Black London

**Black London** is one of the four Londons along with Grey, Red, and White London; specifically Black London sits next to White London and closest to the source of magic.

Black London is void of life, having been overtaken by magic.

## Overview

### Geography

Hundreds of years after its downfall and the extinction of life, Black London remains intact albeit "dusty" and oddly still.

The city looks faintly similar to the other Londons, though its strange architecture ultimately sets it apart from them: The buildings are "elegant, impossible structures" made of glassy stone which reflects the little light still present in the city. Because the buildings are carved from the stone, they are solid constructions without seams. Furthermore, all buildings rise "like smoke to the sky."

Black London's version of the fixed river is deep black; curiously, it has no current despite it being neither frozen nor petrified. A palace is located near the river; its gate has rusted hinges and open right to the throne room.

### Religion and beliefs

A children's story, *The Gift of Magic*, details how humans got magic: At first, there was no magic in the world—then, something happened and magic came to be. It is unknown what the pivotal event was exactly; some theories say that magic arrived when a star fell to earth, or rose from the depths of the planet.

Magic initially only tended to and fused with the elements and nature. One day, magic became lonely and left its river, deciding to seek out humanity. It tried to share its power with a king, but he was too proud and only saw magic as a threat and rejected it. Magic offered itself to a merchant woman, but she was too wary and believed magic to be a thief and refused it as well.

Considering itself unwanted, the magic retreated to its river. On the riverbank, a boy was skipping stones, and when magic introduced itself as "an idea" and presented the child another stone, he accepted. Since then, magic and humans were one.

## History

Sitting closest to the source of magic out of all four Londons, Black London always had "a wealth of magic in its veins." The people in the Black world allowed magic into their minds, and magic took over them, turning people into their vessels and burning through their lives to power itself.

Almost three hundred years ago, the *oshoc* Osaron completely overpowered humanity in Black London. His magic spread like a plague and corrupted everything. Before the plague could extend to the other worlds, Red London closed their doors and destroyed all Black London items in their own world; White and Grey London followed suit. This resulted in magic in White London changing forever, Red London flourishing, and Grey London forgetting magic.

The seals that closed the doors were designed to contain the plague in Black London, turning it into a prison. Black London can still be entered via *Antari* magic.

Despite the purge, some Black London objects remained in the other Londons, e.g. the black stone in White London and a copy of *A Collection of Tales for the Young*, a children's book written in the original language of magic, in Red London.

## Trivia

* Black London smells of sea and wood smoke as well as salt and darkness.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *A Darker Shade of Magic*, VIII: An Arrangement, I
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *A Gathering of Shadows*, IV: Londons Calling, V
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *A Darker Shade of Magic*, Bonus short story: "The Gift of Magic"
4. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, I: The Traveler, I
5. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, IV: White Throne, II
6. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, V: Black Stone, IV
7. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, IV: White Throne, I
8. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, XII: Sanctuary & Sacrifice, II
9. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, XI: Masquerade, IV
10. ↑ *A Darker Shade of Magic*, VII: The Follower, III