Tale of Creation

I have no doubt that contained within these pages is the true beginnings of our world.

— Tobias Knotwise, Fourth Age academic

Origins

Records of the Tale of Creation can be traced to the end of the Fourth Age, when it was discovered by halfling academic Tobias Knotwise. His notes detail the purchase of a collection of books from an impoverished noble, including a sealed scroll case. Upon opening it, Knotwise discovered a number of worn pages written in an unfamiliar language which he would eventually decipher as Celestial, a then-dead language. When he translated the pages he rushed to share them with religious leaders, though it reportedly took many decades to convince them of its veracity.
The original work that these pages were torn from is unknown, as is how they came to be sealed away and forgotten. Knotwise theorized that these pages must have been recognized as important and therefore saved for future generations, though he could not fathom why the entire work couldn't have been saved as well.

Synopsis

The Tale of Creation

First was Mava. Born of a plane beyond planes Her arrival beget existence, from which all things followed.

Second came Reina, and Her light flooded the nothingness, filling it with bountiful life.

Third came Yaradicil, and with His being all worlds were born, new and wondrous.

Fourth came Karas, and His strength caused the worlds to shudder and be made old and weathered.

Last came Maranam, and His touch closed the cycle of being. And so all things began.

The first five lines of the Tale of Creation tell of the arrival of the five grand gods - Mava, Reina, Yaradicil, Karas, and Maranam - during the First Age.

Mava's Arrival

Mava is described as having come from a "plane beyond planes," though what such a place might be is unclear, and has been the subject of much scholarly debate. What is clear is that Mava created the foundation for all other things - time.

Reina's Arrival

Reina brought both light and life into the planes, though until Yaradicil arrived it was still without form or purpose.

Yaradicil's Arrival

Yaradicil brought order to the planes, solidifying and organizing them into the structure that academics today refer to as the Cosmic Wheel.

Karas' Arrival

Karas was the only one of the grand gods to not create something wholly unique, instead altering the planes created by Yaradicil.

Maranam's Arrival

Perhaps due to being the last of the grand gods, Maranam did not play as major a role as the others. He created death, as something to follow the life created by Reina. Worshippers of Maranam's pantheon posit that Maranam's role was equally as important, just not as visible.

The Shape of Life

The following pages describe how the grand gods created the lesser gods, some as servants and some as family. These new gods then created servants of their own in the form of Demigods, Behemoths, Immortals, and Mortals. Many of the creatures described in the section no longer exist in Lume, which helps to date this document to before the Second Age of Destruction.

Demigods

Though no specific examples are given, the Tale of Creation tells of singular powerful beings infused with divine power and capable of sharing that same power with others. The author makes a point of describing Demigods and Behemoths as both being handcrafted by the gods, but clarifies that Demigods are far fewer.

Behemoth

Unlike the Demigods, multiple examples are given for the Behemoths: Dragons, Rocs, Giants, Krakens, and a unique Behemoth known as a Tarrasque. Handcrafted in the same way as Demigods, these creatures were made to be both numerous and powerful. However, from what we know of the Second Age of Destruction, the Behemoths were nearly wiped out and those that survived left with the gods during the Divine Accord.

Immortals

The section on Immortals is partially unreadable due to what appears to be water damage, but what can be read details creatures that lived untouched by the ravages of time. Some Immortals served gods directly, but others were more independent. Much like the Behemoths, these creatures no longer exist on Lume, having left during the Divine Accord.

Mortals

Though only Elves, Dwarves, and Humans are directly named, the author does note a myriad of other races throughout the world. Mortals are described as being the most numerous of all creatures, greatly outnumbering the rest combined. The author mentions how they are individually weak but capable of incredible feats when working together, and how they are not to be underestimated.

Additional Content

Remaining pages are heavily damaged, rendering them incapable of being read. What lone words and phrases can be read suggest that the author continued on to talk about the new beings that inhabited Lume, but nothing valuable can be gleaned from it.
Due to the style of writing, Knotwise theorized that the author was likely an Immortal, though he could not decide on what kind. Knotwise points to the section on Mortals as evidence, mentioning how it was written as if the author was not one. He also explains that since the author speaks of the entirety of Lume with familiarity, their lifespan must have been at least long enough to travel the world.

Cultural influence

Though it was first met with resistance from religious leaders, the Tale of Creation was eventually adopted and spread across Lume. Nowadays an abridged version can be read in many Common languages and includes only the first three pages of the original papers. Some religious institutions keep copies of the full twenty-two pages, written in the original Celestial.

Item type

Book / Document

Rarity

Widely available.

Base Price

5sp

Author

(unknown)

Published

Early Second Age

Length

3-22 pages