And with his Eldest brother's rebuttal, Shaitan set his plan into motion. Shaitan began to spread his evil influences over the land. Man began to split apart, as well as the Elves. And with this split came the new races. And with their emergence also came their hatred for their own brethren and with this new emergence came about famine and diseases.
And the tranquillity of the Age of Legend was shattered by this change. Shaitan's work continued to grow, and with the help of his people, he summoned a terrible entity from the void in which they once lived. This being he summoned was filled with his wants. The destruction of all those who opposed him and dominion over the lands. And deep within the great forest, the Elf-folks felt the Nameless One break free of the void. They emerged from the woods with many powerful weapons and organized a defense with Reann's help. When the Nameless One arrived, the races were ready and the war, which ensued, was long and bitter. Dwarves were driven deeper into the earth, the Halflings were decimated to the point of extinction, and Mankind was crushed, subverted or scattered. Of the Elf-folks who were not killed, a few fell to the forces of darkness to eventually become the Shadowlords. Of the Gods themselves, they could only watch as their brother brought upon the world his hatred. And together, the Gods gathered up their power in one place and summoned upon the enemy of the Nameless One. The one they knew would rid the world of this latest threat upon their people and followers.
In the end, the lands were saved by the being known as Solestan. Solestan was an ancient enemy of the Nameless One and in the final battle, both beings were destroyed. The Nameless One's minions were hurled back to their own plane and the world was torn by a great cataclysm. So ended the Age of Legend.
With the world broken and most life destroyed, only the remaining Elf-folk and a few powerful Wizards had the power to help repair the damage. For many millennia, the world healed under smoke and ash filled skies. The Goddess of Life and Creation infused their powers upon the chosen many of their creations to help in the healing of Therodon. The Dwarves gradually returned from the depths of the earth and the Halflings never returned to the hills and meadows. Of all the races, Man and Elf-folk were the most changed, and radically different branches of Mankind and Elf-kind now walked the lands.
As the world healed, it became evident that much evil still remained. The Shadowlords stalked an Underworld now populated with malignant spirits and twisted parodies of life. So many of the Land's creatures had fallen to darkness that a mighty struggle ensued.
Rampant magical energies released from the destruction of Solestan and the Nameless One eventually found their way into both beings, objects, and many mystical artifacts. The Shadowlords, nine corrupted Elf-folk mages, each had coveted great power and in their possession they wore the Ring of the Nameless One willingly. And in this age they arose to lead the forces of darkness. Wars erupted across the Lands, and the cunning Elf-folk, though greatly weakened, crafted many fine weapons to drive back their counterparts, the Shadowlords. And in this age, the people saw the destruction of two Shadowlords and the creation of five new Darklords in the Battle of Ianmmyrth.
Shaitan returned to his eldest brother's side, feigning emotions of guilt and sorrow. "My dear brother, I come crawling back begging for your forgiveness."
"Thou lie Shaitan! You do not feel guilt or sorrow for what you have done. Your desire for power has led you astray. Go back to your people and when you are really feeling guilty or sorrowful, then and only then do I wish your attendance!"
Great was Shaitan's anger at Taw's words, he raised his hand and smites his brother. Taking the jewel, he fled.
The other Gods besought Shaitan to return the Orb, but he would not. Then the races rose up and came against the hosts of Dracorians and made war on them. The wars of the Gods and of the races raged across the land until, near the high places now known as Jaiman, Shaitan raised the Orb and forced its will to join his to split the land asunder. The mountains were cast down, and the sea came in. But Eleri and Taws joined their wills and set limits upon the sea.
Now when Shaitan raised the living Orb against the land, it awakened and began to glow with holy flames. The blue fire seared the face of Shaitan. In pain he cast down the mountains; in anguish he cracked open the land; in agony he let in the sea; and in anger the Orb sought the destruction of Therodon for good. But once more, Eleri and Taws joined their wills together and split the seabed asunder, separating the world into two before the Orb could destroy everything.
The Orb, sensing what was done, took what it felt from Shaitan and made the territory that was split from Therodon into his own image. And feeling this territory creation, Shaitan screamed in rage, sensing his domination of Therodon moving farther and farther from his grasp. And in pain he screamed once more as his body was changed and burned, the flesh on the left side of his face melted like wax, his eyes now burning with his true intents. With a great cry, he cast himself into the sea to quench the burning, but his anguish was without end.
When he rose from the water, his entire body was burned and scarred hideously by the fire of the Orb. In endless pain, he led his people away to the west, where they built a great city. The Dracorians raised an iron tower for their god and placed the Orb in an iron cask, then fled weeping, lest his yearning to look on the Orb overpowered him and his perish utterly thus ending the Age of Reckoning.
The time came when Taws' people knew they must retrieve the Orb. Gandore, Taws' first child, called upon all the other Gods first children. And together, the five traveled to The Forbidden Territory with their first born children.
To seek out their way, Gandore cast an enchantment and took the shape of a great wolf. And on the five traveled. Through the mountains, they crossed into The Forbidden Territory. Finding a secret way into the city of Zantaak, Gandore led them to the foot of the iron tower.
Inside, they passed fearfully through the chamber where Shaitan tossed in pain-haunted slumber; his maimed form hidden by a steel mask. And they entered the chamber where lay the iron cask in which rested the living Orb. The five knew the Orb once welcomed the touch of Man or God, but its will hardened when Shaitan raised it against its mother. It will not be so used again, for it could read their souls. And only one without ill intent who is pure enough to take it and convey it in peril of his life, with no thought of power of possession, may touch it.
And knowing this the five looked to each other. Allya, child of Keryntha, stepped forward and opened the iron cask and took up the Orb. The fire shown through her fingers, but it did not burn her.
And hiding the Orb beneath her cloak, the five once again stole through Shaitan's chambers and away from his tower and land. Three leagues off, Gandore heard the wailing from the city.
Shaitan awakened to find his Orb gone. He summoned his people and the words they heard before their life and form was forever changed: "Because you have become insolent and unwatchful and have let a thief steal that for which I paid so dearly, I will make you what you should have been long ago."
And with a wave of his hands his people changed. And this change brought about the new races, the evil races; Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, Hobgoblins, demons and many others.
The Gods knew all that had passed and held council. Eleri advised them, "If we raise war again upon our brother Shaitan, our strife will destroy the world. Thus we must absent ourselves from the land so that our brother may not find us."
And the Gods wept as they told their children good-bye but not to fear for they will be with them in spirit to guide and protect them.
And Gandore, heart-stricken raised his face, "Hear me Shaitan. The Living Orb is secure against thee, and thou shalt not prevail against it. In the day that thou comest against us, I shall raise war against thee."
Shaitan heard the voice of Gandore and smote about him in fury, for he knew that the living Orb was beyond his reach.
And from the moment, Allya took up the Orb, her children would be born with a mark upon the palm of his/her right hand, the Mark of the Orb. The child so marked was taken to the throne chamber, and his hand was placed upon the Orb, so that it might know him. With each infant touch, the Orb waxed in brilliance, and the bond between the Orb and the line of Allya became stronger with each joining.
Many of the newly spawned races created in Shaitan's hatred seemed to vanish. Their numbers lessening greatly. During this time, the protectors of the Orb noticed that it pulsates and fills the room with it's power and no one could explain these workings of the Orb. Thus ending the Age of Changes.