Creation of the Three

The Creator decided to give a tiny drop of His own soul to the blood of His final creatures, so that they could think and create of their own mind, even in such a small way.
First He took water from the vast oceans and cooled the air around it so that it turned to mist and cloud. He shaped a long body and a face, and breathed into it so that she became alive. He said, "This shall be the wisest of my children. Her body is as free and unbound as the water, but so will her mind be. I give to her this drop of my soul so that she may bless my Creation with its power and know the wonderful joy of making good rains fall upon parched land."
Then He went underground to the great volcanoes, and took from there molten stone. He forged wings and hard scales, and breathed into its lungs so that she became alive. He said, "This shall be the strongest of my children. She will seek hard truth, but she will be unmovable as stone. I give to her this drop of my soul so that she may take to the heavens and find wisdom in her kin."
Finally He went to the forest, and He took water from a small stream and mixed it with the earth. Out of this clay he sculpted fingers and a full head of hair, and breathed into its lungs so that she became alive. He said, "This is the humblest of my children, but of her there will be many, as many as there are stars in the heavens. She will be bound to the earth, but her passion will be as boundless as the skies. I give her this drop of my soul so that she may teach the great and the small what it is to love without the connection of minds."
And He was satisfied.

— Sacred Writings of the Cavern, Lonán Translation

Summary

This is the foundational creation story that the aignaoithe and the naered share. As told above in the accepted Crathlian translation (which is not really Lonán's—see here), it outlines the creation of all three sentient species. The naered are said to be crafted from oceans, the aignaoithe from lava, and humanity from sand. Each is given a drop of the Creator's soul, said to be the power that created the world itself.
The Creator also speaks to a purpose in each of their existences, though it is left to the interpretation of the reader what exactly He means by each of these. In summary, though, the naered are said to be wise, the aignaoithe are said to be strong, and the humans are said to be humble. (Ironically, these descriptions often do not apply.)

Historical Basis

Given that there were only three sentient beings in the world at the time, who had no means of recording what occurred, there is no historical evidence that this event actually happened.
However, recent scientific studies of full-blooded humans (with no traceable or likely aignaoi blood) show that their blood contains the same power carriers found in the aignaoithe and their human descendents. Power carriers have also been discovered in naered mist. Since these cells are not present in plants or non-sentient animals, some say that our power carriers are the manifestations of "a drop of the Creator's soul."

Spread

Since both the naered and the aignaoithe believe that they were made in this way, the story spread to humans on both sides of the world.
The naered's strict governance and control over Shui Lu and its surroundings, including northern Morion and eastern Avium ensured that most humans on their side of the world believe in their Creator, though most do not worship Him as the sole god.
On our side of the world, the aignaoithe brought their religion to Crathlia, the Notian and Leutish coasts, and the west of Avium with the colonization.
After the colonization, the main people groups that did not believe in Creation were the Tellians as well as the Frigorans and the middle Aviumi.

Variations & Mutation

Depending on the biases of the teller, each of the three may be painted in a negative or positive light.
In Shui Lu, the emphasis is placed on the humility of the humans in the presence of the wisest of the Creator's children. Similarly, during the Colonial Era, the aignaoithe emphasized their own strength and the humans' place as humble servants. In modern Crathlia, we highlight the failings of both dragon races.
Despite its widespread nature, the story remains relatively consistent throughout the various cultures to which it's been spread. This is most likely due to its simple story and rather unbiased treatment of the three.

Cultural Reception

In Crathlia, our identity as children of the Creator is highly important to our religion, as is the case for the aignaoithe. As humans, we're taught to remain humble, passionate, and loving. Crathlians have long struggled with the fact that we are "the humblest" of His children, and whether that means that we are to submit to the dragons. Most of us have come to the conclusion that that's not the case; what was meant by "humble" was that we would seem insignificant to them, but in fact we are to remind them how to love when they forget (e.g. Colonial Era, current times in Shui Lu).

In Art

One of the paintings in the Sacred Cavern pictures Creation. Since art is a key part of worshipping the Creator, many songs, paintings, tapestries, and other works of art related to Creation exist. Children are often encouraged to tell this story in some artistic way. I myself painted teacups representing the three just as they were created.

Written by Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook

Date of First Recording

696 SA (470 LN by the aignaoithe calander)

Date of Setting

At the beginning of the world as we know it.

Related Species

• Aignaoithe
• Humans
• Naered

Related People

• The Creator

Related Organizations

• Aignaoi Creationism
• Crathlian Creationism
• Shui Creationism