Creation story and Erlik khan : Part 3

In a time when there were no lands, skies, animals, or humans, chaos reigned. Everywhere was covered with water, and darkness prevailed. However, Ak Ana, an ancient goddess and the source of life, emerged from the water and said, "Create, and what I create shall be." After saying these words, Ak Ana disappeared into the water and was never seen

Tengri Ülgen, after creating humans, said, "Do not deny what exists. If you say it does not exist, then even what exists will cease to be." At first, Tengri Ülgen was confused, as he needed soil to create land. In an era without sky and soil, there was only water. Thus, Ülgen descended into

At that moment, Tengri Erlik, a malevolent being, approached. Ülgen asked, "Who are you?" Erlik replied, "I have come to create soil." Ülgen grew angry and said, "Are you say

Erlik responded, "If you do not get angry, I will find soil from the depths of the water for you." With that, Erlik dove into the water, retrieved a mountain, held it in his mouth, and emerged from the water. He spat the mud into Tengri Ülgen's hand. Ülgen threw the soil onto the water and, following Ak Ana's teachings, said, "What I create shall be." The soil began to grow and turned into a landmass on the water.

Erlik dove into the water a second time, again holding soil in his mouth, and emerged. He spat some soil into Ülgen's hand but secretly kept some in his own mouth, hoping to create his own world. When Tengri Ülgen repeated, "What I create shall be," Erlik's mouth overflowed with soil, and the excess formed mountains and hills. Angered, Tengri Ülgen banished Erlik. Fearful, Erlik fled from him.

Tengri Ülgen then pondered what to do next and created the spirits of the forests. As he declared, "What I create shall be," the lands became covered with grass, flowers, and trees. He then created Maytere, the leader of humanity, who was so powerful that he inherited Ülgen's wisdom and strength. Ülgen whispered his knowledge and power into Maytere's ears. Then, Ülgen created seven men and seven women. Afterward, he created the spirits of nature, declaring, "What I create shall be," which led to the emergence of various carnivorous, herbivorous, beneficial, and harmful animals.

Tengri Ülgen, exhausted, realized that his work had taken six days. However, he had forgotten to grant souls to the seven men and seven women he created. Seizing the opportunity, Tengri Erlik approached the lifeless human bodies and, in a disturbing voice, granted them souls. When the humans first awoke, they were weak, vulnerable to nature, and resentful toward one

Tengri Erlik offered them food. Two people accepted his offer and were cursed—their insides turned outward, transforming them into "İt Barak" (dog-people). The rest of the humans avoided Erlik's curse but suffered from hunger. Eventually, Tengri Ülgen awoke and was shocked to see the humans already alive. He wondered, "Who awakened them without my knowledge?" Then, he noticed the two İt Baraks—

They pleaded for forgiveness, but Tengri was not easily swayed. "I grant you the daytime, but at night, you will return to being İt Baraks until your time comes," he declared and banished them. He then gathered the remaining humans and appointed Maytere as their leader.

However, Tengri Erlik had other plans—he had already created clones of the seven men and women. These clones would become the ancestors of the monsters in mythology.

Three hundred years had passed since the Ostragoths arrived in the lands of Umbraheim. They had settled in an ancient city, leading monotonous lives, engaging in farming, and defending themselves against nomadic tribes. However, their defenses were not always enough, and they struggled to survive. The harsh steppe environment, with its severe winters and scorching summers, left the people of Umbraheim in dire conditions. Famine and disease were on the verge of wiping them out.

At that time, the Athanarik İçgek (vampire) family approached them, hiding their true identities and presenting themselves as ordinary humans. They promised to feed the hungry and heal the sick in exchange for becoming a part of Umbraheim. At first, the sick began to recover, and the famine was gradually alleviated. However, abundance soon led to decadence.

Baldemar, the leader of the Athanarik family, was responsible for reconnaissance and protection. During one of their explorations, they trespassed into the Kitan region and committed an unprecedented evil. They slaughtered men, women, children, and the elderly—draining their blood. This act triggered the curse upon them, known as the "Blood Chalice Ritual."

Upon sensing the scent of blood, they transformed under the influence of the full moon and night into "İt Barak" (werewolves). Their first transformation was violent, leaving them as mindless, ravenous beasts. That night in Umbraheim, fifty people perished in the chaos of their internal war. The Kitans became their sworn enemies.

Seizing the opportunity, Baldemar and his fifty İçgeks took control of the city's leadership. For nearly two centuries, they had enslaved the people of Umbraheim. This was the story of how their lineage became cursed as both humans and İt Barak.

A letter from Frejana & Baldric Luphardt to their son, Leopord:

_"My son Leopord,

Your mother and father, who love you endlessly,

Tengri did not curse us—we did this to ourselves. But the day will come when this curse will be lifted. The great Tengri Ülgen has promised us this."_

Regina read the letter.

Her mother had given it to her during their last rebellion.

"Leopord, my dear husband, we have a duty in this land—a mission given to us by Tengri. We have endured pain. Our people, our children, and our youth have perished. We have fought against both the Kitans and ourselves. Now the time has come. Can the Great Yabgu Chieh She Shuai save us from this fate?"

On the brink of war...