The Great Dance

At the start the music already played, but there were none to hear it save one, the Great Ónoma, for he and the music were one. Ónoma pierced the darkness with his light, and the silence with his music, and the stillness with his dance. Darkness ruled everywhere that the presence of Ónoma did not and silence echoed with a loudness that cannot be explained. But to Ónoma the vast sorrow was the stillness. He longed for the Great Dance. He longed for the universe to move to the music that only he could hear. He longed for others to hear the joyful tune that he heard.
In a wave of joy the Ónoma began the Great Dance. He created the land and the seas. He danced everything into existence; all the vegetation, the fish of the seas, and the animals of the land. Then he told them to grow, to move, and he sent the wind to move the trees and the plants and keep them moving in unison. And he was happy with the movement he had created.

Then the Great Ónoma stopped and listened. For a long time he listened for he had taken the music from the unearthly realms and infused it with his created realm. A smile formed on his face as he listened to the sounds of his creation and watched the trees dance and the plants prance with the sound. He saw the animals leap in harmony with creation’s music and he took great joy in what he had made. He swayed in the wind with the oaks and leapt over fallen logs with the deer. He rode the rhythmic waves of the seas with the dolphins and blossomed to the sound of the forest.

But before he had begun his work, he knew that the plants and animals could never enjoy the music of his creation as he did, and though he was not lonely, he desired to share the joy of the dance with others who could also appreciate it. So he now performed the next stage of his creation that he had planned for from the beginning. Of the forest floor covering, he brought forth the nymphs. Creatures that could hear with ears similar to Ónoma’s. He granted them intelligence to surpass the beasts of the fields and the fish of the sea. He allowed them to reason, to think, to create. He gave to this new creation the right to eat and drink from the rest of creation. He gave to them the responsibility of caring for his creation. And in a final act of joy he opened their ears to hear the music that the rest of creation could hear. And then he offered them his friendship.

For a time his friendship was accepted by all. He loved the nymphs more than any other of his creatures and he was with them always. But that was when the inhabitants of the land were few and relied on his help for all things. As time elapsed in the joyful rhythmic manner that it was designed to do, others from Ónoma’s helpers began to desire friendship with the newly created beings. Some desired to be looked upon in honor that rivaled even Ónoma. They began to draw followers to themselves and to bring glory to their name instead of Ónoma as had been commanded. Some of the nymphs were easy to entice, others were more difficult, and yet some refused altogether.

When it was seen what these servants of Ónoma were attempting anger burst forth from the creator’s hand. A great fire fell on the earth and scorched many of the rebels. Some were burnt badly, others worse. Along with the fire came a great thunder that echoed throughout the land and deafened many of the nymphs that Ónoma had created. For most their hearing never healed and they were no longer able to hear the music in the creation. This was not done by chance, Ónoma had decided that the music should not be distorted, that it should remain pure for all time, therefore he took away the ability to hear the music from those who would corrupt it. Though they had ears, they could not hear. To those who would remain faithful he gave the ability to hear for all time, the music of creation.

Then he split the creatures into their different races. And to each he gave special abilities and gifts for though he was angry, he loved his created ones still. He wished, knowingly futile, that they would return to him. Thus nymphs, humans, and dwarfili he created them.

He gathered the worst burned of his creatures into the dwarfili homeland and to them he gave the ability to roam the waves and sail the seas ever searching, but never finding the rhythm that they had once heard in the land. To them he also gave the ability to quarry rock and work it in ways that no other races could. They were to become known as Dwarfili.

Those with lesser burns were allowed to roam most of the land and settle where they would. To them, he gave the ability to learn. The ability to grow from others that they see and to develop their culture in ways that would be beneficial to the land. Also he gave them alone, the desire and ability to farm animals and crops. They were to become known as Humans.

To as many as remained faithful he allowed them to retain the ability to hear the sounds of creation. To hear the music as he could. And their love for the music increased until there was no greater love in them. These, he gathered into the forest and granted them special union with the land, the plants and the animals. Some later chose to move into the mountains, the oceans and the waters of the land, but all were permitted to retain their ability to hear the music, to dance with the rhythm that only Ónoma could grant, and they alone sustain their friendship with Ónoma. They were the remnant left from the ancient nymph race are known to this day as Nymphs.

To all who chose to recall the knowledge of Ónoma he granted the ability to utter his name and to accomplish his will. To them he gave special powers that could be used in the manner that he chose. If abused, they were taken away, but if used wisely, the wielders would appear powerful indeed. Most of these were nymphs, but others of the races have emerged as champions for the creator. Some were called wizards, others sorcerers because of the populations’ misunderstanding of the creator but all remained faithful to Ónoma.

Not all of the created ones are listed in this tale. There were others. Some were burned worse than the dwarfili, others less. Some chose to pursue the dark servants of Ónoma and believe their lies, others simply chose to give up any knowledge regarding Ónoma whatsoever. And some, there are no explanations for. But in the end Ónoma was praised and is praised and it is he who continues to guide the fate of all.