Fall of the Giants
From the Codex of the Worldshaper, blessed book of the Clearian Holy Order, c. 500 DR
The Giants borne of Ulmark, the Worldshaper, were by far the finest and most powerful of the God's creations and they flourished, building great kingdoms that spanned countless leagues and centuries. But not all gods loved Ulmark's children so. The jealous trickster god, went to the greatest of the giants and convinced them each in turn of a special method by which they could earn Ulmark's favor. But the god's words were lies and the rituals he taught the giants tred upon the domains of the gods themselves. Ulmark was enraged at what his children had done. Ulmark stood ready to erase the giants from existence, but his youngest daughter, Eofir gave her own life to contain the corruption. Thus the perfect forms and unity of the giants were shattered and each grew according to the chaos that touched them: some were consumed by fire, some grew stupid and brutish, those touched by Eofir's grace emerged small and weakened with soft skin. Ulmark laughed at such creatures, for surely they could not live long in such a state. Thus was the race of man born to Sanzeia. When Ulmark learned what the trickster god had done, he would not be swayed. Ulmark read from his holy book of divine laws, thus renaming the trickster god The Betrayer and banished him and all his followers from Sanzeia for eternity. Ulmark then struck the names of their names from the minds of all living beings. Rhem'shia, the patron goddess of the banished people, distanced herself from her consort and became known as the Forgotten One. A Bard's Retelling, in the Norian Tradition, 1490 DR
Long ago, in the Age of Giants, the six races lived in peace and brought honor and glory to the Thirteen. The giants were the most perfect, beautiful, and beloved of all creations, honored with the gifts of stone and flame, cold and cloud, storm and hill. But the one of schemes grew jealous that his creations bore only the sea to their honor. So he came to the table of the giants, most perfect and faithful of all creations, and thus must blind. The scheming one planted a single seed, for that is the way he corrupts and destroys. He said unto the greatest of the god's children: the greatest gift of all was creation. For does not a parent treasure the works of their child regardless of skill? The giants understood and they created great works to honor Ulmark and Eo their creators. They offered new art, song, statue, and temple. The gods were pleased and showered praise upon their children. And the giants built ever greater. And the gods praised even more. But the Corruptor continued to speak in the minds of the most perfect mortals. Ever greater did they build, until one fateful day, pure hearted giants, build upon the very realm of the gods themselves. This time when the beloved giants offered up their gift, a single perfect creation, they received only anger. Ulmark, enraged at this betrayal ripped the gift limb from limb, for it violated his most supreme law. Then he no longer saw the giants as perfect, he saw only their flaws and would scour the world of them. But his most beloved daughter, Eofir, threw herself upon his feet, and cried, and begged. She cried first a river, then a sea, she cried until she herself was no more. And only then did the Father relent. In honor of his lost daughter he would allow the giants flaws to define them, and from their decadence did all man grow. Many years later, the Corruptor, spoke foolishly and the Great Father heard of the part his brother had played. Though the Corruptor's daughter's also wailed their mourning wails and gnashed their wicked teeth, they would not give up themselves for their father. The Mistress of Lies could not be convinced to shed a single tear, instead she sought protection and tore from the Divine Archive the Betrayer's stone. Ulmark's judgement was not swayed. Ulmark shattered the tablet of knowledge that spoke of the Betrayer and his people, and they were lost to time. The Forgotten Goddess, escaped her fate because she had wisely hidden her own tablet until the anger of the most holy faded.
The Giants borne of Ulmark, the Worldshaper, were by far the finest and most powerful of the God's creations and they flourished, building great kingdoms that spanned countless leagues and centuries. But not all gods loved Ulmark's children so. The jealous trickster god, went to the greatest of the giants and convinced them each in turn of a special method by which they could earn Ulmark's favor. But the god's words were lies and the rituals he taught the giants tred upon the domains of the gods themselves. Ulmark was enraged at what his children had done. Ulmark stood ready to erase the giants from existence, but his youngest daughter, Eofir gave her own life to contain the corruption. Thus the perfect forms and unity of the giants were shattered and each grew according to the chaos that touched them: some were consumed by fire, some grew stupid and brutish, those touched by Eofir's grace emerged small and weakened with soft skin. Ulmark laughed at such creatures, for surely they could not live long in such a state. Thus was the race of man born to Sanzeia. When Ulmark learned what the trickster god had done, he would not be swayed. Ulmark read from his holy book of divine laws, thus renaming the trickster god The Betrayer and banished him and all his followers from Sanzeia for eternity. Ulmark then struck the names of their names from the minds of all living beings. Rhem'shia, the patron goddess of the banished people, distanced herself from her consort and became known as the Forgotten One. A Bard's Retelling, in the Norian Tradition, 1490 DR
Long ago, in the Age of Giants, the six races lived in peace and brought honor and glory to the Thirteen. The giants were the most perfect, beautiful, and beloved of all creations, honored with the gifts of stone and flame, cold and cloud, storm and hill. But the one of schemes grew jealous that his creations bore only the sea to their honor. So he came to the table of the giants, most perfect and faithful of all creations, and thus must blind. The scheming one planted a single seed, for that is the way he corrupts and destroys. He said unto the greatest of the god's children: the greatest gift of all was creation. For does not a parent treasure the works of their child regardless of skill? The giants understood and they created great works to honor Ulmark and Eo their creators. They offered new art, song, statue, and temple. The gods were pleased and showered praise upon their children. And the giants built ever greater. And the gods praised even more. But the Corruptor continued to speak in the minds of the most perfect mortals. Ever greater did they build, until one fateful day, pure hearted giants, build upon the very realm of the gods themselves. This time when the beloved giants offered up their gift, a single perfect creation, they received only anger. Ulmark, enraged at this betrayal ripped the gift limb from limb, for it violated his most supreme law. Then he no longer saw the giants as perfect, he saw only their flaws and would scour the world of them. But his most beloved daughter, Eofir, threw herself upon his feet, and cried, and begged. She cried first a river, then a sea, she cried until she herself was no more. And only then did the Father relent. In honor of his lost daughter he would allow the giants flaws to define them, and from their decadence did all man grow. Many years later, the Corruptor, spoke foolishly and the Great Father heard of the part his brother had played. Though the Corruptor's daughter's also wailed their mourning wails and gnashed their wicked teeth, they would not give up themselves for their father. The Mistress of Lies could not be convinced to shed a single tear, instead she sought protection and tore from the Divine Archive the Betrayer's stone. Ulmark's judgement was not swayed. Ulmark shattered the tablet of knowledge that spoke of the Betrayer and his people, and they were lost to time. The Forgotten Goddess, escaped her fate because she had wisely hidden her own tablet until the anger of the most holy faded.
Cheifly seen as a cautionary tail about defying the will of the gods, modern scholars continue to debate what exactly the giants crime truly was. The texts are intentionally allegorical, some argue to prevent anyone else from following the same path. Others have put forth the theory that there never was a single advanced giant civilization to fail. Some scholars attempt to draw parallels between the fate of the giants and the Fall of the Neatherese. As any "source" is tens of thousands of years old, the debate is on going.
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