The First Lie

The First Lie is a myth of the Eternal Deities Menra, Sancancer, Yldir and Wryn.

**Myth of the First Lie**

Before the time of man, the first gods sought to populate their ever expanding world, but knew they could not do so alone. For this reason, a great many lesser gods were created, each gifted domain over a force, an element, or an ideal.

Among the first children of Wryn were Menra (goddess of harmony), Yldir (goddess of oath) and Sancancer (god of valor). These first three children would serve their father in establishing law and order upon the world, but none were allowed to interfere with the affairs of mortals. Those mortals who brought discord, broke their oaths, or displayed cowardice were all to be dealt with by other forces.

For some time the three children accomplished their jobs without concern, until the day came when Sancancer could sit idly no longer. Seeing the fear and lack of bravery from so many mortals, he swept down from the heavens and vanquished a great many monsters which had instilled such terror upon them. At this moment, Sancancer realized he had broken his oath, and ran to Yldir. He begged his sister not to tell their father what he had done. Seeing his desperation, Yldir agreed.

It was not long until Sancancer’s folly became known to the greater pantheon. With the monsters all but dead, discord had begun to swallow the mortals. Their fears began to turn upon one another, and war spread like wildfire. In his interference, Sancancer had not only killed the agency of mortals, but he had also taught them to lie. With this evil born into the hearts of men, they began to birth all sorts of new kinds of evil. The chaos became too much for Menra to bear, and Wryn gathered his children in anger.

Wryn demanded Menra explain why she had withdrawn harmony from the world. The goddess wept to her father, explaining the weight had become too heavy to bear. Seeing her tears, Wryn cast her to the depths of the ocean, callously remarking that if she must cry, at least she might do some good for once and help to grow the seas.

Wryn turned to Yldir and asked why she had not spoken of Menra’s renege. Now caught in the lie of her brother, Yldir simply remained silent. Growing even more furious, Wryn cast her to the moon. As she went, he told her, “someday you may find your voice, but when you do, none will be around to hear it.”

Menra was bound to the ocean floor by deep chains, and wept for an eternity. The words of her father would come to bite him, as Menra did help to build the oceans. Her tears grew so great that they began to flood the earth. What life remained was utterly destroyed, and Sancancer watched as the mortals he sought to protect were undone.

Without his sisters, Sancancer began to feel a great guilt for his actions. One that would bring him to his father, and explain all that had occurred. Wryn summoned his daughters and stripped Sancancer of his godliness. Wryn offered for either Yldir and Menra to return, but both goddesses had become so angered with their father that they declined. Menra was freed from her chains and Yldir’s silence was broken. But neither could forgive the swiftness with which they had been cast away.

As the other gods set about creating a new world from the remnants of the First Lie, Menra returned to the sea. She would miss Yldir greatly, and when the world had turned to see the moon, Menra would sing a song that carried the ocean far up the shores.

Yldir could not forgive herself, never using her voice again as a reminder of her timidity. Sancancer was left to live among the mortals, but he had only been stripped of his title. With his power, he came to grow into a great king of men, and was worshipped as the one who had slain the monsters of the world.