The Ancients

The Ancients are mentioned in Crash Bash by Aku Aku and in the Wrath of Cortex in the instruction manual, and, considering the fact that Aku Aku is a floating mask, that gives the possibility that they have the same general appearance. The Wrath of Cortex manual also states that the Ancients were powerful enough to inprison the Elementals forever unless awoken. Aku Aku stated in Crash Bash that him and Uka Uka had promised to the Ancients that they would never fight again, but, it is unknown why they fought in Warped, which was placed two years before that game. So possibly this promise was made in between games.