Imagine–if you will–the concept of Light, and all it represents. Hope. Life. Love. Progress. Existence.
Now, imagine its opposite. The Dark. Fear. Death. Hatred. War. Chaos. The End of Everything.
Many people will see these things–Light and Dark–as ‘concepts.’ abstracts, far away things that have little to do with the very real experiences of death and birth, war and peacetime. But the Light and the Dark are *very* real, very *tangible* things. From the Dark, an entity writhes and shudders, birthing its terrible creatures and foul ideals. Twisting and tormenting souls to its whim. Whilst the Light, our blessed Lord, is a God who has valiantly taken on the task to strike the Dark down. And we, are its followers, who can only hope to emulate the Lord of Light’s grandeur.
The Temple of Light was built, overlooking the Coast of Caskets to the east, in hopes of protecting its dead with the constant shine of divinity. To guard the west and the Basin of Soul from any vile taint. And to protect the Ruby Coast and the north from any invaders from the south. From this bastion, warriors of light were trained. Practitioners of holy magicks were born or journeyed here to be given guidance and to be sent out on missions, pilgrimages to Heal the World of its Wounds, Slay the Dark That Corrupts, and Cultivate the Light of Humanity.
The Temple of Light had seen many wars, witnessed the throne exchange hands more times than any could count, and slain the many beasts. Priests and Hunters slayed monsters, garnering a reputation of valiant warriors who would strike down any beasts in the frontier or on the homefront, redeem or defeat any corruption, heal those who had been harmed. But it had not seen anything as terrible as the Age of Violet, as the Templefolk call it in their chronicles. When the Ruby King almost *handed* the Coast and its people away to a God long forgotten. The veteran soldiers were conscripted for a war many did not accept. Young men were taken either by recruitment or by force. The defenders were stretched thin, taken for some grand scheme.
Monsters began to grow bold, attacking settlements and slaughtering indiscriminately. In the towns and cities blessed with walls, vile corruption took root, squeezing the life and Light out of the hearts of the people. The bonds of Honor and Chivalry were quickly shattered. The Temple of Light had few options. Either continue to fight with the broken remnants of Honor, and let their warriors and priests be waylaid by thieves, killed or kidnapped by the corrupt, and slaughtered by the beasts. Or abandon their restraints, and unleash the Light in its full, blazing form. Now, the chivalrous knights of the Light barely remain, only seen in the truly devout who wish to return to their roots. Instead, the warriors’ actions are hardly any different from that of mercenaries. Blunt, vulgar at times, deadly efficient and coolly detached from all others while on the job, and more keen on taking foes dead over alive.
This is how the Light survives in this new world, sadly. It must become ruthless, unyielding. In order to truly Slay the Dark, and bring the Coast back to order.