The old wanderer took his place next to the fire, steam rising from his wet clothing as he accepted the tankard with a small smile. His other hand held the staff of the storyteller, harking back to a time when tales were passed from elder to youth and from mouth to mouth. As he tapped the staff three times against the wood flooring, those present fell silent. His voice flowed like honey, rich with conviction and resonant with purpose.
“Come close, young ones and old, and listen well, for the hospitality offered should be paid with more than just a bard's tale. No, tonight we shall talk about beginnings... our beginnings, Auldwyn's beginning.”
“In the beginning, for there is always a beginning, there was the Sky, and from the sky came the Moon and the Sun. Kael, the moon, and Riya, the sun, would only catch glimpses of each other as they took their appointed turns. But both started to linger, creating brief moments that they could be together. And in the misty twilight of dawn and dusk, they came together as one.”
As he spoke, his hands subtly moved and, in the smoke and mist, vague figures of the sun and moon took shape before morphing into mountains, then a forest, before becoming waves crashing onto a shore.
“Their union eventually gave birth to the earth goddess Iduné and the waters, the sea goddess Nerida and the god of fresh waters, Malec. And as it goes, the two goddesses and the god began to populate the world with living creatures.”
His hands moved once more as the smoke formed an elk, a bear, a great cat, then a hare before ending as a great sea creature.
His voice then took on a booming cadence as the fire flared high, then settled. “But from the sky soon came another deity. Xeros, the god of Storm and Tempests, watched as Kael's and Riya's union created new beings and grew jealous. Changing form, he seduced them both. And that brought forth the seasons, Korryn, the goddess of spring and summer, and Fyrd, the god of fall and winter. The world of Auldwyn was taking shape, beautiful and mystical. And the pantheon was pleased with their creation, and like ripples in a pond, creation begat more creation.”
The illusions formed in mist and smoke, a storm that led to blooming flowers, then to a winter's snowfall.
“From Iduné and the earth itself sprang Torin, who would become the god of the Forge and Weaponsmith of the gods. Kael and Riya, in time, brought forth the twin deities of magic. And once magic was introduced, all began to change. Torin began his work and, from the bones of the earth, he brought the race of the dwarves into being. But they walked without living sentience and wandered the mountains with no purpose. The twins, however, saw what Torin had tried to do and wove magic to bring forth the races of the elves and the humans, granting their creations not just life, but thought and purpose. The twins then imparted this gift to Torin's dwarves, and Auldwyn welcomed this new life.”
With each new revelation, the illusions in the mist changed forms, painting a picture of dwarves, humans, and elves in the smoke, adding just that bit of magic to his words.
“Other gods and goddesses were called into being. The Spirit Realm was formed along with the goddess Aylena to rule over it. Serrah, the goddess of wisdom, stepped forth to later be seen as the Goddess of Civilization and Law. And at her own urgings, other deities emerged as the vision of what Auldwyn could be blossomed. At this time, the deities were not without conflict.”
With this, he let the illusion drop as he leaned forward. His tone changed subtly, inviting the listener to lean in as if sharing good gossip with a trusted friend.
“Xeros was not easy for the others to deal with, and the deity of storms quickly sparked the anger of the young war god Rikkyrd. The two feuded, and Xeros would have his revenge by doing what the gods believed impossible.” He paused a moment, lingering just long enough. “With a weapon forged by Torin and imbued with magic, Fyrd was tricked into slaying Rikkyrd... Rikkyrd, who was once his best friend. Rikkyrd found himself in the Spirit World and, by the will of Aylena, was reborn as her consort to rule over the souls of the dead with her.”
The old bard tilted his head a moment, almost as if listening to something, before he leaned back suddenly. “The weapon used to slay a deity... disappeared.” He snapped his fingers in front of a child's face, sparking sudden laughter as many jumped.
His tone again turned, a bit more matter-of-fact, as he continued. “Kerazz was brought forth as the new god of War and Conquest, and he brought into being a violent race of his own. The orcs he created were brutish but strong, and Auldwyn suffered her first wars. One lesson was quickly learned: raw strength and brutality did not guarantee victory, as the other races adapted to hold their own against the orcs.”
The mood grew slightly sombre as past wars briefly surfaced to mind, but then were dispelled as the bard drank deeply of his tankard and set it down. “But never fear, for Moddoc was just waiting. In the midst of all of this, the halfling race was unleashed upon the lands by an inebriated Moddoc. The God of Merriment found the new battles dreadfully uninspiring and far too serious. His children were full of life and laughter, adoring food, song, and games. They were small, quick, and cunning. It has been said Moddoc claimed that the halflings were important to Auldwyn to remind all of the other races that life did not always need to be so serious.”
The bard reached out to tickle a child, moved his hand away, and offered her a paper flower.
In a much more cheerful tone, he continued. “Auldwyn thrived. Civilization brought forth settlements and thriving villages. A great city of knowledge and learning was built. When conflict arose, it never seemed to last for long. The mortal races were left to their own devices as the gods watched over their creations, taking pleasure in their achievements and feeling sorrow when they stumbled. And for centuries, Auldwyn endured. And we endure still.”
As he fell silent, one of the listeners rushed to refill his tankard as the others cheered the tale. And outside the warm home, a cold wind howled.
