Mirrors of the Lost Eye

The Deadrek
[The First Creation]

From time, through time, to time immemorial
the world remained as it had for eternity.
But time moved, and the world followed after.
Born among fog and flame, water and stone,
formed together from every corner of the firmaments.
But at this time nothing tread upon the stone,
the rivers and wave-ways were free from fish,
the embers burnt on nigh but themselves,
the fog, all alone, wafted in the air above.
Into the world came Talkeen, Creator beyond.
He looked upon the emptiness, the wonder without,
the land in which little was lovely, or of note,
and so he spoke:
“Dearith no, to wa arinäin!”
And his words were the birth of the world.
For he spoke: “Apart nothing are you, now shall you be!”
And then fell the fog to the waters, which flowed
over stone, betwixt the fires, as one earth formed,
four no longer, for the world as it is, shall be to the end.
And flame and rock met sea and fog and all fell,
far below, and then rose again as one, around and around
they flowed, day unto night unto day, until the globe
was made, fog on water on rock on fire.
Over the water lay Sa-ilmas, the essence of being,
in which the heart of life lies, the core
that is, that which can heal the wounds.
And Sa-ilmas hovered over the earth, biding
until the time came, until the world
was formed, greatest of all wonders.
Then Ëla, the one from Talkeen, stretched forth his hand,
and stirred the earth. The fire bellowed,
rose from beneath the stone, hot on cold,
fire and water, and then new stone, new fog.
On these new lands Ëla let the dew come forth,
and, drawing back the curtain of the fog from the stone,
he flung the drops to the heavens, forming there
the sky-lights, the stars, sitting on high.
And from whence he brought the dew, fire anew
bubbled from beneath the rock, and
he drew it forth, gathering all the excess flame,
and he forged the heat and light into a sphere.
From across the earth he gathered the pieces,
then, with His mighty hand, He swept the fire
into the heights of heaven and there it lay, among the dew.
Its unblinking gaze settled onto the earth, lighting
the lands and creating crystal fields within the fog.
Then Ëla called forth the winds and stirred up the
air, and from the breeze he brought forth both
soul and form. And these were there to direct
all others, those who would follow-after and their kin.
The soul he brought out, like ballenëd in spring time,
a new taste from the wasted lands, the empty
where of forgotten ages. Life burned inside
their hearts, and Ëla saw that this was good.
He pulled the mists together and shaped shells,
into which the un-hosted souls coursed, their joy
growing in before unused spirit-centers.
For this is greatest of possible works,
the creation of something from nothing, the forming
of life, of wondrous and beautiful soul-holders.
And Ëla rejoiced in the tool-forms, and Talkeen too.
They then opened the minds, giving them thought,
so that they used untouched lips, to speak their praise.
For they had but a single purpose, in two facets, to tend
and to rejoice. The world was set before them,
and into their care was it intrusted in that time.
There were nine, male and female, each defender
of the earth, and a division of the earth was devoted
to each. In them he set an order to follow, one
which they obeyed to the end of time, and beyond.
For they were Ëla’s, and he placed them how he willed,
and the mightiest of them was Silisawnä, to whom was given
the security of the sky. His joy was soaring about the air,
free from the earths fetters, as a falcon, for he could
change his form at any time. The sky grew before him,
blue beyond blue, reveling in his travels
On the wondrous wings given for Ëla’s glory.
His wisdom was not to be faulted, nor were the words
of his mouth, for he was given a gift of great language.
Upon him was balanced the burden of truth and life.
The next was Monanir the strong, the mightiest warrior.
Into his care was intrusted the great powers
of the world, the mountains majestic, the earth’s breaking borders,
the tremor of the tides, and the thunder’s terrific thrall.
Monanir joyed to walk to inner recesses
of the world, deep within the stone, in silence,
and surrounded by the energy Ëla brought to earth.
Third there was Olimarë, the only who stayed
single, without a love beyond the love
of Ëla’s mercy, for it is altogether more than enough.
No dwelling could tie him down, for his dream
was the world, and its limits were little more
than lines, drawn deep in the sands. For not but
one night did he call a place his bed because
there are more places than are nights in all of time.
Olimarë traveled far to all untouched regions of the earth
and often stood in silence so to better sense
the words of wise Talkeen, in the whispers of the wind.
The lands he loved were the great valleys, deep
delves of the earth, where the sky was forever dark.
Together after came Mireod and Laimenk, siblings alike
as two shadows, though man and woman were they.
Mireod loved the sound of the soft sea billows,
the beauty of the echos in the earth, and excited at the energy
of voice from the very extremities of the world’s edge.
Nothing held more might to him then to hear words
where no other knew them. From this he bore forth
admiration all he saw and felt, set in the world’s writings.
For he loved language, and it all was spoken wonderfully to him.
Of his sister, sleep and silence where her realms, far from
the revelry and reunion of her brother’s speech, Laimenk
rarely lifted her head, and her mouth was opened
less, for in quiet was her beauty expanded and enjoyed.
She spent her time in the shadows of stone and sand,
deep within the quiet reaches of the world.
Then followed the fastest, Siragon, fleet of foot.
Forth from fire did she come, ready to travel
the land, in search of what was not seen before.
She gloried in the great grounds Ëla laid down,
the smooth plains and swelling hills, the high
cliffs and hidden crags. The land called to
Siragon, and she felt joy near it and its fires.
Drawn down next was Lian the fair, friend of all,
Foe to none but those bringing fear and darkness.
To set eyes on her was to love, for her face
reflected the beauty one beholds within Talkeen,
that which is most mighty. To her was granted
the gift of guardianship over the green which was not yet.
Thus in the forgotten days did Lian’s face look dark,
for yet no plant stirred, and little contended her heart.
The eighth entered was Mariwel, queen of waters
and ruler of the waves. She went on long travels,
riding the ripples of her home’s hills, far and free.
Her happiness was with the water, for she could see all
that was near the shore, living or not, and she loved
the terrific nature of Talkeen’s wonderful world.
The final form was Tolamën, brought from the earth.
His first strides across the stone was perplexing,
for as yet Ëla had not brought forth the beasts,
those whom Tolamën cared, the most wonderful makings
to his eye. Even in the beginning he had but one eye
with which to find the land-walkers and the wolves.
Wolves were greatest to him of the meat-grinders, warriors
of the secluded life, livers of a lonely existence.
When all were finished did Talkeen draw them together,
for the first time did they see each other, and Ëla’s
life-holds loved one another, and life-pledged in marriage.
Silisawnä saw Laimenk and loved her, for he had heard her
sounds of silence on the winds before him. She loved him in
turn, for he was mighty, but choose to give his heart to her to hold.
Monanir, symbol of strength, wed just Lian the grower,
and their wedlock was wondrous, with many joys and pleasure.
Monanir supported Lian, and she strengthened him herself,
together they took their place in the world, pleasing
Ëla, and they became the goal of a good marriage.
Mireod, learned of language, walked his way along
the waters and he saw Mariwel, who would became his queen.
He came closer, delightfully drawn by the waves words,
and the beauty before him brought his breath away.
When she approached, he knew that there was more than
beauty to her, her heart was happy and her soul, healthy.
She saw in him a secret strength, which excited her,
for only in the power of pounding surf could she see love.
Wed they were where the water washes the sand.
Siragon’s first joy was Olimarë, but he desired no other,
so she moved on and her eyes fell on Tolamën, his eyes
on the west, watching and waiting. She came closer and saw
he was formed fit and could run far, like she herself.
Then turned he, met her soul-spheres with his gaze, stopped.
Fire flamed within, fire to match his mind.
For many hours neither moved, for the first glance was great,
and then they wed, the fire and force of the warrior.
So those Ëla made met their matching mate, as he had
planed for them from before, for all time together.

[The Green Growth]

Now on the new earth was nothing,
Barren rock and broken stone bore forth,
Holding high their cragged hands to the sun.
The lifeless land was likened to death
And the deserts and dooms of the last days,
For the earth was but brown and burned, devoid of greenery.
Fell down the first fresh rain,
Heavenly water washing the wastelands.
Thirty days and thirty nights the thirsty earth
Was washed in the sky-water and drank deep.
The first thunder filled the air,
Lightening leaping from land to sky and spire,
Groaning in the earth came against the rumbles,
And the stone shifted, the soil cracked and chaffed.
Forth from the sundered sand
Came the first creaks of life and growth,
Green plant upon the great land.
Now Lian looked upon the life and was lively,
For her heart had found the joy here around.
Green grass alone grew on the earth,
A field beneath the feet of the their friend,
Lian the long walker, lover of life.

[The Coming of Creatures]

Ëla then went to form the faces of life,
The creatures which would dwell within
His wilds, among those of his world.
The waves were filled with many fish
Of all forms, from the slow to the fast,
Small to those of great size, eaters of
Plant to grinders of others’ bones.
Next came the birds above, wonders on wings,
Flying far and fast across the face of
His world, seeing more than any other.
Falcons and eagles majestically flew
among mighty clouds with their softer
cousins, the birds who call aloud and around.
Siragon saw their flight and was joyed with all things
winged and their speed and they loved her in turn,
The Raven and Red Hawk, Grey Kite and Goose,
Black Beak and Red Breast, the Small Wing and Silver Swan.
The ones after were the first feet on the world,
though small and little felt upon the earth.
The took wing and foot and fed the multitude
and too served a great role as the honey gatherers.
Following came the fleet-footed, great in size
And small in stature together on the earth,
Eaters of green and gathers of plant.
The filled the fields of the land, feasting
And the great new growth therein now.
Tolamën then saw the first of his flock,
The beasts of the land, beautiful and light footed.
They drew his eyes and he was happy,
For the earth was being filled.
At this time came also the man-carrier,
That which was to be the mount of man.
The lord of horses pranced on his plains,
Given to his kind as gift from high.
Next to be were the eaters of others,
The bone-biters, beast grinders.
The first out where the tiny foes
Who bit but the weak and unwilled.
Following after were the wolves
And warriors of animals, the creatures of the hunt.
Above all others Tolamën adored
The human friends, the horses, and of the hunt
The warrior wolves were the first of his mind.
Lian gazed up from her growth and spied
The sheep of the mountain grazing.
They seemed to her strength and saw the ram,
And it was to her as wisdom and she set and signed it
As hers and the curled-horn on the mountain is a mark,
For the justice of Lian is nigh in the night of the world.


Of the Coming of Men

Semialich had recently fallen but this did not destroy Ëla’s workings of his plan, for he knew all ere it came to pass. The world was ready and his greatest Children would walk in its ways.

Ëla long ago spoke of his great plan to the Exalted, of the birthing of man and his great ransom. Semialich and the others heard this and let loose cheers, but the Coward harbored in his heart a desire to control Man, for since he thought of himself as the Second Ëla, he sought man to be beneath his jurisdiction.

Man entered the world through Sa-ilmas, the breath of Ëla-lon, the Creator, and was born from the first parents, those eight deemed to bear the race forward. Four couples were they, Mother and Father, Husband and Wife, the progenitors of Man. And forth came the generations of Man, in his varieties to cover the earth and make it his home.

The first people were placed in Ebres, the field of Paradise. Out from there did Man travel, filling the lands to the south and east and north and west, each child of the eight finding another and making new couples in new lands. Ebres was home but to the Eight who named its rivers and plants and gave words the beasts in the tongue given them by the Breath of Ëla.

It was into this paradise that the agents of Semialich first crept under the guise of divine children. They came to see the Children of Men and if they were as Semialich had seen, a power not yet risen in the world. They saw this, but also a weakness, as they perceived it. All this they reported to Semilaich.

Against this fake weakness did Semialich make his strike, hoping to destroy man in the way he feared man would destroy him.

Still the First Families lived in Ebres in joy and wonderment. Their generations did find new homes under the sly, but never far from their fore-families, for the land was plentiful and provided well for them. Each family built up their land, raising not structures but groves and forests, grown to use and beauty. The first of the great trees were planted here, gifts of Lian on her journeys from the north.

In these home-trees, the [home-groves], did the Second-Families of Man dwell on the borders of the Great Paradise, one holy people. No strife or disunion existed among the People for they still walked in the sight of Ëla. For he laid forth the path of freedom unto the People so they might walk in the world.

The emissaries of Semialich came, bearing great gifts drawn from the depth of Dirikan. For Semialich made the first mines, finding gold and gems, the wealth of the earth and he was enraptured by their beauty and uniqueness. He drew up the first forges to generate fire and form objects of there own value. And Semialich was trapped by his image in the gold and was fain to hold close to it. Because of his love for it he knew it too would be loved by man and would bring him low, drawing Man to his doom.

So then Man first saw the wealth of the mines laid bare before them, the jewels and gems and precious metals. And they looked and enjoyed their beauty but would not claim them as their own. Still the Agents offered them, asking for but friendship with Semialich, but Olimarë had given them warning that he was offering but a farce, a fake allegiance with no true gain to Man, for gold and jewels waste away with the words of faulty promises.

And so the spies of Semilaich were turned back, bearing their wealth with them. And the wrath beneath Dirikan was too great to imagine, for the workings of the Unweaver failed in their end.

Man grew in wisdom and knowledge and filled the land given to them. New children were given to each other marriage and multiplied in the world. From Ebres north they traveled to found Na-abres. To the west was the great Ocean Kiamel. To the east they founded the land Toltondai and the land for of there was Na-tultondai. And Man occupied these lands, living in the groves and woods of the Paradise-Forest. The south was the Polori Sea.

Again the emissaries came to Man and Men admitted them to his company, for they were well-seeming in their eyes. Their beauty was not feigned but a foulness lay hidden behind their exposure. Man, unawares of their dark intentions sat with them about their home (for in those days there was not yet a need for fire) and the Agents of the Darkness told them of the wide world beyond Ebres and Na-abres, Toltondai and Na-tultondai. They spoke of all things but Semilaich, for they were aware of the warnings of Olimarë and his order.

They spoke of their freedom from work and how they could devote their minds to the knowledge and learning all the world had to offer. They told how the North did not demand labor like Almiran did of Man, and how they were able to choose their own good. Many of the people questioned this new wisdom, asking why Almiran would harm them. The emissaries said Almiran was not harming Man but using him and that Man should work for his own good and reward. Many resisted, but some headed their dark words and ceased their laboring for Almiran. Others saw that they seemed to be better off and so followed them to their failure, their fellowship broken. And Ëla wept for their rebellion.

No longer was Man one people, united by tongue and love, for Semialich drove brother from brother and son from mother, shattering Ëla’s unity. Out from Ebres and the Il-Ebres (as the lang about Ebres was known) did Man journey, no longer desiring to remain close to each other or to Almiran.

And into this separation Semialich, re-named Bverdach by the wise who regretted their failings, for he was the Corrupter of all good, sent his armies. Small at first, they harried men and laid waste to their villages, intent on destroying the weak Man.

Ëla knew of this dis-unity and desired to draw his Children back to him so he spoke to Talian in his wisdom and from this the Alalimenai were born, the first generation of the great unifiers, those tasked with drawing all people back together in the fellowship of Ok-Ëla, the Befriender.

Into this broken world the Alalimena brought order, drawing those to themselves who felt the wind of Sa-ilmas on their souls, sending them to the bidding of Ëla. In Na-abres, the Northern land, they gathered, for Ebres was closed to them and all men. Almiran sealed the land, for it was the jewel of all he guarded and he feared that the destruction of man would lay it to waste.

The Alalimenai took Na-abres, from whence they could see the closed gate of Eres, the fore-land, and they renamed it Tiril-alal, the Land of Watching. From there they worked to bring man back into communion, drawing on the wisdom and gifts of Ëla.

For mighty gifts had the gift-giver bestowed on them, wonders with which they might bring about his glory. Seven and seven were the gifts, seven of Ëla, the oaths of binding, and seven of Sa-ilmis, gifts of goind for all Man. The Oaths were placed into the hands of the Alalimenai alone (save the great Oath of protection) but the seven jewels of Sa-ilmas, the Diamonds of Talkeen, were given unto all people, according to his desire.

As man discovered the girts Bverdach strove more mightily from his prison-fortress, sending foes against the scattered and weak Men, but never in great numbers for fear of the Nine. But Man was plagued by dark beasts and evil malice and they saw the folly of their actions. The greatest of Men bonded together to stand against the foes of Dirikan, forming fortresses from which they could strike at the dark armies.

Around those fortresses grew villages and towns, the people who either sought to aid the defenders or those who desired to be in the shadow of their protection. Over time these bastions grew to become the Cities of Man, the first and last defenses against the movement of Dark and Ruin.

It was against these cities that Bverdach first turned his gaze, wishing to lay waste to Man. He did not see the strength of the cities, but rather there the gather of humanity.

The first true battles were fought on the gates of the Crystal City, [], where dark armies stood agains the united Man. For three days they clashed, ere the Foes of Dirikan emerged victorious, vanquishing the beasts of the North. More battles were fought and always Man held his own, standing against the Beasts of Dverak. Seeing Man’s strength, the Nine road north to lay siege to the Fortress of Darkness.

Not all Men entered the Cities, for only the weakest always needed shelter. Those who had strength endured outside, holding their own against the Tim-deŋik of Dverak. As the battles moved to the Cities and then vanished, those Outside the walls banded together, not for the protection of the weak, but for the elevation of the mighty. Man’s broken heart sought his own gain and the powerful were able to draw the masses to them under promised protection from an already vanquished foe.

The first King of Nations, Nekaliz I, built his kingdom Tagbalon on the people’s fears of the Tim-daŋik (know to them as the Tiŋik). The victories of the Cities was not so late that man had forgotten the terror of the North. Nekaliz promised security from further attacks, raising an army (and taxes to support the army) to push back any encroaching darkness.

Nekaliz was cunning, however, and had lived for many years in a City. He knew it was there the hammer fell, and it was there the North was stymied. His army was nor for the defense of his poeple (for the Cities were defense enough) but for the subjugation of his neighbors. Through his cunning Nekaliz convinced his new kingdom that security lay in numbers and that all the populous aught to be brought under his rule.

Out from Tagbalon did the hosts of nations ride and soon all loose Man was subject to Nekaliz I, king of Nations. His armies held all resistors in fear and soon none openly stood against him. It was then he turned his eyes to make himself a City, and the first stones of Dagbalon were laid. And Nekaliz saw it as the uniter of all people and so brought to the city woman of all tribes and brought them to the city-center, so they might know his people and all would become one by his actions.

Teali saw this offense against all and spoke to Talkeen and the Creator gave him right to drive a wedge against those who falsely drew themselves together. He drew from heaven a great rain and it fell upon Dagbalon like the blow of an axe, tearing the haughty assunder. Man was thrown to the far reaches of the world, their languages split and made new. Without Si-alwas never again could man be united. Hence Mireod came into his full, for many tongues now were spoken.