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The Making and Laws of Man
The first man was made from a fallen ash, and the first woman from a fallen elm. And Oten gave them life, while Wilie gave them them thought and feeling, and Vee gave them the ability to hear, speak, and see. And once they were finished, Oten declared, “Thou shalt be called Mannus, for thou art first among thy kind. And all thy race shall be named after thee. And thou, his wife, shalt be called Wiefmannus, and shalt bear him sons and daughters for which to populate thy race.” And Wilie and Vee nodded their aproval.
Then Oten declared, “To thy race I shall grant the realm of Metgart, for it alone offers thee protection from the giants.” And once more Wilie and Vee nodded in agreement.
And as Oten prepared to send Mannus and Wiefmannus to Metgart, Berzedie appeared and said, “King Oten, would ye send forth mankind so naked and lawless? I shall give him laws that he should not break.”
And Oten said, “Aye, thou shouldst do so, so I charge thee with this task thou hast brought forth.”
And Berzedie declared then to Mannus:
“Thou shalt be father of nations, the first and most revered king of thy kind, shouldst thou follow the laws I here give thee. If thou dost not follow these laws, the gods shall descend down to thee to do battle, and thou shalt be swiped as a pest from the Earth’s flesh.
Thou shalt worship only the true gods of Asgart and Wanaheem, those who are said to be so by our great All-Father Oten. Shouldst thou worship the giants, demons, or other dark creatures, aye, even elves, thou shalt be punished and thrown into Nifelheem. He who reveres and fears the Gods shall be granted eternal life, he who worships evil shall face only damnation.
Thou shalt not toil on the seventh day of the week, for this is Oten’s day (Wednesday). This day is set for thee to rest, and he who doth labor on this day doth not respect the will of the Gods.
Thou shalt not murder, for a murderer is one who allows the dark forces into his heart, and carries out the will of the giants. He shall face damnation when the world hath ended.
Thou shalt honor thy family, and shalt strive to bring it glory in the eyes of the gods. He who bringeth glory is a servant of the gods, he who bringeth disgrace is a servant of the giants, and should be cast out from among you.
These are the five laws that thou shouldst never break. Uphold them always, or thou shalt face damnation. Other laws shall be decided among kings and men.”
Mannus then spoke, and said, “But lord, how doth one avoid disgrace?”
So Berzedie declared:
“He who craves naught but conquest, he bringeth only disgrace. Warmongers are hateful in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be punished.
He who is a blight unto the people, who suppresseth and murders and destroys his subjects as rulers, he bringeth only disgrace. Tyrants and corrupt officials are hateful in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be punished.
He who stealeth and robeth, who murdereth and telleth naught but lies, he bringeth only disgrace. Criminals are hateful in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be punished.
He who thinks naught for others, who is greedy and cruel and careth only for himself, he bringeth only disgrace. The Greedy are hateful in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be punished.
He who taketh his own life, he killeth himself out of dispare, he bringeth only disgrace. Suicides are hateful in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be punished.” And here Berzedie halted once more.
And Mannus asked, “Lord, then how doth one bring honor?”
So Berzedie declared:
“He who fights with zeal and valor in battle, he bringeth honor. The Brave Warrior is beloved to the gods, and shall be rewarded.
He who falleth in battle, he bringeth honor. But he who dieth for blind courage, he is a fool, and bringeth no honor. Only he who dieth in the honorable and brave way is beloved in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be rewarded.
He who is just, fair, and right to all around him, he bringeth honor. The Noble are beloved in the eyes of the gods, and shall be rewarded.
He who unites his people, he bringeth honor. Great Leaders are beloved in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be rewarded.
He who bringeth peace and prosperity, he bringeth honor. Peace makers are beloved in the eyes of the Gods, and shall be rewarded.” Here halted Berzedie.
Then he said, “Go forth, Mannus, and spread thyself across the world gifted thee.”
And so Mannus and Wiefmannus went by Bifröst to Metgart, and there they spread the race of men across its surface. And the sons and daughters of Mannus were many, but many perils they faced. Before the Gods had sent Mannus to Metgart dark elves and small giants had entered the world, and some remain there to this day. The men so made war upon those who took their rightful land, and the giants hatred of the gods grew only stronger.