Legends, for those that remember them, tell of a time of darkness and the bitter cold of death.
Nightshade, then known as the Vitriolic Necromancer, had just begun his rise to power. If "rise" could be consider the proper word, for even in those days, Nightshade's prowess in necromancy (and many other forms of magic) was reputed to be epic in nature.
Nightshade followed no schools, no specific traditions of magic, and it was said he spat at the mere mention of "so called gods".
But he did respect power. And expected others to respect his. He built his keep in the shadows, from whence to learn, and expand his power and knowledge. It was the poisoning of an entire village then capturing of the inhabitant's spirits as slaves/servants that brought Nightshade to the attention of another powerful mage named Anachronis Klein.
Anachronis Klein was a master of space, astral force, and some would say, even a study of forbidden magics of time. Be that as it may, he devoted himself to the defeat of Nightshade.
When Nightshade realized he had a "rival" (as he thought of Klein) attempting to thwart his goals, Nightshade calmly smiled and began to plan.
Legends tell of Nightshade's defeat by Anachronis, of mighty mage duels fought in this realm and others, of the destruction of lands laid barren by dark necromancy. Klein used unimaginable power to restore some of these lands, and to save their inhabitants.
Other legends say that it was a stalemate, that Nightshade won the battle, that both mages were destroyed in a cataclysmic fury of magic and destruction. etc.
One legend says that a dark figure appeared before Anachronis, as he lay exhausted from saving a village much like the first the Nightshade consumed. As Anachronis was being attended by his apprentices, two of the three apprentices burst into a dark gray flame and turned to ash. The dark figure turned to Anachronis Klein, and said "Your power is now mine". It opened its mouth and drained the spirit and ghost from Klein, consuming it utterly.
The figure looked at the third apprentice and smiled "let it be known"
So legends say...