Skor and the Crystal Egg

Summary

Before the world was born there was only a vast expanse of darkness. The blackness of this void was absolute, and all of existence was enveloped in a peaceful oblivion. However, after an eternity of nothingness, a single spark of light began to shine. This spark grew ever larger until its form coalesced into a single crystalline form. Resembling a massive egg, this single luminous form in the endless black stirred something in the darkness. No longer alone, the darkness sought to investigate the new arrival and slowly shifted to accomplish such an end. Wings of pitch black unfurled and scales of the darkest onyx girded a serpentine body, and thus Skor the first dragon was born. This being of the massive and infinite void coiled herself around the egg and slept for untold ages before she awoke again.
As Skor slept the crystal egg began to grow brighter and brighter. Encircled by the great dragon’s coils it began to pull in the darkness of its companion and gave birth to a new light, one of rich warmth and vibrant color rather than pure radiance. As this light grew it split, forming into colors both hot and cold, and as these prismatic colors refracted and expanded they gave birth to the next dragons that would grace the universe with their glory. First to form was a great wyrm of vibrant red, a fiery behemoth that shone with its own burning intensity. Second was a verdant dragon of green light, its piercing color washing over the scales of its unwitting mother. Third was a creature of a deep blue, its cool color shining bright even across the black void. Finally, a fourth was brought forth by the egg, a small being of pure white, its soft light but a pinprick against the infinite blackness around it. These newly born dragons immediately began to quarrel and fight, each seeking to fill the blackness around them with their own hues and wash the cosmos in their likeness. As red fire met pale blue lightning and green mists intersected white fog, the battleground between these gods began to form. In time, the conflict between these four created the world of Enoa, and its newfound deities desperately sought to claim the newly made jewel for themselves.
Shortly after the fourth dragon was born, the crystal egg’s light began to wane. Constant exposure to the power of its quarrelsome children had marred its surface, and the light it once streamed forth was replaced by a dull glow. Sensing a change in her surroundings, Skor woke from her long slumber to see new invaders in her realm. The presence of others at first intrigued the great dragon, but when her attention turned to the crystal her disposition soured quickly. The light that she had coiled around for eternity was all but extinguished, and she in her disappointment and rage lashed out and split the crystal down its center. The egg shattered, with two large metallic chunks, one of gold and the other of silver flying to rest above the nascent Enoa. These in turn began to grow and develop, becoming new additions to the ever-growing family of dragons. Each emitted a vibrant light of their own, the last vestiges of the crystal egg’s energy coming to rest in its newest children. The smaller pieces of the egg fell into the molten landscape of Enoa, sinking to the depths and emerging after as the last primeval dragons. These youngest gods adopted metallic and earthen hues from their time within the world and arose with scales of copper, brass, and bronze, their forms only mirroring the light of their progenitor rather than shining with intensity of their own. The pieces of the crystal egg too small to give life of their own scattered into the area surrounding the enraged Skor, softly twinkling for all eternity as a constant reminder of the primordial gem which bore them.
With the egg shattered, Skor turned her attention to the miniscule dragons swirling around her immeasurable body. Looking upon the four eldest creatures, she felt naught but disappointment, seeing them as responsible for the defacement of her most prized treasure. In her massive black claws, she grabbed each in turn and cast them to the far corners of the cosmos, each screaming curses and vitriol as they left the embrace of Skor and were left to create new lives for themselves in the cold vastness of the void. After this she turned her attention to the younger dragons still nestled near the primeval world of Enoa. The pitiable creatures who had crawled from the depths were of little interest to her, having no light of their own to illuminate her own dark form. The two larger siblings however, were of great interest to the dragon mother, their beautiful and soft radiance the only reminder to her of the egg that she long kept within her clutches. Deeming these young deities worthy of her presence, she enveloped them in her dark wings and proceeded to sleep once again, ever dreaming of the beautiful egg which had illuminated her life from the very beginning.

Historical Basis

The events detailed in this creation story of Enoa are all but held as fact by the majority of its people. Historical events such as the invasion of Skor's elder children at the end of the Age of Old Gods and the instrumental role in her younger child Khuu in their repulsion, cemented the belief that Enoa was indeed born from such primordial beings. With the ever-present power of the gods also being on constant display, there is little room for dispute as to the origins of Enoa, though details have yet to be fully elucidated.
The greatest point of contention lies with the crystal egg present in the story, as it appears to simply come into being and then disappear after its destruction. Many point to the stars above as being its last remaining fragments, though such claims are unverifiable. Of greater import is the appearance of powerful artifacts born of crystal throughout Enoa's history, perhaps tying the egg's existence to the creation of such objects.

Spread

Skor and the Crystal Egg is a near ubiquitous myth across the world of Enoa, with nearly every culture knowing at least the barest details regarding its telling. However, the farther removed one gets from Dragonborn culture, the less the myth is regarded as wholesale fact and more as a creative retelling of Enoa's formation. Regardless, the story is seen as harmless to most, with those who do not hold it as religious dogma treating it as a cautionary tale to keep their more destructive impulses at bay.

Variations & Mutation

Though there is little evidence to support it, there are adherents of Skor's elder children who tell this story in a much different light. Specifically among the worshipers of Kyanis, there are those who see the great black dragon as a tyrant and beast, a creature which cast out her children due to jealousy and stupidity rather than rage for the loss of a precious object and companion. This is a relatively uncommon belief, and one that is quickly rooted out and squelched among most cultures that revere Skor and her younger children.

Cultural Reception

Dragonborn view this legend as the story of the world's creation and are quick to establish its veracity. Other races tend to either accept it with the same fervor or view it as a harmless story. Of particular note are the gnomes, who seem to be one of the few races that see the tale as pure fantasy. Whether or not this is due to their origins from beyond the veil of Skor's wings, or simply a byproduct of their technological expertise is up for debate.

In Art

Depictions of Skor coiling around a crystal egg are common motifs among the temples and holy places of Skor, though such locations are often remote and few in number. More prevalent are images of a coiled mother dragon surrounding something else that is held precious, commonly seen incorporated into bassinets, cribs, and egg hatcheries.

Related Species

• Dragonborn