This final installment of the Alesian mythology contains two stories. The first is a compressed version the story of Theorus, the first Emperor of the Alesians. His exploits are the subject of their own epic poem, similar to the Odyssey or the Aeneid. However, I have neither the time nor the ambition for such a massive undertaking. ;) The second story explains the origins of the Alesians' perpetual conflict with the orcs, and explains how the dwarven god Hepheran joined the Alesian pantheon.
---- One day Theorus presented himself before the throne of Jornos and said to his father, "I have been observing your race of men, and I am troubled by what I see. For while Orglok's orcs are all of one mind, mankind is much divided and fight among themselves. Though I do not believe that the Traitor's creation is greater than yours, mighty father, I fear that they may fall for lack of unity." "And what would you do, my son?" Jornos asked in reply. "For the hearts of men have grown stubborn and proud. And though your siblings give them much good counsel and aid, they still cling to the lawless habits they learned from the Exiles." "They need a leader, someone to unite them and show them the power of the ways they have forgotten. But such a one is not found among the host of mortal men." Theorus replied. "You know what I have commanded. If you would take this burden upon yourself, you must be emptied of your divinity and become as one of them. You will be subject to all of their afflictions and infirmities, and you will receive no more aid from us than we would grant to any other mortal. If any ask you whence you came, you will say, 'I am a wanderer from across the sea.' And you will never tell anyone what you are preparing them for. When you die, you must be judged by your brother as any other mortal, and your divinity will only be restored if your deeds in world of men merit it. Are you willing to do all of this?" "I am, Father." "Then so be it. Once you depart from these halls, you will be as an ordinary man, and you cannot return until you die your mortal death. Bid farewell to your mother and your siblings, and then depart." Theorus bowed low before his father, and then departed from the Starfire's presence. He bid farewell to his mother and each of his siblings in turn, for he knew not whether he would ever see them again. Ultros gave his brother armor and a sword such as mortal hands have never wrought, and Azaera gave him boots that would never wear out, as well as cloak which would protect him from the bitterest cold. Grenadias took Theorus into his gardens and said, "I will give you such assistance as I am able. I will take the fruit of yonder tree and plant it in the earth. When you see such a tree, you will know your wanderings have ended. You shall found a city there, and gather men to yourself. I will make the lands there fertile, and Yilvor will provide your people with wells that never fail. The Traitor has caused me great grief, and I desire greatly that his schemes fail." Theorus departed from the halls of the Celestial Palace with his gifts, and took on the form of a man. None know for sure where he first set foot in the mortal realms, though many villages and towns claim that he first appeared in their midst. But regardless of the truth of the matter, Theorus wandered far and wide and did many a might deed. In Jarvod, he met the great archmage Nevan, and the two became fast friends. And after years of wandering, the two heroes came upon the tree Grenadias had planted, in the lands of King Igvar. It had grown in the middle of a small village, and all were amazed, for no one had ever seen anything like this Celestial tree before. A servant of Orglok had cursed it and attempted to cut it down, but he was struck down dead the moment his axe encountered the tree's bark. The people were much afraid of this dreadful portent, and none dared to touch it. Thus it was that all were astonished when Theorus came upon this tree and ate of its fruit with impunity. All apprehended that he was a mighty hero, for he was strong of arm, quick of wit, and handsome of face. It is well known how Theorus met Igvar's daughter Dalantha in the woods, and how he was enamored of her beauty. Many have written of his rivalry with her suitor Astronius, and of the many labors he performed in the service of King Igvar before he consented to give Theorus his daughter's hand. Thus it was that Theorus inherited Igvar's throne when he died, and he founded the city of Charnath where he found the tree. It was he who first built the mighty granite walls, and restored order and piety to the gods in his domain. There grew many famous tales of his wars with the kings who bordered his lands, Belenor, savage Grallas, proud Rauvo, and Queen Carrade, who dared to take up arms and fight among the men on the field of battle. Theorus ruled for many long years, sustained by the fruit of the tree Grenadias planted, and expanded the lands he inherited from Igvar. And though all the world was in tumult, there was peace within his domain. After three centuries of rule, he finally died a very old man, and his grandson Irirun inherited his kingdom. Irirun took his grandfather's name, as have all of his successors. Theorus was spirited back to the shining halls of the Celestial Palace, and was brought before his brother Llarm for judgment. His divinity was restored, and there was much rejoicing in the halls of Jornos. ---- After many long centuries of breeding in seclusion, Orglok determined that he was ready to loose his orcs upon the unsuspecting world. Therefore, he led them forth from their hidden places in dark forests and caverns underground and commanded them to build ships to carry them across the ocean. The orcs had never seen the ocean before, for Orglok had wished to keep them out of Yilvor's reach, and they were much afraid of its crashing waves and seemingly endless expanse. Driven on by their god's inexorable demands, however, they did as they were bid and constructed a great fleet. When it was ready, the whole orcish host boarded these crude vessels, and was borne across the sea by Orglok's power. They crossed the sea veiled in a black cloud, through which none but gods could see. Yilvor and Azaera summoned mighty storms into the way of this fearsome armada, though more ships survived than were sunk. Now in those days, what is today called the Shadowlands was home to dwarves, who collected vast heaps of treasure in their underground halls. In the forests above the dwarven halls lived the elves, the longest lived of the mortal races.* It was the elves that first spied the ominous black cloud upon the sea, and they were vexed and perplexed by the mysterious portent. When the ships landed, the cloud was thrown back, and orcs poured forth from their ships like pus from a lanced boil, and the entire beach was a roiling mass of green. They brought forth their arms and their engines of war, and many strange and foul beasts from across the sea. They pulled apart their ships for lumber and constructed fortified camps, and sent scouts forth to explore. The elves were the first to do battle with the tuskers, and though they were skilled in arms, their numbers were small compared to this new foe. Many elves perished, and their great tree cities were burned. The great lords of the elves met in council and they agreed to depart from these lands and seek a new home across the sea. Thus resolved, they departed with such swiftness and secrecy that none know where they went. The dwarves had been content to sit in their halls at first, but were drawn forth to battle after the departure of the elves. The dwarves were greatly attached to their land, and their gold especially, and would not yield to these new invaders. Led on by the priests of their war god Hepheran, the dwarves slaughtered orcs in heaps, and made the earth reek with their black blood. However, no matter how many orcs they slew, it seemed that there were always more to take their place. Slowly, one by one, the great houses of the dwarves were exterminated by the orcs. The orcs took up residence in the depths of the old dwarven strongholds, and have since been impossible to root out entirely. They bred in secret, and more orcs always spilled forth from hidden holes like insects to continue their endless warfare. Hepheran was filled with hatred for Orglok, and was an implacable foe. His followers never surrendered, even down to the very last warrior. Even as the last of the dwarven hearths were extinguished, Hepheran would not admit defeat. He turned to the race of men, and revealed himself to the Terlindians. He taught them how to drill and to fight with discipline, and added to the knowledge of smithcraft Ultros had imparted to them. Jornos saw that Hepheran was making followers among the race of men, and sent emissaries to call the Eternal Warrior to the Celestial Palace. Hepheran came, and spoke at length of his hatred for Orglok, and his desire to see the Lord of Traitors humbled. But while Jornos saw that Hepheran had taught many useful things to the men of Terlind, he had overstepped himself by interfering with mankind without the Starfire's consent. Hepheran was stubborn and proud, and would not admit that he was in the wrong. Their first conversation came to nothing, and Hepheran departed from Jornos' presence. Hepheran might have left the Celestial Palace and had no more dealings with the Starfire if he had not heard a haunting melody drifting through the shining halls as he sought to return to his own domain. Its beauty far surpassed anything he had ever heard before, and stirred even his hardened warrior's heart. He sought the singer, and found Vashra in the Celestial Gardens. Hepheran was captivated by the daughter of Jornos, and his stubbornness was tempered by Vashra's wise counsel. Hepheran returned to Jornos and acknowledged that he had overstepped his proper bounds. He agreed to an alliance with Jornos on the condition that he be given Vashra as his wife. Jornos consented, and there was great celebration in the Celestial Palace to welcome Hepheran into the Starfire's Court. Hepheran appeared to his priest Leorg in a dream, and commanded him thusly, "Arise, faithful servant and take your cloak and staff. Go to Axin, King of the Terlindians, and say to him, 'A great darkness has fallen over his land, and the orcs spread like a plague from the south. Send ambassadors to Ganias, son of Seveig of the house of Theorus in Charnath and seek an alliance. For only together will this menace be turned back. Without the aid of Ganias you shall surely perish just as the dwarves. So says my master, the Eternal Warrior.' And if he does not believe you, I give you the gift of great magic from my bride. The King's son is sick, and you will heal him. Go forth now." Leorg rose from his bed at once and did as he commanded, and made haste to Axin's stronghold. When he arrived, he found that Axin's son Ataman was indeed gravely ill. Laying hands upon him and praying to Hepheran, Leorg restored the boy to health. All were amazed, for the servants of Hepheran had never wielded magic before. Leorg delivered his message to the King as he had been commanded, and Axin dispatched envoys to Charnath the following day. Thus it was that Alesia and Terlind were united, and the orcs suffered their first defeats. Note: * I'm aware the the myth doesn't explain the origins of the elves and dwarves, nor does it explain where their gods came from. That's an intentional inconsistency to make things interesting. ---- "Where have you ever seen or heard that a knight-errant was brought before a judge, no matter how many homicides he may have committed?" -- Don Quixote (Pt. 1, Ch. X) -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://www.dragonmyst.f2s.com/lists.php3
