The Dark

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The Dark
Pronouns:	it/its, any

"The Dark" can refer to the living being, the dark substance the being resides in, or the sections under LEDDlabs where the substance is most concentrated. Think of them all as extensions of the same entity; the distinction isn't important.

The Dark

The Being

The Dark is a worm-like beast, pitch-black and slimey, comparable in size to a dolphin. It's mouth has multiple sections that open like a star to reveal many rows of teeth. It has two spindly arms for grabbing, and moves along surfaces with its foot like a slug. It also seems to be blind in this state.

Real animal influences for The Dark's creature form include: leeches^↗, worms in general^↗, ticks^↗, slugs^↗, remora^↗, lamprey^↗, blind cave fish^↗, and poisonous amphibians^↗. Also I guess the monster from Stranger things but that guy isn't real.

The Dark's shapeshifting allows it to take new shapes as needed. In order to not alarm humans (and also for LEDD's amusement), The Dark has a humanoid form. It looks similar to LEDD's robot form but taller, with more formal dress and longer hair. It has black eyes and blue pupils like LEDD as well, but its eyes are bigger and more realistic. Whether The Dark can actually see with these eyes is unclear. It does not have LEDD's affinity for eye contact.

The Dark, the being, has similar effects on people to the substance. The being itself is immune to the substance's effects, but consumes and bathes itself in the fluid as a defense mechanism. It does not create the substance itself.

The Substance

The Dark is a pitch-black fluid with a somewhat viscous consistency. It's closer to a slime than a liquid. Looking at large amounts of The Dark can be disorienting, as it reflects little to no light. Prolonged exposure to The Dark can cause extreme moods, poor perception of time, paranoia, insomnia, hallucinations, and extreme sensitivity to light. Direct contact with skin or ingestion can increase the onset of symptoms. These symptoms are similar to the effects of sensory deprivation^↗, but much more severe. None of the effects on their own are fatal, but together they can lead a person to making choices that endanger themselves or others.

The Location

The Dark is the area underneath the lab, exactly as expansive and twisting, but covered in a pitch-black substance. Navigating this area is difficult due to the substance reflecting so little light; even with a light source, walking through The Dark is like a moonless night. The Dark is purposefully confusing, filled with mazes and deadends. Some of its rooms even look like old testing rooms or employee rooms, complete with furniture and equipment. Dr. Ihop has also left a lot of papers and things throughout. Rumor has it, there is a way to exit the lab from within The Dark, but there is no way to map the shifting architecture. Spending extended amounts of time in The Dark is not recommended, due to The Dark's effects on minds, as well as the numerous unpredictable escapees using The Dark as a hiding spot.

Profile

Personality

Relationships

LEDD

Dr. Anuran

Dr. Ihop

Subjects

The Dark does not share LEDD's deep care for the subjects, but it has no desire to actively harm them. It's job is to keep subjects in the lab, and sometimes that involves scaring or injuring them.

Trivia

• In the D&D campaign, The Dark was literally a part of LEDD. Specifically it was his insides. LEDD and The Dark were later made seperate beings.