Editing First Sending of Darkness (section)

== Alaidain's Gem ==
In [[Leafcull, 11 PY]], Isparians discovered [[Alaidain's Gem]] in the [[Catacombs of Ithaenc]]. Incribed on this gem was the [[Fivefold Curse]]. The section of the Fivefold Curse pertaining to the First Sending is as follows:

:''As we were sent by the Darkness''<ref name=AlaidainsGem>2000/11 [[Should the Stars Fall]] - [[Alaidain's Gem]]</ref><ref name=ACDMCDLoreAlaidainsGem>2001/10 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM CD Lore]]: [[AC:DM CD Lore/Dericost Texts/Alaidain's Gem|Alaidain's Gem]]</ref><ref name=HistOfAubVolI>2003/02 [[That Which Is Ours]] - [[The History of Auberean/Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)|The History of Auberean Volume I: Empires Clashing (-30,000 to -9,000)]]</ref>

It is hard to draw conclusions based solely on this line. However, if we assume that the Second Sending is either the [[Black Rains]], the [[Empyrean Shadow War]], or both, the First Sending must occur before those events.
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In this first line of the Fivefold Curse, the word "we" is used.<ref name=AlaidainsGem /><ref name=ACDMCDLoreAlaidainsGem /><ref name=HistOfAubVolI /> These words were uttered by King Sarvien II of Dericost as he died, but they were not ''his'' words. He was reciting a Falatacot prophecy<ref name=ACDMCDLoreAlaidainsGem /> from the Book of Eibhil.<ref name=HistOfAubVolI /> With that in mind, it seems most likely that the "we" referred to here are the Falatacot.
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We know that the Falatacot struggled with the Darkness. In his [[Campaign Journal]], [[Anadil]] wrote that ''"For the Falatacot, in their flight from the Darkness and cold that had put their gods to sleep, taught the kings of the Ice Throne their secrets in exchange for sanctuary."''<ref name=CampaignJournal>2000/11 [[Should the Stars Fall]] - [[Campaign Journal]]</ref>
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It also appears that some Falatacot did not escape the Darkness. [[Umbris Shadow|Umbris]] and [[Panumbris Shadow|Panumbris]] Shadows are notably always female. The [[AC:DM CD Lore/Bestiary/Derethian Bestiary#Shadows|Arcanum's Bestiary entry for Shadows]] states that, ''"There are indications that some Shadows, particularly those of the more powerful Panumbris and Umbris types, predate the conversion of Ilservian into Bael'Zharon. Scholars believe this indicates the force that empowered the Hopeslayer has sought the conquest of Dereth for a far much longer time than is commonly known."''<ref>2001/10 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM CD Lore]]: [[AC:DM CD Lore/Bestiary/Derethian Bestiary#Shadows|Derethian Bestiary - Shadows]]</ref> And [[Aerfalle's Letter]] supports this, ''"The dark spawn have now appeared in my cellars as well, below the levels infested by Asheron's vermin. They are older than the ones that trouble you, I believe; Uvriliim and Paanuvriliim."''<ref name=AerfallesLetter>2000/07 [[To Raise a Banner of Flame]] - [[Aerfalle's Letter]]</ref>
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All of this information supports the idea that the First Sending of Darkness involved the Falatacot and their struggle with Darkness. Some of these Falatacot survived and fled to Dericost, while others succumbed to the Darkness and became the Umbris and Panumbris Shadows seen today. The [[Great Cooling of the World]] occurred during this time, and ''might'' be causally related to the First Sending.