A cataclysm of fire and wind, a maelstrom of heat and flame dancing across the scorched earth. All was dead, all was blasted and wasted. And then, the clouds formed. They floated over this infernal wreckage, and within them, a foggy consciousness came into being. It was stretched, weak, and formless, but it was there. The clouds burst, spilling a new element into the scorched canyons and valleys of the new worlds, quenching the earth and cooling the still-smoldering ground. And with it, the foggy, stretched mind within the clouds became aware, became alive, simply BECAME.
Within these raging, hissing seas, this new being felt the world around him. At first, he felt pain, as if he were being boiled alive. But soon, the feeling stopped. He felt the cool caress of the new element, he felt the gentle waves wash over and through him. He decided that it felt good, and as such, this new thing WAS good. This existence was pleasurable, and this element as well. He felt his presence wherever this element was, no matter how little there was, or how far away. And yet, he did not feel stretched. He felt full, whole, complete. This new element, he did not name. He simply knew that it was Water.
As he reveled in this new discovery, two questions came to mind; “Who am I? What am I?” He examined himself, and he saw nothing. He decided that this was not good, and he decided to give himself form. He thought for a moment, and, unbidden, an image sprang to his mind. He saw it, and decided that he enjoyed it. He concentrated, focusing all of his will unto himself and this image. Without warning, a long, sinewy shape burst from the seas, glistening in the light, water falling around it. And so, the Serpent came to be. He looked down upon the seas… HIS seas, and he felt his presence and power wherever the Water was. And, without a second thought, he raised his head to the sky, and bellowed, “I AM PLUVOS, LORD OF WATER!” And so, his questions of who and what he was were answered.
Pluvos, happy with his new name and appearance, surveyed his domain. And yet, he was not satisfied. The seas were empty, cold, and desolate. Pluvos felt alone, he felt empty. And so, he decided to fill his seas with his children. With only a thought and a swish of his mighty tail, schools of fish darted into the sea. Coral formed along the ocean’s rocky bottom, and seaweed floated on its top. Vicious sharks and mighty whales sprang into existence across every ocean, and soon, the sea was filled and teeming with life. Happy with this creation, Pluvos spread his children to every body of water across the world, from the vast oceans, to the swift rivers, to even the humblest of ponds. His domain teemed with life, ever changing, ever shifting, and Pluvos was pleased. With his happiness, the seas calmed, and the tides fell into order. The waters became warm and still, and the harsh, shrieking winds and hurricanes died down. The waters of the worlds were at peace, just as Pluvos was.
He rested for a moment, enjoying the presence of the fish, the kelp, and all of his marine children. He felt himself everywhere, and yet, he sensed places where he was not, at least not as much as he should be. Confused, he rose from the sea, at the edge of his presence, and surveyed the region at the edge of his domain. He saw a great mass, rising from the water, and across it, great shapes rose to the skies, seemingly touching the heavens. Across its surface, all manners of things crawled, climbed, walked, and flew. Plants, similar to his kelp and seaweeds, covered its surface. Pluvos, amazed at this discovery, pondered for a moment, and addressed this new thing. "You are not I, and you are not part of my domain. What you are, I cannot say, and yet I know that you are not wicked in nature. You simply are. Myself, my water, runs through you, and yet, it does not cover you. I shall call you land, for the creatures may walk firmly upon you."
Pluvos stretched his will over the land, feeling himself coursing through the lakes and rivers, but he was nowhere else. This troubled him, for he saw that wherever he was not, these new creatures could not survive. The lands were barren and blasted, and all that lived there soon died. These creatures, they were not all that different from his own children. They played, they ate, the multiplied, they lived. He took pity on them, and decided to impart his gift of water to all of them, not just those clustered by the coast and the riverbanks. Pluvos raised his head, and roared into the skies. Vapors rose from his oceans and his rivers, swirling into the endless sky. Clouds formed, grew pregnant with water, and passed over the great continents. Thunder boomed and lightning crackled, and the clouds poured over the land, across the entire world. Green things sprang up, animals migrated, and the entire world suddenly boomed with life. And so, rain was made.
Pluvos roared again, and the water stopped. He poured his will into the seas, the rivers, and the lakes, and he decreed, "My gift has been imparted to you, children of the land. Honor and respect my gifts and sacrifices, and you shall never thirst nor hunger again. You may drink from my waters, and my children of the waves shall sustain you. Forsake me, and I shall forsake you. Be you haughty, and not appreciate my generosity, and you shall die of thirst and hunger, as was before." Pluvos sank back into the sea, content to observe his children of the water, and the new creatures, the children of the land, of which he had become so fond of.
