Prologue: The coming of the Pelolmeth

These are tales and stories passed from generation to generation in the land of Atisha.

They tell of how the gods withdrew from the world and how death became downcast.

Prologue: The coming of the Pelolmeth

The first of the Pelolmeth, the makers, to emerge from the space before was Aientas, bright and aged. Wrinkled and bearded, he brought with him the stars and filled the universe with light, taking up rule in heaven as a king. Then came Myliayar, Mother of spirits and all things unseen, the deep brown umber of her skin shining in Aientas’s light. With her from the void came her children, the spirits who dwelled in the stars and in the days after the forming of the world would serve the lords of their kind, the gods. Chief among them was her son Milyos, his swirling cloud filling the world with magic, leaving behind him the dust that would become the planets. Then came the three siblings, children of Haulduran the dream weaver, and Uostildad, who was slain in the space before and from whose veins flows time itself. First of their offspring was Kilomond, tawny, fiery, and strong, with a beard of embers. He would be the craftsman of the mortal forms, molder of their bodies. Next Kalikel, who drives the winds, and beasts, and all things wild, with hair that runs down from her head like white rapids. Finally, Silnethren, the pale and thoughtful wanderer who walks the skies. Together these three built the earth from the dust Milyos left in his wake: Sil gathering the dust in his wandering, Kilomond forging it into beautiful spheres, and Kali bringing forth wild growth and rushing waters. And, for a time, the three together reveled in their great work.

Many more would follow the siblings. Colthan the speaker of gods and host of heaven (who was also a child of Myliayar); Ewathat, the great muse, and Ikata, artist, and architect of the heavens; and Boltumeth, the ocean lord who would fall for Kali. These are the greatest of the gods and spirits who composed the world and would fill the world with the good and beautiful. And though there are many more, this book does not tell their tales. 

In time, the gods set about building mighty halls for themselves and the spirits who served them, filling the heavens with great works. Great were the houses they built, the pillars of the Pelolmeth rising in white stone. High were the roofs of these halls, higher than even the mountains, shining like the stars. And many things can be found in the heavens. The Library of All That Is and Will Be, curated by Aientas and Milyos, who store here all the knowledge of the gods, about the making of the world and the structures of the forms. The great tower of Myliayar, from which she watches over the world, protecting those whom she loves, stands above all, its mighty spire seeing all the earth below her. Also in these heavens rests the hall of Colthan, where those who seek a friendly face or good conversation are never in want. None who comes in good spirits is turned away from this house of merriment.  And here also Kilomond built his forge, overseen by Tilsitar, his billows women. It drew on the fires buried far below the earth. Fire spirits dance in the embers and coals of the furnace. In this place, he would stoke the fires of souls and set about his greatest works. 

But some were not satisfied to dwell in the heavens. Many lesser spirits took on physical forms, becoming the great drakes, dragons, and serpents of the seas and skies. Kalikel longed for freedom and so set about the wild places of the world where she could roil and run as she pleased. Boltumeth sunk deep into the deepest waters, deigning not to have the sky above him or earth below him but only the sea around him. And Silnethren, whose heart was always restless, claimed no place as his home, for he knew not what he desired nor where his place in the world was to be.