This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased is coincidental and should be seen as such.
Prologue: The Creation of Ljoseilifurgard (Land of Eternal Light)
Life began when fire and ice collided; the combustion of eternal energy that swept the world in bitter cold and burning fire to create the land we know and see today. To the north lies the land of ice; Isgar. The earth is packed with craggy shards of ice and sweeping frigid snow. There in the high valley at the crux of winter’s weather is the great Stone Mountain, where from the ancient crevices leaks the waters which flows to form the rivers of life. Before, the rivers flowed into nothingness; a vast and empty void of barren wasteland.
In the south lies the land of smoke and fire called Brunkjar. The flickering lights of an eternal flame that will outlive the oldest of mankind. They dance and stretch across the hot earth and only those who are born of the fires can endure the flames. At the far edge of the fiery ring sits the Hera af Bruni, the Lord of Fire. He brandishes the Suero af Brun, the Sword of Fire and waits expectantly for the end when he will rise and savage the gods, consuming the world in an eternal blanket of fire.
In the vast void of desolate soil a seed was laid to rest by unknown hands. Nothing grew in this land and a crust of thick, dense ice quickly formed over the soil where the seed was planted. Yet life, even in the vast void of nothingness cannot be held back, ascending forth from the harshest of environments. A tree grew from this nothingness to rise up and create life. But it was weak and frail, bombarded constantly by the winter weather from the north and the hot acrid breath of fire and smoke from the south. In spite of this the tree endured.
The gods took notice of this inspiring sight, finding the struggle of this solitary tree worthy of their interest. Redirecting the flow of the rivers they allowed it to run around the tree and through the once vast wasteland turning the soil rich with nutrients from the Great Stone Mountain. The energy of the rivers became the energy of the tree. When the tree obtained enough water it pushed forth from its heavy branches offerings of great beauty to thank the gods for their blessing. Thick glossy leaves and perfumed flowers burst forth from the high branches. The gods were so pleased that they shone down the light from above so that all could see the beauty of the tree.
And soon another miracle took place. From the thick bark on the base of the tree sweet sap leaked and formed itself into a different form of life. It was a creature unlike the tree in form, but like the tree it needed constant nourishment of water and light to survive. The tree then formed from its bouquet of flowers fruits and nuts that the new creature might eat and live. The creature was named woman and when she ate of the tree of life the seeds were planted inside her womb for the creation of all of human kind. And so life began from nothing into a world of beauty of land and of thriving humanity.
The sun shines bright most of the year so that the gods may see the beauty that they helped to create. Long days and short nights so that all may bask in the great land of the eternal light. And the great tree that began the cycle of life for this world remains, proud and strong, resting in a quiet corner in an open garden in the far eastern shores. There it will remain until the end of this time.