While Anu is of immense antiquity, her father, Nu, the sun, is burdened with age. He now troubles her with his growing delirium. What are currently the principal continents have been one, then many, and now three distinct and battle-scarred land masses are grinding across the turbulent oceans. They all now move towards a new unity which will end the existence of the Panchala Sea in the distant future during the final Aeons of Anu's cohesion. As it grows shallower and warmer, it becomes the most fertile of Anu’s oceans.

For most of the history of life on this planet, Tatchlan did not exist. Spectacular kingdoms of animals and plants rose and fell in blind and turbulent succession. The first glimmerings of global self-awareness occurred very late in its long travail. For a brief span, the emerging Tolku stumbled forward in greater understanding and awareness toward a final peace between themselves and their surrounding landscape. This has affected all of Anu's other fauna in many ways.

As Anu generally becomes hotter, and the occasional Burning Blossoms grow in power, some species of plant and animal die away, their only memory in the most-ancient artworks and writings recording them, confirmed by their scattered fossilized remains. Others have sprung up to take their place. There is also an entirely new type of being, produced or modified by Tatchlan, that inhabits the land. While only a few kinds serve the Invocates, most are commonly called the ‘Living Instruments.’ Some came into being in the Primary Epoch before the Killing Swath and survived to be rescued by the Koru. Others have been born since. Many have achieved a spectacular specialty.