This is the story that sets everything in motion. It is the tale of the ancestors of the heroes of Bryn, thousands of years earlier, and focuses amongst others on Brogan the genius scientist-magician. His theories lead to the discovery of the multi-verse and Insanity, and later to the many misconceptions that would confuse future generations. The Avatars were placed by God in Calaspia to govern the Races; one Avatar per race. Ikuyl was given the Barue but he disowned them, furious at God, because he saw them as weak and pathetic compared for example to the strong, elegant Nephelim. Ikuyl was, after all, the first and best of God's Avatars. Instead he takes it upon himself to create something even more powerful to triumph over the races - including his own Barue, which had been adopted by another Avatar.

The other Avatars, at Ikuyl's suggestion, took part in a Battle to prove which of the Avatars is the strongest: all of them and their races against Ikuyl. Of course, they assumed Ikuyl would make a race of brutal fighters, and this he did: the Nurgor and, later, the Ostentum - both of which could be controlled by his use of Insanity. It was at this time that Brogan first opened a portal to other universes and the Spiritworld, which is why people thought the Ostentum had come through the gate. Ikuyl was quick to encourage this tale, even constructing a fixed portal himself and pretending that this was Brogan's Portal. Later, when the Ostentum had scattered all over Calaspia, Ikuyl always summoned them to one location through this Gate, reinforcing most people's belief that the Ostentum were summoned from other worlds.

But the Ostentum, the Nurgor, the Gate and the Battle were all merely a distraction, which gave Ikuyl time to warp the world with his invention: Insanity. Now, instead of fighting them with might alone, he could sit back and watch them rot at the core, fighting with each other and confusing one another.

Soon the competition amongst the Avatars became so bad, and they worked their individual races so hard, that they began to die out. Presenting themselves as Gods to their race is the final insult, and the Creator punishes them by banishing them from the physical realms into the Spiritworld. However, even here, they continue to compete with one another in every way.

Years later, Brogan finds his way into the Spiritworld and confronts the Avatars in an attempt to stop their strife and to restore harmony to Calaspia. But Ikuyl persuades them that Brogan is a danger and should not be allowed to return to Calaspia. The others agree, and the Avatars succeed in confining Brogan to a particular part of the Spiritworld. Ikuyl's Insanity is once more left to corrupt the Multiverse. It takes a while for the Avatars to realise and recognise Insanity, but by then they have no power of their own in Calaspia, unless invited to be active in Calaspia by their own race.

Through his minions, Ikuyl begins to spread the idea to the younger generations in Calaspia that the very existence of the Avatars is mythology. Before long, Brogan's ideas come to be considered as the ravings of a madman. Fortunately, Brogan leaves a trail of clues, which Nequam finds and follows to the Spiritworld in Lore-master.