“It began with the three explorers. Three adventurers who ventured deep into the mountain, into the old tunnels where all Geckles are forbidden to go. They awoke an ancient evil, an evil from the old world: the Skull Sorcerer, and his evil Re-Awakened. Many Geckles, and even some filthy, traitorous Munce were captured and put to work in the mines. Some few escaped, but the Re-Awakened roam the caves, hunting us down, hoping to capture us for the Skull Sorcerer. Where once we lived openly, now we must hide, and pray the Skull Sorcerer does not find us.”
The takeover of Shintaro was when Vangelis became the Skull Sorcerer and took over all of Shintaro.