Official Lore Site

Badluck is with me, as always. Together when we gamble, and now as we travel.
“Of course, unlike you, Through, I actually come in handy from time to time.”
He likes to remind me of that occasionally. He knows I hate it. But I know it keeps him happy.
It was Badluck who said we should try some gambling when we got to Glowsilt.
Glowsilt is a relatively new and lively city in a region that’s known to be dangerous even to other residents of the Dark States.

Ask around about Glowsilt and they all say the same thing: “They eat and drink gambling there.”
I see now. It’s a bit of an odd thing to say when there’s usually one who eats and one who is eaten.
“Creeper [Ivy].”
We recognize the entrance to the gambling den from the sign featuring a creeping ivy. It’s a simple door at the end of an alley off the main street lined with glamorous-looking storefronts.
“They got games here that you can’t play anywhere else,” Badluck tells me.
We use the special knock that a merchant had told us about earlier in the day, and almost immediately a peephole opens, revealing two glowing eyes staring back at us.
“No cold callers. What do you want?”
“Everything. We want to live a luxurious life free from strife.” Badluck smirks as he answers the bouncer’s question.
“This is bad,” I think as I pull at his hem. I know what he’s trying to do, but one thing we’ve learned on our travels through the Dark States is that there are some people you should not joke around with.
“Very well. And that one?” The voice from the other side of the door stays ice cold.
“Money. Enough to enjoy his time in Glowsilt.”
“…Welcome.”
The heavy wooden door opens.
We are immediately hit by peals of unusual smelling smoke and strange lights in shades of red, blue, and purple.
“Once you step inside there is no turning back. That’s our number one rule, you would do well to remember it.”
I nod at the gravelly voice’s warning and head inside.
In these Dark States ruled over by demons there are any number of dangerous races spawned from the very miasma that cover the lands. There are some races so dangerous you wouldn’t want to wish them upon your worst enemy.
“Welcome. There’s space for cards, roulette, and slots tonight.”
To my great relief the man greeting us is a very ordinary looking person (at least for a den like this). Following the warning I look around me, and the place seems half-full. There are patrons of all races focusing on their gambling, snacking, and drinking as they do. It all looks very ordinary. It’s a little disappointing, to be honest.
“I’m heading to the slots.”
“Through, that’s child’s play. Well, just make sure you don’t waste all your money on it,” Badluck scoffs.

Those are the last words I hear him say.
I care for Through like a brother, but I worry that he’s too nice, or that he doesn’t share our greed.
I head for the slots (I know better than to trust a slot machine in the Dark States), and start pulling the lever, keeping my back to Through. I call for an attendant.
“Hey, I’ve been told that you guys have the highest rolling table in Glowsilt.”
“…If that is what you want, then come right this way.”
The attendant covers his mouth and turns away. I hear an unusual sound and so I look around for the source. I don’t like it, it sounds just like a demonic laugh.
“Greaper”
The sign on a door that was hidden behind a curtain at the back of the den was written just like the front sign. I’m about to mention that it’s spelled wrong but stop myself.
“Take care.”
I follow the attendant through the door and am immediately thrown into complete darkness as he closes it.
I start sweating, and my heart begins racing. A fear of the dark is a natural, human response.
Then…
Tch! Tch! Tch! Tch!
The sound of someone clicking their tongue, followed by a spotlight being lit ahead of me.
♪Tch! Tch! Tch! Tch! ♪
“What the…?”
♪Tch! Tch! Tch! Tch! ♪
The light reveals a line of winged demons, all snapping their fingers in time.

Illust: 獣道

An out-of-tune melody plays out from the darkness.
♪ I bet the house and won ♪ ♪ It’s so easy ♪ ♪ Happy go lucky ♪ ♪Here! We! Go! ♪
I just stand there with my mouth agape. I stay frozen in place until I hear another voice.
“Welcome, young one. You’re brave to come this far into our establishment.”
A large man stands towering over the line of small demons. He’s wearing his hat down low, so I can’t see his face.
But I recognize his voice from the front door earlier.
Stay calm, just stay calm! I start to look for an out. We may be down an alley, but we’re still in the middle of a major city. There should be someone around here who can help…
“Oh, Badluck, someone should have told you. The game has already started. If you turn away now, you lose… Ah, but all this talking has made me hungry.”
Before I even have a moment to consider how he knows my name, he picks up one of the small demons and pops it in his mouth. His throat expands under his neatly pressed collar. Did he just eat a demon? I can’t comprehend what I’m seeing right now.
“Don’t worry. I play fair. How about a game of coin toss? Do you know that one?”
The man produces a large coin.
Paganini’s coin?!
I’m taken aback.
It’s a very valuable coin that was circulated in the Demon King’s palace back in the days when the Dark States were simply known as the Dark Zone. You could use this coin in any city, town, village, or hamlet in the land to pay off just about any debt you can imagine. With this you could… Buy the world!
“The game is simple. This coin has heads and tails.”
The large man extends a heavily-muscled arm and deftly handles the coin.
“Pick a side. If you win, you get the money.”
“A-And if I lose…?” I ask nervously. I notice that I’m sweating profusely. This is from more than just fright. The room is unnaturally warm.
“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it. Now, time to play. Remember, keep your eyes on the prize.”
The man’s answer does little to assuage my fears. Laziness, arrogance, greed. Normally I’d warn my friends to stay away from people like me. But the man is right, there’s no turning back now.
“A new servant for Greedon… The avaricious… The king of the underworld…”
I now notice that the room is filled with demons of all sizes. They must be here for the show that is my gamble.
“Now, place your bet. If you win, it’s all yours.”
The large man takes a drag on his cigar and lets out a cloud of smoke. This is wrong. He looks like a real dragon.
“…”
“Come now! Bet, Badluck!”
As the man barks at me he finally reveals his face, and it’s that of a demonic dragon. I turn and try to run. Now I finally get it. There are those that follow us normal everyday folk–those are the creepers–and then there’s the ones who hunt us, the reapers.
Fear. Right, I’m more afraid than I’ve ever been in my life!

Illust: Moopic

The Dark States and Dark Side Business
The Dark States have long been known for being home to powerful magic, and is a swampy region wreathed in a miasma. Before the Chakrabarthi Divine Era it was a lawless and chaotic region rife with civil wars between small states ruled by demon lords, until one hero came to unify the region and formed the nation as it is known today.
Nevertheless, the region is still known to be filled with demons and monsters, where illicit magics, items, and world-changing secrets are traded, and where no-limits gambling can take place, an activity illegalized everywhere else in the world. Despite these dangers, however, there’s no shortage of people who flock to the Dark States in search of fortune and fame, and the trade of illicit goods and services has become a major source of income for the nation. The various demon lords have deemed this an acceptable “trade” within their borders as long as it doesn’t disrupt the peace.

———————————————————-

<<Notes about Terminology>>
The Dark States and Dark Side Business
The Dark States have long been known for being home to powerful magic, and is a swampy region wreathed in a miasma. Before the Chakrabarthi Divine Era it was a lawless and chaotic region rife with civil wars between small states ruled by demon lords, until one hero came to unify the region and formed the nation as it is known today.
Nevertheless, the region is still known to be filled with demons and monsters, where illicit magics, items, and world-changing secrets are traded, and where no-limits gambling can take place, an activity illegalized everywhere else in the world. Despite these dangers, however, there’s no shortage of people who flock to the Dark States in search of fortune and fame, and the trade of illicit goods and services has become a major source of income for the nation. The various demon lords have deemed this an acceptable “trade” within their borders as long as it doesn’t disrupt the peace.

———————————————————-