The Water Giants and the Creation of the Elves

In the unknown world of Talmin there was once a great day known as the day of Emergence. The Celestial comet brazened the sky with streaks of light. The sky over the lands grew dark. Fragments of the great comet rained down and crashed into the surface. One of the pieces crashed east into what would be known as the Mist Sea on a small island. The impact was so great the island broke into pieces. The middle of the island became a crater lake. Cosmic energy that surrounded the comet shard, fused with the living soil that covered the planet of Talmin. Smoke and dust littered the air. The waters in the crater began to bubble and churn. Water sprayed up and caught the light sending colors dancing through the sky. As the waters stilled, there stood six shapes. The birth of the Water Giants was complete.

The giants varied in height from seven feet, being the smallest, to the tallest standing around nine feet tall. Each one had slim arms and legs with a long torso. Their skin was a shimmery blue. In certain light it appeared as if it was moving, like the ripples in a pond. Their faces were unique. Some had high cheek structure. Others had large foreheads, and some of their jaws jutted out. But their eyes all had the glimmer of hope and kindness.

They moved about each other just learning how to use their legs and arms. They splashed each other and soon were running and swimming through their birth crater. It surprised them all when the shortest among them let out a laugh. The first laugh to be heard in this new place. Their eyes widened and they looked at each other. Their laughter could be heard ringing out across the openness of the world. Soon after that they began to form a language. It started as any newborn begins to speak. Grunts and moans gave way to utterances and after sometime they began to form words to their surroundings. With each new word they grew closer as a family.

One evening on a clear night as they sat in the warm waters of the birth crater and stared into the night sky, the tallest stood up. “We have lived now for several rotations of the sky. We have given these things around us names but we haven’t named ourselves.” The others looked around. What he had said was true. The tallest spoke again, “I enjoy the night sky and warm sands. I wish to be called Nurec.” Nurec sat down and pointed across the way. Another stood, “I wish to be called Orort, meaning daughter of water.” She bowed her head and sat down. One by one the remaining giants stood and gave themselves names. As the sun rose the next day each had a new name. Yatsen, meaning wave rider. Ketsaw, meaning tempest. Lag, meaning short. Fubalk, meaning strong winds.

As time passed the Water Giants started developing gifts. They could manipulate weather and create storms. They found they could create currents and send waves crashing to shore. Water that had become acidic from seabed volcanoes they could purify. The Water Giants sent clouds across the open spaces of Riesland.

One day Lag sat in a deep tide pool, as Yatsen sent waves to wash over her. Lag closed her eyes and began to hum. At that moment her chest began to glow. Yatsen stopped riding waves and watched in amazement. As Lag song rang out, from her fingertips small creatures began to emerge. They swam rapidly around and darted off into the open sea. Lag sat up. “What just happened?” Asked Yatsen. Lag simply shrugged. “Can you do it again?” Lag nodded and layed back down. Again Lag began to hum and her chest glowed a bright yellow and again creatures sprang from her fingers and toes. Yatsen dipped his hands as the creatures swam between them. “What do you call them?” Lag opened her eyes. “I hadn’t thought of it.” Yatsen looked worried and picked Lag and ran to Nurec. “Nurec, something is wrong with Lag. When she hums sea creatures appear.” Nurec, not understanding, asked for a demonstration. As they walked to the water they were joined by the others. All six now stood in the water and watched as Lag hummed. Once again creatures began to swim from her limbs. Nurec, being curious, matched her tone and seated himself in the water. Their tones merged into a beautiful harmony. Creatures began to swim from him as well. The others joined in on the song and soon the world's waters were filled with sea creatures.

Years went by and the water giants gleefully managed the seas. One day as Orort walked along the shores of their birth crater and meditated on the creation of the sea creatures. She became saddened. She could feel the pulling of other life forces. She had a connection not just with her immediate family but something drawing her to the East. She asked Nurec, “Have you felt a draw or pulling in your mind? As if we are being called?” Nurec closed his eyes. “I have felt this drawing. Others live in this world. Others like us. If you seek them, meditate on this feeling.”

As she meditated, Orort began to sing a song of longing. While she loved her family she felt a heavy loneliness and desire to find these others. While at the craters edge her song rang out. The water rippled and moved and instead of creatures swimming out a single blob bobbed up. Curiously, she scooped up the thing. In Orort’s hands was a cocoon. As she held it to the light inside was a creature, but this creature didn’t look like anything else she had seen before. Carefully she opened the cocoon and inside was a fair gold skinned creature, with light blonde hair. It had arms and legs that were proportionate to its torso. Its eyes opened and looked up, Orort looked on this thing with love.

Orort took this new thing and presented it to the others. They all looked at this new thing with astonishment and surprise. Fubalk was the first to speak. “Can we make more?” Ketsaw laughed, “We don’t even know what it is.”

“Well what is it?” Fubalk questioned. “An El-eif.” answered Orort, “A miracle.” Nurec tapped his staff on the ground. “This is truly a miracle, but the creation of such a life form can not come without sacrifice.” The others looked confused. “Even now with only one being formed your life force is dimmed.” Orort looked down and the light inside her was dimmer. Nurec continued, “If we are to continue with the creation of this life form, then we shall do it as a family.”

With that decree the water giants headed to the crater. Orort and Lag entered the waters and began to sing the song of longing. The waters glowed yellow and soon hundreds of cocoons bobbed on the waters. The Water giants gathered and opened the cocoons and the (High Elves) Inalt Elves stepped foot on the beaches.

Fubalk and Yatsen wanted to see if they too could create elves. They joined hands and began to sing. Their song was guttural and deep. Its sounds wove together with the song of longing. Again the waters glowed, but with a green shine and cocoons bobbed to the surface. Nurec opened the cocoon and inside was another elf but its skin was an olive color, its hair was brown with golden highlights. Its height was not that different from the Inault but they were shorter. As the first one looked around a wanderlust could be seen as it looked to the horizon. They called them the (wood Elves)  Kalandor Elves.

Orort seeing the new life changed her tune and a joy wove into the song of longing. The waters turned a shining blue and much smaller cocoons bobbed to the top. When opened the creatures inside had similar features as the other two species but were much smaller. Their skin was fairer and their hair ranged from deep shades of red to a golden blonde. Their faces delighted at the sight of their creators and they seemed eager to join their brothers and sisters. Their hands were nimble and their minds creative. The Water Giants called them the (Craft Elfs) Dinak Elves. This was the creation of the first three tribes of the elves.