In the second age of man the Arinak the dark king and his legion of dragonriders were driven into the eastern wastelands by the inhabitants of the city of Karn with the help of the wizard Belsala and the immortal princes Esslia. But at a great price. Esslia was snared into a trap during the battle, and cast into the form of a living statue. Belsala, who loved her dearly took his leave of the city without celebration of it's great victory and retired to his island tower vowing to return to the world of men only when the final battle with the dark king approached. The inhabitants of the city, saddend by the loss of its most famous and beloved citizens, nonetheless rejoiced in the victory over Arinak, and in time the deeds of the great battle faded from memory, only to be told as tales of a far ago time.
The centuries passed, and news came out of the east. Once again men riding dragons were ravageing the eastern provinces. As the seers had foretold the victory over the Dark King had not been a final one.