The Myth
In the dawning of the world, two opposite forces were birthed: Sera and Ourm.
The Sera, today, are known as the Ones. They are the deities of Eashavar, and their existence represents
birth and
creation. While they vary greatly in their values and beliefs, all stand together in a fundamental support for life - be it for life itself, for civilization, or for subjugation's sake.
The Ourm, today, are known as the Dragons. They are the archnemeses of Sera and men alike, the great destroyers and ravagers of Eashavar. The Ourm seek only death and destruction; life itself is a sin spewed forth into their domain, against their will, by the Sera.
While both Sera and Ourm once walked Eashavar, neither practically do so today. The Ourm have long fallen, defeated at the hands of the Sera-born in ages past, and they lick their wounds in long-lost pits and crevices, hidden away from their hunters as they inch towards their extinction. The Sera themselves departed long ago to the high planes above, lest their squabbles and differences bring the destruction they so abhor to the ranks of their own spawn.
The Ones
Of the Ones, twenty-four are universal to all of the world's peoples. These are the
Ones Above. They are the major foundational forces of life and creation. While all of the Ones ascended to the higher planes, the
Ones Above ascended to the bounds of the
Aether Immateria. Thus, they are said simultaneously to lack material existence and permeate all of it.
Beyond the
Ones Above, there are the
Ones Around. The
Ones Around number in the hundreds, if not thousands, and typically represent far more constrained values or domains. They are also typically worshipped only in parts of the world, sometimes as additions to the universal pantheon and sometimes as specific patrons of a group of people. The
Ones Around exist beyond Eashavar, but within the bounds of the
Aether Immateria, residing on the various planes of the
Materia.
The
Ones Above and the
Ones Around typically do not interfere in the affairs of their children directly. They observe, praise, and critique in their eternal silence. Sometimes, they may convey messages to their most faithful, but their words are so vague so as to amount to little more than portents and omens, leaving their interpretation to the faith of the recipient themself.
Amongst the
Ones Around, however, are the
Ones Within. While the boundary between the two can blur at times, the
Ones Within are typically regarded to be
cults - in the nefarious sense of the word. These Ones are particularly corruptive and evangelical, seeking to spread their roots into the hearts and minds of their children.
Finally, there are the
Ones Beyond, who existence is known but unspoken. These Ones are said to have breached beyond the bounds of the
Aether Immateria itself, and no others of the divine dare to speak of them. Whether they are Sera or something more is itself unknown; those who delve into their details are oft quick to lose their own minds, leaving them a mystery to all who walk the world.
The Dragons
Doctrinal Differences
Several mythologies exist which further expand on the core creation myth, placing different emphases on the relationships between the Sera and varying in each of their importances. These mythologies can be categorized into doctrines, among which there is still significant variance, but the core assumptions and focuses of which are generally common.
The
Prime Canon describes the primary doctrine of nation-states throughout the world. It places emphasis on order and civilization, and positions the primary deities - the
Ones Above - as hierarchs over the affairs of different social domains. Many mortal races came independently to the construction of doctrines which are in line with the Prime Canon, and their emphasis on societal bonds and stratification has naturally led to their dominance throughout the world.
The
Green Way describes the dominant doctrine of the Fey races and most Druidic Circles. Rather than governors of civil society and hierarchy, the Green Way views the deities - primarily the
Ones Above, but sometimes others as well - as lessons to learn from. None are good or evil, and all have wisdom to share in equal measure. Two distinct relationships with the Ones are common amongst followers of the Green Way: they are either viewed as familial figures, elder teachers and sages in whose eyes they are little more than children; or they are viewed as facets of the personality, present in every person when aggregated together.
The
Old Faith describes a fading doctrine present in many races through ages past. While it may have features of both the Prime Canon and the Green Way, it is distinct from them in a dedicated worship of one (or a few) specific deities. Typically, the Old Faith is practiced by rural or tribal peoples who feel a special bond with one of the Ones - most commonly one of the
Ones Around. Most practitioners of the Old Faith have been phased out - integrated into the Prime Canon with their chosen patron gradually devalued. A few tribes, however, still remain. They often guard their faith with a fierce and violent resolve.
