The time has come: this marks the beginning of the reincarnation of Pillars of the World, my fantasy epic set in a prehistoric/tribal fantasy. This prologue will set the stage for the world the story takes place in by sharing the tale of its creation: from its first moments to the present when the story takes place.

This prologue is meant to be told like a tale around a fire (I personally picture a narrator telling the tale through cave paintings, but that is just me.) Enjoy!

Any and all feedback is appreciated! Your commentary means the world to me.

Please don't download the document: google docs does not like it and I do not want to go through the trouble of an authentication process.
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Pillars of the World, Prologue


In the beginning, before the Jungle and before Land, there was only endless Water. This Endless Sea was deeper than deep, only shimmering blue water atop an abyss of darkness. The Collosai, gigantic primordial aquatic creatures, were the only Life to be found in these ancient waters. How the Collosai came to be, no one knows: they live outside of Time, their bodies immune to the withering of age. The Collosai roamed their Endless Sea, the World theirs alone.

One day, however, something rose from the seemingly Lifeless depths: A Spirit of great power, a Goddess bent on creating. Mother looked to the nothing on the surface of the sea, then back into the depths. She commanded the stone on the bottom of the Sea to rise and form land. At first, only small islands or towers of rock formed from the sea, little more than inconvenient obstacles to the Collosai. But Mother rose more stone the depths, creating more islands. Then, She commanded an entire continent to rise from the depths, the Land which would be the foundation of Her Creation. The Collosai protested this act, but Mother promised them that the rest of the sea was still theirs: She was content with Her supercontinent. Some Collosai still challenged Mother’s creating, but She fashioned a mighty blade from the Bedrock that formed the land and slew any Collosai who tried to undo Her work. The remaining Collosai left for the untouched reaches of the Sea, leaving Mother to create in peace.

Her creating now unopposed, Mother looked to the empty supercontinent. There was only flat land of rock and soil, not nearly enough to satisfy Mother’s desire to create. She further shaped the continent, creating valleys, mountains, canyons, caves, plateaus and carving and filling rivers and lakes of fresh water: The foundation of her creation was complete. With the base complete, She drew power from the Spirit Realm and used it to cover the continent in jungle. The rock and soil were now awake with green, Her world now awake with life. Using more of Her power, She placed animals in and around Her continent. The green expanse filled with sound, alive with the calls of creatures both small and mighty.

The seas around the continent were too given Life: fish and other creatures of the sea giving color to the once barren waters. Reefs and Kelp Forests appeared across the shallows, the coastal cliffs hiding underwater caves with their own unique creatures. The tides came and left with cycle of the Moon, the beaches and tide pools forming homes for creatures of land and water. Mother’s power touched even the open seas to some extent, filling the deeper waters with Her creation. Keeping Her promise to the Collosai, She set a limit to Her influence on the waters. The seas beyond five thousand miles of Her Creation belonged to the Collosai.

After creating Her continent and Her islands and giving life to them all, Mother took one more look at what She made. This Jungle thrives with plants and animals, the grand vistas and pristine lakes and rivers a feast for the eyes. But She was not done: despite everything She placed on the continent, She felt like something was still missing. Drawing power from the Spirit Realm once more, She used that power to create new creatures: ones that resembled animals, but walked upright, had more than instinct, and could speak in more than simple noises. The Beastfolk were born, as diverse as their simple counterparts. The Beastfolk began to form tribes of their own, each with their own cultures. They worshipped the Jungle, praising the world they lived in, with all its beauty and danger. They began to study the nature of the world, of the seven elements Mother used to create it: Sun, Moon, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Life. From this understanding, the Beastfolk discovered magic: using the energy within them to wield the elements as Mother could, to some extent.

Watching the Beastfolk learn and grow pleased Mother. Seeing them respect the world as they grew their understanding warmed Her heart. To further encourage this learning and respect for Her creation, She rose seven pillars across the jungle: one for each element. Those who braved the dangers of the world to reach them would be greatly rewarded. The Beastfolk, eager to expand their understanding and please Mother, sent their bravest and strongest to draw power from the pillars. Many returned to Mother, living on in the Spirit Realm: but those who survived gained immense strength. Some even grew so powerful, they became godlike Spirits that would be worshipped by their mortal brethren. Mother watched as a pantheon began to form: a pantheon born from Her own creation. She welcomed these new gods with open arms, overjoyed by their achievements and fascinated by the aspects they represented.

Mother would meet new gods of Strength, Survival, Valor, Art, Philosophy, Magic, Fertility, Parenthood, Hunting, Exploration, Protection: all concepts born from Her Creation. The pantheon itself revered Mother, the Goddess of Life, who gave them the ability to represent their kin. Mother loved Her Creation more than ever before: the creatures She made were now making their own creations while respecting Her’s. She loved this so much, she decided to make another species with the intelligence and wisdom of the Beastfolk: simply to see what gods and concepts they would create. These new beings matched no existing animal: instead resembling Mother herself and the Spirits from Spirit Realm. She would create what would be called the Ancients, the predecessors of Humanity. The Ancients stood tall and thin, their eyes like stars reflecting in water and ears pointed like arrowheads. The Ancients quickly grew their power, tapping into a natural affinity with the very Life magic that created them. Mother watched as they lived in harmony with the Beastfolk… then over a few centuries, vanished. They had grown their affinity to the Spirit Realm so much, the entire species became Spirits themselves.

Mother was saddened at first, but the Ancients’ devotion to Her was so great, the females of their people would serve as warrior Guardians that swore to protect Her Creation, while the males served as Keepers in the Spirit Realm. Mother was content with this, but at the time saw no need for protectors. She decided to try again with creating a new species, basing their appearance again from Her own, but lessening their affinity to Life magic slightly. She hoped this this would prevent them from ascending too quickly, giving them more time to create their culture and share the world She made with the Beastfolk. Humanity was born, a species that was nearly as diverse as the Jungle itself. For a time, Humans lived in peace with the Beastfolk, respecting the world around them as they made their civilization. Mother grew more and more eager to see what Humans would create, but this eagerness would turn to horror.

A Human king, known as Iron Hand, took absolute rule over his kind. He used great deception and cunning to imprison both Human and Beastfolk alike in a system that benefited him and his nobles alone. He forced countless into slavery, forcing them on threat of death or torture of loved ones to built giant temples in his glory, caring nothing for the devastation his work brought onto the Jungle. To Iron Hand, every other living thing was a tool to be used until it breaks or can be broken once it is no longer needed. Mother and the Gods were horrified, this new species had created new concepts indeed… but none of them were good for the Jungle. Evil, Greed, Slavery, Inequality, Oppression, Hatred… These vile things all spawned from Iron Hand’s reign. Mother knew something had to be done: She would not let this greedy king destroy everything She made. Speaking to the other Gods, a decision was reached: Humanity would learn the hard way why Life should be respected.

Mother ordered Alma, the Snakefolk Goddess of Hunting, to track down the nobles and aristocrats that were loyal to Iron Hand and devour them. She also gave Alma free reign to devour any Human she came across. Alma did so, the great serpent leaving entire villages and palaces barren in the wake of her hunt. Mother ordered the Guardians to kill any Human they saw destroying the Jungle. Iron Hand knew the wrath of Mother was upon him, and so commanded his armies to protect his capital city, leaving his nobles to the mercy of Alma. Mother commanded Storm-Feather, the Birdfolk God of Storms to summon great storms to bring down the temples Iron Hand built. Knowing Mother would soon be on his doorstep, Iron Hand prayed to Her for the first time, begging for forgiveness. Mother heard his prayer, and promised to spare his life once. Mother then sent a powerful elemental being known as a World Spirit to Iron Hand’s city, commanding the being to kill Iron Hand and every other Human in the city, then reduce the structure to gravel. The World Spirit did so, its great power more than a match for Iron Hand’s warriors. Knowing he was doomed, Iron Hand tried to poison himself to escape his punishment. However, Mother fulfilled Her promise, saving Iron Hand from the poison.

Iron Hand was killed in his own palace by the fury of the World Spirit, his body unceremoniously burned and scattered across the remains of his citadel as ashes. The Jungle, guided by Mother’s hand, reclaimed the ruins of Iron Hand’s kingdom. Her rage subsided, replaced by sympathy for the surviving Humans. She ordered Her Guardians to take the remaining Humans to an isolated valley on the edge of the Mountains, so they may rebuild their society. The Humans wanted a way to appease Mother, to make amends for what misery their kind caused. Mother was happy with this new concept of Redemption, and offered what She offered the Beastfolk: to seek out the Pillars of the World. The Humans accepted this offer, once a generation sending their bravest and strongest to brave the dangers of the World….