The Greening of Cartyrion
The first of the Astralar to arrive called themselves the Alevar. These are beings who, for the most part, cherish color and gentle, harmonious music. The two most powerful aamong them, Berdea and Atezana. shared a vision of what beauty and vitality should look like, and they set to work to make that vision a reality.
While Berdea and Atezana were satisfied with the first greening of Cartyrion they had achieved, they did not stop their work. Though the swaying of the trees and grasses in the winds brought a sense of movement to the world, it was not enough. 
These two most powerful of the Alevar continued to weave the Six Energies, and thus brought forth the first animals upon the world.
Their first creations included chipmunks, squirrels, and other small furry creatures that would call the woodlands home. The grassy plains saw rabbits, groundhogs, and similar creatures appear and begin to take up residence in burrows and warrens. Small songbirds filled the skies, their colorful plumage and cheerful songs adding further dimension to the beauty of their creations.
Bees appeared to pollinate the wildflowers and fruit trees. Other small insects and worms, mushrooms and other fungi appeared to ensure that a never-ending cycle of life, decay, and rebirth would continue unabated. These creatures fed off the bounty provided by the plants, and helped to spread the seeds of those plants even further. The Alevar disliked violence, so there were no predators. And with nothing to pressure them, the creations of the Alevar expanded their ranges at a remarkably rapid pace. Within but a few decades, the forests and the plains, teeming with wildlife, had expanded until much of the world was covered in green.
With this work done, Berdea and Atezana proceeded on to their greatest works: the Awakening of the Fey, and later of the Elves.
But when the clashes with rival Astralar, and even with some of their own kin exploded into the conflich known as the Great Strife, their beautiful gardens came under much greater attack. Berdea felt the need to step in, and new creations sprung to life in the forests, glades, and meadows such that these enclaves could defend themselves better against the efforts of those who sought to destroy the green world he had crafted.
Where the forests were threatened by invaders, Tanglevines and Bloodbush shrubs appeared to defend the pathways. Whipwillow Trees guarded the shores of rivers that could be used for incursions into the forests. Finally, Berdea Awakened the Woodwalkers, a species that, while at rest, resembled the forest trees around them in every way -- until they raised their rootlike legs from the ground to lunge into active battle against invaders.
During the raging battles of the Great Strife, some of these later creations were twisted in the same way - and by the same hands - that Gremlins had been corrupted from the Fey Nymphs. Thus did malicious flora such as the Ropetrees, the Trapper Plants and the dreaded Barkstalkers come into the world.
The Greening of the World
With a completely bare canvas upon which to paint their creations, they brought the seven great forests into being. Each had its own varieties of trees to suit their climates, which ranged from the warm tropicals of the equatorial regions to the harsh tundras near the polar regions.
Among the majestic trees, smaller shrubs grew. Vines curled along the tree trunks and dangled from the branches. The dominant greens were lit with the reds, yellows, and purples of the flowering blossoms and ripening berries and fruits in the trees and shrubs.
Between the great forests, and in many places along the seacoasts, more pockets of grasslands filled with wildflowers appeared. The tallest of the rocky peaks were left bare, their stark, dark stones and glistening white snowcaps offering contrast as well as their own unique beauty to the world. Likewise, sandy beaches and even some desert regions were left bare, both to acknowledge the Creator's original work and to offer a balance to the world.
Among the majestic trees, smaller shrubs grew. Vines curled along the tree trunks and dangled from the branches. The dominant greens were lit with the reds, yellows, and purples of the flowering blossoms and ripening berries and fruits in the trees and shrubs.
Between the great forests, and in many places along the seacoasts, more pockets of grasslands filled with wildflowers appeared. The tallest of the rocky peaks were left bare, their stark, dark stones and glistening white snowcaps offering contrast as well as their own unique beauty to the world. Likewise, sandy beaches and even some desert regions were left bare, both to acknowledge the Creator's original work and to offer a balance to the world.
by Noname_13
by Jaesung An
Bringing Sound, Motion, and Life to the World
by Doug Smith
by various
Their first creations included chipmunks, squirrels, and other small furry creatures that would call the woodlands home. The grassy plains saw rabbits, groundhogs, and similar creatures appear and begin to take up residence in burrows and warrens. Small songbirds filled the skies, their colorful plumage and cheerful songs adding further dimension to the beauty of their creations.
Bees appeared to pollinate the wildflowers and fruit trees. Other small insects and worms, mushrooms and other fungi appeared to ensure that a never-ending cycle of life, decay, and rebirth would continue unabated. These creatures fed off the bounty provided by the plants, and helped to spread the seeds of those plants even further. The Alevar disliked violence, so there were no predators. And with nothing to pressure them, the creations of the Alevar expanded their ranges at a remarkably rapid pace. Within but a few decades, the forests and the plains, teeming with wildlife, had expanded until much of the world was covered in green.
With this work done, Berdea and Atezana proceeded on to their greatest works: the Awakening of the Fey, and later of the Elves.
Defending the Gardens
For many millenia, Berdea and Atezana were pleased with the work they had done and the life they had brought to Cartyrion. While the impact of other Folk being Awakened resulted in significant changes to their green canvas of life, they were satisfied with the efforts of their Fey and Elves to keep the green world in balance.But when the clashes with rival Astralar, and even with some of their own kin exploded into the conflich known as the Great Strife, their beautiful gardens came under much greater attack. Berdea felt the need to step in, and new creations sprung to life in the forests, glades, and meadows such that these enclaves could defend themselves better against the efforts of those who sought to destroy the green world he had crafted.
Where the forests were threatened by invaders, Tanglevines and Bloodbush shrubs appeared to defend the pathways. Whipwillow Trees guarded the shores of rivers that could be used for incursions into the forests. Finally, Berdea Awakened the Woodwalkers, a species that, while at rest, resembled the forest trees around them in every way -- until they raised their rootlike legs from the ground to lunge into active battle against invaders.
During the raging battles of the Great Strife, some of these later creations were twisted in the same way - and by the same hands - that Gremlins had been corrupted from the Fey Nymphs. Thus did malicious flora such as the Ropetrees, the Trapper Plants and the dreaded Barkstalkers come into the world.
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