R. P. Duckworth

  Ages passed after the stars were created, more Idols were born and the stars became jealous. They did not possess power like the Idols, nor were they worshipped as the Idols were. As mortals came to be, they admired the beauty of the stars and some of them were drawn to the adoration, falling to earth. The first star to fall was Zekael, who seduced a young mortal woman called Naballa. She came to be with child but, knowing the power the offspring would have and seeing an opportunity for chaos, Kaelos cursed her womb. When Naballa gave birth, she bore three children, which were deformed and destructive. But she refused to abandon her children, even when they grew to crave the flesh of Men. She ran away from her people, taking her children to the Valley of Teratan, into the woods now known as the Forest of Beasts. The first monsters of that forest were the descendants of Naballa and Zekael. Serpon, born with scales and poisonous fangs. Gathirio, huge, shaggy, and stronger than a do...

Long before the memories of men, when Earth, Sky, Life and Death were young, Kedar Idol of darkness longed to create something for his lover, Elaen. This was before the sun and moon were born to bring light in the heavens, so Elaen was the only light. Kedar took a few rays of light from Elaen’s head as she slept and cut them into diamonds of different shapes and sizes. Their daughter, Evette, came to admire the beautiful things her father had made but at her touch they became alive. When Elaen woke the heavens were filled with dancing, young stars, going in circles around Kaelos and Mizrana. But one star remained untouched by the young Idol of life and stood completely still. This was Komi, the star by which men navigate, as he is the only star in the heavens that never moves. Now, every night the stars perform the stories they witnessed from above back to those below the heavens, to be sure that what has been is never forgotten.

  There are sixteen months in a year, each are exactly thirty days, and seven days in a week. In an average year, each season will last four months. The days of the week are Akiday, Luneday, Kedarsday, Elaensday, Mizday, Azraday, and Eveday. The cycle of the moon is thirty-three days. Eve is the first month of the year, and normally the first month of spring. It is customary for royalty to be crowned on the 1st of Eve to mark the first year of their reign. On the 11th of Eve the Festival of Life is held to honor Evette, the Idol of life, as well as Lunette, Salus, Yadasha and Freya, Idols who celebrate life. Lune is the second month, after Lunette queen of the Idols, the moon, Idol of marriage and family. If there is a full moon in the month of Lune, the Moon Festival is held in honor of Lunette. Elae is the third month, after Elaen Idol of light. If there is a full moon in the month of Elae, the Night of Light is celebrated in Elaen’s honor. Haen is the fourth month, the final mon...

Eons before the memories of men, the One of Light created Darkness and Light. They were the first Idols, symbols of power to reflect the nature of the One and designed to combat Corruption. Kedar, the original darkness, fell deeply in love with Elaen, the beautiful light. From that love came Kaelos and Mizrana, sky and earth, as well as Evette and Azratos, life and death. The sky, Kaelos, is the Idol of chaos and summer, a time of great storms and scorching heat. His wife, Mizrana, the earth is the Idol of balance. She brings the autumn, a time of harvest and of decay, the balance of nature. Evette, the Idol of life and spring, is bride to Azratos, the Idol of death and winter. Mizrana and Kaelos have four children. The eldest is Akiravin, the sun, king of the Idols and Idol of wisdom, royalty and justice. The second is Marisha, the ocean, whose daughters are the rivers that connect land and sea. Then there is Themista Idol of nature, she has two children; Jaegar Idol of animals and hu...