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Athasian Creation Myths

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 12, 2004 18:25:35 Do Athasians have creation myths? Surely they have asked the question, not knowing the truth, so what do they believe?
Do the Sorcerer-Kings have explanations (do any take the credit?), or do they leave this question to the elemental clerics? What about the halflings - even those on the jagged cliffs only remember back to the green age.

I am after official answers, as well as any from your own games. My players are going to learn the history of the world: I intend to give them false answers first.
#2
pringles
Oct 12, 2004 21:27:33 In my campaign, the player encountered a Psionic from the Ordre (they did'nt know that) and the guy was arguing that the Way (psionic) had created Athas. Of course, in my mind, even if I was the dm ,that was false.
#3
eric_anondson
Oct 12, 2004 21:57:19
Do Athasians have creation myths? Surely they have asked the question, not knowing the truth, so what do they believe?
Do the Sorcerer-Kings have explanations (do any take the credit?), or do they leave this question to the elemental clerics? What about the halflings - even those on the jagged cliffs only remember back to the green age.

I recommend asking this in the thread for "Ask the designers". I'm pretty sure there has not been any canon description of a creation myth. There has only been a fairly almanac-like timeline of events. This is the closest that has been published.

I think that creation myths have been avoided because it starts to clarify the well-known Athasian theme of no gods. Once a creation myth expounded, it almost always starts to propose that there have been or there are deities.

Regards,
Eric Anondson
#4
Pennarin
Oct 12, 2004 22:19:37 Elves have creation myths, just check out Elves of Athas.
Also the tales at the beggining of Dragon Kings show a little mythos in there about Athas having been born out of an egg or something...
#5
zombiegleemax
Oct 13, 2004 0:36:03
Also the tales at the beggining of Dragon Kings show a little mythos in there about Athas having been born out of an egg or something...

Checked that, I think you're thinking of the one about Guthay being the silk wyrm egg.
#6
zombiegleemax
Oct 13, 2004 1:37:00 If I remember well someone (Nero's boot??) from the boards made those for all the city-states and they were quite well, I know I have them somewhere so I'll try to dig them up and post them.
#7
the_peacebringer
Oct 15, 2004 16:00:17 I'm not sure about this one but I think in EAFW, there's a short story about the gods of old, told by a "mad" cleric of earth. Some people do or did believe (falsely) in gods in the past (like Raaigs).
#8
kael
Oct 15, 2004 17:53:55 The creation myths I use is that there was a "war in heaven" among the elements which almost destroyed the elemental planes. Athas was created as a battle ground on which the elements could compete. Since Water proposed the idea, it was given dominance on the new world (the Blue Age), but when Earth made a bid to gain control, Athas was nearly destroyed (the brown tide) until Fire (using its halfling servants) changed the sun, giving all the elements equal influence. Of course this playing with cannon a bit

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 12, 2004 18:25:35	Do Athasians have creation myths? Surely they have asked the question, not knowing the truth, so what do they believe? Do the Sorcerer-Kings have explanations (do any take the credit?), or do they leave this question to the elemental clerics? What about the halflings - even those on the jagged cliffs only remember back to the green age. I am after official answers, as well as any from your own games. My players are going to learn the history of the world: I intend to give them false answers first.
#2 pringles Oct 12, 2004 21:27:33	In my campaign, the player encountered a Psionic from the Ordre (they did'nt know that) and the guy was arguing that the Way (psionic) had created Athas. Of course, in my mind, even if I was the dm ,that was false.
#3 eric_anondson Oct 12, 2004 21:57:19	Do Athasians have creation myths? Surely they have asked the question, not knowing the truth, so what do they believe? Do the Sorcerer-Kings have explanations (do any take the credit?), or do they leave this question to the elemental clerics? What about the halflings - even those on the jagged cliffs only remember back to the green age. I recommend asking this in the thread for "Ask the designers". I'm pretty sure there has not been any canon description of a creation myth. There has only been a fairly almanac-like timeline of events. This is the closest that has been published. I think that creation myths have been avoided because it starts to clarify the well-known Athasian theme of no gods. Once a creation myth expounded, it almost always starts to propose that there have been or there are deities. Regards, Eric Anondson
#4 Pennarin Oct 12, 2004 22:19:37	Elves have creation myths, just check out Elves of Athas. Also the tales at the beggining of Dragon Kings show a little mythos in there about Athas having been born out of an egg or something...
#5 zombiegleemax Oct 13, 2004 0:36:03	Also the tales at the beggining of Dragon Kings show a little mythos in there about Athas having been born out of an egg or something... Checked that, I think you're thinking of the one about Guthay being the silk wyrm egg.
#6 zombiegleemax Oct 13, 2004 1:37:00	If I remember well someone (Nero's boot??) from the boards made those for all the city-states and they were quite well, I know I have them somewhere so I'll try to dig them up and post them.
#7 the_peacebringer Oct 15, 2004 16:00:17	I'm not sure about this one but I think in EAFW, there's a short story about the gods of old, told by a "mad" cleric of earth. Some people do or did believe (falsely) in gods in the past (like Raaigs).
#8 kael Oct 15, 2004 17:53:55	The creation myths I use is that there was a "war in heaven" among the elements which almost destroyed the elemental planes. Athas was created as a battle ground on which the elements could compete. Since Water proposed the idea, it was given dominance on the new world (the Blue Age), but when Earth made a bid to gain control, Athas was nearly destroyed (the brown tide) until Fire (using its halfling servants) changed the sun, giving all the elements equal influence. Of course this playing with cannon a bit