Salaysáy (Story):

Eons ago, Bathalang Maykapal created the universe and everything in it. Then he created the Elder Gods to look after the world; then Bathalang Maykapal went to sleep.

For a while, the Elder Gods were productive. On earth, they lived in an archipelago consisting of thousands of beautiful island paradises. But as the ages past, the Elder Gods become tired of caring for the world. They started creating different things to amuse them, some of them created their own version of man. Soon they retire to their homes in the heavens; each of their spiritual centers. They left their children in charge of the world and of the humans who since populated many of the islands. But the younger Gods have very different personalities and soon began to argue and fight among themselves.

Unattended by the Elder Gods, a war between the Major Gods raged on for many years. And as they fight, each of their human followers began taking sides and formed many different clans that support each God. The age of the warring clans began, plunging the archipelago into darkness and chaos.

Many times, the Gods will create a human, or demigod, or demon to champion their cause and lead their clans. These creations are the Anak Bathala; God Spawns.

The Gods would often endow Kapangyarihan (mystical powers) to the Anak Bathala. Or they would sometimes send them on errands or quests to find ancient relics left behind by the Elder Gods. One of these relics is rumored to contain powers that can end the war and bring peace to paradise.

As an Anak Bathala, your journey begins when your God sends you down to earth, sometimes near your (and your God’s) spiritual center or at a neutral island. You must build up your strength, familiarize yourself with the world, and establish yourself with the locals. Once you reach a certain level of experience and are strong enough, you can leave your starting island and sail to others.