The Legend of the Emogema

Long before Iox flew for the first time, before the waves crashed against Tsotsi’s Lighthouse at Sophtos, before the first tunnel was dug into Mount Higoten that became Fomexet’s Forgeway Gate, before anyone stepped foot into The Forest or built the canopy nest that became Oolan, the land was fresh and new and dangerous. The first 4, the first Ra’elians to live and breathe, were created by The Three, Odrahn, Remiscus, and Demiscus, and placed in the center of the plains.

The first, named Zemostei, said “I must know what’s in The Forest. I will go to it and find what secrets hide among the leaves.” And so they went to the West into The Forest.

The second, named Murdock, said “I must see that fiery sparkle on that mountain up close. I will go to it and find what I can make from it.” And so they set out to the East and up The Mountain.

The third, named Wynokx, said “I must follow this sound of rhythmic crashing and see what power sustains it. I will go to it and find how to harness such power.” And so they set off to the South and to the ocean.

The fourth, named Xackus, said “I must get a better view of everything and see where my friends will get to. I will build a Watchtower to remind them of where we began.” And so they raised a piece of ground by the power of Demiscus who made them, and they built a floating throne in the sky.

They parted ways and began creating their own families and communities and cultures each to their space and their station. Their powers only grew as they were nourished by the elements they chose to surround themselves with, and it transformed them completely.

Eventually, The Four were satisfied with their experiential experiments, and they passed their power on to their children and told them to guard this power with their very lives, as they were the living Link to the elements that sustained the world. And then, they disappeared, leaving their families to find their own way in Ra’el.

After many seasons the families felt drawn to one another again, the plains called to them and the floating watchtower reminded them that the past was real. So they met each other by instinct, drawn to each other by some deep inner force. They had a great celebration, a reunion, and they shared a meal with each other and told stories to one another of their experiences out in each of their domains.

They made a promise to each other to meet at The Watchtower again, once every 16 Seasons, to celebrate again the prosperity they had enjoyed together.

When it was time for their second reunion, a dark fog had appeared on the plains. The Links of the 4 families arrived and new something was wrong. Lashing out from the thick fog came The Separti, nightmare creatures from another plane. The wings of a bat, the horns of a goat, the legs of a wolf, a tail with fangs, and the face of a man.

The Separti demanded the 4 families hand over the “Jewels of Power.” The families had no idea what these Jewels were, and this only enraged The Separti. The fog and The Separti dispersed from where they appeared on the plains, and the 4 Families pursed them as they spread across Ra’el in search of these mysterious Jewels of Power.

Zemostei’s Family, The Link of Earth, were the first to find and capture The Separti in The Forest, but not before this gang of Separti had accomplished their mission, they had discovered the Jewel of the Forest. Kyrene Zemostei, stalwart and beautiful, slew the last General of the Separti and claimed a glowing red Jewel from its serpentine tongue. When she touched it, the gem shone in her palm, and it melted and reshaped itself into a Chalice. Dubbed The Chalice of Kyrene it was the first Prime Emogema discovered and remains within the care of The Link of Earth.

One by one the Links took down the Separti and often used the Separti to sniff out these previously unknown Emogema, gemstones of power capable of channeling and amplifying emotions and magick.

The Separti incursion returned to whence they came, and disappeared in the same fog in the center of the plains, licking their wounds with deathless  rage in their eyes.

And so The Links all gathered and agreed to seal away these 10 Emogema, spread out amongst far flung homes, and enshrine them in sacred places of protection. 10 Temples to house the 10 Emogema. Love, Hate, Joy, Sadness, Contentment, Anger, Fear, Desire, Hope, and Despair.

Each Family was responsible for the construction and protection of two Temples. The Temples to Hope & Despair were jointly constructed by all 4 Families, the Link of each using their elemental powers to seal them away behind 4 Elemental locks. Their locations were kept secret from all but the 4 Links and this secret has been passed down from Link to Link to this day.

That is the tale of how the Emogema came to be in Ra’el. Some believe the Separti will return some day to finish what they started, while others believe that the Links have sealed them far away from any chance of ever coming near the Emogema. Regardless, any Ra’elian citizen of any of the 4 Nations can visit 8 public Temples to pay their respects for all their ancestors accomplished.