|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:32 am
Tell me a story of demons and gods....
This is the history of the various Realms I created for a story of mine. I'll post the dictionary first (some words are written in Kinai /key-neye-ee/)
Kinai is the old language of the Elves, English is common Elvish. (it's all explained I just wanna make sure there's no confusion)
FYI: This is supposed to be written by the Scholars of Rhenna (Rhenna=goddess of knowledge) so I tried to make it sound formal and official.
Enjoy.
Note: Please PM me criticism titled "Forgotten Realm" "Kinai" "A Brief History of Everything" "Praise Nefertiri" or "I haven't forgotten" Just something that connects it to the story so I won't think it's spam.
Thank you. I just don't want comments between my posts. *bow*
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:37 am
Of kings and of queens.... Kinai Elvish An soul; the 'essence' of a being dem demon Demsra Demon Realm éan human Éara Human Realm fís faery Fíra Faery Realm; Kinara to the Kinai fras forgotten Frasra Forgotten Realm fr'sa Spring grás gold Gráswel Golden Wood; the 1st kingdom of Kinara hao hall Hunra Hun's Realm, the 3rd kingdom of Kinara kín deity; god(same in plural) kína deity (f); goddess (same in plural) Kinai the ancient religion of the nes; the language spoken by the followers of the Kinai gods; the name of the people who follow the Kinai gods Kinara Kinai Realm (true name of Frasra) Kíra Gods Realm; home of the kín Lao summer Larí Summerland; the Kinai Afterworld lisk light lito priest lita priestess Mélla Tree of Life; center of Gráswel Mélla qo Fresa true name of Mélla; tree sacred to Fresa mika Fall nes elves nao bright Naolisk Bright Light; the 2nd kingdom of Kinara -ra suffix meaning realm rhen knowledge Rhenhao Hall of Knowledge; greatest library in Kinara shí spirit shu winter Spíra Spirit Realm wel woods zá almost; partial Zá-kín Almost Gods; demigods
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:39 am
Of Elves and men... RESERVED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:40 am
And I'll tell you a story of love... A Brief History of Kinai
Compiled by the Scholars of Rhenna
For the Library of Rhenhao Chapter One: The Beginning In the beginning of everything, there was nothing. Then Kani and Costa, the Great Ones, came forth from the Chaos. They looked around them and saw nothing, and were sad. Then the looked upon each other and were happy. Together they created the Creators. First came Fí and Fae. They saw the nothing and were sad. They created the fís, the Faeries. They were tiny creatures with wings and a great control of magic. They were granted extremely long life spans. Overjoyed at the their children's creation, the Great Ones created a world in which the fís could live. Costa also gave birth to four more children, hoping they would also create wonderful creatures. Éo and Éa were born second. They created the éan, the Humans. They were bigger and stronger than the fís, but the éan had no control of magic. The Great Ones were also pleased with the éan and spent much time watching them learn to use tool and interact with one another. While the fís used magic to create what they needed to survive, the éan learned to live with the world they had been given. They took what they needed from the world and learned to worship the planet. The Great Ones were overjoyed when the éan first acknowledged the higher power that provided for them Dems and Demona were the last born. They were all jealous of their siblings success and created a race of their own. The created the dem, the Demons. They were the same size as the éan, but significantly stronger. They were given claws and horns and fangs to aid them in battle as well as an understanding of magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:41 am
And betrayal... Chapter Two: The Separation The dems waged war against the éan. The fís hid away in magic castles they had created in the sky, knowing they would be over powered, despite their ability to harness magic. While their creations battled, the Creators argued amongst themselves. Fí and Fae, tired of exposing the fís to the horrible violence, created a separate world, one only for the fís. They called it Fíra, the Faery Realm. There, the fís could live in peace, flying through the clear skies and living in magic, floating castles. Éo and Éa hurt to see their defenseless éan being annihilated by the dems. They followed the lead of their elder siblings and created a separate Realm for their éan, Éara, the Human Realm. The éan were able to live in peace with their world and continue to develop their tools. Dems and Demona were outraged at the separation of the Realms. They allowed their dems to remain in the original world created by the Great Ones. They named it Demsra, the Demon Realm. It became a place of horror, darkness, and violence. The dems wandered the Realm, killing without restraint.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:43 am
Of birth and creation.... Chapter Three: New Beings Kani and Costa were pained to see their children locked away from one another, but there was nothing they could do but watch. They were many centuries old and their strength had waned long ago. All they could do was pass between the Realms, watching their children and their creations. The children of the Great Ones also grew sad locked up in their separate Realms. They each created new kín, gods, to ease the loneliness. Fí and Fae gave birth to the Twins Soles and Nefertiri, who became the Sun and the Moon as well as Tieno. Éo and Éa gave birth to Kikyo and Hun. The dark and violent Dems and Demona gave birth to the gentle Sphire and Spyro and the caring Zhai. The young kín watched their parents, never leaving their Realms, trapped with their own sadness and anger, and decided to do something. Soles and Nefertiri took the éan's form and strength and combined it with the fís' knowledge of magic. They created the fair and slight, yet powerful, nes, the Elves. Their creatures wandered the vacant ground of Fíra, studying the ways of the land. Above all, the nes valued knowledge and were granted life spans as long as those of the fís so that they had many millennia to study and learn. Spyro and Sphire watched the various creatures die and noticed that the part that separated them from animals perished with the body. Thinking that was unfair, they began collecting the essence, or An, of the dying beings. They gave them the powers of the dems and gave them their own Realm, Shíra, the Spirit Realm. The powerful, bodiless beings took various forms, but all were known as shí, spirits. Hun and Kikyo heard of the Twins achievement and decided to make creatures of their own. They took the éan's form and gave them the dems knowledge of magics. Their creations were indistinguishable from the éan. They simply had a heightened sense of things and could control the energy of their bodies. They were also able to sense, and sometimes observe, bodiless shí that strayed into Éara. The éan-who-are-not-éan were never named, but they are psychics, they remained in Éara, living among the éan. Tieno and Zhai learned of the existence of An by observing Hun and Kikyo's creatures. When a person died, their shí was left without a body. Hun and Kikyo took the shí and made it something other than what it was. Tieno and Zhai found a way to pass between Realms as the An and shí did and created another Realm, separate from all the others: Larí, Summerland. It was a land of joy and peace and relaxation where the An could remain, living as they had in life. The good were permitted to enter an An-less, unborn baby and live again, if they so chose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:45 am
For these are our stories... Chapter Four: The Greater Children The children of the Creators in turn had their own children. Spyro and Sphire, creators of the shí, had two sons: Estro, the Seer, and Laos, kín of storms and Lao, the Summer. Hun and Kikyo, creators of the psychics, had two daughters: Esperanza, kína of Air, and Lisk, kína of Light. Tieno and Zhai, protectors of Larí, had three sons: Drega, kín of Darkness, Aquas, kín of aquatic life, and Shuyin, kín of Ice and shu, the Winter. They also had a daughter: Rysta, kína of Fire. In addition, the Creators gave birth to more kín. Éo and Éa gave birth to Aquaria, kína of Water and Miko, the Farmer, kín of Mika, the Fall. Fí and Fae gave birth to the Sister Kína: Fresa, the Green Mother, kína of Earth and Fr'sa, the Spring, Rhenna, the Teacher, and Egra, the Huntress. Chapter Five: The Zá-kín Dems and Demona slowly grew tired of each other sitting alone in Demsra. They both had children with various powerful demons. These children became known as zá-kín, Almost Gods. They had powers superior to normal dem and were granted extended life spans, but they were not immortal and did not have kín powers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:47 am
They tell us who we are.... Chapter Six: Birth of Religion The fís and nes worshiped the kín. They recognized the great beings and prayed to them in times of joy and of hardship. The fís attached offerings to birds and sent them into the sky. The nes built great temples and presented offerings to the kín upon alters of precious metals. Certain nes were granted a unique connection with the kín and were placed in charge of the temple associated with that kín. These nes were called lito and lita. Their patron was Kikyo, the Great Lita who served the Great Ones in Kíra, the Gods Realm. Commonly, female lita served the temples of female kína and male lito served the temples of male kín. Occasionally a kína would choose a lito to serve her or a kín would choose a lita, but this only occurred rarely. Many of the éan turned from the kín. They prayed to other gods and deities. Some éan denied the existence of any kín, god, deity, or higher being. The psychics living alongside the éan, also turned to many different gods and deities, ignoring the kín that had created them. In Demsra, many dem turned from the kín and instead worshiped Dems, Demona, and the brutal, blood-thirsty zá-kín. Eventually, the fís lessened in their worship of the kín. Instead they praised other fís. Those with an advanced knowledge of magic working were hailed as zá-kín and showered with offerings and worship. A few fís still sent offerings and prayers to the kín, but over time their numbers decreased. Secret temples were built in the style of the nes and some fís still meet in secret to praise the true kín. The nes called themselves the Kinai, for that is what they called the study, praise of, and belief in the kín. Their religion, their people, and their language was called Kinai. The fís were believed to have abandoned the Realm, so they renamed in it honor of their kín: Kinara.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:49 am
And where we are from... Chapter Seven: The Splitting of the Nes As time passed, the nes developed different interests and priorities. Some felt that the kín and magic were most important to life. Others valued learning and knowledge above all else except the kín. The third group held fighting and strength above magics and knowledge. These three groups split and formed three kingdoms in Kinara. The First Kingdom The first settled in a great forest of gold-leaved trees. They named their kingdom Gráswel, the Golden Wood. In the center of the wood was a massive tree that emitted strange magic. Though the weather was always mild the tree never died and its leaves never fell even in the harshest winter. The tree was called Mélla, the Tree of Life, though its true name was Mélla qo Fresa for it was believed Fresa rested in the tree through the Shu and Fr'sa always came first to the area nearest Mélla. A temple was built to Fresa on the Eastern side of the tree to signify beginnings and rebirth. For though the sun disappears each night, it is always reborn in the East the next day. The nes prayed to her there through the Shu for Fr'sa to come. A temple was built on the Western side of the tree to Fresa's husband Miko. The temple signifies the ending of the cycle and nes pray there through Lao for a bountiful harvest in the Mika. The temples to the Great Ones and the Creators lay nearest Mélla and the temples spread out in a circular labyrinth. There is a temple for every kín and kína, no matter how minor their duties. Just outside the temples rests the Royal Palace. The first king and queen of Gráswel were the nes with the greatest control and understanding of magic. The patron kína of the house is Nefertiri, the creator of the nes, and the kína of cats and the Moon. The cat is the symbol of the house. Most magic relies on the phases of the moon, so Nefertiri is one of the most important kína to the nes of Gráswel. The greatest temple to Nefertiri in all of Kinara is within the Gráswel Royal Palace. The eldest daughter of the Royal Family becomes the head lita of Nefertiri and portrays the kína in the Great Festivals. The female nes with the closest connection to Kikyo and the greatest spiritual energy became the Head of the Temples. She lived within the temple to Kikyo with a select group of equally spiritual lito and lita. These nes enforce the laws of the temples as told to the first nes by the kín. The Head of the Temples is also the head lita of Kikyo and portrays her in the Great Festivals. The nes of Gráswel observe every festival and holiday. Each holiday is observed with the appropriate feasting, fasting, offerings, etc. as declared necessary by the temple law. The Second Kingdom The second group of nes valued learning above all else. They settled in a wood that grew around a pristine lake. They constructed intricate buildings of rare, shimmering substances to reflect the light of the lake. They called their kingdom Naolisk, Bright Light. The light from the lake and buildings represented the light of knowledge. They built a temple on the lake to Lisk, kína of Light and understanding. They also built Rhenhao, the Hall of Knowledge. It is the greatest library in all of Kinara. Within Rhenhao is also Kinara's greatest temple to Rhenna the Teacher, kína of knowledge and learning and patron goddess of Naolisk's Royal Family. The first lord and lady of Naolisk were chosen because of their great wisdom. They were the oldest and most learned of the nes of Naolisk. Their eldest daughter serves the temple of Rhenna. Temples to the main kín surround the lake and the lesser kín and kína of learning have minor temples around Rhenhao. The nes of Naolisk only observe the days sacred to Rhenna and Lisk in addition to the Great Festivals and High Holidays. Their festivals are not nearly as involved and structured as those of the nes in Gráswel. The Third Kingdom The third Kingdom of nes was established in the dark woods to the far West of Kinara where each evening the trees glow a blood red beneath the setting sun. They only built temples to the Great Ones and the various kín and kína of fighting and strength. The patron kín of their Royal Family is Hun, the Warrior. Therefore, they named their kingdom Hunra, Hun's Realm. The strongest nes were chosen as the rulers of the kingdom. Their strongest child serves the temple of Hun. Above everything, the nes of Hunra valued strength in battle. The heir to the kingdom is determined by the children's strength. Whichever child can best all their siblings in battle becomes the lito, or lita, of Hun and the heir to Hunra. Only kín and kína of strength, weapons, warriors, and fighters are honored in Hunra. The Great Festivals and High Holidays are loosely observed. Only the days sacred to the kín and kína of Hunra are strictly observed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:50 am
And must not be forgotten... Chapter Eight: Becoming Frasra Overtime, Kinai became known as the Ancient Language, known only to the lito and lita and the Royal Families. Only the Royal Family of Gráswel still includes Kinai in the their children's education. Common nes no longer strictly follow Kinai as a religion. Most nes select a few kín that are important to them and their family and present offerings to them in times of trouble. The fís have been forgotten by all but the éan. The éan keep the fís in children's stories known as Faery Tales. The nes are often mistakenly portrayed at fís in these stories. The Elves are only left in éan children's Faery Tales. The éan and the dem have both forgotten that there are other Realms beside their own. Select dem, éans, and psychics know of the other Realms through myth, stories, and history. But kinara has fallen out of memory. Even the fís and nes have come to call it Frasra, the Forgotten Realm. The nes no longer call themselves 'nes' or 'Kinai'. They have adapted with the times and copied the language of the éan. They are now Elves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:52 am
Following shall be the various appendixes of the History of Kinai.
The dictionary shall be skipped as it has already been included.
The appendixes are written in the common Elvish.
Unfortunately I am currently unable to post the Kinai calendar so you'll have to make due with what I have for now.
Basics: The Kinai calendar consists of 10 months named for the 10 important gods.
Costai, Kanai, Faelri, Fai, Eala, Eoai, Demonia, Demai, Nefertai, and Solea. The feminine months have 36 days and the masculine have 37.
New Year falls on the last day of Solea. On a day that isn't really a day.
The week consists of seven day:
Nakolai (Moonday), Solai (Sunday), Frelai (Fresa's day), Milai (Miko's day), Melai (Lifeday), and Graslai (Goldenday). In that order.
The first day of Costia is always on Nekolai and New Years is always on the last Graslai of Solea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:00 am
Appendix Two: High Holidays The High Holidays are days of mourning, remembrance, or penance. They are observed with solemnity and the gods are honored in specific ways. These dates are marked with the date on the ancient Kinai calendar with the corresponding day in common Elvish. Holiday Kinai Date Elvish Date Conai 15 Costia January 15 RystiAn 23 Costia January 23 Dregfís 34 Kanai March 11 Fragra 27 Fai May 16 Tienza 31 Éala June 26 Demlai 11 Demonia August 18 Demdreg 12 Demonia August 19 Shula 1 Nefertai October 20 Conai is the celebration of the emergence of Costa and Kani from the Chaos. RystiAn, the Day of Joyous Spirits, is the day the Creators were born. Dregfís is the day the faeries turned from the gods. Fragra is the remembrance holiday of the splitting of the Realms. Tienza is the day of honoring the dead. Demlai is the time of penance of the anniversary of the creation of the Demons. Demdreg is the second part of Demlai. The Elves pray to the gods to keep the demons out of their Realm. Shula is the time of mourning as the plants fade and Winter enters the land.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:06 am
Appendix Three: The Great Festivals The Great Festivals are joyous celebrations often lasting many days and sometimes for weeks or even months. Most relate to Soles and Nefertiri, creators of the Elves. Each date is marked in the ancient Kinai calendar with the corresponding date in common Elvish. Holiday Kinai Date Elvish Date Fr'sla 33 Faelri April 16 Méllaila 10 Éala June 5 Zhaikís 32 Éala June 27 Laoslai 13 Éoai July 14 Rystai 14 Éoai July 15 Mikla 1 Demai September 13 Naoka 3 Nefertai October 22 Neslai 30 Nefertai November 18 Fr'sla is the celebration of the coming of Spring. Normally lasts until the children find the first flower of Spring. (festivities are calmer each day) Méllaila is a day of intense celebration honoring the day Fresa planted Mélla, the Tree of Life. Zhaikís is the second day of honoring the dead, focusing on peace and reincarnation. Laoslai honors Laos, god of Summer. Rystai honors Laos's wife Rysta, goddess of Fire. Her Festival lasts many days of partying and drinking. Bonfires are lit and maintained for the duration of the festivals. Mikla is the harvest celebration. Festivals are held until all the crops have been harvested. (Includes Miko's day of birth) Naoka, the Festival of Bright Hearts, is the celebration of the birth of the Twins, Soles and Nefertiri. The Festival usually lasts the entire month of Nefertai to include Neslai. Occurs two days after Shula to allow preparation time between Sacred Days. Neslai is the day the first Elf was created.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:34 am
Appendix Four: New Year The Kinai added an extra day to the end of their calendar each year. This day was spent in cleansing the houses and towns. The Elves wash thoroughly with harsh soap and clean their homes and animals. The streets and buildings are washed with the same harsh soap. Elves go to the temples of their patron gods and wash the temples, the stairs, and the alters. All old offerings are discarded. It is a day dedicated to washing away the old. The calendar year ends on 37 Solea, Mélai. During Gráslai, even though it has no date on the calendar, they perform their cleansing rituals. The new year then begins on Nekolai, the first day of the week and the day of the moon. New Year occurs on a day that does not exist on the calendar because it is believed that the gods cannot watch them on this day. The ritual is conducted when the gods cannot see so that on the first day of the year, when the gods can once again see them, the Elves will appear pure and clean On Leap Years, New Year will fall evenly on the last day of the year. These years, the cleansing rituals are much more thorough and intense as it is a real day and the gods are able to observe the Elves. Appendix Five: Tienza and Zhakís Tienza and Zhakís are the days of honoring the dead. Tienza consists of mourning the loss of the departed by dressing in white. The Elves also clean the tombs and graves of the departed. Many offerings are left at the temples of Tieno in hopes that he will guide the departed's soul to Summerland. Zhakís is the festival celebrating the reincarnation of passed souls. The Elves exchange gifts and are much more open with strangers than normal. If a stranger comes to your house or walks up to you in the street it is necessary to be polite to them. It is commonly accepted that on Zhakís souls from one's past that have been reincarnated come to visit in their new forms. Any insult to a stranger is considered an insult to a past acquaintance. Murders are not uncommon during Zhakís as souls seek revenge for past wrongs. Appendix Six: Demlai and Demdreg Demlai, Demon's Day, is the anniversary of the day the Demons were created. The Demons are said to be creatures purely of evil and darkness. They are the opposites of the Elves who are creatures of goodness and light. The Demons were also responsible for the splitting of the Realms. The Elves mourn their creation as the birth of evil. Demdreg is the second day of Demlai. A portal between the Forgotten Realm and the Demon Realm once opened and the Elves were plunged into a vicious war with the blood-thirsty Demons. Every year, on the anniversary of that day, the Elves pray to the gods to keep the Realms separate. Offerings are made to Fí and Fae, who first separated the realms, to Costa and Kani, who oversee all things, to Nefertiri and Soles, who watch over and protect the Elves, and to Dems and Demona, who created the Demons. It is hoped that the offerings will appease Dems and Demona and they will spare the Elves another war.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:35 am
Appendix Seven: Names and Patron Gods Every Elven child is given multiple names. Their first name is their given name, the name their parents choose for them. Their second name is their patron god or goddess. Their third name is the patron god or goddess of their house. Females are given a third name, the patron goddess of their mothers. The last name of all Elves is their father's family name. If the child's patron god or goddess is the same as the patron of their home or mother, the child simply has one less name, the god or goddess is not repeated. The patron of the child is sometimes told to a priest by the god. In that case the child will receive it's second name immediately. Sometimes the child will show a certain affinity for something that connects it to a certain god or goddess. If after a month the child's patron has not been determined, a series of tests will be administered. These tests involve taking the child from temple to temple waiting for a reaction or a sign, showing the child items and symbols associated with various gods and waiting for a reaction, and placing the child in the center of the Great Temple and waiting to see which god's statue the child turns to. On very rare occasions the child's patron cannot be distinguished. In this case, it is assumed that the gods have not decided who will claim the child. There is not much concern as the child normally grows close to a god or goddess over time. If after five years the child still does not have a patron, they never receive their second name as many gods and goddess have obviously shown interest in the child. The naming system is a very complex process. Here are some examples to make the process easier to understand: Ex) A boy is born into the Royal Family of Gráswel. His parents name him Edron. The patron goddess of the Royal House is Nefertiri. His father's family name is Máloe. A vision comes to the Head Priest of the Temple of Tieno. It is determined that Tieno is the boy's patron god. The boy's full name is as follows: Edron Tieno Nefertiri Máloe. Ex) A daughter is born to a couple living in the outskirts of Naolisk. The child is named Bellá. The patron of the house is Estro and the father's family name is Krion. The mother's patron goddess is Rhenna. After traveling from temple to temple it is determined that the child's patron is Egra. The girl's full name is as follows: Bellá Egra Estro Rhenna Krion. Ex) A son is born to a young woman. She is not married to the boy's father. She names the boy Milisk. It is determined the boy's patron is Hun. His father's family name is Celo. The patron of his father's house is Kikyo, but the patron of his mother's house is Esperanza. The boy lives with his mother so his full name is as follows: Milisk Hun Esperanza Celo. Had the boy lived with his father his full name would have been as follows: Milisk Hun Kikyo Celo. However if he changes houses during his life his name will not change. Ex) The youngest daughter of the Royal Family of Naolisk has a daughter. The girl is named Nekola. The patron goddess of her House is Rhenna. Her father's family name is Mealá. Her mother's patron goddess is also Rhenna. After a few years it is determined that the girl's patron is also Rhenna. The girl's full name is as follows: Nekola Rhenna Mealá.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
