The First Book of Cullus
The Three having ventured through the
Universe that was their realm, did return to the World, which they had left in
the care of the Elven kind. The World, to both their pride and dismay, had
changed. A natural order had been established with their Custodians, the Elves,
at the pinnacle of it.
The Elven longevity, and deep
understanding of the magics of their Creators, placed them well above the
beasts and plants of the World, which they called Ealdcýðð. They took it upon
themselves to shape the World to suit their ends, and to carve the mountains
into homes for themselves.
Whilst the initiative shown by the Elves
did greatly please the Three, they wished to experience their World in a truer
sense. To this end, they took on material forms, and each wandered the World
alone, experiencing for the first time the pleasures of the physical, and the
limitations that were bound to it. Sanas was drawn to the oceans, and spoke
with the fish and corals, learning more of the world. Henas travelled the
forests and jungles and did take great pleasure in the abundance of life.
Goras, so driven by destruction, lifted a new mountain from the soils of the
North, causing the World to spew forth its molten blood, and formed with this
blood the greatest of mounts: Drael.
No matter where they went, however, the
Three did learn the same things. The Elves had become aloof, and shirked their
duties as Custodians, instead isolating themselves and caring only for their
own. The beasts brought grievances against the Custodians, and begged for some
new protectors that would better serve the World.
Upon leaving the World once more, the
Three did hatch a new plan. First, they selected the greatest spirits that had
formed throughout the world – those which were purest in their essence - and
uplifted them, creating the first Gods. These beings had no identities, being
simply forces of nature. With such greatly heightened strengths, and
consciousness, they did battle furiously amongst themselves and did lay waste
to many parts of the World. Appalled, the Three did quell these disputes, and
decided upon an even greater endeavour. To guide these new Gods, the Three did
sacrifice a small amount of their essences, fusing them into a new being –
unique amongst all their creations.
This Being they gave all the knowledge of
their creations, and power over all things living. However, having observed the
savageness the Lesser Gods, the Three agreed to give more of Henas’ essence –
the Essence of Preservation – to this new Being, in the hope that it would seek
to preserve the World and all within it. This Being then wandered the World
unbidden, learning of its charges, and watching the first Custodians. Then, the
Being returned to the Three and accepted its charge, and gave itself identity.
It named itself Cullus – using the tongue of the Elves to choose the name - and did declare that it would be as a Father
to the Gods, and to all the creations of the Three.
For a time, the Three observed Cullus and
his actions around the World. First, he spoke with all the beasts of the World,
listening to their grievances and resolving disputes. Then, he spoke with trees
and plants, and found them calm. Moving on, he consulted even the stones,
coming to understand their nature. At last he gathered together the Gods and
did give them order. He formed them into Three Orders, and did give them each
their duties within the World, bringing order from the chaos.
His first duties done, he did rest awhile,
observing the goings on of his new Order, and consulting often with both his
charges and the Three. Still, he felt an imbalance in the World, a lack of
respect for his Order, and an irreverence towards the Three that made him ill
at ease. He sought out the heart of this imbalance, and appeared before it. The
Elves, offended by Cullus’ creation, and arrogant beyond compare, had raised a
great temple to their leader - praying to him rather than to Cullus, the Gods,
or the Three.
In a fury that revealed the nature of
Cullus - The Storm – he did tear the temple asunder, shattering every stone and
grinding it to dust. The Elves he did strip of many of their gifts, so as to
punish them for their irreverence. He banished them from their cities, to
return only once they had proven willing to serve their original duties as
Custodians. He allowed them to retain their longevity, but did curb their
powers, bringing them into closer harmony with the World.
In terror and despair the Elven arrogance
fled, and they did kneel before Cullus. They begged him for reprieve,
forgiveness, and guidance. Merciful but stern, he did give them all three. As
Reprieve, he did grant them their own Gods, who answered only to him. As
Forgiveness, he did grant them pardon for their past crimes, allowing them a
new beginning. For Guidance, he granted them the gift to speak with the beasts
and trees as he did, so the World might better communicate its needs to the
Custodians. Grateful, the Elves departed their cities, and took up new homes
across the World.
Pleased, Cullus rested, planning his next
move as Father to the World. Relieved by the success of their Scion, the Three
returned once more to Aether and Void, to explore and experiment further. It
would take a cataclysm beyond the imagining of even Cullus to bring them once
more to the World.
That is all for this week. I hope you enjoyed the First Book of Cullus.
Until next week,
N N B Clarke.
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