Of the Birth of the Celestials

The Birth of Celestials

Take 1

Two creators. One communion.
For the celestial, it all begins in silence, stillness, vastness. A flash of light sparks and what is seen is bright, unending field. Transparent, but surrounded by clouds. Endless. No one knows how long a celestial remains in this state, but some of the greatest celestial remember it as though it were 10 lifetimes unto themselves.
Then on the horizon races two figures. Zig-zaging through the field drawing ever closer. As they do, the celestial notices that the bright light comes from these two figures. As they approach the light becomes brighter and brighter. Soon enough, they stand before the celestial, two towering figures clasped hand in hand who's majesty is insurmountable. And then they clasp their other hand together and begin to sway. Back and forth. As they do the clouds begin to swirl slowly mimicking their movements. Then the pace increases and the movements grow more complex. The figures toss each other about as they sway, vaulting back and forth with elegance.
Then the air begins to vibrate, the clouds shake, and the field trembles as from the mouths of the figures bursts song. As they sway, a harmonious song bursts from their beings and echos across the fields. Changing in pitch and tone along with the dance, rising and falling, waxing louder and waning softer. Then the celestial notices that scattered throughout the air and on the ground are markings. The dance produces marvelous strokes, depicting forms and space.
The dance and song continues as they move across the fields drawing symbols with their limbs in the air and shooting them off like fireworks across the sky. Then the song evolves, the motions and symbols are repeated with the song of their voices and a new layer is added to the song. A harmony unlike the song before where the two figures split their songs. But then the dance slows and eventually the swaying stops.
The pitch and tone begin to lower and grow more uniform and steady. Eventually the two figures lie down on the fields embracing each other in their arms still singing quietly until the sound becomes simple and steady. For the first time, the celestial notices that there are breaks in the song where only one figure sings to the other and that the pitch and tone is distinct for both though varying in the song. Then the two figures lie there for some time speaking every so often only one to two words. Here it is clear that one voice comes from each figure. This exchange happens quietly until there is no sound at all.
Then their eyes close and their embrace tightens. Then with a small vibration of energy a thread of string appears before the celestial leading to the two figures which the celestial watched in motionless silence. Then a small hum-like voice says, "Come my child," and another deeper voice says, "Do not fear." The celestial looks up from the string and motioning to the celestial are the two figures. With this the celestial feels movement stirred deep within itself and after a while draws close to the two figures. Looking down, the celestial notices two limbs much like the figures' limbs and they move similarly. The two figures reach out their arms to the celestial and as before, two arms form for the celestial and grasp the figures' hands. A tremendous amount of energy and calmness enters the spirit of the celestial as the celestial walks with the figures. With in its spirit, the celestial hears the voices of the figures guide his every step, but after a time, the figures begin to speak of the being of thoughts. With this a tiny spark erupts inside the celestial and the celestial hears not the voice of the figures, but what it comes to know as its own voice. The figures foster this spark, prompting the celestial with new ideas that flood its spirit and birth new ideas. The softer figure says, "That, my child, is called thought. It will guide you in all ways." Then the deeper figure says, "Come we have much to share with you." And so, they sit within a ring in the field with the celestial.
Then the world brightens to an even greater degree as one of the figure fades and overlaps with the celestial. The celestial at this point feels great joy and warmth of which it can never describe, but every celestial has felt. The celestial is then moved through the power of the faded figure to embrace the other figure. In between the silence, images and thoughts form prompted by the faded figure and built upon by the other figure. The thoughts echo off each other and resound in the spirit of the celestial carved into its soul. Then they speak as before their one or two words back to each other. Then the faded figure prompts the celestial to do the same; however, the words are different than before, slower and simpler. Then the words build and compound reflecting the echoing thoughts before, but this time while speaking, the clouds form forms and figures of the thoughts. Then the other figure points to the clouds and with its finger draws symbols as before that were seen while dancing. These symbols combine together and the faded figure speaks the words while the celestial recalls the thoughts. Then the figures get up and look around and begin to sing. Similar to the words, the faded figure guides the celestial through the new song brought on by the thoughts, words, and symbols. The song echos like before across the fields and into the sky. There are times where the celestial sings alone only with the faded figure and the other figure quiets. Then at other times, the celestial is prompted to quiet its voice while the other figure sings. But mostly their song is uniform and melodious echoing through the skies. Admist the song, the faded figure prompts the celestial to sway back and forth with the other figure. The swaying evolves much like before into a great dance, but like the song there are times where the other figure leads and the celestial follows and times where the celestial is prompted to lead and the other figure follows.
After a time, the dance slows with the song and everything comes to a quiet stillness. With this the faded figure reappears next to the other figure and they say in unison, "Go, you have been give the knowledge you need to build this place into what will be known as the Highest Heavens, Ulta in our tongue. Go now amongst your brethren and find your rank amongst them. Carry out the thoughts, words, symbols, songs, and dances you have learned today." With that the celestial see a host of figures a long way off. As he turns back to the two figures, they are gone and the heavens dim slightly. But high in the sky are two lights dancing around each other across the sky in an elaborate dance. And so goes the birth of celestial. Each celestial spends a different amount of time in the five realms of knowledge with the two figures. Also, a celestial quickly learns that according to their rank each celestial has received different amounts of knowledge even within the five types. Therefore, each celestial is deemed a unique creature with knowledge unreplicable to the next.
From there each Celestial is brought to a hall, called the Hall of Being. This hall is the dwelling place of the two figures who sit on brilliant thrones. At this point, the two figures give their names, or as they would like to be called, Ulto and Alta. Then, Ulto and Alta finalize the tasks of the celestial and send it out in to Ulta, the heavens.

Take 2

There was two, Ulto called the All-father and Alta the Maiden of Light. From them, came all that exists in the heavens, the earths, and the abyss. For through their power, all has being and is held within its delicate balance. The first to be brought into being was the [AINUR], the council of the lights. Born of the knowledge of Ulto and the light of Alta, the [AINUR] came in resounding silence. In stillness, they were for they knew not movement, nor thought, nor song. Each [AINUR] knew only of themselves and the creators from whence they came as they had not the ability to sense each others light. As light, the [AINUR] existed only in thought, dwelling upon what was given them from the All-father. In the presences of Ulto and Alta, the [AINUR] dwelt before all else was wrought. Of their thoughts, they knew, but did not understand. For thoughts of symbols and scripts appeared in the spirit of some whereas thoughts of song or dance in others. Yet some transitioned in their spirit from thoughts of dance to conversation to the nature of being. And some dwelt deeply on the nature of being of which was not yet revealed to them in its fullness.
After dwelling in the presences of the two, Ulto manifested to them the depths of his thoughts. Embodying to them the ideas of energy, time, and space, Ulto pronounced his greatness and majesty, and the [AINUR] were struck in the spirit with the feeling of amazement and wonder. And to each was it revealed in a flickering of the light of Alta in the depths of their spirits that the strength of Ulto was yet to be unveiled and the beauty of Alta extoled. With a burst of radiant light the landscape around them was revealed to be that of a ring of peaks raised high above the clouds. Each spirit was set on a lofty peak encircling one higher peak on which sat Ulto and Alta. With a glorious and resounding sound, the figure of Alta sprung from the peak and vaulted through the skies in an elegant dance at which Ulto proclaimed the forms of which she danced with a resounding voice who's depth resounded across the many peaks. And so began the dance of Alta and Ulto's proclamation. She danced with a serenely countenance of which some had known only in thought before this and the [AINUR] gazed upon her beauty. As for Ulto, his proclamation came as a command from the mouth of a king, firm and absolute, telling of the majesty of the two and all that comes from their thoughts. As with Alta's dance, the [AINUR] came to know of this command more deeply than alone in their thought.
Then, like a fissure of water gently streaming from the mouth, a melody so marvelous sprung from the lips of Alta. Ringing farther than the proclamations of Ulto, hearkening every spirit to it and her song rested deep within the spirits of the [AINUR] and it mixed with Ulto's proclamations. Until like the vibrant flash of the heavens before, symbols, of the like revealed to some in their thoughts, appeared in the wake of Alta's dancing matching Ulto's proclamation and around the peak that where Ulto sat burst a magnificent script that detailed both the song of Alta and the proclamations of Ulto. All were struck with wonder.
But then with a mighty shift, Alta's song began to mimic the proclamations of Ulto and Ulto in-turn responded with a thunderous song unlike Alta's before him. Ulto's song was deeper and mightier than hers, but enveloped her song as if to draw close to it and provide structure to it. As for Alta's song which had come to mimic Ulto's proclamations, hers were gentler and softer and eased all spirits of the [AINUR]. Her proclamation told of the light and its purity.
At once, Utlo rose from his throne on the highest peak a began a slow and rhythmic dance. With a giant leap, he bounded from the edge of the peak and danced in the wake of Alta with the script of Alta trailing behind him. Alta, in unison with Ulto's dance, began to unveil the depths of her thought revealed in the words of her script, pronunciation of her song, and the form of her dance. She thought of the valiance of the light and its essence that permeates all source of being and it was shown to the [AINUR] that within their spirit a semblance of the light of Alta dwelt. And so she revealed the sky and all its marvelous expanse and the [AINUR] gazed in wonder at its vastness.
Finally, the chords of their music laid next each other, the evolution of their dance accompanying each other, the records of their speech made known to each other, the essence of their decrees set before each other, and the nature of their mind unified to each other, all came to rest on the highest peak among peaks and the entirety of their performance began to sway. At times, it seemed as though Alta stopped sing and hearkened to Ulto's song while Ulto halted his commands and listened to Alta's gentle declarations. And so a rhythmic sway of various elements of their performance fell up and down in balance with each other and the [AINUR] thought that this must be the peak of the performance, the height of their majesty and glory until almost as suddenly as it began, they landed on the highest peak with a reverberating sound, returning once again to silence and to stillness.
Returning to their thrones on the highest peak, Ulto spoke, "Now that ye have beheld our majesty, rise up among thine selves, each according to thine own gifts, and whether imitating what hast been revealed to thee or manifesting that which thoust has only beheld in thought from the beginning, go forth and perform to thoust highest degree such that we might be glad." With that, the [AINUR] began, some in dancing, some in song, yet others in script and symbols, while some remained purely in thought and others in proclamations. And so rose up a mighty performance of which only some parts could be seen from before because as the performance went on, each began to sow into their dance or song, proclamation or words, the aspects of their thoughts from which they were first accustomed to at their birth. With resounding cries and elegant movements, the performance flew to greater heights reaching into the depths of the sky and deep below the vast clouds and the scribes recorded all that happened whilst the orators spoke of the marvels of the choirs and dancers. And with the rising of their performance each began to grow in knowledge of the other of which they had not even noticed before in the grandeur of Ulto and Alta. Their performance grew in harmony and synchronization and the unfolding of the events and the discussions of them grew at length.
But lo, more joined the performance for those who had remained in thought for a time had not yet joined in the performance. And Ulto beheld a mighty theme which echoed across the sky and all else grew quite and still for all attention drew to thirteen spirits who danced around the heights of every peak and the base of Alta's throne. Spread around the encircling peaks, the thirteen spirits divided themselves, six in the outermost circling peaks, four on the innermost circling peaks, and three at the base of the two thrones. With loud voices and exquisite forms, they sung and danced before the whole host and thrones while the three at the base of the thrones spoke with each other and to the thrones all while recording the events that came to pass with their words.
And when all thought their performance, had come to an end, a new melody begun and from among the peaks again rose nine spirits. These spirits broke into harmonious song and dance with the thirteen previous spirits and a new theme begun. Now eight of the thirteen filled the outer circle and joined together in pairs before the host and they sang and danced to the new theme while the remaining 5 danced at the foot of the thrones. Five of the nine spirits formed the new inner circle linking with each other in dance and forming magnificent melodies with their song. The remaining four joined the five at the foot of the thrones two and two, presenting themselves before the thrones. Then all drew quite and the swaying of the dance grew slow.
Surely the host thought this was the end, but yet again a third theme sprung up with the rising of three great spirits more marvelous than all before them. These songs and dances of these three spirits most resembled the songs of Ulto and Alta, yet contained with in them unique variations of which even the first thirteen and second nine marveled at with gladness. But lo, as they were singing and dancing it appeared as though the wrote with their hands and their feet all around the various peaks up until the base of the highest peak and the thrones. It appeared to all that these spirits wrote with their dancing and conversed with their song. But most surprising of all was the clarity of their thought which unveiled in their performance showed themes of the Two, yet had variations different in nature. Their performance continued for a long while and when all had thought that it had finally come to an end, it appeared to all that Ulto and Alta nodded to each other and a rose, crowned the three great spirits who in-turn spun round and descended the highest peak and choosing from among the host a great number of spirits, began to guide them in a yet a fourth theme.
This fourth theme echoed through the skies and the clouds as the entire host began again under the guidance of the three to dance and sing, to write and to speak once more acting more deeply upon thoughts of their own and of what was unveiled to them. This fourth theme lasted for double the time of the first theme and Ulto was very pleased and Alta saw that it was very good. And at its end, all were quite and were satisfied. This time Alta spoke saying, "Thee have been pleasing in the sight of Ulto and in my heart. It is good that we are gathered for there is one last thought that has yet to be revealed to thee. Harken to the sound of my voice, for now and forever, will these three be known as Telar Lords, and to the nine, be known as Mesar Lords, and to the thirteen, be known as Nentar Lords. Let it be known that all will glorify Ulto and his wife Alta."
Then with a sweeping wind, Ulto breathed on the peaks and the clouds flew to the ends of the heavens and darkened to a void and the peaks crumbled and became like dust. Now their laid before them the high peak of Ulto and Alta upon which sat the radiant thrones and below vast valleys that swathed back and forth. Running down from the foot of of the thrones was streams of silver ichor that glistened against the light of the thrones and it ran down the peak and into the crevasses of the valleys. Roaming among the valleys were various creatures of various sizes and shapes. "Behold the fruit of your labors. Behold the heavens which have been created and known only in part to each of you. I will call it Ultaria and this peak Ulta. As for you who lead the performance of the heavens, I will appoint you a seat on the high council of Ultaria and you will command the celestials with your thoughts and words. Go therefore and find the place that is liken to your thoughts." With that, the spirits descended the highest peak with the radiant thrones and explored the far reaches of the heavens and observed all manner of celestial beasts.
Now the lords of the celestial, the [VALAR] whose number was twenty-five, waited at the foot of the thrones. And Iondar, greatest of the three, arose and spoke addressing the Two, "Was not there more revealed in our thoughts. Thoughts of heaven beyond the void." And Alta respond, "Yes, thoust right in believing there is a place beyond the void. However, the coming seasons will tell of the lights that will rest upon Ultaria. These thou must await in patience." With that, the twenty-five departed and took foot in the regions of Ultaria.
NEW And the [VALAR] descended from the heights of Ulta where the radiance of the two thrones shown. They went out, to each their own or in pairs that were formed during the dance, and found for themselves footholds in the valleys that were liken to their thoughts. They dwelt there for some time basking in the radiance of the thrones and the skies. But Iondar walked to the edge of Ultaria and was faced with the Void. To Iondar, one of the three, the greatest gifts of knowledge were given and with power unmatched among the celestials. For he had a portion of each thought of the celestials making him quickest to understand all that dwelt in and under the heavens. The void was vast and he could not see into it for it was veiled before him. Iondar grew curious of what forms lie beyond the Void as he was quick to see the many forms of the valleys and hills and of the celestial beasts that dwelt there and he was not content. In his thought, he grew impatient with the Two and sought to devise his own creations for which to fill the void. But only in thought did he conceive this for he had not yet drawn close to becoming Iondraithe.
**excerpt: Later Iondar becomes Iondraithel, the One who Sought**