The world of Garnath is a sprawling planet whose geography changes abruptly, from region to region. In some lands, there is almost nothing but ice and snow. Other areas of the world sport massive stone mountains and shifting, flinty plains. Some areas are vast deserts of sculpted sand, and in other places rich veins of metal so permeate the soil that little can grow. Only in the oases where these great geographical areas come together can enough plants and animals grow and thrive to sustain life and civilization – at least without the intervention of man.

Over time, civilizations spread along these “green lanes.” But the people could not spread farther due to the harsh conditions found in the rest of the great planet. Then, one day, a small group of adventurers found a deep cave system. At the heart of the cavern, they found a glowing round stone. This stone was the heart of the cave elemental that dwelled within. A young Garnathian called Ice Wizard picked up the stone and was immediately surrounded by a whirling ball of power. He could feel the power of the cave elemental growing within him. Untrained, he couldn’t contain this power for long. As he and his fellow adventurers fled, the cave system began crumbling about them. Only the Ice Wizard made it out of those caves alive, thanks to the round shield of protection surrounding him.

The Ice Wizard stumbled back to his city to tell the tale of this disaster to the other wizards, warriors, and cores who lived there. He begged them to destroy the powerful stone, but the leaders saw great potential in such power. Instead of destroying it, they studied it. Over time, they grew to understand it’s power and a few could even wield it with some level of control – creating new cave systems that led to new finds of jewels and other goods. When one of their neighboring cities attacked them, they soon found another use for the elemental heart – destroying their attackers.

Over time, word spread of the cave elemental’s heart and the great power it contained. Soon other bands of adventurers from all over began searching for such objects of power. Over time, they learned that there were many forms of elemental – cave, fire, ice, tree, wind, and more. Every elemental had a stone heart, and each gave its user access to great power.

The wizards, masters and cores wondered if they could harness the power of the elemental hearts to make life spread onto all the vast swaths of uninhabitable land on Garnath. They found that, with the right application of elemental hearts, the great swaths of uninhabitable land in Garnath could be transformed into habitable terrain. As soon as this was discovered, the people began spreading out to take over more and more territory.

Over time, the people of Garnath set out to found new civilizations in different parts of the world called factions. The Corune Faction founded their society among the badlands.of the west. The Zeduin Faction took over the desert dunes. The Polarax Faction moved into the ice lands, while the Maarok took over the mountains and jungles. Adventurers in all areas searched out more and more elemental hearts to build their people’s supply of power.

But, although the use of the elemental hearts allowed the peoples of Garnath to grow and prosper, they also slowly corrupted both the land and the people living on it. Over many years, the people most exposed to the elemental powers began to exhibit features and abilities reminiscent of the lands they lived on. Many local creatures also changed accordingly. It was as if the elemental essence was causing not only the land to change, but also whatever it is that keeps a human human or an animal an animal. Not all people and creatures began to change, but many did. Some simply gained in power, but others became less than human and still others crumbled like parts of the newly terraformed land.

The rulers of the five nations ignored the negative effects of the hearts for many years – until they could no longer turn a blind eye. But each nation blamed the other for abusing their power. Soon war broke out, with each side using elemental hearts to construct powerful balls of energy to fight their foes. Only the strongest people could ride inside such a sphere without mutating or dying from the intense flow of power. These Battle Riders now surge across Garnath fighting for their leaders. Some people – known as ‘Mentals – can actually put their minds into the bodies of creatures and send them out in the spheres to do battle, minimizing their personal risk and giving their spheres even greater physical power.

As time, war, and terraforming go on, it has become clear to many that Garnath cannot withstand the constant wear and tear of such massively powerful forces of construction and destruction. None of the leaders of the five nations wishes to accede power to the others, but they all worry that the war will leave a world not worth having. Just what choices the leaders will make and who will win this war is unknown. And only time will tell if anyone can be found who can safely harness the power of the elementals’ hearts so that Garnath can grow and prosper once more.