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The Darkman Commeth
by Rebecca Downey


One day the goddess Halea heard of an impious but good town. While she had a temple there, no one paid her any mind. And yet these were people known for their good acts and just deeds. So she sent forth Sardura to test them.
On arriving, Sardura encountered a beggar ringing a bell for food. He was horribly scarred and burned and dressed in black sack-cloth. When she asked him what happened, she saw he had no eyes. He claimed to have been cursed by the dark gods for his acts against them.

Sardura then struck a deal with him. If he would repeat what she told him and then toll the bell once each candle for 13 hours, she would cure him of his ailment and provide him a means of survival other than begging. He agreed.

And so the next day he took his place in the great square at the center of the town and said:

All who hear me, all who see me. Know this.
Give me gifts of whatever you can spare.
And your lot in life will be improved.
Prove your piety for helping a poor blackened beggar.
And I shall see that the dark gods do not to you what they did to me.
13 times I shall ring this bell.
12 hours shall you have to consider.
On the 13th hour I shall ring this bell 13 times more.
And then you must give or face the consequences.
And only one man scoffed at this. As the blackened beggar hobbled through the town he was pressed with gifts. From some it was a small bit of bread, from others it was a coin or two, or an old shirt. From each family came a gift, whatever they could give. Some were overly generous, others stingy - but all but one gave.

And on the 13th hour, when the Darkman rang his bell 13 times
more, only the scoffer stood before him:

Prove to me your power
Let the dark gods touch me
As they have touched you
For I'll not give to a beggar
Who now has so much!

An explosion occurred and where the dark man stood there now stood Sardura - in her gossamer silks and hair the color of honey. Her eyes burned with vengeance as she stared into the scoffers eyes. And yet he did not flinch.

Halea has tested this place
And found it worthy of her love,
Although you have forgotten her
She has not forgotten you
Tested you were
And tested you all passed
But him.
She said, pointing to the scoffer.

The Darkman take your sight
- and the scoffer went blind.
The Darkman take your health
- and the scoffer fell to his knees in sickness
The Darkman take your wealth
- and the scoffer was dressed in black sackcloth
The Darkman spares your life so you may live in misery.
The scoffer begged and pleaded for his losses.
Sardura smiled and said:
Then beg these pious townsfolk
in Halea's name as the Darkman
every year for 13 years.
Be pious to her
and maybe
she will see fit to restore
all that has been taken away.
And thus the celebration of the Darkman began.

Details:
The Darkman Commeth is a minor feast celebrated throughout most of
Tharda is on the 30th of Azura. During the day a man robed in black
sackcloth comes to each door or stands in town squares announcing
Halea's test. The children chase the Darkman through the streets
helping him
call his message to the townsfolk. At the hour of dusk the Darkman
rings a bell 13 times.
Each person of the town wishing to avoid the notice of the "dark"
gods, is expected to give him something while he is ringing the bell.
Gifts of clothes and food are more common in rural areas than coins.
Those that do not give him gifts, or whose gifts are left after the
bell stops ringing are said to be tempting fate.
When at last the bell stops ringing the dark man walks into a
nearby house or steps behind a curtain, and a beautiful young woman
steps out.

She then leads the pious to a feast with presents for the children
and the needy.

Often the gifts presented are parts spared from the foods or gifts
prepared for the feast by the townsfolk rather than coins. Throughout
the feasts numerous toasts to Halea are made. Many believe it is a
good date to announce betrothals, births and other important news. a
Later, the children chase the Darkman from the house to the town's
well to "drive the impious scoffer away".