❝ Thirty-two paths; marvels of wisdom – Hath God engraved.
Twenty-two letters; given substance through being – Hath God wrote.
Ten children; blessed by his will to guide his light – Hath God raised.
Four rites; granted to guard his kingdom – Hath God given.
And one man, destined to claim the world – Hath God ordained ❞
There are many creation myths in Illyah and how the worlds came to be, but one theme that is ever resounding is the event which created the Olamot – The Four Major Realms. This was the cataclysmic event that occurred some forty thousand years prior to current day and had wiped out many of the great races and just about all of history prior to the event. Because of this, gathering information of that period is almost impossible, and has since been deeply rooted in many myths and legends that permeate the ages. Some say that there was nothing before the Olamot but a plane of eternal chaos that was bought together and condensed into the worlds we know today, whilst others say there were countless lands before the collapse.
Both are somewhat true, as there has been evidence of civilisations prior to the current world but who they were and what led to their collapse is highly debated. Along with this, it is known that the universe itself evolved like our own, sparked by an event like the Big Bang, but rather than exploding outward to create countless galaxies and worlds, all matter coalesced and created a singular formation that one may pass as a Galaxy of sorts. A single galaxy full of incomplete worlds, ready for those it would later host to build upon themselves.
At its centre, was the being known as Elyon, the essence of creation itself, and all outside of its reach was known as simply as “The Abyss”, or “Ayinn Gehenna”. All within Elyon’s being was known as “Elohim”, and for many eons it was a cosmic sea of chaos and rampant energies, but over billions of years the matter and gasses that resided within it began to cool – Formed a single plane that all creation shall reside. Because of this, it was considered to be impossible for anything to exist outside of Elohim, but that was indeed not the case.
Within the heart of Elyon, was birthed a world later known as Pleroma, one much like our own world in its early stages it was chaotic, the cosmic fires, and later became a world that could host life – Life that evolved just as ours did, from simple single-celled organisms on hydrothermal vents, to complex beings. All whilst Elyon watched, though even they evolved alongside life, and was not an all-knowing being that could conceive of itself. As it was the universe itself, it changed and shifted as life evolved, morphing into ever altering realms to allow for life to evolve rapidly.
Eventually, the cosmic waters that permeated Pleroma receded, and land was formed for life to move and evolve on it, and as organisms changed rapidly and broke into countless species and plant life. But before that it existed as the first sun that waited for the matter around it to cluster and form the lands in which it would seed itself; later becoming the great ocean that covered the earth as far as the eyes can see. And later even, the deep volcanos and the entire planet itself. It was one with the world, as the world was one with it.
Life soon came, an explosion of creation that Elyon too would evolve to fit with the ever-changing forms, and eventually made itself as the Great Tree that stands tall today. Or at least, something similar to it. It is often thought that life itself originated in another world, carried from the remnants of a dead universe to seed itself anew, perhaps from this universe itself, or another. Some scholars speak of a concept known as the “Greater Cycle of Rebirth” which dictates that all things, even the universe itself, exists in a cycle of creation and destruction. Thus, the big bang itself, whilst considered the beginning is naught but the end of another to herald in a new universe in its wake.
Life itself evolved to create more complex forms and eventually sentient species and races that are not too different from the Elves and other beings that reside in the Olamot today. However, they only consisted of small tribes and groups that lived within and off the Great Forest, hunting the animals and partaking of its fruits. However, this itself made them fight amongst themselves, so Elyon created a race that would be in charge of overseeing the endless domain. Well, to be more precise it created three races. In a way, they were seen as the prototypes to the Olamot.
It did not do this out of will, rather out of necessity and some believe that the Qabal were merely of its own essence and had evolved alongside the lesser lifeforms, soon becoming the leaders of the more complex races eons later. One thing to note is that they did all of this without the concept of speech or writing, leading some to speculate they communicated through gestures and body language.
The most well-known of them are the Sandlaphon or “Reshimu” – “The Light of Ain Soph”. These beings would be created to commune with the other races and convey the “desires” of Elyon, despite them not able to conceive of itself – yet. Known as “Those who gather gods prayers”, they did their jobs dutifully, ensuring that peace remained within Pleroma. Peace, and ignorance.
The Reshimu were not the only ones Elyon created – the other being the protectors of the Great Tree, The Tzachtzachot, more commonly known as the “Saplings” were made from the sap of the tree itself, as the Reshimu were made of the light of God. And then there are the Aeons, the originators of man and said to have been carved from the stones of the earth and the sands of time.
Legends have it that Elyon divided its essence into Three; which would later be the building blocks of many themes in its lore. These Three were distinct, but diverse in their own right, and are known as the “Qabal”. These Three races were forged from the essence of Elyon, “Ain Soph Ohr”, the Limitless Light, in a process known as Tzimtzum, “The Contraction”. In some cases, they are usually drawn in parallel with the Logoic Triangle of the Kabbalah.
The first are the Sandlaphon; The Reshimu – the Essence of the Spirit and the Sun, the ancestors of the Gods and Angels. Often regarded in many ways and typically drawn in parallels with the almighty, the Reshimu are known by a myriad of names, but nowadays are most commonly referred to as the Sandlaphon – the Ninety Houses of Angels, under the Nine Choirs of Aperion. According to ancient texts, the first of these were later regarded as the “Shem HaMephorash” - The 72 names of Elyon, and the essence of the divine light of God. This concept is incorporated into many types of Magick, including one which shares the name of those 72, but it is a lost art – And considered the most powerful of all Holy Magicks.
The second are the Arii, The Essence of the Light and Dark, and Mind. Often, they are broken up into two categories, the Havaa and the Anpin. The Havaa, or Tzachtzachot are the ancestors of all animals, beasts and sentient races like the Dragons, Animals and so on. They are the ones granted the power of the Tzimtzum, the power of creation. This was something that was deeply sought after by all in their time. Sometimes they are known as the essence of the Sun too, but that moniker is usually given to the Reshimu – In this way, the Anpin are the essence of Moon. In other ways they are regarded as the aspects of Life and Death too.
The Anpin are considered to be the Ancestors of all other Ethereal Races, be it the Fae or the Elementals – Known as Harliquinn, or Titania in some cultures. They are typically broken up into the two categories as they have evolved into far different races and are unique in their own ways. It is also noted that they are oft drawn as opposing forces, as the Reshimu and Aeons are. Most believe that the Anpin did not split from the Havaa until after the worlds collapsed, whilst others believe they were always separated. Others say they are always one and never two. Depending on the texts, it is said that either of them were born of the mating of the Arii and the Reshimu, or the Arii and the Aeons. But others believe that both are the case, and the latter of which resulted in the birth of man, not Fae.
Finally; the Aeons – The Essence of Body, the race that is oft considered to be gods in their own right, known as “Adam Kadmon” – The Primordial Man. They were the first of the humanoids to walk Pleroma, and to which the other races evolved in their image and soon divided into the countless other races. Often, they are regarded as the ancestors to all Man, Halfling or Elf, but are most commonly seen as the central lineage of the Ishtarians. The Aeons are typically drawn as the polar opposite to the Reshimu, which is perhaps why their history is so full of conflict.
In some scriptures they are referred to as the race that depicts the world of “Emotion” and the Void itself, yet such things did not exist yet, though perhaps it was a red herring to the chaos that awaited. But the idea of the Emotion was something that was later split from the three, perhaps as a balancing force or something else – Whatever it was, it was something that seemed to oppose all.
It is interesting to note that the term Tzachtzachot means “Lucid and Luminous Light”, whereas Reshimu means “The Impression”. This is noted because it is believed that the very sap of the Great Tree bore the essence of the sun and creation itself. They worked alongside each other to protect the Holy Lands and now the “Shenkina”, or the “Dwelling of God”.
All of Elyon’s creations were born of its light and essence, though the mere idea that there would be diversity in a world that was devoid of individuality was somewhat of a mystery. In a way it could be seen as a means of balancing the primordial forces of the universe.
These beings would later become the many faces of the various pantheons and gods that scatter the lands of Illyah today, some of the same essence yet perceived by separate cultures in different ways – different names and faces, yet same ideologies and characteristics. This is often due to their presence being one that permeates all dimensions, so it cannot form a singular appearance and those of the lesser realms would be unable to comprehend their form.
