Chapter 1 - The Beginning

In the silent void before Time began, there was only one Being. He who created all life with his infinite power and wisdom. We call him Craos, meaning God, but He has another name. This name was chronicled since men could write, but in the Last Grey War, the War of Dragons, it was lost in the Library Fire at the Grey Keep. His true name has never been found again. So, we call him Craos.

Since there was no time, no one knows how long Craos was along in the Void. Being all powerful and all knowing, He could have created us at any point, however, didn't. No man knows why.

That being said, at some point in the distant past, Craos made the first World. I say the first because I am basically positive that we aren't the only world made. We don't even know everything on our own planet; who says there aren't other planets out there? Even if there are, though, we'll never leave this world. Sad, really. All those planets waiting to be seen, with no one from Retalia to see them.

But, back to Craos. He made an unknown number of worlds before this one. Cortalia. Retalia, our slice of the land, lies in the Northwestern Hemisphere, if our calculations are correct. Retalia, the cradle of civilization. However, I will wax eloquent on her later.

Craos, after He made the many Worlds, created the four elements- Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. He made Helpers and imbued them with these Elements. Twelve Great Beings to serve and help Him. In the ages since, Carnal Man has begun to serve these Helpers, instead of Craos, the Creator.

After creating the Helpers, Craos made helpers for them. The Angels. These are winged beings with more power than all the men that have ever lived. The serve as Messengers for the Helpers and Craos, going between the Divine Being and His Helpers, and, in times of Antiquity, down to the Kingdoms of Men.

For years, the God and Helpers and their Messengers worked to build more worlds. After time without measure, they stood in the Endless Hall, in the Depths of Space, and looked out over the Worlds. 

"Well done, my Servants. Now, we have one last task before the worlds are finished."

"What is that, My King?" asked Shultan, Chief of the Fire Helpers.

"That is to populate these Worlds, Shultan. We are going to make a being to walk on these worlds and worship us." Craos turned to the twelve standing behind him. 

"All of you, combine your powers and make me a being...  I want it to walk upright on two legs, and I want it to think. Not like the beasts we already created. I want them to be able to improve the condition we place them in. I want them to accept challenges, welcome them. We will need a name for it, as well."

Raiton, Lord of the Water Helpers, stirred. "Man."
  
All turned to him. 

"What's that, Raiton?"

"We ought to call him Man. It seems like a good name."

"And the female of the species?"

Raiton deliberated. 

"Woman." The normally quiet Zortun, Overseer of the Earth Helpers, said. 

There was a silent consensus. 

"So be it. Man and Woman. Make them, my Helpers. Make them perfect." Craos turned back to the Worlds displayed before Him, and the Helpers turned to their task.