Deciding that the only way to stop Mordo was to learn magic himself in order to challenge Mordo on his terms, Strange accepted the Ancient One's offer. Amazed by these displays of magic, Strange underwent a change of heart. Strange, his scepticism eroding, confronted Mordo about the treachery but Mordo responded with restraining spells that kept Strange from warning the Ancient One or attacking Mordo physically. While staying for the duration of the storm, Strange witnessed the Ancient One's apprentice, Baron Mordo, secretly attack the teacher with mystically summoned skeletons, which the old man easily dispelled. Strange refused, but couldn't leave immediately due to a sudden blizzard. Strange found 'Kamar-Taj' but the aged sorcerer refused to cure him, instead offering to teach him in mysticism. He heard rumours of the mystical Ancient One, Strange pawned his last possessions for a ticket to the East. Stephen Strange, was injured in an accident that ended his career, he tried to find a cure. Modern EraĪfter a young American surgeon, Dr. Kaluu has since claimed that he was only trying to bring a lasting peace to Kamar-Taj, by making it so powerful, none of the Asian conquerors of that time would dare attack it.

For over a year Kaluu organized the men of Kamar-Taj into an army of conquest.

Shortly thereafter, the people of Kamar-Taj, responding to Kaluu's magical influence on their minds, crowned him as their king. Eventually, Kaluu and Yao together cast a spell that eliminated disease, poverty, and suffering from Kamar-Taj and granted its people immortality. While Yao continued his studies, Kaluu used his sorcery to influence the minds of the people of Kamar-Taj. Subsequently, Kaluu set about to make himself ruler of Kamar-Taj. Varnae, the eldest of the true Vampires, met with Kaluu and imparted to him knowledge from the primeval compendium of black magic known as the Darkhold. Kaluu and Yao became fellow students of the mystic arts. Kaluu was born over five hundred years ago in Kamar-Taj. It is the main home of the Ancient One and the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.

Kamar-Taj has long been home to sorcerers and mystics. Kamar-Taj is an isolated community in the Himalayas near what is now Tibet.

The Wizard Tales Vol I-III by Red Tash