The world of Ashan is a temporary place. It was created during the Great Forming from a barren, lifeless world in order to provide the sentient races with a refuge from the Burning Sea, which threatened to destroy their former world. The sentient races were relieved to have escaped their fate, and a period of peace reigned for many years.
Peace was broken by the Blood War.
The lust for power is difficult to tame for most; impossible for some. They will go to any lengths to achieve it, no matter the cost to themselves - or to the rest of the world.