The Stillborn Eshan

Anyone even remotely knowledgeable of Eshanic matters knows that the Eshan were born from the Eshor which Acolitus created in the earliest times as a manifestation of our natural inclination toward art. They were, of course, famously a mistake and unintended by Acolitus and the precise numbering of their cohorts is an impossible task. The Alor’eshan- those who came first, are easy enough to name, but this is an artificial and later distinction. The Ebal’eshan who came after are near impossible to count, but still possible by those who make the attempt in time and labors. Nith’eshan, those outside of the Eshanic Mandate or born later along are impossible to count. Nobody knows their true numbers, certainly not Acolitus. Nem’eshan- those Unnamed who live in Vussalas but remained or still remain aloof are another matter entirely! Who knows how or in what manner to count them? Worse of all, few Eshan even bother to consider the numbers of their siblings and think nothing good about it.
 
  Yet, for you who has also doubtlessly looked upward toward the swirling immensity of Vussalas, it shall come to mind that there are INNUMERABLE stars. Simply too many and they never end. The largest and greatest among them might be pointed to this Eshan or that Eshan according to known constellations (unless they are moving about) but that leaves many unaccounted. These ones that exist in the sky but have never exhibited life are known as the Stillborn Eshan- different though indistinguishable at a distance from the Nem’eshan. These Stillborn Eshan are of particular interest because they are a subject of fear among the Eshan who look upon them with the same unease that olundi may look upon a corpse. They fear inside that the thing might move even though every dictate of natural philosophy says that such a thing would be utterly impossible and foolish.
 
  For all this said, the Stillborn Eshan do shine like other Eshor and thus some manner of power is invested within them even if the nature of this power is not understood. Certain Eshan, Qazun most famously among them, drew close to many of these Stillborn Eshanic stars and attempted to study them. In short order he asserted that the Stillborns were as vital in Eshanic energy as any Ebal’eshan, for example, yet for some reason lacked that spark of sentient existence bestowed on their siblings. It was this examination of Stillborn Eshan and the possession or lack thereof of sentience that bid Qazun to explore the natural philosophy of the Esseythu. What made those who were living alike and what made the Stillborn different? He discovered Esseythu and became enamored with its possibilities, later creating olundi (the Viscari) and in the process forgetting about the Stillborn Eshan and leaving them in silence.
 
  Other Eshan were less scientific and more curious in their experiences with the Stillborn Eshan. They drew close to them and poked and prodded them as olundi children might. The boldest among them drew them near or came to them and built their unborn bodies into their Ollulos, or celestial homes in Vussalas. For this the Stillborn Eshan were unfairly damaged and punished in the Sibling Strife that lit the abyss of Vussalas during the early years. It was such that Acolitus in making Eshan bid the Eshan as a term of his labor that they NO LONGER touch nor bother the Stillborn Eshan. He more than any Eshan feared the dorment power and potential within that and held the Stillborn Eshan in a reverent- near superstitious manner. He bid that they be kept pleased and bright, and believed that when they grew dark that they were displeased and evil though fall upon the universe and when bright would offer good boons on all the universe with their secret powers. For later perhaps would be interesting to discuss how the Stillborn Eshan became totems and idols of Vussanti, at least the particular sect of it best pleased by Acolitus himself. For now suffice to say that the were left alone in reverence after the making of Esha.