Corus and Caerus

In Riojan mythology, **St.** **Corus** and **St.** **Caerus** were twin brothers whose story tells the events that led to the founding of the city of Capital and the nations of Corsica and Caera. Although the tale takes place before the founding of Capital around -1782 EM, the earliest known written account of the myth is from the late -1238 EM. Possible historical basis for the story, as well as whether the twins' myth was an original part of Capital myth or a later development, is a subject of ongoing debate.

## The Myth

There the two boys stayed, without a mother, and without a home. Upon the brink of death a she-wolf found the pair of crying newborns. She took the two under her wing and gave the two cave to reside in, and milk to feed from. This continued for several years.

One day a shepard was wandering through the woods and found the two children. Without hesitation the farmer slew the she-wolf and adopted the two children. He named them Corus meaning misfortune or fate, and Caerus meaning power or resilience. The two boys grew and both seemed to posses gifts of their father. Corus was a man who never aged passed 20, always given a youthful appearance and whose mind poured music. Caerus was a man gifted with cunning and a pride so great, it could outshine the Angel himself. And it came to pass that their father had told the two about their childhood, about the noble origin, and their godly disposition. Outraged by the injustice given to Numitor, and the evil of Thurii, the two set out to claim their uncle's throne. Being only 16 at the time the two boys where highly inexperienced, though filled with a vigor that was unmatched.

They found a camp of the kingdom Alagadda, and though Caerus was hesitant to intervene, Corus charged the fort. Caerus, seeing them outnumbered and outmatched fled to devise a plan to help his brother. Meanwhile Corus was captured and imprisoned in Alagadda.

Corus, captured, was brought before the king, Thurii. Thurii demanded an explanation, though both men were aware of his divine conception. Corus refused to answer, only portending Thurii's downfall "You will die here old fool, you will fall and the right of men will be given to those more cunning and youthful than you." Suddenly and without warning the palace was attacked. Without either men aware Caerus had slowly placed spies in the kingdom, siphoning Thurii's military. The two men prevailed and killed Thurii.

Without a king the people of Alagadda begged Caerus to be their king, Corus jealous of his brother spoke against him, demanding the kingdom be returned to their uncle, Numitor. Caerus, a wise man and no fool stated. "Brother, I agree, let us leave this land, for Alagadda belongs to it's rightful kind, my uncle Numitor. My brother and I will found a new kingdom, far from here, a land of freedom and new beginnings. Prisoners, the poor, and the shamed shall find shelter in our city, a glorious land found beneath the Goddess.". And so the two left, prisons, proles, and outcast fled with them to the land to the south, into Desolation.

The men found a land between 7 hills, in the middle lay Harpe, and because they were sons of Aion she grant them passage beneath her.