Of the twelve stones, the Elemental and the Form, the Foundry wished to cast their Influence into the world as the final Mana Stones.

The Stone of Ku, shaped from the will of the Forge Undying, embodied the Influence of the warrior, justice, and martial prowess. The Stone of Ros, shaped from the shade of the Courier Enshrouded, embodied the Influence of the rogue, stealth, and the clandestine. The Stone of Dain, shaped from the arcane substance of the Vexation Undone, embodied the Influence of the spellcaster, study, and knowledge. The Stone of Neta, taken from the essence of the Refracted Eye, embodied the Influence of clerics and druids, compassion, and reverence. The Stone of Ra, given from the light of the Primordial Sage, embodied the Influence of the Good, lawfulness, and balance. The Stone of Sar, wrenched from the darkness of the Pariah Feint, embodied the Influence of Evil, chaos, and discord. Thus, all of the legendary Mana Stones were completed; eighteen in all, the manifestations of the Balance of All Things.

First of the great Highlords hewn from the completed Mana Stones, infused with the Form of Ven and the Influence of Ku, was Pel Lann, the Knight Governor and Lord of the Spiteful Blade. He was an undisputed master of laws and justice, of the art of war and the science of strategy, the profound wisdom inherent to martial prowess. In the frozen reaches of his mountain domain, the kingdom he named Hlavor Zana, he presided in the courtroom and meditation chambers of his pristine Palladium Halls, built into the very mountain range containing the Forge-Mountain, where he dictated the laws of the land. When not presiding as the Knight Governor, he spent his time in deep meditation, quietly humming in the hours of the morning, beginning with the sacred, humble tones of peace, protection, and prosperity for his people, building to a thunderous aria of vengeance as a warning for those that would defile his sacred tenements.

Pel Lann was a towering figure with ebony skin, musculature sculpted to martial perfection in form and balance. His smooth, bald head was adorned with a long beard and trimmed mustache of thick, coal-black hair. His eyes were the color of purest jade. He wore robes of silken fabrics with faded colors between silver and jade, over which he wore his sophisticated plate mail of brilliant diamond-encrusted palladium. In a great scabbard on his back he wore his powerful longsword, Inquisitor, which shone with the might of its wielder. His voice was oftentimes little more than a husky whisper, becoming a raucous roar of fury projecting his words when enraged.

The second of the great Highlords, Harsan Aave was gifted from the Form of Ew and the Influence of Ros, embodied the clandestine nature that is the trade of rogues. His rule spanned the dark undergrounds and decrepit corners of the criminal organizations and avant-garde societies in the larger communities of Anaias, his name still spoken with respectful reverence as a blessing to those of the Craft. From common urchins to criminal overlords, all continue to pay their dues to his honor. Though driven by hedonistic avarice, Harsan also maintained a code of honor. He held family, whether by blood or otherwise, in the highest regard, and those who committed heinous acts of murder and savagery faced his wrath. His vengeance often manifested in gruesome assassinations or the delivery of the guilty in blood-soaked pieces to the authorities. Although he was hailed as a hero by none, his presence permeated the shadows, earning him the title of an angel to some and an unspeakable dread to others.

Harsan Aave was shorter in stature than most with a sleek, graceful figure that is taut and limber. His dark amber skin, black eyes, and slight trimmed mustache of chestnut hair complementing his cropped bronze-colored hair. He wore a garb of wraps and bands the color of the deepest shadows, trimmed with amber threading and an embroidering of the rune of the Influence of Ros. He wore his dual scimitars crossed on his back. His movements were swift, silent, always striking true. He was the Lord of the Ghosted Hand.

Third of the great Highlords was Tha Lenue, Lady of the Flighted Spirit, gifted with the Form of Bro and the Influence of Neta. She was exceptional in her humble nature, acts of compassion, boundless charity, and noble bearing. Her presence was felt in countless communities across Anaias, where she dedicated herself to healing the sick, teaching the ways of community and meditation, and embracing the beauty of humility. Despite being held in high regard, Tha Lenue declined positions of authority, believing her true purpose lay in serving others and remaining a beacon of healing and solace. In times of crisis, she demonstrated her unwavering strength as a warrior, defending the weak and safeguarding the places of healing.

With her porcelain skin and shoulder-length ginger hair, she had a frame of an experienced warrior of hardened resolve combined with the regal posture of a courtier of the highest dignity. Her loose, rolling hair would often flow around her shoulders and back, occasionally brushing her high cheekbones and obscuring her mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes. Her soft, alto voice resonated like a sweet song on an autumn breeze, her tone clear and respectful. While she valued the aspects of humility in her service to the meek, her resolve and strength became apparent when she was needed for protection.

Her armor, a blessed mixture of a robe of azure leather and flowing ivory linens. Her fitted brass pauldrons and vambraces engraved with runes of healing and tranquility adorned her forearms and shoulders. Her fitted cuirass and plackart were engraved with runes of protection and the runes of her holy order protecting her slender waist and chiseled chest. These became known as the components of the legendary Bands of Neta's Will. Her legendary great mace, the Mace of Order, its great dark oaken handle crowned with its cold-wrought iron ball, its spiked surface, and the jeweled ferrule capable of providing healing for those it touched.

The fourth of the great Highlords was Hangarite Ma, Lady of the Expanded Will, infused with the Form of Kath and the Influence of Dain, was a potent force of courageous personality, tempered prudence, and immense arcane proficiency. Being curious of other Planes of Existence, and potentially better understanding of the Foundry and their Will, she consumed part of the essence of a silver dragon from another world, Nalindraeth, who had agreed to aid her in her studies. This infusion of draconic lifeblood empowered her mystical capabilities to enable travel between realms, altering her form with features of the silver dragon. Those in her presence would sense the draconic element of her nearly angelic being, equally inspiring awe and fear.

She had almond-colored skin adorned with brilliant, silver scales from the bottom of her graceful neck, atop her shoulders, and covering her upper arms. She preferred to keep her head clean-shaven. Her delicate hands had adopted a slight claw-like appearance. She moved in measured steps, flexing each muscle in her arms, head, and back as if under the spell of some ethereal melody only her mind could enjoy. Her serpentine, slit pupils enshrined by a midnight indigo iris seemed to see all within her gaze in this plane and the next. Her great wings, an extension of her benefactor, gleam in the light of the midday sun, appearing like molten silver, each wing point ending in a pair of wicked talons. When not in use, these wings wrap around her shoulders, joining at the talons, to form a cloak.

She kept a quarterstaff, the legendary Staff of Claws, which could bestow confusion on her adversaries with a single strike. Her indigo robes, the Wraps of Dain, flowed gracefully around her form with each step.

Fifth of the Highlords was the bestial Tenma Salama, Lord of the Scathed Lightning, brought forth from the Form of Gor and the Influence of Sar, embodied the epitome of brutality, relishing in wanton savagery, relentless dominance, and merciless bloodshed. His rule was characterized as a reign of terror, where absolute subservience was demanded from his subjects, and opposition to his iron-fisted rule was met with overwhelming and gratuitous violence. A perverse joy in inflicting pain and suffering became the hallmark of his blood-soaked court, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.

Physically imposing, Tenma Salama towered above most with the brawn of a hulking brute, his presence instilling fear in all who crossed his path. He wove his thick, black hair into a single, braided rope that hung behind his head, a stark contrast to his clean-shaven face. His insatiable desire for dominance led him to file his teeth into a feral, predatory grimace, a testament to his savage nature. Gripped in his hands, his horrid greatsword, Eranthisel, became an extension of his cruel will, capable of cleaving through enemies and victims alike with unforgiving precision, ensuring excruciating pain with every strike.

Sixth of the Highlords was Herra Paranemista, emerged from the Form of Ir and the Influence of Ra, was a wandering figure and founder of the Monastery of the Seekers of Shadows, an order dedicated to the pursuit of enlightenment and harmony. Through prophetic visions, he saw the potential for a world where meditation, culture, benevolence, and the strength of a courageous heart would guide the path of individuals. With a deep understanding of the balance between martial arts, introspective meditation, intellectual discourse, and practical teaching, Herra sought to evolve his Order and share his wisdom with others.

His physical appearance remains largely a mystery, yet accounts mention a supple yet strong build, complemented by olive-colored skin. Herra's silver eyes shone with a profound depth of knowledge and insight, while his flowing brown hair added an air of serenity to his presence. He favored the simplicity of monk's robes, symbolizing his commitment to humility and detachment from material possessions. However, despite his peaceful nature, Herra always carried with him the Shima Moyō no Kama, a pair of blades that were both tools of defense and reminders of the ever-present potential for conflict. It was rare to witness his resorting to violence, as his true strength lay in his profound wisdom and ability to guide others towards a path of enlightenment and inner peace.

Last and greatest of the Highlords was Kerei Akír, the Gray Lord of Balance, as master of all Forms and Influences, meant to serve as the great balancing force of all Highlords. His people remember well his compassionate nature, strength of conviction, and strong leadership. As a teacher, he shared his wealth of practical knowledge, wisdom, and experience with the inhabitants of Anaias. His insatiable hunger for knowledge drove him to explore the deepest secrets of Mana, the runes bestowed by the Foundry, and the intricacies of creation itself. Kerei Akír often served the role of an impartial arbiter in disputes among the Highlords, while also assuming the position of a librarian, preserving and imparting learned knowledge and experiences.

Physically, Kerei Akír was a striking figure. He possessed almond-colored skin, a lean yet towering stature, and a mane of flowing white hair that cascaded past his broad shoulders. His commanding baritone voice carried an innate warmth, patience, and compassion, causing people to be moved by his measured words. There were accounts of his voice echoing like a melodious song against the mountainsides, eliciting awe and reverence that instinctively led individuals to kneel in his presence. Adorned in robes reminiscent of ancient granite and hematite, Kerei Akír's attire reflected the elements of stone and water. The cuffs of his robes were delicately adorned with alabaster linen, embellished with threads of jade and lapis, and embroidered with runic symbols. Similarly, the hem featured alabaster linen intricately sewn with copper and gold threads, adorned with cabochons of ruby and quartz fashioned in the shape of the runes of flame and wind.

It was during the First Age of Anaias, spanning over 3,000 years, that the lands of the world were ruled by the seven Highlords, each afforded their own domain: the Knight Governor Pel Lann ruled over the mountainous Hlavor Zana; the hidden Harsan Aave held dominion over the shadows of the cities of Baldor and Whisdain; the healer Tha Lenue gained the following among the roadways and fields of the great plains and grasslands between the frigid northern reaches and the southern mountains of the main continent, Urngor; the mystic Hangarite Ma kept a tower among the western crags and forests of Urngor in a place that would come to be called the Western Maw; the bestial Tenma Salama held his bloody domain over the heated sands of the southern deserts around Baldor; the tranquil Herra Paranemista founded his Order near the eastern shores of Urngor; and Kerei Akír held the sizable duchy of Viborg in the foothills of Mount Anaias.

It was during this time that history remembers the greatest and most horrific of moments, a time that would bring about the next age at a terrible cost.