Legends and Myths of Vishteer

Legends of the Cloudlands

Legends from the days of the First Miraborian Empire tell of a country in the clouds above the Empire. Some legends place it over the city of Kahakor, now lost deep within Umade's barrens. Others claim that it lay above Melvar's Plains, above the area known as the Boulder Plain. It is also rumored that the ancient capitol of the first Miraborian Empire now lies somewhere deep within the Sunken Lands, and that the Cloudlands were once connected to that capitol. There are also tales of a great mountainous peak, perhaps somewhere in the Westfang Range. It is said that a city on the mountain peak was the closest link between the Cloudlands and Miraboria below.

In support of some of these claims, it is well documented that silver dragons and mist dragons as well as giants and other beings such as ki-rin have been seen in the area of the Boulder Plains. There are many local legends regarding this magical area in the clouds. Some tales offer explanations for the huge stones scattered below it on the plains. Most legends agree that there was once a powerful magical kingdom above the Plains and perhaps stretching as far as the edge of the mountainous plateaus, kept at least partly secret from those races who dwelt below it on the ground. This kingdom, which supposedly existed 1500 years ago or more (during the First Miraborian Empire, which existed between 2200 and 1500 years ago), boasted a society comprised of dragons, giants, sylphs, pegasi, asperii, giant eagles, and even some winged, elflike beings whose name is no longer remembered (and who are now apparently extinct). These races coexisted in peaceful harmony among the clouds, avoiding the decadent human realms of the time.

These beings came down to the surface of the Realms only to gather or trade for food and other necessities, and quickly fled back upward to their cloudy haven. The giants, ever industrious, even brought huge stones up with them. They built magnificent fortresses and cities in the sky, hidden by the clouds. It wasn't until the Cloudlands were discovered by the mages of the Empire that disaster struck. The sky-dwelling races had been right to avoid their earthbound neighbors. For a few generations, peaceful relations between the earth-folk and the cloud-dwellers were kept. But in the end, greed won out.

The great and powerful human wizards intended to conquer the Cloudlands, for they knew that such a kingdom would contain great wealth and powerful magic, which they were eager to obtain. Indeed, one artifact which the Clouddwellers were reputed to possess was so powerful it could preserve vast enchantments indefinitely. In the war that ensued, the Cloudlands were destroyed. The fortresses and cities so carefully crafted by giant artisans fell to the earth. Their remains are now scattered across the western edge of Melvar's Plains, a mute relic of war. Most of the enchanted places in the clouds that once supported solid surfaces are gone. Supposedly the great spells that were unleashed in this earth/sky war linger on in some places, creating dangerous thunderstorms, and also areas of sky which are risky to penetrate.

Mist dragons and other sky-dwelling creatures are occasionally seen on or above the Plains, gathering food on the surface in the form of wild plants or herd animals, and quickly ascending back into the sky. If the tales of the Cloudlands and its demise are true, perhaps these creatures are survivors living among the ruins. Castles on the surface of the earth are rarely so completely ruined by war and time that nothing remains, and so might it be in the air above. Some of the enchanted places in the sky might have escaped the ravages of war, remaining to this day.

The Gods and Goddesses of Vishteer came here aeons ago, from some place elsewhere. Some of the Gods who rule today were present then, and some arrived later. Some, it is unclear when they arrived. Many have changed names, seemed to shift forms, perhaps even alter their areas of interest and intent. Some scholars say that this is merely an indication of the boredom which overtakes the immortal, while others speculate that the gods, like every other being, live and die and pass on to other places, being replaced by other, similar entities with similar, but different, interests and focus.

Neither point of view has ever received a comment from the Gods themselves.

Tuilindo, the goddess of the Faery folk and of the Hobytlan, has been present since the earliest days of the world. After the fall of elves, in which she played some small role, but which disaster she could not prevent, it is said Tuilindo despaired. She hesitated for long and long before once again indulging her desire to create. But then, with the blessing of Nelora, and the watchful gaze of Safreth, Tuilindo took up the clay of creation once again, and began to model new forms. She created the unicorns first; perfect beings of good and light; but they were tediously perfect. She assigned them to be guardians over her next several creations; sprites and pixies and others, into each of whom she inserted a love of pranks and games, or of beauty and secrecy, each mixed in different proportions. Her desire was to spread her creations in all corners of the world, to offer all who met them, some sense of the world's wonders and pleasures. But later she came to realize that the gardens of the world need caretakers. The elves were scattering and fallen, her tiny folk were feckless, the unicorns were guardians, not growers of things; so she created the hobytlan. These little, shy folk are sturdy and determined, they love the soil and the sky, they can do small magics to protect and hide themselves, but their true love as a species, is to grow and cherish living things. Plants, animals, no matter what it is, in their deepest nature, the hobytlan are nurturers, caring for their natural surroundings.

It is said that the first hobyts dwelled in a deep, narrow valley in a mountain range, high above the world, and were hidden there for thousands of generations, before one of their number met a strange traveler on the edge of the valley. This traveler bore with him the seeds of an unusual flower, which he gave to the hobyt in return for the food and shelter which saved his life. When the hobyt planted the seeds, the flowers that grew were so beautiful, and so different from anything he had ever seen before, that the hobyt could not supress his desire to see more such things. Within a few generations, hobyts had left the valley in all directions, spilling out into the world in a quest to find beautiful growing things. They have followed that urge ever since.