1
Now, there came news from the northward parts of the worlds of a certain one who was named Heimalaz. Now, this Heimalaz was not of the Aiyseir, but he was of the beings of the shadow, for he could not be seen. Nevertheless, Aiylōhyme beheld him that he brought with him many followers as refugees. And this Heimalaz spoke with the Aiylōhyme with great fear, saying these things: Hail, great Aiylōhyme of who we have heard. I am Heimalaz, and I seek counsel with you.
2
And Vofdenaz spoke, saying: Speak, Heimalaz, for we see you are a friend.
3
Then Heimalaz, chief among the people of shadow, spoke, saying: I and my people are seeking refuge among your halls, for whence we have come through is a great evil who has usurped and taken control of our realm. He is Sert, and he was once chief among us. Nevertheless, he has become greedy and thirsts for power. And in this thirst, he has drawn a third of all my people with him, and they have counseled deep, seeking power and becoming creatures of flame. And oh, Aiylōhyme, they have become mighty in power, and they seek to conquer many realms, for their master is disharmony and discord.65 Now, this troubled the Aiylōhyme, and they spoke as one, saying: Aiy. Heimalaz, we discern that you are pure and righteous, and your people with you. Therefore, you may seek refuge in our halls. Take up your rest.
4
And the people of Heimalaz cheered for joy and took up residence among the Aiyseir. But quickly it showed that the Aiyseir could not interact with the Nifle and took over their places of residence. And this caused much of a stir among the people of Heimalaz, for the Aiyseir could not interact with them, and they could not know where they had taken up residence.
5
Now, Heimalaz came before the Aiylōhyme and said: Oh, Aiylōhyme, we came seeking refuge and have found it. Nevertheless, your people, the Aiyseir, cannot interact with us and have accidentally overcame that location in space you have given us. How might we live in peace if we keep being overrun by the creativity of your people?
6
And the Aiylōhyme counseled together and said: This is true, Heimalaz, in our children's desire to learn and grow, they have overcome that portion of space which we have given you. Therefore, let us counsel with our children that they might not overcome you that your people can live in peace.
7
And the Aiylōhyme counseled among themselves first to decide that which they must do. And when they had decided what they should do, they called a meeting for their children, the Aiyseir. And the Aiyseir gathered unto the Halls of Athalaz, and with them came the Nifle. And when they had joined together, the Aiylōhyme said as one: My children, there has been a stir among the Aiyseir, for you have done what I have asked you to do. For you have created worlds and set about organizing that chaos and disharmony which plagues the realms. Nevertheless, in doing so, you have misplaced these refugees of Nifleheim,66 that realm of spirits, for they came unto us as refugees seeking asylum for the peace of our realm. And this we gave them, for they dwelt among the worlds you created for a time, yet the continuation of creation has displaced them again. It is for this purpose that we have called this council that we might discuss that which we should do that these our friends may find solace in our halls.
8
Now, Thūnoraz stepped forward and spoke, saying: Aiylōhyme, we only know a little of what you speak. Who are these spirits that we may greet them?
9
And Heimalaz stepped forward and said: I am Heimalaz, and you can see me not, save the Aiylōhyme, but you, Thūnoraz, have progressed to the point that you may discern our presence. Therefore, I speak unto you. We come from the realm of Nifleheim, which is the realm of spirits. A place you have not been. Now, me and my people are a peaceful bunch and seek only to avoid the war that has come to us through that being who is Sert, for he was like us, yet he and his people became a greedy and wicked and warlike people and have pacts with the fiends, and have become a people of the flames, burning instead of calming as we should. And with that fire, they have set fire to the realm from which we hail, conquering it and setting it aflame, and we have come as refugees and vagabonds seeking aid from the venerable Aiylōhyme.
10
And Thūnoraz wept for their course and spoke unto the people of Heimalaz: This grieves me to my core, and I know what you say is true, for this being has brought a peculiar power to teach me what I should not know as if I had known it an age. Therefore, I feel your plight.
11
And Heimalaz spoke, saying: We simply desire to dwell in peace the rest of our days, but the homes which the Aiylōhyme gave us to dwell have been overrun by the Aiyseir, and we cannot dwell there. We ask if there be some way that we may dwell among you as to not be overrun. Yet your people see us not nor discern us. Therefore, we have nowhere we can dwell.
12
Now, Thūnoraz spoke this proclamation to the Aiyseir, for they could not interact with nor discern the presence of these beings. And when Thūnoraz had spoken these things, the Aiyseir counseled among themselves what they would do.
13
Now Hrōdi stepped forward and said: I do not see why this is our problem to bear? There is much space out there interconnected with many realms. Let them find a place to dwell that we might continue in the work given us by you, Aiylōhyme.
14
Now, when Hrōdi said this, Vofdenaz was angry, for he had bound himself to these beings through righteous covenant, and that covenant was that they may find a home among the Aiyseir that they may be protected from the machinations of that Sert of whom they spoke. And Vofdenaz spoke: I will not recount the righteous covenant I have made with this people. Nay, I have bound myself to the cause of finding them a home. Therefore, I cannot recount this covenant.
15
Now, Hrōdi came up in anger and said: You have already made covenant with us that we might perform your work and do your will. If this work displaces a few who should not have been there in the first place, what is it to us?
16
And Friggō stepped forward and said: Ours is not only the work of creation, but also the work of progressing souls. These beings are souls, and they may progress as you or I. I will not leave a good and destitute people to the whims of chance. I will help them, and I think that they may help us in return.
17
And again, Hrōdi was angry, but said nothing. And Thūnoraz came forward, saying: We will welcome these into our realm, for they are good and upright as we are. And I see a way, Aiylōhyme, that they may dwell in safety with us and we not disturb them.
18
Vofdenaz: Speak, Thūnoraz, my son.
19
Thūnoraz: We could organize a world for them that they might dwell, and we could do this after the manner of the world from which they fled, which is different than the manner in the one in which we now dwell.
20
Friggō: This is good, Thūnoraz. Nevertheless, the world from which they come is after the manner in which they are, and you can neither see nor interact with it. Therefore, I fear that that matter would simply be overcome once more.
21
And this humbled Thūnoraz, who pondered this question. Now, before a decision could be made, Hrōdi left the council along with those who followed him. And he came unto the place where the people of Heimalaz had come, and there he found that Sert of whom had been spoken. And Hrōdi had it in his heart to cast out the spirits from his realm. Therefore, he counseled with Sert and spoke many things.
22
Now, this Sert had become a new thing, not like unto the spirits of Heimalaz, nor like the Aiyseir, but something else. And Hrōdi could both see and discern his presence. And they counseled among each other, and Hrōdi made oaths to Sert and Sert to Hrōdi, insomuch that their pacts became something deep and abiding throughout the realms. And after this, Hrōdi returned unto the Aiyseir, who still were counseling with each other.
23
Now, Sert had put a wicked thing into the heart of Hrōdi, and Hrōdi came forward, saying these words: Oh Aiylōhyme, glorious you are. I see that you are correct and that we must watch over these, our kinsmen, even to the frustrating of our own work. Therefore, allow me to construct them a world that they might dwell but allow me to place a wall around them that the Aiyseir may not enter there to disturb them.
24
Now, this wicked plan of Hrōdi was to disrupt the pact and remove the question entirely that he and the Aiyseir may be rid of it. Now, Thūnoraz stepped forward and spoke, saying: This is a bad thing, for as surely as we would be trapped without, surely they would be trapped in, and the advancement of this people is the gathering and bestowal of knowledge. Surely this would prohibit this.
25
Now, Vofdenaz stood and said: It shall. Hrōdi, who have you been counseling with that you now have this idea?
26
Hrōdi said: I have counseled among no one, certainly none of the Aiyseir.
27
Heimalaz came forward saying: Aiylōhyme, he carries on his hand and his head the mark of Sert, for surely Hrōdi has been counseling with him.
28
Now, this Sert had sought to hide his markings from any who might see. Nevertheless, Heimalaz had been tutored by the Aiylōhyme and could discern straight away.
29
Friggō: This thing is true, for I see this Sert sitting within his walls, and I see his markings upon you, Hrōdi, and upon the others with you. What have you done?
30
Hrōdi: I simply sought knowledge from a source that would give me such knowledge.
31
And Friggō mourned, and Vofdenaz was angry and caused Hrōdi to stand before him and said: Hrōdi, for this rebellion, I must cast from you my endowment, which is the power of growing and creation.
32
But Hrōdi was not dismayed and said: It matters not, for I have joined with Sert and we are one, and now that we are one, he has power to manifest physically and I have power to see and destroy. Behold, Aiyseir, how fickle your father is, for he has promised you much and now he also promises this other people much. Follow me and Sert, for we are one, for he will not betray you, and we will give freedom and power and knowledge liberally, and you will not have to labor your years away but will receive all that you want in the very instant you desire.
33
And there came a cry of ascent from among the Aiyseir, and there came around seven hundred Aiyseir that defected to the side of Hrōdi, and they all received upon their foreheads and upon their hands the mark of Sert, which is the eye that sees deep.
34
And Friggō mourned and retreated for the hatred in the hearts of her children, for her heart was that of a tender mother at the sight.
35
Thūnoraz stood by his father and cried with a mighty voice: These shall we cause to leave, for they are no longer perfect and upright before Aiylōhyme, but have become vile and hard-hearted. Therefore, they must be allowed to depart. Nevertheless, Tyrraz withstood, for his heart was full of anguish for the loss of Hrōdi, his brother.
36
And there came a war for the souls of the Aiyseir and also for some of the Nifle, the people of shadow, for Sert and his followers had manifested in Hrōdi his power; therefore, they were afraid and sought the councils of Sert. And this war raged in the hearts of the Aiyseir for the space of many cycles. And Tyrraz led them, a great general. But Thūnoraz stepped back, only giving advice for the righteous cause of Tyrraz, but did not participate in the war, for he knew that this war would tinge the souls of all Aiyseir, for war could not be allowed in the halls of Athalaz. For Athalaz was a place of unity and cannot be divided by chaos, and war, by definition, is division and chaos. Therefore, even the righteous cause of Tyrraz tainted his soul in that he could no longer carry within him the endowment of power given him by the Aiylōhyme.
37
Now, it came to pass that after this war had raged for approximately twenty-seven cycles, Tyrraz had been victorious and had overcome Hrōdi and his Dregr. And they had all joined with Sert and were followers of Sert, and the number of Dregr of Hrōdi was two hundred and sixty-seven. Nevertheless, the followers of Sert were many more, and they are called Mūsple, the dark ones.
38
And it came to pass that Tyrraz and all who were with him brought Hrōdi and the many others to Vofdenaz in chains and proclaimed the war finished.
39
Now, Vofdenaz was heavy in his heart, for he knew and had seen what great destruction Sert and Hrōdi might have caused had they not been subdued. Nevertheless, in the very act of subduing them with such great violence, the souls of all the Aiyseir and Nifle had become tainted and were vessels of division and chaos. Therefore, Vofdenaz mourned. And Thūnoraz came forward and said: Hrōdi Vofdenaz-son, for your part in the causing of much division, disunity, disharmony, and chaos, I declare you cast out. You have suffered the final death, which is the spiritual death, and can no longer dwell with the Aiyseir. You have become Dregr, the dead and banished ones. Get hence.67
40
Now, Hrōdi and they with him were cast out into the realm of Nifleheim, which had been the realm of the people of Heimalaz, but was now a cold and forsaken place.
41
Now, Thūnoraz stood before Tyrraz with great sorrow and said: Tyrraz, for your part in the war that shook the realms, you must needs be cast out and all they with you. And this shakes my soul in sorrow, for I know your cause was just. Nevertheless, a vessel of division cannot dwell with the Aiylōhyme. And Tyrraz mourned, for he knew this verdict to be just.
42
But Heimalaz stepped forward and spoke, saying: Must this thing be? For Tyrraz and his army have been the cause of much good in casting out of Sert and aiding my people. Is there a way that they may be restored to their proper state?
43
Now, Vofdenaz spoke, saying: I believe there is a way, for I have observed you, Heimalaz, and your people, and see a curious thing, for lo, my children cannot see you, nor interact with you, yet you can touch them even after they have been tainted by war and chaos. This is not a thing I can do, for I would destroy them were I to try. Nevertheless, Heimalaz, you can interact with them.
44
And Thūnoraz began to have hope in his heart and said: This must mean that Heimalaz may accompany them and somehow aid them in their return unto us?
45
Vofdenaz: Aiy, I see it is so.
46
Heimalaz: For their part in helping my people, I am willing, Vofdenaz!
47
And Vofdenaz was filled with joy because of the courageous heart of Heimalaz and said: Nevertheless, I also see that there must be an intermediary. A one who can interact with the people of Heimalaz and with the Aiyseir lest the Aiyseir tread Heimalaz underfoot as they have heretofore done.
48
And Thūnoraz came forward saying: I will do it, Aiylōhyme, for I am not yet progressed to your state and can still interact with the Aiyseir. Nevertheless, I am progressed insomuch that I can also interact with Heimalaz and his people. Therefore, I will go and do whatever I must to return them unto you.
49
Now did Friggō come forward and said: This plan will work, for Heimalaz will be able to teach them and cause ascension, yet Thūnoraz can be the bridge between Heimalaz and the Aiyseir whereby they may return unto us.
50
Vofdenaz: This is good, Friggō, I see it is so. Thūnoraz, step forward.
51
Then Thūnoraz came forward, saying: This is a good plan, Aiylōhyme. I covenant with you and with Heimalaz that I will do this work which you have given me to do.
52
Vofdenaz: Heimalaz, come forward.
53
Heimalaz stepped near Thūnoraz. Said the All Father: Heimalaz do you covenant with Thūnoraz to fulfil this plan and ascend my children the Aiyseir that they might return unto us?
54
Heimalaz: I covenant this, Aiylōhyme, and this is my desire.
55
Vofdenaz: Then, grasp hands in this manner. Extend your forefinger, grasp hands with the pinkies interlocking, and the forefinger touching the wrist. This shall be the sign of this covenant, and by and through it, you might know whether a person has become one with the covenant. Aiyseir, step forward. This is a great thing Thūnoraz and Heimalaz have covenanted to do, and I see that you don't understand its significance. Therefore, I shall teach you what has just taken place; as you have gone to war and have been filled with division, you can no longer be called Aiyseir, and you must depart this place, for only those who have been filled with perfection may dwell here. Now, having mercy upon you, Thūnoraz and Heimalaz have covenanted to take upon themselves all of your sins that you may once again ascend and become even as we are.
56
Now, when the Aiyseir or they who were called Aiyseir heard this, they began to weep, for they knew that all their sins would be forgiven them.
57
Vofdenaz: Nevertheless, this gift cannot come without a price, for all things must be paid for. Therefore, that this price may be exacted, I see it is meet that you construct an earth as you have heretofore done. You will dwell on this earth, and on it, you will be tried and tested, and this test is that you may prove that you have overcome all division and hard-heartedness, to go to war no longer. If you will do this, you will ascend and become as you were, but even more, you shall be greater, for you shall become as we are, having proved all. And in this, you shall become a new thing, for once you were Aiyseir, but have all fallen due to division. Nevertheless, you shall ascend and become new, Vyaneir, you will be called, for you will, with great haste, ascend and shall join and become one with the people of Heimalaz, one Aiy and one people, not Aiyseir, but Vyaneir, the people of unity.68
58
Now, when the Aiyseir heard this, they joyed, so too did the people of Heimalaz, for they knew that they would no longer be destitute, but would finally find place among the Aiyseir, becoming together one people, Vyaneir.
59
The Aiylōhyme said: Go to now, Thūnoraz, lead them, for my endowment has ceased to strive with them. Give the fallen Aiyseir an endowment of your power and create a realm, a new realm. One that joins the spiritual together with the physical, and this that when they ascend to a certain point, the fallen Aiyseir can join with and interact with the people of Heimalaz. Organize this realm and call it Middle-Earth, where the Physical and the Spiritual meet, and return and report.
60
Thūnoraz said: I will do this, Aiyloheim. Come, Aiyseir, let us construct this realm as we have been instructed.
61
And Tyrraz said: we will, Thūnoraz.