{{wiki:Candles Splash.png?0x300|The Mortal Online website landing page as it appeared on October 4th, 2010.}}

====== Introduction ======
During the release period of //Mortal Online// starting in **2010** and ending sometime after **February 15th, 2011**, an [[https://web.archive.org/web/20101004002815/http://www.mortalonline.com/|interactive animation depicting several candles]] with highly detailed candlesticks was shown on the landing splash of the //Mortal Online// website.

Over time—and notably [[https://web.archive.org/web/20101031121537/http://www.mortalonline.com/candledata.xml|not in order]]—each of these candles were lit and eventually burned out.

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====== The Candles ======
To this day it remains unclear if the candles were related to in-game events during the life of //Mortal Online//, if they were created to offer insight into significant and obscured historical events of the setting such as [[The Sundering of Asterra]] or [[The Conflux]], or perhaps even a mix of both.

Due to these circumstances **//this page consists entirely of speculation//**, with **//the only exception being the images of the candles//** themselves.

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===== Candle 1: Before the Dawn =====
{{wiki:candle_1_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_1_lit.png?0x300}}

The first candle may refer to the formless pre-history period when the [[Gods]] were able to fully exert their influence upon [[Nave]], shaping it and its denizens' [[Etherworld#Sheut – The Shadow or Mold|Sheut]] as they pleased—or at least within the limits of their own power.

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===== Candle 2: The Rule of Dawning =====
{{wiki:candle_2_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_2_lit.png?0x300}}

This candle likely refers to the establishment of the [[Gods#The Rule of Dawning & Evolution|Rule of Dawning]], which can be summarized as a collective agreement—and agreements //can be broken//—among the Gods to not forcefully manipulate the evolutionary processes of the various species and entities on //Nave//.

This candle being lit first may also have been a indication to the playerbase that the //"Dawn"// expansion was actively under development.

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===== Candle 3: The Sky Father Returns in Yoni Form =====
{{wiki:candle_3_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_3_lit.png?0x300}}

Given the presence of the dawn, a symbol painted against [[Solar System#Sunna]], and the presence of a [[Syenah|Śyenah]] indicates this candle may be depicting a [[Khurite]] deity, the [[Gods#Jumal|"Sky Father" Jumal]], returned in yoni shape to herald news to //Humanity// as described in [[Khurite#Khurite Religion|a prophecy]].

Sightings of //Śyenah// flying overhead were rare but not unheard of in-game, with most taking place after in-game events.

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===== Candle 4: The Risar ======
{{wiki:candle_4_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_4_lit.png?0x300}}

This candle depicts a [[Risar]], referring to perhaps their creation—maybe by a breach of the //Rule of Dawning//—and/or their sudden appearance and invasion of Myrland.

From an in-game perspective, this may have referred to the //Risar Invasion// which took place after the release of the //"Dawn"// expansion. The invasion was crushed by the a group of eastern guilds on //Myrland// after having witnessed the cost of hubris and the downfall of other groups who wished to //"farm"// the //Risar// beforehand.

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===== Candle 5: The Successors of Shinaria =====
{{wiki:candle_5_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_5_lit.png?0x300}}

On this candle a [[Huergar|Huérgar]] in ceremonial armor sits front and center as if a bulwark, perhaps indicating that they were changed with consent by [[Gods#Oghma]] as a response to a //Risar// threat, that they were already changed but charged by the //Gods// with contesting the //Risar// as the //Human// races re-established themselves, or that they were simply the dominant culture on //Myrland// during this period.

Also noteworthy are the [[Tindremene|Tindremenes]] and [[Sidoian|Sidoians]], indicating that this may be a specific and intentional depiction of only the races associated with the [[Shinaria|Shinarian Civilization]] which fell with or as a result of //The Sundering of Asterra//.

The skulls may represent the deaths from //The Sundering//, the conflicts between the budding human cultures such as during the [[Tindremic Empire|Tindremic Empire's]] //Imperial Campaigns//, and/or fighting between the //Risar// and //Huérgar//.

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===== Candle 6: Of Armadillos & The Conflux or Confluence =====
{{wiki:candle_6_unlit.png?0x300}} {{wiki:candle_6_lit.png?0x300}}

The sixth candle is extremely information dense. It features the first depiction of an [[Alvarin]] in the series of candles, perhaps among the first to arrive and settle on //Myrland//. Also featured prominently are many //Sidoians//, maybe indicating or hinting at a great return to [[Sidoia]] and/or the discovery of new //Shinarian// ruins.

Further still is a piece of //Dracogenia Armatus// armor, indicating that this is perhaps a snapshot of the time of the //Imperial Campaigns//, or even their end. The loss or general presence of the armadillo may be a reference to the loss of the [[Armillogion]] device as a result of //The Conflux//, or it could indicate the intervention of the //Gods// during the event as a result of interactions with the device.

Last but not least, flailing arms and limbs indicate great panic with the many bodies flowing together as if a confluence, and skulls indicate death. Coupled with the loss of the //Armillogion// and the reference to the //Imperial Campaigns//, it is reasonably likely that this candle depicts //The Conflux//.

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