Chaos

From TLJwiki

Chaos is the principle opposed to order, and thus represents to some extent the extreme of Magic as opposed to the extreme of science; Arcadia as opposed to Stark. In The Longest Journey, the forces of Chaos are threatening the twin worlds, but it would seem to be a necessary part of the Balance, as without some element of Chaos, nothing would ever change.

Chaos Storm

Chaos Storms are huge, terrible storms that appear in Arcadia from time to time, usually lasting a single night. One of these storms appears while April is en route to Alais and is responsible for the sinking of The White Dragon. According to Tun Luiec, Chaos Storms are storms caught in a magical vortex, and are harbingers of terrible events in the near future. She also says that Chaos Storms are weapons used by dark forces to destroy those who are strong in the Balance. April believes the appearance of the Storm near the ship is connected to her.

Chaos Vortex

A massive ball of dark, writhing Chaos energy that appears and attacks April several times over the course of her journey. It is also responsible for attacking the Mother (possibly contributing to her death), damaging the Wood Spirit, and was part of the assault on Marcuria. The Vortex appears to grow in size each time it appears.

As April works out after her discussion with Burns Flipper, the Chaos Vortex is actually Gordon Halloway's Chaotic side after the Vanguard experimented on him. When the Vortex appears for the last time in the Guardian's Realm, April uses a Magic Binding Potion on the Talisman of the Balance, which draws the Vortex into the Talisman. Later, she uses the Talisman on Gordon himself, reuniting the cold Halloway with his chaotic side.

April and Chaos

• According to several of the prophecies recited by the magical races, April is one who will "fight Chaos, only to unleash Chaos on the innocent".

• Cortez tells April that she senses Chaos more keenly than most, that fighting it is instinctive to her and that she will know what to do. (This may be how she 'knows' to use the Talisman of the Balance on Gordon Halloway.) He also says that by her very existence she is keeping back the tides of Chaos, and that her presence will help others to face it.

• Vestrum Tobias says that magic can invite Chaos, endangering the Balance as science never could. As he tells April the story of the creation of the Balance, he says that mankind's misuse of magic and science threatened to bring Chaos on the Earth, as had happened elsewhere on other worlds.

• Benrime Salmin complains that the Vanguard's actions are inviting Chaos in Arcadia by destroying people's faith in the Guardian.

• When April asks Abnaxus about fighting Chaos, he tells her it can only be fought by 'those ordained by the Balance'. "To oppose Chaos one must return order to that which has been affected by Chaos, and thus reduce its powers." He claims the Veil which hampers the Venar is created "in Chaos, by Chaos, with Chaos...to keep the future hidden."

• The Banda Elder describes the Gribbler as a creature of Chaos. During her Bak-Baar, the spirits tell April that her mind and her spirit are her weapons against it.