Ialin, Greatest of the Ancient Ones
The great god Ialin was the first to be brought into existence by the Great Father. As such,he is regarded as being the most important and migthiest of the Ancient Ones,by mortal and immortals alike. He is also venerated for defeating the Dread Serpent Aped ,the hideous fiend of the depths.
According to the great epics, the first thing the Ancient Ones did, after they finished mourning for the Great Father ,was to decide to descend to the primitive planet bequethed to them by their creator. Realizing that their combined presence might intimidate any sentinent beings living on this primitive world,they decided to send the least overwhelming of their party,the beautiful Makk, to show the denizens of this world that they meant to help and not harm them. Unbeknownst to them however,the only sentinent being inhabiting the waters,was the monstrous serpent Aped. For millenia, the vain and foolish monster had believed himself the only thinking thing in all the cosmos and his watery relam,the only living world.
Thus, it was with great shock that he saw the Great Father bore down upon his world,and upon dying, transform into islands and continents. Shock soon gave way to awe and he vowed to slay any who decided to follow the Great Father's example and invade his domain.Thus,it was that upon seeing the fair Makk descend,he siezed in his vicious jaws and devoured her. When Mak did not return the other gods grew annoyed,and another ones of the gods was sent to search for her.When he too did not return,the others went to look for them,one by one,until in the end Ialin was the only one left. Realizing that something terrible had befallen his brorthers and sisters he soared down and hovering over what is now called the Dread Sea,he called out in a booming voice'' Oh,guardian of this world,why has thoust ambushed my kin who came in peace? A sinister hiss answered his challenge,and Aped finally revealed himself,his monstrous head rising from the surface, like a mountain springing from the earth. ''I am Aped'',he hissed,''and by tresspassing on my domain and devouring my waters,they aroused my wrath. Leave if you have no wish to share their fate''.Ialin knew that for all his great power,this thing coould not be defeated even by him. Thaen,an idea struck him. To the utter astonishment of the monster,instead of fleeing,he swooped into Aped's mouth,travelling all the way down,until he reached it's stomach.There he revived his brothers and sisters,and together they begun to attack the inside of the serpent's belly. Unable to bear the agony,Aped screamed ''Stop!Cease and I will do anyhing you command!'. Hearing this Ialin and the other Ancient Ones flew out through Aped's mouth. Turning to the giant serpent,who now hung his head in defeat,Ialin commanded'' From henceforth,you shall guard the gateway to the netherworld. The souls of the righteous will pass through,but the souls of dead you may devour.''
Thus it was,that Ialin freed Lorrad from the tyrant serpent Aped. To this day,celebrations are held by every race,commemorating Ialin's victory over the serpent.His priests often re-enact the battle,much to the awe of the spectators. He is othen depicted as a regal man,dressed in rich,jeweled robes,right foot raised over the head of a fallen serpent. It is widely believed that anyone in deep trouble who turns to him for solace,will have their prayers answered.
