Both were given a small gray metallic looking sphere and a commandment to keep it safe and pass it forward along the generations from the firstborn to firstborn. The Parents told that they would be gone for a time and leave Nieida and Ganda with their companions and kingdoms alone. They would return eventually. When the ground would shake and a pillar of light would rest on Heaven's Peak, then they would know to return to the apex of Heaven's Peak to receive the Parents. After all this was said and done the Parents sent the Twins to their directions and disappeared from my vision.
Nieida and Isit found a place to live close to the Thorn Mountains far away North-North-West from Heaven's Peak. From their seed started to grow a cunning nation, a nation that seeked pleasure, power and gain. They followed in the footsteps of Nieida and Isit.
Ganda and Eamit settled South-West on the fields by Lake Mãssu and Assãi Rocks. From their seed started to grow a nation of integrity, hard work and peace. They followed Ganda and Eamit in all things.
I saw both nations grow in numbers. They built cities and towns. They created many glorious things with their power to control the elements. No one died of old age. Children were born and they grew older but once they reached maturity they stopped ageing.
The descendants of the Twins are the great demigods of old. They knew how to control the elements and they had great power streaming in their veins. They did not die of old age or any other way but they could be killed by a god and each other. That was what separated them from Neida and Ganda.
I saw the nations grow ever larger and both prospered in their own ways. When a new generation was born the spheres were given for the firstborn when they were recognized as responsible and worthy.
In my vision I witnessed time pass. Years, decades, centuries I do not know. Eventually my attention was directed to a man. He was like Ganda, a man of strong appearance. Honesty and good will radiated off him.
Division appeared next to me. He pointed this man saying:
"Look at this poor child. He knows his heritage and he knows who he is but he does not consider it as something of great worth. His name is Gãvcci. He is the one carrying Ganda's name and heritage. He has been trusted with his father's Sphere. He is the great sorrow of the demigods who are following Ganda."
Then I saw who he was. He had all that was needed to carry on the name of his god-father.
Gãvcci, Ganda's descendant along the line of firstborns was a hiker and a wanderer. He often spent weeks just exploring the world around the kingdom. Rather than carrying on the traditions of his fathers, discovering the world was what Gãvcci was about.
When I saw Gãvcci, he was in the age of finding a companion to spend his life with. I saw him talking to his father. Trying to speak sense to his adventurous son I heard him say to Gãvcci:
"You have been running from your obligation to your lineage for too long now. It is your responsibility to find a girl you like and be sealed to her! You must stop daydreaming and do something about your life!"
With such words I heard Gãvcci being corrected. He then answered to his father:
"I have had enough of your traditions and responsibilities! I have a will of my own and will conduct my life as I will. If I can't live my life how I want to live here, I will do so elsewhere!"
He then stormed out from his father's house. I followed after him to see where he was going. After a few minutes of fast paced walking we came to a dense forest just outside the city. There I found to my surprise that Gãvcci had built himself a hideout, a hut of a kind.
Before I made it inside he came out with a backpack and sat down on a trunk. He sat there for a moment as if he was thinking. Then he stood up, threw his eyes towards Heaven's Peak in the distance and started walking. He was really leaving.
I took a couple of steps to follow after him but I suddenly found myself stepping on the Rocky apex of Heaven's Peak. I looked around to see if I could find Gãvcci somewhere. Then I heard noises behind me and turned to look. I saw Gãvcci climb up.
He walked straight to the altar in the middle of everything. It seemed as if he knew what this place was. He placed the sphere on the altar and waited seemingly expecting something to happen. Nothing happened. It was apparent that Gãvcci was confused and he didn't know what to do next.
While Gãvcci was pondering by the altar, I saw a group of men looking like hunters climb up and observe Gãvcci. One of them - he seemed like the leader of the group - stepped forward and spoke:
"Young man, why are you up here?
Startled, Gãvcci turned around and by accident dropped the sphere while trying to hide it. The sphere rolled to the feet of one of the hunters who picked it up and then gave it to the man who had spoken. He looked at the white sphere with great interest.
The man reached to give the sphere back to Gãvcci. "My name is Viljâ, a scout from a nearby village. I have seen one such sphere carried by someone else before. You are here to learn the secrets of that sphere?"
Gãvcci reached to take the sphere back. Still confounded by the sudden appearance of these hunters he spoke:
"Why I am here has nothing to do with you and of a secret I know nothing."
To this Viljâ answered, "I understand your suspicion. We will not wish you any harm. Come with us and I will take you to meet someone who might have some answers to your questions." He paused, "let us take you where we come from".
Gãvcci thought for a moment but he seemed to relax in the end. He put the sphere to his pocket and adjusted his backpack. "Sure. Why not. I have nothing that would keep me to my people."
With a heavy heart I followed Gãvcci and Your Brother's group. As the days changed to weeks my worry for Gãvcci's life grew like Gãvcci's trust for Viljâ. I wished someone would come to take that young man home.
I was not allowed to skip over these scenes. I had to follow Gãvcci on his path which I feared would lead to his downfall. I had to follow, unable to change the past.
In the end we arrived in a city built and hidden among many mountains that were steep and narrow as towers. From afar they were like thorns of stone. Your Brother led his group and a Gãvcci deep into the city. I followed them trying to tell Gãvcci to turn around and leave but he did not hear my voice. These were just images and the past does not hear today anyway.
In the end we arrived at the gates of a fortress. It was clear that it had been prepared for war, not for peace. The walls towered high as four giants. They were thick as two great steel shell turtles are long from their nose horn's tip to the end of their tail when they are full grown. Inside there was a ravine separating an inner courtyard that was connected to the gate with a bridge.
Eventually we arrived at the throne room. I was stunned by the absolute power the room radiated. On both sides there were eight decorated pillars. They were thick as the Deep sea serpent and tall as Queen Dragon was long. The room itself was more decorated than anything I had ever seen. Never in my life had I seen or heard of such craftsmanship.
At the other end of the majestic room was the throne seat. Sitting in it I saw a woman. The closer we came, the more beautiful she became. I walked a few steps distance to the side from the group I had been following. Suddenly the woman turned her face towards me. I stopped. She kept looking straight into my eyes. I continued walking towards her and she followed me with her gaze. She did not say anything to me, she just nodded reluctantly.
The woman did not turn her eyes away from me to look at the arriving party. When we came close she slightly raised her hand to tell the group to stop. Then she turned her attention away from me and focused on the others. Then I saw it. There was a sphere similar to the one Gãvcci had hanging on her neck. At first I thought she was a descendant of Nieida.
"What brings you home earlier than the others, Viljâ?" the woman asked.
"Mother, I come home early, but I return with far greater success than any of us could expect. We found this young man when we climbed to the apex of The Mountain in the Middle of Everything. He seemed to be in need of your guidance, Mother." Viljâ turned to Gãvcci saying, "show Mother what you have Gãvcci. She will have the answers you seek."
At first Gãvcci seemed hesitant but after the time he had spent with Viljâ, Gãvcci trusted him. Carefully he stepped forward and took his sphere from his pocket. "This is a sphere I received from my father, who received it from his and so on until our First Father, Ganda."
The name seemed to catch the woman completely off guard. After a moment of silence she spoke saying, "we have much to talk about, Gãvcci. The rest of you, return to your assignment." Your Brother and his group bowed their heads and hit their chests with their right fists as a sign of intent to obey it seemed. While they left the room not a word was said.
Once the door closed, the woman stood up and walked to Gãvcci. The woman searched Gãvcci with her eyes and then out of the blue she jumps to embrace Gãvcci like a lover who has not seen her significant other in years. "I'm so glad you came!" She said with apparent joy in her voice. "My name is Nieida. Come, let's go fire a walk. I have much to tell you."
When I heard that name my heart skipped a beat or two. I could not believe that woman was Nieida; one of the creators and in my day the Queen of Darkness! Now I realized what Division had talked about.
At that very moment the realization had hit me the vision changed. I saw a scene after a scene. I saw Gãvcci with Nieida. They became friends. Gãvcci began to fall in love with Nieida. He told where he lived. Nieida told Gãvcci what she had learned of the spheres; how having both grants power over all of Idumea.
By deception of power and seduction Nieida made Gãvcci fall for her. I saw them come together in an unholy union. I saw them be sealed with a false ceremony Gãvcci believing it was real and a right thing to do. In the end I saw a son be born.
There I was. Standing in a room with Nieida laying on a bed after giving birth. Gãvcci was holding the child and gave him the name Janaka. Viljâ was there too. That was when I realized I had not seen Isit, not once.
Gãvcci placed Janaka in his mother's arms. On that very blink of an eye I saw Isit storm into the room with a drawn sword. Before anyone could react he had pierced Gãvcci. In terror I followed Gãvcci dying slowly. Isit launched to kill Nieida but Viljâ jumped to intervene and wrestled Isit out of the room. Nieida kneeled beside Gãvcci weeping.
"No Love, no! Not like this," Nieida wept holding Gãvcci.
While life was fading from Gãvcci's eyes, he took a crying Janaka and gave a kiss on his forehead. Then he took the sphere he had and placed it on Janaka's heart saying, "be in peace, my son. You will have your answers in time. Be patient. Truth will be your guide." The sphere lit up and shone white for a moment. When it's light faded, Gãvcci was dead.
Nieida let go of Gãvcci and rose. She was changed. Her countenance was darker and a grim gentle smile was on her face. "Such a naive fool you were", she said.
This vision began to close. Light began to fill my surroundings. I fell on my knees. I wept. I wailed because of what my eyes had beheld. I screamed, "why, why are you showing this to me? This is more than a mortal man can bear without withering away of grief!"
To my comfort, Division came to me. He didn't say a word. He looked at me and nodded. Then he pointed a hole in the whiteness. I beheld a joyful sight. A beautiful baby girl was born. I saw Division smile.
“Why do you smile?” I asked. He answered to me saying, “this girl will change the course of history. No because of what she does but because of who she is.”
When this happens a beautiful baby girl named Amba is born into the house of Ganda. Amba was born as the youngest to the line of the youngest.
Along the coming years Nieida gathers an army to take over the kingdom Ganda has built. Why? What is a queen without a kingdom to rule?
Janaka grows towards maturity and gains superior skill as a warrior and a leader. Around the time when Amba is in the age of finding a companion, Janaka arrives in the kingdom as a spy with a few others while the army waits farther away. The two meet and fall in love with each other. While the other spies are elsewhere in the kingdom, Janaka and Amba go to meet Ganda and tell him what is happening. Janaka learns of his father and figures out his true origins.
Meanwhile the other spies return to Nieida in time that was agreed. They start the attack assuming that Janaka is still in the kingdom. Because of what has happened Janaka is ordered to be killed. The house of Ganda has no time to prepare enough, but they do what they can. To protect Janaka he tells him to escape south, as far as he can go. He goes and Amba runs away and escapes with him.
The house of Nieida invades the kingdom. Many are killed. Streets and fields fill with the dead. Years of oppression start. People rebel against Nieida's armies led and inspired by Ganda. Many are shipped to the kingdom among the Thorn Mountains.
Eventually Janaka and Amba reach Paradise Valley far far in the south. There they decide to stop and stay. At this point an all out rebellion war breaks out all over the kingdoms.
The Parents finally return to Idumea. While the war rages all over the place the ground shakes and a pillar of light descends on Heaven's Peak.
Nieida and Ganda come each from their directions. The Parents greet the Twins and ask them to give the spheres. Ganda says he has lost it from his house by a way of deception nad murder while looking at Nieida. She says nothing and gives both of the spheres. The spheres, one turned black one white, become one in the hands of the Parents. The pillar of light then disappears and the clouds roll away and the turmoil, destroyed cities, death and anguish, anger and hate are revealed all around them.
The Twins are judged for their dominion. The Parents turned to Nieida and said:
"Why did you rebel? Why did you let evil into your heart and persecute the house of your brother? Why have you done this?
We had prepared a reward, a kingdom for you and your house, a kingdom above all other kingdoms. But because of your rebellion you shall reap a kingdom you have sown.
Rebellion is your name because rebel, you did. A grief and a wound that is deep was caused to our hearts by this evil. Your deeds have been deeds of darkness. Darkness you have sown and darkness you shall therefore reap.
Depart and take your house and what your heart desires..."
Ganda is given the kingdom of light for staying true and doing what he could to defend his people in a time of need and he is appointed as the Guardian for Idumea. He is given a commandment to protect Idumea and it's inhabitants at all costs from the cunning plans of darkness that Nieida will make and execute. Then he departs and takes his house with him.
Idumea is now empty of gods and demigods besides Janaka and Amba. The Parents appear to them, seal their union. They are made mortal as are also their descendants and stewardship of Idumea is given to them. The Parents give the sphere to Janaka and Amba. It now contains the history of Idumea so far and it is to be used for wisdom and learning.
Here ends the era when gods dwelled in Idumea and the time of First Idumeans begins.
Fast forward a some thousands of years there was an event that almost destroyed Idumea, I haven't written much about it yet. All over Idumea the people began to be evil in their hearts. Some were still good, but most were evil. In the south where Janaka and Amba built their home and eventually the First Idumeans built their kingdom, the people invited the powers of darkness into the world. To protect the world from being utterly destroyed by the foolishness of evil men and the invasion of Nieida's hate and anger, Ganda and the forces of Light returned to wage war with mortals against the darkness.
In the end, to save what was still saveable, Ganda literally tears the continent apart, separating everything that was of darkness from what was not. Roughly 1/3 of the continent was separated and moved away to a total isolation and eventually purged by Ganda and his forces. That continent is now lost and has been for a long long time. Between the two continents, the mountain of Heaven's Peak stands alone on an eye shaped island, equally lost, unknown and mysterious to the people on the main continent.
Generations have passed and the events, while considered at least partially real by true followers of Ganda, are more of a legend and a source of fantasies and stories.
Sun, Moon & Stars
The Sphere of All Knowledge (mentioned in the History of Idumea)
- - The Sun, is the radiance of the Realm of Light (where Ganda resides) which gives light and warmth.
- The Moon, is the radiance of the Realm of Darkness (Where Nieda resides) which envelops Idumea in darkness during the night. It is a cold, silvery shimmer. Sometimes something akin to aurora borealis can be seen radiating from it and reaching Idumea's atmosphere.
- Stars are the souls of the brave who dedicated their lives for the ways of Light – honor, loyalty, truth, defence of those in need and so on. They now stand at an eternal vanguard protecting Idumea.
The Sphere of All Knowledge (mentioned in the History of Idumea)
- When the Parents left Nieida and Ganda to rule Idumea, they gave each a transparent sphere the size of a small stone. These spheres would record all experience and learning of their people. The spheres would eventually contain the true history of the world. Knowledge of nature was stored. Also the pure understanding of the supernatural arts gathered into the spheres. All knowledge and wisdom stored itself into them. Nieida kept the Sphere to herself. Ganda passed his from firstborn to firstborn. Eventually Nieida got Ganda's sphere through deception.
In the end when the Parents returned to judge the Twins, in the Parents' hands Nieida's Sphere turned pitch black where Ganda's turned white and glorious. They combined the two spheres into one averaging the color of the two. This is The Sphere of All Knowledge
This combined sphere was then passed on to the First Mortals. Through the ages it has recorded all knowledge and history of Idumea. The one who would possess the sphere would have access to everything Idumea has ever seen and known. As such it is the most desired legendary item in all of Idumea. This would make a person more powerful than anyone in a world where knowledge is power.
The Sphere is a source of knowledge not of direct power. The one who possesses the Sphere will not gain supernatural powers or turn into a god. One will not gain an ability to see into the future. One is left with their own understanding to interpret what is seen and heard, learned and studied – given one is able to handle the flood of information.
The Sphere has many names in many languages. It's existence is shrouded by fables and legends. Regardless of it's myth-like reputation, it is the relic every power thirsty ruler desires the most.
Current location of the Sphere is unknown regardless of many legends.
Rules
1. Regular Guild rules apply, behave, play fair, no god mode, no playing other's characters and so on...
2. All off-topic discussion should be coloured light pink. If so desired, I can set up a discord for open chat.
3. Once the game begins, avoid using hiders. I will use them to give information to characters that is not openly known. I will use the following format:
[@mention]
Yada yada...
4. Two (2) paragraphs is the bare minimum of a turn. A paragraph to me is three (3) good phat sentences. Three (3) paragraphs is preferred and more the merrier. ie: as much as you can is what I am attempting to say ;)
5. When the characters speak, use an easily readable colour that is other than red, which I reserve for myself for GM purposes.
6. After posting your turn, you can edit formatting and typos, though do try to it within 30 minutes of the original posting. DO NOT change your narrative unless you notice a fault in continuity or critical info, in which case notify of it in the OOC.
7. Write in 3rd person.
The game goes in rounds where I begin by playing the setting of a round and the rest of you have one turn. I will give direction at the OOC of exceptions and play the environment/NPC turns as the game goes on.
Any questions or concerns? Let's talk and solve! =)
