The Tragedy of the Godborn

A fable passed down by the migrant races for millennia…

As the elven peoples woke, first witnesses of Solitude’s dawn

The Beast that slept below stirred, roused by the celebration of life

Tahmay ordered the Work to cease, and rallied the kin for battle

But so too did the Beast send forth demons, born of its flesh to consume and extinguish

The demons rose to Solitude’s edge, they fed on flesh of elves and light of gods

And when their beast-flesh was sundered, their red souls rose again clothed in elven form

With this the gods knew fear, for their charges and their Work would be consumed

In haste they began a new Work, one nurtured to break the wave of death

First born were the dragons, all might and cunning and fire

Second the triton, brave and zealous guardians of the water domain

Third the golem, unbreakable sentinels to guard the cities of the kin

Fourth the celebrith, companions of the elves and masters of the sky

The children born descended to Solitude, and death knew its match

The sleeping Beast sent no more demons, but those that remained hungered no less

In Beast-flesh and elf-form they hunted, weakened but undaunted by the power of the kin

The gods knew no relief in their victory, for a shadow fell on the children who were born in haste

The dragons felled more demons than any, roaring holy flames that shriveled death itself

Their power impressed many, but most of all themselves

The seed of selfish pride took root, such that even their knights would scowl at weakness

They had been born mighty warriors, but could not understand frailty

The triton roamed the seas and grew restless, for demons had ceased to rise from beneath

They seethed in inaction, their zeal aimless but unbroken

In frustration they turned upon any who rode the seas, to satisfy a bravery turned to bloodlust

They had been born dauntless hunters, but could not control their instinct to kill

The golem kept a sullen watch, for most demons no longer wore the flesh of the Beast

Unable to parse the kin from the corrupted, they could not fight a hidden foe

One by one they left their posts to live in silence, inaction became their existence

They had been born immovable protectors, but could no longer do their duty

For centuries the celebrith kept their faith that the times of conflict would end

But their numbers dwindled as the demons endured, and their hearts grew heavy with sorrow

And so the few who yet lived abandoned their elven partners, choosing exile over extinction

They had been born loyal companions, but could not accept an existence defined by war

The dragons lost their hearts, choosing a vain desire to rule the weak

The triton lost their minds, seduced by bloodlust to become savage serpents of the sea

The golem lost their purpose, unable to comprehend a subtler war

The celebrith lost their faith, weary of battle that would not end

And the gods mourned, knowing their children’s plight was born of their own failure

They would never seek to create new life again