Virtue VS. Vengeance

Elysha’s reason for rebellion went a step farther than the other gods. She hoped one day her children would be able to rise up and conquer the false rulers who had broken her. She created a race that was clever and strong but also caring and gentle, everything the goddess of balance desired in her followers. She named them elves, and unlike all the other races put on Rukan, Elysha’s race was linked to her through her own magical essence. This link made it possible to speak to any of her children in order to guide them on how she felt they needed.

This worked for a while, until some of her children misinterpreted her directions, and began slaughtering the other races in her name and glory. She did her best to redirect her wayward children to the correct balance, but they would not listen. These actions caused the goddess’ mind to snap from rage, for her children were acting as if she was as cruel and hateful as the twin gods who had tormented her for so long. She became so enraged at her disobedient children, that she cleansed them from the face of Rukan, vowing her vengeance on any who dared to disobey her words again. The remains of her children, terrified and awed by their goddess’ outburst, pledged to listen and follow her guidance.

When Arex and Jinju’s creations, the Rexi and Jin, rebelled and stormed the heavens to defeat their former masters, Elysha and the other gods were banished from the heavens to live in the stars. Elysha’s place of banishment was close to the world of Rukan, but the link she had shared with all her children became strained and threatened to place the goddess in eternal slumber. Because of this, she was forced to withdraw from her children. The potential for the link was still there, but only those who could prove to the watching goddess they would listen to her words would be able to access it.

When the goddess’ power withdrew, the elves became confused and tried to make sense of why their goddess would abandon them. In their quest for answers, they discovered the latent magic that flowed through Rukan and lessened their magical withdrawals when used. Some believed that the magic, which they named the valo, was a gift from their virtuous and pure goddess of light. Others remembered the admonishment they received before their goddess had withdrawn. Clearly, the valo was a temptation sent from the goddess, put on the world as a test of their faith. If the dark goddess of retribution and justice did not provide for their magical needs as she had always done, then they would not partake of any magic until the goddess acknowledged their devotion and returned her power to them.

The two different doctrines debated, then raged at one another, adding more and more followers on both sides until the argument reached its zenith. To resolve this hostility between them, the elves divided along their beliefs of what the goddess had planned. The ones that believed the goddess was a goddess of light and truth began calling themselves the ridius elves. Those that believed the goddess was one of darkness and retribution called themselves the rulum elves. Over time the single goddess became two for her children, with the ridius still worshiping her as Elysha, while the rulum began worshiping her as Shael. Elysha watched on, helpless to correct her misguided children, except through a very select few of her chosen.