The Legend of Tantus - Book 3

Chapter 6 - Gaia

    In the same system as the magnificent world of Tantus, there was another splendid inhabited planet, similar in its beauty and dangers, of an absurdly varied diversity, with its great history of existence extending to the beginnings of known creation, or beyond. Let's start now to dive into the history of the great world of Gaia.

    Its legend mentioned the existence of a supreme entity, responsible for the creation of all life in the “Multiverse”, being then called the Supreme Celestial, wandering through immensity as the great father, or mother, of life, he filled the worlds of his choice with his breath, thus beginning life itself. Thus two races were born, humans, those of common longevity, and elves, those of immense longevity, simple creatures, different in some ways, but destined to live an unpredictable history. The Supreme Celestial, before leaving, left behind one of his divine messengers, referred to by the races as "Angel", responsible for guiding the world to its proper path, whatever it was and in whatever way it was destined, before returning. One day this messenger fell head over heels in love with a daughter of the elves, and gave his love to her, but even an elf, extraordinarily long-lived, would one day leave and their love would end. With her the messenger had three children, called Gaia, Armus and Mássimus, bearers of their mother's limitless elven imagination and all of their father's heavenly abilities, they grew up to become fantastically divine, but one day their mother ceased to exist, and their father left that planet behind, entrusting his children to develop, protect and guide that world. Gaia, as the firstborn, more powerful and just, assumed total regency, and taking power over all lands became Mother-earth, Armus, the second oldest and most understanding, assumed power over all forms of defense, the God of Protection, and Mássimus, the most impetuous and possessor of apparently cold feelings, often taken by simple ill will, thus becoming the owner of unpredictable actions, became the God of Strength. Thus were born the three great gods of Gaia, and in time mother-earth generated new deities to achieve the perfect balance of her world: from her breath on the mountains was born Jahad, the God of Nature, from her tears on the seas were born Woubur and Nabreus, the twin Gods of Light and Darkness, from her smile Glória was born, the Goddess of Peoples, from her simplicity in the heart Fanus, the Goddess of Wisdom, was born and from the raising of her hands Ornibas, the God of Magic, and Samahurt, the God of Dragons. And this was Gaia's balance.

    Each of the gods filled the world with their essences, making life and evolution grow in many possible ways, giving rise to new races, even though their authorship was never exactly revealed, this becoming irrelevant, some for the good, others for the evil, because the world never lives on one side.

    The diversity of the races and peoples of Gaia was incredible, divided between two natures, Light and Darkness, and it is about them that we will dive deeper.

SCRIPTURES OF GAIA - RACES

Races of light:

- Humans: Men and women. As the most numerous and populating race in the vast majority of the lands, possessing the simplest longevity in comparison to the others, an average of one hundred winters. Their strength can be considered as admirable as their unpredictability, because the hearts of men are sometimes easily corrupted, able to transit between light and darkness in the most unexpected ways, whether courageous or cowardly, wise or foolish, hope or doom. Thus, they can be considered the reference point for the knowledge of the others.

- Elves of Light: The elves, due to their immense longevity, about five thousand winters, and the adoration of nature, always carried the highest magical aptitude beyond senses as refined as animals, whose presence is hardly noticeable, except for the gods, agile and without weight. With pointed ears and angelic appearances, they never create beards and have a unique serenity, in addition to never showing signs of aging even at the end of life, being thus considered the most beautiful and wisest of all beings, except for tenshis. Very similar to humans, but always with lighter skin, but some of the races are even exotic, greenish or even bluish skin, of enviable harmony with the world, they own many of the most prosperous kingdoms, which turns them into terrible warriors when their beloved and beautiful lands are threatened.

- Semi-humans: Race similar, in part, to humans, but rudimentary, generally imperfect, equally short-lived, but of lesser powers by nature. They choose peaceful lives in big cities and usually maintain a good relationship with other races, apparently naive and easily deceived, born workers, but worthy warriors.

- Dwarves: Those considered the creator's outline before humans were conceived, which offends them naturally. Of smaller stature than men, always with beards and long hair, very robust, they carry the greatest talent for heavy manual labor, especially mining and forging weapons, quite drunkards, in addition to a certain passion for wearing metal armor set with jewels from their mines. Being able to carry large burdens easily, they have great power in a small body, therefore, great warriors.

- Gnomes: The small race of kinship with the dwarves, however slightly smaller than these. With pointy ears like elves, they have a curious vanity with their long beards, always keeping them very well looked after, and they get angry when something happens to it... They tends to be grumpy, preferring to live in dens and adhering to solitude voluntarily, but there are those who fall in love with big cities and find their place there as alchemists, engineers, inventors or illusionists, their greatest aptitude. They hardly ever engage in combat voluntarily, choosing to flee quickly, which they are very talented at, but this for a noble reason: they despise wounding or taking lives, preferring other defense alternatives.

- Halflings: In their language this means "small people". In general, they have the same stature as dwarfs, but they tend to create thick, hairy feet, being able to walk through forests without making, incredibly, the slightest noise. They appreciate comfort, good food and simple jobs in their peaceful lands, but for those who achieve the feat of exhausting their patience, they find in them true warriors, fierce and fast, very dangerous in combat when necessary.

- Half-elves: The descendants of the two races, a man with an elf, or an elf with a woman, which is more common. They may have pointed ears, although less pronounced than those of the legitimate elves, some have a beard and generally live twice as long as humans, carry some of the elven skills like keen agility and vision, are very friendly and live between the two peoples, eager to belong somewhere, so they are considered loyal friends.

- Amphibians: Also referred to as "mermaids". They inhabit the oceanic depths and courageously defend the seas as their masters, of exotic aquatic appearance, have fish tails from the waist down, but magically create legs when they come out of the water, and thus are able to live normally on land in some of the coastal cities.

- Centaurs: Mostly human creatures from the waist up and horse from the waist down, but some breeds can be exotic, being half tiger, half lion, or even scorpion and spider. They have above average intelligence as well as great strength, they are the best archers in the world alongside the elves, friendly and respectful, although they prefer to live in their own colonies.

- Juujins: Extraordinary breed of animals with human characteristics, which may be of several species, but generally mammals. They walk, talk and act like humans, except for the appearance they are practically human, speaking the same languages, wearing the same clothes and same taste for food and housing, the characteristics like animals include great strength and agility, and some personality trait linked to their basic appearance. But they are offended when they are mistaken for animals. They are generally friends of all good-natured races, but some are able to turn easily to the dark side.

- Tenshis: “Heavenly Beings”, as some call them, they are the servants of the gods, but mainly the three great gods, and the only non-divine immortals alongside the onis. They have the appearance of humans and elves, but even more beautiful and imposing, with beautiful wings of all kinds of birds, spellcasters of natural phenomena, the only ones among them (even the gods) who do not need words to use their powers because they are literally part of the power. They live on the highest mountain tops above the clouds, and reaching them is always a real challenge, but when ordered by the gods they are simply the most terrible warriors among the peoples of the planet.

- Fairies: Highly magical creatures, extremely attached to nature and some gods. Always female, born by the simple will of Gaia, looks like young elves, fits in the palm of the hand and has variable wings, dragonflies, butterflies, bees and wasps. Their eyes are black and shiny, very curious and playful, but although they behave like children, they can hide a unique wisdom, which is why they are sought after. They never grow old and can live for centuries, but when they die they turn to shiny dust, announcing their return to Gaia and disappearing into the air.

    Dark races, almost always and naturally turned to evil, balance the scale in their own way and clearly also have great prominence or importance:

- Dark Elves: They were once elves, those who chose to live in underground realms because they ended up becoming sensitive to sunlight. They created the envy of the elves of light for having their beauty diminished by life in the shadows and started to hate them, thus becoming evil and mortal enemies, they have dark skin, white hair, but were able to maintain the same exact magical aptitude, as well all the skills, which made them prodigies. They also carry a deep taste for controlling dark animals, such as spiders, by poisoned weapons, and it is very likely that they hide great secret empires, but there are some who disagree with senseless hatred and return to the side of the light, despite the difficulty to gain confidence and be accepted.

- Orcs: Humans who had the same fate as dark elves, but they became horrendous. By adapting to life in darkness, they became harmful and enemies of all races, including darkness itself, only forming alliances when it suits them, they commit many terrible acts since their birth, such as procreation with animals, making their descendants more repugnant and evil yet. That is why their appearances vary a lot, but basically they have a greyish-green skin, pointed ears, red eyes, pronounced fangs and a snout. In some cases, out of necessity, they establish a commercial partnership with humans, but very unstable.

- Half-orcs: Orcs born from interbreeding with humans, which has always happened due to s****l violence, and nothing else is worth saying about it. They multiplied like plagues and became the ones who can best get along with legitimate orcs, although not completely, as they are as evil as these.

- Humanoids: Creatures of distant kinship with humans may have become so similar to orcs. They usually have a torso, two arms, two legs, or almost that... They have their own culture, language and cities, but generally join dark elves, but a renegade member can easily join the peoples of light, becoming an ally.

- Kobolds: The diminished version of the orcs, little bigger than halflings. They live in mountain caves like flies, because they are born as quickly as the time of their lives is over, although they can be hired for simple legwork by any race, they are unreliable, even though they are not exactly evil, they easily turn into thieves and vandals, it is much more common to see them serving orcs or dark elves. They have earth-colored skin and very red eyes, even shining in the darkness.

- Ogres: Those relatives of the orcs who became very strong and tall, measuring about ten feet tall. They are usually primitive and brutal, wearing animal skin as costumes, always carnivorous, kill anything to satisfy their hunger, even practice cannibalism when they need it. They like to use large hammers, primitive axes and clubs as weapons, allying themselves with dark elves and orcs in search for combat and blood. Even though it seems impossible, some rare people manage to control themselves and create friendship with the peoples of light, understanding the benefits of living with others who treat them with respect, in addition to teamwork.

- Trogs: Notably powerful, very skillful and dangerous breed of hybrid lizards. They are usually enemies of humans and elves, some stray members live alone, but they are still hostile, they usually live in the densest and darkest forests, and they have the same taste as dwarfs for metallic objects and beer, this second one always stolen.

- Onis: Those who are "Infernal". They are simply tenshis who rebelled against the gods and were punished, thus becoming demons and opposed to the celestials. Their kingdoms are located dangerously in active volcanoes and do not allow the approach of any creature, they fight only when the celestials are involved, aiming to kill them only, which results in terrible battles, since they have practically the same powers, but no matter how hard they fight, they have never been able to defeat tenshis throughout history.

- Lycanthropes: The dark elves who were cursed by Ornibas, the god of magic. They have the ability to transform themselves into animals, according to the phase of the full moon, especially wolves or bears, but they totally lose their sanity when this happens, as it is independent of their will, killing everything they can, including their loved ones. Sorry for the offense they did to Ornibas, they avoid contact with all races, but the murders they commit when they transform only continue to increase their sins.

- Vampires: According to legend they were humans who were cursed by Samahurt, the dragon god, for blasphemy against Gaia, becoming undead. Thirsty for blood, their only food, and feared, condemned to a tormented half-life forever and never able to rest. With pale skin and fangs similar to bats, they have varied abilities such as great strength and high magical power, their number is low, as it takes a long time to find a pair and have children, who will be condemned just like their parents. Some live secretly among humans, managing, when they prefer to feed on animals to remain anonymous, to remain so for a long time. Rare among them fall in love with humans, resulting in a story with a sad outcome, as the temptation to take the blood is almost unbearable, apart from obstacles, and their descendants, called “Dampiros”, also do not escape the curse, but these can opt for the side of light in the name of the love that their parents tried to live. Their total power is dictated by experience, and the elders among vampires and dampiros can, incredibly, approach the strength of tenshis and onis, but such an experience also measures the size of their sadness, by loneliness. Extremely allergic to silver and garlic, apart from sunlight, which is capable of killing vampires almost instantly, but dampiros are able to tolerate it, although not forever.

    There are also the so-called neutral races, taking sides only in case of extreme need, bringing balance back to balance because they appreciate, above all, peace:

- Dragons: The powerful flying lizards, large and very strong physically, owners of the longest longevity among all races, living millennia, of great virility and elemental power, which can vary between fire and ice. Red fire dragons and blue ice dragons have a curious rivalry, perhaps because they are perfect opposites, but they are never really enemies, challenging themselves in competitions, sometimes comical, playing tricks on each other in a childish way, but never aiming to get hurt. Despite this they are highly wise and intelligent, making these disputes a kind of tradition of their race, sometimes strong friendships are born as well as relationships, but in this case the dragon (the female) will only have a 5% chance of getting pregnant, generating a privileged dragon hybrid of black scales, unpredictable power, and therefore beautiful and very rare in history. They have the ability to assume different forms of different races, because they fall in love easily, but when they love they are extremely faithful.

- Half-dragons: The descendants of dragons with other races, but never look like a flying lizard, remaining perfectly common among their other half-race and sometimes hidden for long and long, as their longevity resembles that of elves. Due to the power of the dragon's blood, in 95% of the cases they will have the same elemental power as the father, since the relationship of a dragon with a male of another race never generates descendants. Needless to mention, hybrid half-dragons are even rarer.

- Minotaurs: A unique warrior race in Gaia. Conceived by the god of strength himself, they are on average two meters tall, very robust human bodies and bovine heads, usually of bulls, but there are also buffaloes, antelopes, among others. They have the legendary, mysterious and coveted ability called "iron blood". Some even have hoofed feet, have no language and their reproduction is the result of a magnificent story. A minotaur will always choose a human female, fall in love and conquer her after exhausting effort to prove his feelings, although it seems strange and disgusting at first, he will never disrespect her in any way. Once this love is understood and reciprocated he will cease to be a minotaur, magically transforming himself into a man of complete beauty and admirability, but this will not last long, just long enough to consummate this love and generate his descendant. But this also means the end of their story, because there is no society capable of accepting them, he will be a minotaur again, he will leave and return to his people, but he will never lose sight of her, faithfully protecting her from any danger until the day she finds a new love. Once pregnant his chosen one will gain the ability of iron blood throughout the pregnancy, which will last an exact winter, as a gift from her beloved. His descendant, if is a son, will live normally during childhood, but when he reaches adolescence he will become a new and powerful minotaur, and will follow in the father's footsteps, but in the case of a daughter she will remain perfectly human, living normally throughout her life and will follow in the footsteps of the mother. They value honor and truth, and are revered as the lords of strength, blessed by Mássimus.

- Half-tenshis: Those who were born out of relationships between Tenshis and humans, sometimes elves, and only of these two races, their children carry the beauty of the celestials, but not their wings, and a fraction of their magnificent powers, while longevity is human or elven. They are kind and incorruptible, living in peace alone or in small villages.

- Half-onis: Contrary to what anyone might imagine, they are not malignant, as their mothers (also human or elf) suffered from the s****l violence of their oni fathers. They inherit a lot of demonic appearance, the same fraction of powers, but their hearts are honest. They carry their mothers' pain throughout their lives and do not hesitate to battle against the oni, becoming valiant warriors in every way. Killing an oni, for a half-oni, means avenging his mother.

- Ghosts: Those whose spirits did not leave for the world of the dead, still trapped in the world of the living by an immense force of will, but it can never diminish, or they leave definitively. They can pass for perfectly alive people, except for the touch, and they have capacity to use magic force, but this implies dangerously to eradicate them from the existence, never being able to be reborn.

- Trolls: Some legends claim that they are the predecessors of today's humans. Measuring about five meters in height, of naive honesty, they are perhaps the most worthy of Gaia and are probably servants of Armus, as they prioritize defense over attack.

SCRIPTURES OF GAIA - RACES - END

    Regardless of the Gaia races, there are extraordinary people capable of practically divine acts, even though they are very rare over time, these are called “demigods”, who are also part of the neutral races. Nothing more than direct descendants of the gods, but never of the three great gods, who were attracted to the daughters or sons of mortals. With the same immense and practically unlimited power as their parents, some remain in the light, but others turn to the darkness, and when this occurs, great and terrible crises can arise for the world. They have an absurdly long life, they may even be immortal, and may lead the world into the future or doom...

    There are two languages considered common, the so-called universal language and the divine language, this second one, although of simple pronunciation and easily deductible, carries a complex learning, which means that not many are perfectly and totally fluent. But the majority of the peoples of Gaia have their own language, with the exception of fairies, vampires, trogs and ogres, who only use the universal language, onis and half-onis, tenshis and half-tenshis also speak the language of the gods. The magical power in Gaia is similar to Tantus in several ways, but it basically has its differences, and an important point is the need for words for its execution, as a key to bring the magic to the surface, but it is not an easy task, because words will only be accepted if uttered in divine language with extreme perfection, and if there is enough power for this. In general, the most basic effects spells can be used by more experienced users through simple will, but those more powerful and complex only by the indispensable command of words, regardless of talent. They are divided into three distinct types: white magic, black magic and blue magic. The first is clearly present in the peoples of light, used mainly in healing, recovery and defense, but it can also have frightening offensive force, the second is of the nature of darkness, prioritizing destruction and harm. This does not mean that an elf, for example, cannot develop black magic and a dark elf, in turn, is unable to use white magic, but because it is not of their nature the difficulty will be more challenging, however, because both work hard together, great warriors dive into training to develop them, this is so true that it is not uncommon to find a human magician only black, or an orc witcher only white, but this never applies to tenshis and onis, because the celestials are absolutely of light and the demonic absolutely of darkness, totally unable to the other nature, but their descendants, half-tenshis and half-onis, already have this capacity absent in their parents. Blue magicians are a special case, this type of magic is nothing less than the remarkable fusion between white and black, creating magnificent results and benefits, even exclusive, and automatically elevating their powers to a different level, blue magic. To achieve it a perfect balance between light and darkness is necessary, making this an extreme difficulty, only the gods and some of the neutral peoples are already born with this privilege, needless to mention that ordinary warriors of light, or of darkness, using blue magic are extremely rare throughout history.

    Conjuration is another notable privilege. Called "Aeons", simply powerful creatures, magical or physical, brought or sent to the battlefield by the power of the "conjurators", which may be of light or darkness, but very rarely of both. Only the most powerful and, especially, talented warriors are able to achieve this ability, because even among those who were born with this gift, discovering this is rare, many potential conjurators can spend their entire lives without knowing themselves, without even suspecting that such power lurks inside. The ability to conjure is notoriously special, some gods are conjurators, others are not, because they do not need to, the demigods are undoubtedly the only conjurators.

    In this world there are also elements, but these are achieved collectively, according to the essence that Ornibas, the god of magic, decided to provide to each people. There is no specific development for each of them, and what determines the magical power is the magical aptitude of each being. Some of the races are more apt than others, such as elves in general, tenshis, onis, vampires, dragons and fairies, and therefore more easily, this does not mean that other races are not able to develop magic, but the difficulty will be more provocative, and it is also necessary to say that each race has, in its aptitude, its limits, which can be seen as levels, although there are always those capable of exceeding the others, reaching even higher race levels, but in general their race has an average. Unlike Tantus, where all races have the same abilities, depending only on their own talent and dedication, in Gaia each race will always have its borders, semi-humans, for example, are probably the least magical aptitude race of all considering the average, of course they can still be dangerous, but their power does not compare to that of the elves. There are also magic weapons, considered to be the most powerful and valuable in the world, the elves' specialty, who developed the magic filling technique, but the quality of the weapon is also important, for this reason they prefer to join the dwarves, because they have the best forging techniques, but they are also able to manufacture their own valuable weapons. The secret of magic filling is a time-consuming and delicate process, which is why it is not common to find many of these weapons around the world. The benefits of magic weapons are exceptional in general, swords will be sharper than all others, bows will be more accurate and their arrows more penetrating, axes will be lighter to brandish and heavier at the moment of attack, among many others. The greatest warriors in history generally carried these grandiose weapons, thus being graced with these true gifts.   

    Gaia has a history full of heroes and enemies, grandiose or small, full of comings and goings, a spectacular world that exists strongly, whether in crisis or in peace, following its destiny, wherever it takes it...