This piece of concept art was originally used in a presentation at which developers discusses the original Destiny. However, it’s also Destiny 2 concept art for the core reason that it shows The Darkness, an enemy that isn’t directly mentioned in in Destiny 2 but is still the main reason for the existence of Guardians.
When The Darkness arrived at Earth it was to attack and take the power of the Traveller. In response to this massive threat, one it clearly didn’t believe it could defend against, the Traveller unleashed Ghosts. These Little Lights went off and revived fallen soldiers from around the system and brought them back with the power of the Traveller, Light. Now Guardians fight against the forces of The Darkness.
When you take a moment to consider it, the Traveller is the force of Light, and The Darkness is the opposite. The army of the Traveller is us Guardians, while the antagonist races of Vex, Cabal, Fallen, and Taken make up the army of The Darkness. This war is pretty easy to understand, but in Destiny 2 Bungie has chosen to remove the overarching villain that is The Darkness in order to give us a clearer enemy to fight.
Just what was the original intention for the Darkness then? Judging from this image it was a massive force that could easily take on the defences of Earth, which probably led to the destruction of most of the War Minds. As The Darkness fought against the War Minds and other defences of Earth, as well as whatever help the Traveller offered, many people left Earth and fled to the edge of the Solar System. Sadly they all met a gruesome end out there as more forces of The Darkness met them and mercilessly destroyed them, leaving a huge graveyard of ships. I often wonder what force of The Darkness laid in waiting out here, obviously aware that people would run from their attack.
Looking at this concept art I feel a little disheartened that there isn’t more lore about The Darkness in Destiny 2, but bungie are aways working and could well add lore later on. I understand the need for a focussed enemy I can see and comprehend, but the idea of some sort of undying race unrelentingly pursuing the Traveller until it got to Earth far too epic to ignore. Maybe The Darkness isn’t even organic, it could be the machines of a long dead species set in motion millennia ago to bring back the Traveller, but what happened at the point they found the Traveller?
Image Source: Mashable
