One Black, One White

Hold tightly now, Dreamers, for tonight we venture into a dangerous dream. A tale so violent it strays close to a nightmare, although here in the Drift, we are safe from the reaching fingers of Leng. Through the Haze, we enter into a system that none of you have ever seen, but all of you know - the Veskarium. We drift into the lush expanse of Vesk-3, home to the helpful Skittermanders, and the graveyard of the mysterious Forerunners. As we fall to the planet's surface, we move not only in space, but also through time, drifting far into the past.
We arrive at a Skittermander market, where a rainbow of eight-limbed creatures chatter away in their strange language, bartering for a variety of silks and plant-based wares. Among them, a tiny purple Skittermander, barely past his whelp stage, waddles into view, followed by a red Skittermander ten years his senior. Despite the lack of parental care in Skittermander culture, the Haze tells you this Skittermander is an older brother - Hatakal.
Hatakal: “Come along, Skit. Sun is going low.”
Skittles: “Dangerous.”
Hatakal: “That’s right, we have to get home before the stridermanders. [To shopkeep] How much?”
Hatakal exchanges a few words with an elderly Skittermander, trading a bundle of dried meats for a stack of glistening stones. Skittles stares directly at the man, seemingly unaware of his discomfort.
Skittles: “Money.”
Hatakal: “Yes, Skit. Money. Money for food.”
The shopkeep looks at Skittles, and then shakes his head, whispering to his brother.
Elder Merchant: “Something not right about that boy, Hatakal. I know a place where he will be taken care of.”
Hatakal: “[Shakes Head] He’s happier with me. And he’s learning the Cycle. One day, I think he’ll be able to summon a mote of light!”
Elder Merchant: “I don’t know if it’s wise to give him a weapon, Hatakal. He’s-”
Skittles: “Money.”
Hatakal looks back to his brother, who has yet to break his gaze on the shopkeep. Both of the older Skittermanders look disturbed, but Hatakal smiles, giving the merchant a placating gesture, and then leads his brother away.
We advance now through the years, in flashes, seen mostly around a small shack in the jungle. Skittles grows, learning the Cycle from his brother, and eventually, summoning a mote of light. We see him dueling with Hatakal - whose sword is as black as Tesin’s - and practicing the arts of the Solarion faith. But then the Haze thickens, and takes on a terrible shade of red…
We see the jungle on fire, and the shack burned down to the ground. Vesk soldiers lie about on the jungle floor, clearly impaled by a Solarion blade. Skittles stands in the middle, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, with his brother’s dying form behind him. As more Vesk soldiers pour into the clearing, Hatakal shouts something to his brother, and with his dying breath, passes a black mote of light into his arms. Skittles sobs as his brother dies, and through the Haze we see something change… The Cycle in Skittles’ heart tilts, warped by what he’s seen. No longer in balance, the Skittermander leaves the majesty of creation behind, and lets the fury of pure destruction burn its way into his heart. Over his shoulder, the Haze shows you a creature that is neither tiger, eagle, bat, bug, or owl - but all of them mixed together. The Great Old One, Moscaroth.
As Skittles turns to the oncoming soldiers, two blades form in his hand - one black, one white - and then the jungles of Vesk-3 are painted with blood.