The Lost God

Prologue

Of all the peoples on Earth, the Heilagurns were the most righteous. The Twelve Gods had chosen them and lived amongst them. From there grew crops and metals, shelters and fish. Each of the Twelve gifted humankind with individual skills.

The First, Yorkel, gave the Heilagurns the gift of speech and diplomacy. With this, the Heilagurns began to teach the other peoples of the Earth, and thus began the Age of Knowledge.

The Second, Ivan, gave the Heilagurns the gift of weapons and war. With this, the Heilagurns conquered the peoples of the Earth, and thus began the Age of Battle.

The Third, Rufus, gave the Heilagurns the gift of agriculture. With this, the Heilagurns grew crops and fed the peoples of the Earth, and thus began the Age of Plenty.

The Fourth, Stefan, gave the Heilagurns the gift of trade and money. With this, the Heilagurns made and imposed money on the peoples of the Earth, and thus began the Age of Wealth.

The Fifth, Arne, gave the Heilagurns the gift of the birds and the sky. With this, the Heilagurns taught the peoples of the Earth to hunt fowl. Thus began the Age of Flight.

The Sixth, Olaf, gave the Heilagurns the gift of weather. With this, the Heilagurns taught the peoples of the Earth how to make shelter. Thus began the Age of Security.

The Seventh, Eyvindr, gave the Heilagurns the gift of the sea and fish. With this, the Heilagurns taught the peoples of the Earth how to fish and make ships. Thus began the Age of the Seafarers.

The Eighth, Trygger, gave the Heilagurns the gift of honesty. With this, the Heilagurns taught the peoples of the Earth how to value the truth. Thus began the Age of Honesty.

The Ninth, Randwulf, gave the Heilagurns the gift of travel. With this, the Heilagurns taught the peoples of the Earth how to populate the four corners of the world. Thus began the Age of Exploration.

The Tenth, Gunnar, gave the Earth the mountains. With this, the Heilagurns learnt how to traverse the tallest peaks of the world. Thus began the Age of the Nomads.

The Eleventh, Leif, gave the Heilagurns the gift of nobility. With this, the Heilagurns elected lords to rule over them. Thus began the Age of the Democracy.

The last of the Twelve, Vermund, jealous of being the last of the brothers to gift the peoples of the Earth, gave everyone the gift of foresight. With this, the peoples of the Earth trembled, for they knew how they were destroying the world. Thus, the Age of Realisation began.

Heilagur has long had the tradition of being religious – even the name translates to 'holy'. The legend goes that the Twelve Gods, the offspring of Mother Earth, chose Heilagur as their place of rest, and populated the land with beautiful women, some dark haired and some fair. The Twelve's influence spread beyond Heilagur towards Ormini, and even reached the uncharted lands beyond. For a time, they roamed the earth, quelling disputes and uprisings with diplomacy and force.

Despite the Twelve being immortal, they were also men, and were prone to the weakness that plagues us all. The women they copulated with got with child, and the offspring demonstrated the Twelve's power. The children were protected jealously by their mothers, who feared the anger of mortal men. Their fears were for nought; once the children came of age, they won the hearts of the peoples of the earth. Gaia (Mother Earth) looked on with envy as the children were doted upon by Gods and mortals alike.