As a god, Helcrom continued much as he had during life, contemplating and expanding his understanding of the universe. Yet even as his view of the universe broadened, a fundamental tenet of the monk teachings that had been with him since early childhood became increasingly plausible to him--that balance must be struck between the forces of order and the energies of chaos. After long contemplation, he decided that a state of neither complete order nor complete chaos was desirable, if even possible, but that there must exist a balance between them. "Order cannot exist without chaos to impose its pattern upon" he is believed to have said, "but life, indeed all existence as mortals know it, cannot exist without order." Therefore, you will sometimes hear Helcrom referred to as Helcrom the Balanced, the fulcrum between Phaet and Nixil. Some even say that the mysterious symbol of Helcrom is actually meant to suggest a scale, with its center beam and its two symmetrical balance-arms.
The story of Helcrom as it was told to me, Notch the Gleeman, goes thusly:
Helcrom was born a mere mortal named Hardcase into one of the wealthy, seafaring families of Ba-ul Naran. He was the son that the family would offer into service to the gods, which was a long-standing tradition and obligation of the rich and influential families of Ba-ul.
Therefore, it came to pass that at the age of six, Hardcase began going to the monastery daily for the lessons that would prepare him for his life of service. At 12, he began living at the monastery. At 17, Hardcase became a monk in the service of Phaet the Creator and departed the monastery. Hardcase was a devoted monk and, as he grew older, he became even more devout and more militant in his service to Phaet, ultimately becoming the very first Devil Monk.
Often in the company of his friends--Chalkara, Infidel, Louis, Pagan, Thor, Worf--Hardcase accomplished some amazing deeds, such as rescuing the Sword of Shannara from The Great Serpent Valg and relieving Sanaluth (then called Apocalypse) of his Rings of Power (Hardcase was the first mortal to feel the terrifying power of Sanaluth's soul-suck). Indeed, his adventures as a mortal became the stuff of legend.
Finally, towards the limit of his mortal years, Phaet honored Hardcase by raising him into the ranks of His immortal servants and recreated him as Helcrom the Ascended. He was the second mortal thusly honored; Chalkara preceded him.
Helcrom had always been known to be concerned about mortals, their security and their spirituality, but he is also notorious for his anger towards those who do not display respect and devotion to the gods. Even while yet a mortal, Hardcase established a mighty clan to provide justice to all creatures who could not secure it themselves. The clan was called Ultraforce. It was the first such clan on Entia and, although Ultraforce and its grand house in Ba-ul Naran are now gone, there are many other clans today. Grunt, Bhang, Shrike, and Malikor were all, in their turn, leaders of Ultraforce after Hardcase's ascension. Infidel was a member of Ultraforce before leaving to form his own clan, Night Breed.
As a god, Helcrom continued much as he had during life, contemplating and expanding his understanding of the universe. Yet even as his view of the universe broadened, a fundamental tenet of the monk teachings that had been with him since early childhood became increasingly plausible to him--that balance must be struck between the forces of order and the energies of chaos. After long contemplation, he decided that a state of neither complete order nor complete chaos was desirable, if even possible, but that there must exist a balance between them. "Order cannot exist without chaos to impose its pattern upon" he is believed to have said, "but life, indeed all existence as mortals know it, cannot exist without order." Therefore, you will sometimes hear Helcrom referred to as Helcrom the Balanced, the fulcrum between Phaet and Nixil. Some even say that the mysterious symbol of Helcrom is actually meant to suggest a scale, with its center beam and its two symmetrical balance-arms.
In hopes that my telling of this tale has entertained and informed you, I am your humble servant, Notch.