Second Sending of Darkness

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First Sending of Darkness		Third Sending of Darkness

The Second Sending of Darkness is a historical event on Auberean. It is one of the Sendings of Darkness, which are laid out in the Fivefold Curse and the Heretical Prophecy.

Based on all available information, the Second Sending of Darkness seems to be the period of time that encompasses the Black Rains and the Empyrean Shadow War.

Aerfalle's Letter

In Leafdawning, 11 PY, Isparians learned about the second Sending in Aerfalle's Letter when Aerfalle wrote,

"Recall the last coming of the dark spawn. I had established this little colony perhaps three centuries previous..."

"The Second Sending came, and the world reeled. So little time there was for me to expand my influence among the little lives below my mountains."

"When the barbarians fell back to Killiakta, did we not move unseen then? I counseled that we should all stand together, Filinuvekta and Latzimestal, Wind and Lord, lest those we sought to rule all be taken and twisted."

"So did we join, if only once, in the southern forests of Ifistra. The Winds rose from their hidden lairs, and the Lords marched from their bastions. While the hedge-mages struggled to rekindle the flame of old Facill's knowledge, the Battle of Ayn Tayan raged for three days."

The first quote reveals that the last coming of the 'dark spawn' came approximately 300 years after the colony was established on Aerlinthe. The colony was established in RE 222, so 300 years later would be RE 522. People first began to disappear from Daralet in -2,532 PY (RE 366). Lord Altan and his forces are defeated by Bael'Zharon in -2,527 PY (RE 371) The first sighting of a Shadow Spire occurs in -2,364 PY (RE 534). So the figure of "perhaps three centuries previous" roughly fits this time period.

The second quote is when the term 'Sending' is first used. It also confirms that the Second Sending occurred after the founding the of the colony on Aerlinthe. The third quote refers to the Yalaini retreating to Dereth, and the third and fourth quotes refer to the Battle of Ayn Tayan.

Based on Aerfalle's Letter, the Second Sending appears to be the Empyrean Shadow War.

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 Second Sending is as follows:

The Darkness shall send again
An avenging star
A light to bring darkness

Based on Alaidain's Gem, the Second Sending appears to be the Black Rains.

Prophecies

In Solclaim, 14 PY, Isparians that made their way to Knorr discovered an ancient tome written by Asheron, Prophecies, where he communicated the Heretical Prophecy to Delacim. The section of the Heretical Prophecy pertaining to the Second Sending is as follows:

And all falls to ruin so shall come; the star.
The darkness will impart its wisdom,
And the Light shall lose its way.
And blackness shall fall across the land,
And the Light will be hidden above.

Based on Prophecies, the Second Sending appears to be the Black Rains.

Reign of Terror

In Harvestgain, 14 PY, during a conversion with Rytheran, Aerfalle said:

"We had thought Amauxi fallen during the second sending. Had His Eternal Splendor seen so far into the future to hide him even then? And what of the sacrifices made while the outlanders did our bidding without coaxing? Had he foreseen the end of the fourth sending at their hand?"

Since many Dericostian undead were lost during the Empyrean Shadow War, including their losses at the Battle of Ayn Tayan, this quote from Aerfalle makes the most sense in the Second Sending is the Empyrean Shadow War.