And so the tests commenced and the people of the land had to prove they are not all arrogant and greedy and that they are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the land. Mortals were given three chances to prove themselves worthy over three millenia.

Each thousand years, called Cycles, will be divided into four eras: The Sword, The Scepter, The Staff and The Dagger. These represented Monarchy, Theocracy, Magic and Chaos respectively. That meant that every Cycle, every thousand years, had four distinct eras. And when one Cycle ended another devastating force hit the land and cast the world into chaos. If, by the end of each Cycle, the Gods deemed mortals to be selfish and greedy, another cycle would commence. If this were the last Cycle, all life will be wiped from the world and the Gods will begin anew.

We don’t have many records of the first two Cycles. All we know is that mortals failed – badly. Our documentation starts following the chaotic period at the end of the Second Cycle.