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This was the time of the first-born -- the mighty dragons. They roamed the land in great numbers, and their scholars worked wonders in all the sciences and arts. First among them was Bahamut, the platinum dragon. The Creator made Bahamut first, before all other creatures, and to Bahamut he gave dominion over the world and over all dragon kind.
Then, as now, Bahamut ruled over all the dragons and the gold dragons were his counselors. But in those days, his throne was not in the heavenly places, but upon the earth.
It was a mighty palace he lived in. The walls were one hundred yards high and the courtyard was a mile long. Each brick in the courtyard was cast from solid gold and engraved with the image of the Creator. It is said that any man who gazes at the image on one of those bricks will surely go mad (for some of those bricks survive to this day, scattered throughout the lands, deeply hidden). Bahamut's throne weighed as much as 1,000 dragons and was cast of the purest platinum. The earth was fruitful when Bahamut ruled. Trees of many kinds grew throughout the land, and their fruit was without worm or pestilence. None of the world's creatures hungered and there was harmony under the sun.
But in the land were other dragons of great power, subjects of Bahamut. Highest among these was Tiamat, the Chromatic Dragon. Tiamat of the five heads. Tiamat longed for power. She wanted to be queen of all dragons and have them worship her. So Tiamat went to Bahamut and said, "Oh mighty Bahamut, your are the greatest of all dragons, and surely your wife should be none other than the most powerful of females. Make me your queen and we will rule together. All dragons shall honor us and our children shall become as numerous as the sands on the beach.
But Bahamut said to her, "It is true that there is no other female dragon who is your equal, but I cannot take you as my queen. You do not see rulership as a burden but as an honor. It is a burden to be responsible for the fate of all living things. The only honor is in pleasing the Creator though my service. The Creator has ordained that the burden is mine alone to bear. I do you a service by not allowing you to bear that burden.
Tiamat was very angry, for she felt that Bahamut was spurning her and had rejected her only to keep power for himself. So she gathered together many dragons who were loyal to her and incited them against Bahamut. She placed seeds of greed and jealousy into their hearts. They gazed upon Bahamut and saw that he was a dragon as they were. They saw his palace of gold and platinum and they became dissatisfied with their own dwellings. They said, "Are we not dragons, even as Bahamut? Our scales are bright. Our limbs are strong. Our breath is potent. Why, then, should he rule over us? We are strong and we are many, let us cast him down and we shall rule over the earth in his place."
Led by Tiamat, they rose up and descended upon the palace of Bahamut.
When Bahamut saw them, he was saddened, for the Creator had gifted him with the ability to know what was in the hearts and minds of all living creatures, and he knew that they had come to cast him down. But he said to them, "My friends why have you come here today?"
The evil dragons answered, "We have come to cast you down. It is wrong for you to rule over us. We are dragons and should be ruled by no one."
Bahamut answered, "Is it wrong for there to be peace upon the earth? Is it wrong for there to be food for all? Is it wrong that not a creature in the world wants for any necessity?
"Is there one among you who has no comfortable place to sleep? Are the skies not free for you to stretch your wings? I ask you again, my friends, why have you come here today?"
The evil dragons answered, "We have come to cast you down. It is wrong for you to rule over us. We are dragons and should be ruled by no one."
Bahamut said to them, "You wish to be ruled by no one. But without a good ruler to watch over you, you will not be free of rule. Instead, you will trade a good ruler for a bad one. You will be subjugated to the tyranny of your own desires, the greed of your heart, and the lust of your eyes, and the evil thoughts that fill your minds.
"Go then, and reap the rewards of your desires. You are foolish creatures and foolish creatures deserve fools for rulers. Go rule each other or rule yourselves, the result will be the same.
"I shall cause new races to rise up upon the earth. They will fear you, but they will surpass you. The good things you have done shall be forgotten and the race of dragons will become known for its evil. You shall hate the new races. You will hunt them, but they will command you, even as I do. In my name you shall serve them. Though you destroy hundreds of them, thousands more shall come to chain you and subjugate you. Food will no longer be plentiful, the land will no longer be free to you."
When Bahamut finished speaking, he spread his shining wings and took to the air, and all but a few of those who were loyal to him followed. Tiamat sprang after him and other dragons joined her. Bahamut took one of her heads in his mighty jaws and flung her to the ground. Each of her followers that came near he also sent crashing to the earth, their wings shredded and bleeding. All the other dragons held back because they were afraid.
"All of you who have raised your claws against me are forever cursed! Tiamat I banish you to the nether realms of hell where you may slowly be consumed by your own greed. Watch as all your works turn to evil. To the rest of you, I say that your bodies will become filled with the poison of your spirits. Other dragons will look upon you with hatred and horror." With that said, the dragons who attacked him began to change. they became what we know as Wyverns.
Bahamut led his followers to the heavenly realms where no other dragons could pursue. There he built a new land and a new castle and looked out over the earth.
Below, the evil dragons fell to arguing with each other. None would agree to be ruled by any other. They all flew their separate ways and lived private lives, coming together only to mate and to fight with each other.
Bahamut watched with sadness as his people strayed and ripped two scales from his body and drew two drops of blood from his breast. On each scale he placed a drop of blood, and with his fiery breath he melted them, molding them into shape and giving them life. He created a man and a woman and placed them upon the earth.
Much time passed and the humans spread across the earth as Bahamut had prophesied. Dragons were feared creatures, but brave men hunted them and made trophies of their heads.
In these many years, the humans remained ignorant of Bahamut and his loving watchfulness over his new race, for he never appeared to them during this time.
Eventually, though, there came a day when much of the men's time was spent warring amongst themselves and with each other. The fields were blackened with the fires of war and the blood of many people mixed in the streets. The air stunk of death, and life became short and painful for many of Bahamut's children
Bahamut knew that his new people needed a ruler to watch over them.
He came down from his heavenly realm one day in the guise of a bearded old man wearing ragged clothes. He walked many miles to a city and none spoke to him on the road, for they regarded him as nothing but a poor beggar. In the city, he was treated worse still. Rich men forced him to move aside for their processions and merchants cursed him for standing near their shops, lest he steal something or drive away their customers.
There was only one who took pity on him, a small boy named Ohramin, the son of a blacksmith. He saw the old man and was moved. Ohramin gave Bahamut bread and cheese to eat and wine to drink, and showed him an empty stable where he could rest.
Bahamut said to Ohramin, "Why have you shown me this kindness. I am but a poor beggar and I have no way to repay you."
"I do not ask for repayment," Ohramin said. "My father taught me that all people are worthy of kindness. If I am kind to you, then you can repay me by being kind to another when you are able."
"Your father has taught you well," Bahamut said. "I shall remember what you have told me."
Bahamut left the city the next day, still in the guise of the old man. He went to the countryside and waited in a spot where he foresaw that the boy would come.
For two days he waited, and Ohramin finally came, walking through the woods, listening to the songs of the birds and enjoying the beauty of the forest.
When Ohramin was very near, Bahamut rose up in his true form with his gleaming platinum wings spread wide.
Ohramin fell to the ground in fear, certain that he was going to be killed.
"Do not fear," roared Bahamut. "I come not to harm you, but to bless you. when I came to this world as a poor beggar, you alone took me in and showed me kindness. I see that your heart is good and honest. For this I shall make you the leader of my chosen people. You will go out into the world and spread my word. You will bring new hope to this world.
Ohramin was still terrified, but he saw that he was not to be killed and he stood up. "You are powerful and frightening, great creature, but I do not know who you are. How do I know that you are good?"
Then Bahamut sat with Ohramin and spent many hours telling him of the history of the world and how the present day had come to pass. He also told Ohramin many things which are not recorded here, but which are said to be some of the deep secrets of the universe and knowledge of the Creator himself. These things Ohramin recorded in his own journals, but the whereabouts of those are not known.
What is recorded are the tenets Bahamut gave to Ohramin to spread throughout the world:
I. Bahamut is first-born of the Creator and through no other can you gain favor.
II. Bahamut is the father of the humanoid races. Worship him as your father.
III. Love your fellow man, and show him kindness and mercy, but do not let yourself be trodden under the feet of evil ones, for evil to a servant of Bahamut is an affront to Bahamut.
IV. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
V. The knowledge of good and evil is written on each person's heart, none is ignorant.
VI. Do not commit evil acts in the name of Bahamut.
VII. Each man is responsible for his actions. Bahamut will judge each man's actions according to what he sees in each man's heart.
VIII. Do not blaspheme the names of Bahamut or the Creator.
When Bahamut finished speaking, Ohramin said, "I believe you, my Lord, but I cannot do as you ask. I am just a boy and no one will listen to me. I am not worthy."
"No one is worthy or capable of such a task," Bahamut replied. "I will make you worthy. Your voice shall have the power to convince others of the truth of your words. You shall perform great wonders in my name, and people will believe when they see them.
"There are some people, though, whose hearts and minds are closed. These people will not believe the truth, no matter what signs and wonders you show them, no matter what words you speak. Many dragons still roam the world, and few of these are loyal to me. They will be your enemies. Against evil dragons and evil men, you must protect yourself.
Bahamut gave Ohramin a scythe with a blade of pure platinum. "Know this scythe as the Claw of Bahamut. This will protect you against all danger. No weapon of man or dragon can stand against it. When you bear this scythe, any dragon must serve you, though he be my greatest enemy.
"But I caution you, this scythe must only be used for good -- for defense against those who would do evil to you or to others, or to weed out those who are sworn, hardened enemies of me. If a man uses this scythe for an evil purpose, it will turn on him.
"Go, now, and remember that I will always be with you and my name shall be your protection.
Ohramin watched Bahamut rise into the air and disappear into the heavens and went back into the city. He began to preach as Bahamut told him. Sick people came to him and were healed in Bahamut's name. The blind gained sight. The ears of the deaf were opened. Ohramin gained many followers and they, too, performed miracles in Bahamut's name.
Evil armies rose against the people of Bahamut but they were struck down. None could oppose Ohramin and the Claw of Bahamut. The word of Bahamut spread throughout the lands and brought peace and stability.
As all men must, Ohramin aged. The boy grew into a man, and the man grew old. Throughout is life he performed many great acts, which are recorded in "The Acts of Ohramin," and it is said that when the time came for him to lay down his life, he was happy, because he knew that he had served Bahamut well.
In his last days, he called his most loyal counselors together and said, "Though I am dying, Bahamut lives on, and his church must live on also. The day after my death, you must gather together and decide who among you shall lead the church in my stead. That person shall take up the Claw of Bahamut and guide His people. Pray to Bahamut and let Him guide you in your decision and you will not decide wrongly.
"Then, you must choose from among the many priest and servants of Bahamut one to fill the place left vacant by your new leader."
And thus it was that the counselors gathered and chose Harkan as the second High Priest of the Church of Bahamut. His many acts during his long reign are recorded in "The Acts of Harkan."
And so it has been from generation to generation, to this day. Each new high priest is chosen by the high council on the day after the old priest's death.
Each new high priest is said to be visited by Bahamut himself on the day of his coronation and speaks to the great dragon many times throughout his reign. In this way, Bahamut directly guides the progress of His church.
May the peace of Bahamut reign in the heart of the reader, and may His will be done on the earth. Amen.
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