The rulers of the entropy on the other side of this rift invaded Earth and laid waste to Atlantis, and numerous other fledgling nations. These "Titans" as they came to be known possessed near unlimited power over the elements and energy. In final bid to save their society, the Atlanteans destroyed their own capital city to close the rift. The destruction of the portal flooded Earth with primal magic energy in its most raw form. Thus were created the first metahumans. For centuries, the metahumans battled the remnants of the Titans' armies. These battles would be passed on as myth and legend for thousands of years. During this time only a few beings would discover the true history. The surviving Atlanteans and Metahumans would blend into their new homes, eventually dissapearing altogether.
2000 BCE- The Immortal Tytalus- A warlord of the ancient world, Tantalus invaded an isolated village to discover that its inhabitants could conjure powerful elemental spirits. He killed all but a few of the magicians, and forced the others to reveal their secrets. This began a lifelong quest to attain more and more magical might. He gave up his armies and kingdom and traveled the world in search of rumors of magic. Eventually he found the sanctuary of an aging Atlantean. It was in this sanctuary that the Immortal Tytalus was born. Now a being of godlike power, he realized that the Titans still sought to enter our world, and that alone he could not prevail.
1066 AD- The Invasion of Britain- Soldiers accompanying William the Conquerer are greeted by an "Angel" on the battlefield. This creature (who to date has never appeared again) takes seven soldiers and teaches them the arts of Atlantean Sorcery. Each is given a field of study and specialization, and then sent to find the heirs of the fallen kingdom. These magicians become the first members of the Council of Themis.
1330 AD- The Black Death- A previously unknown Titan is awakened in Europe by workers in Germany. The creature is hunted down almost immediately by Tytalus and the Council, as well as a few adventurers. As the creature dies its body disperses into the local land and rivers poisoning all it touches, except those blessed with magic, or metahuman heretage. The Black Death ravages Europe, and Tytalus searches for survivors.
1782 AD- The Visions of Shaman Crying Raven- While the Colonies battle for Independance, a tribe of natives on the western shores of the Americas mourns the death of their Immortal Protector. The shapeshifter was slain in combat with a powerful European sorcerer. The Tribes shaman, seeking any wisdom from his ancestors, is shown an age when the spirits will again walk with man. Much of what he sees saddens him, but the return of real heroes gladdens his heart. His prophecies are recorded in a sacred cave near where the city of Seattle will be built.
1890- The Blood Prince of Romania- The creature of legend called Dracula travels to London. He is not defeated as tales report, and in fact still resides in Britain as the heir of one of the great Houses.
1918- The end of the Great War and the American Flu Epidemic- While the fires of war began to subside abroad, the fires of an epidimic raged at home. Tens of thousands of people died do to a heretofor unknown strain of influenza. This bizarre plague was in fact the work of Tytalus. He seeded the virus with his own magic, creating a virus that would target only humans without any Atlantean or Metahuman traits. He believed that this culling would make it easier to reveal heirs to the power of the ancient world. Similar plagues ravaged other parts of the world to heighten his plans. Unknown the Tytalus, the Council had undertaken a ritual to contact their founder in December of 1908. The summoning failed...spectacularly. It created a violent dimensional rift in Siberia, and once again flooded the Earth with raw magical power.
