But where did the Hybrids who now rule over humans come from? Well, a legend has been passed down through various towns across all of Harrowgoth, stating how everything came to be. It says that the Old Gods came first and existed as larger-than-life humans, and their souls were forged from the elements themselves. Lysaga, the Goddess of Light, is revered and respected by all the inhabitants of Harrowgoth. She is the bringer of illumination and the source of all positive energy, radiating warmth and life throughout the land. Lysaga is often depicted as a radiant figure with a halo of white light surrounding her. Her presence is felt on bright and sunny days, but she can also harness the power of white lightning, striking down upon the lands with ferocity and might. The intensity of light is not just limited to the physical realm but also extends to the spiritual and emotional realms. Her followers believe that she brings hope and guidance, illuminating their path toward enlightenment and inner peace. It is said that those who seek her advice will never be lost, for Lysaga's light will always guide them toward the truth. Such is the reverence for the Goddess of Light, Lysaga, in the legends and lore of Harrowgoth. Firos, the God of Fire, played a crucial role in shaping the world that the inhabitants of Harrowgoth call home. His mastery over lava was instrumental in carving out the majestic mountains and fertile lands now home to humans and creatures alike. Together with his brother Migos, God of the Land, who held sway over rocks, dirt, and soil, Firos embarked on a monumental journey of creation. Their combined efforts gave birth to the very land that now serves as the foundation for all life in Harrowgoth. Through the tireless work of these two divine beings, the world as we know it began to take shape. Vaprine, the Goddess of Water, was known for her calming presence. She used her powers to put out the raging fires created by Firos, the God of fire, and in doing so, left behind beautiful landscapes of rock formations. The goddess then went on to create the vast oceans that cover a significant portion of Harrowgoth and introduced the essential quality of rain to the lands. The rain not only helped replenish the soil but also provided life to the plants and creatures of Harrowgoth. Vaprine was a vital part of the creation process, and her presence was felt in every corner of the world, from the lush rainforests to the rolling hills; her influence could be seen in the form of streams, rivers, and oceans. She was a symbol of balance and harmony in the world, and all the inhabitants of Harrowgoth still revere her legacy. Thorn, also known as the Green God, was a crucial player in the creation of the world of Harrowgoth. He brought the world to life with his powers over plant life with verdant forests, flourishing meadows, and bountiful gardens. This made the world a more hospitable place for other creatures to call home. Eyo, the Creature Goddess, is the youngest of the gods, and she was tasked with introducing the world's inhabitants. Her ability to bring forth big and small creatures filled the world with diverse animals, insects, and beasts. From soaring eagles to buzzing bees, Drakons to griffins, and everything in between, she ensured that Harrowgoth was teeming with life. Finally, The Maker, the God of Gods, was the overseer of the entire process. He was responsible for ensuring the world was perfect, with the right balance of sun, fire, water, and life. Once the world was in its ideal form, The Maker played his most important role; he imbued the world with intelligent energy in the form of Hybrid beings who would go on to lead the seven kingdoms of Harrowgoth. These Hybrid rulers would use their powers and abilities to maintain the balance of the world and ensure its continued prosperity. As a result, the creation myth of Harrowgoth continues to captivate and inspire the land's inhabitants, further emphasizing the importance and significance of the Old Gods in their history and culture. The creation story of Harrowgoth has been a subject of fascination and reverence among the inhabitants of all seven kingdoms. Although not many have had the opportunity to explore beyond the boundaries of their homeland or meet other civilizations, the tale of the Old Gods and their role in the formation of Harrowgoth is widely known. Gnasher, the curious explorer that he is, recently made an exciting discovery that added to the allure of the legend. The existence of what lies beyond the Aries Mountains has been a topic of speculation and wonder for generations among the inhabitants of the seven kingdoms of Harrowgoth. Many believe the world ends in a vast ocean, leading to nothingness, while others think the mountains stretch forever. However, the truth of what lies beyond the mountains is only known to a select few, including the Hollow Horns. Despite the treacherous and inaccessible terrain of the Aries Mountains, the Hollow Horns, with their remarkable hooved feet, can easily navigate even the steepest slopes. However, the treacherous waters along the mountains' eastern and western coasts have proven too dangerous for even the bravest sailors, with the turbulent waves and jagged rocks shredding countless boats. It wasn't until Gnasher, the Observer, journeyed down the northern face of the mountains that the true extent of the mysteries beyond them was uncovered. Gnasher the Observer discovered a strange carving shedding some light on the creation myth, marking a significant moment in the history of Harrowgoth, namely the Kalloamin region. It added a tangible element to the revered legend of the Gods of Creation, which had been passed down for generations among the inhabitants of Harrowgoth. This discovery reinforced the importance of the legend and the reverence held by the inhabitants towards the gods who created their world and everything within it. The roughness of the carving was a testament to the skill of the Merfolk who created it. Despite this, Gnasher could easily recognize each Old Gods in the carving. Lysaga, the Goddess of Light, was depicted holding a radiant staff. Firos, the God of Fire, had a flaming head and was pictured alongside his brother Migos, who was shaped like a mountain. The carving also showed Vaprine, the Goddess of Water, with her flowing wave-like torso, and Thorn, the Green God, who had a flower sprouting from each hand. The carving also depicted the youngest goddess of them all, Eyo, sitting on a deer, and finally, above them all was The Maker, the God of Gods, with his delicately braided beard, watching over them. This carving served as a reminder of the power and influence of the Old Gods over Harrowgoth and their impact on the world's creation. It was a piece of history that helped to keep the legend of the Gods of Creation alive and relevant long after the gods themselves had passed into memory. Only the Hollow Horns and Kalloamin people have witnessed the carving, and bordering kingdoms have just started to hear tell of it. Even though the Merfolk may have more answers to the questions surrounding their creation, the interactions between humans and Merfolk have always been limited, with most interactions being nothing more than brief sightings from fishing vessels or the rare attack on smaller ships. The mysterious nature of the Merfolk has always been a topic of discussion among the inhabitants of the various kingdoms, but very little is actually known about them. Before the creation of humankind, the old Gods claimed the land as their own. While they tended to stay in their own regions, minor conflicts typically arose between Lysaga, Firos, Eyo, Thorn, Vamprine, and Migos. The Maker, however, would stay perched high above what would become the Aries Mountains and observe the lesser Gods beneath him. The old gods were known to be powerful, but they all had their own agendas, and it was only a matter of time before they clashed with each other. One day, a great drakon appeared in the skies of Harrowgoth and possessed the power to destroy the entire planet. The old gods knew they needed to work together to defeat the drakon, but they could not agree on how to do so. While this would have been no problem for the Maker to take care of, he saw this as a test for the lesser gods. In fact, it was him that summoned the all-powerful beast from deep within the cosmos and brought it forth to this planet. Unknowing of the Maker's plan, the lesser gods tried to work together to devise a solution to the threat. Lysaga, the goddess of light, suggested they use light to blind the monster, hopefully detouring it from its rampage. Firos, the god of fire, believed they needed to ultimately use the sun's energy to burn the drakon alive. Eyo, the creature goddess, thought they needed to summon help from any willing animals to coax the monster into calming down. Thorn, the green god, believed they needed to use the pollen from the trees and flowers to force the beast into a trance. Vamprine, the god of the sea, believed they needed to banish it to the oceans, and Migos, the god of the lands, thought they needed to trap the scaly tyrant within the planet. Despite their differences, the old gods knew they needed to unite to defeat the cosmic drakon. They decided to combine their powers and create a powerful spell that would allow them to defeat the monstrosity once and for all. It took the old gods several moons to pour all their power and energy into creating the incantation that would effectively banish the beast. When the spell was finally complete, they gathered together and chanted the mystical words, calling upon the power of the land, fire, sea, forest, creature, and light. As they chanted, the mountain-sized drakon descended upon them, breathing fire and bringing forth destruction in its wake. But the old gods did not falter. They stood their ground and continued to chant the incantation, their voices growing louder and stronger with each passing moment. Suddenly, a blinding light filled the sky, and the drakon was engulfed in a powerful blast of energy. Unfortunately, this was not enough, and the scaly tyrant grew even larger, setting fire to everything in its path. Pleased at the fact that the lesser gods united in an attempt to banish the drakon, the Maker destroyed it with a single snap of his fingers, leaving only the skull. The explosion sent shimmering pieces of the drakon into the sky, thus creating the stars. Many claim this to be nothing more than one of the many myths and tales detailing the old Gods, while others believe it word for word. The only ones who could possibly know the truth would be any of the first generations among the Hybrids of the land. As for the Hollow Horns, that would be Pietro, and he doesn't recall much from back then despite allegedly being made by the Maker himself. After this came the Hybrids; in the beginning, when the world was young, the Maker looked upon the land and saw it was barren. So he decided to create new life, one that would be unique and powerful. He went to the lesser Gods, Lysaga, Firos, Vamprine, Migos, Thorn, and Eyo, and asked for a drop of their blood to create something new. They were skeptical at first but feared angering the Maker. God blood is far different from what runs in our veins, but each one of them donated what was requested of them. Lysaga gave him a bead of light, Firos gave him a molten drop, Vamprine gave him a drip of seawater from each of the four seas, Migos gave him a small solid stone, Thorn gave him a blotch of tall tree sap, and Eyo gave him a tear from every animal in the land. Then, with all the blood collected, the Maker placed it within the skull of the cosmic drakon and consumed it. The Maker knew this would make him terribly ill for six hundred moons, but it was part of his plan. On the six hundred and first day, the old gods vanished from the land, and the Maker reached into his stomach and pulled out each of the first-generation Hybrids. These were the Hollow Horn for Kalloamin, the Oxen Tribe for Yulo, the Scaleskin for Ain, the Werebear for Dekan, the White Feather for Tracap, the Lionheart for Machili, and the Ungulate for Pau. The Maker had given life to these new beings, each with their own unique powers and abilities. They were the first of many generations of Hybrids to roam the land, and the Maker took great pride in their creation. As the Maker looked upon his creation, he felt a sense of satisfaction and a nagging feeling that something was missing. The planet needed everything: animals, plants, oceans, and the newly created hybrids. Yet, there was an emptiness that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He realized that he needed to create something more, something that would bring balance to his world. But the Maker was faced with a dilemma. Creating the hybrids had taken all the power of the lesser gods, leaving him with little energy to spare. He knew he needed to do something drastic, so he journeyed off his mountain perch and down to the Eastern Sea. With his strength faltering, he planted a batch of magical seeds he had been carrying with him and fell into a deep slumber for another six hundred moons. When he finally awoke on the six hundred and first day, he saw that the seeds he had planted had grown into trees with the consistency of clay. He began harvesting the wood, chunk by chunk, and hand-carved it into the shape of a man and a woman. Over the following season, he continued this process until he had created humanity, each with its unique features and characteristics. As he looked upon his new creation, the Maker felt a sense of pride and fulfillment. The humans brought balance to his world and provided him with the companionship he had been missing. From that day forward, they would play an essential role in the Maker's plan for his world.