erein is recorded the story of one called Vanha, who conquered the courts of heaven. In realms separate from earth, mighty cities were raised up by clans of gods. Through eons they lived in harmony with mankind, being a benevolent people pursuing advancements in many arts. Great kings and queens reigned in their realm until one called Anau set himself on high as most exalted, ushering an age of prosperity never seen before.

It is written that in the tenth age of the court of Anau, god-of-all-gods, a son was born to a goddess called Un who was wife to a warrior called Anaki, scion of a war-god clan. She was cunning and beautiful, and gave herself to Anaki in marriage when he, alone, slew a demon-giant from the tribe of Thrun. She became pregnant and went to a temple where she gave birth, and named the child Vanha.

Vanha was taken from his mother and washed by the priests of Anau, then given up to the high prophet to be blessed. When the high prophet laid his hands upon the child a dire vision was revealed to him. He then spoke to his priests, and to Un, these words.

“Lo! This child will behold a great suffering which shall shatter his heart; he shall weep heavy tears which will fall on the earth and produce a tree, bearing the seeds of wrath, which will sprout forth to choke the ones who inflict suffering. He shall free those who suffer, and he will suffer with them. Hear these words and mark them, for they will be upon Vanha to the end of his days.”

The scribes recorded the prophet’s words and Un was much afraid for her son. She returned home to her husband Anaki and told him all that the prophet had said.

Anaki took his son and said, “He must be strong to face the suffering which life has mandated over him. He shall be raised as I was, as my father was also. I shall teach him the sword and the spear, the language spoken by the warriors of heaven.”

Un, knowing her son must also be wise, taught him in her own way as he grew, and when Vanha became a man he was both strong like his father and wise like his mother, and they both had much pride in him.

In those days the house of Anaki was wealthy, and there was much happiness. Vanha lived as a man in the house of his father, overseeing his share of the estate, managing his servants who were from the realm of men. Vanha was kind and did not deal harshly like other gods of his rank, but paid them fairly and treated them as he would friends.

One day a servant whom Vanha was well acquainted with, a man called Ku of the tribe of Nesh, came to him in sorrow. Vanha saw that Ku had been stricken with an illness that had caused his skin to wither and left his body weak. The kindly son of Anaki ran to Ku and gave him water to drink as the servant wept and tore his garments saying, “My lord, we serve you earnestly and fairly, never ceasing in our prayers to your master, Anau, whose name is lifted higher than the highest. My people are stricken with plague and famine. My eldest son has been taken by beasts, and my wife is at death’s door, having contracted a grave illness. I weep for my tribe who suffer unduly! In shame I ask for your help, for many of us will die unless the gods intervene.”

Vanha was moved by Ku’s words and vowed to help his people, and he said to him, “You have my word as your lord, I will do all within my strength to end the suffering of your tribe. This is my oath made before heaven and earth!”

When Vanha supped that evening he looked to Un and asked, “O wise mother, what does it mean to die? A faithful servant of mine, a man called Ku, spoke that his people suffered and died at the hands of famine and plague. He wept and tore his robes in distress. I was overcome with sadness for him, and swore to ease his burdens, but how can I do such a thing while I know so little of their plight?”

At these words his mother and father expressed dismay for they had hoped to hide from Vanha the reality of death and the nature of mankind, who suffer in ways unlike gods. His father spoke, his word loud in the hall where they sat.

“You have done a foolish thing swearing an oath to do the impossible. Death and suffering are worries of men alone, not for noble gods such as ourselves. Do what little is required to satiate this one servant, but do not strive overmuch to compensate him. If you do, you will surely be drawn into the realm of men and become like them and feel their suffering. Their suffering will cause you to die in your own soul, which will become death to your body.”

Anaki’s reprimand was silenced by the gentle voice of Un who in her wisdom spoke gently to her son.

“Your father is right that you have been foolish in promising help to this man. However, I will show you how to help, in our own way: increase their pay, give them double from the storehouse. Send with them honey and elixir to restore their starving children. Do this and more, send with them any manner of goods you desire, as our trusted progeny— but you must never venture to their lands in body. If you go to the earth, you will surely perish, as your father has said.”

Vanha was beset with deep fear at these words and for six days sequestered himself, pondering the meaning of death and how to fulfill his oath to Ku. On the seventh day he returned to his place in his father's house and again met with his servant, to whom he gave an extra measure of pay. And indeed he gave Ku all manner of goods from the storehouses and the treasuries of his estate so their pain might be eased. The servants bowed and worshipped at Vanha’s feet at the boon he bestowed on them.

One day after the giving of treasures, Vanha stood and observed Ku for a time and inquired as to why he still walked with dour expression. Ku replied, “My lord, I am afraid to speak of my sufferings, lest I be punished by the lord of this house; I do not wish to cause any burden to you. Please, I pray you do not inquire of my troubles, as I wish the suffering of my tribe to never again trouble you.”

Vanha inquired no more of Ku. When his servants returned to their homes in their own realm, Vanha sat under a plum tree and pondered again what he should do for his servants. The son of Anaki understood then that gifts alone could not assuage the pains of the earth, so he crafted a disguise for himself and stole away to the realm of mortals.

s Vanha walked among the men of the earth, he witnessed a plague which the gods of death had sown in their land— a great reaping of human souls. Not one was given dispensation, neither elder or child. The son of Anaki saw strange figures, eldritch whose appearances were vile amalgams of man and beast, crafted by occult sciences. They stole away infants, women, and men, weak and strong alike, from their houses. They loosed loathsome demons upon the tribe, filled with a bloodlust that devoured any living thing their eyes gazed upon.

Forty days Vanha observed the suffering of Ku’s tribe, each day worse than the last, until his heart overflowed with sorrow and shattered, so he fled the world of men. Vanha knew he could not return to the house of his father. For surely Anaki would rain punishment on the heads of the servants for his sake, adding to their agony. 

Vanha fled back into the heavens and far east to the land of rugged warriors, to a mountain tribe from which his forefathers were descended. They lived harshly though they were gods, as they had in the primeval days before Anau ascended to the throne of all gods. They were perfectors of war, honor-sworn guardians of the gods and their allies. They were led by one whose title was Executioner, whose name was Kaioph. He was the strongest among them, coldest of war-makers; his body was like a grand tree which grew with the strength to divide even the heaviest of boulders; his spear was cast from heavenly metals; his shoulders were like mountains unto themselves, and, indeed, his whole form was perfected in the hell-fired forges and bloody abysses of all wars since time immemorial.

Kaioph peered down from his smoldering throne with his all-perceiving eyes, which were black fire. He then saw Vanha entering his realm. The king of warrior gods knew that this was his war-friend Anaki’s son. Kaioph called to him, his voice carried by storm-clouds from his mountain throne: “Son of Anaki, son of he who cuts down giants and lays them like sheaves of wheat at harvest among the fields, son of Un who is cunning, beautiful, wise, and without equal in her dignity— welcome to my glorious fortress. Come, sit with me and my warriors, who are second to none. Sup with us, for you have traveled far this day!”

Vanha accepted and feasted with him, telling Kaioph of all he had seen, especially the laments of mankind, who suffered under their rule. 

Kaioph spoke to him then, saying, “You know little yet of all realms and of life’s ways. Your heart is untrained and undisciplined and can be broken like a fortress whose gates are decrepit. Fear not, my brother’s son, for I shall set thee on a true path— the path of war-gods! Your heart will be as strong as heavenly steel, your form shall be like a hardened mountain. You will be fit to slay every god in heaven!”

Then Kaioph laughed, and his men with him, and for a long time trained Vanha in their arts and feasted and hunted. Vanha gained knowledge not only of war and destruction, but also of defense and protection of those things which were dear to him. For many seasons he was trained in combat and was broken. Then he was raised up in his skill, and was very mighty. Then Kaioph said, “You are now a master of war, I can teach you no more.”

Vanha thanked him graciously and left them, harkening the call to travel again.

anha wandered beyond the land of gods and did battle with many evil beasts and demons, subduing or slaying them, gaining purpose against their strength. One day, as he went along a path seeking to test himself even further, he came upon an old man whose days were counted greatly in the heavens. He bore the wisdom of ages and placed the weight of its vastness on an old, oaken cane as he lumbered along. He was not a god himself but was allowed to roam in heaven because of his wide wisdom and kindness.

When Vanha stood before him, he knelt in respect.

“Master, whence do you come?” he inquired. 

“I have forgotten, but I am no-one’s master,” the old one replied. “I was born in the myriad days of the world of men, for I am a man, but unlike these younger men who toil in their own ways. I am a scholar of heaven and earth, mastered by the mysteries of life.”

Vanha asked, “What wisdom can you impart to one who seeks to aid those who suffer on earth?”

The old one stood still and spoke, imparting these words: “Answer me one thing— what do you hold most dear to your heart?”

Vanha, who knew in his heart what was true to him, replied, “I have seen how my subjects suffer unjustly. I make my path seeking after strength to set the world right, if it were ever right before. Therefore, in my heart, justice and mercy are dearest.”

The ancient ascetic laughed, “Good and well! Yet you must know that to live is to suffer— to ease life is to charge headlong into a sea of battering waves. Whether you have the strength to face what tasks life has set before you, you need only look within yourself. This is your test!”

Vanha understood the words that were spoken and went, blessing the sagacious old man as he departed.

Many more moons passed above, and Vanha traveled obscure roads in the northeast. His path lay on the outskirts of heaven where wild demons were hunted by the forest-gods with moss-covered bows. One day he came upon a barren clearing in the forest where he could behold the innumerable stars. As he looked up towards them a voice called out his name.

Vanha turned to see a warrior approaching behind him. The mysterious stranger was clad in amber mail, and held in his right hand an ornate blessed spear, and in his left a glimmering bronze shield. The man gazed upon Vanha intently and called again with a loud voice.

“You! One who walks with no weapon, master-of-war by Kaioph’s tutelage, bearer of the prophecy of sorrow and power— I have been sent by the-one-most-high, and by his decree you shall be erased!”

As soon as the last word left his lips, he flew at Vanha like lightning, aiming to impale the wanderer with his spear.

Vanha was quicker, stepping aside and returning an open-handed strike to the ribs.

The assassin recoiled but easily weathered the blow. He was hardy, and well-determined to slay his victim. He taunted Vanha, saying “Have you no weapon with which to defend yourself, princely one? Even among swords the spear will reign supreme in the hands of a skilled master, and I have had nearly two thousand years with mine!” 

The warrior then thrust again more savagely. The training of this assassin was of the highest caliber, his ferocity that of a wild beast.

Vanha’s feet danced quickly, his hands furiously, striking at his assailant with his palms and fists in the manner Kaioph had taught him, deflecting the assassin’s deadly pike. His warrior’s training was tested like never before in this skirmish. 

They fought fiercely a long while, remaining unwounded and unable to wound the other. From the edges of the barren place the curious eyes of woodland creatures watched this duel. Proud wolves marveled at the sight. 

Nearly a day passed. Anau’s assassin failed to draw a drop of blood from Vanha, so he threw down his spear and drew a dagger, to slay himself. 

Vanha quickly subdued his opponent before he could take his own life.

“For what reason,” he asked, “has the-most-high Anau sent you to slay me, assassin?”

“Anau has learned of your knowledge of war, of your heart for the suffering of man. He fears the truth of the prophecy and your power, and sent me to kill you for his continued glory.”

Vanha’s anger rose in his breast. 

“What is your name?” he asked.

“I am called Mekl. I was taken from the world of men as a child to serve Anau. I have served for two thousand years as his assassin without fail. I can serve no other master, lest I be burned by the fires of hell for ten thousand years times ten thousand. I must be slain, by you, or slay myself in defeat to escape eternal torment.”

Vanha took pity on Mekl, and slew him and wept. He took Mekl’s body up and carried it to the verdant sanctuary of the forest gods. In that place he laid Mekl’s body upon the altar and offered up a prayer to the gods of that wood, summoning the lords of the wood until one of their kind did appear before him, with a beard like many flowers and bearing the scent of spring meadow.

“I have heard your call and seen your regard for this man’s life. I grant you my ear, young one. What do you ask of me?”

“I wish you to restore the soul of the slain one called Mekl, whom I lay at your feet. Free him from his bonds to the-most-high-Anau. I wish him to live free as any living thing should.”

The god looked sadly down, saying, “Truly, no living mortal is free. For to live is to be bound to desire, death, hunger, and pain. This creature Mekl was made to live only so long by the will of Anau, and by his will he has died. Only death is free and so through it all things must pass away. It is easy for the foolish powerful gods to forget what their heart knows, because they devise clever machinations to obscure ultimate truth from themselves.”

Vanha was enraged at the selfishness of Anau, who bent the will of weaker beings, abused the lives of others to serve his own. Then Vanha, looking up to the eyes of this god of the wood, proclaimed, “I curse Anau’s name for all eternity! From the suffering of my trusted servants will come the wrath of my right hand— that life he took will be repaid with the breath of his own lungs! With my hands I shall tear his pride away from him and cast it into the pit. Anau grinds the weak under his heel, so shall I crush his body to dust.”

With that mighty Vanha buried Mekl, blessing his body so that his soul could find peace in death. The forest-god granted an elk for Vanha to ride to the hall of Anau, and in a day's time the great beast had carried him there.

anha approached the Tower Hall of Anau and was met by a Slaying Angel, one called Massit, who discerned the warrior’s intent from afar. Massit appeared like a great man-lion with the wings of an eagle, his flesh was made of blessed living steel. The angel stood guard against Vanha and said in a thunderous voice, “Betrayer of the gods! Thou hast brought blasphemy before the god-of-gods, chiefest among transgressions. For these crimes Anau has judged thee and sent me to drag thy soul to the bottom of hell!” 

Seven times the Angel Immense struck at Vanha’s neck with his blade, but Vanha evaded the death blows and, with courage, moved and grasped Massit by his long beard before the seventh blow, pulling him to the stone beneath their feet. In a single moment Vanha summoned his rage to the fullest, embodying the true power of wrath, and he tore Massit’s head from his shoulders, sending fire pouring from the stump of his neck. 

The god-of-wrath walked, behind him dragging the angel’s steel head through the halls past the guardians, sycophants, the lords and ladies of the house of Anau. Courtiers gasped in awe of this feat of Vanha, crying out in fear as they ran to their chambers or into the street. The angel-slayer carried the great head to the-throne-room-above-heaven, and faced Anau’s shining brow. The king-of-all-kings gazed down from his golden throne at the head of his fallen champion.

The majesty of Anau sent forth rays of golden light, but it was clear the god-of-all-gods was very old indeed, warped by mechanical meddling and rituals of occult power. Vanha saw in his eyes, god-of-all-gods, a cold fear and hatred. Then Vanha laughed, saying, “Anau, king-of-no-one, your time of subjugation is ended. I’ve slain your champion and freed your assassin. I have heard the cries of my subjects, and through me is borne the power to free the living and the dead. I deem you guilty of crimes most severe against man and god. Now you shall die.”

Anau, king-of-the-heavens, snarled, and his shining eyes grew dark. He spoke, voice like the thunder of war drums.

“Fool! Thou hast blasphemed my holy name and spilled the exalted blood of my disciples. What do you see in these wretched worms that serve as fodder for their lords? Without my influence the gods would dwindle to weakness, as before my holy reign. You must know the gods’ power is fortified by the blood taken from those who are dust beneath our feet. You know not why you fight against me. You are lost to a mindless anger, for you have cavorted with your slaves too long!”

Vanha gave his reply, “My anger is the sorrow of the noble people who aid my house, those who I shall never count as slaves. They will be dealt mercy by my hand, and your dark servants driven out— this is the decree of Vanha!” 

Anau cried out, releasing from his ancient fingers a power to destroy Vanha. But the Wrathful One had the cunning of his mother Un and shielded himself with the angel’s head.

Anau was very old, his body corrupted by warped sciences which he inflicted upon himself. He was unable to defend against Vanha. The lord summoned his forces, called upon through his sorcery, but nothing availed him against the might of Vanha. In desperation, Anau reached out with his hand to tear out the soul of his enemy, but Vanha saw his weakness and raised Massit’s severed head like a boulder and, with a single blow, crushed the head of Anau, spilling his golden blood upon the ground and on his lofty throne.

Vanha then cast aside the angel’s severed head, tore down the desecrated throne of the king, and hurled it upon the grounds of the heavens before all the witnessing nobles, proclaiming, “It is done. I am the slayer of heaven, protector of earth, the right hand of man. I stand for the weak so that the strong may tremble! Under my fist balance shall be upheld as long as I live!”

n the days after, those in heaven and on earth rejoiced. The meek flourished, and tyrants were chased from their high places. Demons and all dark servants who served Anau were slain or cast into hell by the gods of war, who laughed, rejoicing as they purified the earth. Vanha ruled evenly with wisdom and strength, and with a steadfast servant in Ku as advisor to his court. The people of earth grew healthy and were repaid for their suffering a hundredfold. Once again justice and mercy reigned.

There are many more tales of Vanha’s incarnations on the earth, and in other realms. Indeed, the future holds much to be discovered as the spirit of Vanha lives now as it will forever.