Dark Reaches

While referred to as the Dark Reaches, this name is a misnomer and refers to any part of the world where there is no radiance. This radiance shadow is caused by the clouds of the storm band blocking out any radiance which reaches it from the disk. It is unknown how much of the world falls into this zone, and the true relative size of the Daylight Region.

Few people have made it through the storm band to see what lies on the other side. The few that have report a land of suffocating darkness. The only light is that of the distant stars, and the mellow blue-green glow of the world-light found all over the planet. The plants and landscape that glow with this world-light seem to glow brighter in the darkness. This may be a difference in perception from the lack of true light, or the strange glow may truly be stronger in the dark reaches.

It is also said that the air feels heavier. Crushing down on anyone who makes it out of the storm. They say the dangers of the storms feel safer than staying in that darkened land. No one stays out there long, and no one goes back. Those who have seen the other side rarely leave the warm light of our cities ever again, once they make it home.

There are stories in the outer villages. The ones sitting right on the edges of the storm band. They say there are mythics and myth-touched people who can travel through the storm band. They say some of them start to withdraw from everyone in the village, before simply getting up and walking into the storm one day.

Most of them never come back. Afterall, they just walked into a deadly storm with no supplies. The strange thing is that some do come back. Months later, wearing different clothes, and acting strange. As if some part of them is still out in the storm.

There was one story about a little girl who ran away from home and into the storm one day. Couldn’t have been older than six. They say she came back five days later with a collection of brightly glowing flowers and vines. Not hurt at all. Just walked r ight back out of the storm like she was never gone.

The Order of the Discerning Gaze tried exploring beyond the storm band once. They sent Battle Spire troops in one of the airships built to take down dragons. fully crewed, armed, Radiance-blessed. It passed through the storm wall and vanished from the sky.

Weeks later, it returned. Not whole.

The Lightbringer Revelations ran a headline:
“Darkness Repelled: Battle Airship Drives Back Dragon Beyond the Storm”

There were no interviews. No triumphs. Just a brief ceremony. Then silence.

No second expedition was ever launched. Hopefully the storms keep whatever it is on that side. Whatever those creatures are can keep their dark lands.