第一章:天地创造
传说,泰瑞亚(Tyria)大陆从诞生至今已有11000余年的历史了,然而这段古老的岁月泰半已被谜团所包围。泰瑞亚之上最早生的生命形式,是被称为“上古巨龙”的物种,他们大半时间都陷于沉眠之中;除此之外,还有太古巨人(Giganticus Lupicus),一支如今已经灭绝的巨人种族。
出于未知的原因,在迄今7000年左右,世界的历史出现了一段空白期。古老的《卢比克圣典》(The ancient Tome of the Rubicon)提到了下列种族:矮人、莫萨特(mursaat)、和先知一族。书中也提到莫萨特和先知彼此为敌,但其起因,和战争的结局都并未记录在案。当然了,《卢比克圣典》是矮人族的书典,其中的预言和历史记载大半都和矮人有关。
在史前历史的某个时间点上,一些拥有强大力量、知识和魔法的存在开始降临并生息于这片大地之上。在人类的宗教中,他们被称为远古众神,也被称为“六真神”(True Gods):
德薇娜(Dwayna),生命与空气之女神(众神之领袖)
巴萨扎(Balthazar),火焰与战争之神
黎莎(Lyssa),美与幻影之双子女神
梅兰朵(Melandru),自然与土地之女神
阿巴顿(Abaddon),流水与秘密之神
古兰仕(Grenth),死亡与寒冰之神
最古老的文书中还曾记载过另一位死神,多姆(Dhuum),但他因为行事不公正而被古兰仕所推翻。多姆被幽禁于冥界。而阿巴顿也有一位前任,但他们之间则是在神职上发生了竞争。
在神话里,六真神创造了世界,他们形塑大地,又创造出植物和动物,并将生命的气息赋予众多不同的物种。有人称颂六神是泰瑞亚的守护者,他们为这个世界带来了众多生灵。
在众神的看顾和保护之下,泰瑞亚繁荣兴盛了起来。为了协助工作,并担起看护人的职责,众神创造了自己的仆从——一种蛇形的生物,如今被称为“被遗忘者”(the Fogotten)的生物。被遗忘者们看管、教导和照顾这片成长中的世界,同样也保护和指引着来到这世界上的其他种族。
没过多久,泰瑞亚就成了众多生灵:夏尔(charr)、天狗(tengu)、牛头人、矮人、半人马,以及其他许多种族的家园。最后,有一个种族降临到了泰瑞亚之上,他们同时带来的,还有自己的欲望和统治地位。这个种族,就是人类。
英文原文:
The Creation of the World
Tyria is said to be over 11,000 years old, but its primordial history is still mostly shrouded in mystery. The earliest lifeforms on Tyria were the Elder Dragons, who spent much of their time in hibernation, and the Giganticus Lupicus, a race of giants that are now extinct.
There is a 7,000-year gap in the timeline of the world, for unknown reasons. The ancient Tome of the Rubicon mentions several races: the dwarves, the mursaat, and the seers. It also states that the mursaat and the seers warred with each other, but the reason why and the resolution of the conflict are unrecorded. Of course, the Tome of Rubicon is a dwarven book, and its prophecies and histories are far more concerned with dwarven matters.
At some point in prehistory, beings of enormous power, knowledge, and magic walked and lived upon the land. In the religion of the humans, they are called the Old Gods, or the True Gods:
Dwayna, Goddess of Life and Air (Leader of the Pantheon)
Balthazar, God of Fire and War
Lyssa, Twin Goddess of Beauty and Illusions
Melandru, Goddess of Nature and Earth
Abaddon, God of Secrets and Water
Grenth, God of Death and Ice
The earliest scriptures tell of another God of Death, Dhuum, but he was overthrown by Grenth for being unjust. Dhuum was imprisoned in the Underworld. Abaddon, as well, may have had a predecessor, but that is a matter of debate by the priesthood.
In the tales, the gods created the world, shaping the lands, forming the plants and animals, and breathing life into the various races. Others say that the gods were caretakers of Tyria, and that they brought other spirits to the world.
Tyria flourished under the protection and care of the gods. To aid them and serve as caretakers, the gods had servants - a race of serpentine creatures, now called the Forgotten. The Forgotten were meant to shepherd, teach, and care for the growing world, as well as for the other beings that were to come.
It wasn't long before Tyria was home to many: the charr, the tengu, minotaur, dwarves, centaur, and others. Finally, another race came to Tyria, and they brought with them a desire for domination. They were humans.