The Eye awoke, and with it came the Word: *Xav-Hak-Lamat-Imkrun*.
It began not with a being, but an idea—what if there were creation, existence, and all that is, has been, or ever will be?
From the primordial great darkness of the abyssal void—nothingness itself—something stirred. Yamrut danced upon the Lambat, weaving nothingness into form. With each graceful step, a beautiful structure emerged.
Then the Four Jamputra, each bearing an ornate hook, seized the structure. Their music vibrated through it, expanding its bounds and birthing the universe. They blessed it thus: the first with **mind** (consciousness, thoughts, memories, psionics, telepathy); the second with **body** (flesh, bones, celestial bodies, the measure of all physical value); the third with **emotion** (the driving force, the reason for every action, the meaning behind every reaction, the symbol of living); and the fourth with **spiritual soul** (source of individualism and identity, the binding force of life, the fulcrum of power).
The Word acted. The Eye opened, birthing the first light—and with it, the first celestial star, illuminating all existence.
From Elapokin's breath came the first life: trees. The greatest among them was Uborn, the World Tree, axis of the cosmos.
The universe dawned with eight primordial fundamentals: Chaos, Order, Life, Death, Dark, Light, Time, and Space.
Uborn spoke: "The universe is fragile. Let me help, for I am Hope." Its roots plunged into the emptiness, mending the cosmic fracture that one day might shatter all. Its highest branches cradled the creators, while its heart cradled the star. From this act of mercy sprang the first race: the Irnur.
The World Tree also birthed the Trinity: Vindrex, protector and judge; Catunca, watcher and provider; Sataryanna, beast and unchained.
The Irnur built cities and civilizations, their greatest creation being Nature itself. Countless races followed. But the Tree, burdened by the eight fundamentals, spoke one final name—Yectorvertal—and fell silent.
From that name arose Vertmutra, the rule-structured framework altering reality itself. With it came the Four Venerables—Earth, Fire, Water, Air—and the Elmone, qualifiers of the 87 Paths of Vahin-shi-mantruka. Alongside the Irnur, the Elmone were among the first to wield Vertmutra.
In distant eons, the Irnur faded to legend, an ancient celestial race. The Venerables and Elmone taught lesser races the 87 Paths, guiding them to harness Vertmutra's primordial might. Masters of all scriptures became Sages, borrowing wisdom from the myriad Elmone. Saints and saintesses drew its raw power directly. Even dragons, elite among later species, rivaled them as Ancient Elders, soaring to the universe's edge while channeling the Venerables.
***
Countless ages passed. In Bahanja, the empire's grand capital built around an Elder Tree of living spirit, life stirred anew.
Far from the city's spires, in an owlbear's nest, a small youth awoke from a long slumber of a long stream of memories.
