Chapter fourteen : The Fourth Age and The Fall of Iblis

While the Compact was wise, and has prevailed to this day, it did not sit well with all of Heaven. Some of the Celestial Host was placed in the Nameless One’s palace of the air, which once served as Kador’s fortress. From there, they would serve the mortal races and act as a conduit for their prayers to pass from the mortal sphere onto the choirs of Heaven and, in some cases, directly to the gods themselves. Chosen members of the faithful would be granted powers by the gods, and would receive the ability to call up miracles sent to them by the Celestial Host. Other angels were sent to Elysium, to watch the mortal races for eternity and record their deeds.
When the gods told the three choruses of the celestials of this new order of things, most happily went about their duties, but a large group became greatly disgruntled. Led by the first among the archangels, Iblis, these celestials wondered how the gods expected them to go from being soldiers at their side, their instruments of wrath against the rebellious div, their army against Kador, to errand runners and messengers for the lesser races. Iblis cried out, “I was first born, made of fire, and ye want me to bow before these, who are made of dust?”
The gods, who had always loved Iblis well, sought to reason with him. This was the highest calling, for all of creation had been about this moment, when the free will of mortals would allow greatness to unfold. But Iblis would have none of it, nor would a legion of celestials at his back, many of whom had just returned from making war on the demons of the Abyss. None were willing to bow to the mortals, or join an order of things that included Hell, and the Abyss. They demanded the gods give them homes in newly-made Heaven, to spend their days singing. “This Compact is folly,” said one of this rebellious host, who would later be known as Belial. “It makes us stand shoulder to shoulder with evil, in the service of gnats, these mortals you would have us serve.” Iblis agreed, and said as much to the gods he had served.
This was more than the Lords of Heaven could bear. “You have overstepped, Iblis, and you and all your rebels will be undone!” Maal called down, and he and the treeborn gods prepared to smite every celestial in Iblis’ host. But Naryne stayed their hands. “If you strike them down yourselves, you allow others in the host to sit by idly and watch, without ever choosing for themselves how they would stand if asked. We can allow no such doubts among the host, for any who have learned to doubt us, or feel they are our equals, will surely rise against us someday.”
And so, based on Naryne’s wise counsel, the loyal members of the Celestial Host were set against the rebels, and fought a great war in Heaven. When all was done, Iblis and his compatriots were defeated and cast down into Hell, where it was hoped they might be punished by Asmodeus and his devils.
With the Compact in place and the rebellion quashed, the gods forever left the mortal sphere. And though they still return on occasion as their earthly avatars, and still influence mortal events through their agents on the earth, such as the priests and holy orders of their churches, they do not directly intervene. They leave mortals to make their own choices, to be tempted by devils, demons, and daemons, or swayed by their agents, and watched carefully by the Celestial Host and the guardian angels.
This is how we now know the world. Morwyn, Terak, Tinel, Zheenkeef, and Mormekar; their children Korak, Anwyn, Darmon, and Aymara; and one of the three sisters, Canelle, all sit on their thrones, only stepping into the mortal sphere during dire times. While they watch the mortal races, Mormekar claims them when their time has come. He sends them to Maal’s kingdom to be judged. Maal issues sentences, but his wife Naryne rules the underworld itself. And within the mortal sphere are the earth, the skies, and the waters, Rontra, Urian, and Shalimyr, who watch over the gods and advise them like dutiful parents, while shy Thellyne hides herself in the woods, watching over Eliwyn.
Occasionally Korak, who has never given up his unrequited love, visits her. Each god has his place, each goddess hers. This is how it has always been in our time and, gods preserve us, this is how it shall always be.