Mythology
Before Ostroia, there was only Etuno. They commanded the flow of time to continue ever onwards, but there was nothing else but chaos. So, Etuno called forth Eanos and Ebin, who created the waters and the stones of Ostroia. Then, Etuno called on the siblings Ahion and Aelin to bring light to Ostroia, and they began to keep time with the rising and setting of the sun and moon. With these works done and chaos abated, Etuno faded into the fabric of their domain as a Forgotten God.
Eanos fell in love with Aelin’s reflection in his waters, but Aelin did not love him back. Eanos fell into anger and jealousy, and from the bottom of the sea called forth Idis to dim the lights of Ahion and Aelin. He made his waters sting and created the corruption of Iarus. And his rage brought from the heavens the power of Istoi, whose lightning and thunder shook the skies. Across the oceans, the siblings began their holy war against the darkness of Idis, shining brightly. Ebin was safe from the tumult of the waters but not from Ahion’s fierce blaze, and she feared her earthen creations would burn away in flames. So, Ebin drew forth Akana from the earth itself, and Akana brought life to Ostroia, coating the ground with lush flora and luxuriating in the warmth of Ahion’s rays.
When Eanos saw the effect of his outburst, he lamented. Yet, nothing done could be undone. He made penance to the others with his greatest gift: the People of Ostroia. Thus, the dawn of the First Era arrived.
The First People were large, modelled closely after the tangible aspects of the gods. Historians call them Giants. They took up trades and established homes, worshipped the gods and built temples, and explored the tallest mountains and widest seas. Eanos was proud of his creation, and Ahion and Aelin celebrated his success. Thus followed a long period of prosperity and peace.
But the workings of Idis were too long left ignored, and they managed a foothold in their war against the deific siblings. Despite the rallying of the First People, Idis was victorious. First, they snuffed out Ahion's light and caused the crop fields to wither. Then, they removed the stars, and many People drowned at sea without navigation for their ships. Finally, they stood between Aelin's comforting glow and the last tether to Eanos's creation was lost. The First People's last breaths were atop the highest peak in Vibjula, reaching for the light of their gods.
Blaming Idis for the destruction of Ostroia's accomplishment, strong alliances formed amongst the gods. Eanos and Ebin worked with Ahion, Aelin, and Akana to rid the world of the impact of Istoi, Idis, and Iarus and banish them to the Circles Below. Out numbered, they were defeated and sundered, earning them their name as the fallen gods. Determined to avoid recreating the First People's fate, the exalted and fallen gods agreed that they would no longer intercede with mortal affairs, inspiring the creation of the Faint Divinities. Ebin carved these teachings into her mountains, Ahion established the Hallows Above, and the dawn of the Second Era arrived.
When the Second Era began, the exalted gods turned their attention to the creation of the Second People. They were varied in size and shape: some elves were born from the bark of a tree, and some dwarves were carved from the granite in the earth. With relative protection from the workings of the fallen gods, humanity flourished, and civilization soon was formed. Ahion commanded his faithful - those born of the sun's rays - to build a temple in his honor that would shine so bright that Idis could never bring darkness again. Flaming Fire was constructed soon after, and civilizations began to establish.