Darkness Fall

Shadow rules this land. Its smothering rein has terrorized these lands for time lost to memory. Far too few remember a time free from its dominating rule, and so complacency has become the way of life.

Countless lives have been lost in innumerable battles. All of them fought to usurp the evil power, but of all those who dared to push the darkness from its throne none have prevailed. Some lacked the knowledge, while others lacked the fortitude, but what most lack now is the courage.

All hope is gone save for a single spark. A spark that smoldered hot and fiery in the depths of one man’s heart. He is old, beyond our contemplations of age. His hands and face are scarred with the lines of wisdom and time. He was there before evil took its rule and he has vowed to see to its end. Garbed in a weathered and careworn hooded robe he ascends upon the mountain where evil first took hold so long ago. He dares to challenge the darkness and it knows he is there.

Having left a war at the base of this mountain the man is weary and drained. He leans heavily on a staff as he struggles against a howling wind and a torrential downfall of rain. Thunder and lightning dominate the atmosphere lighting up the darkness in supreme argument against the man, and his objective.

The aged man does not know if he has the strength to do what needs be done, and the evil knows it. It has mustered its forces in pursuit of the him and he has precious little time left. Every step the man takes against the darkness 10 times that much strength is drained from him, but he cannot stop. He will not stop, even if it takes his last breath.

Summiting the mountain top the lone figure stoops heavily resting on his staff. Alone atop the great mountain the man’s bent and shadowed appearance seems small and ineffectual, but there is unseen power there.

Slowly, and very labored, the man draws himself to his full height. He outstretches his arms, staff in one and power building in the other. A small dot of light at first but growing in intensity. He raises his arms until they meet above his head. He grasps his staff with both hands and the power travels to a gnarled knot at its top glowing and pulsing with energy.

The wind and lightening pound the ground all around the man struggling violently to subdue him but are deflected by some shielding power. Their energies wasted on the surrounding rock forcing debris to fly in every direction.

The light’s intensity atop the staff grows and becomes blinding. A miniature sun shows through the darkness lighting the man’s face. His long grey beard hides half his face but the electric power resonating behind his eyes is unmistakable. He is the only one who can do this.

The minions of evil are there now. They have scaled the mountain with boundless energy. They surround the man on all sides and are about to overtake him. Their horrible teeth gnash and their black clawed hands yearn to tear his flesh. They live to serve the darkness and will not suffer this man to extinguish it.

Finally, the staff’s power reaches its zenith. The light is so brilliant that the attacking creatures stop and cringe at its power. They are pained by it and cannot continue. The man feels this power as well. It is beyond him now and will consume him if he doesn’t release it. He fears that he cannot control it now, and all that he has fought for might amount to naught.

His last bit of strength is drawn into his arms as he thrusts his staff downward striking the top of the mountain with its base. The power contained therein rifles down the rod and explodes into the mountain streaking its own lightening down through the cracks. Rock is rent and fissures and cracks open allowing the power from the staff to emit throughout. The minions of darkness are scorched and charred. Their bodies become ash and are swept away by the force of the unleashed power.

The man stands clutching his staff as if a part of it now. Nothing but a small orb of power still remains a light at the top of his staff. It emits a soft blue light that is gentle and welcoming. No bigger than the man’s fist, the orb dislodges and lazily floats up to the sky. The dark clouds give way to the lighted orb and dissolve at its touch. The world’s natural light begins to shine through. Warmth and healing can be felt coursing through to the earth. It has been too long since this has been felt.

Darkness’s time is over. It is now time for the light.