The Story of Anu and Padomay

(Sources include: The Annotated Anuad, Before the Ages of Man)

These deities were the first of all. They are considered brothers that each make up half of a single whole. They came forth through the Void and soon after Time began. According the Anuad, as they wandered the Void "the interplay of Light and Darkness created Nir". Both Anu and Padomay were amazed and delighted with her appearance, but she chose Anu. Dismayed, Padomay retreated. Eventually Nir grew pregnant and before she birthed Padomay came to her one last time to profess his love but, again, she chose Anu. This caused Padomay to become enraged and beat Nir until Anu returned and the brothers fought. In the end, Padomay was cast outside of time and Nir gave birth to Creation. During her efforts to conceive Nir died of her injuries and Anu grieved by sleeping in the sun.

Eventually life grew and flourished on the twelve worlds of creation and after a long time Padomay returned to Time and saw Creation, as it was the child of Nir. This angered Padomay and with his sword he shattered the twelve worlds in their alignment, waking Anu. Another great battle between brothers ensued ending with Anu defeating Padomay yet again and, believing him dead, he cast aside Padomays body. When Anu saw the damage his brother inflicted upon the worlds of Creation he did what he could to save it by forming the remnants into one world, Nirn.

In truth Padomay was not dead and he lashed out at his brother one last time, striking him in the chest with one great blow. Anu struggled with Padomay and both were pulled outside of Time forever. The blood of Padomay became the Daedra and the blood of Anu became the stars and when the blood of both mingled formed the Aedra. In explaining the the chief differences between Aedra and Daedra it is commonly believed that the blood of the Aedra gives them the capacity for both good and evil and causes their inherent concern for the affairs of the earth and it's inhabitants, whereas the Daedra have no such connections and therefore do not care or concern themselves with the affairs of mortals or their world.