Legends of old speak of the moon and how she would radiate her light throughout the night over different realms. Adorned in swathes of white, her soothing, luminary radiance sparkles over her beautiful face. Never was she to leave her post. Her only duty was this: shine her light over the night—until this fateful night.
The Scourge—a name many fear. He is the harbinger of the dark, a servant of the Lord Momoeth, and the one cloaked in shadow. His scarred face seen only by few, his dark purple eyes piercing through his hood, his hair shoulder length and as black as darkness itself; truly a ghastly sight. His journey to reclaim the deaths of his lost loved ones brought him to a strange realm, one filled with light. Unlike the nightmare realm, this place was lively. The village folk go about their everyday lives fishing, eating, and drinking, completely unaware of the tumultuous war approaching.
Unconcerned with their well-being, the Scourge continued onward, walking in search of a village seer. In the distance was an old man sitting atop a hill overlooking the village. The Scourge approached.
The old man croaked, "Are you him? The one that's written in the stones of old? The prophetic darkness? The one destined to steal our only light?" Puzzled, the Scourge stood silent. "You can sense it can't you traveler?" the old man inquired. "The light she shines is fading. She comes down to us now and warms the children's hearts with her smile. She pushes the waves that the fish reside in. Alas, she is lonely now, after her love, the sun, left her and the rest of us."
"Your tale does not concern me. Where is the village seer that I seek?" said the Scourge.
"Long gone," replied the old man, "took his life when the sun died. Though we couldn't survive without him. But she has done her best for our people."
"You speak as if the sun and moon are beings. They cannot speak nor feel," The Scourge retorted.
"Beckon her to come down and you will see. Maybe she can shine her light on the path you seek," the man responded.
Riddled with confusion, the Scourge stormed away in search of another village, one with sense and not with primitive inhabitants foolishly believing in legends.
Later, As he trudged through the moonlit shoreline, the Scourge began to notice the drop in temperature. The warmth of the moon was not reaching this beach. A gentle breeze carried a faint, smoky aroma. With time, the smoke permeated the air as the horizon glowed orange like fiery coals. The nearby village was ablaze. Villagers, leaving the town behind, bolted past him, seeking shelter at the previous village. Parents fled with their burned children in hand, children ran without parents, while some wept profusely over charred remains. The Scourge continued walking until he reached the burning embers of the town square. There he found a man laughing maniacally while engulfed in flames. With each cackle, the pulsating flames grew in intensity. The man turned to the Scourge and pointed.
"You, the man shrouded in darkness, did you come to bring my foretold end?!" he shouted.
The Scourge replied, "My objective here is not to stop you nor save these people. My only desire is to find a seer."
"Ha! Foolish man," the stranger exclaimed, "I am the warmth and light of this world! Some know me as the sun; I am but a fading star, soon to erupt into dust and become one with the wind."
Perplexed with the words of the man, the Scourge asks, "You are the past sun that left this realm? The one no longer shining on this realm's inhabitants?"
The man responded, "I am he and my time is at hand. Since these worthless beings have forsaken me by forgetting my warmth and turning to the moon's light, I've descended the starry skies in order to share my final moments with them. The moon will no longer shine on these undeserving ones. Consider it a blessing!"
"Whatever your intentions are, I have no care for," the Scourge said nonchalantly. "Tell me, is the seer still alive so that I may speak with him?"
Sternly, the Sun replied, "There is no longer a seer alive in this realm."
The Sun then burst into laughter, his skin aglow with an overwhelming radiance. The Scourge knew what was to happen next as he has seen many stars end. Promptly, he tore open a hole in the space next to him and stepped into the emerging void. In this welcoming darkness, the Scourge decides to go back to the village of the old man. Exiting the void, he arrives again atop the hill where the old man was still sitting. In the far distance, a blinding white flash pierced the night sky and tremors soon followed.
The old man turned around and said, "You see now the wicked world we live in. The moon is no doubt stricken with deep feelings of gloom. If only someone who also has suffered loss can console her so that she may not attempt the same as the Sun…"
Frustrated with his fruitless journey, the Scourge decided to talk to the Moon.
"Where can I speak to this Moon you all speak so highly about?"
"Head south along the shore. There you will find a cave. No light can shine there; even a torch stands no chance. Bring this. It's a Luna stone. Find the platform in the dark cave, place the stone on the platform, and when it's illuminated, she will appear to you."
He reluctantly complied. After what seemed like a two-day journey, The Scourge reaches the cave the old man spoke of. Resting his hand on the entrance, he peers into the vast darkness in an attempt to survey the area, but to no avail. In one swift motion, he rips the space beside him and enters. The other side leads to Lord Momoeth's ship, drifting in a forgotten realm. Entering the armory, he grabs his Desolate Naginata and a clay vial. The vial contains the remnants of a Ketsu, a fallen deity of the ¥ realm.* In the distance, the Observer is seen doing the same before disappearing into nothing. Equipping the Ketsu concentrates, the Scourge then returns to the cave.