Darkness is the Elven name given to the elemental force that also represents concepts including secrecy, the unknown, distance, fear, space, and anticipation, as well as things that are hidden, not understood, or invisible. In the Elven model, Darkness is bordered by Metal to deosil and Order to widdershins, and sits nearly opposite Air and Light.

Above: The Elven symbol for Darkness, sometimes interpreted either as a pair of serpents or as a bat in flight.

In most ontological models of reality throughout the universe, Darkness (or its equivalent on the world in question) is considered one of the oldest and most primal of the elements, alongside Light, Chaos, and Order. This model is particularly pervasive among societies that have had contact with The Children, who are widely believed to be among the most ancient beings in existence. Beyond that, however, there is wide variation in interpretation about the nature of this force from world to world.

The Elves, who view themselves as the “Children of Light,” and who in ancient times revered the Sun and Li as a sort of protective dual deity, have long equated Darkness with evil, or at least with a fall from the light. This belief has subsided somewhat on Earth, where a more balanced view of Light and Darkness has grown, but persists in the elven peoples who fled Earth during the time of the War of Breaking.

The Ulsharri, who evolved in extremely low-light conditions in the oceanic depths of an ice-crusted world, have a much more sympathetic view of Darkness. Of the six Keepers of Ulshar, the Abbess of Anthem, bonded to a Leviathan Shard of Darkness, is most frequently looked to to settle disputes and make final decisions on matters that effect the entire world. The warm depths of the Ulsharri ocean receive no light from their star, Qaphat, and are seen as both a place of origin and a source of wisdom, where secrets are found. The Ulsharri refer to this element as the element of Secrets or Secrecy.

Before their encounter with The Chimera of Fear, the Valposh of Sivvos took a balanced view of light and dark. They evolved in deep chasms in their planet's surface, and are well adapted to low-light conditions, but the presence of the Chimera drove a deep and lingering fear of darkness into the entire species. Although biologically their diet consists of plants and animals that grow near the bottoms of these chasms, many Valposhi settlements have recently relocated nearer to the canyon rims, where light is more abundant. The Valposhi refer to this element as All-That-Is-Hidden.

The Avians of Hourok have a similar view of Darkness to that of the Elves. Avians refer to the element as Storm, and associate Darkness with storms, rough winds, and destruction.

Although human societies generally have not recognized Darkness as a primordial element in the sense that other cultures have, they still tend to view darkness as a source of fear, apprehension, and secrecy. In particular, early influence by Elves on the humans of Earth is clearly evident in the religion, art, and psychology of Earth's humans across many cultures.

Da of the Children
The Chimera of Fear
Anthema 512 Abbess of the Chasm
Lord Buttbat
Bob the Scribe (Refracted)