The Creation of Magic

The Heavenly War

Shahar’an, the Guardian of Magic, and Elyon’s second-in-command, was tired of listening to the prayers of the humans. There were many Guardians who answered these prayers, but still Shahar’an was angry. He believed that no Guardian should have to serve humans, so he bestowed the gift of magic upon one hundred men and women. Many Guardians who believed as Shahar’an did refused to answer prayers, leaving the humans to seek out the newly gifted for miracles.

The four Cardinal Guardians were not happy with this turn of events and went to Elyon to tell Him what Shahar’an had done. Elyon was angry at the Guardians who had stopped helping humans and gathered all the Guardians together.

He demanded to know why Shahar’an had given magic to the humans. The Guardian explained that he no longer wished to serve the demanding and inferior humans who took the Guardians for granted by praying for trivial things.

Elyon was outraged, for he had created the Guardians to protect and care for the weaker humans. He ordered Shahar’an to take back the magic he had given the humans and demanded that he and his compatriots resume their duties. Some did, but most did not. Shahar’an refused. For this betrayal, Elyon banished Shahar’an to the Under World, but, again, the Guardian refused, declaring that he would no longer bow down to Elyon or the humans. A war began in Heaven between the faithful Guardians and the traitors.

The humans watched the heavens turn dark and the storm were so great that they began to worry that the world was ending. Lightning crashed and the winds blew. The earth shook when the giant guardians feel to earth to lie motionless on the ground. The humans were terrified of the fallen deities, but there were some who rushed to comfort the dying Guardians with burning wings, covering the bodies.

Finally, the war was over, Elyon and the faithful victorious. Elyon cast Shahar’an and his followers into the Under World as the Fallen. Shahar’an was locked away in a cage and cast into the void.

Elyon looked down upon the earth and wept at the destruction. The remaining Guardians set to work repairing the damage. Most humans cowered in fear at the sight of the Guardians, but ninety of the one hundred men and women who had been gifted magic were not afraid and worked alongside the Guardians, using their newfound abilities to heal the damage done. When the work was complete, the Guardians resumed their posts caring for the humans.

Elyon gathered the gifted together and told them that, for their bravery and aid, they would keep the magic that Shahar’an gave them. These gifted also helped protect and care for the humans, with help from the Guardians. The ten who refused to help were sent away from Eirena with their families to the desert of Meleki, where they continued to worship the fallen Shahar'an.

Summary

The Guardian Shahar'an was angry about his job, stopped doing it and gave magic to the humans. Elyon did not like his arrogance and demanded he fall back in line. Upon his refusal, a war broke out, Shahar'an lost and was chained in the under world.

Historical Basis

This is historically accurate, though many storytellers embellish it in their own ways. The only evidence that remains are the craters in Eirena's Plains of the Fallen.

Spread

This is a global myth, though each country tells its own version of it.

Variations & Mutation

In Meleki, Shahar'an is the rightful King of the Guardians because he gave magic to the humans so that they could take care of themselves.
In Lanashaun, the mountains were formed by the Guardians using the earth as weapons and the first Yanna (female warrior) was actually one of the Guardians who fell to earth, but chose to stay and train other women to fight.
In Amarfias, the story is much like Eirena's, though they are of the belief that Shahar'an was killed, not imprisoned.
The Hanzari believe the Guardians are spirits from the Aboveworld that help or hinder, but have no true notion of what they are and do not believe in them the way the rest of the world does and do not have a similar myth regarding the creation of magic.

Cultural Reception

The legend is seen as the same in Eirena, Lanashaun, and Amarfias: the Guardians that sided with Shahar'an are the bad guys. In Meleki, they are the good guys and the whole reason the Melekite nation was created was because their ancestors agreed with Shahar'an. The Hanzari are more or less indifferent to the Guardians.

In Literature

The first writings about the Heavenly War occurred just after it ended, thanks to the few Guardians who had fallen to the earth. They told the people what happened. These writings survived for hundreds of years until the great purge after the Usurper took the throne 100 years ago.

In Art

There are hundreds of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and songs about the Heavenly War. The art and its subjects differ according to which nation the artist is from.

Date of First Recording

01-15-01