Worldbuilding: The Empires

Creation Myth

Once upon a time, the world was new. Untouched; fresh from the womb. It's unknown where the world came from, or who birthed it. Earth came into existence slowly, in fragments, with only the company of her own heartbeat.

Earth, who was known as Priya, was alone in a landscape of blackness. Longing for someone to share this consciousness with, she decided to create. With all her might, she created a breeze, so small it could barely be felt. Until it grew. It swirled, tumbling and crackling. Power radiated from the force she'd created; life was bursting at the seams. Eventually a shape formed and took corporal form.

This took shape into a feline. This feline became a God. His body was translucent, often appearing as only a pair of eyes, or a vague outline of a feline-shaped entity. At the very most, he would be seen with very faint ginger and white colouring. He would always be recognised by his dynamic golden eyes. This feline was made from the wind and now created it. He was not a solid entity. He was as distant as the wind itself, could not always be seen, but could always be felt.
He was named Mih'h, the god of the wind. He was known for his mischievousness and his relentless energy. He was laughter, smolder, and twin fire eyes.

This cat tore the world in two. Dancing and leaping, he was electricity and excitement. He brought charisma and entertainment to Priya. No one could feel alone with his as a friend.

But Priya wasn't satisfied. She liked the energy and wit, but she wanted more. Now she craved the rush of creation.

So she created light. Warmth, soft, and flickering. It danced in a way in which Mih'h did not, in a quiet, mesmerising manner. Light drew everyone to it, it was entrancing. This ball of light grew. It grew and grew and alongside it, a twin was formed. This was fire. It too, was nice and calm. But it carried intensity, the ability to devour at any moment. The instability and unpredictability was jolting.

And from these twins, one creature took form. With a flickering pelt and kind smile, the god of light was born.
She had two personalities. Hailth was the name of one. The side birthed in light, a side of security and comfort, of trust and consistency. Now the other personality is known as Thliah, one of rage, pain, and glory. A side of fury, and hatred. Those who encounter this side, birthed from the flame, are to be pitied. Thliah wears devastation like a second skin.

Priya found comfort in Hailth, content to gaze upon her and to drape herself inside her light. The two were intertwined, a melodic remedy. And Priya was fond of Thliah too. Her daughter may be deadly, but there was more to her than that. Fire brought warmth and safety, if only it were controlled.

Hailth and Thliah were tall, elegant, and graceful. When Hailth was fronting, she appeared as a tortoiseshell feline. She was mostly black, with slight patches of ginger. It is said that she can dissolve into fireflies. Thliah, whenever she is fronting, has a switched version of Hailth's colouring. Where Hailth is black, Thliah is ginger. Where Hailth is ginger, Thliah is black. Her patterning tends to move up and down her body like fire, her pelt is forever in motion.

But Priya still felt as if something was missing. So she created water. Crystalline liquid flowed from Priya's body. Water swelled and grew, surrounding the land in its saline embrace. It flowed through the land through streams and rivers, turning from salt water into fresh water. From the water, another feline emerged. Small silver fish-scales peep bedazzle their muzzle, and under their eyes.

This creation was the God of water. They were a messenger, blessing those with thoughts and imagination, carrying them from one to another. Their name was Neira. They can dissolve into liquid at any moment.

Priya wasn't done yet. She felt she had much more to create. She had visions of a life in constant motion, a life in which she would never feel lonely again. She decided to bring another god to life. She created roots, clinging deep within the earth. Time passed, unbelievable time. The roots sunk inward, seeds gently feeling the tug of life above the surface.