12. Mars | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

 Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 12. Mars

Onárstil descended upon his new world with a host of angels in his wake. 

As I said, Vaada Pari was a twin to Teyra, but smaller and with two moons instead of one due to the greater amount of water. Very little work needed to be done, as the canvas had already been primed. All that was needed was to paint the landscape with life, and so it was. 

From the ground and from the sea came all manner of great beasts that would easily dwarf any on Teyra. The people were no different, bigger, stronger and overwhelmingly beautiful, having been made in the image of their creator. The angels that were with him, sang and praised him.

Unlike humans, however, the people of Vaada Pari were not given dominion over the land, for the land and seas and skies were his, given to him by Da Vaada, himself. Knowing this, many craved his favour. They crafted new words, new songs and poems of his greatness. Songs that would never reach Da Vaada's ears, so he thought. Those he loved most were rewarded with higher standings and given those less favourable to command as they saw fit. 

This led others to not want his favour. They wanted the land, they wanted the seas, they wanted the skies, and they would have it. So, they took it, in bits and pieces, where he could not see, for unlike Da Vaada he could not see all or know all. Which is why he brought his contingent of angels. They were his eyes and ears and they reported to him. 

He rewarded those who tried to take his world from him... with death. The first of its kind. Utter and complete erasure, all that you are, all that you could ever be, gone. 

What followed immediately was rebellion, war and violence. The planet, once a beautiful blue and green paradise, was stained red by endless bloodshed. Onárstil and the hosts escaped, watching from above as his world, Vaada Pari was torn asunder. In fear and outrage, he summoned all the fire and radiance of his being and burned them all away, leaving only a desolate rock.

The only proof that life had ever been, were the bloodstains which had soaked into ground and could never be washed away, for there was no longer any water. 

Onárstil and his hosts returned, in shame, to Da Vaada, who gave the planet a new name, Mars, for it had been ruined.

Incidentally, your people would give it the same name, after the so-called "god" of War. 

Fascinating...