The giants of the Taggaran mountains kept out of the comings and goings of the insects below them. Born Murridrok Stonecaster, the boy who would become Shatter grew up knowing nothing of the outside world. By the time he was old enough to go out on his own, he had learned little of life. He set out, foolishly, into the realm of the insects.

What he found was scorn and derision, racism and spite, and his heart was turned cold to their plight. He was chased from town to town for being a "threat to the upper class," the Old Atanaxan way of saying "dangerously foreign." When he tried to go home, he found it gone--nothing but a smoking ruin. War or oppression had struck while he was away, and all he found about him was devastation, destruction.

He cried out in agony to the gods, and one answered:

"Stone and sky, holy and unholy gods, why has this happened?" he bellowed, pounding his massive fists into the rocky mountainside.

And the sky crackled with lightning, the stones cracked as the thunder rolled.

Why? Child of stone, there is no why. The rapacious nature of this lands masters sends them out to do cruel things. Why? Why not?

The voice tore his flesh and his soul, but Murridrok did not falter, "Monsters! They are monsters! I will crush them!" He raged.

With what, o child of stone? With what? Your fists? Against ten thousand mandibles? Your stones? Against a million stingers?

The voice threatened to shatter his mind. "With whatever I can find. I will get Gifts, allies, magic..."

Open your heart to me, o stone one, and I will show you power.

Murridrok hesitated, not knowing exactly what force he was bargaining with. The pain of the voice was nigh unbearable, but he finally shook it off, "Yes. Show me your power," he called.

And with that, Shatter was born.

With the trumpet Wallbreaker and the strength of the Ruiner behind him, he sought to crush the Atanaxans. When he finally came out of his religious hysteria enough to do it, though, he found a new world before him. Realizing he had wasted his chance in madness, he sought out a new goal. The Priests of Threes offered guidance: a doom was approaching that was not of their design, and he could be instrumental in its demise...