Dark Magic

Dark is a magical material and an elemental building block of the universe, the counterpart to Radiance, and the foundation of the Dark Dimension or Shadow Realm. Dark Magic harnesses this element, often to affect the forces of life and death through the soul; but in doing so, takes a toll from another's soul in kind. The defining characteristic of Dark when compared to other magic materials is its weight, which gives many spells associated with Dark a forceful impact capable of moving targets and causing damage through rapid changes in pressure, temperature, and density. Dark travels very quickly, has wave-like properties, and is ubiquitous in the material plane, with all organisms adapted to survive at the normal low-to-moderate levels of Dark found in Solace; however, there are very few living things that can handle the levels of Dark present in concentrated spells, with most being lethal or causing permanent corruption of the soul and body.
The potentially dire cost of Dark magic is most clearly seen in the Hobgoblin lineages of Solace, which have split from each other and been drastically altered from their original forms. While some Hobgoblins retain their physical shape, all have lost the immortality of their souls, and many have been twisted into nearly unrecognizable forms. This corruption is the reason many users of Dark magic choose to become Undead or use magic to create vessels or artifacts to channel the Dark for them, limiting the harmful effects to physical deformation.
While Dark is not inherently more powerful than other types of magic, it is much easier and quicker to harness, making it an attractive option for people with no access to academies or covens, or no patience for years of tedious practice and study. Some Sorcerers are born with a source of Dark inside them, and find themselves able to harness the power with none of the side effects, while others like Warlocks or Clerics find an outside source or an artifact to practice the Dark arts.

History

The first instances of Dark Magic in Solace were recorded during the Dragon War, when the native peoples used it to match the ferocity of the Draego once the Old Gods were slain. Notable users include the Hobgoblin Shokari tribe and the Wajoka nation established by a coalition of Orcs, Beastmen, and Hobgoblins. Despite the association of these people with the root of Dark Magic in Solace, it is not entirely accepted by them as a whole, and most other races find the use of it to be vile. It is primarily used by mages with little regard for social conventions, or by shamans and clerics that commune with the Lord of Bones or powerful entities from the Dark Dimension.