In the beginning, five beings of unlimited power saw fit to create a world. They gathered bits of themselves and, walking amongst the stars, created a world devoid of fear, of hate, and of danger.
They created the land known as Roika.
When they had finished, they looked upon their world and felt that it was somehow incomplete. Until, from amongst the trees, stepped the curiosity-driven Humans and, from high in the mountains and deep underground, came the mighty Dwarpets. The Gods nodded in quiet approval sensing that their world was now seemed perfect.
That land, long since lost, enjoyed the peace and tranquility of a true Utopia.
For generations the five creators of Roika smiled gracefully upon their work. Doting on their creations like proud parents, they watched as Mankind grew into a species of thoughtful philosophers, loving care-givers, and brilliant scholars. The Gods pushed stars across the night sky to illuminate the pearlescent cities of the Dwarpets and danced through the heavens to the thumping rhythms of their songs. Then, without warning, they decided to leave.
Before they left they did two things.
They passed all of their secrets to the Dwarpets, certain that they alone possessed strength enough to protect them.
And they created the Goddess Rhisis, to watch over Roika and all the life on it.
For a time, things were good. But alone on a planet she barely knew, Rhisis felt the need to create life of her own. She created three beings; and put into each of them an aspect of herself.
Bubble was the kindness of Rhisis, her love for the beings that created her and the love of the life that those beings had created. Iblis was the apathy of Rhisis, her indifference towards Roika, and her lack of care for what would happen if she were to leave. Shade was the hate of Rhisis, her shame at being left behind, her fear of being trapped with beings that could never understand her.
The destruction of Roika began with hate.
Shade, in an attempt to destroy all life on Roika, moved everyone to a small corner of the world and, using nearly all the power available to her, separated it and set it adrift in the great sea that covered the world. The Humans ran to the Dwarpets and, with their help, built caves, cities, and mines, to protect themselves. Shade realized that life had not ended as she had hoped and forced her way into the minds of the Dwarpets, stealing the Gods. secrets and destroying most of the Dwarpets in the process.
Shade created the race of creatures known as Masquerpets to destroy anyone who remained in her way.
Bubble, hearing the cries of the humans, struck at the small continent, scattering the Masquerpets and splitting the land into four pieces.
Iblis watched, doing nothing, saying nothing. Her left eye, blue in color, sparkled like a childs, while her right eye, violet as a winters dusk, gazed into the nothingness beyond the world.
The remaining Humans armed themselves, ready to face the threat of the Masquerpets and to someday stand against the Goddess Shade herself... |
