Sanctum

Creation Myth

To the Dwarves and much of the Human population, the world rose from a heated argument between the two primary gods of the Sanctum's pantheon. Vierae and Viari are the two principal gods of the Sanctum. The brothers sprung into existence within the realm of Sanctum, and for a long time, simply existed within the marble halls in contemplation of their existence. However, at some unknown point in time, the two had simultaneously asked whether there was anything outside of Sanctum. Upon their investigation, however, the two found that all existence stopped at the threshold of Sanctum.

The two were quick to descend into an argument about whether or not anything could exist outside of Sanctum. To prove a point, Viari unleashed a power he'd never known before which coalesced into an enormous earthen sphere far in the distance in the void. Puzzled yet at the same time insatiably curious, the two brothers wanted to travel to the sphere, but having no means, had to create one. Not wanting to be outdone, Viarae similarly created a rocky bridge to the sphere, but it quickly fell apart. From that point on, their roles were set, Viari being the creator, and Viarae being the destroyer. Neither of them were malevolent, however.

So Viari brought into existence a marble bridge from Sanctum to the yet-featureless earth. There, the brothers were astounded by what they had wrought, but wanted to know what more they could do. With a fortuitous stroke of inspiration, Viarae made some of the earth crumble into nothing nearby and it formed a hollow bowl. Excited by this, Viarae ran off in some direction, creating lakes, puddles, rivers and valleys. Behind him, his brother followed raising hills, plateaus, mountains and valleys. What had begun as an experiment quickly turned into a labour of love.

Before long, the two brothers discovered that together they could make cliffs, ravines, volcanoes — though these volcanoes were simply hollow and did not yet spew molten rock out of their gaping maws. A particular outburst of emotion from Viarae disintegrated an enormous swath of earth, the first ocean. The brothers decided that they liked how the sphere looked with large areas of raised and lowered ground. And so came into being the continents and the seas. They loved what they had made, but deep within them, they knew that something was missing.

They both knew everything that was to be known about what they had made, and they both desired to have others to share the wonder of their creation with. Pondering and pondering for the longest time, they could not think of a way to bring forth others from the void, and so they wept, consumed with grief that no one else might partake in the joy of their creation. Their tears filled the first ocean and from the froth of the waves crashing against the shore rose the Goddess Verana, the Goddess of the Waters. Around her feet was wound the Leviathan, a colossal Serpent that she released into the ocean for it to have dominion over the waters.

She raised her fathers' chins and laughed in joy and wonder at all they had wrought. The puffs of her breath became the first clouds. With one gesture, she filled the rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans with life-giving water. Before their eyes, the barren earth turned lush and green and from it rose the Green Giant whose domain was all flora and fauna. As they watched, birds came into being and flitted in the air around the Gods. Amazed, Viarae exhaled, but with it flowed his power and it sank into the earth. Not far from them the first volcano erupted, raining molten rock on the ground, beautiful yet deadly as well. Glowing red-hot, Vulttan, Fire Incarnate pulled himself out of the molten heart of the earth.

Pleased, for the time being, the five Gods departed the earth and returned to Sanctum through the Marble Bridge.

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