Chapter 3: Primordial Gods
The universe was constantly expanding, and the intertwining of stars and darkness had become a natural law. Sulen's starlight and Shar's darkness no longer needed deliberate guidance; they merged spontaneously, forming patches of new continents.
These continents floated in the Material Plane, scattered throughout the vast universe like stars. The very first continent was named the Faerûncontinent by the three Primal Gods.
Chauntea focused her work on this land. Moss and small grasses already covered most of the surface, but they remained in the most primitive plant forms, unable to evolve into more complex life forms.
"Why can't they break through?" Chauntea crouched down, her fingers lightly touching a patch of emerald green moss on the ground. "They have a place to stand, the alternation of light and darkness, and nourishing soil..."
She tried various methods, integrating starlight into the earth, seeping darkness into the soil, and even attempting to mobilize the ley line energy deep within the nascent continent. But the moss and grass only grew more lushly without undergoing any essential change.
"The Great Creator said that life needs a foundation. I have provided the foundation, so why is it still not enough?" Chauntea fell into deep thought, her earth-brown long hair moving without wind, resonating with the land beneath her feet.
Meanwhile, Sulen and Shar were traveling through the Outer Planes, completely unaware of Chauntea's predicament. They shuttled between the newly formed Elemental Planes, sensing the primal power of different elements.
The Fire Elemental Plane burned intensely, the Water Elemental Planesurged with waves, the Air Elemental Plane was ravaged by storms, and the Earth Elemental Plane was steady and heavy.
Sulen pointed toward the depths of the Earth Elemental Plane. "There are existences there similar to us."
Shar focused her gaze and saw a giant figure composed of pure rock and soil rampaging through the Earth Elemental Plane. Wherever it went, the terrain was altered at will, mountains were leveled, and canyons were filled.
"They have consciousness and intelligence, but they are chaotic and violent," Shar evaluated, darkness condensing into a protective barrier around her.
Just then, the earth elemental giant discovered them, let out a deafening roar, and lunged toward them.
With a wave of its hand, it hurled countless boulders, each containing enough power to shatter stars. Sulen immediately waved her hand to set up a starlight barrier, and the boulders emitted a dazzling light as they struck it.
Shar, however, dove into the shadows and appeared behind the giant, dark power coiling around it to restrict its movements. "We mean no harm!"
Sulen attempted to communicate, but the giant only struggled more frantically, devoid of any reason.
The sisters worked together to subdue the violent being, but it continued to howl, its eyes filled with nothing but pure destructive desire.
"They are fundamentally different from us," Shar concluded. "Let us call them Primordial Gods—wild and chaotic divine existences."
In their subsequent travels, they discovered similar Primordial Gods in every Elemental Plane. The Fire Primordial Gods constantly triggered explosions and combustion, the Water Primordial Gods created destructive tsunamis, and the Air Primordial Gods formed storms that tore through heaven and earth.
What made them even more vigilant was that these Primordial Gods all seemed to be observing the direction of the Material Plane, specifically the Faerûn continent.
"They are attracted by the breath of life," Sulen said worriedly. "Although there is only the faint breath of plant life now, it is enough to drive these Primordial Gods mad."
Shar nodded. "If we let them reach the Faerûn continent, Chauntea's hard work will be ruined."
As they continued to explore the Outer Planes, the sisters discovered an even more unsettling phenomenon.
They found a plane filled with order and good energy, where there was pure light and harmonious energy flow.
"This plane is filled with order and goodness; let's call it Mount Celestia," Sulen proposed, feeling the energy here resonate with her own starlight.
But just as they were preparing to explore further, Shar pulled her sister back. "There is a completely opposite plane on the other side."
They turned in the other direction and saw a plane filled with chaos and evil energy, emitting an unsettling aura that was completely different from the peaceful darkness Shar controlled.
"The Abyss..." Shar named it softly. "This place is full of malice and chaos."
They sensed the aura of Primordial Gods within The Abyss, and they were even more evil than those in the Elemental Planes. These Abyssal Primordial Gods were absorbing the chaotic energy of the plane, constantly growing and gestating.
"Although they will threaten the entire universe we created in the future, Mount Celestia is the opposite of The Abyss. The universe needs balance—one positive and one negative," Sulen concluded.
Shar agreed with her view. "We need to make a plan. The Primordial Gods must be restricted; they cannot be allowed to threaten the Material Plane at will."
While the two goddesses were considering their countermeasures, Chauntea continued her research on the Faerûn continent. She observed every corner, watched the growth patterns of plants, and pondered the bottleneck of biological evolution.
These lives were all formed using her divine power, but the results did not seem ideal.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden return of Sulen and Shar. "Chauntea, we have something important to discuss," Sulen said directly, starlight flickering rapidly around her, showing her sense of urgency.
Shar added, "Threats have appeared in the universe, existences called Primordial Gods. They are chaotic and violent, and they are being drawn here by the breath of life on the Faerûn continent."
Chauntea's expression became serious. "Tell me in detail." The three goddesses gathered together, and Sulen and Shar shared their findings.
Chauntea listened, her face growing increasingly solemn. "We must protect the nascent life, but I am also facing a dilemma; life forms cannot break through the limitations of plants."
Shar shook her head. "The Primordial Gods bring only destruction, not constructive challenges."
Meanwhile, in the Outer Planes, the Primordial Gods seemed to become even more restless as the continents in the Material Planecontinued to increase. They accelerated their movement toward the Material Plane; the threat was approaching.
Chauntea looked at the animal life gradually taking shape before her, then sensed the approaching threat of the Primordial Gods in the distance, and made a decision.
"We need to help these lives be born as soon as possible," she said, "and at the same time, we must prepare our defenses. The Primordial Gods must not destroy what we have worked so hard to create."
Sulen nodded. "I will set up a defensive line in the Astral Plane to prevent the Primordial Gods from easily approaching the Material Plane." Shar followed up:
"I will weave a Shadow Labyrinth around the periphery of the Material Plane to slow their progress." The three goddesses began to divide the labor and cooperate; the first offensive and defensive war in the universe was about to unfold.