The Book of First Things - The First People
CHAPTER 1First People
1 The One moved, and time commenced. And nothing became everything. And everything was the One. 2 And then the One looked, and there was light. And the One placed the light, which came from Him, over the darkness, and henceforth the night followed the day. 3 Then from the One came Terremac and Teldemac, sons of the One and of the One. And the One loved his sons, and they the One. And the night followed the day, and time passed.
4 Then the One was moved to create the Universe, and the One was within the Universe. And with Him were Terremac and Teldemac in the Universe. 5 Then the One made two gardens, which he called Edan and Lurdan. And to Terremac he gave Edan, and to Teldemac Lurdan, each to cherish and to tend as his own. 6 When Terremac had gone to Edan and Teldemac had gone to Lurdan, each saw that their garden was good, and they thanked their Father for His gifts.
7 Then the One gathered from the day and placed a great blinding light between Edan and Lurdan, so that when in Edan Terremac could not see his brother, and likewise when in Lurdan was Teldemac unable to see his brother. 8 When he had set the light between the gardens, the One then took a lock of His hair, and from it He created a man and a woman, whom He placed in Edan, entrusting them into the care of His son Terremac. 9 And then He took another lock of His hair, from which He likewise created a man and a woman. And He placed them in Lurdan, to live in the care of Teldemac. 10 And the One admonished His sons to tend carefully their gardens, and especially to care for the people within them, for He would one day judge them by the care they gave.
11 In Lurdan Teldemac named the man Grugodé, and he named the woman Bankalé. We know it is from the Garden of Lurdan that the people of Telluria sprung. 12 It is from the sons of Grugodé and Bankalé that the people of Telluria came forth. From the children of Heremion and Heberus were born the people of Telluria.
13 Grugodé and Bankalé begat two sons, Heremion and Heberus. And with each was born a sister; with Heremion was born Betenos, and with Heberus was born Adatenesis. 14 And the fruits of Lurdan fed Grugodé and Bankalé and their children. And their children grew tall and strong. And Grugodé and Bankalé grew old.
15 Then the time came for Heremion and Heberus to marry, and Grugodé, who was their father, decreed that Heremion should take Adatenesis for his wife, and Heberus should take Betenos for his wife. And children were born of their unions. 16 And their families grew large. And their children begat children.
17 And Teldemac saw that the Garden of Lurdan would not contain all of the people who were to come. So Teldemac moved the mind of Grugodé. 18 Then Grugodé called his sons to him, and he told them they must go with their families out into the world. To Heremion he gave the West, and the East he gave to Heberus. 19 So they went into the world, which they filled with their children. But Grugodé and Bankalé stayed behind in the Garden of Lurdan.
Summary
This Nemedian origin story recounts the creation of the world and its peoples by a creator that also manifests itself as a benefactor and protector. It suggests the existence of a kindred race of beings in another place, then goes on to describe the division of Telluria into two continents, each populated by its own ethnic families.
Historical Basis
Recent archaeological, anthropological and linguistic research suggests the origin of modern siminid humans took place in the region south of the Crofin Sea between three and four million years ago. Linguistic evidence suggests that some 300,000 years ago, during a period of massive out-migration, an ethnic split took place, resulting in one main ethnic branch populating the continent of Heberia and a second branch migrating west via the Great Isthmus into Heremonia. Some scholars, including Gernot Sauber and Mátyás Pokőrni-Tás have noted similarities between this historical record and the story of Heremion and Heberus.
Spread
The Book of First Things contains stories which have been well known throughout Telluria for centuries, and is incorporated into the cultural lore of most nations, particularly in Heberia. It is considered to be part of the philosophical underpinnings of the Taqdim faith, known to and acknowledged by the Prophet Khaliq Naseem.
Variations & Mutation
Several stories contained in the Book of First Things appear to be derived from earlier sources. Additionally, variations can be found between one ethnic culture and another.
Cultural Reception
Of particular note is the adoption by the Kiltoi of Heremon and Heber within their origin myth, going so far as to assume Heremon as the founder of their race.
Date of First Recording
5th - 4th century BCS
Date of Setting
4000 BCS
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