Once upon a time there was a great dessert known as the Grey Lands, there slumbered a woman known as Existence. From the depths of her dreams, entire universes sprung forth into being. Yet, her rest was often disturbed by the tumultuous cacophony of creation, the deafening roar of cosmic forces colliding.
Growing weary of the ceaseless noise, Existence wielded a pair of golden scissors to cut a piece of her own blanket and pajamas. With delicate stitches, she fashioned a series of plush bird-like creatures. Kissing each one tenderly, she buried them in the ashes below. From these depths arose the mighty phoenixes, cosmic beings whose feathers held the power to shape both matter and destiny.With swift determination, the phoenixes erased any reality that threatened to disturb their mistress's slumber, restoring peace to the cosmos for centuries. Yet, the silence could not endure, for space itself harbored a grudge against Existence's audacious intervention.
From the abyss of reality's lowest point emerged a dark cloud, spreading like a plague across creation. From this maelstrom emerged 0ltnir, the Father of Darkness, the first entity to withstand the power of the golden feathers.He unceremoniously extracted each phoenix, consigning them to a subterranean resting place in what appeared to be an enduring slumber. Mother Existence, however, harbored no discontent towards 0ltnir, as the profound silence of the cosmic void effectively muted the disturbances that accompanied her dreams. In a gesture of gratitude, she permitted the Nonefather to retain possession of the golden feathers, under the condition that they never be disturbed again. Subsequently, the goddess withdrew to her secluded sanctuary, far removed from the realm of the Grey Lands, which now fell under the stewardship of the Nonefather.
0ltnir devoted his days to contemplating the vast tapestry of universes woven by the goddess, captivated by the intricate narratives and diverse cultures contained within each. However, a sense of melancholy enveloped the Nonefather as he witnessed the inevitable conclusion of these worlds, knowing that their rich history and cultural heritage would fade into obscurity, forgotten by all. It was then that he conceived the notion of establishing a repository within the depths of the abyss, a sanctuary for preserving the collective dreams of existence. Thus, he christened this endeavor 'the Well of Dreams,' a testament to his commitment to immortalizing the legacy of the cosmos.
In order to safeguard the histories of these realms, the Nonefather employed the golden feathers, ensuring the preservation of their memories against any threat of harm or erasure. Yet, even as he meticulously chronicled the lore of one universe, two or even three others would inevitably approach their conclusion. Faced with the daunting task of documenting the vast expanse of existence, he realized the urgent need for assistance.Once returned to the end of the world AKA the grey dessert or grey lands, oltnir decapitated himself. Thanks to his formless nature it was easy for him to retake a smaller, weaker yet still coherent form that would help him to achieve his goal. He fragmented his body with a chisel and hammer onto billions of pieces. Planting each and every single one of then underground so one day they would emerge as humanoids devoid of free will who would help him document everything.
Upon returning to the desolate expanse known as the Grey Desert, or Grey Lands, 0ltnir undertook a radical transformation. With his formless essence, he effortlessly severed his own head, adopting a smaller, more malleable form conducive to his objectives. Employing a chisel and hammer, he meticulously fragmented his body into billions of pieces making use of both a chisel and a hammer, burying each fragment deep underground. His purpose? To cultivate these fragments into humanoid entities devoid of free will, intended to serve as meticulous scribes in the relentless pursuit of documenting all facets of existence back at the well of dreams. The Nonefather reemerged after millennia of dormancy, gradually regaining his former power, stature, and vitality.
He returned to the abyss, his home, and slept in order to regain his physical form.
Upon returning to the lands, he discovered the empty voids that were once teemed with life, yet no humans remained to inhabit them. "What in the cosmos?" he exclaimed in disbelief. Something had disrupted his foresight, but he could ill afford the luxury of dwelling on the matter. Time was of the essence.0ltnir found himself in need of yet another power source to enlist a new legion as guardians for his creation. Thus, he embarked on a monumental task: the separation of darkness from the void, leaving behind only radiant light. These luminous remnants served as conduits to other worlds, acting as fountains from which matter could flow.
However, it was imperative to carefully gauge the amount of energy extracted, as it exacted a heavy toll on the interconnected universes, spawning black holes that threatened to devour matter from neighboring realms. Undeterred, the Nonefather meticulously forged countless links, akin to celestial 'stars,' which coalesced into a protective barrier in the heavens. Harnessing this newfound power, dubbed 'starlight,' he fashioned the Celestials: beings whose formidable might rivaled even that of the mighty phoenixes.
His directives were swift: to safeguard the emerging generation of humans, who would once again slumber beneath the earth, from any conceivable threat. In return, the Celestials would be granted dominion over the Grey Lands, provided they executed their duty with excellence. And so, 0ltnir initiated the cycle anew. Yet, as millennia drifted by, the Celestials grew restless in their youth, weary of the interminable wait. To alleviate their boredom, they turned their attention inward, gazing upon the ethereal essence of their own souls, akin to 'stars.' Each Celestial beheld the myriad lives intertwined with their respective worlds, captivated by the vibrant tapestry of existence beyond the confines of the Grey Lands.
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They witnessed the timeless struggles and heroic endeavors that unfolded across countless realms, from the simplicity of mundane existence to the chaos of violent upheaval. Rather than succumbing to ennui, they found boundless fascination and inspiration in the kaleidoscope of worlds and realities before them.Filled with newfound inspiration, the Celestials found themselves consumed by curiosity about humanity's purpose. Could they, too, be destined for a life rich in culture and lore, inhabiting worlds teeming with vitality? Unable to contain their excitement, they turned to Alinar for answers.
However, the Lord of Light hesitated to divulge humanity's true purpose to his brethren, knowing that it would evoke pity for the humans and potentially incite rebellion against 0ltnir. Despite his desire to explain the significance of the library, he recognized the naivety of the Celestials' perspective and feared their objections to the greater plan. With a knowing chuckle, Alinar regarded the thought as the finest notion to have graced his brief existence.
'Ah, it is a matter of simplicity, my brethren,' he proclaimed. 'Humanity shall indeed inherit a realm of their own, a domain meticulously crafted by the Nonefather himself, where they shall dwell in splendor and prosperity.''As for us,' he continued, '0ltnir's desire is for us to fashion this sanctuary in the likeness of the myriad worlds you have beheld. It is a task of paramount importance, one that shall ensure our own destiny and the legacy of all existence.'The Celestials possessed their own cache of golden feathers bestowed by the Nonefather, though after millennia of peace, they believed such artifacts to be superfluous.
Their raw power alone sufficed to shape entire multiverses. With each law of physics inscribed to sculpt their world, a golden feather would extinguish, its light snuffed out like a candle, never to manifest again. Thus, reality bent to their whims, accommodating mortal existence.In due time, the majority of the Grey Lands transformed into a breathtaking garden, adorned with diverse biomes, majestic mountains, and landscapes unparalleled in beauty. However, the Celestials, in their fervor to shape their domain, underestimated the toll their actions would exact on the interconnected universes.
The unchecked consumption of starlight led to the catastrophic expansion of black holes, resulting in countless losses beyond the veil.Two hundred years after paradise was finished, one day the ground quaked beneath their feet as a crimson glow illuminated the horizon, emanating from the towering wall of stars. In unison, those who dwelled beyond the veil had breached the links, surging forth to invade the domain of the Celestials. Their arrival heralded a cacophony of screams, reverberating through the fabric of eternity, signaling their intent for vengeance.Thus began the Battle of Genesis, a clash of cosmic forces upon the nascent world.
It was a conflict destined to span a millennium, a testament to the enduring struggle between light and darkness, creation and destruction.None of the invaders shared a common tongue or culture; their sole unifying force was an unparalleled rage and thirst for vengeance. Their very beings were twisted and corrupted, adorned with crimson skin, horns, wings, and claws—a manifestation of their seething wrath. Their homelands converged, birthing a realm of fire and magma that would come to be known as Hell, a domain inhabited by the first archdemons.With each celestial slain, a star would be extinguished, diminishing the ranks of the chaotic invaders. However, the task of killing a celestial proved to be near impossible, requiring a staggering amount of cosmic power that bordered on wasteful extravagance.
In the end, it was not the actions of the Celestials that brought about the war's conclusion, but rather their deaths and the subsequent closure of the garden gates.In the end, only Alinar endured. His soul, the most potent star of them all, continued to shine with a radiant brilliance that defied the encroaching darkness. As the divine garden had been fashioned from starlight, or 'sunlight,' the existence of the sun remained vital to sustain its life force. Thus, it was imperative for the sun to persist, drawing upon the energy of Hell itself to maintain the world's fragile vitality.
He knelt at the heart of the garden, a sanctuary untouched by celestial influence known to be remmnants of the grey lands—save for the end of the world that surrounded the flat earth like a ring of grey. Alinar, moved by compassion for humanity, understood their fate as pawns in 0ltnir's grand design, bereft of free will or autonomy. The Lord of Light bestowed upon each slumbering human a fragment of starlight, granting them autonomy upon awakening, while simultaneously purging the darkness from their souls, rendering them mortal. With this transformative act, Alinar ascended to unprecedented heights of power, rivaling even the Nonefather himself.
The sun blazed with renewed intensity, and the realm expanded beyond all expectation.The Lord of Light recognized 0ltnir as a formidable threat to autonomy, though uncertainty lingered regarding his ability to execute an extermination. Thus, he roused the first five humans with his own soul: T0rje Guermat, Knir, Nilus, Luna, and Argus— all beloved children of twilight. He gave them instructions in case of his abscent return were he to die at the hands of the nonefather. Alinar soared towards the dark chasm of the abyss, prepared to confront his creator. However, as soon as the Nonefather stirred from his slumber, the weight of millennia flooded back into his consciousness. Despite his disappointment, he realized the losses were irreversible, and allowed Alinar to fragment him once more into countless pieces. The Lord of Light was astonished by 0ltnir's nonchalant demeanor, but resolved to embark on his descent towards the realm above—the newfound home of humanity.