Garden Of Paradise

Origin of Three Races

Long ago, in the far-distant past, something — possibly Iluvatar — created the first members of the Three Races: dragons, Elves, and humans. The timing of these events is somewhat murky, but it is now generally believed that the dragons were made first as guardians of the incipient creation, while Elves and humans were created later and at approximately the same time. The first Elves were created as a relatively large group — somewhere between a dozen and two hundred, by best estimates — and placed in the forest of Aelfwood, near the center of the continent of Galendor. Humans, however, originated with a single man and woman, who were placed in the Garden of Paradise somewhere deep in the southern hemisphere.

A Garden for Humanity

The precise location of the Garden is unknown; traditionally, it was believed to be in southern Kitchlande, but recent genetic studies suggest that southeastern Irombi is a more likely location. Wherever it was, however, legends passed down to both the Lothanasi and the Ecclesia tell us that it was a perfect place, a land untouched by the chaos and decay of the outside world — a realm outside time, or at least where time seemed to hold still. The Man and the Woman, legend tells us, tended the garden and ate what it produced for them, and they walked with Iluvatar and were happy. Needless to say, it couldn't last.

Leaving the Garden

Eventually humanity left the Garden; according to the Followers, they were ejected from it and prevented from returning. From outside, though, it was possible to see how this orderly paradise on Earth had been maintained. The Man and Woman did not see it themselves, but their later children — those who gained the ability to see and use magic — were eventually able to find the Sparks of Life.

At least, that is what they are called now. Glowing orbs of supernatural power, about the size of a man's fist, the Sparks were hidden around the borders of Paradise, maintaining its perfect equilibrium against all outside pressures. The power contained in these artifacts was almost inconceivable. It is, perhaps, only to be expected of human nature that people began to try to tap their power for themselves. The first attempts to do so proved lethal, and even later, more cautious experiments ended with the mages being horribly scarred in body and mind. Humans moved away from Paradise, but the power of the Sparks was never completely forgotten, even though most people do not know of their existance.

Author's Notes


Source: [[tech:spark]]

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