The Umanakalaia, Bible of Otkorion

by Nikk Effingham, Copyright © 1997 (based upon a remarkably huge amount of other sources, all copyright to various other authors)

Before Creation

Before Existence, there was only the Void. All was Silent. All was still. All was nothing. The Void was not empty, nor was it hollow, nor was it lifeless, it merely was not. The Void is not Chaos for it is not anything -- although Chaos is the road and path that leads there. The Void was Nothing, it was Zero. And after Zero must come One.

The One was the Creator, whom was known as the Visible God. The Creator was Law, was Existence, was the Cosmos. Yet the Creator was not consious, not like we are today. For all intents and purposes, the Visible God was still Nothing. But after One comes Two.

The second was the Devil. The Devil was what the Creator recognised as not being the Creator. All that was not Law was the Devil. All that is Wrong is the Devil. In an instant the Void ceased to be, or in actuality ceased to Not be, and was replaced by Chaos, a formless miasma of anti-life controlled by the Devil's power. In this form we know the Devil as Jotimam. After the Second must come the Third.

The Creator made a place for Us. This was the Third, the Knowable World, the Cosmos, named Glorantha by the collective decision of the Celestial Ring. Thus began the World.

Creation

The Creator knew All and set down the Laws of Existence. He created a Crucible to cradle his newborn creations, one half was the Sky, the second half was the Underworld. To Bind them he drove a Spike made of his own finger through them both and named it the Celestial Palace. He gave us language and set down our ancient Laws which were inscribed on the walls of the Celestial Palace. These laws became what were known as the 98 Runes, and are the basis of mystical Godtongue.

The Creator made a Being to guard His Creation, and this being was the Emperor. The Emperor was charged with the well being of all Creation. The Emperor had his own Ring of followers, the Celestial Ring, who numbered all of the primal spirits of the World.

The Celestial Ring was made up of the Primal Parts of Creation. All that was integral to the Cosmos existed on the Ring. Three beings remained without consiousness, refusing to devolve their almighty power by personalizing their own being. They are the runes of Infinity, Mastery and Magic that the Saints possess today. The other gods formed into two other Rings, the Council of Pairs (also known as the Ring of Power) and the Ring of Elementals (or the Primolt Ordeili).

Happy with his Creation, the Visible God turned his Eye elsewhere and began his eternal battle with Jotimam, preventing him from entering the Cosmos. The Visible God, departed from Creation, became the Invisible God.

By the choice of the Emperor the Cosmos was to follow the path of the Creator. In the halls of the Celestial Palace was built an enormous temple to worship the Creator in. It was the greatest temple ever seen. On the outskirts of the Palace were built the Kingdoms. They were the Kingdom of Logic, the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of Dragons, the Kindom of Life, the Kingdom of Fertility, the Underkingdoms and the Forgotten Kingdom. In these lived all who did not come directly from the Creator but instead came from the Emperor and the Ring.

This was the Time of Logic.

The Age of Logic

The Kingdom of Logic was a perfect realm that existed before the Age of Terror. Most of it now lies hidden, destroyed by Chaos in the Godtime. It was a land shaped by the Emperor himself, and given to Malkion and his family to rule. Very soon the Brithini had instigated rule over the Kingdom and everything looked, and was, perfect and untouched by the Devil's evil hand. The people lived by the Immutable Laws of Malkion, and were happy. This lasted until the people fell to the Sins of the Emperor and began to doubt the existence of the Creator himself. In doing so, Sin entered the Kingdom of Logic and the Cosmos began to fall.

The Troubles of Umathil

Umathil was a member of the Wizard Caste of the Kingdom of Logic. He was born to the people of Kathbad, and was strong and fertile. He mastered the arts of magic, and honoured the gods in doing so. He honoured the Emperor, and he honoured the Creator. He had found pleasure in mastering the magick ways, and when he was finished he asked the Priests and Lords what he must now do to honur the gods.
"Ai, son of Storm, you are truly a powerful Wizard. We have granted you the white robes you wear, the staff of rock you carry and the knife you use to eat your food. Now you must serve the people and bring us good weather."
And so Umathil brought good weather. He summoned the sylphs, and the Lignerdryke (Lightning spirits) and thundered rain and storm upon the people. He brought health and vitality to the land, and soon he had mastered the arts of Storm. He was even taught secrets by the secret spirits, those arcance servants of wind whom know more than any mortal will. The people would, upon seeing the storms roll across the sky, mutter his name, and honour his works by ensuring that Umathil the Wizard was given the great gifts from around the Kingdom. When Umathil was finished he went back to the priests,
"Ai, Storm Mage, your work is great."
"So," asked Umathil, "What should I now do to honour the gods?"
"The same Umathil. And you will continue to do the same."
"For how long?" asked the Wizard,
"Why, forever. That is the way things are done."
Umathil felt disgruntled but continued to summon the storms anyhow. He continued to bring good weather to the Kingdom of Logic.

Then, one day, the Beast came. The Beast was the first monster that the Kingdom had ever had to face, but they were well prepared. Every time it came they sent out the Warrior Caste to face it, and they were all well trained in the methods of defeating the Beast, for it was the only foe they hd ever had to dispatch. There were no other enemies of the Kingdom. Yet when Umathil saw it, he chose not to summon the Warrior Caste for he knew that they were sleeping and resting, after having fought the Beast earlier that day. So Umathil summoned a storm and cast it at the Beast. It writhed and twisted in the Hurricane, battled the Tornado and fought the air elementals. Eventually it could stand no more and returned to back where it had come from. Umathil was pleased, for he had saved the Warrior Caste the trouble.

Yet when his Lords and Priests found out they were angry and summoned him before them. They asked why he had not summoned the Warriors and he told them. They grew even more angry, "Do you consider yourself a Warrior?" they asked,
"No, my Lord." answered Umathil,
"If you are not a warrior then you must not fight."
"Why must I not fight."
"Because that is the way things are done."
"Then may I become a Warrior?" asked Umathil, hopeful for he was growing tired of calling the Storms everyday and sought to master another art. Yet this suggestion angered the Priests even more, and they muttered words of Exile to the Lords. The Lords consulted Malkion and his Laws, and decided not to exile Umathil, for he had served them well. They told him he could not become a Warrior, nor may he fight the Beast or, for that matter, anything. Umathil left, feeling disgruntled.

Another day, Umathil saw that his Storms, though they stretched far, were not helping the Far-Away Fields. He asked why nothing would grow in the Far-Away Fields. A Farmer told him that the land was barren and infertile. Umathil thought this strange that no-one would use this land and asked why nothing had been done about it, he was answered that the land was barren because it merely was. Umathil decided to remedy this, for barren land was useless in his eyes. When it came to water the land with his rain again, he summoned the storms as normal. Then he used some secret magic, and summoned an air spirit. He commanded it to take one ounce of fertile soil from every field in the land and to place it in the Far-Away Fields, for one ounce would not matter to a field. He then continued on with his buisness.

He continued this on for seven weeks, every day taking one ounce of soil from all the fields in the Kingdom and placing them in the barren Kingdom. Eventually, the Far-Away Fields were full of fertile, healthy soil and the land began to prosper. Umathil was happy, for he had benefitted the Kingdom.

Yet when the Lords and Priests found out they were angry. They summoned him before them and asked why he had done it. He told them he had thought it a waste of land.
"A waste of land? It is not a Wizard's position to tend to the land."
"Why not?" asked Umathil,
"Because that is the way of things." they answered,
"Then may I become a Farmer?" he asked, not being content with just being a Wizard he wished to become more. Again the Priests talked of Exile and worse, but the Lords knew that Umathil would follow their commands and orders, and merely said, "No, you must remain a Wizard. And you must not fight the Beast, tend to the Land or do any tasks of the Farmer or Warrior caste."
Umathil left back to his duties, feeling disgruntled.

One day the Not-Beast came. Umathil watched it from a distance and thought about using his magic to stop it, but then remembered what the Lords had said and so summoned the Warriors. They came riding in on their Holy Steeds, and hurled their lances at it and fired their bows, and swung their bloodied swords. Yet, they had never fought the Not-Beast and knew not how to battle it. They were forced back, and the Not-Beast charged into the Kingdom, and levelled one quarter of the fields. Umathil thought of using his magic to breath life back into the fields, but remembered what the Lords said and so merely told the Farmers what had happened. They were so unhappy they cried for the fields were their lives.

The next day the Not-Beast came again, and again the Warriors were called, battled, lost and forced back. Again, one quarter of the fields were lost and the farmers wept.

Umathil grew worried. The next day the Not-Beast came again, and again the Warriors were called, battled, lost and forced back. Again, one quarter of the fields were lost and the farmers wept, this time they did not sleep for crying.

Umathil, seeing the pain and misery, went to the Lords. He said, "Lord, I know you have ordered me not to interfere in the affairs of the Warriors or Farmers, but surely this is different. I can defeat the Not-Beast, and I can bring life back to the lands."
The Lords said "No. " and returned to their duties.
"Then I demand to be let to defeat the Not-Beast and I demand to bring life to the fields. If you will not save Our Kingdom, then I shall."
Horrified, the Priests and Lords turned to him, "Do you think you are a Lord?" They asked, "Do you think you can order us?"
"No." answered Umathil, "I am not a Lord." the Lords sighed, and the Priests called for Exile for his impudence. "May I become a Lord?" asked Umathil.
"No."
"Why?" he asked,
"Because that is the way of things."
Umathil thought about this, then said, "Then that way is wrong. Will you change the way things are done?"
"No." answered the Lords, this time considering his Exile.
"Then I shall leave your Kingdom. I shall find a place of my own, where the Way of things can change, where men can be Farmers, Warriors, Wizards or Lords as they desire and where we work together and not apart."
Umathil gathered all he had, and brought his family, friends and companions about himself and told them he was going. Many volunteered to follow him, and he said this was good. So Umathil and his followers left the Kingdom of Logic. As they did the Not-Beast came. Pausing for an instant, Umathil summoned a storm and cast it into the beast. The Not-Beast was filled with water and thunder, and was bloated. It felt no desire to feed upon the fields and lands of the people, and so left. Everytime it returned the storm would return anew in it's belly and it would leave again, never even reaching the borders of the land. As Umathil and his followers left the border of the Kingdom, Umathil saw the weeping farmers. He summoned a storm, and cast it across the lands to another Kingdom and took one field from every Kingdom in the Cosmos, and brought it to the people of his homeland. He brought life and fertility back to the land, and the Farmers stopped weeping. They went to thank Umathil, but were commanded otherwise by the Priests and Lords. Umathil cared little for the thanks, content that he had merely helped other people. Umathil never returned to the Kingdom of Logic.

The Kingdom of Umathil

Umathil and his followers found a place where no Kingdom was, or ever had been. Umathil claimed it as his own. He erected for gates and between the gates placed a Wall of Storm that raged and thundered, keeping all others outside of his land. Yet the land was barren. Umathil's followers cried, seeing that they had come so far to a land so devoid of life and hope. Yet Umathil was not worried for he was knew Farmer secrets. He cast his magic and brough the land to life, and tended it, and cared for it. He then named His grandson, Barntar, as it's headman.

When the people saw the life and food, they were happy and celebrated. Yet as they celebrated they saw that monsters leered at them through the invisible walls of the Kingdom. Then the monsters learnt they could burrow under, or fly over, or tunnel through, or forget about the wall that stood in their way and enter the new Kingdom to terrorise it. Umathil was not worried, however, and summoned his son Humakt, who knew the ways of the sword from Horal of the Kingdom of Logic, the greatest warrior in the land. Humakt defeated the monsters and the land was happy again.

Yet the people were alone, for they could not see the Gods. So Umathil appointed his son Kolat as the Wizard of the Land, and Kolat brought the gods forth. He was the greatest magician in the land, and the people were happy again.

The Kingdom grew prosperous and wealthy, it's people were happy and well fed. Soon children ran the streets and cities were erected. Umathil went to the Perfect Palace and asked to see the Emperor. The Emperor agreed, for he had heard of this rebellious mortal, who had managed to escape Justice. Umathil bowed and grovelled, for the Emperor was greatest God, next to the Creator, and Umathil had long worshipped them all. Umathil asked that his Kingdom might be numbered among all others, and that he be allowed to stand in the Court of Perfect Palace as an equal. The Emperor told him that this was not the way things were done, and that his Kingdom was meant not for him, but for the Dragons, and that they were growing angry at Umathil for taking their land. The Emperor said that the Kingdom must be given back, or else be destroyed.

Umathil thought about this for a long time, and thought about the might of the Dragons and of his Gods. Umathil told the Gods they were wrong. This shocked the gods, for they had never been wrong before and no-one had ever even implied they were. The gods decided that it was best for all if Umathil was not allowed back to his people, for his people were a violent, unruly group in their eyes who, without a strong leader like Umathil, would eventually fall apart and the Kingdom would crumble. Then the Dragons could have it. Yet when they went to get Umathil he resisted. This shocked them even more, and they told him that He was in the wrong, and not they. When he argued they were horrified. A mortal telling a god what to do was obscene, a blasphemy. They could never get Umathil, but Umathil could never leave the Perfect Palace, and to this day he runs in circles, being chased by the Emperor's guardians and that is why the wind spirals the way it does. Umathil nows that this meant he would have to leave his Kingdom, but he knew that this was the way things had to be done.

With no leader, the people grew worried and wept. They grew scared and some talked of returning to the Kingdom of Logic, seeking penance and letting the Dragons have the land. Then came forth Lhankor Mhy. He was Umathil's Law, what he said was always the Law of the land and Umathil had always agreed with his judgement. Lhankor Mhy said that the people should find a new Lord. They agreed. The contenders were Urox, Humakt, Vadrus, Kolat, Orlanth, Barntar, Eurmal, Gargarth and Valind.

Urox was refused for he was too violent.
Humakt was accepted, but later turned down the position, saying that he could not be both Warrior and Lord.
Vadrus was refused for he did not know the Laws of the land, except those he broke.
Kolat was refused for he could not be seen, and a Lord who could not be seen or heard was no ues to the people of the Kingdom.
Barntar was refused for the people would not let their greatest Farmer leave his position. Barntar did not argue, for he enjoyed farming and being King would stop him growing.
Gargarth was out hunting when it came to judge the contestants and so was refused. A king who was never there was no use. Gargarth has argued against this ruling ever since, and so is known as a Bad God.
Valind was refused for living too far away, as it was decided only members of the Kingdom should have a chance to rule.
Eurmal won for a while, but when he became King he ordered the people to walk on their hands, wear carrots instead of clothes and talk backwards. They rebelled when they discovered they had been tricked into accepting him as their ruler and tried to kill him, but Eurmal laughed so much that they were forced to see the joke themselves and so let him go.
Orlanth won and became King, for he was Just, Honourable, Pious, Noble, Courageous, Powerful, Friendly, Intelligent and was his father's son in every way. He gladly took the position, and ruled as King. He kept the Kingdom safe from all troubles for a long time to come.

Orlanth's Marriage

Umathil had a wife, and knew the joys and neccessity of husbandry and childhood. He chose that none of his sons should be without this either. Vadrus was too unruly, and defied his father many times, raping those outside of Umathil's Kingdom and taking wives for a short length of time before discarding them. Urox married his sister, who was later slain like all his family. Kolat married no-one, using divine powers of purity to give birth to his children. Humakt and the Brother-That-Later-Went-Mad both married. Orlanth, being Umathil's favourite child, was given a choice of six brides. The first three were all from the tribe, and Orlanth had already had them as lovers and found them wanting. The fourth was not born yet. The fifth was attractive, but held no substance -- she offered Orlanth's people nothing and so offered Orlanth nothing. The last was too violent, too much like Orlanth, and though he found her an intresting bed partner and sparring partner she was not suitable to become his wife.

Bereft of all options, Orlanth tried to find his own partner and in doing so discovered the secret seventh choice that Umathil had selected without telling his son. This was Ralia, she was the greatest woman in the land, an Earth Spirit of wonderous beauty whose hair flowing black hair stretched around her body serving as clothes instead of the material clothing we mortals now wear. She could bring bounty and fertility to the people, and at her very sight Orlanth knew he could no more love another woman than he could kill himself.

As a gift, Orlanth gave her his Sandals. Later, when the Age of Terror came the Sandals were stolen and had to be recovered by Orlanth from Hell. These Sandals were a wedding gift.

The wedding was one of the largest the Kingdom had ever seen, each brother donating his own personal time and effort to ensuring it was spectacular. The dryads and naiads and earth spirits danced with vermicible lucidity with the air spirits, Umathili and Storm Priests. The music was so loud and joyful that it can still be heard at the edges of the world. At the climax, Orlanth and Ralia joined in holy matrimony, and later when both were Sainted the Creator Himself gave His blessings.

Orlanth and the Dragons

The dragons were not happy that their Kingdom had been taken from them. For many years they had slept in the East for they came directly from the bosom of the Creator, and had not been created like mortal men. Dragons are fearsome terrible beasts that slumber for millenia and whose bodies trail thousands of miles long. When they had first come to the world they took for themselves a Kingdom, and chose another to have later for their own purposes. Umathil's New Kingdom lay in such a place.

When the Dragons came, it was like Thunder caving in upon itself. The sound was like a beating of a thousand thousand war drums. The wind was like a hurricane from Kolat himself. The dragons fought long and hard, breathing fire and acid down upon the Kingdom, scarring a thousand thousand with hideous blemishes and wounds. When the surviving children and women reached Orlanth they wept and wept, telling him of their plight and that their husbands and sons were still fighting the hopeless battle. Orlanth summoned his brother Humakt, called forth the House of Bemurok, and led his own Knights and Battle Companions to meet the new foe. The dragons could not face this combined might, for their breath was smothered by magic, their acid was washed away by rain and their skins were smited by iron. They fled.

The people were victorious, but Orlanth would not let them feel so for he spoke of their return, of the dragon's wrath. He ordered the building of a hundred forts to watch for them. Twice they returned, twice they were beaten back, but never were they slain or injured beyond hope.

The dragons, meanwhile, were growing disgruntled. They knew they could not win. They asked each other what to do. They slithered and rasped for day after day until they formulated a plan. They sent Aroka, the enemy Blue Dragon, to find Rain and devour it. In doing the people of the Kingdom would be forced to leave, as they would have only drought and famine to comfort them. Sure enough, Aroka silently managed to sneak into the Kingdom, and he found Heler, Lord of Rain, and in one bite devoured him whole. Aroka then slithered back home.

Next day, Orlanth brought forth the Staff of Umathil and commanded forth the storm clouds to burst open and unleash the life giving water to his people. When it did not come, and only thunder and lightning wrought his kingdom, frightening livestock and scaring young children, Orlanth grew suspicious. He councilled himself with the Ivory Tower and found Aroka's scheme. He admired the ingenuity of the Dragon Beasts, but did not for an instant believe they had suceeded.

He called upon the Creator and ate magic bread, he coated his weapons with the water of Creation and felt content in their speed. Humakt came to him and pleaded to let him go in his place, but Humakt was refused, although Orlanth took him along as his sword and Babeester Gor as his Axe. He found the High and Low Winds from those who did not rightfully own them, and then marched forth to find Aroka.

The battle was long and ardious, blood was spilt and burnt a valley into the ground we know as Arokian Shek (in Lanksti lands) but eventually Orlanth marched to the beasts jaws and tore it asunder. He took it's carcass as a prize, it's teeth as a trophey and Heler as his Boon Companion. The Dragons never bothered the Kingdom again, until the next coming of the Devil in the form of Gbaji.

The Discovery of Death

Humakt was a valiant, pious soul from the Kingdom of Umathil. He was half brother to Orlanth, and was the son of Umathil and Kareenvekgos, whom he later forgot about when Chaos stole his memory. Humakt was visited one day by an angel of the Creator, whom warned him of the coming of dark days when his hrythgar would not protect him and would be lost, when his wife would die, when the storms would fall upon the land. The Angel showed him the Godswar. Humakt was stricken by a fear he had never felt before, that all he had should be destroyed.

The angel told him of a way to stop the Evil Emperor of Devouring the Cosmos in His own Sin. The Angel led Humakt through the winding roads of the Cosmos and past a Guardian whom the Emperor had placed to stop intruders from discovering the one power that could end his reign. Behind the Guardian lay the Sword Death, a gift from the Creator to Umathil through Humakt. The Angel had Humakt pledge himself to forever protect the true secrets of Death from those who sought only to use them for Evil and Sin, and to pledge himself to the downfall of the Devil's Servants. Here the Creator granted the revelation of Solace, the secret hidden place where even the Devil cannot reach you.

When Humakt returned the Angel returned to the Creator, and Humakt became the First Angel touched by the Invisible God Himself. Humakt pledged his service to Orlanth, his brother, and became known as the Angel of Death a servant of Orlanth and the Creator.

The Emperor's Magic Companions

The Emperor had his own Magic Companions. They were his aides and allies through the hard times, but each turned to corruption and fell to Sin. They were responsible for the Summoning of Jotimam.
They were (in turn):

RAGNAGTHIL THE SORCEROR: Evil, impure and lustful he found sex to not be a gift of life but as a curse to be bestowed upon unwilling women (and men, and trees, and animals...). He was the Court Wizard for the Emperor's People, and led the magic enchantments to summon the Devil
THEODREM BROO-MOTHER: Ragnagthil's Wife. She was a beautiful concubine of the Emperor before his evil was impregnated into her and the children she had were the Broo, the Emperor's main forces in his Campaign against Existence.
URAIN: Ragnagthil's Son who commanded the forces of Life and, later, Death. When his necromancy became too much he fell to Sin and eventually, to preserve himself in the Darkness, slew himself and shattered his own soul so that his necromantic magic might preserve him forever. Orlanth fought him off whilst on the Lightbringer's Quest.
MAKHOLOT: A servant of Theodrem. Weaker than weak, he was tapped into servitude and was the sacrifice to placate the Devil and summon him forth.
JRAKTAL: The Master of the Soul Magic. He managed to develop the spell that formed the link to the Void outside, and this spell is known today in a lesser form as Tap. Tapping is Chaotic!! It destroys the Soul by sending it to Chaos, and what is lost may never return. Jraktal left the Companions after the summoning of the Devil, but not before pledging himself to Chaos.
MALLIA THE HARBRINGER OF DISEASE: At first she was one of the Wizard Caste healers. She eventually fell to Ragnagthil's Sin and her powers of Healing turned to those of Death, now she is seen everywhere, in every Dark hole, in every plague. Mallia was defeated by Humakt and Arroin in Godtime.
ZZABUR: The people of the Mortal Lands sent a proxy to become the First Mortal Wizard. Taught by the Ring himself, Zzabur is reknowned as the greatest ever Wizard. He agreed to help summon the Devil, but had to sacrifice his people's Morals and Virtues to suceed. In doing so the amoral Brithini were made. When Zzabur saw the Devil, he knew what he had done was wrong. Except without morals he would not make recompense, and instead left the Companions intent on distancing himself from the evil acts he had committed. He sealed himself and his people in ancient Brithos and thus began the start of the Silence of the Brithni.

The Fall of the Emperor

That was the Age of Logic. After it, the world would never be the same again for it would be touched by the Devil.

The Gods grew conceited with themselves, believeing that they had surpassed the Creator for they had Created more than He had. Hubris filled their souls. First they claimed that the Creator did not exist. At first the People rebelled and refused to believe it, but the Separator, Master of War, was ordered to imprison a thousand thousand of each of the Kingdoms until they accepted what had been said. Eventually the People conceded. Thus was created Sin.

Then the Ring replaced themselves as the Creators of the Cosmos with the Emperor being the First. They forced the people to worship them. Thus was Idoltry made.

The Celestial Palace was perverted. The mystical depictions of the Creator as He had been were replaced with the images of False Gods. The chambers and vestibules of the temple were despoiled by their very makers, and the corridors became home to the evil worshippers of the Celestial Ring. The False Gods became the Apostles of Jotimam and with them came the sins of Pride, Doubt and Hubris.

Seeing this, the children of Umathil called their allies. The Emperor had ceased to be Just and the Umathili cried out in unison for Justice. Orlanth called his family to Order and they each decided to aid the other in destroying the evil reign that had begun. Humakt pledged himself and his new found power to Orlanth and became his Sword. Orlanth was grateful. They marched upon the Palace.

At the Foot of the Palace they found the Master of War. They charged him, thrice. The first charge failed as they discovered that the Master of War was actually not there. The second failed as they discovered the Master of War was not there yet. The third failed as they were battled back from the Master of War. Humakt came to his godfather, and pleaded with him to let him pass. The Master of War pledged himself to fight on their side, for their side was the side of Justice. This, however, led to the Master of War's downfall for he also had to fight for the Just Emperor, even though he was evil and sinful. When the Master of War found himself fighting himself, he left the Cosmos in the hope that he might resolve his inner rebellion. Ever since has War been a self-destructive act.

Inside the Palace, they past the Luxite Guardians when Vadrus cast forth the Angry Storm. The Spirits of the Palace, gifts from the Creator, were defeated by Kolat who gave them as a present to his wife later on. As the defenses fell, the Emperor went to meet them. At the Alabaster Throne, the pinnacle of the Celestial Palace, Orlanth and his Ring met the Emperor.

The Emperor challenged him to a Contest of Music. He sent out the hollowering sounds of beauty that were heard when the Palace had been first formed. Orlanth, not being present for such an audacious act, was unable to defeat him in this Contest.

In the Contest of Dance, the Emperor swam with the ease of motion that existed only when the Creator had first caused the Cosmos to form. As the Universe had danced together in unison, the Emperor's body danced and dived in harmony. Orlanth danced a war dance, but it was not good enough.

In the Third Contest, the Emperor's smile of glee turned to a sneer of contempt. He cast forth the Challenge of Combat in the hope of dismembering Orlanth. The Emperor threw the Whip of Cleansing Fire at Orlanth, which ensnared him. The flames were formed of the primaveal matter that made Creation, and it burned away Orlanth's inferior armour and skin. Orlanth sent the Angel of Death. Confronted by an apostle of the Creator himself, the Emperor knew he might lose. He called for his Magic Companions and ordered them to cast sinful magic. Assailed by such power, the Angel called upon Vadrus and Kolat, who both appeared at his side and used their power to beat back the spells. Then the Magic Companions were ordered to call upon the Ancient Secrets of the Comos. When they threw this magic at the warriors, they called upon the Ancient Knowledge of Lhankor Mhy, who knew nearly everything. Lhankor Mhy knew the secrets to stop the magic and used them. Finally, the Emperor ordered them to call upon something that no-one here knew about. The Magic Companions, hesitant at first, summoned Chaos, the only thing no-one knew about. Thus was the Devil allowed in Glorantha.

They summoned forth Jotimam who took Form and Consiousness as Wakboth the Devil, an abomination that they all beheld. His shadow was Kajaboor, the Soul Eater, wherever he travelled the Soul Eater followed. But Wakboth was no tool of the Emperor, and instead attacked his father Ragnagthil in a murderous rage. Upon seeing this monstrosity he was assialed by the combined might of the Air Brothers, but one was driven mad by the effort. The Emperor, stunned at his failure, fell to the Angel of Death. He, and a million followers, descended to the Underworld and into Hell. Those souls who followed him, those souls who, in Godtime, could not see the Sinful ways of the Emperor were entrapped in Hell. They later escaped, but were deformed images of what they once were, they were Trolls. They continue the Emperor's Work on the Surface World, while many more of their kind serve the Emperor in Hell.

The Cosmos had no Figurehead, no Polipoteninary, and fell to it's own Sin. The waves crashed at the base of the Palace and the Storms raged. Fire fell from the sky, and clouds covered the stars, the Dark Times had begun. The waves destroyed the base of the Palace, and the storms ruined the top. The Palace crumbled into the oceans and were swept down the hole that was left into the Void. From the Void, from the hole made by Man's own Sin, came more Chaos monsters, all servants of Wakboth. Orlanth tried to assume rulership of the Universe and bring it to righteousness once more. But Orlanth had not been instilled by the Creator as Ruler of the World, and so failed. No being alive could control the Cosmos and so it caved in on it's own Sin and Pain.

The Creation of False Men, or Ogres

All men who followed the Emperor's creed and worshipped the False Gods, using the evil magic, fell from grace. While their bodies were empowered, their souls were corrupted. They took to feeling empty and hollow, and fill this emptiness they chose to devour other men and women. Lacking the exuberant joy of creation, these False Men tried to steal it from others. They failed, as they always have done since. Their Lord became a follower of Wakboth, and his inner evil turned his pure form into that a ravening evil chaotic creature. The False Men worshipped this evil Lord and pretended that his form was better and more likeable than others. We now call these False Men Ogres and they carry the taint of the Emperor upon them, so trust the St. Uroxi to root them out.

The Spread of Death

Death was the Creator's gift to Humakt, and Humakt alone. Although he served Orlanth even he did not believe the power to be his own for Death was a carnal secret only the Angel of Death could dare to keep safe. He placed it in the Armoury in his Stead, but worried every night he slept that the Trickster, or some other such vagabond, would come to steal it like they had done other weapons he owned. Eventually he realized what he must do. He went to the Mostali and took from them four castles of iron which he smelted with his Forge. He made a case thicker than a mountain in which he could store the weapon, then entreated the Spirits of Death to guard it. The Spirits brought him the Last Beast of Humakt, and the Beast of Four Swords which was later slain by a Walker of the Secret Chaos. Then he asked Eurmal to hide the mountain for him. It was hidden so well that even Eurmal cannot find it again.

Yet, even the hidden can be found. The Emperor's Men, those lieutenants, generals, priests and sycophants who had not followed the Emperor to Hell, planned to steal it for their dead master to use (or, some say, for themselves to use without regard to their Master). They managed to sneak in when Humakt was away in the Destruction of Umathil's Kingdom by the Devil, they Last Beast slew one third of them, the Beast of Four Swords slew another third and the last third squabbled over ownership of the sword and so shattered it into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces where each part of Primal Death but were not as powerful. The Emperor's Men slipped away, spreading like a cancer through the Cosmos, many fighting themselves to get another piece of the Mystic Blade.

Yet the Emperor's Men where weak, fragile creatures that, due to their own Sin, could not face the people of the World without the protecting embrace of the Emperor. They were assaulted, ambushed, assassinated, immolated, fleeced or captured and the people of the Kingdoms each managed to get their own portions of the Sword which they, in turn, split into many more pieces and passed from hand to hand until Death was everywhere, and with everyone. The Creator's Gift had been destroyed and dissolved by His own Creations. Like the Cosmos he created, His precious gift had been abused by the unworthy.

Humakt, upon discovering the loss, made an oath to recover it and asked permission of his brother, Orlanth, to go forth and find it. Orlanth, knowing that loosing his best Knight would result in almost certain destruction of his Kingdom, gave Humakt one day of seven to search for what he had lost. Humakt always left at dawn, never slept, and returned at dusk no matter how far he had gone, or what he had done.

Malkion (and how he joined Umathil)

Malkion was a son of Umathil and a Sea Spirit from the Shores, her name was Aerlit. He was Lawgiver of the Kingdom of Logic, and his students included the esteemed Lhankor Mhy, as well as many other famous scholars. He was empowered by the Emperor to law down the Immutable Laws. The Laws were perfect, and flawless -- at that time, for the Laws precluded Change, and irrevocable force at the best of times, and a deadly force at the worst.

When the Cosmos was shattered by the Angel of Death, the Laws ceased to work. The Ice Demons of the Devil came upon the Kingdom of Logic, shattering it's peace and serenity. Malkion sought for aid, and went to the Law Plinth that lay at the center of the Kingdom of Logic. He called first for the aid of the Emperor, to which he received no answer, and then on the Creator. His answer was Humakt, the First Angel of the Creator. He came to Malkion and gave him the knowledge to combat the evils of the world. Humakt taught Malkion the new ways, and Malkion in turn tried to teach the new ways to his people.

Yet according to his own Immutable Laws, Malkion was a heretic and was cast out from the Kingdom. He left with a stick, a knapsack and two apples (a gift from his wife who remained) but managed to brave the waters between Brithos and Seshnela and arrived in the Kingdom of Umathil. Along the way he met three trials, the first was of Following. He had to protect and lead those who had chosen to follow him. The second was the trial of Living, and so he built Malkonwal. The last was Seeing, in which he saw the true light and in doing so became the First Saint. Orlanth spoke to Malkion at great length and the Saint was inducted into his Iron Ring as the Magic Companion. Malkion became a powerful and loyal follower of the Storm Lords.

The Diaspora

Umathil's Kingdom was great and harmonious. It was wonderful, and bountiful and numbered seven cities of stone and seven cities of iron, and seven hidden cities of air. When Orlanth and his brothers returned from facing the Emperor the world was dark, and the people were hiding in their houses. Only the brave and foolhardy stood in the open, defending the people from the horrors of the Darkness. They were glad to see the return of their leaders and greeted them at the South Gate. The Brothers assmebled in the Great Hall of the Greatest City and here told all the Kingdom the story of what had happened. In the midst of a wailing, dying world, the people awed themselves at the bravery of Orlanth and his kin and commended him on his actions.

Orlanth, filled with happiness and courage that his people stood with him, told them of the Devil. While the people were afraid, Orlanth said that this was allowed but that they must all defeat the fear and ready to meet the foe.

Then the day came that the Devil turned his Eye, one of many, to the people of Orlanth's Kingdom. The Devils slithered towards the North Gate. Here he was met by Orlanth and his army. Orlanth told the people that they were all Warriors now and all were Saints in the eye of him, if not the Creator. The people of the Kingdom roared approval and played their war drums, then charged out to meet the Devil.

Though they were armed with Death, and Lightning, the Devil and his Kin were armed with worse. They carried Injustice, and wore Sin and Hate as Armour. They fought with Oblivion, being a more effective weapon than Death, and used magics such as Adultery, Pain, Anguish and Revulsion. The armies clashed. The Devil devoured Orlanth's men, and though some of the enemy fell most stayed standing, many untouched by the weapons of the mortal men.

Orlanth sent out his best Knights, armed with weapons of magic and Virtue. The Devil Refused to believe in them, and they ceased to Be. In doing so the Devil cheated, and only by cheating did he win.

Orlanth then threw forth the Angel of Death. He ordered the retreat, and as Humakt and the Weaponthanes battled, Orlanth and his kin tactically made their escape through the Southern Gate. Humakt lost two thirds of his people and close family there, and the Devil destroyed the Bonds and Ties he had with the rest so from thenceforth Humakt and Humakti are required to stand by only their Word and not by the Bonds of Blood.

Orlanth called upon Brother Storm to save his brother, and left the Kingdom of Umathil to Chaos' evil claw. Ever since, our people's land of origin has never been as it once was.

The Age of Terror

The period of time that comes after the Time of Logic but before the Grey Age is known as te Age of Terror, of the Time of Darkness. Anything that can ever have gone wrong with the world went wrong and dissolution of the Creator began as Jotimam's servants began to devour the Creator from the inside. Kolat sacrificed his own Daughter's chastity by giving her to the Kings of the Sea so that the Hole in the Center of the Cosmos did not swallow the entire Cosmos. In doing so, Kolat Sinned and could never purge himself of this crime, never raising himself to the position of Saint through his future actions. In this time all of the Kingdoms were shattered and injured in one way or another, especially the Forgotten Kingdom which was devoured utterly by the Seven Gods. At this point the Lighbringer's Quest started and the Iron Ring was left to face the deadly remains of the Chaos Army. Wakboth, in an effort to prevent the success of the Lightbringer's, slew his own Shadow to force it to the Underworld and face the assembled masses.

The LightBringer's Quest

There came a time when Orlanth was faced with a problem. His attempts to return righteousness to the Cosmos which had been so badly fouled when the Emperor had failed in his given tasks had failed and he could no longer face the Evils of the Cosmos alone. He called upon his allies and family, and all of his Kingdom. He stood in the center of the Ring and shouted to his people:

"My people, neither myself nor any of my brothers do not take part blame for what evils have fallen you. We all knew that the death of the Evil Emperor would create a Dark Time for everyone, knowing that the Dark Time would be better than the eventual Oblivion that the Emperor's rule heralded. I ask, not for forgiveness for doing what I knew, and still know, to be right but instead ask for your support. I endeavour to venture forth into the broken Kingdoms and find a solution to the problems that have assailed us. If the Cosmos will not accpet me as the rightful ruler without the blessings of the Creator then I shall find the Creator and earn those Blessings!

Yet, my people, you will be alone in the Night, for I cannot both be your King and Lord as well as be your saviour. Therefore, I shall leave Elmal, the Sun, to stand for me in the Ring as Lord. I shall take Humakt as my Warrior and leave Urox in his place to defend you from the Devil and Sin. I shall take Chalana as my Healer and leave Ralia in her place to protect you. I shall leave you with my lineage, and what I have achieved. I can leave only my words, not my actions, and the hope that you shall still hope when I return for without such hope the Cosmos will surely be devoured.

It is my hope that in the many turnings of the Red Sands that I stay away from you that every day you will think of me and my companions as we seek to find our common Lord, the Creator. Do not falter, do not fail in your alloted daily tasks for even though I, your King, shall not be with you, you shall be with me."

And with that, Orlanth lent down and took Humakt as his blade, Babeester Gor as his axe, Virtue as his armour, the Helmet of Rain as his helm and Glory as his guiding light. He called Chalana to his side, and she came quickly, carrying healing balms and words. He hailed Lhankor Mhy to him, and already his faithful scribe had collected together the maps and texts he thought would be needed. He knew that the journey would be long and arduous and so summoned his Travelling Companion, Goldentongue, and his magic caravan to his aid. He turned to face his shadow, to ensure that none of Orlanth's personal demons would remain to haunt his Kingdom. There he saw Eurmal, hiding, and with one quick swipe he grabbed the runt by the neck and carried him kicking and screaming out of the borders with his four friends. They all asked Great Orlanth where the seventh member of the circle would be, and Orlanth merely replied that they were already with them.

Therein, the Six Companions, Orlanth, Eurmal, Humakt, Goldentongue, Lhankor Mhy and Chalana all took to the evil world to rediscover the lost Creator. Here begins the Tale of the Lightbringer's Quest.

Westfaring

The First Obstacle that the LightBringer's encountered was the Kingdom of Logic. After travelling for seven nights, they came to it's decayed remains. Here they saw that the people venerated Hollow Shells, rather than gods or Saints. Repenting their Sins, they had not only burnt down the temples to the Emperor and ransacked his shrines, but had completely destroyed his memory. No-one knew his name anymore, nor what he had done. They blamed Umathil and the traitors for all their problems and flaws, never once taking blame for their own actions. Some people even tried to contact the Creator without intercession by the gods. They, of course, failed. The people of the Kingdom faced Orlanth and his kin with Doubt and Fear, but they saw it's shallowness and ignored it's enticing grasp. They left with little problem.

The Second Obstacle was the Sea for standing on the Western Shore they saw that the land itself had revolted against it's Sin and, to purge itself of evil, had submerged it's shores and lands underneath the waves. Now dark, spined creatures swam around it's murky waters and even Goldentongue did not know how to safely cross the land. "Do not be afraid." said Orlanth, "For Our family have the power to cross and we have brought Our family with us." and so Orlanth and the remaining five joined hands, Orlanth ordered for them to leave space for one more person, the Seventh Companion. Orlanth prayed for help and his family heard and they sent the aid that was needed. In the mysterious vacant spot left by Orlanth appeared Ginna Jar, the mysterious stranger. Orlanth introduced her and said she was the Second Angel of the Creator. She brought with her all the aid that the Lightbringer's needed, and called upon Malkion's sea powers to summon forth a mighty boat made of solidified Love to carry the LightBringer's across the oceans and towards the Edge of the World. While the voyage was ardious, they survived, although Urain was sent by the Emperor from the bowels of hell to try to stop them he failed as Orlanth cast him into bits and spread them cross the world when he later returned. In doing so he ended one enemy's life, but created another for now Urain is everywhere, although we do not need the intercession of Saints to stop his machinations.

The Third Obstacle was the Fortress. Herein waited two hundred and ninety four servants of the Dead Emperor who had been unable to keep up with him when he fell to the blade of Humakt. All of them awaited his eventual return and remained waiting on the Western Continent. They were all so afraid of the Age of Terror that they had hid here and, in doing so, were cursed by the Creator himself and had turned Purple to signify their Sin. They were met by Aklor, who had cut off Orlanth's little finger in when he had fought him in defence of the Emperor. When Orlanth defeated him again, he told him of his mission to bring home a new Emperor. Aklor, humbled and listless, agreed to aid Orlanth and took him to the Winter Palace where the Emperor had spent his time in luxury, ignoring his subjects in times of need. The LightBringer's descended through the gates and into the darkness. Aklor then closed the doors to stop any of the awfulness from escaping into the world above.

Hell

When the Gates closed Orlanth had only the map of Lhankor Mhy to follow to the Realms of the Dead and the deceased Emperor. From the howling darkness was sent the Chaos Wolves to assail the LightBringers, but Orlanth fought them off with the Goran Wind, a wedding gift from his mother-in-law. They battled the Heat Demons and Moon Swingers, and managed to pass them all with little effort (Eurmal defeated the Moon Swingers by becoming one of them).

At some point, most claim forty seven nights into the journey, Orlanth met dead Umathil. Here Lhankor Mhy was taught the secrets of ancestry and death magic, and Orlanth reclaimed his heritage. Umathil directed them deeper into the Underworld wherein they found the Dark Master's Basement. Here they were courted by demons and devils, and offered food and sustenance. Only Eurmal accepted, betraying his friends and eventually all of them were tossed into the Underworld, alone and battered.

Alone, in cold solitude, the LightBringer's hope began to dwindle. They all began to fail in their alloted tasks without the hepl of the others. Humakt could not kill the Not-Beast, Orlanth could not lead the False Followers, Chalana could not heal the unhealable Demons of the underworld, Lhankor Mhy lost his map and also his way and Goldentongue eventually met a deaf, blind and brainless monster that he could not talk to. Eurmal, though, found the map and brought them all back together. In doing so, merciful Orlanth forgave him and Eurmal took them back along the path.

At the end of the map's trail there were the Doors Of Evil. They stood twenty mansheight in towering steel covered in slime and the dead bodies, hanging by nooses their skeletons in deep decay. The guardian was Krjalk DemonLord, servant of the Emperor. He had been slain once, and upon being threatened with Death again, he did not relish it and so relinquished the gate to Orlanth. Inside was the rotting carcass of the Emperor. With his mortal shell discarded, all was left was his corrupt, sinful soul borne open to all who could see him. Diseased, parasite ridden, decayed -- all that was wrong with the Cosmos was what the Emperor was. Next to him stood Kajaboor the Devil, sent by Wakboth to his defence. No words passed between the two, for the Emperor was beyond speech, beyond honour, beyond virtue.

The battle was long and hard. When Kajaboor was thrown against them, Orlanth called upon the Spider Woman. She defeated the Devil with her long, wrapping legs and devoured him alive. Then Orlanth and Humakt defeated the Emperor. Eurmal bound him in coils of things that no longer can be found. Goldentongue sealed the chambers, and ensured he would never again leave or send his foul gods against us.

The Recreation of Time

His enemy defeated, Sin entrapped, Orlanth called upon the Creator to see what he had done to save the Universe. There was no answer. Yet Orlanth knew that eventually the Creator would see his actions. He was right. From the roof of the cavern that the Bound Emperor lay in, came a bright light. There stood the Creator, beyond anything that either Malkion or Humakt had described to Orlanth, he stood astounded.

The Creator proclaimed that for his virtue and almighty nature Orlanth would stand Sainted. His companions were all Sainted for their individual actions and virtues. They were blessed for their Quest and then the Creator gave to Orlanth the mantle of the World, the mantle of Rulership. Orlanth was the new Emperor. As Emperor he denounced such a title, and renamed himself First Among Equals, King of All Gods. The Creator said this was good.

The Creator then made his own proclamation. He said that he would never again forget his Creation, never make the same mistakes. The Creator, in doing so, was reformed and became the Invisible God. He then took Time and gave it to the Creator. Orlanth then ascended the long, winding passage to the Mundane World and cast the Creator's gift to the world. Under the rule of Time the entire world was remade. The evils and death unleashed ceased to be and a natural order appeared. It was not the stagnant Age of Logic but a new order, the Age of Time. Blessed be to the great Saints, hail the Invisible God on high.

"I Fought We Won"

It came to pass that in the mortal realm, the tattered remains of the world brought themselves together to fight as one against the evils of the Universe. The Cosmos failed, and in doing it's inhabitants revolted. They drew themselves together and faced, as one, the evils. Only one person fought that day, although everyone did. Urox was the Last Mortal, he went forth from the shattered remains of his Kingdom and fought the Devil. They met at the Holy City of Umathil, destroying it utterly in the ensuing struggle as he sought to protect his family. At the end of the battle Urox called upon the Cosmos itself to aid him. The Creator answered and sent his own hand to crush the Devil, burying himself under a block of adamant. For these actions, Urox became Sainted by the Creator and stands amongst the holy host.

With the world reformed, Umathil -- the Old Man -- came to show the dead where they were supposed to go. He took the worthy to Solace and left the others in Hell where they belonged. Here Umathil promised that no-one could be hurt under the protection of the Invisible God. He promised that inside the joyful bosom of the Invisible God all the Saints and true gods lived. Only one person ever left Solace after arriving, and that was Arkat.

When the Invisible God returned with the Lightbringer's, a long time later, He took Umathil, accompanied by the worthy souls, and all of the Saints in the wreckage of the Holy City of Umathil to Solace. Here they remain, worshipped for their acts by mortals such as ourselves.

Author's Note: Is this finished??? Not by a long shot.