The Rhudd Book of Taneto

[James]

The Rhudd Book of Taneto

Every society has a mythology and a creation myth of some sorts, even if it might be borrowed from another land or shared with a neighbour. In the Western World we are witnessing the battle between the scientific idea of the Big Bang and evolution against the Christian myth of the tale of genesis. Other mythologies have long since been discarded, after all not many believe in the Greek or Norse stories of old. However they are still remembered and discussed.

Some have not even managed to achieve this status. Some have long since been forgotten and lost to the world due to oppressive occupation of religious and literacy freedom. The most notable of such is perhaps a real British mythology. Not the important continental mythology of Arthur and his Knights, but the mythology that survives in the occasional ancient Welsh poem. The mythology that has been destroyed by multiple cultural invasions and where even the small stories that have survived have been corrupted by Christian domination.

Until I came into possession of The Rhudd Book of Taneto, an ancient book in the original British tongue that details the true British mythology. It consists of a narrative written by several hands, and extracts from various poets to accompany important events. I have translated it into English to the best of my ability to share with all those who would seek to read about how the world was created out of battle and the tales of those who inhabited it afterwards.

It will also be the history set down in this book that will become the back story to my novel, Of Phantoms and Fays, which will treat nearly everything in this book as fact.

((And for the slow *cough* Drall and Silver *cough* I haven’t actually found an ancient British book, I'm making it up. ))

[James]

Of the Two Giants that Gave Life

In the Beginning there was blackness, emptiness and the two Giants of Life, Nu and Ddui. These two giants had fought against each other since the Beginning, colliding against each other in the blackness, unable to stop their battle until one had overcome the other. It is good that no one existed to be present at the battle, for they would have been overcome and destroyed by the awe that they would have experienced in the present of the two giants.

The war between Nu and Ddui went on for eons with neither side gaining the upper hand, neither giant able to kill the other. Then without warning the two giants came together in an almighty explosion, fire each consuming the other and their energies being released into the emptiness. The fire raged and roared for as long as the battle between the giants had been fought; and then it settled to reveal the two planes of existence that had been created.

From the energy of Nu, the plane, known as Bel Dirio, on which our land is on was created. Earth was born along with many of its creatures, including the son of Nu, the first giant Albion. Above was the plane created by the energy of Ddui, known as Dal Dirio. Unlike Bel Dirio, the upper plane was not of planets and stars, but rather a never-ending stretch of lush valleys and forests.

Upon Bel Dirio, and more specifically Earth, life began to flourish. Animals and plants began to grow all across the land due to the remaining energy of Nu. Meanwhile Albion, the ancestor of all giants, wandered the land caring for all of the planet’s life. Albion though was so tall that upon the tallest mountains of the land his head could enter into the realm of Dal Dirio.

The energy of Ddui had not manifested in the same way as his rival did. While Nu’s energy had separated and made many small and often weak forms of life, Ddui’s made creatures upon Dal Dirio fairer than have ever been known. Known as the Pendeg Wyth, the only life on Dal Dirio other than plants, they were intelligent and powerful beings. Some were tall and fair, almost like what humans would become millions of years later. Others were huge powerful animals, capable of great destruction. All of them were cunning and determined to make their lands a better place, and spoke with Albion often during his visits to their realm.

From the battle of the two giants, life had been created.

[James]

Canig of the Giants

A black mist covered all,
Nothing lived within,
Except the two great giants,
Nu and his twin brother,
Ddui.

Nu and Ddui had fought,
Since the Beginning of all,
With axes and fists,
They came together,
in a fierce and bloody war.

On one occasion,
Nu grew tired of the fight,
And with a great last charge,
He swung his axe hard,
robbing his brother of his head.

Fire poured from the open wound,
The flame wrapping around Nu’s neck,
And together with his brother,
Nu slipped away,
Dead.

[Lilam]

((I like it so far! I'm a -huge- fan of mythology and such, so I can't wait to see what you come up with. I especially enjoy creation myths, ironically. I kind of like the idea how "life" was created from strife (no rhyming intended..). There's not a whole lot written as of yet, so I can't give a very detailed critique, but I can say I enjoyed reading what you have so far. I think you may be missing a few commas in some places (though it didn't really detract from the story) and also:

Meanwhile Albion, the ancestor of all giants, wondered the land caring for all of the planet’s life.

I think that should be wandered.

But other than that, it looks good. Can't wait for more! ^_^

And let me know if you'd rather me not post in this thread and would prefer me to post this in another location. ))

[James]

((Cheers Lilam, and yeah don't worry about posting somewhere else, here is fine.

And yes, it should be wandered... in fact it was the whole time.

>.>
<.<
>.<

Anywho... next part should be up Friday/Saturday I suspect. The title being: Of the Pendeg Wyth and Albion's Great Sacrifice that Created the Middle Realm (Name to be Welshified). ))

[James]

Of the Pendeg Wyth and Albion’s Great Sacrifice that Created the Realm of Caolrnas

After the chaos of the twin giants Nu and Ddui, a peace settled for a time over the twin realms of Bel Dirio and Dal Dirio. While Albion nurtured life upon Bel Dirio, with more complex forms of life beginning to appear, upon Dal Dirio, two distinct groups were beginning to form within the Pendeg Wyth. The animalistic beings, led by the Great Wolf Rafanu began to call themselves the Iliada, bent on keeping the status quo of the great forests of Dal Dirio. Meanwhile the Ynol, made up of the beings more shaped like man, wanted to seek new advancement and knowledge.

However while the Ynol were right with their opinions, the Iliada was far more powerful. This was before the time that magic was able to be harnessed and the Iliada with their animal-like ferocity were too powerful for the Ynol to combat. The Ynol agreed to follow the Iliada rules, and settled into a nomadic life within the forests of Dal Dirio.

It was then that The Fall began to happen. Planes of existence built from combat and destruction are not stable, and without warning Dal Dirio began to slip towards the lower plane. No one knew what would happen if the two realms met, but Albion seeing the sky darkening, decided to question the Pendeg Wyth about the situation. Climbing to the nearest mountain, Albion entered Dal Dirio and called for aid.

Both Rafanu and the Ynol, Brenin, met with Albion within a small clearing in Dal Dirio. Rafanu, on behalf of the Iliada, declared that nothing could be done and that they must have faith that the collision of the two realms wouldn’t result in destruction. However Brenin was deeply concerned for the well-being of not only the Pendeg Wyth but also the life upon Bel Dirio, and therefore concocted a plan with Albion without the Iliada’s knowledge.

They decided that Albion could lift Dal Dirio back into place, and if needed to, held it there for an eternity. Both hoped that Albion could merely steady the realm and then return back to Earth, but each knew that their plan was dangerous and could result in complete destruction. Without warning their brethren, the Ynol steadied themselves and Albion began to lift the realm of Dal Dirio back into place.

For a moment it seemed that the plan had worked as the great giant slowly stood upright with the realm upon his shoulder, and then the energy of Ddui began to unravel. Chunks of Dal Dirio began to slip between Albion’s grip, dropping and then hanging suspended between the two realms, creating a middle land that would become to be known as Caolrnas. Albion tried to catch what he could, protecting Bel Dirio before the energy of Ddui turned on him.

For the first time the destructive powers of magic attacked a being, tearing through the flesh and bones of Albion, cutting him down as he gave one final great heave and set Dal Dirio back onto a stable existence well above the land of Bel Dirio. Blood covered everywhere before Albion collapsed into pieces, scattered all across his land below him.

Once everything had settled, the damage and new life and lands were visible. Upon Bel Dirio, from the blood and bones of Albion, smaller giants began to appear across the earth’s surface. In Dal Dirio, great gaps appeared through the forests and several Iliada were lost from the land. Meanwhile a new realm had appeared, Caolrnas, hanging suspended between the two worlds. It was a series of small patches of Dal Dirio’s lands, isolated forests sitting alone in the darkness of the gap. Most importantly as all, the energy of Ddui now flowed through the trees and grass of all three realms. The source of magic.

[tamwyn]

Whoa, that was pretty cool. At first, the writing seemed a little simple and...not nuanced enough for enjoyable reading, but it slowly got better as I read. Was that your intention? Anyways, the poem was sort of weird for me, because I read it in a light hearted tone, lol. But it was good at any rate, kept it's rhythm and pacing. The second paragraph was a little like the first, as if you started out awkward and slowly warmed to the subject as you went. Overall, the story as I see it was enjoyable and well thought out, but the execution (unless you intended it the way I said) was sort of "meh" at the beginnings.

[The Drall]

It was quite interesting, but I do wish you didn't go so fast. I almost couldn't keep up, it was like an elephant trying to keep up with a cheetah. I guess I'm just slow that way, huh?

Seriously though, quite interesting, I'm eager to read more. There were a few errors in there, if you want me to point them out, I shall do so, but I think you should try to find them on you're own. You'd be much quicker than me.