Rise of Atlantis

In the rising curtain of a difficult age, a species of human similar to homo sapiens fled the catastrophic forces of the mainland to an island west of Europe and Africa.  Although it's exact position remains a mystery that is unresolved, it was the home of these humans that stood above the others.  With a higher order of intelligence and mental capacity, they quickly forged a civilization out of the limited resources they possessed.

Gifted with their ability to shape and fashion stone work, they carved great cities out of the stone the land was made of, using little wood in their buildings, since forests were limited in their supply.  The port cities were steeped in a step like fashion to accommodate rising ocean levels present in the day, and floating docks used the steps with weights to shift into newer locations, so they would never be destroyed by the fury of the ocean.  This step formation is similar to the side of a pyramid, and can be thought of as the precursor to the design that would eventually build pyramids across the world.

Out of respect for knowledge and human potential, the Atlanteans took studying their minds and the 5 elements to another level, trying to control them as they desired, though it wasn't for hundreds of years that they would get anywhere noteworthy.  Eventually they did, and the people that studied these aspects of nature would gain great spiritual wisdom and power, enabling long life and to retain their memories after reincarnation.  These pioneers in the field would lead to the creation of beings called Elementals. 

The Elementals and the Atlanteans would explore the greater world, helping to establish new guides and building techniques to the other human species.  They would go down in history as myths and legends of gods and supernatural beings that came to help them.  Evidence of their presence was recorded in the buildings that honored them, indicating the time frames by reference to the stars and constellations.  It was a glorious age in which was thought to be a time that would lead to a greater future.  Yet they were not happy with just the elements, and studied how to alter the biorhythms of life and the planet to manipulate fates, and eventually created a race of fate manipulators.

Several hundred years went by, and then things changed forever.  But that is a story for another day.