Darkners

A Darkner (Lancer) as depicted during the 'Legend of Delta Rune' cutscene

> Our purpose - Darkners' purpose - is to assist them.
> It's the only way we can feel truly fulfilled.
>
>  Ralsei to Lancer
>
>
>

**Darkners** are beings that inhabit the Dark Worlds, as opposed to the Lightners that exist in the Light World. They are the keepers of the Dark Fountains.

## Profile

Darkners are typically based on an inanimate object in the corresponding Light World location. The Card Kingdom is located in the Light World's Unused Classroom, so its Darkners are based on playing cards, board pieces, toys, etc. found in that room. The Cyber World is located in the Light World's Library Computer Lab, so its Darkners are based on electronics, software components, computer programs, etc.

Darkners are capable of using magic, with their attacks corresponding to their Light World counterpart object. For example, most Card Kingdom Darkners attack with spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.

Darkners can be transferred to other Dark Worlds if Kris transports their Light World counterpart. Ralsei is the only Darkner known to traverse between Dark Worlds seemingly without assistance. Though any Darkner can be transferred to any Dark World, they may not be compatible with it. If a Darkner stays in a Dark World they are not compatible with, they eventually turn to stone. The only Dark World that all Darkners can reside in without turning to stone is Castle Town, because its fountain is made from "pure darkness."

Some Darkners also have knowledge that does not pertain to Dark World. Darkners can be aware of where a Dark World takes place within Hometown. They can also recall their Hometown counterpart's interactions with Lightners. Additionally, Darkners can offer advice on game controls, gameplay, and SAVING. However, their knowledge can be limited. An example of this is Jigsaw Joe being unfamiliar with the Warp Door he can aid in repairing.

## Main Story

### History

According to the Prophecy, Darkners and Lightners once lived in harmony. The Earth would be doomed to a destruction known as The Roaring if the balance of Light and Dark were to be disrupted, a phenomenon caused by an excess of Dark Fountains.

This doom can only be averted by the Delta Warriors, who will restore the balance of Light and Dark by sealing the Fountains and casting away "the Angel's Heaven". In the abandoned Castle Town surrounding the original Dark Fountain, the lonely Ralsei awaited the Prophecy's other two heroes, hoping to avert the destruction of the world.

The people of the Card Kingdom remember living in harmony with the Lightners, but they now believe that the Lightners abandoned them and trapped them in a sealed realm without a purpose. Recently, a strange Knight appeared and led one of the kingdom's four Kings to rebel, annexing the realms of the three other Kings and forcing their citizens to serve him and obey his son, Lancer. Around the same time, a new Dark Fountain emerged near his Card Castle, disrupting the balance of Light and Dark, and the court jester, influenced by "a strange someone" to believe that the world was only a game, was imprisoned on orders of the four Kings by the court magician, who then left the castle too.

Enraged and heartbroken by the Lightners' abandonment, King came to believe that the emergence of "holy" Dark Fountains to further disrupt the Balance would cast the world into eternal darkness instead of destroying it, allowing Darkners to take rulership and inflict suffering on Lightners. Many of his former staff, fired during his rages, were imprisoned or forced to find work elsewhere in his Dark World.

### Chapter 1

With the appearance of the prophesied heroes, Ralsei leaves Castle Town to accompany them to the second Dark Fountain. Along the way, they meet King's son, who had been ordered to stop them and who orders groups of Darkner fighters to oppose them. Despite initial friction, the party eventually reaches Card Castle and confronts King, with the battle's aftermath depending on how they treated their enemies along the way. The Lightner heroes proceed to the second Dark Fountain, where they return to their own world.

### Chapter 2

The Darkners of the Cyber World are largely on good terms with Lightners, unlike those from the Card Kingdom. The only possible exception is Queen, the eccentric monarch of the Dark World, led astray by the Knight's power; convinced that creating more Dark Fountains and thus Dark Worlds creates further prosperity for her subjects, not knowing the true consequences of disrupting the balance between light and dark.

In order to accomplish her mission, she plans to capture Lightners (notably Noelle Holiday), knowing that Lightners with strong determination can create Dark Fountains, much as the Knight could. She changes her mind about her plan quite quickly after learning the true nature of The Roaring from Ralsei.

## Trivia

* The dialogue portraits of Darkners appear in color, as opposed to the monochrome *Undertale*-style dialogue portraits of Lightners.
* As Lancer's colors began to fade in Chapter 2, he comments that he felt "*very... cold...*" before he eventually turns to stone.

## References

1. ↑ *You see, each Dark Fountain creates a different "world."
A "world" whose Darkners reflect the will of its fountain.
But, though those Darkners can exist in their own worlds...
They might not "belong" if they go to another one.* - Ralsei
2. ↑ *A stone statue. Strangely, it looks like Lancer...* - Lancer (item description)
3. ↑ *Castle Town's Grand Fountain is made of pure darkness.
As long as it stays flowing, any Darkner can live there.* - Ralsei
4. ↑ *Unfortunately The World They Created
Is Trapped Within The Confines Of The Library* - Queen
5. ↑ *That robot was the embodiment of a Lightner's dream.
A dream I helped create... once.
Splashing color from the motion of their hand.* - Swatch
6. ↑ *Susie's BUSTER, RUDE as may be...
Will deal more damage, if you just press [(CONFIRM)]!* - Susie Master
7. ↑ *You and Virovirokun explained how battles work to Noelle.* - Narration
8. ↑ *(SAVE and take a break anytime you want, OK?)* - Ralsei
9. ↑ *... Where'd this door come from?
Dunno... come to think of it, I've never seen it before.* - Jigsaw Joe