Proem
You slowly open your eyes, unsure of how much time has passed since your last waking thought. Last time you were awake was midday on a dirt trail in a small open field. You were weak from many days travel and admittedly, a little bit lost too. Not letting your mind dwell on the past, you look around the room you are now in. Your eyes take a moment to adjust to the poor lighting of the cloud covered sky that faded in through the window. It's just a simple guest room from what you can make out. There is a small table and chair, a candle sitting on the nightstand beside the bed you are on, and two doors; you figure one of those doors is either the closet or the restroom for the room and the other leads to the rest of the place. You try sitting up but find your head still somewhat heavy and your mind dizzy. Letting out a soft mutter to yourself, “I must have been out for at least a day.” before you manage to sit up. Moments after you get your bearings, one of the doors open, and you see a tall silhouette enter. “Ah, you are finally awake young traveler.” You can now tell that the person is a male and even though he has a rather smooth, youthful voice, he called you young... so you can't really make out his age. “Are you feeling well traveler?” He asks in a slightly worried tone. “Just a little groggy is all. May I ask for how long I was asleep?” The man in the room let out a light chuckle. “You were asleep for 2 days. I found you passed out so I brought you back to my inn.” The man took a seat at the table, still facing his guest. “I thank you for that, I know this area can be dangerous at night.” You try to figure out more about this gracious inn keeper during the conversation. It seems as though he has light hair that reflects the crepuscular light... and something seemed to glint blue now and then around where you guessed his face to be. “I am curious, why were you traveling by foot? Even with the limited electricity this far into the valley, you would've been much safer using some sort of vehicle?” You explain to your host your methods and why you were doing so. The inn keeper must have thought you were funny, cause he was softly laughing again. “I see, you wanted to go on an adventure just like the heroes of old.” You tell him that you knew it was going to be a tough journey but it would be worth the thrill of accomplishment when you were finished. “Young one,” The inn keeper speaks in a more serious tone now “doing things for the thrill of it all will only get you so far down that road.” As he spoke, he seemed to be speaking from first hand experience. “Were you once a traveler too sir?” You asked the inn keeper. “Would you even be interested in my story? You seemed to be more interested in endings a second ago.” He teasingly joked. “I would be very much interested in your story good sir. Infact, since you helped me, I'll gladly listen to your entire tale thus far.” You said with determination so he would know you were serious. “Before we start with the tale nearly as old as time itself,” The tall man stood up and was heading out the room “you must be hungry. Let me fetch you a meal or two first, then I'll start.” Then you were alone once again. The inn keeper was very polite and even though you had yet to exchange names or even seen his face, you felt safe in his care. For the rest of your alone time, you daydreamed about what kind of things a seemingly humble man could've done in his past and what he meant by a tale nearly as old as time itself. “Alrighty, we have a bowl of Stone soup with fresh water and sweet bread for your first course and a plate of freshly roasted fish and vegetables straight from my garden.” He placed the tray of food on the nightstand beside you. A small speck of fire left the inn keeper’s finger and landed on the candle wick on the nightstand to give you some light. “You are a magician sir?” Though magic and things like it were commonplace in the world, it was still amazing to see someone use their powers. “Something like it, yes. Though being just a magician would be easier than being what I really am.” He took a seat again at the table. “Shall we start the tale young one?”
Long before the world was born, there were Gods. These Gods don't even know how they came to be but they were there and they were getting bored of being alone. Some of the gods came together to create what we today call Angels. The angels were similar to the gods but made a little weaker so the gods could observe how they would live with what they had. All of that was fine for a few centuries but even the angels worn their interest. It was then they made the world. On the newly formed planet grew life such as animals and eventually humans. Most of the gods were pleased with just watching over the world but a few wished to be among it like the angels that would interact with the mortal creatures. There was one goddess in particular that loved the lives of the mortals; Goddess Dehva. She was already shunned by most of her peers for giving some of the humans a way to use powers but when they learned of her wanting to leave their higher plain for the world she helped make… they would be livid. Dehva descended anyways. She became the most beloved goddess to the angels and the humans, in fact the humans called her the great mother of Lurra. She would teach them how to find and use their powers, teach them greater ways of living, and even tell them stories of how Lurra was made. She would mourn when a human she knew passed, she would praise the birth of new life and love, she was slowly becoming more humbled there on the ground. Dehva even created new life forms on her travels. That is how we came to have the mixed breed anthros though her first attempts weren’t as advanced as they are toda-
“Excuse me but what’s with the ancient, not to mention religious history lesson?” You interrupt the inn keeper. He lets out an annoyed cough. “It all has a point young one.” There was a moment of silence. “May I continue or do have anything else to say?” He asks you. “I’m sorry sir, please continue.” Though you would rather him just get to the actual story instead of the pointless and boring ‘history’ lesson.
Eventually a special angel fell in love with Dehva. This angel would visit Dehva when she was alone in her travels to give her company and many times he would bring her gifts from the godly plain such as rare flowers and trinkets. They grew very close and an old God did not like that. Aldek-Patu loved to torment and manipulate humanity so when he became tired of Dehva’s kind and motherly nature towards his play toys he turned his powers on her. Planting the seed of change in Dehva, it slowly took over her by absorbing the sin and unpleasantness from human souls. She physically changed; Her fair skin becoming dark as night, her golden hair changed to dark bloody rivers, her clear sky eyes became piercing soulless yellow beams, and her powers that once glowed the colors of twilight now emitted hate and bloodlust. Her followers ran in fear from their mother, the angels were used as frontline men to keep Dehva’s advance into the Godly Plain, even the other gods feared this dark goddess. A great battle against Dehva lasted for many moons, it almost seemed hopeless till one angel stepped up. He was battle bruised and weary as he tried to bring her back to sanity. He presented her with a single flower that had grown from the very first temple made in her honor. It only worked for a moment but it was enough for her to be ‘defeated’. Like the Fairy tales we grew up with, the Hero saves his princess with a kiss… but this kiss only transferred the curse. A portion of darkness took over the angel. The now Fallen Angel crashed to Lurra, hiding in the shadows, trying to keep sane. The gods took the chance to seal away Dehva and drain her of her powers over time since they couldn’t kill her. Lurra eventually healed from the devastation and evolved for millennia, leaving behind it’s gods and angels for science and politics. We rose and fell then risen again into the world we are now.
“But the Gods aren’t forgotten. The Great Capital of Zuri has monuments and libraries full of the old gods’ ways, even followers and the Devout are plentiful there.” You speak, hoping the inn keeper’s lesson was over this time so you weren’t chastised for interrupting again. “Some of the old ways have stayed with us but what about the outer cities and more rural areas? Zuri is mocked as a city of fake faith and idiots.” You couldn’t tell how he felt about the subject, one second he was praising Zuri for keeping the old ways but then using the word idiot to describe some of its inhabitants… though in places like Geriza and Ezazu they would say the same thing. “Do you follow the God’s Faith?” You ask the Inn keeper. “Unfortunately, young one, I don’t have the luxury in getting to choose what I believe.” The inn keeper spoke in a depressed tone. “Why is that sir?” You tried to think of a reason someone would say such a thing but other than being a man of strict science which he obviously wasn’t, what else could he be? “Now that is a good question,” You hear the chair scoot on the floor as the Inn Keeper made himself a little more comfortable. “And this part of the story will answer that very question. So let's get to it then.”
