The Azhars are the name given to the great spirits who descended from the heights of the realm of crystalline order into the Archon’s kingdom and waged war against him. Among the Great Azhars, there has never been discord or strife, even though they too were tempted by the forces of the Dividers. There, however, those forces struck an indestructible barrier and failed. It is said that the Azhars were initially pure followers of their origin, but when they came to know the World, something within them changed; they embarked upon their own path—one that outwardly resembles their original course but is inwardly inspired by the teachings of Old Tho.
The Azhars are not “beings” in the sense commonly understood. They are rather principles that act invisibly and inaudibly. They are the purest and highest essences in the entire world, representing the paths of the most noble desires within living creatures. Yet, even though the Azhars certainly possess all these superlatives, they often do not act as “good” by human standards.
In every age, there exist beings so pure that they become vessels for the Azhars. This does not happen through possession, but rather because these beings ascend so high that they attune themselves to the music of an Azhar, thus becoming its living image.
The first of the ancient Azhars is Alirawis, known to all as Sofia. It is difficult to say much of her, save perhaps that an unknown bond exists between her and the Archon. In stories, Sofia shows faces both kind and cruel; in her cruelty, she at times surpasses even her adversary. Like Him, Sofia set out upon the path of Power, and thus she eternally contends with Him for the legendary Trident. Sofia is a ruthless warrior, yet her strength lies not in weapons, but in the application of knowledge or sorcery. On Qurand, she is usually depicted as an unearthly beautiful, tall woman with a statuesque face, black hair, and eyebrows and eyes deeper than the night. Stars are caught in her hair, and upon her brow rests a high circlet woven of many graceful ornaments. She wears a robe of purest white. At other times, she may appear in the unmistakable ornate white mantle of an adimaghavan; when depicted in her wrathful form, she may wear a black cloak.
The second of the ancient Azhars is the Lightbringer, called Aliawir. He is the eternal brother of Sofia and the kinder, more merciful of the two. Though called by a masculine name, he is the bearer of a protective feminine principle, just as Sofia bears the sharp, sword-like will of a male warrior. Aliawir is depicted as a snow-white World Tree, as an eagle-man in scale armor made of white bird feathers, or as Sofia’s companion in a flowing cloak—who, instead of the Trident of Power, holds the Harp of Wisdom. The color of his hair is that of the rising sun, and his eyes are like vessels of dark forest honey. His task was to awaken beings from slavery through the fruits of the World Tree—the fruits of knowledge. Later, in the form of an Eagle, he snatched fire from the Archon and brought it to humanity in the likeness of a falling star. He is therefore known as the Lightbringer.
The third of the ancient Azhars is called the Great Musician or the Great Artist. Of all his kin, he remains closest to his original purpose. Through his work, Qurand is constantly tuned into harmony with the rhythm set by other celestial bodies, mimicking the order of the over-heavens. In his hands, the world is a musical masterpiece. Whoever knows the way may approach the secret of his order through music or dance, where—like a reflection in the eye of a child—they shall fly along the path of the stars and resonate with their music. The Great Musician is depicted much like Aliawir—a youth with a harp in his hand—making them difficult to distinguish. Curiously, the Great Musician holds a musical instrument less often than the Lightbringer.
The last to be mentioned is Old Tho. He is counted among the Azhars, yet he never descended with them from the heights, and his essence remains shrouded in mystery. It is known only that he walks among the highest gods without restraint, speaking to them as equals. Yet he speaks to humans as he does to gods, and listens to them even more often. He walks the world as an old man in a black cloak, unafraid to tread even where devils do not venture. At the beginning of the World, during the very act of creation, he watched the Archon at his work in the form of a raven, hounding him with questions. It is said of him that in a high valley in the heart of the Gandharan mountains, he brought two sons into the world.
