Chaos is the principle opposed to order, and thus represents to some extent the extreme ofmagic as opposed to the extreme of science;Arcadia as opposed toStark. InThe Longest Journey, the forces of Chaos are threatening the twin worlds. However it would seem that it is a necessary part of theBalance, as without some element of Chaos, nothing would ever change.
Vestrum Tobias says thatmagic 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 upon the Earth, as had happened elsewhere on other worlds.Benrime Salmin complains that theVanguard's actions are inviting Chaos in Arcadia by destroying people's faith in theGuardian.Tun Luiec tells April thatChaos Storms are "weapons used by the dark lords of Chaos to hunt and destroy those strong in the Balance." These "dark lords" may simply be enemies who invite and represent Chaos such as theVanguard, or perhaps they are related in some other way to Chaos itself.
April and Chaos[]
- According to several of the prophecies recited by themagical 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 theTalisman of the Balance onGordon 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.
- When April asksAbnaxus 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 theVeil which hampers theVenar is created "in Chaos, by Chaos, with Chaos...to keep the future hidden."
- TheBanda Elder describes theGribbler as a creature of Chaos. During herBak-Baar, the spirits tell April that her mind and her spirit are her weapons against it.