The Balroian Heart and the Catalyst War
Over a millennium ago the world was a mysterious place, some say that world was not the world the people of Balro know today. Some named it Balroian, the balanced world, revolving the beating heart of existence at the center.
Summary
Balroian, the balanced world that came before
A place that lasted 10,000 years, perfectly balanced in everything. Mortality was non existent and the inhabitants maintained their duty to cultivate the world brought on by the creator. Balroian was a mysterious world; mountains flew, the oceans could be walked on, and the paintings of artisans could spring to life.This was an era were the five prime gods walked the lands, seas and skies: Orkon, the justful saint who maintained the peace; Myrial, the lady of fertility, growing her beautiful forest gardens; Talthiel, the weaver of time and magic, pushing the powerful energies together and birthing the concepts of time; Skarachi, the maddened god, forcing chaos by erupting volcanoes and shifting the plates of the world; then finally Tak-Muke who hid plotting away in his hellish pits for a time no mortal today could understand.
It was the creator who ordered the five to manage the world, ensuring it would remain in balance to protect the heart, an object that pulsated pure energy and recycled the forces of life. From this heart came the power to create and control existence.
Balroian's Heart and the Catalyst War
With seemingly infinite energy, this heart cocooned all of creation from the darkness. Many recall the tale of how death wasn't an end, the souls would pass back into the world and continue to live in a new shell, and so existence could never truly end. Those closer to the heart upon death were said to be bestowed greater forms, while those who died on the edges of existence would become much smaller creatures. In all this, the gods and the heart had a duty to maintain balance, yet one god wanted more.A war began, though none could truly die, it did not suppress the brutality. Tak-Muke wanted the heart for himself, he wanted to hoard the souls and empower himself in a plot to destroy the world and even the creator. Tak-Muke quickly conquered the Cloud Citadels of Talthiel's scholars; he suppressed Skarachi, forcing her to enrage and begin a rampage on Orkon's Towers of Justice; and finally he found himself marching with his hoards of slaves and demons to the heart of Balroian.
At this point, Orkon and Talthiel had no choice to call on the creator. They begged for him to smite Tak-Muke, but the being above the gods made no response. Despite Talthiel's control of it, time seemed to be running out as Tak-Muke entered the middle of the world alone, gazing upon the magnificent heart with malice in his eyes. Just as he stepped towards the heart and took it in his grasp, Myrial entered the sanctuary of the heart, but paused. Many who follow Myrial today speak these words when they feel threatened or blackmailed, as she once spoke to Tak-Muke; "That mistake, will be my gain."
In an instant, Tak-Muke crushed the heart, birthing chaos and death upon the world. His victory seemed almost ripe until Myrial darted forward ready to kill. A battle between the two broke out, Balroian was now mortal, and on this world the gods were too. It lasted seconds, but describing everything that happened then could take days. A mortal wound struck Tak-Muke down, he sat at the door of death he created, yet it was not meant to be. Orokon and Talthiel had finally made a compromise with the Creator, who was angered by Tak-Muke's plot and Myrial's attempt to end another deity of the balance. Breaking off parts of the world, the fives direct connection to Balroian was cut, sent to pocket realms of their own along with many of the more powerful beings that they surrounded themselves with. Balroian was broke, and the world that was left wastes away.
Shards of the Heart
Today, legends speak of the shards of that heart that once beat at the center of the world now known as Balro. Many try to seek them for power, knowledge and to legitimise the story of the worlds creation. Despite the many expeditions to possible leads, none have been found and announced to the public. Some believe they are hidden by more powerful beings than the majority of mortals that search for them, to protect the only remaining power that prevents the world falling into the voids of darkness.Historical Basis
Speculation by Scholars of the Southern Coordinate Academies
Of all the major groups, individuals and archaeologists attempting to validate and disprove the myth of the Heart and the Catalyst war, the SCA have worked the hardest on researching evidence, proving and disproving the events. One of the primary arguments they define in research papers is the factor of how time is measure, being depicted as BW(before war) and AC(after catalyst). On this, much of the scholars note that this definition was created in the early 800s, likely as it became relevant to keep time. However thanks to this, dating artifacts, fossils and structures become much more interesting and beneficial in understanding the falsity or truthfulness of the myth.
One example of the above would be a structure that was believed to be one of Orkon's Towers of Justice, a find that could be used to argue the legitimacy of the existence of Orkon's archangels and remnants of their civilisation. However much of the dating and age on the structure places it at earliest in the year 450AC, meaning it would have been built long after Orkon and his angels had been banished from the world. On the other hand, one difficult situation for the SCA is the fact that through geological surveys, it does appear much of the world suffered from large changes at around the years 100BW to 50AC, with large vales and chasms scarring some parts of the Skarchia desert in non natural ways.
The Faiths
Many of the religions centered around the gods can cause much controversial debate. Followers of Orokon and Myrial, vividly believe in the creation myth and claims from those who supposedly speak to these gods state that many changes afflicted the world because of the war. Followers of Tathiel seem to poke many holes in the myth, claiming that it happened but the dating and time is mixed up due to the events surrounding their god and the fact that the Catalyst War sprouted chaos into the world. Darker followers of Skarachi seem to care not about the myth or even allude to it much at all, with their only claim being that their god once walked the lands. Tak-Muke's follows seek vengeance and it is because of this myth they have a deep distaste for anything associated with Myrial, such as trees, elves and fey.
Other religions over the years following other beings, such as Ji'aht and Morki convolute the myth more, as much of these deities are gods that are not associated with the five prime gods. Some say that these are beings that were nearly as powerful as the five but upon end of the catalyst war, were also separated from the world but built followers and worshipers to amplify their power and connection. A few other religions have separate myths and stories that argue against the war, but it appears that reference to similar events exist in may texts.
Elves of the Imrian Forest
Being so long lived, elves have vast recollections of the past. Most elves who would know the truth have passed from this world, and their children only know as much as their parents supposedly spoke of. Unfortunately because of this, much of the elven knowledge on the events no longer exist, however one group of Elves, known as the Imrians have spoken of the past. Often visited by researches and adventurers, the Imrians have built a connection with some of the outer world, but they do not trust easily. Despite this, it is said that the elders of the group are experienced magic users who have lived for almost two thousand years, and lived through the events of the so called Catalyst War. They speak of a time where death seemed less like an end, people would die, but not truly. When questioned on the gods they tend to be reserved, explaining that the world was not small, and elves and the other races were not powerful enough to be mixed up in the events of those stronger beings, only victims of the chaos. Rather sadly, it seems that most creatures and beings that exist now, even if they were alive, are unsure as to the truth about the heart and the war.Spread
It is a very common myth around the world of Balro. It's rare to find communities that don't have some variation of the tale that has been taught or used to proselytize others, usually claiming there god knows the truth. Faith in the myth is very powerful.
Variations & Mutation
Myrial's deceit:
Version often told by followers of Tak-Muke, claiming that Myrial crushed the heart and Tak-Muke only wanted to absorb it becoming a living avatar of the heart.
Time Break:
Followers of Talthiel claim that the destruction of the heart convoluted the timelines of existence meaning many events did and didn't happen at the same time for at least the centuries surrounding the event.
Many other variations exist but generally keep to the same themes and concept.
Version often told by followers of Tak-Muke, claiming that Myrial crushed the heart and Tak-Muke only wanted to absorb it becoming a living avatar of the heart.
Time Break:
Followers of Talthiel claim that the destruction of the heart convoluted the timelines of existence meaning many events did and didn't happen at the same time for at least the centuries surrounding the event.
Many other variations exist but generally keep to the same themes and concept.
In Literature
The myth is depicted and explained in many books and religious texts. Six major books are mentioned here that explain the events from different points of views and beliefs.
- The SCA's Rationalisation on the Catalyst War and the Heart of the World, by Professor Anderia Alter -1481AC
"In all studies of the Catalyst War, it is my own aim to change our uncertain perspective in events we claim are the true beginning of recorded time."
-Professor Anderia Alter, during a lecture on the myths of creation
- Orokon's Scripture of the Divine World
"Orokon said upon the young paladin, it is unjust that the world fell from grace, but it is just that grace still beholds the world."
-An excerpt from Orokon's Scripture of the Divine World
- A Tale of Cataclysm, by Markus Monroa - 1232AC
"Islands fall, towers no longer tall, and the final call came crashing down. The end of balance, lets not call for a dance, darkness brought you your crown."
-An excerpt from the Tale of Cataclysm written by the poet Markus Monroa, the line was a comment on the ignorance and escapist attitudes of nobility.
- Book of Blood, Legacy of Tak-Muke
"Tak-Muke speaks of the heart, he calls for it... He wants it! Dare not defy him."
-Words spoken by the Hand of Murder, Jirtu. A tiefling fanatic obsessed with Tak-Muke's Book of Blood
- Of my Father, by Emerial Liansis 913AC
"He was the last elf born before the Catalyst War to live, he'd tell me he wasn't sure what happened himself. He was practically a child, being forced to understand what death was. The longest lived of our kind I know, He died in the first month of 712AC when i was barely a century."
-Emerial Liansis reminiscing about her father in, 'Of my Father'.
- Compendium of the Time Break, by Master Cluzin Primaris 920AC
"In my years at the Cathedral of Time, and my talks with Master Obel, the speaker of Talthiel, I believe in the concept of the Time Break, and the events surrounding it. My book will briefly compile what we have theorised to have happened"
-Master Cluzin Primaris, a Priest of Talthiel and renowned Sorcerer to Archmaster Malthies, the Timewatcher of Talthiel.
The Balroian Heart is a legendary object believed to have existed by many of the religions of the world, most of its existence is questioned through claims on a divine war that happened over about 1500 years ago.
Approximate Dating
150BW - 50ACRemove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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