Khumash-Gor's leadership, all of whom failed. Then, once again, the
people broke into conflicting clans, keeping only their primitive religion as
a unifying; aspect of Zealan society.

SECOND EPOCH: THE TIME OF CHANGE

Then came a glorious change to the people of the land. Spoken only in
hushed whispers, the leaders of a religious rebellion first made the words of
the Guardian known to the public. This Guardian talked to them within
their minds, foretelling of a dark time when a champion of tremendous evil
would try to enter their world. This Destroyer would turn the very forces of
nature--the elements of earth, water, air and fire - against them, raining
destruction across the land. Only by offering worship to those very elements
could the people hope to dissuade them from assistin~ the Destroyer.

Most of the Zealans scoffed, but several heeded the warnings of the
Guardian, building, on his advice, a great temple high atop a mountain
peak. With much effort and considerable magics they constructed a giant,
black obelisk. There, so the Guardian explained, they could focus their
worship of the elements, offering lives in sacrifice to the elemental spirits.
As the Guardian had promised, the spirits grew in power, assuming titanic
forms: Lithos, the Mountain King, Elemental of Earth; Hydros, the Lurker,
Elemental of Water; Stratos, the Mystic Voice, Elemental of Air; and Pyros,
Lord of Flame, Elemental of Fire.

The archaic deities of the emotions became enraged as their powers diminished,
commanding their worshippers to slay the followers of this new religion, who
thus became known as Pagans. Brother turned against brother as a bloody war
raged across the land. The message of the Guardian grew louder, and fewer
Zealans heeded the words of the Ancient Ones, turning instead to the worship of
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