Eolai origin myth

  Originally posted to the message boards by Trevor Rage.

This is the "myth" of Eolai creation.

The Fall of Ilafai and the Coming of the Eolai
As (very) briefly retold by Asher Reis; Eolai, Drifter and Historian

It all began with darkness, torment, and grief. None that walked the surface of the Grey World could justly be called life. Those which wandered were massive, twisted, and jagged creatures of shadow and hatred that survived only by means of consumption and destruction. These were the Ka'fael, ancient demons of unfathomed power, and Ilafai was their Lord.

So it was, for countless lives of gods, that nothing flourished, and life was a thing to be trampled. But if there is anything that Haelrahv has taught us, it is that life will flourish, and the darkest shroud of night must give way to a brilliant daylight. And so it is with this tale.

Ilafai's reign was supreme, having been sealed in an eternity of unquestioned power. His hand spread to every corner of the Grey World threatening to destroy any who struggle against Him. Lost are the names of those who threw themselves against the darkness and met bitter ends. Surely their power today would be measured against that of a god's, and yet by the thousands they could not shake the foundations of Ilafai.
How fitting that One should prove in the end to be the downfall of the Great Ilafai. Many are this man's names today, though his true name has been lost in the fog of lore. He is in Eolaish Ateon, which translates into one name better known by all races. Haelrahv.

Ateon emerged from the darkness of the East, with no fellows and no past ever recounted. Ateon ever-pursued Ilafai in the West, slaughtering His Ka'fael and driving back with sword and brilliant light, never before seen in the Grey World, the darkness that surrounded all. On his long journey to the West, Ateon gave gifts to the dying races he fell upon. Seeds he handed to them, bidding them be planted in the ashen soil, and to be looked to every day with hope in the heart.

His journey West was marked by these growing seedlings, which miraculously endured against all of the darkness and doubt which surrounded them. They both mocked Ilafai and foretold of his slow approaching doom. It was said that for the first time in Ilafai's existence, he began to feel fear and doubt. Ilafai, acting on these fears, gathered his many dark minions, riding atop the Ka'fael, and prepared to defend himself to the last.

Ateon stood before the great dark fortress of the West after many years of steady travel. The hopes of all that was to be good in Haelrahv stood with him against the countless Ka'fael that came thundering across the grey plains of the West. Ateon threw off his mortal trappings, revealing himself as the being of light that was his true form. As a mighty, brilliant beast Ateon met the oncoming Ka'fael with ferocity never seen since those dark days of the Grey World.

As he threw down the last of the Ka'fael, and the remaining demons fled to the dark places of the world, Ateon's strength was fully spent. With only his last foe, Ilafai before him, Ateon turned then back to the East and to the North. Ateon fled now, in mortal form, while Ilafai remained frightened and cautious in his fortress.

Not until Ateon reached the far shores of Esia in the northeast did Ilafai strike back, hard and swift with the realization of his enemy's lost powers. A cloud of soot and thunder clapped down upon Ateon , who did not have the strength or will to fight back the evil any longer. Ateon knew it was his time to return to the planet he had fought so hard to protect.

There in Esia, Ateon relinquished the last of his life, with his final seed in hand. That which he had kept through his entire journey unplanted. And as Ateon returned to the soil, there grew from that seed the mightiest of trees, known in lore as the Eofaelsh the Father Tree whose roots ran deeper than the seas, and whose leaves cut the clouds of the heavens. Light shone through the sky and at last the Grey World saw the pure light of the sun. The dew of the Eofaelsh's leaves became the stars, and it's roots Haelrahv's blood and bond. In death, Ateon gave to Haelrahv a new life and a new hope.

Yet Ilafai remained, banished by the new light deep under the world's crust clutching to the darkness that remained in fathomless caverns where even the roots of Eofaelsh could not penetrate. Ilafai's poisons remained, despite Ateon's great efforts. But Ateon had taken out insurance on the life of Ilafai, in the form of three miraculous fruits borne by the Father Tree Eofaelsh.

The surface of Haelrahv began to thrive anew as the Aiba races, renowned as great gods in our present day, went unchecked on the surface by Ilafai. Those who dared enter the deep places of the world, where Ilafai still dwelled, never returned and were turned instead into Ilafai's dark Ka'fael.

Three heroes were summoned to Eofaelsh after many thousands of years passed in what was now called the Green World. One, Ekoe the father of who are now the Jadda, the second Oshib the father of who are now the Alteri, and Aroai the third, the distant mother of the Eolai.

Guided to the great tree Eofaelsh by the stars and a whisper from unseen lips, each represented distinctly different races of the now thriving Aiba. Ekoe came from the cold north, and was strong and commanding. Oshib sailed from the south seas, very wise, calculating and intelligent was he. And Aroai from the east, as Ateon did. Her voice was melodious, and her face more beautiful than all the rest seen in the Green World.
On the night of their arrival beneath the great Eofaelsh tree, the three lay together in meditation. Each dreamed a dream of Ateon speaking to them, giving them guidance in how to defeat Ilafai at last and protect Haelrahv from the return of His dark power. For always did Ilafai long to control Haelrahv, and ever did he plot his revenge and regain his strength deep under the ground.

When the three awoke, bonded now in this fate, they saw above them sprouted and ripe the three fruits of Ateon. The fruits were plucked, and each consumed by Ekoe, Oshib, and Aroai. It is said that this was the final gift of Ateon. For the next thousand years, the Eofaelsh died and faded to a mere shadow of it's former glory, and Ateon lived on only in the trees and plants of Haelrahv, reminding us all of his heroism in everything that is green and lush.

Ekoe lead Oshib and Aroai to the West, where Ilafai first fled. In this land that was once so black and unyielding in the times of the Grey World, life still struggled to grow. The poisons of Ilafai remained, and penetrated thoroughly up through the rock and dirt. Bearing the new powers of their gifts of the Eofaelsh tree, they set to work to at last banish Ilafai from Haelrahv once and for all.

Ekoe plunged his hands into the earth with a guttural cry. With the purest strength of the most powerful of Aiba, he pulled the land in two that day, splitting a great chasm into which the seas poured. Ilafai was driven from his nest to the surface, whereupon his rage burned in a fury that blackened the skies and blocked all light. For that moment, the Grey World returned, and all felt the doom of the wrath of Ilafai once more unleashed.

But one stood against Ilafai in this moment of great fear. Oshib raised his hands to the heavens, and implored the skies to tear. Light burst suddenly then through the great clouds wrought of Ilafai's rage, and Ilafai was blinded and burned, and his minions evaporated. His cries of pain were heard in every corner of Haelrahv, but stunned only was He, and for only a brief time.

Aroai took up her duty then, clutching the twisted Ilafai close to her in an unrelenting grip. She cried out in pain, but endured as the touch of Ilafai burned her fair skin, and his scorn marred her flawless face. But Ilafai had been weakened, and had not the power to resist her. Aroai took to the heavens then, with her dragging Ilafai as far from Haelrahv as could be managed, ever embraced, both in pain. Haelrahv was at last rid of Ilafai.

And so they remain to this day in the skies of Haelrahv, though many are their names. The moon Ilafai shines blood red in the light of the sun as it burns His flesh. The greater blue moon Aroai drifts as well, keeping Ilafai ever in check, preventing His return to the world which remains just out of His reach. The world He longs, above all else, to return to and enslave once more.

So is life today, and so explains so much of our Eolai ways which are so often misunderstood. We are the protectors of Haelrahv. Not of it's people, or it's creatures, but something much grander. We protect Haelrahv the World, our father Ateon who now inhabits this World, and all that is lush and good. For it is Ateon that came from the world to protect us so long ago. We do not do this out of a sense of righteousness, but out of a sense of great duty. For though Ilafai remains banished, He is still very much alive, and the day will come when Aroai cracks in two, and Ilafai returns to Haelrahv to claim back what he lost so many lifetimes ago. It is we, the Eolai, who will stand against him when this day comes.