 Sometime ages ago, part of the continent rose up some 600 feet creating an isolated plateau.In later books it is disclosed that the lower portion of the continent was settled by refugees from Triagia, during the purging of the Ishapian Temple of the Heretics of Al-maral.The upper portion (The Ethel-Duath) was populated by the Saaur lizard-men, a race of nomadic warriors also created by "Alma-Lodaka" but who were left on the world of Shila, rather than Midkemia, and who were brought to serve the Emerald Queen during the Serpentwar Saga.