Chapter I: From Sea, Star, and Trees

The first chapter where I create the world. More description likely to occur.

Before the stars’ light grew beyond the faint, dim sky, or oceans gave rise to storm or flood, or stone sprouted forth through waters deep upon which one may stand upon and grow �" there was a Sea. Not such a sea so unadorned with water, though water be contained within, the Sea gave rise to all which was and is, and what the Sea wills to be.

 

The Sea in its incomprehensible vastness, grows deeper upon itself however so much it desires and within itself remains all seeds of all times, those which existed, exist, will exist, and could have existed. One may delve into the Sea, examining all manner of knowledge, wisdom, and history, but only insofar as the Sea wills; at such point where the Sea ceases the allowance of Time to press deeper, may the day be put away from all.

 

At the Sea’s deepest trench, that most darkened and lacking of light, shines the most pale yet brilliant star within it, yet the light is contained within its bounds. From this star came forth all thought and creation which was convened by the Sea, as all contained within belongs to it, and from these ideas came forth from its depths a breath of the Sea, granting life to itself.

 

Upon its shores rested a void �" the emptiness upon all which was once present was lost and where all which would be again would grow. At the brink between the Sea and its void, as the Sea possesses the void and the void possess not itself like the Sea, came the faint sound of the waves willed by the Sea and from the crash of the waves came a thrum.

 

From each pulse of the waves upon the edge of itself came a ripple and within each ripple came forth a personification of each thought held within the star, each entering the void for a brief moment until dissipating in the turmoil of despair and emptiness found within the void. At nine points came waves tidal toward the edge, bursting forth against the limits of the sea �" yet with their force, the ideas empowering the waves forged by the star’s most inner core spilled out into the void creating 7 trees.

 

Encircling the Sea did these trees grow, and spring forth over time unmeasurable, eight surrounding the Sea and the ninth, the chief of the trees whose roots spread down piercing the star itself, lied in the center. Of these nine trees are names etched into the central core: The Northern Tree, named Faith. The Eastern Tree, known as Hope. The Sothern Tree, christened Silence. The Western Tree, Known as Fear. Between Faith and Hope grew Love, whose roots are second only to the Center. Beside Eastern and Southern trees grew Persistence, who has the thickest trunk of all trees. Amidst the Southern and Western Tree grew Weakness, whose limbs break away with the slightest ripple. Though the eighth tree, between Faith and Fear grew Hate, who above all other trees grew where it knew not to venture.

 

Finally, upon the centermost point of the Sea grew the grandest Tree of all, both in height, strength and resilience, grew Time. From its limbs connected each tree to the center. From the Sea does it grow its strength and growth, and from it do all other trees receive their nourishment and life force. Its bark is filled with a flame, cracklings underneath and throughout each crevice within the tree which cannot be quenched �" not even by the great waters of the Sea. From its limbs grew fruit of all kinds and leaves which glowed with magnificence against the sky.

 

 The trees and the Sea remained an isolated symbiote of life for millennia, until the void began its encroachment. At the fringes of the trees did the void freeze each leaf and each limb, tempting them to fall into the Sea. Yet the void knew not of what it was doing, for in this did the Great Creation begin. From the will of evil and the power of benefactors did the first world grow.

 

The first leaves to fall were those of Weakness, whose leaves are responsible for all matter, though not for its form nor shape. Were it not for the Sea, to take the leaves and limbs and forge them anew, all other formations would be without purpose.

 

The second leaves to fall came from the Eastern Tree, Hope. From Hope’s limbs did the matter form itself and within itself first begin to beat and breathe. From Hope’s leaves came the first sign of life, the dawn of the age of plants.

 

The third and fourth to fall were the leaves of Silence and Faith, together in unison. From the former came night and from the latter came the day �" the first bringing the moons into creation and the second the second Great Star, mimicking the splendor of the Primal.

 

The fifth was the Western Tree, Fear. From it grew thorns within plants and from the limbs came forth great canyons and majestic mountains.

 

The sixth tree to have their leaves fall was Persistence, with which came forth all waters found within the world.

 

The seventh tree, Hate, threw its leaves down willingly, to spite the Void. From its rage came forth fire into the world and fire into the outermost regions of the universe, forming the stars.

 

The eighth and final tree to fall was love, whose leaves upon falling back into the Sea from which they once called home came forth five pillars, forming a pentagon in the central part of the world.

 

Time, though, had no leaves fall. The cold of the void could not pierce nor diminish the fire within its roots and winds could not blow against its leaves. However, due to the damage to the remaining eight, the connectors between them did start to piece apart and fall into the waters. It was at this moment at the creation of the world and the war with the Void did Time create the Masterpiece.

 

From the eight connectors of Faith, Hope, Silence, Fear, Hate, Weakness, Persistence and Love which had fell into the Great Sea did Time first take the ingredients and weave them together with the unquenchable flame to form the first Life. Upon the forming of the first creation came the first breath and from the first breath also came the first death �" the great star, from which all things once found life and light, went out.

 

When the light imperishable perished in the span of a breath, Time’s inner flame also ceased to beat. The Void, sensing weakness, pushed its advance into every crevice the Great Central Tree once burned bright. Ice grew deep into the roots where fire once warmed. Time’s roots began to wither from the Sea, and began to slowly fall into the Sea. Though, at the moment where Time’s fate seemed irreversible, the Sea iced over, with Time remaining slightly above the waves.

 

Though the Trees had not yet lost against the Void, for Time was wise �" wiser than all things which have come before, except for the Great Star and Everlasting Sea. Although the Great Star faltered and the Sea grew idle, there remained One which could set all alight: the Life.

 

Robed in white, with a face which glowed with the pale, brilliant sheen of the Great Star, breathed the first Life to enter into the World of the Sea. From its tongue did flame expel the cold from the Sea, though Ice still remained. Upon the ice did the Life stand, commanding the Void to return to whence it came and to remain there until bid to return.

 

The Life looked at all the destruction the Void hath wrought against his home, and he cursed it. Upon his mind stood all knowledge of Time present and future, with the power to set all things in motion which he wished to set in motion. His first act was one selfish �" to name himself. Pondering all the Trees which had given him the life he holds, the most admired of these Trees was Love.

 

With the forming of his tongue did he speak forth fire into the center of the Sea, wherewith he kindled it into symbols seen within only the Trees themselves before. Love, in the ancient tongue, reads “Lohkum.” He took this name upon himself and pronounced it across the expanse of the Sea and deepest depths of the Void.

 

From the fire within him did he burn down all trees, save Time who remained fallen just above the ice. From each came life, though much less powerful and magnificent than Lohkum.

 

From each tree came a distinct kind of life, each whose chief trait exhibited from the tree from which they were forged. However, Lohkum was wise, taking pieces from each tree and sprinkling them about in the fire as to not make each life singular in aim.

 

From the Northeastern Tree, Love, came the Tevele. Tall creatures with sturdy footing. They harbored a soft, light complexion and always had joy in their hearts. Within them there was no selfishness and no hate for a brother, lest the brother bring harm to the household. They took their homeland in the Eastern Mountains of Hukule, where they live an isolated life away from the chaos of the formal world.

 

From the Eastern Tree of Hope came the Alabaj. The creatures at birth were sized only 3 inches high, though they grew rapidly until they reached a height of nearly two feet at matured age. Some, if lucky enough, saw upwards of three feet. The Alabaj are gatherers in the Eastern fields, just before the Hukule Mountains.

 

From Silence, the Southern Tree, came the Vexele. These creatures, or monsters rather, had patches of scales along their otherwise reddish skin. They did not speak for they did not have the ability, but had devised a rather intricate language through the manipulation of their hands and wired ears �" one conveying idea and the other conveying tone. They herald from the Southern Swamp Lands, where none travel except for the bravest of traders.

 

From the Great Tree of Fear came the Elenel. These creatures, residing in the Western Plains of Ita Caw, were burly, grey creatures. Quite strong in their own right, but often too frightened to work from fear of hurting themselves. They require neither food nor drink, however, and can withstand the fiercest of colds and most overbearing of heats.

 

From the Southeastern Tree of Persistence came the world of Dwarves, who toil in the West Mountains of Yurnaru, their first king. The Dwarves built strong towers of fortified stone and metal. Within them existed the greatest greed of all kind, though they possessed the determination to fulfill it.

 

From the Northwest came the Orc, spawns of the Tree of Hate. When these creatures manage to withstand their disgust for each other, they spread across lands like a fire in a dry forest. They are at enmity most with the creatures Tevele, often cited as the reason for their exile in the Mountains. The Orcs reside in the Ruins of Mermud.

 

From the Southeast, the Tree of weakness, comes the creature Man. Easily corrupted by any force, this creature continues to build upon its prior endeavors, though they often crumble every few decades. From what they lack in fortitude, they make up in persistence �" an unlikely yet powerful mixture of forces. Man is a semi-nomadic kind, residing in grand fortresses for as long as they stand and, once they fall, they move to another area. Their first home, where they may be found now, is in the Sands of Salasa.

 

And from the North reside the grandest and most respected species of creature: The Elves. Majestic in their appearance and wise in their debates, the Elves were the first to come into the world and create settlements of their own, up in the Forest of the Northern Sky.

 

Upon seeing his creations, Lohkum returned back to his place of origin �" the Tree of Time. Still encased in a layer of ice, Lohkum took the parts of Time still partially jutting out from the ice, crumpled them into a fine powder, and blew them across the expanse of the world, setting all of Time within at its beginning �" so did the First Age begin.

Reviews

[Barbara Tennyson]

--Tolkien started out with 'In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit' for the first book and 'When Mr Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbitown' for the first book of the second installment. He left all the other work product in his files. Emulate this aspect of Tolkien's: Start the book with the characters.
Try keeping the background in your head or in a folder, until THE READER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

Good luck.

[Apebble]

I know he published The Hobbit first and that Simarillion came much later. But I'm not trying to emulate Tolkien's content or style - only his ambition. While certainly I have not reached it yet (and likely won't, as Tolkien is...well...Tolkien lol), I'd like to actually build the world before I tell stories in it.

Besides, I'm mainly conjuring content at present. Working on presentation and detail later. Thanks for your feedback though! I will put it under further consideration.