THE CREATION ERA

The Creation Era was the first of Anim's 19 eras and the only one to be dated by the spiritual calendar. It commenced with the creation of time and concluded with Ankor's command for the Nalori to create ovta.

The Beginning
Before all things, there was Ankor. He existed as a spirit, inhabiting the voidious expanse of Inanum. Ankor was supremely powerful, being completely independent from other devices or wills, and also perfectly good. The attributes which principally constituted His character were logic, life, joy, beauty, love, strength, and peace. In His supremacy and perfection, Ankor crafted a magnificent story, one with beings apart from Himself yet dependent on Him for existence. He deemed His story excellent beyond measure, and it rendered all glory unto Him. Ankor then created time, through which His story would unravel.

Upon the conception of time, Ankor's first act was to pour out His seven attributes into a single spirit, whom He named Mythandaros. This spirit imitated its creator in every way, embodying Order itself. However, since Ankor was a supremely logical being, the reality He created demanded an opposite to contrast all infallible things; if this were not so, existence would be rendered illogical and thus impossible in the reality Ankor had fashioned.

Hence, all that was infallibly good found their counterparts in evil, and Ankor became opposed by that which was not Him - namely discord, death, grief, vanity, hate, weakness, and war. Absolute Order necessitated absolute Chaos, and this gave birth to all wicked things. Thus came into being the spirit Mythandaron, whose existence was caused by the creation of Mythandaros. Mythandaron embodied the very nature and essence of Chaos and his sole purpose was to abolish Order from reality; while Mythandaros could do no wrong, he could do not right. Ankor cast these two spirits deep into Inanum, where they remained dormant for a thousand years.

The Creation of the Three Dimensions
Ankor then created from Inanum a dimension of reality where His benevolence would reign supreme. He called this dimension Excelum and made it His dwelling place. Its gates were of pure light and its walls testament to His might. Within Excelum's magnificent portcullis arose a beautiful throne room composed of marble and pearl; it was a house worthy only for Ankor. This He deemed the Holiest Place, for no evil was permitted. Within the throne room ascended a throne of splendor and absolute sanctity on which only He could be seated. From atop His Eternal Throne, He reigned over all and carried out His will.

After the creation of Excelum, Ankor poured out His attributes into a sacred flame, which was contained within seven lamps of Order. He then created seven spirits to care for these flames; they were called the Valori. Xenus personified logic and sought to maintain order in all things; Anmus personified life and deeply treasured all living things; Adlios personified joy and never once was acquainted with grief; Onias personified love and binded all the Valori together; Athatar personified strength and was renowned for his might; Iddros personified peace and strived for harmony between all life. Together, the Valori served Ankor with undying loyalty. The seven lamps of Order were placed adjacent to the Eternal Throne; there the Valori worshipped Ankor without ceasing. In glory, Excelum shone radiantly as Ankor sat upon His throne, unapproachable and terrifying. It was in Excelum where He found ultimate delight and satisfaction.

While Ankor did not create Chaos, He ordained its existence in His holy will. Hence, He created a second dimension - Byssium - to contain its potential power. Within its walls of utter darkness were everlasting flames of red fire surrounding heavy chains designed to imprison the thoughts of Chaos. Ankor confined all malevolence into seven lamps of Chaos, cared for by seven spirits known as the Valikori; they needed always to oppose Order and to be greater than it. They were wicked and vile, enemies of Ankor in every aspect and aiming to thwart His story and bring His plans to ruin. Yet, unbeknownst to them, their wicked plots were merely instruments in bringing His story to fruition. Draegoth personified discord and sought to wreak havoc on all things; Bilkath personified death and intended it upon all life; Xanothar personified grief and never once knew joy; Vailius personified vanity and wished to corrupt all of beauty; Malkus personified hatred and thought always of ways to tear life asunder; Ninomaal personified weakness and desired to rob all life of strength; Molkor personified war and vowed destruction on all of Ankor's creations. Ankor's holiness demanded retribution upon the Valikori; He condemned them to suffer in the hellish pits of Byssium and sealed their fate by locking its gates with a key. There they remained in anguish, powerless to exert their influence beyond their prison.

Finally, Ankor created the middle dimension, which was called Malavar. The Valori rejoiced and exalted their Creator, for in it would dwell all life. Malavar existed below Excelum yet above Byssium and in it was the universe, ruled over by the ordained laws of matter, energy, space, and time. The halls of the cosmos were vast yet empty, lofty yet dark, so that Ankor saw it unfit that Malavar be left unruled and untended to.

The Creation of the Nalori
Therefore, Ankor conceived the Nalori - lesser ones - to govern the middle dimension and form all life within it. They were spirits and communicated in thought and expression; through these means, they heard and obeyed the voice of Ankor, who revealed Himself to them as their Father. The Nalori were given all authority and ability to create physical matter as well as life in Malavar - all for the glory of Ankor. They were, however, confined to certain limitations; every time they used their powers, they were taxed of their energy and strength. If they were to over-exert themselves, exhaustion would fall upon them and they would be forced to rest in Inanum. Finally, though they exercised independent thought - being fallible -, they were not outside Ankor's perfect will, but rather a part of it. The Nalori were Aluin, Manu, Olnius, Aelrindel, Anathwé, Elveran, Darvhelm, Tysterius, Vanya, Rivinia, Astari, Illiandé, Adaloré, Dryanna, Juniper, and Ariandalla.

Aluin was appointed ruler over the Nalori and aside from Ankor, there was no greater power than he. As king, he reigned over his siblings with absolute benevolence and sought always to reflect his Father in every way. Of all the Nalori, his devotion to Ankor was the strongest; chief in his character, however, was love. Manu reflected his Father's character of majesty and magnificence; though Aluin was crowned the federal head over the Nalori, Manu was more kingly in nature. Olnius was begotten in his Father's holiness; a passionate fire raged in his bosom that burned for righteousness' sake, and he was Ankor's champion. Aelrindel was the most tender and compassionate of the lesser ones; he desired always to encourage his brothers and sisters with words of kindness. Anathwé enjoyed the company of others and was well-known for his imagination and whimsy; his eccentric mind teemed with creativity. Elveran was renowned for his prudence and decisiveness in all things; the Nalori would look to him when seeking wisdom. Darvhelm was well-versed in craft and aspired to create many things in Malavar; he was, however, very somber and spoke only when absolutely necessary. Tysterius explored his own self and learned a great many things that his siblings were unaware of; magic and sorcery were his talents.

Vanya was crowned queen over the Nalori; she was renowned for her spirit of patience and discernment. Rivinia was the most gentle in nature of her brothers and sisters and desired peace before all else; in her heart was laid the strongest yearning to create life. Astari cared little for life but took an interest in light; she greatly desired to illumine the universe with her handiwork. Illiandé was renowned for her meekness; under any circumstance, humility was found foremost in her heart. Adaloré was overcome with emotions of romance and passion; love was in her nature and she wielded its power with absolute glee. Dryanna possessed a soul of increasing happiness; she was the inspiration for all pleasure and joy. Juniper treasured above all else the warmth of home and the comforts of family; she delighted in her siblings and often held great celebrations in honor of Ankor. Ariandalla, meanwhile, was unique from all the others, for she was burdened with the knowledge of Chaos and all wickedness, developing a heart for those whom she knew would suffer under its power; she personified healing and mending of the body and soul.

Unto Aluin, Ankor bestowed a royal signet, placing him beneath the Eternal Throne and commissioning him to guard it from all impurity. To the others, Ankor assigned the work of creation. Astari was the first to wield her power, sweeping her hands swiftly across Malavar and illuminating the universe with stars. The blackness of the expanse glittered with radiant light, and it was stunning in the eyes of her siblings. Anathwé praised his sister and then blessed the universe with color and sound. Darvhelm then designed aural speech, which he called Ulfast, and the Nalori began to communicate with one another in spoken language rather than mere thought. No longer was Malavar dull and silent, but filled with vigor and sound.

The Creation of Anim
Ankor then commanded His children to create a world worthy to bear life. Ariandalla acted first, and though she intended to create a planet, she created a star, which she named Erebell. From Erebell protruded a beautiful light and all her siblings desired to position their worlds around it. Manu acted next, shaping the planet Grandeus; it was the largest in size of all worlds, composed of gases, and surrounded by two rings of frozen rock. His work was astonishing to behold but it was imperfect in Ankor's eyes, for it lacked solid ground. Astari fashioned the planet Motus; it was small and positioned very far from Erebell. Thus, the world froze and was left in complete darkness, unable to uphold life of any kind beautiful to Ankor. Elveran observed his sister's faults and designed the planet Kal; it was, however, situated too close to Erebell and lacked water completely; instead, it was covered with scorching deserts and torrid dunes, making it all too hostile for life of Ankor's desiring to flourish. Illiandé created the planet Myonus; it was a sizeable world and placed well, but completely covered in water. Because there was found no land upon it, Ankor was displeased and deemed it unworthy. Darvhelm molded meticulously the planet Aedes; it was a perfect sphere with rising mountains and cavernous canyons, but its atmosphere suited not the ways of life.

Aluin watched as his brothers and sisters failed in their task to create a world worthy of bearing life. As he observed and learned from their fatal mistakes, he begged his Father to allow him to participate and create a world unto Him that could bear life. Ankor obliged; wielding terrific wisdom and power, Aluin fashioned the most beautiful of all the planets, which he named Anim. With sound measurements and careful calculations, the king of the Nalori formed a pure atmosphere to envelop his world, which he filled with water, and then rose up land from beneath. Upon this land, he laid out flowing plains of green grass, which he rooted firmly in rich soil; he rose up trees and lifted up mountains, praising Ankor as he worked. In absolute awe at the brilliance displayed, Ankor found ultimate satisfaction in Anim and showered its creator with many blessings, calling him Wonderful Creator and Almighty Maker of the World. Surely, Aluin was his Father's foremost creation and no other Nalor possessed his power. Apart from Ankor Himself, Aluin was the highest being.

The Seven-Hundred Years of Song
While Ankor sat upon the Eternal Throne, Aluin thought it good to worship Him. Leading his brothers and sisters, he approached the steps of Excelum and bowed in his Father's presence, which was a blinding light. There, he and his siblings worshipped Him for one-hundred years, glorifying Him through their praises. Eventually, the Nalori retired and rested, but Aluin remained singing for another one-hundred years. Ankor finally dismissed His beloved son, who left to find repose in Inanum.

Six more times did Aluin fall before the Eternal Throne in adoration of His Father, each for a hundred years. His music was pleasing in the ears of Ankor; no melody sung since has ever been as beautiful. When Aluin's worship was ended, he sat below his Father and guarded Him from all impurity, though there was none to be found outside of Byssium's locked doors, of which Aelrindel was commanded to guard. Ankor loved Aluin and kept him just below His Eternal Throne. There, the two enjoyed conversation and admired the beauty of Malavar from above.

The Creation of the Amandiri
And Ankor esteemed Malavar in the highest and was well pleased. Yet, He knew the arduous work that lay ahead for the Nalori; thus, He created slighter spirits to serve them. They were called the Amandiri and were given to the Nalori as their own.

To Aluin was given Althanar, Tuyavon, Ailwin, Ardon, and Ithion; Althanar was the chief of the Amandiri and heralded all his master's commands. To Manu was given Dathoridan, Thalia, and Elator; unto them was entrusted the duty of judging all life. To Olnius was given Arbane, Golbor, Athadyus, Orthion, Berlas, Engavor, Avaloth, Emator, and Thesius; they were fierce followers and commanded by Arbane, who served as his master's right hand. To Aelrindel was given Aeleth, Evelas, Athevyré, Alydelia, and Tyllena; they attended him as he guarded the gates of Byssium. To Anathwé was given Tafis, Lathenya, Orrian, and Alistir; they shared his passion for creativity and inspired all art, music, and humor. To Elveran was given Lorilia, Aemon, Aylwon, and Ilbetha; they counseled him with their wisdom and conversed with one another often. To Darvhelm was given Vafren, Thedrik, Okholim, Dafrek, and Dukhaig; they were mighty crafters and loyal followers to their master. Tysterius was given Illianaro, Vulmar, Onith, Elros, Veneficus, Thallan, Anyas, Atollus, Majo, Sumus, Incantus, Tulkos, Luminara, Torlas, Volaris, Narcus, Mythanthar, Runareil, Aymer, Alabran, Almar, Druin, Aelis, Hecivel, Irivon, Vulas, Aldoniel, Ivilizar, Ayas, Erthalan, Reire, Alinar, Illithor, Evindal, Agis, Eliuvar, Elpharus, Gannon, Ivsaar, Vaeril, Eithwel, Bilmus, Adire, Belerion, Lamadé, Abazel, Valuil, Aruvalar, Althanos, Ynamar, Ryadan, Toladus, Pyrder, Wistari, Naesla, Rhys, Nymolon, Elderin, Iolath, Sythaern, Orolator, Silthuin, and Talel; Tysterius taught unto them his secret knowledge and entrusted a great many hidden things to their care.

To Vanya was given Quinara, Parilla, and Aldera; they served as her handmaidens and constant companions. To Rivinia was given Erolith, Adoralla, Osius, Valrus, Cerauno, Typhi, Volata, and Avalla; they shared their mistress' eagerness to create life. To Astari was given Calaeron, Abashael, Adriel, and Ilian; they kept to the stars and were silent. To Illiandé was given Olsion and Theomar; they learned of her meekness and strived to emulate her humility always. To Adaloré was given Aven and Evié; Aven personified love towards females while Evié personified love towards males. To Dryanna was given Jillian, Laven, and Eytelis; they shared their mistress' pursuit of jubilation and delight. To Juniper was given Nepta; she aided her in preparing homely feasts and celebrations. To Ariandalla was given Erendriel; she did not desire servants but sought to heal Anim's future pains on her own and thus, Erendriel was often left alone or to the service of others.

All the Amandiri served their masters and mistresses with absolute loyalty, utmost devotion, and unhindered obedience, sharing their passions and desires. Ankor was content in their making and summoned the lesser ones and their new servants to Himself.

The Fall of Aluin
While the Nalori and their Amandiri gathered together as a great host to hear Ankor's new command, Aluin departed from Excelum and wandered the halls of Inanum; curiosity had filled his heart and he began to question reality itself. His many years under the Eternal Throne had grafted into him a burning desire to know beyond that of which he was familiar. His inquiries led him to the gates of Byssium, where Chaos was chained; and Aluin desired to know Chaos, for he thought it good to understand all things. He ordered Aelrindel, Byssium's gatekeeper, to unlock the doors and open them, but Olnius, who was nearby, attempted to dissuade his king from seeking the forbidden knowledge. Aluin heeded not his brother's warning and commanded Aelrindel to proceed; as Byssium's doors opened in the slightest, the Valikori were finally free to exert their influence over Aluin and all the spirits that sung to Ankor. Aelrindel fled to the Eternal Throne in fear while Olnius watched in righteous anger, for he despised Chaos with his whole self.

But Aluin listened to the temptations of the Valikori and found a liking to their beckoning, for they spoke with a soft and gentle whisper. Draegoth, the Valikor of discord, was the first to seep into his mind, and he introduced thoughts that enticed the mind of Aluin, for they were foreign. The king of the Nalori did not resist the seductions of Draegoth but fascinated, allowed them to continue. He then returned to sit underneath the Eternal Throne and guard his Father from all impurity, but he himself had become impure and began envying the throne for himself. As time passed, he began conspiring against his Father and plotted His downfall, wishing that he himself might sit upon the Eternal Throne and receive worship tenfold to that which had ever been given.

And Ankor found iniquity in Aluin's heart and was deeply saddened, for He loved him like a son. He withheld His terrible wrath and did not cast him into Byssium, but exiled him to Malavar, for he had a part to play in the great story. The fallen king gnashed his teeth at his Father and accused him of injustice; consumed by hatred, Aluin abandoned his given name and called himself Vulker. Ankor, his heart laden with sorrow, descended His hand upon Anim and stripped it of all beauty, for it would no longer be ruled by Aluin. This grieved the heart of Vulker, who wept bitterly and later swore vengeance. He allied himself with the Valikori and became a corruptor of all good and a deceiver of all truth. With him were his Amandiri, for they feared their master's wrath. Following suit, they too changed their names; Althanar became Ombara - he devolved into a devil of shadow, Tuyavon became Malakor - he was the craftiest of Vulker's servants, Ailwin became Basudon - he was known for his terrifying strength, Ardon became Morgak - he was later known as the Great Abuser of Life, and Ithion became Virion - he served as an agent of trickery and ruse.

Ankor then bestowed His blessing on Manu and crowned him king over the Nalori. He ruled with majesty and strove to please his Father as Aluin did before. This enraged Vulker, who made it his quest to destroy Manu. Ankor then swore Vulker's defeat and sealed Byssium, confining the Valikori to their chains once more. Aelrindel resumed his post and the key to Byssium remained in his possession; he swore to himself to never open its gates again. The remaining Nalori and their Amandiri found refuge in Excela.

The Re-Creation of Anim
With Anim now a world of desolation and barrenness, Ankor commanded the Nalori to reshape it and give it life. Vulker was forbidden to participate, though he himself was Anim's maker. Humiliation overwhelmed his aching soul and he hid himself in the corners of Malavar, lamenting over the loss of his world. From his shame was born jealousy, from which kindled a flame of hatred in his heart. The faithful Nalori, however, rejoiced in their Father's command and immediately began working.

Illiandé was the first to display her handiwork, covering the face of the earth with water, from which Olsion wrought forth the first rain. Theomar then fashioned the currents and directed the seas with wind and breeze. Out from underneath the waters, Darvhelm rose up the ground, shaping it to his will. Aiding him was Dukhaig, who formed the earth - each sediment of dirt was of his making. Darvhelm then created stone and, with Okholim's power, rose up mighty mountains; within these, Thedrik cast many precious stones that were beautiful and sparkled in light. Elveran then laid his hand upon Anim, bringing to life the first forests, along with all other foliage. Lorilia weaved their roots deep underground while Aylwon stretched their branches to the sky. Many trees bore fruit; this was Aemon's doing. Rivinia then swept her spirit across Anim and gave birth to all flowers and grass, fed by the rains of Olsion. Astari and her Amandiri created a moon to orbit Anim, and positioned it to reflect the light of Erebell when night fell upon the sky. Calaeron was given dominion over all the celestial bodies in Malavar and their direction; he determined their orbits, risings, and settings, thus planning the lengths of each day, night, season, and year for every world, including Anim. Alltogether, the Nalori's combined work was more beautiful than even Aluin's achievement. The peaks of Darvhelm and Okholim's mountains were covered in white snow, brought forth by Olsion, and at their base were many trees fashioned by Elveran and his servants. Rivinia's flowing green plains and lovely flowers covered the face of the earth, and beyond the coastlines lay the majestic oceans of Illiandé and her servants, unfathomable in depth and immeasurable in width. The waters of Anim stretched for miles unending; during Erebell's setting, their magnificent grace contrasted the sky and clouds with such perfection, all orchestrated by Anathwé's colorful mind that bursted with brilliance. Anim was glorious to behold and Ankor praised the work of His children.

The Creation of Animals
Ankor then commanded the Nalori to create life among the grasslands, forests, oceans, mountains, and all places of the world. Rivinia rejoiced, for she had yearned to create life for many years. From her hand came forth a multitude of animals - moose, elks, reindeers, and all other deers were all of her making. Her Amandiri also found great delight in their task and created a multitude of wildlife, more than all the other Nalori and Amandiri. Erolith designed the winged creatures, bringing into Anim birds of many kinds. They soared high amongst the clouds and made their dwelling in the mountain crevices and treetops. Below them scuttered the rabbits, mice, and all creeping things; their father was Valrus. Apes, monkeys, and all other primates were the fruit of Volata's efforts. Osius filled the ocean with a host of fish, whales, and all other water creatures while Cerauno littered the seafloor with crabs, snails, and smaller beings. Manu's first creations were the lions and their feline relatives; they roared in their majesty and pride - the conceptions of the Nalori and their servants reflected their creator and thus the lion was king over all beasts. Manu thought also of the griffins, who possessed the bodies of a lion and the wings of an eagle. Elveran, inspired by Elorith, formed the owls, as well as all horses and pegasi. Darvhelm molded the tortoises and fashioned it a rugged shell. Tysterius formed the beasts of the depths, of which he intended none to see. Astari then gave birth to the wolves, who howled at the moon and stars. Anathwé, who enjoyed watching his siblings at work, devised birds of magnificent color and stature, such as the peacocks and pheasants; he was, however, so focused on their beauty that he neglected to give them flight. And many other creatures were made by the Nalori and the Amandiri, and Adaloré showered her love upon them all so that they reproduced and multiplied in number.

The Nalori and their servants' work was exhausting and a cause for many to tire, but a seemingly innumerable count of animals dwelt on Anim as a result of their efforts. All life lived in complete harmony with one another, for Order ruled over Malavar. Every being was perfect and glorified Ankor, and He was very pleased.

Vulker's Greatest Triumph
Watching from afar was Vulker, who remained troubled and devastated that Anim was no longer his own, and that his siblings had conceived life upon it. Believing that he had been deprived of the glory and joy of creation, he sought ways to enact his vengeance and reclaim his world. After wandering throughout the cosmos and plotting for a time, Vulker deceivingly called upon Ankor for forgiveness. But Ankor knew his fallen son was feigning his repentance; withholding any mercy, He condemned him to suffer eternal damnation in Byssium. Vulker then turned to Olnius in fear, who was tasked with hurling him into the everlasting fire. The once-king urged Olnius to allow him to speak with Aelrindel the gatekeeper and, in a single moment of pity, the Nalor of righteousness obliged, but he had been cheated. Outside the gates of Byssium, Vulker pleaded to throw himself into the pits of hell so that he might achieve penance for his iniquities. Aelrindel saw no wrong in this and allowed him to proceed, but he too was misled. As he opened the doors of Byssium, Vulker instead unchained the Valikori and set them loose, unleashing Chaos upon Malavar. In the mayhem that ensued, the dark lord fled to the corners of the universe and remained there in hiding.

Chaos did not come instantly, however, but loomed like a brooding shadow that crept slowly upon Anim. As it passed over all living things, death dawned upon them and they turned to violence. The lions, who once ruled over all life with dignity, began to hunt and kill their weaker subjects. As many other powerful beings followed the lions' example, the animal kingdom crumbled into an atrocious war. Rivinia, watching in dismay, began to weep sorrowfully, and her heart broke as if struck by a piercing arrow. The weather fell also to corruption as storms swept through the land and disasters struck. The inflictions of Chaos bred flooding, earthquakes, and wildfires. Everlasting life was no more, but now subject to the reign of pain and ultimately death. Because of Vulker's treachery, the entire middle realm became a battleground between the Valori and the Valikori.

The Nalori lamented but it was Aelrindel who cried the bitterest of tears and guilt flooded his soul, for it was he that had fallen for Vulker's deception and opened the doors to Byssium. He remained stricken by grief and believed it impossible to find happiness. Seeing their sadness, Vulker mocked his brothers and sisters and exalted himself in triumph. However, Ankor had not yet finished His commands.

The Creation of Lesser Ovta
After giving them time to recover from Vulker's taunts, Ankor ordered His offspring to create life bearing understanding, intelligence, and purpose. These beings, called ovta, would not be animals in nature but something greater, the foremost of which would be gifted the privilege to worship Ankor and the Nalori. Eager to fulfill their Father's will once again, the lesser ones set about designing life made to reflect His and their traits. They hovered over the isles called Crystallus and began their work there.

Dryanna was the first to create ovta, granting emotions and discernment to trees. Those of the woodlands given sentience were called dryads and they walked among nature as its companion. The dryads were gifted with long life and were passive in nature, yet susceptible to the temptations of the Valikori. They had no ruler but lived independently, dwelling in the woodlands of the isle of Atlentae, where they were born. Though beautiful in sight and heart, Ankor was unimpressed, for they were merely tree folk.

Thus, Olnius attempted to conceive ovta by giving sentience to livestock; his resulting work were the minotaurs, who appeared as cattle but stood upright and spoke and thought like the spirits above. Like their creator, the minotaurs were renowned for their strength; they remained, however, very much like animals, dwelling in herds and often uttering like bulls. They called their island Dol'othri and formed many clans. Ankor was not pleased with them, for they were too feral, but He allowed them to live. Nevertheless, the consequences of Vulker's treachery became apparent, as the cold of night took the lives of many minotaurs. Aelrindel, overcome with sorrow, created the phoenix, a bird of fire, which gifted the minotaurs with fire. And to each of the races that came into being in Anim, Aelrindel sent a phoenix to provide them warmth, but not even this could alleviate his great burden. The minotaurs were soon tarnished by Molkor and they became a belligerent people, fashioning the first weapons to wage war. Enraged, Ankor demanded another ovta be made.

Astari, following her brother's approach, created ovta from an animal - she, however, wished to more deeply reflect the image of Ankor. She conceived the centaurs; they possessed the body of a horse but the torso resembling the figure of Ankor. They bore a beautiful face with a unique nose, eyes, and ears that were not found on any other animal. From their bodies grew arms that had not yet been seen before. The centaurs were quiet and intelligent beings; they found a love for the stars and became proficient students of astronomy. They named their island Clethra and remained as one family, unlike the minotaurs. The chief of the centaurs was Ciparus, for he was deemed the smartest of his people. Ankor, though admiring their intellect, found them too much like animals in appearance.

Adaloré then made the fawns; in appearance they were much like centaurs, but possessed the legs of goats. Horns protruded from their heads and they often bleated like sheep, yet they were famed for their love and thus deemed greater than the minotaurs or centaurs. They called their island Pantos and dwelt there as one people. Nevertheless, Vailius entered many of their hearts and tempted them vigorously; as a result, fawns were notorious for their vanity. Ankor, saddened by this, declared them unworthy to know Him.

Illiandé, inspired by the beauty of the centaurs and fawns, took Olnius and Adaloré's designs and fused them with the creatures of the sea. The result of her work were the mermaids, who took the appearance of the centaurs and fawns but, instead of a horse or goat's body, wore the scales of a fish. They dwelt in her oceans and never set foot on the earth, for they could only breathe when in water. The sea they called home was named Agava; it surrounded the Crystallus Isles. While Ankor found them beautiful, He desired an ovta that dwelt on land and demanded a greater race.

Darvhelm responded by forming a new race, one that did not take an animal's form but retained the shape Olnius had fashioned through-and-through - they were called dwarves. They were short in height, stiff in shape, and took pride in long beards. Reflecting their creator, the dwarves developed a hearty passion for the earth, rocks, and mountains, mining deep into the sole mountain that stood on their island; they called their mountain Mynkin and their island Haglun. Darvhelm's ovta were also renowned for their craftsmanship, forming tools, instruments, and weapons with incredibly precision. They were, however, assailed by the Valikori and many lusted after gold and precious stones. Eventually, the dwarves began to fight amongst one another for control of Mynkin; their greed disappointed Ankor, for He desired their worship. Therefore, with a heavy heart, He denounced them.

Anathwé's imagination then sprung forth and he, taking very little seriously, brought forth the race of imps upon Anim. They stood merely one foot off the ground and bore pointy ears, which poked out from their curly hair. The imps were mischievous creatures and spoke with squeaky voices. They called their island Aeston and took to the care of small animals, such as rabbits and squirrels. Ankor overlooked them completely and regarded them not, for they spent much of their life in pranks and jokes of the practical sort.

The creation of the imps greatly distressed Ariandalla, for she knew of Chaos' destruction and was angry at Anathwé for making such comical creatures. Thus, she formed the fairies - winged imp-like beings that fluttered about with diminutive wings. Despite their small stature, the fairies were dazzling in appearance and glistened in the darkness of night. They tended to all creation, feeding animals and pollenating flowers; their birthplace was called Lamriel, and it became a hidden garden of life. Though they found exceeding joy in healing the dying world around them, they were cursed by Bilkath and fell often to disease. In their weakness, Ankor was displeased and looked to the talents of others for the creation of a worthy ovta.

Aelrindel, who had spent a year in lamentation, came to the conclusion that it was his responsibility to cure the world of the sickness he was partly responsible for. Hence, he created an ovta to heal the world - and also his own soul - and bring joy to those who were in mourning. Those whom he created were called the Sundros, and they were tall and elegant beings. However, reflecting their creator, they were known for their delicacy and were extremely sensitivite; in fact, their own physical bodies and the climate they inhabited were directly reflective of their emotional state. The Sundros called their island Valyeras and were ruled by King Maladrian, the most glorious of his people. Upon him was bestowed the ability to heal any being of sickness and in some cases even sadness. Ankor, though impressed, declared them too dangerous, for if they were to fall under the seductions of the Valikori, they would do great harm upon Anim.

Finally, Elveran formed a beautiful ovta, taking the Sundros and the fairies and bonding them together to form the elves. He blessed his creation with great strength and superb intelligence, and they became highly sophisticated and enlightened. Furthermore, they were given able physical stature and height, pale skin, pointed ears, flowing hair, and mighty voices. Naming their island Hal'mar, they dwelt among the trees. Ankor was greatly pleased with the elves, but He knew the magnificent work that Manu would conceive and could not crown them the foremost race. This deeply saddened Elveran, for the elves indeed were noble beings. Thus, Ankor relented and allowed the elves to worship Him and the Nalori. The first elves did not serve a king, but rather lived independently amongst each other in peace.