The Fallen Heavens

Summary

Beyond the skies, past the furthest star, lies the Celestial Courts. What little of it remains of them anyway, for madness has corrupted even this paradise. Many sought after this place, suffering in this mortal world in the hopes of obtaining immortality. However, the promise of immortality and enlightenment was not all that it seemed to be. The gods were not infallible as many believed. They squabbled over territory and fought, slaughtering one another, not unlike the mortals. Ploys and schemes follow every pantheon, as only the most worthy of these gods could progress to the heaven above them.

Ironically, during the Night of the Fallen Heavens, it was not the warring gods who destroyed their homes. Rather, the once-mortal scholars and the heroes among men who drew favor from the Celestial Courts brought about its downfall. Clashing steel echoed from the Ivory Temples to the Celestial Courtyards. The Pools of Serenity were dyed crimson as bodies sank into the once-perfect waters. With power similar to that of the gods and the imperfect nature of man, the heavens could not sustain their foolish pride and ambitions. The first of the many heavenly layers crumbled, plummeting fragments of heaven, and the spirits of these ascended mortals back toward the world, forever separating themselves from the gods.

Desperate to preserve what little remained, the Seven Immortals gathered fragments of the heavens, warding them from the corruption, and threw them deep into Xùyì, plunging deep into the ground. These incorruptible materials hold the key to banishing the evil that has taken hold of Xùyì.

Historical Basis

This myth explains the origins of the Outsiders and how the Elder Races had fallen as swiftly as they had. It is common knowledge that the Elder Races were highly advanced in the days before their fall. Some speculate that the fragments that the Elder Races sought after can be found and reforged for weapons and armor.

Spread

The Tales of the Fallen Heavens are recognized worldwide as a cautionary tale that shows the inevitable destruction that is brought about by human nature. It offers a fatalistic view of the world. Although the story remains similar no matter where it's told, dozens of changes and further insight into this tale are offered throughout the land.

Variations & Mutation

The original myth sought to shed light on the innate flaws of people, the things that define them and, in many ways, make them human. Even as immortals, greed and jealousy abound. Even within paradise, the blade calls. Variations include mentions of various regional gods, ancestor heroes, and, oftentimes, their unique ideas of what sort of people may have been within that heaven. While the original story simply states what happened, many will invent heroic figures and heavenly factions of their own design. Most keep these 'characters' as quiet observers within the tales. Elder Races made implications on these matters, though they never offered enough information to form an opinion.

One of the strangest takes was written by a bard found in Southern Trel, who explored many other lands and cultures. In his version, humanity takes a much smaller role in the myth. The gods had become jealous of those who inhabited the world, of the massive kingdoms of stone where the Dwarfs resided, and the songs and love for life of the Giants, though they were especially jealous of the Elves. The Elves had mastered the mystic arts and tamed what the gods feared. With wounded pride, the gods began hurling the very foundation of their habitation towards Xùyì, destroying buildings and houses in the process. According to this myth, the gods wander the darkness as stars, forever lost without ever understanding the reason why.

Cultural Reception

The myth is directly related to the Elder Races. Ironically, none of them give much credence to it. Instead, humanity, ever the contradiction, marvels at these tales. Nearly every depiction and variation comes from the viewpoints of Human cultures and their religions. However, even the Elder Races can be pressed into giving their opinions on these tales.

Elves deny the very existence of the gods, claiming these stories to be slander and nothing more. According to the Elves, parallels between these tales and their history are noticeable, for the Elves once fought among themselves for predominance within a paradise of their own. Elves who resided upon the surface delved too deeply into magical knowledge, and though they became wizened beyond belief, it opened the keys to their hearts. Rebellion in the name of sadistic gods, and kin-slaying was common. Those deemed unworthy were exiled deep beneath the ground, carrying some of the artifacts the Elves had sacrificed everything for.

Dwarfs admit there is much truth to this tale, though it is one of weakness, no matter the variation. Weakness should never be honored, not even as a warning. Weakness of that magnitude is a shame upon all the lands, and it is best that the people willfully forget, leaving the heavens to sort themselves out. Of course, Dwarfs are known for concealing their true feelings on matters closely related to them. Perhaps they played a bigger role in this than he would ever care to admit, or it could be that the story reflects too deeply into their history.

Oddly enough, Orcs claim that this tale is a historical event. They willingly talk about what may have happened, claiming that it has happened several times, like a wheel, the gods rise and fall, the heavens break and are reborn anew. Despite believing, however, they are so filled with superstitions and the stitches of other religions that the myth loses its entire purpose. It is one of many legends, equally precious and worthless in value to the Orcs. It's not uncommon for an Orc to begin quoting fragments of an irrelevant myth while discussing this one.

In Art

There are many paintings of this event, each as unique as the variant tales. Artists generally put a great deal of emphasis on the fear that those who were involved in the event must have felt. Depictions of gods, immortals, and barbaric creatures clash against the dark backdrops. Some paintings depict these as shimmering lights against the darkness that envelopes them, fighting against the inevitable. Others depict these immortals as warriors, giving in to their unholy desires a final time, as the heavens crumble. Some variations of these paintings have no true characters, the inhabitants of that heaven blending in so well that they become one with the destruction.

Although paintings are the most common medium used to depict this tale, statues present it in a far different light. Far less focus is placed on the needless destruction. Instead, they show the sacrifices made during these final moments. Dunstan, the dark one, though still a mortal, carried seven demigods in a basket upon his back during his flight, seeking redemption in his final moments. Life-sized statues of The Seven Hag Sisters are seen, connecting several villages. Tears streaked down their faces as they watched their homes burn, eyes filled with mystery and regret.