A couple of questions on EQ lore

[stars2heaven]

I've got a few questions maybe someone around here might know.

1. The end of the civil war between the Erudites marks the beginning of the Age of Turmoil, but at launch there was no Paineel. Does that mean we will technically start at the end of the Age of Enlightenment? If so, was there ever any sort of event to commemorate the opening of Paineel on live servers?

2. How long is an age anyway? A Thousand years? More? Less? There have been 6 so far.

3. There is a half moon altar in the Feerrott. I've read it's of Dark Elf origin but does anyone know its significance? Why is it there at all?