| Category | Events |
| Region | Tribe Steppes |
| Location | Shadow Rift |
| Period | 1302 - 1317 |
| Map | Sava'loth |
In the Second Epoch, practitioners of shadow magic and those curious of shadow energy were drawn to the Synnbarri canyon. During the late 1200s, illusionists, priests, and arcanists began opening rifts to Death's Kindle. They did so at the urging of Neld-Rac's priests, who claimed that great energies were present in the Shadow Realm and easily harnessed. The priests of Neld-Rac, seeking to spread the word of their dark god, showed the students ancient books and explained the nature of shadow energy, warning that without conduits, it would consume their life essence. After studying the ancient tomes and scrolls of Sarseg, the students commenced the work of opening permanent rifts between Bal-Kriav and its darkest moon. These shadow rifts allowed them to practice shadow magic freely and better protect their holdings from the likes of the Jara and threats emanating from the Orchish Empire.
In the year 1302, and over the ensuing fifteen-year period, the influx of an abundance of shadow energy into what had become known as the Shadow Rift resulted in the Shadow Curse. Those who continued to reside within the rift transformed into creatures of the shadow, Shades, while loyal hounds became shadow mastiffs, and numerous other entities emerged.
The Shadow Rift continues to be inundated with shadow energy emanating from its renowned 33 permanent rifts. Those who linger in this gorge for an extended duration, potentially a year or more, face a heightening probability of transforming into a Shade or another entity of the shadows.