This land wasn't as desolate and dangerous as it is now.
Long, long ago, shortly after Epimetheus had given man power over fire, there lived a man known as Paradinus, of the ancient Kingdom of Therara. He as born as a prince of the wealthy merchant nation and the eldest of King Spiros's five children, and from an early age he enjoyed great wealth and never had to lift a finger in a world defined by hard labor. As a child, he was known to be energetic, lively, and smart. The kind of child that was a perfect fit to rule the nation in his father's passing. But as he aged, he slowly learned the face of greed and lust. He started taking on greater roles within the kingdom, and along the way engaged in corruption with other officials behind closed doors.
When he was not hiding behind the towering walls of the Palace, engaging in shady dealings with members of his Imperial Court, Paradinus was building his image as potentially a strong and capable leader for the Theraran People come the day that a new man must ascend to the throne. He claimed it was his birthright to rule the nation, a right gifted by the God's themselves. An honest, and strong leader, one that would lead Therara to greater glory. Everyone knew he was embellishing the facts, but he spoke in such an assuring, confident way that many couldn't help but buy into his lies.
The day soon came one early evening in October, when the news broke. King Spiros, his father and former King had died. In his final will, he had left Paradinus as his successor as King of Therara, and overnight, what he had been preparing for during the past few years had happened. He became the ruler of one of the most powerful nations in the world. The center of trade and commerce — Paradinus dominated the entire world; he held great power unmatched by anyone at the time. But from his very first days as ruler, his greedy side had gotten the better of him. He wanted all the power, absolute omnipotence, and as a result, he ruled the nation with an iron fist and was free to shape it to his desire. He wanted large sums of wealth, more than he could spend in a hundred lifetimes, and so he hoarded more of the nation’s reserves and lived a lavish lifestyle, defined by excess. In comparison, the people of Therara grew impoverished and desparate as a result of Paradinus' flamboyant rule, famine gripping the countryside, leaving a trail of grief and death in its wake. Paradinus didn't bother to bat an eye. He had it all - every worldly desire fulfilled, at the very top of the social pyramid, and bowed to no one but himself.
He used less than ethical tactics to further increase his already abundant supply of wealth and power. He forged alliances to benefit himself, and when it no longer worked in his favor, he just as quickly betrayed people without a second thought. Nobles, clergymen, even peasants — all swindled and backstabbed by the greedy King. Because of this, everyone in Therara soon grew to secretly hate him, but even with this common conviction, many still tried not to show even a hint of defiance, for Paradinus had executed anyone who showed disloyalty and discontent with his rule.
But Paradinus still desired more. His ambition wasn't satiated yet. He hungered for more, one that all he had done and all he had couldn't satisfy. He aimed for greater heights, greater glory, greater wealth, greater power. He wanted to climb higher, higher than the summit of human achievement. He wanted to be at the top of it all, akin to the level of the Gods.
He wanted to be a God.
It was now the midst of winter. He had sent his messenger Konstantinos to the Oracle of Delphi, seeking advice rooted in her wisdom. The Pythia was young, but seen as the Messenger of Athelon, a woman descended from the Olympians themselves, she was already renowned for her ability to see one's fate, and was able to bestow advice to those who come to seek her. Konstantions travelled day and night through a harsh snow storm that was blowing through the lands of Therara, twenty days of travel to reach the Oracle's abode. She was there as always, her eyes giving a hint of wisdom and optimism. But when Konstantinos relayed the King's desire to the Pythia, he was met instead with a cryptic reply.
Fools who seek the throne of Gods stand to lose the throne over man as well. And fools who seek to climb mountains, will fall from the same height. Tell your King, that we gave man fire to warm them during winter, not to go and touch the sun.
The Oracle's response unnerved Konstantinos, and upon his return to Terera, he relayed her response to Paradinus. Expecting advice, he was instead met with a warning of caution. A warning not to fall into the pit of discontent. Paradinus however only laughed,failing to see it's true meaning. All he saw in those words were the ramblings of a woman who had drunk the potion of delusion. But Konstantinos, and many members of his own court meanwhile, saw it differently. A cryptic warning from the Gods at Olympia themselves, not to desire their throne.
But Paradinus was indifferent.
And so, his quest to become God began.
It began with grand displays of his abundant narcissism. Lavish festivals conducted to celebrate his past accomplishments. Entire streets renamed in honor of him. Statues erected in every park and square. He even went as far as to mandate that anything referring to him be written beginning with a capital letter, such as "Him", a form of naming reserved only for the Gods.
Several years passed after the Oracle gave her cryptic warning, and Paradinus was now undoubtedly the richest and most powerful man in the history of Therara. He had certainly made his mark on Therara, one whose legacy seemed impossible to eclipse. His name was sung in odes, his face adorned art, and his legacy entered stories. His closest advisors had tried their best to quell his raging ambition, heeding the Oracle's warning. He sat on top of the world, but still, he desired more. More to gain. More to conquer. His thirst for greatness was unquenchable — and he could never be content with what he had. And it is said that on this day, he became the kind of person that attracted the attention of Sarian, the Prince of Darkness and the King of the Devil.
One fateful night in the dead of winter, as the day was approaching its conclusion, Sarian approached Paradinus in a lucid dream. He took on the form of a young woman, slender, almost nude in form — someone the lusty Paradinus could not resist. Sarian’s voice was soft and womanly, certainly not one you would expect to belong to the Prince of Darkness, but her voice was not without a tint of malice underneath its soft tones. He offered Paradinus a deal, an offer he could not refuse with his current desires — he would grant Paradinus god-like powers; in return, Paradinus would swear loyalty to Sarian, worship him. He would bow to Sarian alone and, notably, convince the people of Therara to abandon their own God, Athelon, who they believed ruled the heavens, in favor of worshipping Sarian. Paradinus accepted in a heartbeat, not even stopping to think for a second to process what he had just heard. It was what he always wanted — to be a God, to be above all else. All other opinions were drowned out in the face of such pure serotonin. It was something a man like him could never refuse.
And when Paradinus awoke the next day, he discovered he now had the powers of the Gods themselves, omnipotent and invincible.
Ever the boastful and arrogant King, Paradinus organized a parade through the capital city of Terera the very next day. Mounted atop a golden carriage, he rode through the cobblestone streets, past crowds of onlookers as he demonstrated his newfound powers to the people of Terera, proclaiming himself as the manifestation of God. The people of Terera were both amazed and fearful at their King’s power and believed every word he said. After all, if he had powers, he must be a God.
In his power-driven procession through the city streets, Paradinus suddenly stopped at the city square, where a large statue carved in stone was located. It was of Athelon, the King of Olympia whom they worshipped as the divine force of good and righteousness. But Paradinus viewed the statue as a relic of the past. After all, he was God now.
Paradinus walked to the front of the statue, before declaring to the townspeople;
“This God, Athelon, whom you claim rules over the heavens, is nothing but idolatry! I am the true God who stands before you. I am the one whom you should worship. Tear this statue down, and in its place, erect a statue of my image, taller than this statue currently stands, adorned with precious jewels and gold like my greatness deserves. Only then will I grant this land abundance and fulfill every desire you may ever have.”
Paradinus convinced the people at his godly nature by performing several miracles, summoning a bolt of lightning from the clear-blue sky, letting a nearby building be suffused with an unnatural blue hue, and turning stone into a nugget of pure gold. The townspeople, convinced that he was truly God, agreed to follow his word, rushing to grab sledgehammers and other tools, and began tearing the statue down. It took days, but soon, the statue was torn to rubble, and the land was cleared of debris. All that was left was the pedestal it stood on, a blank canvas ready for a new statue to be built. This time, one of the new God Paradinus himself.
And over the next year, metalsmiths from all across Therara worked on the statue — tons of silver, gold, and platinum melted as they molded its shape, while piles of gemstones were mined and gathered from every corner of the globe. Entire mountains were flattened to mine these materials, forests cleared, and rivers tainted. Even the once plentiful treasuries of the Kingdom were rapidly depleted at the King's lavish lifestyle.
But it was all for a good cause, the people of Therara believed. All to please their new God, Paradinus. God's will transcends those of man.
“The Old Gods have fallen!”, they cheer.
The news of Paradinus’s powers wasnt only confined within the borders of Therara however, and quickly spread across the globe by various prophets, entrusted by the King to circulate the news of his miracles and powers. His name entered even foreign books, songs, reaching faraway lands too remote for most news to reach. And over the next few months, millions began abandoning their Gods, abandoning their traditions in favor of worshipping Paradinus - the "God Who Lives Among Us". Paradinus gave rise to a new religion, which would come to be known as " Paradism, the name purposely coined by Him to resemble the word "paradise.", the very thing he promised to the people. And for many Paradites, they bought into every one of Paradinus's lies, firmly believing that he would be the one to bring upon Paradise. For them, he was the one and only God, who in his unending humility, chose to live with the rest of us mortals.
The summer solstice of the following year soon dawned on Therara, marking one year since construction began. And today, the statue was finished, its metal gleaming in the skyline of Terera, towering over even the tallest hills surrounding the city. His expression confident, his posture contrapposto, his hand lying on his waist, the other wielding a golden sword. One entire year of labor, mountains of money and resources poured into the thing, but now it was complete. It soon became an international landmark, with people from all across the world making pilgrimages to the site. And by the second year, over five and half billion people adhered to Paradism, making it the world's largest religion at the time.
And as Paradinus overlooked the statue from his titanic marble palace, he could not help but feel an immense feeling of accomplishment. He was truly at the top of the world this time, surpassing even what was viewed as the summit of human achievement.
But just as they say, the higher you climb, the greater you have to fall.
One fateful night on the following winter solstice, he was approached again in a dream by Sarian. But this time, it was different. He sported a disappointed look on his face, one almost angry in nature. He manifested as not a young woman, but a cloaked old man, one definitely no younger than 60, dressed in an all black robe covering his entire body from head to toe, an aura of fear, malice, and uncertainty emanating from the figure. On his right hand he held a staff made almost entirely of sharp thorns.
After much tense silence, Sarian spoke.
“Paradinus..
Remember me? I am Sarian. The God of Darkness. You do remember about our deal all those years ago, right?”, he says, a tint of malice in his voice.
“If I am not mistaken, I said that I would grant you powers, but only in exchange for convincing people to worship me.? To worship me, the great Sarian. Then why do you proclaim that you are the Gods yourself?”
Paradinus freezes. Even though it was all in his dream, he knew it was as real as his waking life.
“You do know that your powers come from me? I am the sole reason why you have reached the level you are right now. I am the source of your power. I enable your greatest achievement. Without me, you cannot be where you are now. Without me, you cannot be God. It is only right that you uphold your part of the deal. But you didn't. You were blinded by the glory, by the power, to the point that you have forgotten who you truly are — a mere mortal.”
“And it isn't just me you’ve betrayed”, Sarian says, stepping aside to reveal another cloaked figure, glowing with a radiant golden energy, one that juxtaposed Sarian's , one of a holy nature. The air was tense as the cloaked figure stepped forward. The figure revealed himself as Athelon himself, and he bore the same furious glare in his eyes as Sarian.
“You.”, Athelon said. “You swindled the world into believing that you are God. You call yourself holy, yet your life is one of sin and pleasure. You call yourself powerful, yet your power is not yours. And you called us false idols, while you yourself erects symbols of false idolatry. “
Sarian continued.
“As consequences for your actions, you will be stripped of your wealth and power. You will no longer live a carefree life; you will have to suffer to survive every day that passes from now on. No one will ever believe you again, and whoever even mentions your name shall be eternally cursed. You will bring nothing but misery wherever you go, and the land you toil will never bear fruit. Instead of the King of Mortals, you shall be nothing but the King of Misfortune, whose existence has brought upon the world a terrible curse.”
As soon as the final words were spoken, on the streets of Terera, the townspeople awoke to a bright flash of light coming from the town square. Suddenly, a loud, deafening explosion was heard, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Almost everyone rushed out of their houses, eager to see what the commotion was about. They saw that the statue of Paradinus had been reduced to rubble in the explosion, and standing amidst the rubble were two cloaked figures — one glowing with a golden light which envelops his cloak and the other, a dark energy emanating from his body. The two figures introduced themselves as none other than Athelon and Sarian, the God of the Heavens and the Underworld. Athelon first began to speak;
“You, the people of Therara, and of the world — What grievous sin you have committed to worship a mere man, a false god! You have abandoned your God for a man who can only give you money in return, and to a man who can never keep a promise!”
Sarian then added;
“And to worship a man who can't even keep his promise to the very God who granted him his powers in the first place.
Who is guilty? Is it just Paradinus? By the laws of justice, no! This town, this nation, this world is guilty! You’ve allowed yourselves to be swindled by words and by money. You will all pay the price for your insolence. You all have brought upon this world a terrible curse. Monsters, demons, and supernatural beasts will now roam the land, all of which are hostile to you. The relative safety of the old world shall be replaced by that of fear, of doubt, unsure if you would survive another day. This will all teach you that no mortal is God.”
The next morning, when Paradinus woke up, he discovered that he no longer had his powers. Moreover, he found that all his wealth, his jewelry, his gold, and his cash were all pillaged and stolen last night. Even the deed to the palace was stolen. He was left homeless and roamed the streets of Terera with nothing but the clothes on his back. The people who once bowed down to him, who revered him above everything else, now saw him with intense disgust and hatred. Every man, woman, and child he passed by glared at him, as if they were about to kill him. They probably wanted to at this point. As he passed by markets, vendors threw their spoiled produce at him, with homeowners throwing whatever piece of garbage they could get their hands on at him as he passed by their homes. The message was clear to Paradinus — he was no longer welcome here, or anywhere really.
He was forced to flee Terera, fearful for his safety, and spent the rest of his life living in a cave in the mountains. Once at the top of the world, seen as God by billions, Paradinus had suffered the steepest fall from grace any man had endured. In the caves of the Theraran Countryside, for the first time in his life he felt a new feeling - not of greed, lust or ambition - but regret. A feeling out of character for the once mighty King. Regret that he hadn't heeded the Oracle's words. Regret that he had let his ambition grow too strong. Regret that he dared to grasp the sun.
But Paradinus was not the only one punished. The nation of Therara was forever cursed for daring to defy the Gods, a long, drawn-out famine gripping the nation not long after Paradinus’s exile, leading millions to starve until they were nothing but brittle bones, only kept alive by the tiny grains of sustenance they could forage from their surroundings, prolonging their agony. But the curse continued, with Therara ultimately losing a war against its rival kingdom of Xenaria, once firmly under Therara's thumb during Paradinus's rule. The Xenarian armies marched through the Theraran plains, eventually besieging the starved and weakened city of Terera itself. One revered as a symbol of wealth and trade dominance, Terera was a mere husk of its former self, its buildings crumbling under the might of the enemy siege. The battered walls surrounding the city soon gave way, and the Xenarian armies quickly seized the city, massacring almost all of its remaining population.
And from then on, the world was not the same. The Gods had cast upon the world that had dared to forget their names terrible curses. Magical beasts roamed the land, killing hundreds almost every single day. Death, suffering, war, famine - all the great evils were unleashed upon the godless population. A persistent, ubiquitous curse the Gods had cast upon the sinful peoples of Therara, and the rest of the world that bowed to their dominion.
Therara was once the center of the world, leaving an impactful legacy.
And now, its cities were empty, its dominance faded into history.
The Gods have disowned the world.
And the Age of Chaos has begun for this now Godless realm.
