In the Beginning, there were the FIVE. And THEY dwelt in the Shining City, and THEY were alone in the fastness.

And the world hung in the void, dark and still; dragons slept in its cold heart. And the FIVE set forth THEIR hands, and spake the Words of Making, and raised up the land from the waters, and THEY hung the firmament above. And there THEY set the sun, and light shone for the first time on the world. And the FIVE threw open the gates of the City.

And the FIVE strove and spake again, and brought forth the trees and the herbs of the world, and THEY made all the beasts that swam or flew or crept upon the world. And last of all, THEY made the race of man, and set aside bountiful lands for them to dwell in. And first among these new men was their king, one Edam. And the FIVE went unto him, and said, “All this land and every thing beneath it are yours; you and your subjects are to serve as stewards. You may enter freely through the gates of OUR City as you will, and you may drink from the Fountain that is found there. Know  that the waters of the Fountain are life, and whosoever drinks from that Fountain shall not die. But you must swear fealty to US, and whenever WE call you to service, you must heed OUR call. And you and all men must stay within the lands WE have given you.”

And Edam swore fealty to THEM, and all of the men that were on the world also swore fealty to the FIVE, and there was great gladness, for there was no toil or pain in those days. And Edam took as his queen Uren, and she bore him two children, a son Canem, and a daughter, Larith.

And the FIVE charged the dragons with guarding the gates of the City, and with watching the ends of the world, and the secret places in the earth. But the greatest of the dragons had overheard the FIVE making the world, and thus they learned the Words of Making, and they grew prideful and covetous. And these dragons were five in number, and their hearts were poisoned with jealousy of the FIVE. And these worms were named the Shaithim.

And the Shaithim sought to corrupt the work that the FIVE had done, and so the worms went in secret into the world, and they went among many of their dragon brethren, and said unto them, “Lo, do we not also know the Words of Making; why should we not be rulers over this race of men?” And such was the cunning of the Shaithim that the dragons that heard these words agreed, and in their pride swore that they would no longer serve the FIVE.

And the Shaithim stole into the City, and went before many of the Heavenly Host, and said unto them, “Look how the FIVE favor these creatures called man over you, even though you have dwelt in the City since before the making of the world.” And the serpents said these words, and many guards in the Host were filled with great pride, and they too declared that they would renounce the FIVE.

Now Canem, son of Edam, and Larith, daughter of Uren, had grown to adulthood. And they were wild in their hearts, and they enjoyed wandering throughout the lands of man. And sometimes they strayed beyond the lands of man, despite the commands of their father and the FIVE. And when Edam heard of their straying, he grew wrathful, for well he remembered the FIVE’s words. But he doted upon his children, and soon he came to indulge their every wish, allowing them to stray as far from the lands of man as they willed.

And it came one day that Larith and Canem had strayed beyond the lands of man, and in that place there came upon them the Shaithim. Now in those days, all of the dragons had scales that glittered and shone in the sun, and Larith and Canem were greatly amazed to see such a wondrous sight. And the Shaithim spake to them with great guile, and said unto them, “Would you not lie with each as man and wife? Would you not wear your parent’s crowns, and dwell in their chambers? And would you not rule over all men?” And Canem and Larith agreed that they would want these things to come to pass. And the Shaithim said unto them, “Return to the lands of men, and speak to your father, and tell him to heed not the clarion of the FIVE. For if he should heed the call, surely he shall be destroyed” And Larith and Canem did this, and their father was sore afraid.

And there came one day war to the Shining City, and at the Shaithim’s bidding many in the ranks of the Heavenly Host rose up and took fiery arms against the FIVE. And many of the dragons rose up as well.

And the FIVE sounded the clarion, calling the armies of men to battle. But the men answered not, but rather hid in their houses, and shook with fear. And Edam was wracked with terror, but he rose not. And the clarion sounded again, and again no man stirred forth, although the sounds of terrible battle could be heard even in the lands of men. And the clarion sounded a third time, but still no man went forth to heed the call.

And in the great battle, the Shaithim were brought low, and their army was trampled beneath the Host of the FIVE. And so the Shaithim were defeated and thrown into the Eternal Pit. And those among the Heavenly Host that had rebelled were also thrown into the Pit, and stripped of all radiance. And all evil dragons were forced from service to the FIVE, and destined to ever after creep upon the earth. They lost their gleaming scales, and were made to lust without satience after precious metals and stones.

And the FIVE were wrathful at the disobedience of Edam and of all men, and the FIVE closed all of the gates into the City save one; the only way for men to enter through this gate was to die. And at this gate stood a great and loyal dragon, which was charged with testing the worth of each petitioner. Those unworthy were turned away, and not allowed to drink from the Fountain.

And the FIVE turned their heads from Canem and Larith, and they were made lowly, and forced to walk the lands of man until the end of the world. And their spawn, and the spawn of their spawn, were monsters.

And Edam wept with shame and sorrow.