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After scouring the floating islands for another clue, the man saw a place that paralyzed his heart with fear down below on the surface. A place that looked sinister and vicious. The traveler hoped he wouldn’t ever need to go there, for he had heard tidings about a place full of evil. He tore himself away from gazing at it, choosing to look at the beauty of the skies. The place he wished he hadn’t laid eyes on was none other than the fantasy dark world.
The dark world is an environment that only appears in fantasy. Everything about it screams evil from the desolate ground to the cruel mountains. It’s the one place in the world where the darkness reigns supreme.
The fantasy dark world is a place only the bravest of the brave step in to face the great evil that threatens to upend everything they know and love. It’s one of the rarest environments, appearing once or twice, in the world but it’s appearance leaves an unforgettable impression on all those who see it.
As the site where the servants of evil gather, the dark world houses the worst of the villain’s minions. The fantasy dark world is a stronghold, teeming with legions of his strongest monsters who are consumed with nothing but malice and hatred.
It shouldn’t be surprising that the fantasy dark world is one of the few environments that plays a great role in the story. It’s where the villain makes his plans to conquer the world and dispatch his forces to crush all opposition. In most cases, the dark world is also where the story’s climax occurs, where the hero and villain battle each other with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
This is number twenty-five in the long series looking at the various types of fantasy environments. If you like this article and want to read more, you can find them on our blog page. Surely you’ll find one that you like!
Let’s summon courage from deep within our souls so we can step foot in one of the most forbidding environments in the world.
When you think of a fantasy dark world, you probably think of a place you saw either in a movie or video game. Mordor is the quintessential dark world, what with its poisonous fumes, its dead atmosphere, and vast numbers of orcs and other monsters. It’s a stark contrast to the beauty of the lands in the west like Rohan and Gondor.
Every fantasy world has a place where evil roams freely and grows until it’s strong enough to challenge good. This location plays a prominent part in the eternal struggle between good and evil, one of the overarching themes of the genre. As such, it’s responsible for all the calamities that befalls the world as the servants of evil issue forth to sow discord and cause mayhem in preparation for the dark lord to wage war upon good.
A fantasy dark world only appears once — or twice — throughout the world and remains until it’s wholly destroyed. As to where on the map you can find it, it depends on the world. For instance Mordor is located in the southeastern corner of Middle-Earth in Lord of The Rings.
Some video games explore the idea of a dark world differently. For instance, The Legend of Zelda series depict it as a parallel version of the light world in which its terrain and landmarks are similar to that of its counterparts. However, demons and other monsters have the run of the place and the people who live there are the polar opposite of those of the light world.
Regardless of how it’s portrayed, a fantasy dark world is a place only a few dare venture to. Most people tremble in fear whenever they hear its name. They want to stay as far away from it as possible and they call those who want to go there fools. They say to leave that place alone, for only bad things will happen to to anyone who goes there.
If they have to travel in close proximity to the dark world, they try to make it as quick as possible. They don’t want to have to deal with the patrols or roaming spirits of malice looking for a victim. Moreover, the land itself is sick where rivers either run dry or have poison in the water, the trees are dying and spiders and other vile bugs are all over.
As the citadel of evil, the fantasy dark world is home to the dark lord’s armies. However, his armies aren’t the only thing that calls it home. Far more powerful monsters live there, waiting for their master’s call or guarding the area from unwanted guests.
The dark lord, or the villain of the story, lives in the castle that dominates the area. By far, he’s the most powerful being, capable of doing things only his troops dream of doing. He directs his armies to do his bidding as he endeavors to destroy all good that exists in the world.
He surrounds himself with his strongest, most loyal servants. They could be powerful sorcerers or savage brutes who have no compunctions about hurting others. These servants double as the dark lord’s commanders, leading their master’s forces to wipe out his enemies.
As the epicenter of darkness, the fantasy dark world attracts those with blackness in their heart besides the villain and his minions. Beasts that strike terror in people’s hearts populate the area.
Spiders are one such beast. They flock to the dark world because it offers them a great place to conceal themselves plus they have an ample supply of fresh meat, courtesy of the villain’s soldiers. Though many little spiders are merely a nuisance, their larger counterparts are anything but. They move fast and prefer to immobilize their victims before devouring them.
The fantasy dark world also features dragons. These fire-breathing creatures are one of the dark lord’s most powerful monsters due to the power they wield. They fly all over, doing aerial surveillance as well as guarding key strategic points like the villain’s personal fortress. Should they spot an unwelcome guest, they won’t waste any time incinerating them.
Evil ghosts are another terrifying beast that resides in the dark world. They flit around, moaning as they search for their next victim to possess. Some have forms and some don’t. The formless ones are more frightening, for the victim can’t see them attack until it’s too late.
A select few environments play a central role in the story and the fantasy dark world is one of them. It is the villain’s base of operations, the area from where he launches his bid for world domination. His legions issue forth to bind all countries to their master’s rule.
Where exactly does it appear in the story? Again, it depends on how you structure the tale. While the villain is one of the integral characters, he doesn’t have to show up physically throughout the story like Sauron in The Lord of The Rings books. Since the Dark Lord isn’t physically present in the books, Mordor doesn’t take center stage until Return of The King when it serves as the site for the saga’s climax.
How Mordor is introduced to the audience works because it’s held in reserve, waiting to be used at the right time. Until then, the audience hears disquieting rumors about it and the fell power who lords over it throughout the tale, which increases their anticipation and anxiety. When it takes center stage, Mordor does not disappoint as by then, the stakes have never been higher.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should hold it until the last part of the tale. You can place it right at the beginning to showcase the audience how both sides are working towards their goal. You can give your viewers a glimpse of the dark world, showing them how evil is beginning to rise once again. Here, the forces of evil are summoning their strength in preparation for their great push against their enemies while they’re blind as to what’s going on. This makes for riveting drama as the audience sees what’s going on while the heroes have yet to see it for themselves.
Putting the fantasy dark world in the middle works as well as it focuses on the central theme of good vs. evil. It ensures everything that happens afterwards is part of said theme. The hero, up to this point, knows something is wrong with the world but he doesn’t understand why. Learning that the dark world is the source of everything that’s going on makes him more determined to end it once and for all so that things can go back to the way they were.
Regardless of where you place it in the tale, one thing is for certain: the dark world is where the climactic duel between the hero and the villain takes place. After a long and arduous journey, the hero’s finally made it to the realm where his enemy dwells. But before he can face off against the big bad, he must make it through the fell realm, which teems with the strongest of the dark lord’s monsters. Getting through them, it isn’t long until he reaches his foe and the two then face off, engaged in the final battle that decides the world’s fate.
The fantasy dark world is one of the most important environments in the genre. Every world needs a place where evil dominates and is plotting its next move in its eternal struggle against good.
True to its word, the dark world is a place where only a few dare venture to. It’s one of the most inhospitable areas of the world. There’s no part of it that hasn’t been ruined by the touch of evil.
Every dark world needs monsters to populate it. You have your typical soldiers but they pale in comparison to the others that reside there. Monsters that strike terror in the hearts of good people and who would love nothing more than to feast upon their flesh.
It’s a powerful environment in the story, as it shows the audience a part of the world that inspires dread in their heart. No matter where you put it, it’ll leave a lasting impression on your viewers. Moreover, it’s where the two sides of the war face off against each other in a no-holds-barred match with the outcome determining the fate of the world.
There’s no question about it. You shouldn’t hesitate to have a fantasy dark world in your world! Everything in this article should inspire you to make your own and maybe one day, your dark world will serve as an inspiration for others!
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Sunfire
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