Despite the progress made, shadows lingered from the days of the Ascension War. Whispers of discontent began to circulate among the remnants of the old factions. Those who had lost power felt threatened by the rise of the Guardians of Harmony and the Artisan Guild. They plotted in secret, yearning for a return to the glory of the past.
Among them was Lord Thorian, a once-powerful noble who had lost everything during the war. Fueled by bitterness and resentment, he sought to reclaim his status by any means necessary. Thorian believed that the Laws of Creation limited true power and sought to exploit the vulnerabilities within the temples to gain control.
He rallied a group of disgruntled nobles and rogue mages, forming the Shadow Conclave, a clandestine organization dedicated to undermining the new order. Their goal was to dismantle the Guardians and seize the magic of the temples for themselves.