THE COMING OF THE DARK
Part 1


On far-off Kilican first fell darkness.
A demon walked the western shore;
leering, he lingered, laughing and taunting,
beyond the reach of ready weapons.
Ellyana watched him, the wary cleric.
The snickering fiend, foul darkness-minion,
sharpened his claws, staining a parchment
with demon blood, baleful writing.

Across the land the Crier called,
his voice gave warning of Valorn's danger
as demons raided the roads and shores
of Kilican and Caernivale,
distant Fartown, Dundee, Milltown,
and the Queen's castle, Caer Laleldan.

Midnight came. To the marvel of Valorn,
a meteor, burning, brightened the sky,
a powerful portent, plain to be seen.
But where it landed, little we knew
till searchers found the fallen star
in a crater on Kilican, a cavern's mouth.

Hojo Musachi searched the crater,
aided by Audrey, eye-bright enchanter.
She spotted a scroll stained with ichor,
vague in its words of Valorn's peril.

Swiftly to Kilican, clamoring, eager,
hurried the heroes, hearing of danger;
and as they stood in the streets of the island,
the hordes of Balthazar broke like a wave
on Kilican's shore, slaying great numbers.

Unheard was the Crier, his call silent,
as hideous Horrors in hordes descended.
The stones of the streets were scarlet with blood,
black with ichor from the evil foe.
Like fierce-flowing water they flooded the town,
as heroes fell at the foot of the Monument
and rose again, ready defenders.

Then with threatening voice, to Valorn's dismay,
appeared the Dark-foe, Demon-Lord Balthazar,
speaking with scorn, scattering curses,
and stealthily struck a sudden blow:

for in Port Perfadis the pirates stared
in disbelief: darkness descended,
hiding the western half of the island,
smothered the inn and shrouded its walls,
like blackest fog, foul and unyielding.

No cleric's blessing called by the gods
brightened that bane with brilliant light;
the light of knowledge could lend no aid,
nor shining blades, nor beams of power.
Still the adventurers strove against it
to no avail; Valorn's heroes
searched for citizens scattered or fled,
as Balthazar brought his blight of darkness.