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Yon Morlir came before the other gods after many days of absence. She had brought them a gift, though they did not yet know it.
"Look brothers, sisters. I have brought before you my first creation." Before the gods stood the first human. Tall and strong were they. Back straight with eyes of glittering obsidian they stood.
"What need of these things have we? What purpose do they hold for us, who need nothing?" asked [REDACTED]
Yon Morlir stretched her arms wide. "They can work with us. They could keep your forge as hot as the sun. They could deliver your messages. They could-"
"So their purpose is to serve us," said [REDACTED], leaning forward, eyes bright with intent.
"If you wish it, they shall make it happen. I have made them good and strong. Whatever you have need of, they shall deliver it."
Yon Morlir kept the first human for herself. They were made to make more of their kind and more did come. Humans were given to each of the gods so that their tasks would be made easier.
Many years later it came to pass that some humans were being treated cruelly by several gods. The humans came to Yon Morlir and begged her to take them back. So horrified was she by their stories that she took back every one of her creations.
"Look! Brothers, sisters! At what you have done to my children. They weep for all your cruelty which has harmed them so! Never again shall they be in your company. I shall give them their own home that they might be free of you." And thus did Yon Morlir make the earth. It was to be a refuge for all humans that they be free from the gods' cruelty forever.
"Here my children. Take refuge upon this place. I have made it for you so that you will be free of the gods' cruelty forever. Rejoice and prosper!" With those words, Yon Morlir left her creations, her children, and returned to the realm of the gods. For many years humans were left alone to learn of this new world that was all their own. It came to pass that soon the humans were shouting for Yon Morlir to return to them, for they had grown bored of their refuge.
"It is nothing like the world of the gods!" They cried, "We wish to return! We'll do anything and never complain again!" So desperate were they. Yon Morlir heard their words and came to them quickly, lest the other gods hear and accept.
"My children, you cannot return. The gods treated you cruelly and I brought you away from them. This is your paradise. Why cannot you be happy with what I have given you?" despaired Yon Morlir.
Del Alised, who was small and quiet among the gods had been listening. For she took great interest in these creations. She went to Yon Morlir and gave her counsel. Saying, "They must have something to look upon. A distraction to keep their minds busy. For you made them to work and in their new home they have nothing to keep their minds sharp."
Yon Morlir saw wisdom in this and returned to her creations saying, "I shall give you something to look upon, that you not be bored any longer."
Thus did Yon Morlir craft all of nature for her creations. The wind, the trees, the water, the sky, the moon, the sun. All were given unto Humanity as they began to call themselves.
"We thank you, great lady. Holy mother of all, we bow before your generosity." And thus Humanity was entertained for many, many years. Before long however, Yon Morlir once again heard crying.
"Revered Mother," said they. "We are so lonely. We have wandered this earth and have nothing but ourselves to keep us company." Del Alised once again had been listening and waited to hear Yon Morlir's reply.
Yon Morlir's temper rose at their begging, "What need have you of company? We gods have had no one but ourselves. Why should you have need of what not even your gods have had?"
Humanity began to prostrate themselves with fear, "Holy Mother, we ask for nothing that was not given unto the gods. For did not you once intend us as your companions? To keep you company and serve you in all things?"
Again Del Alised gave counsel to Yon Morlir, "You created them for just such a task. They were once the companions of the gods. To keep them company and serve them in all things. Make for them their own servants. Their own companions. For Humanity was not made to be alone."
Yon Morlir was silenced. She saw wisdom in this and returned to her creations saying, "Rise, my beautiful children. To teach a god humility is no small feat. You are right, for I did intend all of you for just such a task. Humanity was not made to be alone. I shall make for you the companions that you long for."
Yon Morlir's face grew dark and she rose up before Humanity. "If you treat these gifts as the gods did treat you, then you shall know my wrath and be sorry for it."
Thus was Humanity given animals to keep them company and serve them in all things. For many years it was good for Humanity but soon they became too many in number. For they were as immortal as the gods they once served.
"Revered Mother, Holy Mother of All, Blessed are you On High. We beseech thee!" cried Humanity as One. "We grow weary of this existence. We scrape and toil and fight for everything we have. Too many are we."
Yon Morlir heard this and came to them once more. "My children, you have grown many in number. You are strong and capable of many things. What need have you of me now?"
Del Alised came to Yon Morlir saying, "I have seen the great numbers of Humanity and I know of a place they can go."
But she would say no more.
"Del Alised, Wise One, who has counseled me in all things. I ask of you to show me this place that I might determine for myself if it is suitable for my children."
Del Alised gave a small smile at these words, "You will have to travel far, creator. The place I have made for them is deep beneath the earth. It is a place where nothing that enters shall be allowed to leave unless I will it."
Upon hearing these words, the other gods cried foul, saying that Del Alised wished to take Yon Morlir into this trap and keep her forever. For had she not been tricking Yon Morlir into giving Humanity whatever it wished for?
But Yon Morlir looked upon Del Alised and saw no trickery. So it was agreed that Yon Morlir would descend into the place that was carved for Humanity and look upon it.
Yon Morlir began to walk down into the dark and felt a warm wind at her back, urging her forward. She felt comfort and peace and soon began to see a white light in the distance. There came a voice calling softly, gently.
Suddenly, Yon Morlir had come upon a great castle by the sea and knew this to be where Del Alised had made her home. Now, it came to be as Yon Morlir passed over the threshold, the world of Humanity above began to grow cold and snow did begin to fall.
Del Alised came to Yon Morlir in her palace below saying, "This is the place I have built for all of Humanity. A place where they may rest and recover from the endless world above. They grow too many in number and tire of the endless life they were given. They shall come here and stay forever. No longer will they burden those that come after. I call this place after-life for it shall be what is left when their lives have ended. I will be known as Death, that which is the absence of Life. The absence of you, Yon Morlir. For when Humanity enters these halls, they will forever be mine."
Yon Morlir spoke thus, and her voice rang out on the stone around her, echoing for ever and ever into eternity, "Humanity shall never be yours. You will return their souls to the paradise that I built for them. Humanity carries me within them. All they are, all they will ever be, comes from within me. To deny them paradise is to deny me. "
Del Alised grew quiet and thought for a time of six months about Yon Morlir's words. Presently, she cam upon a compromise. "I shall take them here, to After-Life and hold all of their memories within these walls. I shall return their souls to you, that you might craft a new body for them and allow them their paradise once more."
Yon Morlir saw wisdom in this and yet was not satisfied. "I wish still to be able to see them even after they're gone. I will visit once a year for the same period of six months. After which I shall allow you peace to comfort them. I thank you, Del Alised, for all you have done for them. In keeping them content and happy, so too do you keep me content and happy. Forever shall I remember this, Death."
Yon Morlir returned from After-Life and Paradise began to warm. The snow melted, and trees regrew their leaves. Humanity stood shoulder to shoulder and covered the entire earth. "Look upon us, Mother and see that one man stands so close to another he cannot move. We are too many in number."
Looking down upon Humanity Yon Morlir saw that truly, all of Humanity was great in number. "Be at peace, all of you, for Del Alised has made a new home for you. It is a great Palace-by-the-Sea and all of you shall witness it one day. Del Alised, who is also Death, will guide some of you to After-Life. Where now is the first of you? Come forward."
And thus did the first Human step forward and kneel before their creator. "Hello, my old friend," said Yon Morlir softly, with fondness that made all who heard it weep. "Long have you been with me, and long have you been with Humanity. I thank you for all that you have done for me, and with me. Rise now if you desire peace, and rest."
The First Human rose and their obsidian eyes did sparkle brilliantly with unshed tears. They could not speak, for no speech was given to them, but they did reach out to Yon Morlir. The two grasped hands and Yon Morlir turned them to Death and passed the First Human's hand into her grasp. Together, Death and the First Human passed to After-Life and the Palace-by-the-Sea. Thus did the age of Humanity's mortality begin, and thus does it continue, for ever and ever.