Factions or the madness of a man
Cantha is a part of the country of Asian type whom the background go back so far as those first humans of Tyria. The beginning of their history is moreover very similar because, in grasping humans, they decided not to share lands.
Having colonized the inside of lands, the first Emperor Kaineng Tah, had task to unify the various clans. The balance was established under the reign of the friendly Emperor. But his mysterious murder, four decades later, had catastrophic consequences for Cantha.
They were called them the Luxons. They were the first ones to declare their independence and for this day, refused to submit themselves to the Empire. This act was not without consequence. Another clan, totally different of the Luxons, refuses to submit itself to the imperial authority. Kurzicks annexed the somber forest of Echovald, rich in amber. Luxons chose a way nomad and became pirates and crossed the inner sea of Cantha.
During this time, the diplomacy is going full swing and first peaceful contacts are taken between Cantha and Tyria. Later, arrived the act of the Gods who gave and then took back the magic to living beings, followed by the departure of the Snakes of the world belonging henceforth to the humans.
Centuries later, while Cantha enjoyed a more or less stable existence, the Emperor Angsiyan were murdered during the ceremony of the Harvest Ceremony. But the killer, Shiro Tagashi, was executed himself by the assassin Vizu, accompanied with two heroes, the one Kurzick being called Viktor and the other Luxon answering in the name of Archemorus.
But regrettably, he had the time to accomplish his vengeance before returning the soul. The inhuman shout of the monster got in hundreds of kilometres 
around. The whole region was affected for ever. The curse of Shiro was cast.
Of the side the North of the Harvest Temple, on territory Luxon, the sea congealed, creating a new earth drawn gracefully by the immovable waves. What was not the surprise of Luxons to discover that the sea had become jade!
On the West of the Temple, in the forest of Echovald, the time and weather appeared to stop. Birds, struck quite hard by the Shout of Shiro, stop net in the airs, falling again heavily on the ground, congealed for ever. Trees were transformed stone. The petrified forest had been born, taking numerous lives.
Master Togo, an accomplished Ritualist of the island of Shing Jea, faces a blight of unknown origin which decimates the population and the fauna. He will not delay discovering that vile Shiro Tagashi could hide behind all this...