ANAHKÓLION

BEFORE THE FIRST ERA

INTRODUCTION

Before we delve into the content of the Eras and Times, it is essential to understand how they are arranged across the worlds. First, when we refer to "worlds," we are actually speaking of continents rather than entirely separate realms. However, there is one exception to this rule: when discussing the Laienürimim, the Dark Portals, or where they lead, we are indeed referring to an entirely different world. Thus, aside from this exceptional case, we can consider six worlds – ANAHKÓLION, ANATHURILIS, ERNATHURILIS, ERNTHYS, DNATHIRIUM, and ERNT-NADOR – governed by Eras and Times. Another crucial distinction pertains to what constitutes an Era versus a Time and how each is structured. It’s important to clarify that each Era is named for a moment or lasting event of significant importance that endures throughout its Times. The same applies to the Times, with each one named in reference to a major occurrence.

COMPOSITION OF THE ERAS AND TIMES

A Time in Anahkólion, or even Ernt-nador, is made up of several Cycles. Each Cycle is divided into winter and summer. However, in comparison to the Gregorian Calendar, Anahkólion’s Cycles span about 19 months and some additional days, while Ernt-nador’s Cycles consist of 14 months and a few extra days. The Cycles existed during the period known as BEFORE THE FIRST ERA, yet they were not counted. The counting of Cycles in Anahkólion began much later, once they were well into the First Era of Anahkólion. This practice was established by the First Wizard, Yondar, after extensive study. According to Hísthalar Yondar’s understanding, tracking time was necessary to establish the average lifespan of men and to record significant events throughout the Eras. The Eras, in turn, comprised one or several Times. Thus, an Era could be shorter or longer than another, with no linearity or set standard in its structure, only the existence of at least one Time was required. The same was true for Ernt-nador, yet, with prior study and understanding, the Cycle count gave way to tracking by the Lunar Calendar, and much later, the Ernt-nador Calendar for the Known World. It’s important to note that the worlds of Anahkólion, Anathurilis, Ernathurilis, and Ernthys always measured time by Anahkólion’s Cycles, each lasting nineteen months, whereas Ernt-nador used a separate Cycle system of fourteen months instead of nineteen. As previously mentioned, calendars were created later on. Due to the varied methods of timekeeping across these worlds, events that occurred in a given Era for Ernt-nador may not align precisely with a corresponding Time in an Era of Anahkólion. Attempting to correlate or compare events can pose a risk of inaccuracy. Even though early records from Ernt-nador show a degree of alignment beginning with the Fifth Era of Anahkólion, there is strong evidence that Ernt-nador received descendants of Anahkólion’s Lineages as early as the Second Era of Anahkólion. However, without a time-based record, only an account of occurrences, precise dating is not possible, though the events themselves are known to have taken place. To keep the story intriguing, we won’t cover all ten Eras of Anahkólion. Speaking about each Era in detail would reveal too many twists and secrets that span back to the period known as Before the First Era of Anahkólion. For now, we’ll discuss the first three Eras broadly, keeping the mysteries, betrayals, and destinies of the characters and kingdoms in Anahkólion, Anathurilis, Ernathurilis, and Ernthys intact. With the release of the The Wizards' War series, more about Anahkólion’s Eras and Times will be unveiled in full. With this foundational understanding, we can proceed to grasp how everything unfolded from the very beginning.

THE CREATION

Creation is regarded as the beginning of all things, the moment when worlds and gods were brought into existence. Thuror was the first god created, followed soon by the simultaneous creation of nineteen other gods. Together, they formed the High Council of the Gods of Naumathar, seated within the Castle of Light on Mount Naumathar. After the gods’ creation, Naumathar endowed them with power, guiding them in the formation of humankind and their respective lineages. Three lineages emerged, classified by their importance and role in the world: the First, Second, and Third Lineages. Each was created with distinct purposes, though these would evolve over time. Each god was tasked with overseeing their lineage, assisting the First Man of each line and monitoring the progress and development of their descendants. Many events took place between the creation of the gods, during what is known as the period Before the First Era, and the creation of the Lineages of the First Men, which marks the beginning of the First Era. It’s worth noting that while time was not formally counted throughout the period termed Before the First Era, it also wasn’t tracked immediately during the First Era’s beginning. This practice only began much later, after the emergence of Yondar. However, even without a time count, events were recorded and organized into a timeline of significant moments that shaped the gods, Anahkólion, and eventually humankind. Consequently, the era referred to by many as "Before the First Era" witnessed a multitude of events, including the creation of the Koluns-kand, the Thuoroms, the Argonas, and the Gontthers along with their Arlierocs by the gods. It was a time when the gods battled various creatures that roamed across all worlds. The Acrons were imprisoned in the Fortress of Thorcranom during this era. Conversely, it was also when Omnathar secretly captured some Gontthers and their Arlierocs, transforming them into beings that would be known as Thorens and Ardolerocs. The Gontthers and their beasts were sought after throughout the realms but were never found. What Naumathar did not know, or suspect, was that Omnathar had plans that completely contradicted the intended fate of the worlds, the gods, and eventually, humanity. These plans were already being set into motion. Hidden from the world, and especially from Naumathar, Omnathar conducted all his "creations," which were in fact transformations of existing creatures, in the deepest darkness. Not long before, having discovered that Naumathar could see nothing in the shadows, Omnathar found his advantage. Thus, he created the realm of Darkness in Anathurilis. It was during this time that disagreements arose between certain gods, particularly Thuror and Naumathar, concerning the Acrons. These disagreements revolved around the release of the Acrons from the Fortress of Thorcranom, where they had been imprisoned since the period of Before the First Era. What no one knew or suspected was that these "disagreements" were not mere accidents; they were orchestrated. Their creator: Omnathar. Although the situation was complex, the release of the Acrons eventually took place. The decision was made to prevent the collapse of Mount Naumathar and to avoid the downfall of the alliance among the gods of Anahkólion. This led to the Acrons’ arrival in the Ácrole, located within the domain of Mount Naumathar, but away from the proximity of the Castle of Light, situated further to the East. Shortly after, perhaps not long at all, the First War erupted, involving the Gods and the Acrons, along with their armies. What Naumathar and Thuror did not know was that, silently and stealthily, Omnathar was orchestrating all of this. While Naumathar could see nothing through the darkness, Omnathar worked slowly and quietly within the realm of Darkness. Unsettled by everything that was happening, Naumathar sought to find Omnathar for assistance, unaware that part of the blame for the troubles he was facing lay with Omnathar. Yet, he found nothing. Omnathar remained hidden in the depths of the realm of Darkness, at the far North of the western tip of Anathurilis.

MOMENT OF CREATION OF NAUMATHAR AND OMNATHAR

THE CREATION OF THE GODS

A common misunderstanding that may occur is the distinction between the specific timeframe of the First Era and what comes before it, namely, the period of Creation or Before the First Era, as it came to be known by the First Men. This confusion occurs for a simple reason: time was not counted during the preceding period, nor at the beginning of the First Era. In this sense, many events that took place during these periods are only organized sequentially based on what happened before and what occurred afterward. There is no precise timing between one event and another, nor any indication of how much time elapsed between them; rather, there is a chronology of events. Thus, we know what happened first, what came next, and so on. The watershed moment is the Creation of the First Man, Naöhrad, created by Thuror, the First God, also known as the god of gods. The gods inhabited a realm located on Mount Naumathar, situated in Anahkólion, a divine place practically inaccessible to other creatures. With the power granted by Naumathar and at his request, with the assistance of Thuror, the gods created the First Men, who were named the First Lineages. In total, there are seven First Lineages created: Naöhrad and the Thayad’s are considered Native or Pure Lineages because they were created by only one god or goddess; the lineages of Juhl, Pólorh, Urhul, Thovar, and Reimthor are considered Mixed First Lineages. In practice, there is not much difference between them, except for the Lineage of Naöhrad, to which all must pledge vassalage. Thus, the dividing mark between the period known as Before the First Era and the First Era is the creation of Naöhrad.

NAUMATHAR

Following the Creation of the Gods, Naumathar needed to continue his masterpiece and attempt to resolve the situation that had given rise to the lives of nineteen other beings. In order to maintain constant contact with the gods, Naumathar required a physical form that resembled theirs. Thus, Naumathar personified himself in a body and began to visit the gods on Mount Naumathar. The meetings took place more specifically in the Castle of Light, in the Hall of the High Council of the Gods, where the Tree of Light, the source of the gods' power, stood. However, his visits to the world of Anahkólion could not last too long. Unfortunately, and practically, Naumathar discovered that the body he inhabited could not withstand the extreme source of his power for very long. Thus, the audiences with Thuror, his main contact, had to be brief. Sadly, the involuntary creation of the Acrons led to discord and problems among the gods. This was an event that complicated matters further. Not everything went as Naumathar had hoped. Yet, unbeknownst to him, things were about to get much worse.

MOUNT NAUMATHAR

After the creation, the gods began to live in the far East of Anahkólion. The place, although on land, was impenetrable to ordinary humans. In the vast region of mountains and forests, there was a place called Mount Naumathar, where the Castle of Light was located. Surrounded by mountains full of traps and guarded by creatures imprisoned in the period Before the First Era, the "Path of the Gods," as the entrance to Mount Naumathar was called, was almost impassable. Only once until the Third Era did a man cross the gate and enter the Path of the Gods to meet Thuror, the God of Gods. This occurred during the transition between the Second and Third Eras. In the domain of the Castle of Light, some of the gods and goddesses lived, always guarded and protected by their demigods: the Thuoroms, the Argonas, and the Gontthers with their Arlierocs. Each group performing a specific function. A few gods preferred to live in their own domains, away from Mount Naumathar, attending only when summoned to the Councils of the Gods. An example of this is Olthom, who at the beginning of the period Before the First Era, or post-Creation, lived in the seas; or even Unöuthareb, who preferred the depths of his Black Abyss to the brightness of the Castle of Light. Some goddesses also preferred to live in the Temple of the Goddesses, where they had more freedom. Still in the region of Mount Naumathar, more precisely to the East of the Castle of Light, a Citadel called Ácrole was built. There, the Acrons lived for a while. Until a great war was unleashed.

ENTRANCE TO MOUNT NAUMATHAR, KINGDOM OF THE GODS OF ANAHKÓLION

THE POWER OF DARKNESS

In the beginning, when only Naumathar and Omnathar existed, there was brotherly camaraderie and mutual affection. But then came the creation of worlds, gods, and humankind. Naumathar grew distant from Omnathar, preoccupied with new matters, and time passed. Contrary to what Naumathar assumed during countless ages spent with his lesser counterpart’s energy, Omnathar began to envy and despise all that Naumathar had created. After all, it was this creation of Naumathar’s that had driven a wedge between them. Thus, Omnathar developed an unquenchable, destructive resentment toward Naumathar and all his notions of creating something enduring. Omnathar loathed the idea that both his power and Naumathar’s would eventually end. The notion of an undefined concept, resembling death, unsettled Omnathar in an indescribable way. His purpose was to make himself eternal and become the most powerful being to exist. Omnathar kept his feelings well-hidden, far from Naumathar’s suspicion. Omnathar was Naumathar’s opposite, though of lesser power. Lacking the Original Power that Naumathar wielded, Omnathar could not create worlds or deities as Naumathar could, but he possessed the power to create and transform creatures of all kinds. Another of Omnathar’s powers was his ability to alter the very essence of existing creatures, modifying behavior, size, and nature. While Omnathar’s power might seem insignificant next to Naumathar’s Original Power, that perception faded when Omnathar brought forth the Kathand-Thândnath (the Great Black Dragons) and the Silus Renst. Put simply, if Naumathar moved within the light, Omnathar crept within the darkness. However, Omnathar held a great advantage over Naumathar. In the worlds Naumathar had created, his brother—or rather, his reflection—could transform and alter nearly everything. In fact, he could reshape it all, including Naumathar’s finest works: the Gods of Anahkólion. But his creations were never endowed with perfection or benevolence; instead, they bore only malice. Omnathar, cunning and devious, had no intention of drawing Naumathar’s attention, so the gods would come later. His strategy was to make subtle transformations where he would not appear directly. And that is precisely what Omnathar did. His target: the Acrons. Much later, he set his sights on humankind.

OMNATHAR

Omnathar knew Naumathar might grow suspicious when tensions between the gods and the Acrons arose, so he took precautions before that could happen. Not wanting to be found or to have his plans disrupted, Omnathar created a unique place in the world of Anathurilis long before orchestrating his scheme. In the far northwest of Anathurilis, he raised a massive fortress shaped like an enormous castle, naming it the Kingdom of Darkness. Knowing Naumathar’s power stemmed from light, Omnathar shrouded his entire realm in darkness, a place where daylight was blocked by black clouds and brightness barely reached. By night, the darkness was so complete that stars were rarely visible. Not only would Naumathar be unable to see from his high abode, but on earth, he would struggle to find Omnathar, as his powers would be drastically diminished in such gloom. In contrast, Omnathar’s strength remained undiminished in the Kingdom of Darkness. Deep within, he transformed a divine being, born from the Originating Power of Light, into the most powerful creature of all the worlds. This being was named Nomenadhúrth, brimming with the Originating Power of Evil. Over time, this creature became known as the Lord of Darkness. From that moment on, everything changed.

The Acrons, as they came to be known, were led by the one who amassed the greatest power of them all in creation. Ôctrus was the mightiest and most powerful of the eighteen other Acrons, and he was the first Omnathar sought to corrupt. Without showing himself to his target, Omnathar began to poison Ôctrus’s mind against the gods. There was no need to use his power to twist the Acrons’ nature toward malice or villainy; these qualities were already present in them as they were reflections of the gods, just as Omnathar was a reflection of Naumathar. All it took was awakening these “qualities” for events to unfold naturally. Omnathar then set his plan into motion, unnoticed by all. First, he planted the idea that the Acrons were living in dire conditions. A simple comparison between their dwelling place and the Castle of Light, where the gods had everything denied to the Acrons, was enough. Then, with insidious cunning, he used the example of Naumathar’s preference for the gods over them, making Ôctrus feel a supposed difference that, in reality, didn’t exist, considering all stemmed from an Originating Power. All were divinities; all the Acrons were gods and should be treated as such. Omnathar so thoroughly poisoned Ôctrus’s mind that he began spreading this resentment among the other Acrons, sparking an inner rebellion in each of them. This revolt took a long time to come to a head, but gradually it grew until it became uncontainable. Soon, the Acrons’ verbal attacks against the gods began, and an underlying rivalry grew into something far greater. It was in those days that the Acrons understood what had happened and why they’d been “kept” in the Thorcranom Fortress. In no time, the Acrons began carrying out various actions that spread discord, fury, and ruin among the gods. A rebellion erupted within the ranks of the Council of the Gods, stirring resentment in the majority who refused to tolerate those imperfect creatures. Even though the Acrons were later found to be responsible for many of these disruptions, the damage they caused among the gods was, sadly, irreversible. Yet not all the turmoil and unwelcome events brought about by the Acrons were traced back to their origin. Some disturbances remained mysteries for a time, only later revealing their true instigators. When this finally happened, it became clear that all they had endured for so long had been orchestrated by certain Acrons, led by their master, Ôctrus, the Lord of the Acrons. Thuror and many other affected gods were visibly shaken, and an extreme measure needed to be taken. Deeply troubled by recent events, Thuror, the God of Gods, summoned the mighty Naumathar and informed him of everything that had occurred. He had resolved to banish all the Acrons. Naumathar tried to bring context to the situation, suggesting that this was merely a stage in the Acrons' development and should be welcomed. Thuror disagreed, asking Naumathar if he truly wanted this world to be governed by gods. Naumathar had no choice but to agree with him. Thus, it was decided that the Acrons would be captured and once again imprisoned in the Thorcranom prison. The Acrons, however, were powerful, and the gods alone might not be able to fulfill this mission. It was agreed that before any direct confrontation, the next step would be to create forces capable of joining the gods in their fight against the Acrons. During one Council of the Gods, three proposals gained Naumathar's approval. Thus, in secret, the Thuoroms, Argonas, and Gontthers were created. But by then, Omnathar had already gained more hidden allies among the gods. In the depths of Anathurilis, he joined his allies' powers with those of the Acrons, creating sinister beings in secret, beings that would make their first appearance in the impending war between Gods and Acrons. And that war erupted: first in Ácrole, then at the Castle of Light on Mount Naumathar, shattering Naumathar's world.

CASTLE OF DARKNESS

The Castle of Darkness, or the Castle of Shadows as it came to be called by the realms founded east of Anathurilis, was the greatest structure in existence, dwarfing all others up to Anahkólion. It was in the depths of the Castle of Darkness that Omnathar transformed creatures of every shape and form. There, in that sinister place, he changed the size of beings that would later be known as the “Great Black Dragons,” as well as other creatures like the Rodars, Thorens, Ardolerocs, and the Army of Darkness. In those depths, he turned purity into malevolence. It was in the Castle of Darkness that the world Naumathar built began to crumble.

START OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF OMNATHAR'S CASTLE OF DARKNESS