Writing Journal: Deities and Races, Volume I; Fyrste and the Bergan

I was initially thinking that I would start with one of the evil races to detail out in my journal. However, in constructing names for both the races and the deities, and some of the history that I plan on developing within that sequence, it became clear that it would be most appropriate to first reveal the first-acting deity within the hand of creation, whose name I have identified with the very root of the word "First."

When the deities all came into being, they already had disagreements as to whence they came and what their purpose for existence might be. But they existed in a realm that was full of endless possibility. It then was the first act of one who believed that there was a prior Creator who had a plan for the universe and for the deity-beings themselves, who had the sureness that his own compunctions were part of a larger purpose, to be the first to act.

And thus, it was Fyrste who created the world itself. It was a vast expansive mass, but at that time it had little in the way of shape or differentiation. Some contend that the initial creation was a singular landmass, from whence Nasci had created the oceans. While others argue that because the world is so vastly composed of water, that Nasci's contribution was to raise the land out of the oceans. There is some evidence that the initial structure of the world was a fiery core, from whence the rest sprang forth. These arguments are semantic at best amongst those who argue, for the two main points are that Fyrste was the first to play his hand upon creation. And it was Nasci who divided out what have been known as the elemental forces in land, sea, air, and fire.

The contributions of Nasci will be discussed in another journal, however. For it was the initial contribution of Fyrste that will spell out what happened after that. Some of the other deities delighted in the initial act of creation made by Fyrste. Nasci, in particular, as being the next to act, may have believed that the self-assured belief that Fyrste acted according to the will of another nameless being was suspect, but delighted in the possibilities that could be made from such an act of creation, and played her own hand within it. The same was true of Scieppend, who took the next play of hand in the act.

By that time, Creation itself was fully underway. But those who were last to act, either because of slowness or a sense of uncertainty, or because they disagreed with the means of even Fyrste's initial creation of the world itself, felt a combination of jealousy, hurt, and had a sense of discontinuity of purpose. Fyrste had not consulted his fellow beings before he made his first act, but did so. And somehow, each knew that they could not undo what had been done.

Malithia, whose name I derived from the root of the word Spite, or Malice, in particular wanted to bring down the Creation that Fyrste had initiated. Malithia agreed with Fyrste on his conception of a grand deity, but believed that Fyrste's initial act had fallen short somehow, and thought it should have been done better, with proper planning having gone into it. And so, with the acts of Malithia, and her brooding brother Weyveren acting in ways that threatened the destruction of Creation, Fyrste and the other gods themselves became hurt. They had placed such value in their own acts, that the workings of Malithia and Weyveren seemed personal attacks against the value of their actions.

It was actually the final act by Apathos, who seemed to waver constantly, and seemed almost entirely disinterested, that had driven Fyrste's final rage which sprung the first humanoids into existence. Apathos, who hadn't seemed to have any interest in the acts of Creation at all, simply uttered the words "I wonder..." and dragons had sprung into being within the world. Dragons had taken the beautiful equilibrium of the world, and had thrown it off course. They ruled over the lands within which they dwelled, and they were sentient in ways that the beasts and creatures of the land could not achieve. Dragons were great and terrible, and wise, seemingly all at once. In many ways, Apathos's creation was greater than any of the rest, and yet it was also the most terrible.

Fyrste took the act as a further attempt at the destruction of the world, and yet he saw the beauty that came with the first sentient creatures. And thus, the Bergan were born. The Bergan are long-lived, sturdy, and highly militaristic. Their society is hierarchical, with very strict laws. Those who disobey are punished readily and harshly, though there never seems to be ill will against those who bear such punishments. It is simply the way toward the greater good.

There are some magics that are performed amongst the Bergan, and those magics are the result of precise, deliberate actions, enacted through exacting rituals, and within which all elements are controlled. There is no such thing as dabbling in magic amongst the Bergan, for it is a power that is to be respected, and thus practitioners of the Science are to be dedicated and specialized in what they do.

The Bergan, whose name originates from the roots of Protection, maintain some of the greatest marshal forces in the world. Their duty is to protect the world and all Creation from the forces that would see it thrown to waste. The Bergan recognize Fyrste as the original creator of the world, and they revere him. They also believe that the universe is heading toward an inevitable final confrontation, in which the forces of evil and destruction will finally be overthrown, and the course of Creation will take a final step toward perfection.

In the meantime, the Bergan believe themselves to be the stewards and protectors of Creation until that time at the end of days. They are stern and harsh in their manner, though one would not necessarily consider them joyless. Theirs is a philosophy of pragmatism. What serves the ultimate goal of preserving Creation and allowing the world to see the end of days must reside primarily within the thoughts and hearts of its people. Other things are distractions. The Bergan have a number of holidays and celebrations. All of which center around reminders of the beauty of that which has been Created, and therefore the reminders of why they live and die to protect such beauty and wonder. And thus do they stand in opposition to those forces that would seek to destroy the world or bring harm to any other portion of Creation.

I hope everyone is enjoying this exercise, and I certainly welcome feedback regarding the process or the writing itself. Please feel free to post comments, questions, or criticisms. I would appreciate hearing what people think.