Gormadraug, the Prismatic Wyrm

In the beginning, when gods created the world, they had no idea of the power they would imbue into it: it was, after all, their first attempt at creation. Thus they imparted too much of their power into the substances they made and accidentally breathed life into. This act is how the Primordials came to be.

Chief of the Primordials is a being known as Gormadraug, a tiny being that carried a spark of the gods' divinity. Gormadraug amused the gods so they kept it as a pet. Over time, their treatment became abusive, using Gormadraug for hunting sport, slaying and resurrecting him over and over. Finally, when they tired of him, they abandoned him on the newly formed Etharis.

For millennia, Gormadraug devoured everything he could see: rocks, ice, lava, and air. With every century, he grew larger, until finally, he emerged as a colossal wyrm with power over all the elements. He was so powerful, that he could spawn his own children, themselves powerful Primordials.

However, he never forgot his treatment at the hands of the gods. He nursed his hatred for a millennia. The final straw was when the gods declared that the new race of mortals would claim all of Etharis. Gormadraug sought revenge by sending his Primordials to war against the gods.

Despite his numerous spawn, they were not powerful or plentiful enough to achieve that goal. The gods handily defeated the Primordials. Gormadraug survived, however, and went into hiding.

This setback did have one upside for the Great Wyrm, it emboldened the gods to think they could fight the Aether Kindred as well. The debacle that followed left Etharis with only 4 remaining gods.

Gormadraug wasted no time, he created four new spawn that he would use to fight a war against the gods and their mortal children. These Primordials were Alondo of the Deep, Morrakesh the Burning Lady, Citrolach the Living Mountain, and Ilhara Queen of Air and Shadow.

This time, Gormadraug aimed to win. He became as cruel to his children as the gods were to him. To strengthen them, he forced them to compete with one another endlessly, killing each other in an arena of death and resurrection.

The four Primordials endured centuries of this treatment, each one aching to be free of their sire. They found their opportunity from an unexpected source: a man named Kentigern and his six companions, seeking to tame the northern wilderness for habitation.

Alondo convinced his siblings to betray their sire and take the adventurers under their wing. Morrakesh and Citrolach formed powerful magic weapons that could pierce Gormadraug's flesh. Ilhara comped for them a magic song that would put the wyrm to sleep. Alondo taught them enchantments that would keep them alive, and also told them where to strive Gormadraug's heart.

Thus, Kentigern and his companions were able to slay Gormadraug. His body was destroyed, save for his indestructible heart, which was thrown into the northern sea and formed an island. Subsequently, the four Primordials divided Etharis among themselves and formed their own realms. Citrolach and Morrakesh settled along the equator while Alondo and Ilhara settled closer to the poles.

Yet all four Primordials know that their sire had not truly perished, but merely stumbled in a state of hibernation. Even now, mortals obtain command over the elements from the Prismatic Wyrm. The day may come when Gormadraug would awaken and wreak his vengeance across Etharis. They continually seek ways to prevent this from happening. Yet with the appearance of coldfire, it seems the Prismatic Wyrm's resurrection draws even closer.