Birth of the Erlithmanil

Life was once quite different on Emynea before the Era of Legends, before it was given this name. Humans had cluttered the planet, infesting it like a virus and leaving their host sick yet still taking more. Luxis and Azryth watched them burning down their own home, separating themselves from the world around them and placing themselves above nature, and settled on a drastic solution. They gave nature life, body and mind so that humanity could no longer ignore it—they created the Erlithmanil.

by Lee Stepp

Change did not happen immediately and, despite the wonder and beauty of these new beings, these changes were not at all peaceful. The Erlithmanil walked the world, powerful, but still newborns. They were children. And of course their mere existence threw everything humans believed in on it's head. These wide eyed children stepped into a corrupt and chaotic world with not even basic concepts of society or humanity. They were loosed into the world, unstoppable, immortal, raw forces of nature stumbling forward into a strange and complicated world.

by Lee Stepp

Incidents were small in the beginning. Strange children walking into businesses or even homes, taking what they wanted and whisking away just as mysteriously, not batting an eye. Rumors or even videos of these peculiar children, never speaking a word as they explore with exuberant or eerie silence—everything a new discovery. And as the bewilderment faded or if any resisted or tried to reprimand them, beautiful, wondrous or horrific occurrences left every witness in disbelief. Magic. Real magic. Worst of all were the violent occurrences, these magic children having no concepts of language let alone death or destruction.

by Lee Stepp

People began speculating as they kept slipping in and out of the public eye, as they explored their new home. They claimed they were aliens, superheros or villains, demons. That it was the end times, humanities reckoning disguising themselves as innocents. And other claimed they were gods. To the Erlithmanil, humans were immensely peculiar. Loud, arrogant, at times unpleasant. Yet their food, music, homes, creations. These were fascinating and kept drawing them back in despite the unpleasantries. They had even had very fun experiences, some of them. Yet like many other toys they were fragile. Perhaps had things gone differently, had more kind and empathetic humans befriended them first. But this isn't what happened.

by Lee Stepp

The Erlithmanil had barely learned to speak when it happened, having created their own language. They had no concept of war yet and they had only just begun to test their abilities. They began meeting together at the end of the day on an island Ylithuum had claimed and modified, imitating human behaviors they had witnessed. These elemental children didn't know what they were yet but they knew they were at least similar to each other. Here they played house and talked to each other about their newest discoveries, shared their toys and treasures. Began bonding and learning together. Unfortunately, they were followed. Seeking to put a decisive end to the source of potential anarchy and unchecked power, the leaders of the world agreed they needed to be destroyed. This was perhaps the ultimate moment of humanity trying to place themselves above nature, to try to wrangle forces beyond human hands. And it was a catalyst to an end and a beginning.

by Lee Stepp

One small massacre was the nail in the coffin, the catalyst. And for the briefest moment, they believed they were successful. It was amid this severe, malevolent act of violence the Erlithmanil discovered and unleashed the full wrath of mother nature, born of the humans' continued arrogance and reckless hostility. Luxis had hoped Azryth would be wrong about how events would likely unfold, that humanity would surprise them, but even they knew it was overdue. One might try to describe their retaliation as divine fury but the brazen a toddler tantrum of supernatural proportions. The wrath that continued to pour forth from the Erlithmanil, day after day for nearly a week, was nothing short of cataclysmic. And it was only humans who paid the toll, Lunil, Fliral and Dalyeric sheltering their children from their siblings. They even unleashed their own wrath against humanity, plants, insects and beasts overwhelming anyone unfortunate to cross their path.

by Lee Stepp

It was truly miraculous anything was left of humanity—only by an act of empathy and mercy. No one is sure which Erlithmanil it was, or perhaps if it were more than one. Some speculate they had become fond of human culture or that their mental aspects allowed them to empathize with the terrified survivors. Some wonder if humans were simply too stubborn. Either way, despite most of the earth being wiped clean of them and drastically reshaped, there were survivors. Survivors with raw awe, reverence and fear of these powerful divines. Humans that saw them as vengeful gods, mercifully sparing only them and starting the world anew. There are even tales of some of these humans being the first blessed with Racial Magic, of them somehow redeeming humanity in these mythic beings' eyes. Only the Erlithmanil could possibly know, nearly four million years having passed since. Whatever the truth, humanity and their vengeful but merciful gods proceeded together into the Era of Legends.

Check Out History of Emynea for more of Emynea's history!

Manifestation

by Lee Stepp

Children of monumental proportions or consisting of raw elemental magic tearing through cities, forests and oceans unleashing raw destruction on any human they sense. Of them homing in on gatherings or those hidden away using their mental magic. Raw nature unleashing pure wrath onto humanity for nearly a week straight, even other lifeforms such as plants, insects and animals turning on humanity alongside them, unharmed by their magic. Pure elemental cataclysm as even the continents are reshaped and rearranged. Earth cracking open or mountains crashing down, oceans swallowing up coasts and islands, fire and ash sweeping across continents, skyscrapers swallowed by plants or collapsing in on occupants, toxic gas choking entire towns. Utter destruction and cataclysm.