Here is the next installment in Murel's history.
Half an age after the creation of Murel, Matiluz, the head of all the lao, began to become proud of his position and his ability. As time passed, he secretly began to deceive himself into believing that he could be similar to Criel, even better than Criel. Matiluz spread rumors throughout the lao and came to many of them, goading them against Criel and their fellow lao, and promising them power, position under him, and the ability to be like Criel if they would but serve him and proclaim him the god of all things. At the same time, Matiluz went among the phoenix and the gryphons, goading them against each other and promising to them the same things he had promised to the lao.
Matiluz then left them, saying that if they would follow him, they should come to a gathering place in the great desert of Murel. A third of the lao, a fourth of the phoenix, and a full nine-tenths of the gryphons heeded his call and submitted to his rule. Now in the possession of a sizable army, Matiluz declared war on Criel and the creatures that had joined his rebellion. Because the phoenix and gryphons could not ascend to the halls of light, Matiluz appointed the strongest phoenix with the leadership of the phoenix and gryphons, and tasked that phoenix with an attack on Florei that would occur after Matiluz succeeded in taking the halls of light.
The plans of attack made, Matiluz left with his host for the halls of light while the phoenix took his army to Florei. Once the phoenix's army was in position near Florei's border and Matiluz had assembled his host outside the gates to the halls of light, Matiluz cried out a challenge to Criel, blaspheming against the creator and attempting to raise himself to a plane higher than any created thing could ever reach.
At this, Florei emptied with those phoenix and gryphon that had remained true and the gates to the halls of light opened, letting Criel himself stride forth in front of the lao that had remained true.
Criel looked upon the rebelling hosts and spoke to both of them saying, “You were mighty among the created, and yet you craved for more power than your lot. You were high in honor among those who served me, and yet you contrived to obtain honor that did not belong to you. Therefore I will take back the power I gave you, and strip from you the honor that you possess. Forever more you will be a curse and a byword, feared and despised by all. Such is the lot of the fallen, those who contrive to be God.”
Criel then spoke His Word. Immediately, the army that was prepared to attack Florei disbanded, scattering across the face of Murel. At the same time, all of the army assembled at the gates fell down from the heights. For a quarter of an age they fell, until they finally passed into the pits of darkness. Fueled by their humiliation and hatred of Criel, recovery was swift, and as they healed, they turned their hate-filled eyes on Florei and planned how they would overcome it.
But I do intend for them to have fallen a literal age (though an 'age' in Murel is a relative term).
