CRT:6:9 This hunter was the son of Ankadur, son of Enanari, king of the Ubalites, by Urkelah, daughter of the Chaisites. This is known because those who were with Dadam came out of the barren places and learned the ways of builders, becoming great among the Ubalites and raising cities along the rivers. Among them was Enkilgal who built Keridor, which stands between the two great rivers, and Netar and Baletsheramam, who taught men the ways of writing, setting the letters upon a pillar in Herak.
Chapter Seven - Herthew, Son of the Firstfather
CRT:7:1 The Book of Beginnings tells us all things began with Varkelfa, therein called Awenkelifa, from whom flows gwinin, the energiser which stabilises all things so they maintain their proper form and awen, which responds to the moulding desires. This is well enough, but men concern themselves more with the beginnings of their race, and ours is rooted in Herthew the Sunfaced, son of the Firstfather.
CRT:7:2 While Herthew was still young, he was expelled from the lushlands where he was born, and he journeyed across the harshlands in the company and keeping of wise Habaris. After many days, they came to Krowkasis, cradleland of our race, land of mountains and rivers, which is beside Ardis, and they encamped there in a valley. With them were retainers and flocks.
CRT:7:3 Herthew grew to manhood there, and always Habaris was at his side, instructing him in all the things he should know. He taught Herthew the nine essential disciplines of Imain and the secrets of the three sacred vessels. Herthew learned that there was a place of gloom, where the air was foul, and malodorous breezes carried pestilence and poisonous particles. This was the source of all maladies and ailments and of the things which cause putrefaction and decay. This place had been closed off from Earth, for it existed in another realm beyond the ken of mortals; but it had been brought into attunement with Earth when a forbidden act was accomplished. Thus, the bodies of mortals became susceptible to influences from the baleful place.
CRT:7:4 To this and similar parts of the Otherworld, the wicked would be drawn when they passed through the grim gates of death. But Habaris taught a different conception of wickedness, one where lack of effort, indolence and indifference to duty and obligations, the taking of the easy path, were just as wrong as actual deeds of wickedness. He taught that men reach the true goal of life by transmuting lustlove into truelove. That true victory is gained only over the defeated bodies of their vanquished passions and baser selves.
CRT:7:5 These and many other things were taught by Habaris, but many of his teachings displeased the people of Krowkasis who were then as they were before Herthew's forefather was led away. So Habaris concealed many things from them and taught, by simple tales, things within their understanding. He taught them the mysteries concerning the wheel of the year and divided the year into a Summer half and a Winter half, with a great year circle of fifty-two years, a hundred and four of which was the circle of The Destroyer. He gave them the Laws of Weal and Woe and established the folkfeasts of harvest-tide and seeding-tide. He taught them the ritual of Ulisidui.
CRT:7:6 But Habaris instructed Herthew in the ways of the Otherworld. He taught him concerning the three rays from the central invisible sun, which manifest all things, upholding them in stability of form. Also concerning the Oversoul, which filled everything in creation, as the Soulself filled the mortal body. This Soulself, he declared, would develop from mortal sensitivity and feeling transmuted into divine sensitivity and feeling, through suppression of the baser instincts within mortals. It was strengthened by development of feelings of love between man and woman and between these and their kindred by the appreciation of beauty and devotion to duty, by the development of all qualities that pertain to humans and not to animals.
CRT:7:7 Herthew learned that the Soulself is quickened by soul substances outflowing from The Godhead. That the strong soul is transformed and moulded to the soul's desire, but the weak soul is not its own master; it is flabby, unstable and is pulled into a state of distortion by its own vices. In the afterlife, there is unbounded joy for the entry of a noble soul; it will glow with splendour and stand out proudly. The mean soul of the wicked is dull-hued, twisted and drab, and, being drawn towards its own compatible
state, it shrinks into the dark places.
CRT:7:8 When Herthew had barely crossed the threshold of manhood, black-bearded spearmen began to ravish the borders of Krowkasis, and Idalvar, king of that country, called his fighting men together and when word came to Herthew, he prepared to depart. But Habaris bid him stay awhile, for he was unprepared for battle. Then, Habaris prepared a strange fire with stones, unlike any fire seen before, and when it burnt low he plucked out that which is called 'child of the green flame' and he beat it out so it became a blade. This he fitted to a horned handgrip and, when it was edged and blooded, gave it to Herthew, saying, "Behold, Dislana the Bitterbiter, faithful servant of he who strikes hard and true." Then, he made a shield of wicker covered with ox-hide and a cap of hide which came down over the face and neck. So equipped, Herthew went to the encampment of Idalvar, taking eight fighting men with him.
CRT:7:9 In those days, men fought with hand-thrown spears and clubs, with flung stones and sticks sharpened by fire and weighted, but they did not close in the battle clash. So when Idalvar saw the battleblade of Herthew, he wondered and it passed his understanding; but when he saw Herthew close on the battleline and the foeman fall before him, he was amazed.
CRT:7:10 No man about the king could understand the making of such weapons, offspring of fire and stone, but Habaris made others, and Herthew became the king's right hand man and the first hero of the Noble Race. The king offered Herthew his daughter's hand in marriage, but Herthew declined, saying, "The days of my manhood are not yet fulfilled."
CRT:7:11 When the war-filled days had passed, Herthew withdrew to the place where Habaris made the bright battleblade, and already he had taught the mysteries of their making to others, sealing their mouths with magic. But Herthew was less concerned with the weaponry of war than with the mysteries of life and the battles of the Spirit beset by mortality. So, while his workmen drew bright blades from the thunderstones, Habaris taught Herthew and his battlebrothers, and these were the things they learned from his mouth.
CRT:7:12 "Beyond God, there is an Absolute, which no man should try to understand, for it exists and has always existed in a state beyond man's finite comprehension. It is from this Absolute that God, The Ultimate in all Perfections, was engendered."
CRT:7:13 "To create, God first visualised in thought, then He produced an outflowing wave of power, which, in a manner of speaking, solidified what might be called building stones. The outflowing power also produced the Celestial Hymn, which brought the building stones together in harmonious forms. So it is truly said that all creation is the harp of God, and it responds to His song and manipulations. It is an everlasting unfoldment. The voice of God can also be heard in the voice of His beautiful daughter who endows all growing things with life and beauty."
CRT:7:14 "There is a divine purpose in creation, which may be known only to the few; this knowledge is the key to all unanswered questions. Acquiring it is like the drawing back of heavy curtains, which have kept a room in gloomy half light, so all things suddenly become clear and distinct. He who gains this knowledge knows the Grand Secret, the answer to the riddle of the ages and knows beyond a shadow of a doubt. This divine purpose, and the divine secret concerning it, is called Gwenkelva."
CRT:7:15 "Apart from Gwenkelva, God gains nothing from His creation, except that as a Being possessing infinite love and goodness, He must have something to receive the gift of love and respond to it. Even among mortal beings, who is there that could find satisfactory fulfilment in self-love? Also, He needed something wherewith He could contrast Himself, some medium wherein He could perform, and this is creation."