The Dark Source is an entity that despite its involvement in a near millennium of events, and influence on Akrylonor yet remains layered in mystery. Its origin is unknown but speculated to be the Void beyond the Curtain, where it was cast back at the end of the Age of Reclamation (See: Banishment of the Dark Source). The purpose behind its machinations is also unclear, save that it seemed to seek either dominance or destruction of almost all Akrylonor.
Persona and Relations[]
The Dark Sources persona remains largely unknown, save for an apparent bent towards malevolence. Its true form is unknown, as it was contained inside a vessel that served equally as a defence and a prison, only able to move itself with vast efforts. When it did manifest it appeared as an image, most often of the recipients race, cloaked in black with no apparent form beneath.
Almost every race has found itself in conflict with the Source or its agents. In few exceptions, it is the patron of the Daemons, and by proxy of Xan, of the Felborne. It also gained a following among the Wraelyns while Keltraon was imprisoned, creating a schism amongst the race. The Thualisyr were often bent to its ends while it was manipulating Thul'Masira during her possession of it, but never truly gave loyalty to it. Aergosians were influenced by it, and Laycindarius, the Arcane Society , and their Laycinder descendants even more so, but have largely separated themselves by the Age of Mortals.
History[]
Primordial Wars[]
Inadvertently, Thuala would open the Ether Pocket where the Dark Source was trapped, freeing it to transport itself away. Its passing would be the initial curse upon the Thualisyr, stripping the colour of their skin and casting a shadow upon them. This event would lead to Thuala's exile and the elven schism.
Age of Settlement[]
The Source would hide within the Underworld, corrupting Wraelyns to serve it. Using these it would begin to acquire members of other Primordial Races, and sealing them in another Ether Pocket, begin to soak them in the corrupted Dark Ether it emanated, creating the Daemons. It also began to acquire a following amongst Goblyn tribes that ran afoul of it. Meanwhile, it would exert influence upon the human settlers, pushing them to greater ambitions, and fostering the early Imperial efforts of Aergoth. This subtle manipulation allowed it to push the Draconic Races with surviving (and potentially threatening) Elder Dragons further and further from its base of power.
Age of Knowledge[]
Laycindarius, a powerful mage of his own right, would be lured to the Dark Source by a trickle of its unique ether. Impressed by the unique potential of this new form of Ether, he recruited fellow mage Tyrius Gadril and the pair recovered the Dark Source's vessel from the Wraelyns. Their experimentation would yield an unrivalled magical dominance as Aergoth's Arcane society, and allow the Dark Source dozens of powerful agents as it worked its manipulations upon them. While Laycindarius was simply blinded by power, Gadril would become the Dark Sources agent in full, as the Voice of the Unspoken (The Source itself), establishing a cult to serve it. He would also later release the Dark Source's Daemon hordes upon the Western Isles. The sudden rise of the Society did not go overlooked, and the Arbiters dispatched an agent, Alexander Tumyich to infiltrate the Society. This would backfire as Alexander would fall into the Source's power, becoming its master agent for ages to come, including returning to slay all the Arbiters save one. Unfortunately for the Source, the daemon invasion, and that lone surviving Arbiter would serve to provoke The Companions into action, creating The Shard and undoing much of its work.
Age of Wars[]
With its direct plans halted by The Companions and The Shard, the Source fell back on mortal agents. Xan would recover the Source Vessel from Arcan-Tor, and arrange the assassination of Aergoth's last emperor to trigger the war with Laycin, before heading to Northrealm. Once there he would corrupt the Ghaulsyr and the city of Carpath, before establishing himself at The Maze. Leading an assault to capture Obsidian City, his forces were defeated, and the Source captured by Thul'Masira.
At the same time, Tyrius Gadril's apprentice, Alraius Dessecar, would use those Daemons trapped inside The Shard to stage another campaign of conquest, focused on Delwynvale. While he was unsuccessful, he was able to seal his tower (at the what is now the location of Black Sands) for another attempt near the end of the age.
Kalen Stormwind would run afoul of the Source on his quest to break The Shard and avenge his parents death at Laycindarius' hands. Consulting the imprisoned Xan through the skull of his mortal body, he divined that Thul'Masira had an artefact that might challenge the power of The Shard. In an ironic twist, he would destroy Xan's imprisoned undead form to win Thul'Masira's aid, using The Dark Source's power to amplify the Rift Device and transport himself to Laycindarius (breaking The Shard in the process), though ultimately unsuccesful.
Meanwhile Eli, the apprentice of the last Arbiter, would defeat Dessecar's second invasion of Delwynvale, rendering the warlock's demise. The seeming defeat of the Sources armies in Northrealm would be completed when the fledgling Dawn Legion, led by Elias Valar and Tolinus Firebeard, cleansed the corrupted undeath in Carpath, destroying another prominent agent of the Source in Baron Mizail.
Age of Cataclysm[]
Its unclear if the Source had any involvement in Xylnulifein's invasion of Idryllia. As Xylnulifeins establishment of himself as a divinity could threaten the source, it seems more likely that it simply waited on the sidelines, plotting and continuing tts corruption of Thul'Masira.
Age of Reclamation[]
Reincarnating its prize agent, Xan (now a Revenant), the Dark Source was the true power behind the New Church of Humanity, with “Lexan” as its prophet. Controlling the fledgling kingdom of Valdrent with this religious influence, much like its prior work on Aergoth with the Arcane Society, it was marginally successful until the efforts of the New Companions began to undo the scheme. The turning of Warlord Jeral Tarn against Valdrent, and the Arbiter Liam Markos slaying (and consequent exposure) of Lexan would collapse the New Church upon itself (figuratively and literallyl). Making his escape from Valdrent, Xan would be joined by more “Dark Revenants”, led by the reincarnated Stormwind (having perished in his second battle with Laycindarius), Dessecar, and Mizail. Leading Daemons, Revenants, Felborne, and monsters alike from Black Sands, they would begin an all out effort to conquer the Northrealm, known as The Revenant Crisis. The Revenants' first offensive was a tactical raid, seizing the Source Vessel back from Thul'Masira. The New Companions would meanwhile seek out aid, consulting the ancient Leviathan, and devise a plan to eliminate the Dark Source from the world. Utilizing various artefacts of the Elder Dragons and aid from sources new and old, they were able to recapture the Dark Source from Black Sands (with an unexpected assist from Stormwind), and cleanse the Ghaulsyr, reach Hallows Gate, and damaging the Vessel to disrupt the Sources power, cast it into the Void beyond the Gate.
Age of Mortals[]
While the Source is cast out of Akrylonor, its influence remains. Pockets of the Daemons yet live on, and its power was infused into the New Gods, granting their pseudo-divinity. Xan and Dessecar also remain amongst the New Gods as Dark Powers, as do the marginally less ill disposed Mizail and Laycindarius.