Of the Voyages of Men
When men saw first the shining waves of the sea in the light of the sun they felt glee. The men of the north became enamored of it. They built a great tower with a beacon in it shining ever to the west. Thence did they long forever. Then, many years later, they built the first ships. Elves had not before dared to sail upon the water and warned the Men of Lithmini against it but they did not heed the elves saying:
�Nay! We are a mighty people and thus we shall not be denied passage over these waters! We shall seek the lands to the west and south and north and find them!�
Then the Lords and people of Tielfrem were distraught for they knew the fates of men if they dared sail into the hither lands. They feared lest their new-found allies perish upon the waves. Thus it came to be that they built a white ship and put upon it many fair things and jewels and gold. In it they put a messenger also. He sailed into the west to beg pardon for the Men of Lithmini. The Lords of the West granted their request as long as the Men stayed out of the hither lands. The Elves of Tielfrem told the Men of Lithmini this and the men became angry. For they believed that the elves sought to betray them into the hands of the Lords of the West. Then all of the Elves in Lithmini left and passed through it only at great need.
The Men at first sailed only to the north and south, they were reunited with their kindred, the Kalrak, and told them of the wars n the north and of the elves. The Kalrak then sent messengers north to speak to the Elves and men that dwelt in Mishfrem. But further south still the ships of men ventured until at long last they came upon a great wall of water rearing up out of the ocean. They could travel thence no more. The same was found in the north. One direction only was to be traveled. The west. The Men of Lithmini were not entirely ignorant of the power of the Lords of the West and so built a great armada of over 1,000 ships each with 100 men. They sailed into the west. Half the people of Lithmini went. The king though, remained behind.
When the Men arrived within sight of the Hither Lands they sent one ship only forward. On it was a herald who proclaimed the strength and might of the Men of Lithmini and demanded entrance into the Hither Lands. Felemar, Thrimfi, and Mahelos came forth on three ships with ten others on each ship with them. Their great keels shone with a bright white light. Around Felemar�s fair ship was a ring of water swirling above and around it. Thrimfi�s ship was preceded by a great wind and wisp of cloud. And Mahelos came forth on a White ship with no sails. It seemed to move of its own accord. When they had drawn nigh to the ship sent forth by the Men of Lithmini. Felemar replied thus:
�Why do mortal men whom Mahelos created demand passage on ground holier than them? It is not their right nor their privilege. Thus they shall not come to our lands. If the ships of men are seen from the mountains of our lands by dawn tomorrow then we shall send forth a force that cannot be stopped by any save the Lords of Darkness. Rarely even them. We shall allow only one ship to leave. What say you?�
Then the ship that bore the herald returned to the fleet. The news given was not taken well by the captain of the fleet and by night he moved his fleet nearer to the coast. Then, just before dawn came, the order was given for every man to leave the ships and attack the Lords of the west. Just as they did so dawn came. An eerie silence lay upon the land. All seemed still and calm. Then there was a faint rustling of leaves. Suddenly a great roaring wind ripped through the canyon that they had entered. Men were tossed to the ground and dropped their shields and weapons. Then from above came the booming voice of Telcamis, Master of Doom. He spake thus:
�Thee hath been warned hast thou not? Know thee now that 100 of thou shall be spared to return to Lithmini and bear the tale of what takes place here. None other shall escape the wrath of the lords of the west!�
Then the skies turned red and men were struck by fear. It traveled like a wave through the army and men began to scream and slay themselves so possessed were they by horror. Then a scream rent the air and the Phantom Dragons of the west swept down upon the Men of Lithmini. Men�s heads began to bleed from their mouths, ears, and temples. Then the host of the West came charging out from the canyon unharmed. There in the Central opening to the Hither Lands fell half of the forces of Lithmini. Then the 100 that were spared were given food and a ship and left at midday of the same day. They arrived one month later to tell their tale. Then the Men of Lithmini no longer sailed the ocean openly but named the Lords of the West Mishtoltu, or Great Red Anger.
In response to the foolish attack of the Men of Lithmini the Mishtoltu built great walls towering 1000 feet high in the three canyons leading to their lands. In each was a gate 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The Gates and Walls were guarded night and day by the hosts of the Hither Lands.