The Pearl Of Vynes - Chapter 20 Gods And Myths

As they were finishing up for the night, Tane threw the anchor over the side of the boat. The loud splash and chains clinking together signalled they were stopping for the night. Miles and Alice had already rolled up the sails as they watched the sun going down on the water. Miles went around the ship and lit some candles so they could see what they were doing on the deck while they sat down. Tane had gone under the hold and grabbed some food for them to eat dinner together. Miles happened to have a blanket handy and laid down on the deck, giving a soft floor for them all to sit on. The three of them ate the dry rations, while Tane had hidden a barrel of ale while the two men drink to ease the work of the day, laughing over some old stories. Alice munched down the last of her bread as she stared at Miles and Tane chatting to each other. The stars were starting to come out, glowing ever so brightly in the sky as Alice finished her meal.

“Miles, how was the world born?” Alice asked.

“That’s an oddly philosophical question there” Miles said turning his head towards Alice.

“No one’s ever told me, after being in Rift I was so worried I’d never make it out. It makes you feel scared, what is out there? And what happens when I do die?” Alice continued to say.

“Well it’s a thing many of us have to confront young one” Tane said as he tore at more of his food so he could scoff it down.

“Well I could tell the one your parents would say, or I could tell you the one I know” Miles said

Alice shot a questioning look at Miles, intrigue building within her at the wealth of knowledge Miles seemed to carry always grew in Alice’s eyes.

“In the beginning, there was nothing. Well not much and nothing we would know as the world is today. This is when the Gods were born”

“Wait, they were born?” Alice asked confused.

“Back then there was a single being that existed, as he was left wandering the loneliness of the sky empty of stars and other lights in the sky he decided to make the Gods to accompany him where they could all make a world together. We do not know his name but his often known as The Nameless One. The Gods casted him out of the universe after their birth as they could not begin creation while he was there.

“Well that’s terrible” Alice said.

“It had to be done, his existence makes the ability to create almost impossible for the Gods” Miles explained. “After this they shaped the stars and created the world you see now. Boraa the Dweller, created and formed the earth we stand upon and rose the mountains into their heights. Moira, Lady of the Ocean gave us water and rejuvenated the world. Atloc, the Lord of Light and Fire, gave destruction and life to this world. And finally Balael, Lord of the Undead, claimed the souls of the dead to allow life to continue in its cycle”

for visiting.

“But I thought there were five gods?” Alice said.

“There are. The last God, Seth the Man-God of trickery blessed the animals with intelligence and humour. Each of the Gods bestowed gifts on the races of the world Magic we can perform today. Praying to a God will give you these gifts but unfortunately it is not so easy when doing so”

“What do you mean” Alice asked, Tane continued to munch his food while listening to Miles’ story.

“Well after the Gods had created the world, they were exhausted. They promised each other that they would relinquish their powers so they could slumber and wake someday in the future, when they had finally recuperated. Though the day they rise will be the day of many events that may change the very existence of this world”

The silence after Miles had finished was heavy, the lapping waves was the only sound breaking the dead silence.

“So where are they now?” Alice asked.

“Here and there, they found hiding places somewhere far away from people and have slumbered for untold millennia. Although I prefer if they did just sleep, the amount of trouble would be too terrifying to understand” Miles said.

Alice tilted her head, confused at what Miles was getting at.

“Anyway, enough stories for tonight. We’ve got another long day tomorrow so better rest up” Miles said turning away from the group and reaching for a bedroll just placed out of reach so Miles could sleep on the deck. Tane had a blanket as well to sleep on the deck. Alice sighed as Miles didn’t want to cooperate anymore, going under the deck where the horse was. Finding a nice pile of hay to sleep in, Alice thought of the scope of a world created in an instant. Alice could see the stars from small slats in the boat. The stars gleamed so far away and yet Alice felt she could touch them. Rolling over Alice found sleep quite easily, her thoughts populated with giants hovering above the world and carving it into their image.