Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Skarp Hedin" data-source="post: 713102" data-attributes="member: 1540">In the great forests of the world did the elves dwell, and in them they sang and danced, feasted and supped with their great Queen and her attendants.  No cities did they build, but instead gentle towns within the wood and by the brook.    In the mighty mountains of the world did the dwarves dwell, and in them they worked and toiled, built and farmed in service to their King and Mother and with the tutelary children.  Great cities did they build, and mighty works did they erect.    In the quiet hills of the world did the gnomes dwell, and in them they herded and farmed, prayed and thought in service to Oarain itself.  No cities did they build, but farms and small towns in the dells.    In the wide plains of the world did the hinfolk dwell, and in them they built and feasted, farmed and told tales by the firesides of their hearth gods.  Mighty cities did they build, and sprawling civilization grew of their toil.    For many long ages did Sarnau the Bull of Heaven gaze down on his folk, who dwelled in the forests and in the mountains, in the hills and in the plains.  Cities and towns did they build, and great temples to their god.  For ages in the world, the humans and the elves, the dwarves and the gnomes, and the hinfolk, dwelled in peace.    One day, Sarnau the Bull of Heaven strode upon the world of Oarain his wife, and found he a deer who lay dying.  To the deer he spoke:  "Deer of the world, tell me why you die."  The deer looked to the Bull and spoke to him:  "Bull of Heaven, the plague-spirit has slain me."  Confused, the Bull bade the deer to speak of the plague-spirit, who he was and what he did in the world.  Spoke the deer: " I am saddened that you know not of the plague-spirit, great Bull.  For how can you not?  The plague-spirit has slain your wife, and her body lies dying beneath us."    The deer's words proved true, and great tears flowed from the Bull, in his grief over the death of the Heavenly Cow.  Wrath grew in his heart, and he called out, seeking this plague-spirit.    It came to him, and to the Bull-God it spoke:  "Why do you call for me, Bull of Heaven?  For what reason do you seek me?"    Red with rage, the Bull spoke to it:  "Why have you slain the Heavenly Cow, my wife of these long ages?  Why do you walk through this world and bring death to all?"    To the Bull spoke the plague-spirit:  "Oh Bull-God, it is my nature and my path to bring death to the creatures of this world."    Wroth, spoke the Bull:  "Who are you?  From whence came you, and whither do you go?  Why should I not slay you yourself for your crime?"    Angrily responded the plague-spirit:  "I come, oh rutting Bull, from the dark before time.  When grew cold your seed on the stone, I was born.  I go on toward the death of all that lives, and slay me, oh Bull.  Slay me if you can.  Strong have I grown in the shadow of your neglect, and stronger still do I grow from the blood of the Heavenly Cow.  I spit at you, Bull of Heaven, and for ever do I hate you."    Bellowing his rage to the sky, the Bull of Heaven strode at the plague-spirit, but however much he strove, he could not overcome his enemy.  Neither could the plague-spirit harm the Bull-God, and after a time, the two fell apart.    As he could not harm the plague-spirit, Sarnau the Bull-God left the spirit and took himself back to Heaven, wherein he sat and brooded over the death of his wife, and about the plague-spirit.  He then set hatred in the hearts of his people for the plague-spirit, and he set hatred in the hearts of the other Good Folk of Oarain for the plague-spirit as well.  In the world, the plague-spirit gathered together the twisted beings that dwelled in the foul places of the world, the outcasts and despoilers, the ravenous and the cruel.  In their hearts he set hatred for Sarnau and for the Good Folk of Oarain and their gods.    For many long ages of the world, the Good Folk and the Foul Folk of Oarain strove against one another in the forests and in the mountains, in the hills and in the plains.  In the swamps and in the barrens did they strive, and on the seas and below the surface of the world.    Grim became the Bull-God of Oarain, and grimmer yet his people.  Besieged by the Foul Folk were they, and in dire need of succor.  Sarnau the Bull heard their pleas, and he brought forth of mud and soil, plant and water a new race of beings, which he called angels in the tongue of Men.  For he drew not for them of the mud and soil of Oarain, not of the plants and waters of Oarain, but instead from the mud and soil, plants and waters of the Heavenly Fields of the Bull-God, and blessed above all others in power and in grace were these angels of Heaven.    To them he spoke, and above them he set as lord Raguel, who should speak the will of the Bull to the peoples of Oarain.  To the angels spoke the Bull:  "You are my chosen agents on this world, and you shall work my will among the people of Oarain.  Ever shall you strive against the plague-spirit and forever shall you lead my armies against the Foul Folk of Oarain.  Go now, and give succor to my people."    And the angels went and dwelled among the Good Folk of Oarain, and lead them in their eternal strife against the Foul Folk of Oarain.</blockquote>

Verification