The First Book of
Sq'eahyn Neeajo
[1:1] In the beginning, there was only the ocean, stagnating in an eternal black firmament of utter darkness, and cold against the void.
[1:2] Reaching forth from the eternal void, the Overgod laid his hands into the endless waters, and from the waters at each hand rose the first of his children. [1:3] From his radiant right hand, he created the titan Istishia, stoic and reserved. From his night-shrouded left hand, he created our ever-changing queen and eternal mother, the majestic goddess Umberlee.
[1:4] Umberlee, our passionate defender.
Umberlee, almighty and unfathomable.
Umberlee, our judge who shall not be questioned.
Umberlee, the tempest into which we are cast.
[1:5] And the Overgod bade them to go forth and make fruitful the endless ocean.
[1:6] Of his son Istishia, the Overgod ordained, "Hark! Of this, thou shalt swim the Bright Water, and therein create of it the small fishes and the great fishes, the rays, the whales and the dolphins, the merfolk and the nereids, the shallow kelp and sea flowers, and every creature which skips, leaps and dances o'er its face to touch the void."
[1:7] And of his daughter Umberlee, the Overgod ordained, "Hark! Of this, thou shalt swim the Dark Water, and therein create of it the squids and the octopodes, the anemones and coral, the krakens and the shark-kin, the deep kelp, the crabs, the jellyfish and the shellfish, and the radiant lichen with which to bear light against the darkness of every grotto, trench and abyss, for the eyes of every creature which crawls, skitters or slithers to travel the ocean's bowels to touch the fundament."
[1:8] Calm Istishia and wild Umberlee were put to their tasks, and each darted forth across the world more swiftly than the typhoons. Where Istishia travelled the Bright Water, the endless shallows birthed new life in his wake. And where Umberlee travelled the Dark Water, the endless deep birthed new life in her wake.
[2:1] And within the passing of the Blue Age, other gods were begat of the Overgod. Amaunator, Selûne and Shar came forth from the Overlord's hands to part the light from the darkness. [2:2] Akadi and Talos came forth and parted the void from the ocean to create the firmament. [2:3] Kossuth came forth to create the liquid fire beneath the fundament, and Grumbar followed with him to raise the earth and to forge from the fire and the water every island, every plain and every mountain. [2:4] Bazim-Gorag came forth, and with his hands he stirred and moved the ocean, the fundament and the firmament, breaking the burdening calm with winds and storms, quakes and maelstroms.
[2:5] And the Overgod thence bade all of his lesser children to bring forth new life into their dominions. "But Father," cried the young gods, "we know not how to do as thou hast willed!"
[2:6] To them, the Overgod answered, "Hast the least of ye not looked to the first of your brethren, to Istishia and to Umberlee, and to the endless ocean from which all life hath been begotten?"
[2:7] And lo, the lesser gods did ascend to the firmament and gaze forth unto the ocean. And they beheld the bright and brilliant face of the endless waters, and the shimmering fishes which leaped o'er the waves and darted 'neath the waves, and a great many of the gods declared unto the Overgod, "Hark, Allfather! We beholdeth now the works of Istishia, and his creatures are the greater of all creation! We shall seek his counsel in birthing new life unto this world!"
[2:8] But the wisest of the lesser gods, from which Shar, Talos and Bazim-Gorag numbered, narrowed their eyes and peered deeper into the black depths, and therein beheld the mighty krakens, the cunning squids and octopodes, the primal fortresses sculpt of coral and the radiant deep-dwellers shining in the darkness. And they declared unto the Overgod, "Nay, Allfather, it is not so! We beholdeth now the works of Umberlee, and her creatures are the greater of all creation! We shall seek her counsel in birthing new life unto this world!"
[2:9] And it came to pass that the gods created a great many creatures to walk and crawl and slither o'er the fundament, and to burrow through the fundament, and to soar the gales and calms of the firmament. But those whom Istishia had taught to create life jonded to declare the creations of their others to be monstrous and inferior, and those whom great Umberlee had taught to create life joined to declare the creations of their others to be feeble and inferior. And lo, great turmoil erupted amongst them, though of this neither Istishia nor Umberlee held part.
[2:10] And lo, the lesser gods cried unto the Overgod, "Allfather! We face great anger and calamity given root amongst us! We beseech thee to lay thy judgement and thy wisdom upon this world, and to decree whether Istishia or Umberlee is the ablest creator of life, that this calamity may be averted!"
[2:11] But no answer came hence. The Overgod turned silently away and departed into the void. And the gods stoked again their passions for the wonder that is life, and war raced forth amongst them.
[3:1] In the void above the firmament, Shar and Selûne soared against each other into contention, and their blood rained down unto the earth and the seas, and both the light and the darkness shone red with the onset of war. All was slicked in blood where the gods fell wounded against each other.
[3:2] And from beneath the scarlet waves, silent Istishia and wise Umberlee silently beheld what truly they had wrought.
[3:3] And from that blood harvest was a new god born. Tempus marched forth from the void and descended into the war, taking measure of its course. And of the loins of Tempus were two sons born: Garagos the Reaver, and Valkur the Deep-Foe.
[3:4] And Tempus sent Garagos across the earth, bidding him into slaughter and howling for the heads of those who cast lots with Umberlee. And Tempus sent Valkur the Enemy into the blood-red waters, compelling him, "Go forth into the blackened depths! Find the witch-queen Umberlee, who hath defiled all that is pure and calm in this world, and who hath sown my horrible coming with her misbegotten sea-demons! Thicken the ocean with her blood, O Valkur, and with the blood of her every child!"
[3:5] And in that hour did Istishia forsake mighty, unhappy Umberlee, and he did part from her side and leave her to her own. And in that bitter darkness of the Deep did our Eternal Sea-Mother's heart grow bitterer and darker with the betrayal.
[3:6] "Get thee from me, O lamprey suckling the throat of a blind master!" Great Umberlee did rebuke as Valkur the Enemy descended. "I am just in what I did, and through me the will of the Deep and all the universe is done! A half-measure of all the world's life stems forth from the Deep at my will, and thou shalt not drive it unto nothingness! Be hence, O bearer of injustice!"
[3:7] But ignorant Valkur stayed not his hand, and the battle split the deepest trench in all the seas, and the water rose to touch the firmament with a crack of thunder, then crashed forth unto the shores of the land with fury.
[3:8] And on the third day was bloodied Valkur the Enemy driven to flight, and great Umberlee's fearsome screams of revenge followed with him. And all the waters of the ocean ebbed into the abyss, then rushed forth with unstoppable might to....
