[He switches to video. He's not in the mine - it looks like the library. Ardent draws the symbol for the Opening Dark, in ink on some paper, then holds it up.]
The Opening Dark. Signifies the point where the darkness opens up - where the light breaks through into the mine. [He then draws the Closing Dark] The Closing Dark means the opposite. The point where you're so deep in the mine, the darkness closes around you.
The Speaking Dark [He draws that] is harmless, but is more a state of consciousness. It's a sense of being at one with the darkness to the point where it speaks back to you - not literally, but you can sense what the darkness is saying to you - essentially, where you can hear your own thoughts clearly and concisely. It's a state of mental awareness.
The Calling Dark [He draws that and holds it up] is dangerous. It's the Speaking Dark gone a step too far, and it... it's the kind of thing which makes Dwarfs jump down mine shafts to their death.
There's others, two, some which have more power than others - most of these are just a way of channelling frustration, or emotion, or simply being informative, some actually have power attached to them, and can be dangerous. I can't draw those to show you.
But why is the Calling Dark so dangerous? What...is in the Darkness that's so terrible it makes Dwarfs jump down shafts? Since you said it's your own thoughts.
I... I've always believed that the Calling Dark is being haunted by your conscience and unable to escape it. Being so caught up in introspection that nothing you do is ever good enough, that you find fault in everything, to the point where you believe that nothing you do will placate the guilt you have dredged up, and you are driven mad, to the point of surrendering yourself to the darkness.
Depends. Only one of them is really dangerous by itself. The others are... signs of something dangerous to come, or something to be wary of. Like... [There's a nervous pause, but he looks down and scribbles the Following Dark] this. The Following Dark. It can be roughly translated as a warning of impending danger, or a sign that you need to repent. It's often done by stressed Dwarfs who want to express their sense of unease, when talking about it would only heighten tensions in a mine. Which is quite dangerous.
But if you were to draw, say, the Summoning Dark? That's a curse, but only if you draw it whilst dying.
That is why you are [pause] what you are. I've been thinking about it recently...what you gave me, I mean. And then you mentioned the others and I realized that I didn't actually know what it meant.
I think I almost understand now. Thank you.
[Private]
There is...a favor I'd like to ask of you, Ardent.
Re: private.deepdowndarkFebruary 24 2011, 00:32:11 UTC
Okay... I can see how that might work. Or might have happened. The basic thing you need to be able to do is disassociate the darkness from what has happened in it, look at it as a separate entity of it's own right, I think.
Because bad things occur in the dark and the light, and bad associations are understandable, but if that's what you need to break, I can understand that.
So I have some idea where to start. Let me think about it.
[He switches to video. He's not in the mine - it looks like the library. Ardent draws the symbol for the Opening Dark, in ink on some paper, then holds it up.]
The Opening Dark. Signifies the point where the darkness opens up - where the light breaks through into the mine. [He then draws the Closing Dark] The Closing Dark means the opposite. The point where you're so deep in the mine, the darkness closes around you.
The Speaking Dark [He draws that] is harmless, but is more a state of consciousness. It's a sense of being at one with the darkness to the point where it speaks back to you - not literally, but you can sense what the darkness is saying to you - essentially, where you can hear your own thoughts clearly and concisely. It's a state of mental awareness.
The Calling Dark [He draws that and holds it up] is dangerous. It's the Speaking Dark gone a step too far, and it... it's the kind of thing which makes Dwarfs jump down mine shafts to their death.
There's others, two, some which have more power than others - most of these are just a way of channelling frustration, or emotion, or simply being informative, some actually have power attached to them, and can be dangerous. I can't draw those to show you.
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And...what happens if you draw the other signs?
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But if you were to draw, say, the Summoning Dark? That's a curse, but only if you draw it whilst dying.
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I think I almost understand now. Thank you.
[Private]
There is...a favor I'd like to ask of you, Ardent.
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What do you mean, though? What... am I, in your mind?
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What favour is that, Svetlana?
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Private
The reason I'm against the Darkness is not just about my world. It's not just because I am Light.
I'm afraid of it. In a way that no human should be. For a reason no human should have to use. And I don't want to be afraid anymore.
Do you think you could...help?
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Why do you think it's different for you? What makes it worse?
I can certainly try. I'm not sure how at the minute, but it's not beyond me to work it out.
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But if you would try...I would appreciate it.
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Because bad things occur in the dark and the light, and bad associations are understandable, but if that's what you need to break, I can understand that.
So I have some idea where to start. Let me think about it.
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Take all the time you need. I'm just glad you're willing to try.
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I have some ideas. I presume your room is the lightest place you go. Where is the darkest?
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